June 23, 2008

Thunder Storm

Hmm. I'm sitting on the front porch at my in-laws in Texas. It's pouring rain, there is lightning and thunder. The rain is pounding on the roof so hard, I can't hear anything else. Its funny how much you miss life's simple gifts when you don't have them anymore. Its really sunny where I live now. I mean REALLY sunny. You don't have to check the forcast to plan an outdoor event. It's nice, but there is something about the rain that is refreshing, soothing, inviting. Especially Texas rain, it rains hard, like the clouds are angry.
Have you ever gone back to the place your from and felt like you never left? I moved away from Missouri almost 6 years ago and still, when I drive into Neosho, I feel like the rest of my life has been a dream. Like I never left the city. Now that I haved moved again, I am finding the same. This is my first time back to Dallas since we moved about 2and a half months ago. Everything is extrememly familiar and it feels like we never left. Our home in Alpine is just a dream. Fortunately its not, we live there.
Alpine already feels like home to me. When I moved to Texas, I planned on it being a temporary adventure, so it always felt like it was. I never felt settled like I could put down roots. But I do feel like that now. I plan to live in CA for a long time. As long as the Lord allows. I like it there. I do wish it rained more.
-ABliss

June 6, 2008

The Great Reward

I know when I'm on the right path. There is this peace in my heart that beats to the tune of "this is what I was made for." I may not feel good everyday. I'm not ALWAYS miss "happy-go-lucky". Sometimes I still want to sleep all day instead of getting out of bed. Occassionally I get madly homesick. Yada-yada. My life is so not about that. Jesus saved my life and I have to share it. That's where I'm at. You know what's funny? Ministry can be tough (is tough), but there are so many rewards. Yeah, there is Heaven. But, fortunately before death, there are so many more rewarding moments that are hidden in the "OMG"s and the "Are you for real?"s. I've gotten many of these lately. The blinks that say "I didn't know." The written words "I learned it at Church." The stories of the quiet ones being not-so-quiet. I am glad to be a part of this ministry team. The team of Chozen Leadership, the team of Pastors at Bethel Christian Assembly, the team of A/G ministers, the team of Christians who are spreading the Words of Jesus. Yeah, the greatest pre-death rewards come when we are right where He wants us.
-ABliss