Going to Church for first time!

[jerseydigger]

I guess after all this time, and alot of problems in my life, ( I'm 52 now) I decided to go to church and take the family for Christmas. My wife is very happy, she used to go when she was young. After losing both her parents at a young age, she is a disbeliever for many years, and angry too. Me, Well my parents went to Catholic school, and were hit with rulers by nuns and things like that ( the 30's) and complained about that lots too.My Mom always said" you take the money out of organized religion, and it would go away". As I am getting older, I'm thinking, take the money out of anything organised , won't it go away as well? But it seems to me like the older I am getting, that bright internal shine I had in me that made me feel invincible is growing duller, and the spiritual light in me now is seeming to grow, as I wittiness life and all that happens around me.The world just seems like a darker place,and I want my children to have the opportunity to make a choice at this time in their lives. My Dad never took us to church as kids, I am not baptised or anything like that either. But I do remember him making us kneel down by our beds every night and pray a simple rhyme like prayer that asked the Lord to take my soul if I died at night. So he must of had some inkling of religion from his past shining through.
I first listened to Glenn Beck years ago,and now I am listening to a different AM religious station with little clips of 15 mins. or so from different preachers, or pastors or priests (?) in Philly (WFIL) . I am praying to God everyday now, just being thankful for stuff like my two perfect kids,wife, and all that we have, and trying to do good things( I have been a real bugger in the past, maybe a little more than the other guy...) and sometimes it seems now as I have more awareness for those around me, and their troubles. I am also being neater, more polite, biting my sharp tongue, and just being more amenable to others and their needs.
I was born into what were roman Catholic parents, my wife was born Methodist, and the church down the street we are going to is St Anthony's. ( see any conflicts there?) I have no idea why there are so many different churches,and things like that ( Mormons, Presbyterians, Unitarians,etc.) , and don't know what will fit us. But we are going to walk through that church door on Christmas, and see whats going on in there. I'll let you know what happens. Wish me luck, and Merry Christmas to all of you!

 

[SEMPERFI61]

good for you guy,the lord loves you and your family.lets cut to the chase jesus christ is the only way to heaven---look at john 3:16 also john 14.6 .gods blessings are waiting for you,this world is going to but keep your eyes on the lord he is the worlds answer ,but the world is focused on man's goal instead.read the book of john ,then read the whole new testement.may gods blessings be on you and your family.

 

[SeniorSeeker]

n/t

 

[7centsworth]

That is great news. Glad you shared it with us . I will keep you in my prayers.

 

[steve in so la]

You are surely on the right path - things from the Lord will come if you listen.
I had a past like yours -and working at the Gospel Rescue Mission now I can connect with all the guys who come in for shelter & the Word.

May the Lord bless you & keep you this day and forever, Steve in so az

 

[Anonymous]

Hello jerseydigger! I was in my early 50's when I started going back to church regularly and seeking the Lord, as I had dropped out of church going because of many things in my life and was very depressed and suicidal! I was raised up in the Baptist church and had attended them most of my life until things fell apart for good when my ex filed for divorce! My brother and his wife started taking me to a full-gospel Pentecostal church about two hours away each way, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me, as I really found the Lord, as my own personal Savior and was baptised again in the Little Piney River and then baptised in God's Holy Spirit which is wonderful and I love Jesus now like I have never done before!

I was so thirsty for His Word and studied diligently the Scriptures for ovver 20 years and they came alive to me and the Holy Spirit has shown me many things, for when we seek God and His righteousness He will reveal what His Word means and fill you with His agape love! You are seeking and you will find when you and your wife have the right church with a godly preacher to show you the way back home! My prayers are for God to guide you and your family, as you study His Holy Word and seek Him in prayer, that HIs light will shine within your hearts and His truth you will find in the church He wants you to be worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth! May God Bless you and yours with much joy and peace at this Christmas time and all through the New Year of 2011...God is good and Jesus will help you to find the way, so call upon Him, even it is just to say, Help me, Jesus, and He will....I know I've been there many times when my heart was breaking and I thought only darkness existed but now I walk in the Light of my dear Savior's love! Amen! Ma Betty

 

[mohayes1046]

It's kind of like climbing a mountain, the first step is the hardest to take; once you get moving you will find others more than willing to reach out and give you a hand in all things. The most important thing, to me, is find a good Bible teaching church. There are a lot of "feel good" churches out there but they don't provide the bread and butter we need to grow in Christ and nourish growth in our soul.

GOD BLESS YOU JERSEYDIGGER. The first step is the hardest, never take your eyes off the Lord even if there are sharp curves thrown at you; follow the Lord.

I doubt if there are any on this forum that haven't hit more than one speed bump in their walk with the Lord. Satan does everything possible to discourage us, sidetrack us, and destroy our faith.

 

[seeker41]

great for you!!!! rest assured the place wont burn down not all churches are the same, not all preachers are the same and christians are far from perfect!!!!!!
you may have to find the right "bible teaching" church and do keep listening to that christian station, we have one here that sounds alot like yours and i love it!
by the way, what kind of detecting do you do?
chuck.

 

[Mike Chgo area]

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

I remember that one too.

 

[Mike Chgo area]

No matter which road leads us to Jesus, there are many, the important think is that we get there before we crash and burn. Even though the world is going haywire life is good as long as I stay in touch with GOD, seek his help, and take it the way he gives it to me. God Bless and Merry CHRISTmas.

