So I have some things I have been thinking on for a few weeks now and I think I want to try to share them with my little world, at least the few of you who visit here. They are not big things, well for me they are but mostly I need to get them out of my head so I can get a handle on them.
First, I have been struck ( as I often am) by the abounding blessings of the Lord on my life. I could list all the ways but....Well, how about a short list. Have you meet my husband? That should be enough, he is amazing to me and to so many others. I am overjoyed that I get to be a part of his life and what God has for his future. Right now he is working on cutting metal and has been painting and fiberglassing and sanding and varnishing ect ect ect because I said I wanted to go camping. He has been working this AM for 90 minutes and it is 9 am on Saturday. He was up last night until 12:30 (this is LATE for the Barbers) doing the same. I love him so much. Oh, and this camping trip was for HIS birthday which is the 15th of august for any of you who want to give him a call to spread the love, he is always open for more love. Other blessings include the amazing way God has blessed me with friends/family everywhere we have traveled. We now have 3 full families that we love and adore. Our birth families, our Chico families and our Portland families. There have been and are amazing people, saints if you will, in all three places that have helped us through the maze of life, have loved us through them really. I won't name names because I don't want to risk my fingers getting tired and not listing every one and hurting the feelings of someone who I love so dearly. Just know, if you are reading this, you ARE one of those people and I can only scratch the surface of what you have meant to me. I love you too.
I am not sure why I have been so blessed except that God loves to bless us, my only hope is that He has been glorified in that blessing. I hope he is pleased with the way we have treated His blessings.
Second thought. We have been visiting many churches in the Portland area just to get a feel of "what is out there", how others "do church" in what can be observed on a Sunday morning....In that process I have instead been observing the diversity and wholeness of the Body of Christ (in Portland at least). Let me explain, if I can. I expected to get many perspectives on order of service, structure of small group ministry, efforts to welcome, ect ect ect. Instead I have observed thousands of believers and their "families" as they have invited me in to share in their worship of God. I have been struck by the intimacy of "church". I have never ever thought on this or even experienced this before. You know how it feels to celebrate a major holiday with a friends family? Well imagine attending Thanksgiving dinner with a strangers family but feeling like part of the family...Like with the family of a 3rd cousin twice removed, the bond of family is there despite the intimate knowledge of eachother. I am not sure if I am expressing this well or if any of you know what I am trying to say but I have been amazing, expanding my understanding of and interaction with a worship service. I love it.
One last thing before I go pack for camping, We visited a church "The Well", It was amazing. If any of you are visiting Portland or live here and have time to visit I would recommend it. Nothing was overtly spectacular but the sense of being there was wonderful. The pastor spoke on Proverbs, we was just starting the book and preached a sermon that drew a picture of the Grace of God in proper balance with the Glory or Majesty of God. I am still thinking on this one. The tension that that brings is awesome, really. Any-who. I have to go. Thanks for the ear. I truly love you all and hope to see you soon. I pray your lives be blessed abundantly above you hopes and expectations. Bye. K-
