Taking Flight

This family lived on our street less than 24 hours ago. Chris and Jenna and their three wonderful kids have been a vital part of our five-family house church for much of the past year. John baptized the couple in November and then married them in December. We have watched them make changes that will bless their family for generations to come.

We have grown to love them as our own family and our kids have been the best of friends. It was very sad to see them leave as they drove away Monday for their new home a bit north of here. Chris has been working in pool construction and was away from home quite often. Now he will be doing something that allows him more time with his family - something worth all the stress of moving. We hope they will not only find success with his new job but, more importantly, that they will find a church that will encourage them to continue to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Our small church will strongly feel their absence. We pray rich blessings on their lives and the lives of those they touch. God knows they have touched ours.

Against All Odds

Last week our church began planning a Saturday barbecue for our friends and neighbors. Then midweek one of the five families in our church informed us of their decision to move out of town in a matter of days. We knew about the move but expected to have weeks or months to help them pack and to say goodbye. We were shocked and saddened and thought about canceling the cookout. Instead, we decided to press on.

Our kitchen flooded on Thursday even though it hadn't rained for days. We still haven't identified the source but are waiting for the plumber and insurance adjuster to find it. The wood has absorbed too much water to salvage, so it appears we are facing a major renovation in the near future. We considered canceling the barbecue but decided to press on. The water drained off the kitchen floor that evening.

On Friday the boys and I took a walk around the block and invited many of our neighbors to the cookout. Chris and Jenna, the couple who are moving, were busy packing and weren't sure they could even make it. We also couldn't get in touch with one other family in our small, five-family church. Again, we thought about canceling but decided to press on.

Saturday morning Ben woke up like a bear and was inconsolable. His bad mood progressed into a fever just after lunchtime. Of course, we considered canceling but again we decided to press on. By that time we had invested too much prayer, time, and energy into planning, and seeing it through had become something of a challenge.

Our church members arrived at 4:00 pm - all except the one family we never reached and Chris who was preparing for the move. Also, the girls who live one street over wanted to be here for church and not just the barbecue. We were thrilled to have them. We had a quick meeting then the guests began arriving at 5:30 pm. Among those who showed up were a Jewish couple, a family with six kids, a British fitness instructor and her daughter, and a single mom and her son. It was quite a sampling of our culture and made for an exciting afternoon. The last guests left at 10:45 pm, and by all accounts it was the best barbecue we've hosted to date.

enjoying the beautiful weather with our friends

applying temporary tattoos in the kitchen

enjoying good food and friends

Teaching Over the Fence

Lately, I've been wondering why God hasn't seen fit to bless our plans to enclose the back patio. My next door neighbor was over for coffee several weeks ago and told me, "I hear you teaching the kids outside sometimes. The first time I heard it, I thought how great it would have been to have had a neighbor like you when I was a little girl." Wow, what a compliment! See, God, even the neighbor recognizes what a worthy cause this little Sunday school class is. We sure could use an air conditioned space before the hot Florida summer arrives.

Then this past weekend we took our kids to their friend's birthday party one street over. I was talking to a couple of women who live caddy corner behind our house and one of them said she has been searching for an affirming church. When I told her we have a house church and they are welcome to come check it out, her partner said, "Ya, I hear you teaching the kids in your back yard." Then it hit me. Of course you do because the class where I teach the kids about Jesus is outside where everybody can hear it.

The kids have been learning through vegetable gardening that rain helps the plants grow before returning to the sky to form clouds. Isaiah 55:11 says, "It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." (New Living Translation) Each Sunday morning I'm aware of at least two other neighbors doing yard work in their back yards who can evidently hear us too. So I'll just keep on teaching out in the open and hope that God will soon bring these people into our living room.

Small House, Big God

We have a house full of people at least three days a week and usually closer to five. I reported earlier that the walls sometimes seem to be closing in and we were considering some renovations to make better use of our space. One afternoon John and I prayed that God would give us a clear answer whether to pursue such a costly and time-consuming process. That same day a friend called, asked what our most pressing need was, and gave us the money to enclose our back patio. We were very encouraged and thankful to God. It turns out, however, that we were quoted a price without the proper permit. The actual cost for the project is three times what we were originally quoted so we won't be getting that extra space after all.

Instead of giving in to our disappointment, we had a barbecue this weekend with everyone in our house church and three first-time families. One of the newcomers was a young, single mom and her seven-year-old son. They were guests of our members. The other two new families live in our neighborhood. One is a homeschooling couple with six children. They are Jewish but three of their kids are here for Sunday school just about every weekend. The other family is a couple of ladies who are raising a ten-year-old daughter. Most of us sat on the floor to eat and some stayed outside but, in the end, everyone found a corner to enjoy himself. Our time in Brazil taught us that true fellowship can take place under any conditions. We don't need the luxury of climate control, a nursery for little ones, or even lots of room for God to do great things. So, we're back to finding ourselves encouraged and thankful to God for everything He has already provided.

Study Buddies

Maria, me, Callie, Jenna, Daphne

These are the girls I study the Bible with every Friday night. We are halfway through Mark and have already seen God do some wonderful things. You already know that Jenna was baptized and married. Also, Daphne has begun homeschooling her son and has three weeks off work to get started - quite a miracle for a single mom. Maria confided in us information she swore she would never share with another person. As a result she said she feels free and wants to use her experience to help others. Callie has become a close friend and, though she and her husband are Catholic and don't participate in our Sunday meetings, she is always at the Bible study. She is due to deliver a baby girl in February and we can't wait to meet her.

When I asked them what they thought about the study so far, one said she has been part of a church for years and has never understood the Bible as much as she does now. Another asked why they don't teach this stuff at other churches. Please don't hear me bragging by sharing these comments with you. On the contrary, I have nothing to do with the wealth of knowledge God is bestowing on these women. I simply facilitate their reading of the Scripture, explaining the context and answering questions. I have no curriculum or fancy study guide. God is faithful in revealing himself and his truths to those who seek.

Our Little Church Christmas Party

A week before Christmas our church had a party. Since our house is the church building it made sense to have it here. We had lots of great food. Each family brought a traditional holiday dish.

We had a devotional for the families.

Then we played white elephant gift exchange.

Finally, the kids decorated cookies while the adults discussed some things they had learned this year.

It was a great party, not unlike some others I've been to in the past. There was, however, something different about it. As I was cleaning up after the last guest left, I was thinking about how much the whole evening felt just like every other Sunday in our home. I thought about how we eat together every week, discuss something from the Bible, pray together, teach the children...

Then it dawned on me that this party with people I just met less than a year ago was like a family get together. We have all grown together over the past year and whether we are having church or a meal or a party, there is a sense of family when we are all together. We are so blessed to be part of a church like this and are excited to see what God will do through us in 2011.

A House Church Wedding

My last post was about Chris and Jenna, who were baptized last month. They have been meeting with our house church since September and have become more than friends. Their children (who are just about the same ages as ours) call us Aunt and Uncle and are fast becoming three of our kids' best friends. Our families live on the same street and we feel sure God had our meeting planned all along. They were eager to hear what God expected of them, and they have responded to His call. We find great encouragement in that.

John had the pleasure of marrying them last Sunday at Chris's sister's house in a town a couple hours north of here. We made a day of it. We enjoyed spending time with their relatives while we witnessed this family become united under God. We are very thankful for their good choices and are sure He has many blessings in store for their future.