Gotta get this out....

[dolfan]

Years ago, in a testimony service back not long after I became a Christian, a guy got up and said, "I want to thank the Lord for everything He's done TO me". He really meant "for me", but he often got things a little tongue tied. My wife and I have giggled about that to each other countless times over the years.

Well, here goes:

I WANT TO THANK THE LORD FOR EVERYTHING HE'S DONE TO ME.

God kindly, graciously opened the door for me to make some very stupid and ongoing choices, and I ran through it.

God kindly, graciously did not take His eye off me the whole time.

God kindly, graciously let us beat ourselves into a messy pulp in fifty-gazillion different ways until we finally, finally, finally came to His senses (not our own!) and said, "This is really dumb." (Cue Antoine Dodson music. )

God kindly, graciously lead us back into the love and the power of His Spirit.

God kindly, graciously spoke into my wife's heart about what He was going to do and has set about doing it in ways I can't explain and don't even know if I want to try.

God kindly, graciously -- over the course of almost two decades -- got our attention for real after we thought we really were giving it to Him. And, that's so funny/strange to me because we really did think we were giving God our attention, devotion, etc. Turns out we were just playing around and He STILL kindly and graciously let us walk right down a primrose path to a desert. ..... Only to discover THERE HE IS. And, I'm laughing out loud (literally) as I type this because I KNOW like I know my own name that God is moving our lives toward His own, filling our hearts with His Word, and man I don't even know what's next, but whatever it is, wherever it may be or however it happens and whatever it looks like .... whew .... God.

He's right. And, that's elementary enough to everyone here, but it for me it just bears repeating. He's right. He's right.



Now, I know all that probably comes across as gobbledy-gook but I'm glad you're patient enough to let me get it out.

Let me say this too. I know that there's not a lot of people on here posting like there used to be. Whether it is Facebook or other means of interacting, nothing takes the place (for me) of Jude2. A lot of folks who were once regular here disappeared for whatever reasons. I say that to say this ..... I WISH I could have interacted with all of you then being the person that God is shaping me into now. Everyone here has been so kind to me, so good to me. And, I am forever thankful for you all. No telling how many people have prayed for me and my family. I just cannot express my gratitude and indebtedness to you enough.

I love you folks.

[Shellie]

Aw shucks, Brother, we love you, too!

Wonderful post, by the way! I enjoyed every word of it.

[Pastor Bill]

I understand completely brother, He just loves us that much despite ourselves.

[Pastor Gary]

Welcome home!

[Pastor Gary]

I know that there's not a lot of people on here posting like there used to be. Whether it is Facebook or other means of interacting, nothing takes the place (for me) of Jude2. A lot of folks who were once regular here disappeared for whatever reasons. I say that to say this ..... I WISH I could have interacted with all of you then being the person that God is shaping me into now. Everyone here has been so kind to me, so good to me. And, I am forever thankful for you all. No telling how many people have prayed for me and my family. I just cannot express my gratitude and indebtedness to you enough.

I love you folks.

I know, Dolfan, that Twitter, Facebook and other social media connections have reduced the impact of Jude2 a bit, as so many people interact there, but we just made an 8 year milestone: Jude2 was born on January 29, 2003.

There is a level of intimacy and community here that gets diluted in the massive scale of Facebook.

[jinjer]

There is a level of intimacy and community here that gets diluted in the massive scale of Facebook.

Yes there is!! And I feel safe here!!

Jinjer

[beckrl]

..... I WISH I could have interacted with all of you then being the person that God is shaping me into now. Everyone here has been so kind to me, so good to me. And, I am forever thankful for you all.

That's speaks volumes of the new creation that God has maded.

[PastorDaniel]

Pretty Cool Bro....I admit that I have been entangled in the web of Twitter and Facebook...but a lot of it tends to be shallow fellowship...FB has never done a fundraiser for me like Jude2 did a couple of Christmas' ago!!

This is a place where friendship can actually be developed...I remember wearing a Jude2 pin to the Assembly in 2008...Jude2 folks became quite obvious!

Blessings to you all!

Daniel