thankful for the body of Christ

Last night we had the opportunity to join our brothers and sisters in Christ in worship in an evening called Rhymes & Reformation. 

I was so encouraged sitting backstage with all of the worship leaders, listnening to their earnest prayers, asking God to do great things in the hearts of those gathered, proclaiming the Gospel to each other.  Though our "styles" may be so different, our hearts were united... with a goal of glorifying God and pointing those we were leading to Jesus.  I am so thankful for the body of Christ.

thankful for "the talk"

I didn't go on a lot of dates in high school. {perhaps because of "the talk" I'm about to describe?} Mostly evenings with friends at a school dance, prom, etc, with a couple of "official" boyfriends sprinkled in {though I can't remember how we ever made it "official" before Facebook}.

When a young man would come to pick me up, my mom would meet him at the door, welcome him in, show him the way up to the den. My dad would rise from his chair, shake my date's hand, ask him to sit down for a bit.

"Now Mike {first date, Christmas Dance, 1997}, if you were going to borrow my car tonight, I would want to know what your plans are. Where exactly will you be going? What roads do you plan to take? How fast will you be driving? What time can I expect you to be back?

"But tonight you are borrowing something far more precious to me than my car. You're taking my daughter out. So I need to know exactly what your plans are for tonight, and I expect that you will take care of her and protect her until she is back in my home."

So began "the talk"... in fact it is rumored that Dad got out a map of Macon on occasion, asking the young man exactly what route he planned to take! What was at first "so embarrassing, Dad!" became a treasured tradition for Caroline and me, as we'd sneak down the hallway to eavesdrop on our dad's declaration of our value to him. Isn't that what every young lady needs to hear? I'm so thankful for Dad's affirming words and loving care.

And I wonder how many of our dates will one day be giving "the talk" to young men who come asking for an evening out with their daughters...

thankful for a new season

I love it when it's finally summer, but I also love it when summer is finally over!  The cooler temperatures have been so nice the past few weeks.  To celebrate the autumn season, we went to a pumpkin patch with dear friends on Monday morning.  I think this picture says it best...

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

thankful for my home

We really love our home.  I've written about it several times before.  It's easy to take it for granted.  Today I'm thinking of the thousands of people just in my country who are homeless.  I don't want to take for granted God's kindness in giving me a home.  Also I'm thinking of how many people may have a "house" but not feel like they have a "home"... a place where they feel safe... a place where they know they are loved.

Then I remember the way the Message puts John 15:9-10, "I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love."  At home in Christ's love... isn't that beautiful?!

And as I'm considering what it means to find my home in the love of Jesus, I'm reminded that truly this world is not my home.  I'm just passing through.  My home, where I will know the completeness of God's love, is in Heaven.  Come, Lord Jesus.

thankful for music

Growing up as a Darnell, music was second nature to me.  I can remember singing hymns with my mom on piano and dad on guitar as a tiny girl.  Eventually Caroline picked up the violin, we all learned guitar, and well, David is crazy good at any instrument he touches.  {proof here... the early days are my favorite, Free Fallin, Lean on Me at Barberitos, How Deep, Head over Heels}

Anyway, I am so thankful for the gift of music given to me passed down from many generations.  The old hymns take me back to family reunions and our living room after dinner... hearing "Think of Me" tonight reminded me of the first musicals I saw as a little girl... an old country song will take me back to riding around in a friend's car in high school... worship songs will point me to Jesus. 

What a gift, I am so thankful!  {I've passed the gift on to Matthew too!}

thankful for Philippians

This fall I'm studying Philippians with a group of women at CrossPointe. What a rich and encouraging letter! I have really enjoyed our time on Tuesday mornings, wrestling together with Paul's words. So thankful for this letter and how God's Word is living and active, able to speak to a church in Philippi centuries ago and to me today.

{next up, Colossians}

thankful for our church

In Augusta we had seen community in action through Redeemer Presbyterian. When we moved to Columbus five years ago, we hoped to find a church we could call home.
As we visited other churches in our area, we kept hearing the same thing... "Have you heard about CrossPointe?" First we thought, "Do you not want us to go to your church?!" Then we decided, "Let's try it!"
Our first Sunday we knew CrossPointe was the church for us! And five years later we are so, so thankful for the friends we have made, the Bible-saturated preaching we hear week after week, our small groups, Gospel-centered worship, trips to East Asia and Central America, opening our hearts wider to what God is doing around the world... and all He has done in our lives through this church.