Hi New Here

Nicolene - posted on 08/17/2009

Hi there Natalie, welcome to Circle of Moms. I'm really glad for the good response on your first insert! You've already received some good advice so I's just like to say that we went through the same thing with our kids, still do with the younger one... I understand what you're going through!! Luckily our kids grow up?! Don't listen to the nasty comments on you're not being a christian when not goin to church. You know who and what you are in Christ Jesus!! Blessings xx

Tam - posted on 07/20/2009

Hi Natalie...won't give advice since everyone else gave you some good advice. Simply wanted to welcome you to the group!

Heather - posted on 07/18/2009

I agree with everyone here that there is nothing that says if you don't go to church you aren't a Christian, however I know lots of people who do go to church who aren't Christians....

The Bible does tell us that we need fellowship with other believers. Going to church with small kids is tough. My husband sits in the nursery every week with our twin girls, and doesn't get anything out of the service. But he still gets the fellowship before and afterwards. Many churches have sound systems so that you can listen to the service from the nursery. Just a thought. If they don't have one we used baby moniters once. It worked okay, but not great.

To relate to your situation, we have 4 small kids. 6, 4, and twins that are 18 months. We have a very small church family. It is hard knowing that there are days when neither of us are able to listen to the sermon, but we still get the fellowship. It's worth it to me. Then I go to Bible study later in the week to actually get fed from the word. I use to attend the Womens Bible Study, but my husbands work schedule changed so I didn't have someone to stay with the kids, so I started a Mom's Bible Study at my house. All mothers are welcome and so are their kids! The older kids play in the back yard and the younger ones play with toys in the room with us. There are a lot of distractions, but the fellowship is great and we usually get through about a chapter a week. Just a thought.

Tammy - posted on 07/16/2009

Of course going to church does not mean that you are a Christian nor does NOT going make you NOT a Christian, that's silly. It IS very important to go to church and to connect with other believers and be studying God's word. As another poster said, it is too easy to get out of the "habit" of going to church and then find a new excuse when the old one is no longer valid. It's an opportunity for the devil to lure you off on the wrong path! Ask other moms that you know who have babies where they go to church. I'm a stay at home mom of 4 and when my kids were small the time on Sunday morning was a lovely break for me. One church we went to had a nice nursery where I would go and nurse my babies. There was a monitor in there where the service was shown and could be heard while sitting in the nursery. I got to hear the sermon and chat with the other moms who were there. Later, we went to a different church where they had a wonderful nursery ministry. They had the sweetest women there who just loved to care for the babies. That was such a blessing to me to have that hour of worship and peace and know my baby was well cared for. Now my children are older and that same church offers a ministry to children which they enjoy and they learn so much! It frees me to worship and and have a break from them and it's quite refreshing. I know if you are in the UK you don't have a church on every street corner the way we do here in America and it's harder to find a good, spiritual one. Sometimes you can find a good church just by doing a web search for churches in your area! If you are in the UK and anywhere near London, I know of a wonderful church there. Otherwise, I'll pray that God will guide you to where you can best worship and fellowship!

Rebekah - posted on 07/14/2009

Hm, "not a Christian because you don't go to church" - even Jesus spoke against the Pharisees with such a concept. Church does not mean a building where people congregate - church is where the Spirit of the Lord is - and as Christians we carry the Spirit of the Lord with us, so wherever we go, so should the church.

Have you tried finding a church that has a nursery "ministry"? I'm not talking about a church that has a nursery, I've found many that are more like day cares or baby sitting services, but one that will pray over your babies, read books with them, teach them songs, show them love, play with them and show them how their play can be related to Scripture, etc. I know it's hard to find, but there are churches that do this.

I encourage you and your husband to pray together for peace from the departing of your last church and ask Him to heal your hearts and bring you to the right church for your family. I will be praying for you and your family as well.

Shelly - posted on 07/13/2009

Natalie,

I don't know whos telling you that your not a Christian butn they need to check the log in thier eye before they worry about the sliver in yours....As far as using the girls for an excuse not to go to church is sad...It gets to be to easy to keep making excuses even after the girls get older. If your not comfortable at this new church then maybe thats not were the Lord wants you...If they don't have a nursery for your girls maybe thats were you need to be maybe you are there to start a ministry with the youngest of his flock!!! I think you need to realy start praying about this one ask the Lord were he wants you. I will keep you in my prayers and ask the Lord to give you clear a desice answer...Please don't just give up we all need to have that extended family and be a part of the body of Christ

Rabecca - posted on 07/13/2009

I think you ahve to remember that god wants us to worship him everyday no tjust the days that we are in church so as long as we are putting him first and know he is the leader in your family he will understand if for a short time you do not attend a public service you may want to consider attending a home group that includes child care or even just attending church via your favorite tv church I happen to love joel osteen and try to waltch if I miss my service .there are so many "christains " who go to church but after that they are like okay i put in my 2 hours this week I'm good with God and those are the people who may not be good with God because once out of those doors they are back to living a very secular life away from God . Just sitting and listening to someone preach once a week does not make you a christian you have to carry out your walk after you leave the church that makes you a true chritain so I think that if you are praying and trying everyday to live accorrding to his word dont worry about the short time you have to devote to your children because your not getting the full impact of the service when your not in the service room anyway

Rabecca - posted on 07/13/2009

I think you ahve to remember that god wants us to worship him everyday no tjust the days that we are in church so as long as we are putting him first and know he is the leader in your family he will understand if for a short time you do not attend a public service you may want to consider attending a home group that includes child care or even just attending church via your favorite tv church I happen to love joel osteen and try to waltch if I miss my service .there are so many "christains " who go to church but after that they are like okay i put in my 2 hours this week I'm good with God and those are the people who may not be good with God because once out of those doors they are back to living a very secular life away from God . Just sitting and listening to someone preach once a week does not make you a christian you have to carry out your walk after you leave the church that makes you a true chritain so I think that if you are praying and trying everyday to live accorrding to his word dont worry about the short time you have to devote to your children because your not getting the full impact of the service when your not in the service room anyway