i do not need comfort

hiya friends :)

i didn't plan on posting today, but something in my class this morning made my heart hurt, so i decided to share with you. it's a definite "in your face" moment of how lazy we are and how we take the easy way out.

in a class of mine this morning, we discussed how college kids rarely go to church on Sunday mornings. i heard so many different excuses. i'll list my "favorites".

"i work so much that i don't have for church on Sundays."
-do you work on Sunday morning?
"well, no. but, it's my time to sleep & catch up on me time."

"i know all the Bible stories. why do i need to hear the same thing again?"

"i had too much fun Saturday night that Sunday just didn't work out."

"i hate going to church because it makes me feel crappy. i want a church that makes me feel good about myself."

needless to say, when i heard that last one, my heart broke. when did church become about making people feel good about themselves? we are filthy, disgusting sinners that don't deserve a thing. we don't deserve the grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness that we receive on a daily basis. so, what makes you want to "feel good about yourself" when you have nothing to feel good about?

i'm not ranting. i'm saying this to myself. so many times, i go to church and learn something that convicts me of something i'm wrong about, and wish that conviction never came. i take for granted that Jesus went through so many awful things when He was blameless that i have no right to want the easy way out. it's a beautiful blessing to grow from where you began. if you aren't convicted, you won't change. if you don't change, you're stuck for the rest of your life. i'd hate to have the same relationship with Christ that i did when i was first saved. i wouldn't know His beautiful love and mercy as well as i do. that would be a tragedy in itself. 

i'm praying for the people who have excuses, including myself, to step up and not complain. going to church is a fellowship experience that tons of people would kill for around the world that don't get that opportunity. it's a beautiful thing to come together, worship our Almighty, share each others burdens, and pray together for each other. it's not a torture session. it's a lesson of discipline.

until next time.. because we all are a [work.in.progress]
love&prayers :)