Promises

It's funny. I've no idea how long it's been since I've posted. I think it's been an eternity. We've been to NC and back. I gardened, reflected and put down more heart roots in NC. Now we are back. Although I long for a house to nest in, I really don't believe it is here for the long term. I do believe I am here for the time being though and am to bloom in the planting.
Part of me dreads being here. It seems so high profile. I hate political news that brings terroism updates. I imagine Orlando being a great target. On the other hand, living in fear will deprive me of the chance to live out my call here. And I do believe it was a call to come here, it certainly was not my top choice. Over and over again, I see God's plan unfolding and I am reduced to silence as I see how our lives might grow.

So for now, I seek to know my neighbors better. I savor the week in NC. I stick out the heat. I resist the temptation to pack it all up and move on. I rejoice and take comfort in the gift of an amazing church.

Celebrate Church is the kind of church that gives me a glimpse of how people could have been so excited by Jesus they would have risked everything to follow him. Social conventions and familial expectations can be severe. Yet, some people were willing to walk away from it all to follow Jesus. In all my years of church attendance and in all the churches I have visited, I have never seen such amazing love and dedication as in this funny movie theater church. My wish for everyone is to have a church like this in their lives.
Celebrate exists to know and love people. It seeks to introduce people to God and his loving son in response to the grace and power its various members have experienced, not out of fear and condemnation. Fear and the after life seems very minor to the glory and purpose of a life spent walking with an awesome God. And the people respond. It's beautiful to see the lives changed.

In fact, every time I contemplate throwing in the towel here, I am reminded of this church and how God will sustain our family here and we will come to our own personal promised land. And my personal promised land has room for a garden, maybe a chicken and perhaps a downtown with stores I would actually shop at :). And I am reminded of how much I have to learn about walking with and trusting God.
In the meantime, I better get some sleep because I'm on my own tomorrow and my babies will give me a run for my money.