Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Eight years ago, our family moved out of a small and very happy home in Tampa, Florida, said goodbye to dear friends and started the long drive to Ft. Worth, Texas, back to the central time zone for the first time in 10 years.  The drive included lots of tears and much anticipation for what seemed like a crazy decision/move to me.  Two days later, we pulled into the driveway of a large home in north Ft. Worth with a  banner across the front porch welcoming us to Texas and to a new church family.  On January 2nd, 2005, we began worshiping in a strip mall in Watagua, Texas with 40+ people who were committed to having a work of the Presbyterian Church of America in the newly developing area of the city.  Since the first service, many of the original families have gone on to new cities and other churches, but the Lord has seen fit to grow our body with new families and a growing faith and dependence through the years.   At first, we were a group of nomads moving to different facilities consistently, a day school and then elementary school cafeteria.  During the months in the day school, Kyle would vacuum the hallway before worship on Sunday and church members would set up the chairs each week.  In 2007, we moved into a permanent home through the Lord's provision of land and the funds to build a lovely building for worship and education.  This has been our happy home for the last 5 years, and frankly, I'm sad about the thought of not worshiping in our first chapel anymore.    As the pastor's wife, I will admit to a lack of faith and trust from the initial move through seasons of a "revolving door" as a church family.  Why the Lord called ME to be a minister's wife?  I will never know!  I have grown in faith and dependance as I've witnessed the Lord's work in our midst.  It has not been a work of man, most especially, not the pastor.  The Lord is faithful to his church and his people as he uses imperfect souls to do the work of ministry.   Much like the experience of that long drive to Texas, I'm full of anticipation for the next chapter of Grace Community as we move into a larger and stunning worship space this morning.  I expect there will be new and difficult challenges and a continuing revolving door in the years ahead.  Who knows?!  However, I am confident of HIS great faithfulness regardless of the circumstances and I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for his abundant goodness to us!  This morning is sure to be a time of joyous celebration and happy tears as we worship the Lord in our new home.