FROM DEACONESS JESSICA’S DESK:

The Church Cries

Sometimes children say profound things if we just take a moment to think about them.  Heath had one of these moments the other day after we picked up Faith from the church after Youth Group.  He said, “Mom, what if the church loved children and whenever all of the kids left the church cried?”  I almost dismissed this comment as some unusual thought, but then I stopped and thought of how profound his statement really was. 

Now, most of us, when we say the word “church” we think of the building in which we worship, but what about that song that many of us learned as children:

The church is not a building,
The church is not a steeple,
The church is not a resting place,
The church is the people.

I am the church,
You are the church,
We are the church together!
All who follow Jesus,
All around the world,
Yes, we’re the church together!

The Church is so much more than just the building, and that got me thinking.  Of course, the church would cry when the building is empty.  Jesus says in Scripture “Let the little children come to me”, and He talks about the beauty of childlike faith.  Without our children we don’t have a Church that will continue.  It will die as our generations of parishioners go home to their Father in heaven.  We NEED our children in the church!  We need to foster their faith so that the Word of God will continue to be preached to future generations. 

God loves us each dearly and wants nothing more for us than to come and live with Him in heaven someday, and the sustaining and growth of our faith and love for God is the only way that can happen.  There are so many things that can pull us away from the church now days, games, work, our bed.  Our lives are so busy!  And God’s heart “the Church” cries when we lose sight of THE MOST IMPORTANT thing in the world…our relationship with our Father in heaven. 

When I really stopped to think about it, I think our misprioritization of our time must be to God like the grief of losing a loved one.  I mean, when we lose our loved ones we grieve, we cry out in anguish as we miss someone whom we love so dearly.  And as Christians we have the hope of heaven to cling on to.  We know that someday we will be reunited with them in heaven.  Having lost my mom and sister, I have to admit, the gift of heaven is what gets me through.

But when God loses one of his dear children to the ways of the world He is losing them forever!  Though He gave His most precious Son to take away their sins, we still turn away and choose the world over God.  What a slap in the face!  And what does He do?  He loves us, and misses us and cries out for us to return!

God is waiting for us with open arms!  He loves you, His dear child, and wants to spend time with you!  When you are not spending time with Him, He cries out with longing for your return. 

As you come to church through this Christmas season remember that it is your HOME!  You are at home with your Father and He is thrilled to spend that precious time with you.  Let us not let it be a once a year event, but rather a daily occurrence of sharing your life with Him!

Praying for life changing faith growth in your lives this Christmas and in the year to come!

God Bless you,

Deaconess Jessica Feldmann