Ten Years

 Today, we celebrate something special to our family. Today, TEN years ago we became members of Harvest Church. I wanted to say a little about it for those of you that maybe are on the fence about church or joining a church. 

Ray nor I was raised in church and we both wanted that for our family. But there's where the problem started. I wanted a different kind of church to go to. We had visited several churches and even stayed at a couple churches for periods of time, but in the end they weren't the right fit for us. Nothing I wanted to hitch my wagon to.

The boys and I visited Harvest, I knew that first visit this is where I wanted to hang around a little longer to see if this could be the church for us. I had been struggling with after salvation, what next? Ya, know what? That was exactly what the Preacher's message was that very Sunday I decided to show up. Long story, kinda shorter, haha.. We ended up going to Harvest for a little over two years, before we became members. Honestly, it wasn't even on my radar. When we did think about joining, I dismissed it because I was afraid of what would be required of me. Sometime later, Ray and I talked about it and decided with the encouragement of the elders and Pastor that we would join. We were presented to the church on this day ten years ago. None of those crazy thoughts about what would be required of me was required of me. Those were lies from the enemy, trying to oppose something good, something God-ordained from our family. 

What I thought I wanted was a church, turns out what I needed was a community of like-minded believers.

What I thought I wanted was a preacher, turns out what I needed was a pastor.

What I thought I wanted was a fellowship to belong, turns out what I needed was church. 

We did get a community of like-minded believers, we did get a preacher, we did get a fellowship to belong to. We got all of these things plus way more to mention here. I will say, I also gained the best of friends.  Ray has great friendships, and my boys have also gained greatly in the friend department. And of course, Casen is here for it all.

As humans we all this desire to belong. The church helps with that, when its focus is pointing you to Jesus and ALL that Jesus has said and done and left us with.  

Alot has happened over that ten-year time period. The things that we experience personally, both good and bad, happy and sad, life giving and life fleeting, guess who showed up for us, THE CHURCH. 

Thank you to all of Harvest Church who welcomed us, has loved us, supported us, encouraged us, helped us, taught us, laughed with us, cried with us, carried the torch for us. We love you and are so thankful to be a part of this local gathering called Harvest Church. 

Friends, find that church and hitch your wagon to her.