When I was living in Raleigh, NC a couple of years ago, God led me to Journey Church on Spring Forest Road........... http://www.takeajourney.org/ Please visit their web page!
Anyway, now that I look back on those years, I realize that so much of that part of my life was all part of God's plan to get me into that church. I can't believe it was meant to be any other way.
I went through a very bad place at that time in my life, with very bad people in it. God enabled me to escape that particular pit I was in, and I am very grateful.
He put me in the most amazing place with the most amazing people! When I walked into their building, I KNEW Jesus lives there......
Pastor Jimmy Carroll and his wife Beverly, (wonderful, beautiful, heart full of Jesus kind of people) welcomed me with open arms, and loved me, hugged me, and cherished me in a way that I've never been loved before. Pastor Jimmy is a pastor who really, really believes and lives that when you say YES to Jesus, it is all the way, every way, all day, every day. He makes God's word LIVE, and he does it in such a way that it is totally relevant to every single person in the audience. He also does it in a way that is comfortable when it needs to be, and also uncomfortable when it needs to be.
He just tells it like it is.
Beverly is the most available woman I've ever met. When she focuses her attention on you, you feel like you are the most important person in her life! I've been the recipient of that attention, luckily, and that warmth and love emanating from her wrapped me right up, and I can still feel it, 1300 miles away, and a year and a half later!
The people that make up that church also welcomed me, and embraced me. Nobody there cares what kind of person you are, where you come from, or what your circumstances are. We are all children of God, and that is all that matters.
But I didn't start this post to expound on how wonderful that experience was, even if it did change my life in ways I didn't know it needed changing....
I left Journey and Raleigh in October of 2011, with the saddest heart...but was following the path God put me on. Back to Wisconsin to my family who needed me, but leaving a few very important parts of my family behind.... my oldest son, and Journey Church.
We were in the beginning of a series called EPIC, a journey through the bible from Genesis to Revelation.
I really hated to leave in the middle of the series, but God wouldn't wait for me to be ready, He made me leave when I did.
Anyway, last night I went to the church web site, and watched the 3rd part of the series. I had watched it a while back, and took notes then, and took notes last night. I found the older set of notes today, and made the most incredible discovery...
I've been doing a lot more "following" than "leading" lately, really praying hard for God to open my heart and mind to HIS will vs. MY will.....
And last night's watching of that sermon and the question session in the evening made clear to me that I have GROWN in my journey with God!!! I understood so much more of what Pastor Jimmy was talking about, and I really "got" it more this time. Talk about amazed!
And I am going to go back and watch all the sermons I've missed along the way... I do this when I feel especially lonesome for Journey and the people there. And I know I will hear God's word spoken GOD'S way............
God has, and IS filling me up!
I am so thankful for God's grace, and much more thankful for His mercy....
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