I broke up with church...Part 2

Man, that sounds dramatic.

A better way to say it might be to quote Ross from the sitcom Friends: "We were ON a BREAK!"

There. That's a little better.

So I took a break from church.

And the reason that this is called "Part 2" is because this is the second time I've sat down to try to write about it.

The first time focused a bit more on what happened and how I'm trying to make my way back.

And the strong language I promised that's not for the faint of heart....the mutha-flippin' enemy steals, kills and destoys. He tries every day in a flippin' myriad of ways...and sometimes he will succeed...because you let him.

I mean seriously....the devil even called me tonight WHILE I was at church:

Ok, that's a stretch. But you can see the devil AND Kohl's want my attention. And maybe I should check out that book by an author I've read.

But GOD WANTS MY ATTENTION TOO:

• He was trying to get it when A was there for me today on a sh#t (see, more strong language!) day.

• He got my attention when M stopped what she was doing, signed up for the Bible study and said she'd meet me there so I'd better be going too. I went.

• He got my attention when the first person I saw after walking through the doors was T, one of the first pastors I met when I started going to my church. She gave me a hug that I badly needed.

• He was getting my attention when I saw D after Bible study, another friend I met soon after I started going to this church.

• Plus, you know, he had the devil call my cell. From near Waco, apparently.

I'm listening, Lord. I'm done doing it on my own, because it's not working. I'm walking by faith, not sight, which are the exact words I heard when I changed the radio station on my way home tonight. More of His Attention-Getting Efforts.

I pray this for myself, but also for you if you're reading it:

Lord, I pray that you keep getting my attention. I pray for my eyes and ears to be open to what you have to tell me, the direction you want me to go. I pray that you guide me in loving others, in making them a priority. I thank you for all the blessings in my life.

Thank you, God, for getting my attention. But thank you more...for making me pay attention.