Tomorrow is my one year anniversary of our move to Florida to serve at Sanibel Community Church.
Show me Your glory….is what I named this blog.
It’s been a place for me to share my thoughts and lessons I’m learning in this journey of life and faith as a Christ follower.
Tomorrow is my one year anniversary of our move to Florida to serve at
Sanibel Community Church.
As God moved in my life to call me to serve as Women’s Ministry Director here, I didn’t really know about this church before. We had vacationed in Florida, but never been to Fort Myers area, and not heard about Sanibel Island.
The church is about 350 members in the off season, and swells to about 1200 during the winter season. Many of our members have dual membership from somewhere “up north”, and are all in when they are here for 6-9 months. It’s been a different, but we are a year round church.
I was so warmly welcomed by all the women, who were so hungry for fellowship and the Word of God, coming out of Covid. The timing of my hire was perfect for lots of participation in everything we planned. Everyone was so excited to have a leader and I was so happy to be in that role again with a church who proclaims the gospel, and whose mission statement states we exist “to multiply maturing disciples of Jesus and healthy churches for the glory of God and the good of the world.”
I was here in Florida for three weeks, and my mom went to be with Jesus. She was so ready, and we miss her, but still loss is difficult. I then took on the distance care of my Dad, as the long goodbye of Alzheimer’s had left Dad a shell of what he once was. In August, God took him on to glory. It’s a weird thing to think about that you have no more parents. They longed for their eternal home, but it’s still bittersweet.
If you know me, you know this is my focus of life, growing women to live what they learn. That happens when we follow the Bible’s pattern and command for older women and younger women to come alongside and do life together! (Titus 2).
So, off I went in that direction…. Growing women through teaching the Word in Bible Study, discipleship, community, testimony and all the ways I have been shaped. It has been an amazing first year!
But as of September 28th, Hurricane Ian has changed how I serve at my church.
The past 3 weeks have taught me new ways to serve, new ways to wash feet. I’m not teaching, I’m not programming, I’m not meeting with my disciples. I am calling, finding people, giving rides, taking widows shopping and just making sure people have their needs. Food, clothing & shelter.
God gathered some really amazing people together and have given us an amazing feeling of family. Now I am saying goodbye to many who I may never see again, or not for a long period of time. My newly formed Women’s Ministry Team, may not ever get to serve our women together. They are so gifted and have sharpened me and speak into my life with their wisdom, yet I may lose them. Yes, the wake of the storm is wide and the uncertainty is huge.
Stan & I were reflecting how so much of what we have been through the past 3 weeks with all of our people here – reminds us of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake Disaster.
This was part of the transcript I have kept track of for years. John preached on the Sunday after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake (we lived in Northridge)
One of my favorite passages from it;
“Nothing eternal perished. Nothing. No matter how hard you were shaken; no matter what you lost, your salvation was not lost. The process of sanctification was not lost. The possession of the Holy Spirit was not lost. The truth of God that you know, that has shaped and changed your life was not lost. Those in whom you have invested for the purpose of the kingdom and who have been brought to Christ were not lost. The treasure placed in heaven is unshakable, and you too will be protected until the day when you enter into heavenly glory to receive the inheritance that is waiting for you there.”
You can listen or read the entire sermon here:
https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/80-131/lessons-from-the-earthquake#.Y0xEWCFVA9o.gmail
So as I celebrate the one year anniversary, I know this for sure. God is always good, and is doing many things in all of our lives. He is sanctifying us to be more like him. He is teaching us to hold our ‘stuff’ loosely, and to live one day at a time. Stan & I do not have any real damage of physical losses, we were about 10 miles from the beach, but I cry for so many who are trying to recover anything from their homes, to hold onto. Pray for so many hurting, and may we see gospel growth and Kingdom impact.
He is still showing me His glory,
Kristi
ShowMeAgain Lord- @KristiBarefoot 