We have been traveling a lot lately between family emergencies and moving, but this time has given us a great opportunity to see Jesus in action.
When we went to Kentucky for a funeral, we were blown away. Kyle’s grandparents had not attended the church in years, but the pastor had begun to visit them and pray with them during Papaw’s sickness. He wanted to make sure Papaw knew Jesus and also desired to comfort them with peace and hope. As time for the funeral came, the church opened its doors to my husband’s family not just for visitation and the funeral, but also providing lunch for the family following the graveside services. The pastor continued to pray for the family as we walked into the church, praying for our immediate family no less than three times in the course of two days. The ladies of the church also showed amazing love as well. They provided snacks the night of visitation and all of the food for the lunch. Going even further, they helped carry kid’s plates, got drinks for all of us and even found a booster seat for our youngest – all things they did not have to do.
Our time in Kentucky was amazing. The people of Kilgore United Methodist Church, Rush, Kentucky were truly a picture of Jesus.
We are now in the process of moving from Kansas to Maryland via Texas. We decided to camp for a few days in the location we plan to retire. We have the travel trailer and some electricity but knew we would need some water soon after we arrived. We headed to church on Sunday expecting to find Jesus. We did, but not in the way we expected. As we received our bulletins from the usher, he introduced himself and we did the same. After a short conversation, he told us to let him know if we needed anything. My husband took the open door to ask where in town we could fill up the water in the trailer. You would not believe what he said.
In the small town of Memphis, Texas, the First Baptist Church has a water pump for RVs and a dump station (another thing we would need before we left). The gentleman met us back at the church that afternoon to fill up with water and then told us to stop by the church on our way out of town to take care of the rest. Additionally, he told us to do the same any time we were in town. We did head back to church for the Christmas Cantata that night and a wonderful time of fellowship with some new friends.
As we drove back to the trailer that night, we were amazed again at how God has taken care of us – over and over and over. We have been so blessed, mainly through Christ-followers imitating Jesus. He calls us all to do the same.
My prayer is to do just that – imitate Jesus – so that I can be a picture of Him to someone else. I am so thankful for His provision and blessed by the faithfulness of believers as they simply strive to do what God called them to do in the place that He planted them.
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
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