When Faith Knocks: Celebrating Moments Gone By & Look Forward

Well, today is Wednesday. It seems like a whirlwind & yet also just like yesterday. By the time this day is over - the Gravley family will have had our last time with church body we've called our family the last 4 plus years. But just because we move away from G-town on Friday morning (Sept 4th) does not mean we are any less family than today. Just because we will join another on Sunday (Sept 6th) does not mean we are any less family then. It will just mean a part of God's larger family - as it always does.

Today/tonight/tomorrow... will hold many emotions. They are to experienced & seen for what they are.. gifts from God. Learning experiences... more opportunities to grow! And I am thankful beyond any words for how God does not let us stay the same! Not for those who truly seek Him & His Kingdom first.

Tomorrow - Thursday... the moving truck will be in the driveway & will load up many gifts that have been given to this silly woman and her family. We are still blown away & yet it is in line with God's character.

Friday - Sept 4th... we will pull out of this driveway, leave this highly secure gated community and head toward to our new normal in another town with another church body. But all you who remain here in G-town & surrounding areas will not be forgotten. And after all... I will still have my mother here.. Again.. Praise God for all the ways we clearly see Him these days.

Sunday - Sept 6th... The Gravley family will worship & praise God just like we do every single Sunday. Hubby will preach his first sermon as the "official" Pastor of First Baptist Church of Claude, Texas. Yet, we all know who the Real Voice of that church body is & will be. There is No Voice like God/Jesus/HolySpirit. We will, as a family become a part of that church body/family. And in the midst of all that - we will celebrate the 18 years that Austin has been on this earth. Talk about one of my favorite gifts of all times!

We are celebrating moments gone by & looking forward. Only with God is that truly possible.

Jesus is the Only Way to God. He is the Only Road, Path.. whatever one wishes to call it. Only One.

Do you know Jesus? God? His Holy Spirit?

If you do.... Are you truly living life's moments in such ways that show He is your Lord? Or are you merely giving Him lip service when in times of crisis or any time you walk in to a physical church building?

Tonight my computer will be packed up. I do not know when I will be back on it again. And that is a good thing as I concentrate on the family I've been so incredibly blessed with. And it will no doubt make the heart grow fonder... They have given me permission to update facebook via cell phone. I'll pass. I've always said that is a line for me I'm not willing to cross.

As always, dear reader, you've been prayed for! God has noticed you today. I pray you notice Him.

And thank you for walking through life's moments with this silly woman.

Much love,
Camey

Best Dishes!

Yesterday morning after the close of the 2nd worship service... a woman came up to me & said, "We have gifts for you & your family in our car. Please do not leave here without them." I had to smile & laugh at the very thought of what those gifts might be based on a conversation I had with her & her husband on Friday afternoon. Not the gifts themselves mind you.. just the very thought of them.

There were 3 gifts wrapped up so bright & beautiful for us to unwrap. Inside were 2 boxes of dishes - enough for 8 people & 1 box of glasses. Funny enough? I had talked myself out of buying these very ones Friday night. I simply could not allow my mind to go there. Since being here, I've become rather used to not being "the woman" of the house & therefore, not having my own things about. (Cue in "The Quiet Man" here.)

I have long since stopped being a thing person. God has done such a work in that area. So... when this couple came in to the pcb on Friday afternoon and asked me what did we need or want for our new house - I really had a hard time coming up with any thing.. except perhaps every day dishes. I had given away all but one saucer away when we moved out of our last house. It was the saucer that Austin had always used for his hot sauce. Our china has been up in the attic all this time. The woman encouraged me to really think about it. So, again..all I could come up with was every day dishes.

Then she did it.. She had to ask what colors did I want to use in our kitchen. My answer frankly surprised me.. browns & greens. Why? I use these 2 particular plates we were given the last 2 Christmases all the time. They are from gift baskets my mother's soon-to-be husband had given us. Browns & greens. The every day dishes I had given away had fruits and veggies on them and weren't the slightest bit masculine really. (read: remember - I was the only female then & will be soon again)

The woman then told me about a set of very expensive dishes she had made & that I could have if I wanted them. Her husband looked at her with the biggest of eyes & said, "Why would you give those to her when you don't really like them yourself? Aren't you suppose to offer her the best? Your best - first fruits?" (yes.. they are those kind of friends!) She looked at him.. and then at me.. She then said, "Well, I don't think they're really you & your family any way Camey." They walked out the door soon after that.

I saw her last night for a brief moment. I hugged her tight & thanked her for the dishes/glasses. I also shared with her about the fact that I had almost bought them on Friday night. Funny enough? This woman had called her recently married daughter while standing in Wal-Mart on Saturday to make sure she was picking out just the right ones for me & my family. Her daughter is in Branson! Dick & I used to be her Bible Study teachers before she got married. I also had her in another group several years ago. She knows me/us oh so well. The dishes were spot on.

And now.. every day when those dishes are used.. there will be a love attached that is greater than the sum of ourselves. Only God could have put us all together when He did. Only God serves up the best dishes!

As always, dear reader, you've been prayed for!

Much love,
Camey