Adopted

Earlier this year, I was pretty sure I would return to my job as a collegiate communication instructor/tutor in the fall. I had taken a break from teaching for the spring semester to "deal with" my mother's unexpected death last year by mourning, by doing estate paperwork (over and over again), by working with a dear friend at her wonderful Christian bookstore, and by writing a book. But then, just a few months in...something happened that reminded me that the Lord's plans cannot be halted. Through a series of astonishing interventions by God, I ended up at a little church exactly 15 minutes from my house in the next town over - on Mother's Day Sunday, if I remember correctly.

From the very first Sunday morning I was there to observe the worship service back in May so I could do "pulpit supply" for them in the few weeks that followed so their wonderful minister could take a vacation, the word “congregation” couldn’t really fully describe this community. Instead, what I witnessed was a church FAMILY - the kind I read about in the book of Acts.

It is a family that worships together, prays together, studies God’s Word together, sings together, and talks together. It is a family that supports and encourages each member with hugs and words of grace that go beyond Sunday morning. And, it is a family that reaches out to the world with hope in the name of Jesus. It is a family that breaks bread (and cookies and very tasty cheesy potatoes) together, sings "Happy Birthday" really loudly - even in church, rejoices together, mourns together, serves together and everything in between – all in the name of Jesus. And, as of last Sunday, I was "officially" adopted into this family as their lay minister and worship leader, taking over for that sweet minister as he retires (but graciously stays with us to help me along the way). I am overwhelmed with God's goodness as I think about preparing a message and preaching there every Sunday morning - and about getting to know each member of the family even more!

Those who follow Jesus are – each of us – children of God. As Romans 8:16-17a explains: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” What a thing to celebrate! We are adopted into an eternal family and heirs of an eternal kingdom.

There is a hymn, written by Bill and Gloria Gaither, back in 1970 called “Family of God”. The words to the chorus for that hymn go like this:

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,

I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!

Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,

For I'm part of the family, the Family of God.

Let me tell you...I am overwhelmed with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for bringing me into the family of God at Good Shepherd. And, I just can't wait to see how He works in and through us - TOGETHER!