Ask and keep on asking

A few months ago I was lamenting to my brother and sister that I didn't have a tight-knit community here with whom I could share my beliefs, my pondering, my heart, my longings or my epiphanies. I was feeling low. I was feeling down in the dumps because I had a church, but it felt like I was in a relationship that was unequally yoked. (This is not me putting myself on some spiritual pony, saying I am so far above in spiritual growth that no one "gets" me. No way.) The hubby and I felt discouraged. But, Sam, in all his thoughtfulness turned to me and very slowly asked, "have you asked HIM to give you a community?" I shook my head yes. Surely I had asked, right? I mean, I've been talking' to the Lord since childhood. I'm certain I asked...right?

Nope. I did some praying and thinking and realized that I had just skipped that part. I took the "ask and keep on asking" line in the Bible and turned it into "sit and keep on complaining". Ugly stuff. But God, in His infinite wisdom and love beckoned me to Himself. He lured me (I'm seeing a fly-fishing line going through the clear running water here) and He brought me to Him. I sat on His lap and lay there, asking, begging for Him to provide those that "call to the Lord out of a pure heart".

Bless the Almighty in his lovingkindness and mercy!!!! (Just give me a sec, my eyes are all teary...praise with me!)

We have some friends (I'll get pics of them soon...they run fast so it's hard to get good shots ;). Kevin and Allyse Keeney and their two sons, Mikey and Jack, and their daughter Cadence have been our friends for a little while now. We met them years ago, but the relationship has really taken off the past few months. Sean has been in a men's group with Kevin for a year now and Allyse and I are embarking on this home-school thing together very soon (as in a few days) and so the togetherness just keeps happening. We're together a lot. We have been going through a lot of spiritual changes separately and it's amazing the parallels we have found in our families. Long story short, I have been longing for the Jewish traditions in my Gentile life and wouldn't you know it!!? THEY approached US about doing Sabbath together! I mean, what!? Wow. God is amazing. Not only that, but we visited their small church yesterday - you know, to get to know them even better - and WHAM! it was like walking into the middle of a river and getting sucked under. The Holy Spirit was moving. Moving. Moving. Moving. I was overwhelmed. I was blooming inside. I was home. God was alive and real and tangible and...well, now it's all changing. Life is about to change. We have been blessed with all this - literally we have blessings falling in our lap.

All this because I asked. Have you asked? I mean really? I'm not trying to belittle those of you who have been truly asking for years...you are the blessed ones talked about in Matthew 5. May His peace rest on you. I didn't ask, though. I just complained. All I'm saying is that there is a huge difference. I'm glad I see the difference now. I praise the Almighty for His provision.

Come, Lord. COME!