Never Lose the Hunger

 As I write to you for the first time, I would like to begin with a little bit of my testimony. My husband and I were young with a two year old daughter. My brother and my sister in law began inviting my husband and I to church. I was not raised in church and knew nothing about the gospel. I had no idea that I was in need of a Savior. I felt that I was a good person and I did not need to attend church.
         Finally my husband and I agreed to visit their church. A few months later my husband and I both were saved together. We were also later baptized together. We began growing slowly. Then as we had another child, our lives began getting busy. By the time we had our third child it seemed we did everything else first and placed attending church last on our list of priorities. Yes we were saved and on our way to heaven. However we had no growth nor spiritual maturity because of our lack of interest. We even skipped around a few other churches. Still not growing or being FAITHFUL to attending regularly. In doing that, I now look back and see that we were not being the example to our children that God asks us to be as parents.
        Several years later we had a fourth child. Our lives became even more busy, therefore we pushed church even further away from our list of priorities. By this point our daughter is married with a child of her own.  She had found a church they loved and kept begging us to give it a try. We finally agreed to visit this church. From the very first moment we were there,  we felt so different and absolutely fell in love with this church. We have attended nearly every time the doors are open now. And it has had a great impact on my entire family’s lives.  We all have grown so much spiritually, and we are still growing today. Even though my biggest regret is waiting so long to find the right church for our family, it has also been one of the biggest blessings!
         So here is the point of my testimony, I would ask you not to do what I did. Please do not take so long to prioritize FAITHFULLY attending church and reading God’s word. It took me 26 years to find a church that I felt comfortable in and could grow in. Which then in turn gave me a desire to get deeper into God’s Word. That I may grow more and more. That I may be an example for my children. Even though most of them were grown by that point, they could still see the change that it had made in myself also in their Dad as well.  I did not show my children that attending church and reading God’s Word should be priority over ALL as they were growing up.  As I look back , I can see how that most definitely should have been priority over sports, friends, hobbies, etc. I can’t go back and change that now. That is why I love to share my story. I do it in hopes that I could help other families not look back and have the same regrets that I have.
          It is never too late to step out in Faith and search for a church that you love. A church where you can grow, and enjoy the fellowship. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  So if you have not yet discovered that  church that you just can’t get enough of, please continue stepping out in Faith until you do! We all need fed in order to grow. I encourage you to keep searching for a church where you will be fed. Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”