“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the Light of His glorious grace.”

 

Grab a cup of coffee and a Christmas cookie, maybe some tissue! This might be an emotional read! 

We stood to sing at Lazy Mountain Bible Church this last Sunday. This was the song. Fitting for Christmas, as we focused on worshipping that tiny babe who was destined to redeem us all. But for me, it was more.

 

When we were first married, we attended First Evangelical Free Church. For many years, we sang this song at the conclusion of the service. This chorus became tied to all that we loved, to the fellowship, friends, learning, Bible studies, service, and mostly the relationships God gave us through this church family. We loved worshipping Him together at First Free and so it was with sadness and excitement that we moved to East Troy to serve at Timber-Lee Christian Center. It was our “first leaving” to go where God had led.

 

We loved our time at Timber-Lee. Our service there was tied to fellowship, friends, learning, Bible study and mostly the relationships God gave to us. With several others, we planted Southern Lakes Evangelical Free Church, where our shared worship drew us closer to Him and to one another. So it was with sadness and excitement that we moved to Victory Bible Camp in Glacierview, Alaska. This was our “second leaving” to go where God had led. 

 

We loved our time at Victory Bible Camp. God provided us fellowship, friends, Bible study, and again, blessed relationships. We were blessed to have been involved with Spring Creek Bible Church, which is now Glacierview Bible Church, and revel at the way God brought us together as we worshipped Him each week. Then came our “third leaving” and it was equally challenging. Difficult to leave what we had loved, the people we knew so well, and our fellowship at church. 

 

We spent some time in the Midwest and Arizona, reconnecting with our churches and the fellowship that was so difficult to move away from each of those moves. That was wonderful, difficult, and emotional. 

 

We moved to British Columbia, where God provided us with even more blessings. We were a part of the Williams Lake Evangelical Free Church, where we enjoyed the fellowship, friendships, learning together, and relationships that have also stood the test of time. We moved to Tsi Deldel Reserve and were incredibly blessed with dear friends and the fellowship and joy of hosting a local church in our home each Sunday. We also enjoyed fellowship and friendships at the Cariboo Community Church in Williams Lake. Oh, how blessed we were to learn from our community and to have so many wonderful friends in all those places. Therefore, it was challenging when God prompted our “fourth leaving,” and we responded with many tears. 

 

After time in the Midwest and Arizona, we moved back to Alaska to the Field office. Once again, God blessed us with amazing fellowship and friends. Some of these were new friendships, and some were rekindled and deepened from our previous time in Alaska. It was so good to be surrounded by family and friends, even though our hearts ached for those living in our other regions.

 

Then there are all the partnering churches where we have also enjoyed amazing fellowship, deep friendships, and incredible times of worship together. Maywood Evangelical Free Church, Osco Community Church, The Journey Church, GracePointe, Anchorage Grace, and Faith Evangelical Church. Each of these places holds special memories and blessings for us.

 

The words from that song evoke deep emotions. This past Sunday, I could not sing; I could only shed tears. The tears flow because those words prompt memories of what we have had and left, of the kind of loss we have experienced each time God moved us elsewhere. But those tears are also tears of thankfulness for all God has provided through each of these churches and all the dear friends we have. The tears also reflect profound thankfulness that Jesus is faithful to accompany us through every hard thing and every wonderful thing as we walk through this life. Each worship time in any of these locations, and more, held the same sweetness as we recall through the words of that song because we worship the same Savior. We suspect many of you have experienced this incredible truth, and we pray for the sweetness of worship this Christmas and into the next year, may it bless your heart!

 

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year - Steve & Jill

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