Lovely Music, Beautiful People

I went to my friend Rebekah's church Sunday. She will be moving out of state this summer and I want to see her as many times as I can. Funny how she only lives a half hour away but with the busyness of life we rarely find the time to actually hang out.

Her husband Timothy is a pastor at a wonderful little church in Madison Heights. A couple of guys I work with are also really involved in the church. Nick is the worship leader and Dillon is also involved in pastoring. And while I love my church it is always a nice change to go to theirs and experience their smaller, cozy, loving community.

I was running 15 minutes late and knew I would miss worship. I was trying to be positive but was bummed because I love it so.

But they started late! I missed nothing and the music they played was a miracle for me. I am weird with music. I get a handful of songs I love and I listen to them over and over and over. Eventually I completely wear them out and don't want to hear them anymore, but I enjoy them for a long time!

Right now there are a handful of songs I love. A few of them are old hymns that have been redone to sound modern. 2 of the songs they played were those songs. And they also played another that is one of my absolute favorites right now. It was their first time playing all of them. They even said on one of them, 'okay, this is a new song for us', and its one I've loved for a long time!

I couldn't believe it. Tears fell and I had to try and not cry so I could sing! Some may call it coincidence, but no way. Not those exact songs, that are so close to my heart right now. That so clearly call my heart and mind and attention to God right now, at this time. And they are not new. Not particularly popular at this moment for any reason. Of a thousand Christian songs they are my favorites. So it was such a beautiful, special moment for me and I just felt so loved.

And the message kind of amazed me too. 2 or 3 days ago I bought a book called Lord, Save us from your Followers. Just happened to catch my eye on a clearance rack. I've only read a couple pages but its about how unattractive Christians often are to unbelievers. How many of us have a bumper-sticker mentality and are not good with actual conversations about our faith. Its my way or the highway. The guy is a Christian himself, and does believe Jesus is the only way and the truth and the life, but he doesn't think we are going about sharing that truth in the right ways. He wore a suit covered in all kinds of religous bumper stickers and symbols and went out on the street asking people 5 questions about what they believe, about Jesus, and about Christians.

And the message yesterday was about how unattractive Christians can be. How we can actually be stumbling blocks to others coming to believe. So I thought that was interesting and feel like it was no accident I bumped into that book!

Afterward we went to lunch in Royal Oak and walked around and Gianna had a wonderful time trying on crazy shoes in Incognito, lol!

And Dillon told me the story of when he came to know Christ. I think he had told me a piece or two before, but I might have forgotten, (which is horrible!) But the short of it is he was a model and a hard-core drug user. He hated God. Thought people who loved Him were nuts. A good friend of his was into drugs and witchcraft of sorts and also an unbeliever. He didn't see the guy for a while and the next time he did the guy was a Christian. Completely cleaned-up and changed. Stunned him and got his attention. And over time God worked and revealed himself in Dillon's life. He said God showed him that He was immeasurably better than all that he had thought was so great. The lifestyle he was living, the high's he got from the drugs. God manifested Himself to him and there was, and is, no doubt to him that He is who He says He is. Completely changed him! Dillon is so in love with and so passionate about God, and I really understand why when you imagine that happening in someone's life.

I love hearing those stories! And I am so grateful for all the wonderful people God has placed in my life. I was thinking on the way home yesterday how sometimes I feel so sad I didn't go to school for illustration. I want to wonder what might have been. But I think of ALL the wonderful people God has brought into my life through my job over the last 10 years. Many people who I know I will be friends with forever. Even if we may not find the time to spend together very often, they are precious to my heart and I love them. And I am not going to think about what could have been anymore, but I am going to be grateful for what has been.

If I'm lucky I've got a good 25-30 years in me before retirement time. WOW! When I say it like that, that's CRAZY. But anyways, that is plenty of time to get cracking on the painting and see if it goes anywhere.

Lol, 30 years. THIRTY YEARS. Omgsh. Hahahaaaa. I am so NOT graphic designing for 3 more decades. Maybe a half of one!

I just got more inspired! : )