No Pews, No Suits, BUT Still Worshiping God.

When I was little I was taught about the bible. I was saved when I was six. I still remember that day and the exact words I told my parents. "I want to follow Jesus." So we walked down the aisle, told my pastor at the time, and I just started crying. I had this huge feeling come over (I still remember it to this day), it was a feel of joy and excitement, but most of all it was feeling of God taking over my life. I got baptized and read a book with my parents so I could further understand the God's word. I knew I had done the right thing.

Then when I was in 7th grade we moved and we started going to a new church! It was a change and I would have to make new friends, but soon after I realized that God had a plan for me there. I started getting involved and making new friends. I was so happy there. I eventually graduated from high school and got involved in the college ministry. I also got involved with the adult choir, the praise band, and helping with the babies as much as I could. I loved it. I loved everything I did, but I soon realized that I was doing it all for the wrong reasons. I was there because my family was there, I was there because it was comfortable, I was there because I never knew I couldn't go anywhere else. So I felt like I needed a change. I wanted a change for MYSELF. I was ready for different music, and I knew that it was time to get uncomfortable. So, I started visiting churches, and than I found Oak Leaf Church. It struck my attention because I just love the music, I love the atmosphere, and I just love the fact that I felt that God wanted me here. So needless to say I have been at Oak Leaf for a little over 2 years now. It is a true blessing to be apart of a body of believers that love God, love serving, and love reaching people for the Kingdom of God! Plus, it feels good knowing that I choose Oak Leaf for myself not because my family goes there, but I felt that God wants me there. That is a neat feeling!

Yes, Oak Leaf Church is different than most churches. We don't sing from hymn book, we don't wear suits or even dress up, we don't have a praise band, we don't have pews, we don't have sunday school, we don't have sunday night service, but I can tell you what we do have. We have Jesus Christ showing up there! Every Saturday, and every Sunday we come together as a body of believers to worship Him (yes with a band that plays LOUD music). I am not say that having hymns and pews are bad, but as long as you are going to a church that Jesus and worships Him because of what he stands for than that is all that matters. Why can't all the churches come together and have a common goal. Reach as many people for the lost as we can, because at the end of the day GOD IS THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE GLORIFIED, not me and not you.

On that note, I am so blessed to be apart of Oak Leaf Church. Yes, we can be attacked by Satan a lot of times, but if you go to Michael's Blog called "The Method's are Not Sacred" you will realized why my heart is at Oak Leaf Church at this point in my life.

Learning.

I have been married for about 3 months now. :) Things that I am learning and probably will still be learning years down the road: how to be a Godly wife, how to maintain my relationship with God and not put Ryan above Him, how to be patient, how to be selfless, how to remain happy because it is not my husband's job to make me happy (or vice versa), how to cook, how to communicate, how to keep marriage fun and alive for how ever long God allows us to be together, how to make a dollar go a long way (things are expensive), how to maintain a close relationship with our families (family is so important to us), how to remain physically healthy so we can have a good long lasting life, how to become a team, how to build each other up and not break each other down, and many many more...

Hope God is blessing your marriage like He is ours!

John 3:30