Sunday Visits

Well yesterday marked 5 weeks now that I have been visiting new churches. It is getting a little easier in some ways and harder in others. walking into a new church and saying hello is getting easier, more comfortable if you will. getting up and choosing a place to go and actually getting out the door is getting harder.

This week I visited a fairly large church here in my local hometown. Fairly traditional in reputation, and considered the "country club set" by many. I found it to be in someways exactly that and in others to be quite refreshing. the worship was enjoyable although a bit reserved. the message was presented with passion I think... Since I am unused to the pastor and his method of preaching I am not sure, however, I am hearing a bit of buzz among others that this was pretty unusual for this church and this Pastor. although it was the first of the month there was no communion service. There was a tribute to the Armed Forces and to our Country in honor of the 4th of July. What was so different was when the Pastor called for Prayer I watched him and his worship leader kneel on the platform in humbleness to pray. Then He called for a time of extended prayer for all of us. and I watched as he once again moved to the back of the stage and fell to his knees in prayer. I and many others joined him in spending time on our knees begging God for his mercy in our lives and in our country. This was part of a nationwide movement yesterday for "Call 2 Fall" asking all Christians to make a commitment to spend time on their knees in humbleness before God pleading for God to once again forgive us for the sins of our country and making a commitment to follow our founding Fathers in standing up for God. Uniting our voices against those who would have God removed from public life and as a result continue to see the destruction of the greatest nation in the world.

I enjoyed the service. However am pretty sure this is not where God is preparing a place for me... the search goes on...

Yesterday afternoon was wonderful, a house full of friends, laughter, tears, joy and frustration as the single women in my life joined me in an afternoon of good (Healthy) food and fun! It was wonderful to reconnect and to share once again our lives. the joys and the tears the laughter and loneliness of our lives. to encourage each other as only one who has walked the same path can. It was so neat to at the end of the evening reflect on where these women have been and where they are now. It is amazing to see the growth in them that only God could accomplish. It is humbling to me for them to open up and share as much of themselves as they do. the vulnerability in them to be transparent in the unguarded moments of whispered conversations. In the giggles of wonder when they realized all the ways God is loving on them. In the tears of not understanding why God is allowing things and the frustration at not "getting it". I realized at the end of it all the incredible overflowing blessing each of them bring to my life. This is the life more abundant that Christ spoke of in John 10:10. it is the victorious affirmation from my Lord that he has defeated the enemy who came to kill steal and destroy, yet He in all His Glory stands guard over His own and like the Good Shepherd He is keeps us safe and provided for in the shelter of His love.

Blessings my friends,