Our Church Family Is A Blessing

John 16:22 “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Today was a lesson and study in God's contrasts and blessings.

Early this afternoon, we (WBF) hosted a reception after the memorial service for Nancy Peeling's mother, Vivain Withrow, a sweet and lovely woman who went home to be with the Lord last Friday. The testimonies at the Service were compelling and poignant portraying a woman who took her Gospel seriously and worked hard to share it with the people around her. What comfort there is in knowing that, at this moment, she is standing before the Lord. She is most probably hearing, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.", at which point she will turn and eagerly await her reunion with those she loved and ministered to.

Watching Nancy walk through a difficult time like this, with all she has before her, is moving as she turns to her Father in heaven for strength and hope and shares her difficult walk with those around her. She handled her mom's going home with the same faith and trust in the Lord that she has handled everything else.

All this is inspiring and brings a certain joy yet, there is the grief of separation. It hurts when we miss somebody. We know the fate of those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ Jesus. We are fully aware that we will see them again but there is that time in between when we would like to be with them and when we will actually are reunited. We need the patience and comfort of the Holy Spirit until that day it happens. Meanwhile there is a time for grief.... not for their destiny or fate but for our own heartbreak at being temporarily separated from them.

As I was trying to absorb these thoughts and feelings on my way home from the church, I got a call from Jim Ely. He and his wife, Lynda, were in Myrtle Beach. Their son and his wife had just delivered their first grandchild, Lauren Elizabeth Ely. Having recently been blessed by the arrival of our first grandchild, this was fantastic news to hear from Jim. I was also moved that Jim thought to call and share his joy with us.

As I pondered the passing of one life and the advent of another, I began to realize what a wonderful blessing we have in our church family. Being able to share in these moments, good and bad, has tremendous meaning to Kelly and I. Then, the Lord began to show me how many others are sharing.

The last few weeks have been pretty intense. We've had a number of medical emergencies and a number of personal emergencies. We've had a lot of activity around the church at the same time with a large number of people coming and going; maintaining the church, dressing it up, working on various ministries and projects, working with the adults, working with the kids.... working....sacrificing....and enjoying each other and being blessed by each other. A lot of people, moving together, praying together, sharing in joy and sharing in grief as well.

I'm in awe of how God has knit us together as a church......and as a family as. You see? God has blessed us with a large number of people who see the church as a family, who take it seriously, who view it as much more than a place they go on Sunday mornings. This is the foundation that God is building among us. This is the base from which He will bless us and send us to minister in His name. As we are drawn closer to Him, we will be drawn closer to each other. This unity in Him will also bring comfort, meaning and purpose to our joys and to our times of sorrow.

Kelly and I are humbled, blessed, privileged and honored to be invited into these times with each of you. We are, in an of ourselves, incapable of affecting either the tremendous grief or the inexplicable joy that life brings. Yet, in Him, as a family, we can all share the burdens wherever they may appear and drink deeply of the blessings whenever they flow....the blessings of our Father in Heaven.

We are blessed mightily. Thanks for being our family.

John & Kelly