Beyond Blessed

I finally made a blog just for ME! I have one for my girls to record all of their cuteness as they grow but this one is just for me. A diary of sorts. A place to record all of my thoughts, feelings, lessons I'm learning, things I'm hearing from God, etc. So consider this official entry #1 because, well, it is entry #1.

I have to say how incredibly blessed K and I are to have the church family that we have. Up until about 6-8 months ago (roughly...don't quite remember the time frame) I wasn't even sure if we were REALLY supposed to be in our church anymore and was on my way out! I was so angry, confused, felt neglected, overlooked, ignored, you name it...which basically stemmed from my lack of intimacy with the Lord, which by the way, is still on the mend but I'm getting there. Hope has been being renewed these last few months, even in the midst of circumstances we've been facing over the last year. Even through, but perhaps because of, the circumstances I have actually "felt" ~ stronger than I've ever felt ~ that pulling of the Lord to go up to the next level. I can almost hear Him saying, "Come on. It's time to wake up. It's time to put it all aside and just DO IT. Come up here!"

To make a long story short, I called P.C. yesterday to touch base with her about our first meeting for the Christmas Outreach skit. She asked how we were doing and, after many "uh's" and "well's" and "we're okay I guess'" I finally got out that we could really use God to drop at least $500 out of the sky within the next few days so that we could pay our car insurance so it doesn't get dropped (or more if He'd like since we have countless other past due bills). She encouraged me, once again, to stay in faith, declare WHO God is in the midst of everything, that our best weapon is joy and praise. Amen to that. And that is what K and I have been doing these last few weeks...it's been kind of cool to see how I've actually learned something and have been putting it into practice. That is so unlike me, haha.

Anyway, we arrived at midweek last night right before worship started and as we walked up to the front row to get ready for worship P.R. called K (and I) right up to the front to pray for healing for his back (he's been dealing with sciatica). We stood side by side, holding hands, and our church family was asked to come up and pray for us too. The pastors prayed over us (as well as some other church family members) and I really felt the anointing of God...it got really hot up there! We were both touched...I cried...was hugged by P.C. and A and it just felt so good to be upheld with such love and faith. One of the things the pastors prayed was that faith would rise up, that hope would be renewed. After praying for about 10-15 minutes everyone was released to go back to their seats for worship. The pastors announced that the offering that was taken that night was going to go directly to K and I. Wow. It was very humbling (and a little humiliating at the same time). With the amount of people in attendance that night I thought God might meet our specific need of about $500 to pay the car insurance. Which would've been INCREDIBLE and we STILL would've been overwhelmed by God's faithfulness and the love and generosity of our church family. But when K and I got in the car and looked at the check we were in awe. The Father really DOES go above and beyond all that we could hope, think or imagine. On the check was the amount of $1385...plus we were given about $80 of cash outside of the offering. Is that amazing or what?! Thank You Father for your faithfulness and thank you for the church family you've put us in. Thank You that we ARE overcomers and we WILL pass this test and we WILL step up to the next level of faith.