Thankful Series: Day 18 (+#Giveaway)
I had a mentor share with me that if you’re in the perfect church, get out because I would be ruining it. Point being, there is no such thing as a perfect church. However, I’m grateful for my church family.
I wasn’t always able to say that. When we moved to Ohio, I worked so hard for my husband and kids to fit in that I forgot to work on it myself. It took a long time before I felt comfortable reaching out or receiving others who were trying to get to know me. I still struggle because I’m such an introvert, but overall, the people I know are warm. They work hard to make my family feel welcome and loved. The ministries I’m involved with challenge me to grow in my relationship with Christ. The leadership is healthy and rooting for God’s kingdom to advance not for their glory, but for His.
There are people I can go to and share raw, transparent thoughts and I know they have my back in prayer. When my in-laws passed away, we were inundated with messages, cards, and flowers. The love was tangible.
I don’t take a church family for granted. There are spats and differences and honestly, people I probably wouldn’t know outside of Jesus, but that’s family. I’ve seen a church be defined as the building, and that was never Christ’s design. I’m very grateful for the people that I’m able to see on a regular basis who share my faith and desire to grow.
All this month I will be watching on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my new subscribers for my monthly-0r-so newsletter. If you tag me @JulieArduini and tell me you’re #thankful or #juliearduinithankful, I’ll enter your name to win a copy of my fiction books. This includes Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged, You’re Beautiful and the boxed set of A Christmas to Remember (only available as eBook.)
If you live in the United States, you have the choice, if you are the one winner randomly chosen, of print (except A Christmas to Remember,) or eBook. If you are outside of the US, it is automatically eBook.
I’ll add your name once a day for each shout out I receive (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, plus one total entry if you are a new subscriber to my newsletter.) You may or may not receive confirmation from me for those entries, and my random draw is final. If winner doesn’t respond after 30 days, I will choose another. I’m thankful for you.