 

[Greg from Mi.]

just like there are lots of types of people there are lots of types of churches. Some are quite some are more up beat. find one that is more your cup of tea. As long as they preach the word of God .
God bless you
Greg from Mi.

 

[ETobey]

My wife came across a version she liked:

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Angels watch me through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome, ETobey, and thanks for the nice prayer and a Very Merry Christmas and a blessed Happy New Year, too! May God Bless! Amen! Ma Betty

 

[BARKER]

Christian People who really do care when no one else will. As the old saying goes : "That First Step Is A Doozey." !!!!! Now : As C.S. Lewis once said, " I believe in Christianity as surely as I see the Sun. Not because I see it, but rather by it I see all else." Christ is our Son and His Light is very bright. As you draw closer to it the brighter it gets and the more you see. It kind of grows on you. !!!!! I hope you find Him no matter where you go. I myself have a very colorful history as well. I was heavily involved in the local Mafia here in Boston. I was kind of born into it because of where I grew up. I couldn't help it. I still know all the guys but I walked away from that World in 1982 and have never gone back. I've been praying for 29 years now and I like it over the old way anytime. Today the thing that makes my walk wth Christ so great is the Peace Of Mind I have today. I don't have to worry about who I robbed. I don't have to worry about who I owe money to and I owe lots now but I don't have to worry about getting shot, stabbed or beaten over it. I don't have to worry about not being able to look people right in the eyes and have that sinking gut feeling like I had for so many years. Today I walk down the street and hold my head up. Today I can walk down the street and people actually say hello instead of other things they used to say. I owe all this to Christ. I hope that you find that same Peace Of Mind as well. I wish you and yours the best. You ARE on the right path. Now just follow it. PECE:RONB

 

[boxofchocolates]

God Our Creature,His Son Jesus Chris And The Holy Spirit Is By Far The Greatest Treasure We Could Ever Find

 

[DK]

Hey Jerseydigger, welcome. So glad you are in church. Jesus will never let you down. Do you actually live in Jersey? I lived in Ridgewood and Ramsey for about 3 years, up in North Jersey, Bergen County.

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

God is stirring in you and you are listening. My prayers are with you and your family.
I suggest you find a good Bible Church that preaches the word.
I am here for any questions or if I can help just shout!

God bless.

Mike

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

Hope you visit more.
God bless.

Mike

 

[RickIowa2009]

John 1:1, Greatest gift was sent to us, Jesus! I can relate to things your saying, but I do know one thing, Jesus died on the cross for us, all we need to do is recognize are sin so that he can forgive us! I always look at the two thieves on the cross, the one recognized his sin, the other did not! Jesus told the one that he would be in paradise with him today!

Its never easy to admit we fail, but with our failure comes victory through Jesus Christ!

Thank You! Merry Christmas!

 

[jerseydigger]

Hi everybody!
Thanks for all the works of encouragement, and I just wanted to give you guys an update! First off, my daughter who is 21 and currently stationed in Djibouti Africa, the horn of Africa, told us she would be taking her leave to go with some friends to a trip to Rome Switzerland Germany France ,and then the Netherlands, from the 27 to the 7Th of Jan. The wife and I were so worried, but she's an e-4 in the Navy, from NJ, and smart. I tried to calm the wife's worries, and my own the best I could, but was getting a bad feeling, with all the terrorist bombings, and her being military and such. I bit the bullet, and always kept her in my prayers.
After I wrote the post "going to Church for the first time", at 5 am on the 24Th, I will tell you how my day unfolded.

There was a phone call from my Daughter, asking if we received our Christmas package from her from Africa,( the mail is always so slow) and I said no, not yet. She told me to look out front for a package, but I told her I would hear the truck coming as we live out in the sticks. Told me to check again...

I walked to the front door, and there she stood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Turns out she decided not to take the European trip. Her decision was made in October, (5 months after the time I started praying daily) and that she just had a feeling she should be home for Christmas.We told her we were going to church for the first time just weeks ago, and I felt bad she wouldn't be there with the family. I said we would go to Easter services with her when she got back to the states in March, in San Diego. I felt deep inside there would be a hole in our family, but Military duty comes first in our family. So we were OK with that.

Isn't it amazing we walked through the Church door as a family?!!! Talk about God's work!!!!!

It has been the best Christmas Season in many years, and I feel things are getting so much better between my wife and I, and us as a family.

I will tell you a little about the Church episode now, if you want to read on...

Well, I didn't know what church to go to, so I just went to the closest one, a R.C. church up the street.Mass started at 8, we got there at 7:59... It was packed, and as we walked in, they said there were seats up in front. How about that! Front row seats! Well it was a very structured ceremony, alot of kneeling, getting up, down, singing songs I never heard, so we just hummed along the best we could. There were alot of smiles between us , realizing we were in way over our heads, but we went along with everything, and it turned out good! A little uncomfortable not knowing what to do, but a good feeling all the same, just to be there together as a family.

We went out to breakfast afterwords and discussed the experience, and what we thought about it. Nothing but good comments. Maybe someone can tell me what faith a "bible base church " is. I felt we had to know alot of stuff for this R.C. Mass we didn't know, so although it was a good start, maybe something not as structured is in order. I'm open for suggestions here!

Looking to go again next Sunday,and want to make it a weekly thing. Do people church hop? I mean go to different churches until you find on that speaks to your heart, or should I just stay with that one and learn all the rituals for that faith? As I said before, My parents were R.C. although not practicing, wife went to church as a Methodist. I'm confused. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks again everyone for your kind words!