Now, in November

“You are blessed when you grieve; grieve sin, grieve where the curse isn’t yet rolled back.”

Waving hankies to show the headmaster: we won't catch colds!

The sermon on the second beatitude seemed apt, albeit somber, sitting in church with a jumble of wiggly kids. In front of me, a dear friend – just inquiring about this whole church and Jesus business – carrying a weight of heavy memories from the past. We talk a lot about forgiveness – will God really forgive anything I’ve done? Anything?

And beside our distracting row sneaks in another full family; their only son, just six months older than mine, heading in for yet another round of chemotherapy this week. I mourn with this mother, this father. Yet here they are, in community.

Happy 4th Birthday!

And here in the inbox sits an update from a sweet man in our community, detailing the discovery of not one but two tumors in his bride’s brain. Yet, “Jesus still loves her, loves us” he says.

We’re so thankful for the community we live in. Please join us in praying for these dear humans.

 Where the Spirit is moving, sin is ever present. Please pray for our health, our marriage, our family, and the families in our community.

For three years, going on four, we’ve met to pray. And our numbers have grown along the way. So we all got together, to celebrate our thanks. Piled in together, tables heavy with plates and trays and elbows and smiles. Juice spilled into the seats, crumbs ground in the rug, and teenagers ate all the pumpkin pie notwithstanding – here they are, these so many children. My heart overflowed to see them, all in one squirmy, sticky place. Giving thanks together. 

Thanks Giving, international style!

Snack date

Hey look, snow!!