tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074997366425469301.post4690639085209987593..comments2024-03-08T20:28:32.531+10:00Comments on Slightly more depth than a teaspoon: Mess in my headrobynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04351462075778087291noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074997366425469301.post-57096792078566376542015-10-24T20:17:29.090+10:002015-10-24T20:17:29.090+10:00Robyn, it is totally not you! This is a totally no...Robyn, it is totally not you! This is a totally normal, and probably even a good way to feel! That discontentment with life and church and the "God stuff" is what motivates us to seek God further and what prepares our hearts for the changes God wants to make in us, and show us! <br /><br />I totally get that church doesn't seem to relate to God. Totally, totally get this. This is why we personally do Friday night shabbat, and earnestly seek God at this time. There is something so liberating about joining with people all over the world in spirit at the same time, who love God and seek to serve him, but not actually having to meet with any of them physically! We still go to church, but it is in no way our main spiritual input, and now that we have other inputs that's okay. :)<br /><br />If you can sense that inauthenticity that comes with church (in my experience, nearly every single church has an element of this), then your children will be able to as well. They probably don't know it, or don't really understand, but church will quickly become a thing they do, and a place they meet their friends, not a place they learn about God. Again, another reason to be really active at home in teaching them about Him, and I am always amazed and humbled by how much they teach me, and how awesome their questions can be! Really gets me thinking, and about 70% of the time I need to go and research the answer for them because I don't know it myself. What a great way to me to learn, and for them!<br /><br />Anyway, just wanted to say that I have totally been here, and am really happy to be on a path that just keeps drawing me back to Jesus every day of the week. xo<br /><br />Will be praying that God brings total shalom and restoration to your family. Especially to you and hubby as you work through these spiritual difficulties. Remember you are not alone, and this is totally normal (even good!). Seek God and ask Him what he wants you to do next. Read your Bible and really get open minded about it.T'liahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14571451036872496582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074997366425469301.post-87945466128839075922015-10-21T21:34:31.785+10:002015-10-21T21:34:31.785+10:00Robyn you could be writing about me and my hubster...Robyn you could be writing about me and my hubster. Our kids are now grown up and don't go to church, and we are kind of wondering why we still do! We have been in the same church 20 odd years now, have tried other churches but nothing fits ... basically we are at the point that if we didn't go to this church (despite all the things we don't like about it which I won't go into here), we wouldn't go anywhere. It feels like we go to church to please man ... not God. I can so relate to this: "I'm also really struggling to accept the way we do church, and how it actually relates to God. I feel like the two don't really connect." Have done the whole full on Christian thing for so long, now we're just worn out. Still believe but questioning a lot. I figure God is big enough to understand and see us through this, even if other Christians don't understand. A psychologist friend (also a Christian) suggested I look into Fowler's "stages of faith" (Google it!). The church is full of people in stages 1 - 3. We feel we are at stage 4. Maybe it is something you too will relate too xxxJanet Camillerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14040750107420193756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1074997366425469301.post-44917926866249489672015-10-19T09:35:10.339+10:002015-10-19T09:35:10.339+10:00I get it Robyn. We felt like that for a while a fe...I get it Robyn. We felt like that for a while a few years ago, and in the end we moved churches. The transplant was exactly what we needed.<br />I guess the key is to work out if your issues are YOUR issues, or maybe God wants you in a different family. Your husband will maybe be a good gauge of that too.<br />I'll be praying for you anyway. The ebbs and flows are hard to deal with, but we have all deal with them. Big hugs my friend. xxEssentiallyJesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02372695554793237026noreply@blogger.com