Friendships and Pain part 2

Hello again. At least this time it's not a sleepless night. We are in the process of changing churches. I personally believe it is one of the most vulnerable times in a christians life. If your truly trying to walk with GOD, it is in my opinion... Unavoidable. When you join a body, you are at one of three places, either at the same place, behind or ahead. This is not a dig on the church you joined or the one you left, just the facts. The same facts applied when (if) you ever changed schools. Back to being vulnerable.. You want so desperately to make sure your walking in HIS plan for your life (and your family). You pray in earnest, your spouse prays and you look for... ? Peace, conformation, timing? In the american vocabulary it is hard to pin down without sounding cliche. But through tears and prayer it comes, the bittersweet release to move on (over, backwards - depending). Through it all your constantly questioning, wondering, hoping that your friends will stay friends. That no one will feel anger at GOD or you, and that by following what you believe to be GOD's will, you do not become a point of stumbling for others. The enemy of our soul would like nothing better than to take this time to tear us and others apart. For example, our son was part of a accident that caused something at church to be broken. It was summarily forgotten about on all sides for quite some time. It wasn't until after we had made our descision to leave that we were asked to pony up for the two year old event. I would be lying to say I was ok with the whole thing. In fact, I had to pray quite alot to keep it from being an offence to me ( my wife was in the same position, but she came around first). While I'm no longer of the opinion that it was meant as malicious or as an offence, I do still think it was of POOR form. So, when the budget allows we'll fix what was broken and move on. I hope that all the people that we have developed relationships with will still be our friends. I say hope because this is not the first time we have left a church. Albeit one of the few times we have left on good terms. GOD is still GOD and HE is good, so we pray for those we love and hope that we are protected (all of us) from the attacks of the enemy (and our own pride - mind). To HIM be the glory and honor and praise, for in these troubling times, my rock my peace and my hope is HIM.

Freindships and pain

Tough night, I can't sleep. You see my beautiful bride was confessing to me that she was thankful that I love her even when "She's Stupid" (her words not mine). Me, I thought it would have been when we fought, or spent too much money, something light, I would have been wrong. For her, it is when she believes that she had done something to cause a separation between us and friends, she honestly feels like it's her fault. How can your heart not break for the one you love when they say things like that. About my bride, to meet my wife is to meet a true Desert Flower; though, tenacious, sharp, and seemingly thick skinned. But to truly know her.. ah, the difference is amazing. Like any dessert flower, the outside is tough, it has to be to survive. But get past the pricklies and the thorns, and you will see them most beautiful one of a kind flower. Not only it the dessert flower beautiful, but it is very fragile, not to mention that they don't bloom like your everyday run o the mill flower. Some dessert flowers only bloom once every four years. I love my wife more than I can put into words, to see her hurt makes me hurt. Do I wish I could change it for her, for me.. Of course, can I? No not really, I encouraged her, let her know that while we all make mistakes, at least we are learning from them. That and the last friends we lost was entirely my fault. (darn it, I still can't walk on water... maybe next time) Still doesn't change the wound or make it any less painful. I feel we should love others, ask for forgiveness when needed, and give forgiveness when asked.

To the friends we have lost, our deepest apologies, we ( I say we because her and I are one ) are only asking that you could find it in your heart to forgive us.