Late Birthday Breakfast

Well, if you want to know what kind of a friend I am, just ask my friend, M. Her birthday was back in March, and just today we met together for breakfast to celebrate. It wasn't that I didn't know it was her birthday in March, it was just that it fell at a particularly busy time, and since then, the days, weeks, and months have just rolled on by. We did try to set something up earlier, and it had to be changed, so today she received her gift and we enjoyed a nice, long visit over multiple cups of coffee. M. is the type of friend that doesn't put any demands on me, and we often go months without truly conversing just because we are both so busy. But what I love about her is that we can pick up right where we left off, and I always leave her presence feeling uplifted and loved. What a treasure she is, and I love the fact that she'll always be older than me! :-)

A couple of us will be gone for a week in Colorado. Today we pack up a few things, make final arrangements for the ones staying home, check in with friends we will be seeing while we're there, mow the lawns, do the laundry, clean rooms, and so forth. It's no small feat to get everything organized to go, but it will be so worth it.

For our family at New Life, although we may not be with you this Sunday, you can be assured that we are praying for you and missing you. It says a lot about the kind of people you are that I would rather be with all of you than anywhere else on a Sunday. However, it makes us even more grateful to God for where he's placed us when we have to be somewhere else on a Sunday, so we'll look forward to being with you on the 5th. As I'm sure you know, God is up to some good stuff, and it is evident in every area of our community. As you abide in Him, keep looking for ways to include others in your daily life, to pour out His love to everyone you encounter, to look for divine appointments in your day, to glorify Him in all that you do. We must continually keep ourselves open to Him and aware of Him in order to live for Him. Amen? Amen!

Blessings to each and every one of you!