Where do I begin? The past several weeks have been an unbelievable exercise in gratitude. So many people have stepped up to help us move forward in God's call to pastor own our flock. We are finally here and so excited about the opportunity we have been given to move Church @ the Lake closer and closer towards the Lord. Gratitude is defined as the state of being grateful. It is also termed thankfulness, appreciation, appreciativeness, gratefulness, thanks, and thankfulness according to Webster dictionary. I speak for both of us when I say we are all of those and more.
Before we even made the decision to accept the offer to Pastor, we asked several key people to assist us. We wanted solid biblical counsel from those we trusted and knew would speak truth into our lives. We are grateful to the Alonso's, the Rose's, the Galle's, the Richardson's, and the Chamber's. They held our confidence and allowed us to bounce off excitment and concern at the same time. They prayed whole heartedly for God's will to be revealed to us. When the announcement was made at OASIS, we had church wide support (although not without tears). Everyone was excited about the path which laid ahead. The congregation expressed in words what we had meant to them over the past few years. We again were grateful we had made a difference in people's lives.
Our last Sunday at OASIS we had a farewell brunch. There was a video of our "life" in pictures from our time there. I was taken back by how many people Steve had baptised. Steve performed his first wedding and first funeral at OASIS. He learned how to create a church budget and keep the administrative functions on track. We watched our lead pastor and his wife witness to people, love on people, and counsel people. They taught us mercy, grace, patience, long suffering and above all how to have a grateful attitude for even the smallest offering. We are taking those lessons with us and we are grateful.
My parents have opened their home to us. They have moved, stored and shifted whatever we needed to fit our lives into theirs. They have done it without regard for how long the stay may be and without asking for repayment of any kind. We would not be in Florida this very moment if we were not offered this free housing. They have also rallied behind us and spurred us on. My mom attended our first church service and told everyone how wonderful we are because that is what mom's do. So, you guessed it, we are grateful to my parents.
Last night at our inaugural service, we were welcomed into the Church @ the Lake family. Friends from many years ago attended to support us. Literally everyone told us how excited they were we were there. They are all looking forward to the future and the impact we will have on Lake County. There were delicious refreshments and at the end we were given a set of plates as a gift. They had been used to serve the goodies! The church is helping us financially with our move. Other local church planters are offering assistance. Steve has already been asked to go on mission to Haiti. People are calling their medical contacts to see if a job can be found for me. Everyone is attempting to find some way to help us settle in to this new life.
In the midst of our excitment and celebration, there is trouble at our home in Amherst. A freak wind phenomenon happened on Friday night. Winds in excess of 90 mph hit our town. There were two and a half very large oak trees downed in our yard. After a lot of phone calls, we have a neighbor cutting up the trees and takng the wood for fire. The church is going to clean up the yard. My girlfriend is emptying the freezers to salvage the food. They are doing all of this when there is no immediate hope of their power being turned back on, the temperature is reaching 100 and they are trying to figure out how to feed their families without electricity and some of them water supply. So how do we feel, that's right, grateful.
Many times we as a nation, a people, focus our attention inward. We are so consumed by our own challenges and worries, we do not see the big picture. There are so many suffering in a much greater way for Christ than we are at this moment. Some are giving their lives and you know they are grateful to do it. Some do not have a garanteed meal each day, but they are grateful for what comes to them. Many are living 8-10 in one room while we are living four to a house and they are grateful for a roof over their heads. It humbles me, to think I would even dare to complain at my circumstances. The bible tells us in Philippians 4 to "not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God".
Take stock in what you have. Look around and see what others don't. Then remember how blessed you are and be grateful to God for his mercies are new each day!
In His service
Mally
Before we even made the decision to accept the offer to Pastor, we asked several key people to assist us. We wanted solid biblical counsel from those we trusted and knew would speak truth into our lives. We are grateful to the Alonso's, the Rose's, the Galle's, the Richardson's, and the Chamber's. They held our confidence and allowed us to bounce off excitment and concern at the same time. They prayed whole heartedly for God's will to be revealed to us. When the announcement was made at OASIS, we had church wide support (although not without tears). Everyone was excited about the path which laid ahead. The congregation expressed in words what we had meant to them over the past few years. We again were grateful we had made a difference in people's lives.
Our last Sunday at OASIS we had a farewell brunch. There was a video of our "life" in pictures from our time there. I was taken back by how many people Steve had baptised. Steve performed his first wedding and first funeral at OASIS. He learned how to create a church budget and keep the administrative functions on track. We watched our lead pastor and his wife witness to people, love on people, and counsel people. They taught us mercy, grace, patience, long suffering and above all how to have a grateful attitude for even the smallest offering. We are taking those lessons with us and we are grateful.
My parents have opened their home to us. They have moved, stored and shifted whatever we needed to fit our lives into theirs. They have done it without regard for how long the stay may be and without asking for repayment of any kind. We would not be in Florida this very moment if we were not offered this free housing. They have also rallied behind us and spurred us on. My mom attended our first church service and told everyone how wonderful we are because that is what mom's do. So, you guessed it, we are grateful to my parents.
Last night at our inaugural service, we were welcomed into the Church @ the Lake family. Friends from many years ago attended to support us. Literally everyone told us how excited they were we were there. They are all looking forward to the future and the impact we will have on Lake County. There were delicious refreshments and at the end we were given a set of plates as a gift. They had been used to serve the goodies! The church is helping us financially with our move. Other local church planters are offering assistance. Steve has already been asked to go on mission to Haiti. People are calling their medical contacts to see if a job can be found for me. Everyone is attempting to find some way to help us settle in to this new life.
In the midst of our excitment and celebration, there is trouble at our home in Amherst. A freak wind phenomenon happened on Friday night. Winds in excess of 90 mph hit our town. There were two and a half very large oak trees downed in our yard. After a lot of phone calls, we have a neighbor cutting up the trees and takng the wood for fire. The church is going to clean up the yard. My girlfriend is emptying the freezers to salvage the food. They are doing all of this when there is no immediate hope of their power being turned back on, the temperature is reaching 100 and they are trying to figure out how to feed their families without electricity and some of them water supply. So how do we feel, that's right, grateful.
Many times we as a nation, a people, focus our attention inward. We are so consumed by our own challenges and worries, we do not see the big picture. There are so many suffering in a much greater way for Christ than we are at this moment. Some are giving their lives and you know they are grateful to do it. Some do not have a garanteed meal each day, but they are grateful for what comes to them. Many are living 8-10 in one room while we are living four to a house and they are grateful for a roof over their heads. It humbles me, to think I would even dare to complain at my circumstances. The bible tells us in Philippians 4 to "not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God".
Take stock in what you have. Look around and see what others don't. Then remember how blessed you are and be grateful to God for his mercies are new each day!
In His service
Mally
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