Okay today, I didn't feel like getting out of bed for church....

Well, that's good to hear. I never did say you've turned your back on God, despite the last comment on backsliding, nor do I even think it. Your question invited us to share our thoughts on the possible cause of your missing a service, and I simply presented the possibilities. If you could've worded it differently, perhaps I 'd have given a different response. Although you started with a description of the weather in your area, I woudn't have thought that to be the culprit. LOL Just go backand re-read your post "...Have I truly lost my hunger & thirst to want to visit one of God's temple..have I lost the hope I once contained...?...Have I come to the point of not wnating to be around other Christians...?...my family...I don't seem to be the leader everyone is expecting me to be?" Questions like those beg for a serious consideration of your situation, in my eyes. Anyways, just relax. I've not yet seen any post here that condemned you for missing a service. No need to explain elaborately, and may I say, defensively, it seems. Lastly, I should've added this to my initial reply. It's great to be able to "connect" to a service online. I've done it myself as I said, and very convenient if you cannot make it to a physical church. It only becomes a problem, however, if done habitually as we do miss out on fellowship. Thanks for the welcome by the way. I should do this to/for you however as I've been a member 2 years now (but only recently gotten started posting). So, welcome to myLot!

I didn't mean to appear defensive, rather, I like to ensure I'm clear/concise, but most importantly, understood. Which was the reason for the long response. Thanks for your participation in this discussion, I do appreciate your input.

1. I have not lost faith in God, neither have I forgot about seeking him daily. 2. Yes I did not want to deal with the weather. 3. Yes I chose to stay home out of convenience. 4. I don't feel far from God at all. I know that he is ever present, and that he would never leave me nor forsake me. 5. I have not and will NOT turn by back on God. He is the very reason I can type and respond to this discussion. I chose to let down a wall, and simply express the emotions I was having at that I created this discussion nothing more. I don't allow my emotions to run my life, neither do I allow my feelings to do the same. It is because of the simplicity of God's word and the understanding thereof that I am able to enjoy the fullness of the fellowship that I do have with him. Whether large amounts, or small amounts of time spent with him acknowledging him in all that I do. That to me is the significant blessing. Thanks for your response, and BTW, welcome to mylot!

okay rocketj1 here's my response. I needed to give it a good night's sleep in order to respond appropriately. 1. I have not lost faith in God, neither have I forgot about seeking him daily. 2. Yes I did not want to deal with the weather. 3. Yes I chose to stay home out of convenience. 4. I don't feel far from God at all. I know that he is ever present, and that he would never leave me nor forsake me. We can all draw closer to God for a more deeper and meaningful relationship. I chose to let down the wall, and simply express the emotions I was having at the type I created this discussion nothing more. I don't allow my emotions to run my life, neither do I allow my feelings to do the same. It is because of the simplicity of God's word and the understanding thereof that I am able to enjoy the fullness of the fellowship that I do have with him. Whether large amounts, or small amounts of time spent with him acknowledging him in all that I do. That to me is the significant blessing. Regarding praying for one another, that is fine. I'll type my prayer for you here based off of why I understand you to say in your response. If I am incorrect in any way, please feel free to correct me. Father in the name of Jesus, I ask that you stir up the gifting and calling of the person behind the username of rocketj1 on the online mylot community. Give her a hunger and thirst to spend more dedicated time with you and to live the example that you have set before her. Bless her family and her children and allow everyone in her household to be saved and sold out for you. So let their lights shine as beacons in this dark world and that you will get the honor glory and praise that is due your precious name. We thank you for it in advance and know that you have heard us, and will perform your word, and if you agree, you can type AMEN! Thanks for the scriptural reference, it takes a bold person to say those things to a person they don't know. I appreciate your gifting of boldness and just note it was only a moment of weakness that I decided to express openly to the public here on mylot, I am sure I will get a varied amount of responses, in which I am prepared to respond to now. Have a blessed day.

Amen! I'm sorry that you thought that I was a bit hard on you. I really didn't realize that it came across in such a way. I was trying to be encouraging. I have heard so many Christians (here and elsewhere) who give me the old "I don't have to go to church" line that I wanted to be clear about the need for attendance. I didn't know exactly where you stood on the subject. Just wanted to encourage and not to condemn. Thank you so much for praying for me. While I am not far from God, I am struggling lately with spiritual laziness in my own personal time with Him. We can't be on fire for God 24/7 (that old humanity thing, you know) and it's good to be honest and accountable to other Christians about such things(just as you were honest about what was going on with you). We can all benefit from prayer for one another.

You are welcome for the prayers. I'd like to clarify something, I didn't think that you were being to hard or attempting to condemn me by any shape form or fashion. I simply appreciated you for allowing the Spirit of God in you be just as honest in your response as I was in creating this discussion. It's funny that you say that we can't be on FIRE for God 24/7. But wasn't that Enoch was with God? Doesn't the word say that Enoch walked with God and pleased God so much that God decided to take him up in the heavens with him? That is the sign of the times in my opinion. I believe that the economy will get so bad that the entire nation will have to turn to God for the answers, and then that's when God will be pleased, and the return of our Savior and King will begin. Until such a magnificent time, we will benefit our fellow brother and sister, by leading them to Christ. God will be pleased with us and will say: "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter thy into the rest of the Lord." Have you ever considered what that rest of God really means? I am not the scholar or Pastor, but I believe it means he exhaled and said, all the work that I have done for past 6 days is well and GOOD. So he took the time to enjoy that which he had created. That's what I believe, I am not saying it is the truth, but that is how I see it when I read his word. So if my first response was a bit rough around the edges, please forgive me, as it was not my intent to make you think I was anger or anything. The first responder before you threw me for a different loop, so I had to break down my response to him/her by what he had written. After I read his response and then yours, I thought to myself, "why" did I type this discussion. But I believe it is important for new believers to see, yes, you may experience moments of weaknesses, there is no telling as to the number of them you will see. But all in all, it is how you handle those moments that determines your outcome. When Jesus was in the garden, he had a moment of weakness, when he asked God: "take this cup from me," but then he came to his senses and said, "nevertheless NOT my will, but YOUR WILL be done." That was a real life example to me that said, Lord I know I am weak today, or it's real cold outside of whatever, although I know your will is for me to be at church, I am going to at least complete my worship and honoring you by watching it online. I don't get into people bondage as to how I should or shouldn't live this life God has blessed me with. I simply continue to thank him for it every step of the way.

Oh indeed the message that our Pastor delivered to us was uplifting and exactly what I needed to hear. He spoke on not having FEAR. That God has not given us the spirit of FEAR, but the SPIRIT OF LOVE, OF POWER and OF A SOUND MIND. Which means to me that if I had simply paid more attention to what his word says that I can do or what he has already blessed me with as a gift, then I could have used that to overcome my emotions or feelings and made my way to church on yesterday. I'll be prepared next Sunday for sure though.

Thanks Israel Angel. I'll keep my trust in God. But I generally find my answers in his Word, and not just in a Church service setting.

Thanks for such a insightful view point. The only problem with that is I believed that I was called to this particular church and have been there as a member since 1996. Much like my marriage (9yrs on Jan. 29th) to end that relationship now would be detrimental to everything in my life. You shouldn't ever feel intimidated to respond to any particular discussion. Even if the person creating the discussion doesn't like your point of view. This is the freedom of typed speech here and no one should bash you for expressing your view. Although, I've heard that some folks are pretty ruthless in that manner. Just be the best you that you can be and welcome to mylot!