How Far Can You Reach

Let me start with an update on Hayli. The diagnosis was ITP. She was given a steroid shot to stimulate her blood to make platelets. She was able to go home on Saturday but will not be able to return to school for an indefinite amount of time. Since her platelets remain significantly below normal, her parents have to try to keep her from banging her head or getting a cut or scrape. Prognosis for recovery is good. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to lift her up.

I grew up attending church. That's just what we did. We would get ready every Sunday and attend Sunday School and then Worship. I never questioned it. And I don't think I ever fought going to church. As an adult I have to say that attending church was not high on my priority list. I was one of the statistics, young adults that stop attending church in college. I practiced going out, staying up late, and sleeping half the day away. After college and before I was married my attendance was haphazard at best. It wasn't until I was married and had children that I felt drawn to attend more regularly. Both our children were baptized and I felt it important to raise them in the church. I'm not proud to say that even then our attendance was intermittent. I could use the excuse that we moved so much that it was difficult to find new church homes. Truth was it was easier to fall into the college habit of sleeping in. When you worked all week, this was your day off. As years went by and I was slowly maturing as a person and Christian, I began to feel that going to church was the least I could do. After all, God was with me 24/7 couldn't I give him a few hours once a week. Now I have a different attitude. I enjoy going to church. I get something out of worship service. It is no longer something I do because I should or because it is habit. And the great part about it is that I am maturing enough as a Christian that my faith moves beyond the hour a week in Worship. Our pastor today pointed out that our relationship with the church can affect our relationship with the world. As a community of faith we can and should carry God with us into our daily lives. Our church alone has a membership of 2,000-3,000 people. That's 2,000-3,000 people who could bring the love of God to the people of NW Arkansas. Wow.