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I'm thrilled to report that we have our first real, the way we think it oughta be, salvation-regeneration-becoming-part-of-the-family-of-God "converts".
A couple that was incorporated into our very loose-knit fellowship* of families-that-farm-and-love-Jesus just by virtue of our common interest...
Has asked the questions, read the Bible, and become "one of us".
Cool, Huh!
Even more cool is that our family had little to do with the actual gatherings and sharing of the Word ... beyond scattering the vision and seeing others embrace it. We see our primary role as facilitators. Also wonderful is that these folks are already part of the extended household of faith... discipleship had already begun, and will continue as part of daily life.
Laurie Ann
*weekly meetings are, if not forbidden, not encouraged...
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Sadly enough, it was through the death of three children that the connection was made.
This couple lost their only child to suicide a long time ago. After retirement, they chose to give more energy to growing food in their garden, and sharing it with others, but they were very lonely, and very few people cared to learn from them, although they were very successful gardeners and had a lot to teach.
They took the women of our little community under their wing, when they realized we wanted to learn from them and appreciated them. They learned that one of our members had lost a child, and they were surprised that she still had joy. They talked about that a lot.
As time went on, they spent more and more time making excuses to be with us. They were attracted to our model of being friends that were more like family to each other.
Then, another of our families lost a child to suicide. This couple watched as our community went through the grief, as that family struggled - yet with hope. This was not "bubbles and rainbows" ignoring of the pain, but wrestling through trusting of God in a very dark place, and seeking his comfort.
Almost a full year, they watched, they asked questions. They began coming to some of the family's homes for meals, talking about things more important than gardening. They visited a church that one of the families recommended for the evening testimony service.
They asked if they could study the Bible with us (gee, I don't know if we'd want to let you do that?? )
Finally, they asked what they needed to do to have the hope and joy that they had seen.
I don't know how they will process having no way of knowing whether their son is with Jesus or not. Both the other couples are confident of the spiritual condition of their children (the suicide was definitely the act of a mentally ill person who had gotten saved, but hadn't had an emotional healing yet).
But as one of my friends said, "I don't know where your loved one is, but I am sure that where ever they are, they would want YOU to go to heaven!"
So, our "model" is 1) "Behold how they love one another". and 2) "We do not grieve as the world grieves, without hope"!
posted
Thanks Laurie Ann, I guess sometimes it's had to see anything other than the damage made by the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire... It truly does seem that The Lord is not to be found during those times... and about that still small voice? Sometimes I need It (or want It) to be loud and booming!
What an encouraging story! I am rejoicing with you!!!
Yes, Mathew- I understand what you are saying, but God has amazed me many times with the way He shows up and does an incredible spiritual work in the midst of physical calamity and hardship. Maybe it is because many times we don't let go of our own control until we absolutely have to? One of my favorite passages in reguards to this idea is Psalm 107.
BTW- thanks for your study on tithing- I got a lot out of it!
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Speaking of that, and this topic too... I remember one time when I was living at that church, and barely making enough to eat. Well, it was hot dogs, hot dogs, and more hot dogs!!! I remember "praying" one day (actually, I was just thinking "to myself" really) how wonderful it would be to have some pizza (you know, Superman has kryptonite, I have pizza).
Well, you guessed it, that's exactly what happened! A guy I cleaned buildings with sometimes, called me and said that he had a pizza for me. You see, he sharpened the knives Pizza Hut uses to cut their pizza, (a big half circle shaped thing) and they had made him free pizzas sometimes. He knew what I liked, and had one made just for me! Pizza first fruits, my favorite kind!!!
Another time, when my top air conditioner cover (on my motor home) was falling apart, I "just happened" to pass one laying on the side of the road. It was exactly the same type as the one I needed (there are many different kinds). It had a small crack in it that I easily fixed.
When I took mine off to replace it, and dropped it gently to the ground, the plastic was so brittle, it shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces! It actually took me longer to pick up all of those little pieces, than it did to put the "new" one on! That cover lasted until I sold the motor home, years later!!!
I have more of these. The truth is, that life was very hard ...but it was also a great adventure! Somehow I always could pay my bills, and I always had food. Now, "abounding" seems so much less "supernatural" than being "abase." Sometimes it even feels wrong!
I have been talking with Laurie Ann about how it is hard sometimes to live this way, and she has really helped me understand that it's okay to enjoy the blessings of The Lord. She calls it seasons, and I like that! I just don't want to get into serving money, because no man can have two masters...
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