About five years ago, my husband and I were able to make a work trip that put us within a three hour drive of a bustling community where there were many of our Church of the Firstborn churches. With great excitement we made plans to go on this trip! We wrote all the names of the area's surrounding churches onto little pieces of paper and put them in a bag and then got on our knees and prayed that the Lord would direct us to the place He would choose. Then we picked out two names.
The first church we went to was on a Wednesday night. We got there at the appointed time and no one was there! We were so disappointed. So we got out the church directory and called one of the elders to ask if they still had Wednesday night meetings at the appointed time. And we found out that we had crossed the time zone back an hour on our trip to the church! We had arrived an hour too early. The brethren all came then to the church house and welcomed us with such love and care. They prayed for us in meeting, thanked us for coming and made our hearts so glad that the Lord had brought us to meet them. Generously we were offered a place to stay that night, but since we had to get back to work the next day we made plans to come back that Saturday night to stay with them and they would take us around to meet other brethren in the area.
Our visit those five years ago opened a door for fellowship with these dear saints. Our little body of brethren here in Oregon has been through a lot in these past few years. But with the love and prayers of the brethren in that body we met back then, we all have been so comforted. They have been there with us, praying with us when our dear Sis. B. was sick, nigh unto death. They opened up their homes when two of our older sisters traveled to their part. Again, they treated our sisters with the utmost love and care! Our daughters became pen pals. And as a few of the sisters here started blogs, a few of their sisters started blogs and we got to share more in each others lives even though we were so many miles apart. Us girls have laughed and cried and rejoiced and sorrowed with one another through our blogs. We've come before the throne of God for each other and I have been so edified!
And then just recently, when our little church was flooded. And ruined. What did these brethren do? They gathered their bounty and sent it to our church. That's what they did! I wanted to write this little blog post to let that body of Christ, so far away, know that our little body over here has been so comforted and uplifted that you all would once again show your love and care to us. Times are hard everywhere right now, and so our brethren know how much what was given meant to you all. Thank you, and God bless your little assembly so far away. We all love you all!
Written and edited together by Me and The Dad <3
6 comments:
I'm so thankful you and The Dad asked God to guide you when you traveled those 5 years ago. What a blessing it has been to our assembly. I have a special place in my heart for our Indy brethren <3
I'm so glad you wrote this post! and glad you were led to meet these wonderful brethren. Who knew what lay ahead for us and how greatly their love would touch our lives in the years to come. Although I have never seen their faces, God has truly bound our hearts together as family and I will forever be touched by their constant prayers, their generous hearts and the love they have shown our little church. Makes me want to make a trip to give them all such big hugs. Anybody?!
...I don't know what to say...even tho I have yet to take that step into the church, I'm still touched. I remember when you guys came over to our house. And I'm glad that me and Lorraine are pen pals cause I would miss out on so much. :) I will someday make it out there to visit, Lord willing.
Chelsea, I sure hope WE can make it back to see your brethren someday too. Give my love to your parents and brother and sister too.
I sit here and cry tears of joy. Oh how this post has touched me. From where I stand the blessing has been getting to know all my brothren so far away, even though we've never met face to face I have a great love for each of you. I pray that one day we might be able to make it out that way. Our prayers continue to be with the brothren there.
Thanks for the beautiful post. The words of your testimony perfectly mirror the scriptures that gives us joy and hope and courage. Mighty is the love of God, that binds the hearts of strangers across a land and causes them to love as brethren. Bless the Lord for His love that shines in a sometimes dreary world.
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