growing church growing pains

Do you have any social time before or after your 'church' part? Informal seems to be the best time to get to know people, especially if you something like coffee to do with your hands. Can you talk to your pastor, since she's known you for a while, and explain that you are feeling a bit run over and ask her to help by making sure everyone gets their moment to talk if she is leading? It is tricky. I am an introvert as well, and often struggle - also often give up and then feel unsatisfied - guess we need to work on this because as the body of Christ it's good for everyone to hear us too!

me? I practice. A LOT. My husband is awesome, and helps me - he takes the offensive in role plays ie 'how to speak to a person who is rude to you' or 'how to answer this question in an interview'. He helps me practice strategies for avoiding hugs ie the 'handbag block and offered handshake instead' and for dealing with people who look as if they might try to bully me. If I have something coming up, I practice and practice with him, then on my own, and eventually I can do it. Sometimes I bomb, and make a twit of myself, so I pick it up, have a cry and start over I have just got a new job in our local library which involves going into the community talking to groups and finding out what they want from the library. A couple of years ago there is no way I could have done this, but I am determined to do it, because I want to! I have a stress ball in my desk, and squeeze it when I'm on the phone (eeew the phone, I hate the phone) so that my hands are busy. If I have to make a call, I plan it beforehand and write down the main points I'm going to say and how to do it. I have a plan for what to say to an answerphone. It has taken me nearly 3 years of practicing interviews at home, and doing lots and LOTS of unsuccessful real ones to get where I am now.

With church, I started by sitting by the door and running when I couldn't face it. Then I tried a house group, which was really hard, but I eventually managed to get through a whole evening. Then one day I decided to share my opinion.....and although i can be a bit unorthodox, no-one actually exploded. After another couple of years I prayed in the group. A couple of years after that, I began to prophecy, and now I teach from the pulpit and we lead a housegroup and hospitality ministry in our home (whoa, in MY SPACE!!!) None of this has been easy - it has been achieved over YEARS with practice - ie when people first came to our house I would be in the kitchen doing my best to be hospitable for 10 minutes, then go and cry in our room and not come out till they left. My prayers used to be maybe 3 words and then I would go to the kitchen and recharge with a coffee on my own.

Jan800 said:

I wanted to write here and get feedback. tomorrow is church and the pastor's daughter is coming back after being gone on a work trip. She and her mom are always talking, she really doesn't talk to me too much but we do facebook which helps.

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How did it go??

By no means do I wish to knock you down, with all the people that talk constantly, it is refreshing to know that some can refrain and be good listeners. Still, there are different personalities, and it seems as if you want to break out more so I thought I would offer some scriptures that should help. I was thinking in terms of believing more for God's favor, Psalm 90:17 (NASB77) 17 And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And do confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.
Still rather than create my own list that likely would be insufficient, I found a website that offers 10 scriptures to build your faith. Here is the link. 10 Bible Verses for Introverts
Over time you can change. At age 21, I felt like God was telling me to apply for a job as a announcer on Christian radio. In the flesh, I thought that was crazy, in no way did I want that kind of job even if it was offered. Needless to say, I went to the station, applied and got hired. It was tough for me at first. I wanted no part of public speaking but learned to do it pretty well. This helped set me up for ministry and secular teaching and have little fear of public speaking. I guess what I am implying is to step out in faith, that you will be able to give and receive more in church and in social situations. There is a secular group called the toastmasters, whose goal is to help you become a better public speaker. Maybe try something like that? Ask God too for a friend that can help. Moses asked because he felt he was a poor speaker and got help, so why not? Enjoy God and work through this, believing that your church will grow even more and that you are an integral part of it. I almost forgot, one of the stations I worked at had the call letters KSHY
(Cheyenne's shining light) I think it is secular now though.