The Body of Christ

On Palm Sunday we sang "We Are God's People" - #355 in the ARP Hymnal.  The words of verse 3 aptly describe something that Andrew and I have had the privilege of witnessing over the past year.  It's something described in Acts 2, verses 42 through 47.  Paul speaks of the church devoting themselves to teaching and fellowship, believers coming together and giving to one another as they have need, breaking bread and praising God with sincere and glad hearts.  Andrew and I have seen this in our church, a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ; of the Covenant Family.  My heart filled with gratitude as I sang the words below, remembering all the ways that the people around me had surrounded us with love, support, and encouragement.

We are the Body of which the Lord is Head,

Called to obey Him, now risen from the dead,

He wills us be a family, diverse yet truly one;

O let us give our gifts to God, and so

Shall His work on earth be done.

Over the past year, Andrew and I have experienced so many blessings…

A sweet friend who ran with me many a night, listening as I anguished over whether or not we were being called to adopt, then listened (without judging) many more as I tried to decide whether we had what it takes to raise a child with special needs.

A mentor who prayed for Andrew and for me as I was 10 steps ahead of my husband in the decision to adopt.  She prayed for patience for me and wisdom for Andrew.

A group of men who shed tears of joy and then rose to lay hands on Andrew, praying for him and for us after he shared the news of our plan to adopt with them.

A beautiful woman who saw a need and, without blinking an eye, wrote a check for $900 to cover the cost of sending off our I800a documents for USCIS approval.

An anonymous $5000 check in the offering plate…a private soul watching from the sidelines and deeply touching our hearts.

A six year old girl who sold her Barbie Jeep to raise $50; another 8 year old girl who gave $20 of her precious birthday money, each one wanting to sign their names on the bag that will travel with our baby girl - HOME.

A generous friend who donated 15 gorgeous smocked dresses and jon jons to be sold at auction to raise funds needed to send off our dossier.

A group of members who pray every Monday at noon, week after week for the adoption process, for our girl, for us.

A missions committee who decided that bringing our daughter home was a mission of the church and donated so very generously in hopes that this child would have the opportunity to know and love Christ.

Several selfless friends who spent hours tagging items to be sold at a garage sale in order to gain the last bit of money needed to help push over the edge to being FULLY FUNDED.

And so, so, so many more generous acts of love, donations of items to be sold, monetary gifts and prayers lifted up on our behalf!

The Covenant Family

In our church, our pastor often emphasizes the importance of a "Covenant Family."  Before moving to this sweet little town and becoming a part of this beautiful church, I never really gave much thought to what it means to be a part of a Covenant Family.  After hearing the term "Covenant Family" several times, I began to wonder what it really means.  Who is a part of this Covenant Family?  Why is it important?  What does it mean for me and for my children?  What does it mean for the church of which I am blessed to be a part?

Covenants are seen throughout Scripture as a way of binding us to God and and God to us.  Long ago, Adam broke the covenant that God had made with him.  Adam's job was to work the Garden and take care of all that was given to him.  He broke it by disobeying God and eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, sin entered the world.  From that time forward, out of His extreme love for His people, God worked to redeem His people and bring them once more back to Himself.  Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God conquered sin once and for all so that "all who believe in Him may have eternal life" (John 3:16).  Those who believe, along with their children, become part of the "Covenant Family."  Along with being a part of this Covenant Family comes the responsibility to build our brothers and sisters up in Christ, sharpening one another as we ourselves are being sharpened in our faith.  Also comes the responsibility to "train up a child in the way he should go, so that when he is old he will not depart from it" (Duet. 6:5).  This is not just done by the child's parents, it is done by the Sunday school teachers, by the pastors, by the Elders who pray for the children they are shepherding, and by each and every person within the congregation as they guide and lead these little ones in ways of righteousness.

I have been blessed to see this Covenant Family in action.  I have seen the selfless acts done by people of every age and every gifting.  I have seen church members taking care of one another's children or grandchildren, not because of an arbitrary obligation, but because of a deep desire to see these children come to know and love Christ.  These church members shepherd, teach, pray for, gently admonish, and simply love the children within their Covenant Family because they know that these little ones have eternal value.

When our baby girl is baptized in this beautiful church in our small town in Florida, do not be surprised if there are tears running down my face.  Tears of joy to know that I'm finally holding her in my arms and that she will have the opportunity to know and love her Savior.  Tears of gratitude for the faces I will see before me who have made her being with us possible.  And tears because of the shear knowledge that when the Pastor asks for all those who will love, teach, and bring up our girl in knowledge and fear of the Lord to stand, every person that rises to their feet will be telling the truth.  They will take seriously their vows.  This will be their Covenant child and she will now belong not just to a family, but to the body of Christ.  This, friends, is what it means to be a part of a Covenant community, to join together in the work that will further His kingdom.  Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me" (Mark 9:37).  Thank you, beautiful church family, for being so willing to welcome another daughter in to the Covenant family and, in so doing, for welcoming Christ in to your midst.