sunday, march 4 -- what an emotional day........bruce's last day at church and justin (pastor) goes and makes all nice about us. little did we know, but so many of the congregation knew there was a little something special up justin's sleeve. all during the service it was so difficult to not get emotional -- all the right songs, with all the right words to make you cry -- and there beside me, my two best friends wiping tears away all through the singing. i prayed all the way to church asking god to keep me calm and collected -- i guess He knows that a good cry every now and then is just what i need. anyway thinking that justin had "forgotten" about saying something nice about us (sharon, the secretary had called earlier in the week and asked if we could attend the 11:00 service today), i let my guard down a little. but, after his sermon, he began to say the nicest things staring straight at me and bruce and then had us come up on "stage" with him -- ok -- now I'm dying and the tears are flowing -- thank you bud for the starched monogramed hankie before church started -- i am never giving it back :) and i'm thinking just like reuben and lee earlier -- lord, just take us all home with you right now! ...... anyway, justin told the whole congregation that we are moving to midland and proceeded to say the nicest things about us and our ministry at gbc -- it was so hard to look out at the congregation- many of them were crying too -- many of them were just finding out for the first time that we were leaving - and then justin hands us a gift to take with us to midland -- the most precious gift -- a framed picture of our church surrounded with an autograph mat -- with so many well wishes from our "family" at grace -- ok -- now i am totally sobbing -- it couldn't have been a more perfect gift - i will treasure it ALWAYS and i already know right where i am going to hang it in our new home -- it will be the center piece for my cross wall --- after presenting us with our gift - justin held onto us and prayed the most sweetest, heartfelt prayer in our honor -- it brings tears to my eyes even tonight as i think about it- justin and heather are very special to us - it is going to be really hard to listen to another pastor on sunday mornings -- i am not sure anyone can hold a candle to this 36 year old amazing young man that brings the WORD so comfortably to our flock every sunday. i have learned much from justin beadles -- especially this past year -- i will miss you dear friend. i think what comforted me the most yesterday was when cynthia put her arm around me and turned to me with tears as we sang "you are god alone -- in the good times and bad" and told me -- "wouldn't it really be sad if you were leaving and you DIDN'T hurt?" --- enough said --- i love you my friend
Monday, March 05, 2007
we love you ...........gracebiblechurch
sunday, march 4 -- what an emotional day........bruce's last day at church and justin (pastor) goes and makes all nice about us. little did we know, but so many of the congregation knew there was a little something special up justin's sleeve. all during the service it was so difficult to not get emotional -- all the right songs, with all the right words to make you cry -- and there beside me, my two best friends wiping tears away all through the singing. i prayed all the way to church asking god to keep me calm and collected -- i guess He knows that a good cry every now and then is just what i need. anyway thinking that justin had "forgotten" about saying something nice about us (sharon, the secretary had called earlier in the week and asked if we could attend the 11:00 service today), i let my guard down a little. but, after his sermon, he began to say the nicest things staring straight at me and bruce and then had us come up on "stage" with him -- ok -- now I'm dying and the tears are flowing -- thank you bud for the starched monogramed hankie before church started -- i am never giving it back :) and i'm thinking just like reuben and lee earlier -- lord, just take us all home with you right now! ...... anyway, justin told the whole congregation that we are moving to midland and proceeded to say the nicest things about us and our ministry at gbc -- it was so hard to look out at the congregation- many of them were crying too -- many of them were just finding out for the first time that we were leaving - and then justin hands us a gift to take with us to midland -- the most precious gift -- a framed picture of our church surrounded with an autograph mat -- with so many well wishes from our "family" at grace -- ok -- now i am totally sobbing -- it couldn't have been a more perfect gift - i will treasure it ALWAYS and i already know right where i am going to hang it in our new home -- it will be the center piece for my cross wall --- after presenting us with our gift - justin held onto us and prayed the most sweetest, heartfelt prayer in our honor -- it brings tears to my eyes even tonight as i think about it- justin and heather are very special to us - it is going to be really hard to listen to another pastor on sunday mornings -- i am not sure anyone can hold a candle to this 36 year old amazing young man that brings the WORD so comfortably to our flock every sunday. i have learned much from justin beadles -- especially this past year -- i will miss you dear friend. i think what comforted me the most yesterday was when cynthia put her arm around me and turned to me with tears as we sang "you are god alone -- in the good times and bad" and told me -- "wouldn't it really be sad if you were leaving and you DIDN'T hurt?" --- enough said --- i love you my friend
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