Greetings from Austin Street

Blessed Sunday!  What a wonderful day! Two worship services. Lunch with Cody and Geni,  and then dinner with Cody’s Mom (one of my best friends) and family. Italian pasta bar, salad, vegetables and a fantastic cheesecake. A wonderful evening, a delicious meal and families gathered around the table. That’s my favorite way to spend an evening. Bruce spoke pretty clearly tonight. It was such a wonderful gift we were given and even though these moments of relatively clear speech are not consistent, I know they will be. Around here we give thanks for every good and perfect gift because we know God is the author of our faith and one day Bruce is going to have a mighty story to TELL.  Team Chrystie for the win!  God is good and love always wins!!

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:11

The writer of this psalm had a deep and intimate relationship with God. Remember the psalms were written as people’s prayers to God. In these ancient words people spoke of their great joy and deepest sorrow, their anger, grief, and thanksgiving. Each of the psalms except for one ends in a benediction of thanksgiving. These writers knew they were not on equal footing with God, but they knew they could walk hand in hand each day with the King of Kings. These folks prayed each day to their Creator and learned about the heart of God. It is in that knowledge they learned they could come near and God would open His heart in intimate friendship. And when these folks spoke in irreverence God was still a constant in their lives.  God may not have liked their behavior, but when they asked for forgiveness God would rush to meet them like in the story of the father and the Prodigal Son embracing him and eager to return to the life of joy and intimacy once again.

God is greater than our anger, gives us the gift of faith, rejoices with us when we are happy, thankful and takes great joy when find our way home once again. I do love the psalms. They were written by folks just like us as prayers to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Creator of all whose power cannot be measured and whose love is bigger than the sky taking the greatest joy in sitting with each of us as if we were the only living thing created just to say “I love you.” 

Take joy in the journey remembering that hope does not disappoint. Wear comfortable shoes, pray with a heart filled with gratitude, let us cast our cares upon the LORD and get some sleep. God is up all night anyway so there is no reason for all of us to be awake. Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene