Sunday Mornings

Sunday Mornings.

They are challenging for me for various reasons. For one, I haven't found a Church community here that I feel like I belong to nor do I feel like I can add anything to. I have a hard time with the worship for different reasons, and I basically can never focus for another list of reasons I'd prefer to keep to myself. I also haven't felt like I've gotten anything much out of the community that I've been attending since I have arrived in Saint Malo.

Sidenote:
While talking about this with my mother, she said something that struck me. "You might not be getting anything out of this community, but what do you have to offer it?" I responded "nothing!"
Well that was quite a selfish response now that I look back at it. She was right, being a part of a Church community is always about taking and giving. If everyone decides to give, then no one will take anything, because they'll be so focused on always giving, that they might not themselves grow. If everyone is trying to take from the experience, than who will be there to give?
I tend to do that a lot, and it's a problem I think the Lord is giving me a second (third, fourth etc...) chance to tackle while being here.

Well another issue for me is that I simply miss the 509 community. Back in Huntington, I would wake up excited about sunday mornings, because I knew I'd be going to a service with familiar faces (that eventually became a family to me) and also be able to enrich my spiritual life through the teachings. The worship was also phenomenal. Everything about my 509 experience on sunday mornings and throughout the week was something to look forward to, and I guess I just miss that.
I do need to remind myself that it took me a solid two and half years to come to that point at the 509. Such relations aren't established overnight, but it's still quite a struggle. I almost need to force myself out of bed on sunday mornings, and I don't think that's a good thing. It's frustrating.

So on mornings such as this one, where I had no motivation to go worship in a setting of discomfort, I decided to do what I usually do on these types of mornings, and go on the 509 website to listen to a 509 sermon.

I know the 509 community isn't necessarily for everyone, but it is and has been to me a source of enrichment, growth, challenge, and hospitality. For this reason I encourage anyone in Huntington or surrounding areas who have yet to find a Church Community that they feel they can relate to or take from or give to, to check it out!! :)

The sermon I listened to this morning was taught by Allie Brown and was focused on Luke 18:35-43. It is about the bling beggar who asks Jesus for his sight and even though everyone discourages him to "bother" the Savior, Jesus hears him and restores his sight while telling him his faith has healed him.
Allie brings many good points (such as the fact that we ourselves are often blinded by the world that surrounds us, which can easily deprive us from the sight of God's Kingdom at work in our lives and the lives of those around us) and I think anyone could learn from this teaching.

Here is the link to the website:

www.509community.com

Here is the link to all the sermons: (This one is the one from Sunday, Feb 26th)

http://509community.com/audio/audiolist.php?category=0

I really hope you check this out, and hope you are as encouraged by it as I was. Lots of good stuff in here.

Thanks, blessings, and have a great rest of the day/night :)

Dorina