They came to our church back in the early 60’s. There they were; a young recent seminary graduate, his pregnant wife, and a son about four years old. And up they drove in an old pink Rambler and stopped in front of the big red brick church down the street from the post office.
What we didn’t realize that day was that we would become lifelong friends. What a wonderful time our families had those four years he was our pastor. Our family was growing, too. Daughter # 1 was two months younger than the little lad they led into our church that morning. And, our Daughter # 2 was born about a year later than their second son. So many things we remember during that time but mostly humorous things.
Four years later, God called this young family to another church a hundred miles away. But, not before an educational wing was added to the big red brick church down the street from the post office. The busyness of our lives didn’t allow us to visit a lot but we kept in contact through letters and calls. And, they were never forgotten.
This month, because our church is now without a pastor and our friend is now retired from pastoring almost thirty years, he and his wife came for the weekend and stayed in our home. We were so very blessed to be able to set in the congregation and listen once more, as our former pastor from almost 50 years ago, blessed us again with the Word of God concerning the cross. What a wonderful, fun filled weekend it was as we ate together and had other friends from the past come by for a visit. The six of us laughed as we recalled things we remembered and it was as if we had never been apart.
Our lives are made up of spiritual seasons. God sends those into our lives that we need for spiritual growth when we need it. There may be a time when we are away from each other but God can also allow a season of uniting and our spirits are fed once more just by being together in Christ.
How many of you have lifelong friends? Can you meet up again and just pick up where you left off after being apart for years? If you have those kinds of friends, count yourself blessed and cherish them. Perhaps now is the time to call that friend or drop them a line and reconnect. As C.S. Lewis said,
“Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?”
It has been said that God sends individuals into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. We are so thankful that God sent these two people into our lives for all three; a reason, a season and especially for a lifetime.
What we didn’t realize that day was that we would become lifelong friends. What a wonderful time our families had those four years he was our pastor. Our family was growing, too. Daughter # 1 was two months younger than the little lad they led into our church that morning. And, our Daughter # 2 was born about a year later than their second son. So many things we remember during that time but mostly humorous things. Four years later, God called this young family to another church a hundred miles away. But, not before an educational wing was added to the big red brick church down the street from the post office. The busyness of our lives didn’t allow us to visit a lot but we kept in contact through letters and calls. And, they were never forgotten.
This month, because our church is now without a pastor and our friend is now retired from pastoring almost thirty years, he and his wife came for the weekend and stayed in our home. We were so very blessed to be able to set in the congregation and listen once more, as our former pastor from almost 50 years ago, blessed us again with the Word of God concerning the cross. What a wonderful, fun filled weekend it was as we ate together and had other friends from the past come by for a visit. The six of us laughed as we recalled things we remembered and it was as if we had never been apart.
Our lives are made up of spiritual seasons. God sends those into our lives that we need for spiritual growth when we need it. There may be a time when we are away from each other but God can also allow a season of uniting and our spirits are fed once more just by being together in Christ.
How many of you have lifelong friends? Can you meet up again and just pick up where you left off after being apart for years? If you have those kinds of friends, count yourself blessed and cherish them. Perhaps now is the time to call that friend or drop them a line and reconnect. As C.S. Lewis said,
“Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?”
It has been said that God sends individuals into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. We are so thankful that God sent these two people into our lives for all three; a reason, a season and especially for a lifetime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2uIIJathUI
We love you, Bro. Billy and Gwen.
We love you, Bro. Billy and Gwen.
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