Excommunication and Membership

“We excommunicated TWO members this week!” Bob told the Pastor.

                “Two members?” His left eyebrow rose in curiosity as he paused to listen.

                “Yeah, two church mice are history! One was kicked out of the building from a garbage can and one was found dead on the kitchen floor. I guess the rat poison worked.”

                The Pastor’s frown turned to a smile. “Good, good!” He chuckled.

Yesterday was a great day in the House of the Lord with us joining the church as new members.

Bob also shook the Pastor’s hand and said: “Well, you have gotten four new members this week!”

“How’s that?” he asked.

“We joined and two new baby girls were born too!”

He laughed at that one because it was true. It was a very fruitful week for the little mission church.

Now it’s Monday night. Tomorrow I start my new job and today every painful memory seemed to kick in of all the jobs that I didn’t like and that didn’t like me. I hope that my new job will not be too disappointing. I also hope that I will be fruitful there and like it to a certain degree. My fears and doubts I am sure are all unfounded.

Still, the devil knows my weak points and he attacks me there.

Did I mention our car was in the shop too with a mysterious leak in the suspension somewhere? Bob heard a hissing sound when he filled it up with gas and now it lists to the right side and is so low you feel every bump as you go down the road. So it was dropped off today and we have to borrow a car tomorrow for my first day.

All this has gotten me in a little bit of a blue mood. Our house is being short-sold. The German government wants to speak to us about our intentions of staying here. I need SOFA status and a new ID or we go back. I should get it this week with my new job. Then, should I cancel our return tickets? Yes, because we are living by faith and that means not looking back or at the circumstances but looking to God for help and salvation. He is our rock and our defense no matter how dark the storm…

I guess our backs are against the wall. But like the old hymn says: “Oh for grace to trust Him more…” And another more contemporary song that says: “If we never had a problem, we wouldn’t go to Him to solve ‘em. We wouldn’t know what faith in God can do.”

So, I will “trust in the Lord with all my might and lean not on my own understanding” and believe he is going to see us through…like He always has!

“Lord, help us to trust in You completely no matter what! We know your timetable is perfect and your way is perfect. Help us to walk humbly with You and wait patiently for your help! Thank, you Lord Jesus, for the answer and we love and worship you. Amen.”

And you can’t be negative or have self-pity when you’re living in a church…