"For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." Zechariah 4:10
The Jewish community was very disappointed in the new temple that was being built. It lacked the size and splendor of all other temple's in the area, but Zechariah was there to finish overseeing the building of the temple by God's design and encouraged them to be obedient so they could reap the blessings of keeping God's covenant. Although lacking in appearance, this new temple would be the cause of the greatest rejoicing.
This takes me back to a time when I was disappointed. When we first moved to the country my parents took us to a little church in our community; Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. It was a small dwelling with a small congregation.
Now, we were coming from a church that in my eyes was larger than life in building and in people. I loved my church and everything it stood for (it was all I knew). At this time in my life I was carrying a broken heart and a bad attitude (see post; A Plan Interrupted). I thought that maybe we could at least find a place of worship that resembled what we had left behind in Birmingham.
As a teenager I grew to love this group of people and the church became a part of our family's life. A couple of years later I had my wedding in this special place. Dana joined the church and fit right in with our fellowship. We were young but knew we wanted to be involved in church and raise our family there. Within a year's time Dana became my Sunday School teacher, along with other class members such as my parents and others their age. For many years we were the youngest couple by far, but we were blessed in having the attention of so many wise people that truly took care of us.
We fell in love with the people of Pleasant Grove Baptist. We knew they loved us in return for they showed us by the time and energy they spent investing in our lives; a measure of God's love and wisdom that we so needed and appreciated.
It is true what they say, "It takes a village to raise a family." I am so glad we were blessed to have chosen such a fine group of men and women to be our village. Through all those years we had many role models that taught us so much about life, love, marriage and parenting, and how to be a loyal church member. We will never forget our time there.
When God called us to leave and move our family to another church, we carried so many precious memories with us, being so thankful for the years we spent there.
I am so grateful that the Lord knew what I needed as a young girl longing for home and then as a young family searching for godly mentors. He fulfilled all of our needs without us even realizing it. He blessed us over and over when we did not deserve it.
I rejoice in my Savior who scanned the earth to and fro and saw a great need in a young couple that started out so fragile and were in need of a loving, nurturing church family. They accepted us, loved us, encouraged us and were so proud of us as we grew together in Christ. We will always be indebted to our first church home and pray many blessings on them still to this day.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
(Heb. 10:25)
I love you & He loves you more!
Lord, Thank You for seeing us, for reaching out when we needed you most and for providing us with what we needed exactly when we needed it. Thank You for people who are not afraid of loving and caring in a God sized way. You are amazing! Amen.
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