Is attention bad?

This morning I was lucky enough to be able to sit down and enjoy some fresh air while I read my book for Union and kinda sipping on a really bad iced coffee. Minus the climbing heat as time passed, it was incredibly enjoyable and relaxing. After sitting there and reading for about 45 minutes (at this point my really bad coffee was dreadful thanks to the melted ice), two ladies sat down at the table next to me. I had overheard one of the ladies thank God for iced coffee on a day like today so of course I chuckled and tried to get back to my reading but then overheard her talking about church on Sunday. I'm not going to lie, my brain was a little fried from the combo of the heat, bad coffee, and lots of heavy reading so my focus turned to them since I am always curious about church experiences. The conversation really got me thinking- she mentioned that she had stood up in church with a few prayer concerns and announcements (nothing out of the norm as far as I am concerned) and that she was sure "the devil was gonna get her for doing it" because you shouldn't call attention to yourself in church, and to top it off, someone publicly thanked her for something she had done for the church.

So here is my question- is it really that bad to make announcements or prayer requests? It is bad to have your name called out in church for something you have done?

I have never really been one to stand up in church until recently when my sister was in the hospital, at which point I was standing up every week asking for prayers. I never once thought that this was bad, but rather a good thing and something that should be done. In addition, I won't lie about the fact that I was a little disapointed when I wasn't recognized by either church I attend when I graduated but others were, or that nothing was ever mentioned when I left church for the last time before seminary and nothing was said by anyone except for one lady who has been very involved in my life. So overhearing this conversation today really hit home for me. Am I a bad person for standing up and asking for prayers for my sister every week or for wanting to recognized for two big events?

Sometimes, I do think that church is not the place for attention and that the focus should really be on God. Then I argue that God has done so much in our lives that it is right to recognize his hand in it, or to recognize that we do need his help. Now, if the focus is removed from God, it is not appropriate. In this lady's case, it sounded like people were thanking her for sharing God's love in a special way and that this SHOULD be done and she should never feel bad about asking for multiple prayers.

Joel 1 says: "The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel: Hear this, you elders; give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation."

This makes me think that it is OK to spread the word of how God is working in your life, or how you need his hand at work. This is about the locust invasion, but I think that the key part is telling everyone around about the thing that has happened, because there is nothing like it. This goes for all of our lives, not just when we get invaded by a bunch of bugs.

I won't lie... I do kinda like attention. I want to ask for prayers and not feel bad about it, I want to be recognized not for what I have accomplished on my own but for what God has helped me accomplish, and I want to write my blog to share God's word. My life is centered around God, and I don't think that this is such a bad thing the the devil will come get me.

Thoughts??