Remembering God’s faithfulness to put me in the right place at the right time came to the fore in my mind this week. The funeral of a friend from my first church in the Houston area reminded me of how good God has always been to lead me. The church had begun earlier that year and was meeting in a day care center near our rental home. My then husband was on temporary transfer to a research and development group of his company. I heard of the church through someone who knew the praise and worship leader. It was a God thing.
What eventually became Hope Christian Fellowship was a place where the Holy Spirit led. Our pastor always served fresh bread of the Word of God on Sundays, sandwiching enough meat for us to grow. He remains one of my dear brothers. It’s easy for us; I resemble his sisters and he looks like my paternal uncle. When we talked this week, it was like years rolled away, tempered with our life experiences since the church ended. Other leaders of the church were at the homegoing too; their mentoring of my sons in the faith still yields fruit in their lives that benefits my daughters in love and grandchildren.
And then there were the women who were and are my sisters. We crafted banners together, we prayed together, we fed each other’s families when tragedy happened, and we cried together then and now. The bonds God formed in that body of Christ have never been severed and will last for eternity. We truly were a family God created and the warmth of our greetings for one another demonstrate our love for Him and each other.
So, I am looking back, and to the future, with hope. It was no mistake that someone gave me a name in Houston to call about a church meeting within 10 minutes of my home when we moved the first time from Ohio. I have contemplated my life experiences this year more deeply than I have taken time to do in many years. My season of rest and healing and waiting provides the time and pace to allow such reflection. Being thankful for all God has done in, with, and through me results in hope for the future. If He was faithful to walk me into a church with people I didn’t know then, He will continue to be faithful to lead me in His paths of righteousness and continue pouring out the blessings He has in store. I will continue to use the gifts He has given and be fitted into the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:16 From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love. Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Beautifully written, my beautiful friend!
Thank you so much Maggie…hope to see you again soon!