Sweet Fellowship...

"Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us." Psalm 33:20-22

This week has provided many opportunities to visit with friends and church family members... quite a blessing... So grateful for the friends God has placed in my life, whatever part of the faith journey they may be on... mountain or valley... we place our trust in the Sovereign Grace ... what treasures authentic friendships are!

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25

Thursday, we were able to join the Morris/McGowen Bible Fellowship Class annual Christmas party. What a sweet time of fellowship, food, worship, tears and laughter. We were honored by a precious gift given by Ann Purvis (pictured above). Following the tragic death of her son years ago, she took up wreath making as a part of grief therapy and ministry to others. She made FIVE beautiful wreaths for our family. One for our girls with three angels on it (see above); one for our son with three athletes on it; a beautiful large wreath with an angel on it for me; a wreath with several golf items on it (a joke for Tony); AND...

...a personalized "University of Kentucky" wreath (which is now hanging on his office door - ha ha - be forewarned)!

Ann then presented wreaths for the Bible Fellowship Class leaders, the oldest members in the class, and then to our dear Executive Pastor Gary (the "Reverend" as he was referred to:) and his precious wife Nancy (pictured below). It was moving to hear the story of God's guidance and healing in her own life, followed by words of encouragement to this faithful, godly family who suffered a great loss to their family a little over a year ago... Ann also presented them with the book My Beautiful Broken Shell: Words of Hope to Refresh the Soul by Carol Hamblet Adams... this a ministry God has given her. Interestingly, today's prayer prompt in the YWAM daily prayer journal is "Pray for wisdom about how God is inviting you to work with him in the domain of the arts"... Thank you, Ann, for sharing your faithful and sweet gift!

Below are some pictures of our fellowship on Thursday morning...

The holidays can often be a time of depression. I pray you will lift your eyes to the One from Whom our help comes from... not the hills or things of the earth, but to the LORD, who made heaven and earth... Psalm 121:1-2... May your heart be made glad in Him... May you trust in His Holy Name... May you rest in His steadfast love... May you find refreshment in His presence...