From the Sanctuary Early Service:
Bonnie – It feels like home in here, we’re a family and we haven’t been together for months. Yes, we can see each other on the screen, but it’s not the same. I can’t wait for the day that we can all be back in here.
Michele M. – I just tend to be kind of optimistic. There was a point in this year when we didn’t even think we could have this. You look outside we’ve had a blessed day, it’s so beautiful; the fact that He has Risen…I thank you so much, He’s gotten us this far and it’s getting better, and it’s getting worse in some ways…but mostly it’s getting better. All of us who are here and all of us who are online, we are here! There are so many now who aren’t. So, I just think it’s a blessing.
Jan – Good morning. You know I can’t have any grief when Christ is alive! I know we’re trying to lay down our sorrows; our griefs are behind us. Ahead is the mighty God. I watched Sandy Patty & Lionel Harris sing I’ve just seen Jesus. Honestly, when she comes out with that voice and then he comes out with his… He is Alive! There is nothing that is able to overcome us when we have Him. Have you seen Him? I saw Him just this morning…Awesome, awesome is our God; He never changes! He never wears a mask! He’s always got his full face; we can see his eyes and his nose and his mouth. How I long to see some of the eyes and the noses and some of the mouths…It’s not the same without seeing the whole face. But we can see Him, Hallelujah!
Mark – This last year has not been one of my happiest years. I’ve just found that more than any time in my life I’ve really had to just depend on God. When I haven’t been able to figure things out; I don’t really know what’s going on. And I have a feeling it’s going to feel more like a blessing when it’s over, this time of dependence.
Dianne – Happy Easter, He has Risen! A couple of weeks ago, I threw my back out. And it’s been going out pretty much every 3 – 4 weeks. I’ve been trying to do gardening, clean up my shed and yardwork. I said – Lord, I just can’t do it…I can’t plant the tree that I bought…I can’t fix my little terrarium thing where the water line broke. All these things are happening and I’m thinking - what’s next? So, I’m just going to give it to you God. If you really want me to fix this place up you are going to have to send some help. So, there was a knock at the door…dog is yipping…I told them there is a sign right there that says - No Soliciting! There’s these two young fresh faces going – Hi, (I told them I’m not buying anything…) we’re missionaries. We talk and they turn out to be Mormons, they want to come and help the neighborhood…and I really don’t know that much about the Mormon religion…They say – your neighbor said you could really use the help. I said – Boy, do I. So I listened to them for a while…they read me a Mormon scripture…gave me their number and said they could bring all these young men here and do this work for you. I ask if I should give them some money? They said – No, no, we do it for free. I was raised that there are no free lunches, they must want something from me. So, I tell them that I go to church and I’m a Christian…. They say – no, no, no, we just want to help. So a week or so goes by and my back is getting better, and I’m out there working on something and I feel my back start to go out again…I say – Lord! I can’t do this! Just show me what you want! I hear a knock at the door and it’s the guys again. They say – Hey, you didn’t call us! We’re here to help…. So, 10 young men between 20 & 30 years old are going to come on Wednesday morning to mow my lawns, trim, plant my tree; work on my garden. I told the girls at Bible study and they said - They’ll never stop coming… And I said – That’s okay, they’re helping me. They are not going to change my mind…In fact, it’s my mission to tell them about Jesus and who he is - He is a Spiritual God, not just flesh… That to me was a God sighting to motivate me to go on and get better. And to work on my house and have a more positive view.
From the Lighthouse Service:
Kat – Happy Easter! So, on Monday Markus and I celebrated our 18th Wedding Anniversary! It was beautiful and it was wonderful; God is great indeed. I don’t know what I did when I was younger to make him so happy that he blessed me with such a wonderful marriage. If you had asked me when I was young if I would be this happy 18 years into a marriage, I would have never have dreamed this. I think it’s because God is just amazing. In this household, my husband & I love God together, we worship God together; through thick and thin we have always turned to God for help. God is Good; He blesses us all! And Glory be to God! Happy Easter everyone.
Pastor Brett – Amen, Amen! Thank you Kat and congratulations on 18 years & Markus congratulations. I know we had another anniversary in the house on Friday, Joe & Kari celebrating 16 years!
Kari & Joe – Yes, 16 years on Friday! So, that was very great. Our big date night was to go see our nephew play soccer. He made the varsity team for Franklin High School. We got to see him score a goal! And his team won! So, it was a great finish to our special day! Thank you Brad & Jakki!
Jakki – 16 years already? Just the reality of it. It was a God thing. He just used us as a vessel.
Pastor Brett – For those of you who do not know the story, apparently, Brad & Jakki are the ones responsible for putting Kari & Joe in each other’s paths… Amen, Amen! Wendy & Gavin Pursinger are having their Anniversary tomorrow! 36 years! Sandy & Rich – Celebrating 31 years on the 7th! We have all sorts of love going on in this congregation. Awesome!
Wendy F. – Yesterday was a total God moment. Many of us support Western Farm Workers Association and particularly during the holidays they give food deliveries; there was a surprise amount of food that was available yesterday. 100 meals in boxes, 30 pound boxes. Our delivery van was able to take the 3,000 pounds and move it from the location to the church where it would be distributed. So, it was just everything having to happen in the moment – it had perishable goods. So, if it had happened a day earlier it wouldn’t have worked. But because it happened on distribution day, it worked. Everything was able to line up. The food went 30 pounds to a family x 100 families on top of the food that they already had. It was just a perfect God moment!
Kevin – So many people were grateful at the vaccine clinic yesterday as they received their 2nd shots. The relief was palpable. Glory to God!!!