Sunday's Worship service this week was one of those that you file away in your storehouse of special memories. God was at work in an unusual way.
We (BFC) had the joy and priviledge of baptizing five individuals, whose stories varied from a young woman coming out of a sinful lifestyle, to a couple whose marriage is being restored and who are now finding their identity in Christ, to a teen with Downs Syndrome who now grasps the Gospel of Christ, to a child from a solid, Christ-loving home. Pastor Robb read each of their testimonies to the congregation. Unforgettable!
We had the joy of celebrating the Lord's supper with a congregation moved by the redemption and grace of Christ, all of us having backgrounds steeped in multiple sorts of sins. As I have often said, if you were to describe our church with some sort of metaphor, it would be that BFC is not a museum of polished pieces, but an emergency room with blood all over the floor. We understand what it means to be forgiven, and we delight in that forgiveness!
We had the inexpressible honor of hearing a young mother describe her surgery for a brain tumor that appeared without warning, the surgery leaving her partially paralyzed on her left side. She sat in a wheelchair, this mom of a seven-year old, and described how God was transforming her and her husband's lives through tragedy and suffering, and how, through Christ, God was giving them joy inexpressible and peace unexplainable.
God was at work in unusual ways. A young man, twentysomething, could plainly see that Christ brings grace and peace to those who are broken, no matter how difficult the circumstances, and has decided to study the Gospel with me for the next six weeks or so, wondering if God can do the same for him. A woman who does not attend our church, awoke yesterday morning with a strange urge to come to BFC. After the service she, in tears, related to one of our deacon's wives her grief at the loss of her husband a year ago. She said, "this was exactly what I needed to hear this morning."
Amazing. God is so good.
I'm really regretting that I wasn't home on Sunday. Thanks for the post, it was uplifting to read! Our God truly is an awesome God :)
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