Faithful Church Attendance

Rosa --

I have read your posts and believe that I know
you not to be a judgmental person nor one who
would step upon another in order to rise. Ii
think, rather, that you do not see the impact
that illegitimately stretching beyond one's limits
can cause.

Just so that you will know, when I first experi-
enced burn-out, I was a single mom with two
children and also a student, trying to get an
education so that I could support my family
when my husband's death benefits stopped
(when my youngest would turn 16).

When I finally quit all my duties from total
exhaustion, I was a newly-wed with four tee-
nagers, a Sunday school teacher, one of the
main soloists, and in the choir. I was the co-
ordinator and only teacher of the church's
monthly crafts class for 20 - 25 students
aged 11 - 13; I got no help. I had to attend
weekly choir practices, Sunday school teach-
ers' meetings, and prepare and practice for my
sols and other group music. I also had a very
low hematocrite count which left me exhausted
and required surgery at that time. Furthermore,
our children were going through some unnam-
able hardships that would have exhausted
anyone. I was also expected to be in my place
each of the three-times-a-week that the church's
doors opened. Add to that the fact that I was
clinically depressed from childhood abuse, from
my father disowning me three times right then,
from what our children were suffering, and from
abuse in the church itself.

There is always more to a story than what we
write on the screen. While it may seem that I
often "spill my guts" 8o) , I don't tell even near
half.

[ October 25, 2002, 12:27 AM: Message edited by: Abiyah ]

 

Rosa:

Rosa, I think that "church activities" and "giving God first place" in your life aren't necessarily the same! The last post by Abiyah shows that "works" do not equal "God ordained". Keep in mind that God created the family to be the BASIC FOUNDATIONAL unit of society, so there is one prime area of satan's attacks; to get you so busy that your family is neglected.

Remember that even Jesus needed to call it all to a halt periodically to refresh Himself; this with no family responsibilities. That being the case, how much less can the average human DO, with family, and still keep from being burned out. It'a going to be different with each and every individual, so each MUST depend on God for wisdom and leading in this area. If satan has failed to keep you from accepting Christ, then he will try to get you to move your focus to "works" instead of Christ.

My personal feeling is, that with God's guidance, you put God first in your life, and family second. If this is done, the degree of your involvement is not necessarily going to match that of any other; maybe or maybe not. At any rate, I certainly do not believe that God is going to lead you into any amount of involvement that will be detrimental to your family life.

 

Hsmom3 --

YOU don't express yourself well??!? You do
not see my smile. 8o) <- It looks kind of like
that. I was totally dazzled by your ability to say
what you intended. 8o)

Hsmom, I think we need to come down to these:
Who are we trying to please? Who is God to
us--individually--really--really?

The one we seek most to please is our god,
whether it is the congregation, our parents,
the pastor, an organization, or our God Himself.
But you cannot please our God in physical
exhaustion caused by trying to please others.

I have been there. I tried that, too.

 

I wish you could have seen the smile on my face when I read that!!!!!!

That one truth, if applied diligently, could turn this country around. As I've stated earlier, family is 2nd ONLY to God Himself; not church, not sunday school, not mid-week prayer service, not bible study,---- but 2nd to GOD ONLY.

I would venture that 90% of our current moral problems would never be, had parents taken the same attitude toward family that you have.

Hang in there; I'm convinced God is "in your corner"!

 

Amein, Just-Want-Peace!!