Wonderful and crazy. That was the short answer to a text from my daughter asking how my week went.
As I sit down to write this I am in awe of the amazing day the Lord allowed us to have. What a gift!
Today was an amazing celebration—- the baptism of three men, one of whom we’ve watch as God has miraculously transformed him from a broken, nearly dead patient to a faithful follower of Jesus!
As we gathered for a food celebration after the baptism, which took place in a stone lined homemade baptistry in the river that runs in front of our new home, I was just in awe at the great God we serve. Seated around this beautiful patio were friends we’ve had for more than seven years, the faithful core group of the fledgling church, people we’ve walked with through near death experiences, the joy of new birth, and so much more. We were able to share the abundance that God has blessed us with and give Him the glory for the beautiful place He’s given us. To share our hearts, our love, our food, our home was truly a worshipful and wonderful experience.
It makes the hard days worth it.
Like yesterday when news came of a mom with a serious, potentially life threatening disease who is also enduring the physical abuse of an alcoholic husband.
Or the 20 year old whose decision to leave home and enjoy a party life on the tourist island has left her suffering daily with chronic disease that has consumed every aspect of her life and giving her constant physical pain and few medical options.
In ministry, as in all of life, we are learning to take the bad with the good. Those tear-filled days of suffering and emotional pain, make the gloriousness of a day of celebration all the sweeter.
More than that they help us exhale and step back and see that God has a perfect plan, even in the suffering. To remember that He is still on the throne and that Heaven will be sweeter!
How are you experiencing God’s love, grace and goodness this week? Please share in the comments!
Check back later for the amazing story of God’s grace in one man’s life, a transformation that is both powerful and real!
