Later, with our little nieces and nephews, I remembered how quickly that journey had gone.  

Sunday—a nice break from preaching and a great message from Kris, one that challenged me not only to look for good soil (those who are receptive to God’s work in their lives) but to be good soil myself. I saw the pictures and heard the stories of the small band of house churches that had come to be after years of blood, sweat and tears, tilling the soil and preparing it for the message of Jesus.

Monday night—small group with a couple of brothers, studying about finding God’s will. Digging into Romans 12, it seemed to be saying, if you want to find God’s will—be God’s will. Put God first. Learn to see yourself through the lenses of humility and God’s empowering grace. Love practically.

Tuesday—day off/sabbath—I got on Youtube and watched video of one of my favorite speakers. He gave a message on the story of Jacob and Esau and how Esau traded his future (his birthright) for a momentary hunger. It was so powerful that I found myself trembling at the end. That doesn’t happen to me very often. A message of perseverence? I think so.

Wednesday morning, checking my e-mail after my day off. Someone had sent me a link to a Bible study that fit like a glove with a direction I’ve felt God is challenging us with as a church family. Wednesday night—a quick ride out to the kid’s clubs hayride, where I met a couple new families. Some were neighbors, invited by friends who are part of our church family. Others were new families from our pre-school. It was fun watching them make connections.

Of course, there’s a lot more in there; car repairs, jockeying the hectic schedules of jobs, field hockey, high school band, homework, friend’s parties, small groups, bill paying and all the mundane stuff that one does every week.  

Why am I writing all this? I write stuff and send it to you every week. Usually, its more focused and all thematic. But this week, I have a sense that God is at work. Not that God’s not at work all the time. It’s just that this week I’ve been given the grace to see Him; that He’s aware of the changes going on, that He provides in unexpected ways, that He is involved in the present, and that He even seems to be whispering the same things to others as I’ve been hearing. I guess I just didn’t want to let this moment go without acknowledging it and then saying thanks.  

Yours for the Journey,

Pastor Tom