This past Thursday, 1/21/10, around 7:45am, a few cars pulled under the church porte cochere. It was a nice morning. Director of Women's Ministry, Liz Church, and several group facilitators helped Ian Cook (Facilities Manager) wake up our sleepy church ~ carrying in with bibles, purses and serving pieces ~ mouth watering warm casseroles, baked breads, pastries and fresh fruit. The Girlfriend Breakfast that would bring together 100+ women searching for the LORD, their friends, child care help, fellowship and the healing power of God's word would begin within the hour... In no time, the aroma of bread that we'd break together wafted through the foyer from the cafe.
Leaders met and prayed ...not to be anxious in anything, but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we made our requests known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension was asked to guard the hearts and minds in Christ Jesus of all who came through CBC's doors. Philippians 4:6-7
God heard these prayers, for while leaders of both the Revelation and Psalms studies were meeting in preparation for our upcoming small groups, ladies began to file in, and the unmistakable lilting sound of women gathering could be heard. I always love the way our mixed voices eventually sort of ... hummmmm.
Aluminum foil was pulled back on the casseroles, pastries were arranged on trays (waiting to be halved ~ women almost never eat anything whole at one time for some reason), brewed coffee was poured, and ladies began to seat themselves with friends and soon-to-be-friends as Crossroad Bible Church's Thursday mornings Side by Side studies began ~ in 2010.
Just after 9:00, we took last bites and filed into the sanctuary to sing as our talented Sammy Davenport played the piano and Andrea Herndon lead us with that beautiful voice of hers. The short, sweet time of worshiping God through music was lovely that day. Again, women's voices together ...
ANTICIPATION is a great motivator. It is the second cousin to the more powerful HOPE, and God leads us hoping, sometimes with our eyes closed, because I believe He WANTS to surprise us with gifts each day! I'm remembering (in the children's movie, Beauty and the Beast) how "the Beast" leads the woman he loves, "Belle", with his hand over her eyes, to his floor-to-ceiling library where she discovers a place of incredible magnificence. Without giving it all away ~ in case you might download it onto your iphone ~ it wasn't until she trusted with hope and through love that she discovered what would exceed her wildest imagination. (O.K., so I loved this movie and cried at the end, you would (or did!) too.)
The point? We must show up and believe He will astound us! I absolutely LOVE to be surprised ... more than any gift, actually, and when we trust Jesus, He'll lead us to our own magnificent rooms. It's a hope He delivers on ... so let's continue to pray to Him, eat and worship as a body of women believers, and KNOW He wants to wow us. I can't wait to do it all again next Thursday. Join us!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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