Putty in His Hands

Does anybody know this song lyric & what the title/artist of the song is..........."Well, the race is on and here comes bright eyes up the back stretch..."?

I've had that lyric in my mind since last Sunday, as we packed up our church and made a mad dash out the door, to our new location. There are so many adjectives that can describe, the atmosphere that evening. It could be......exciting, exhilarating, chaotic, frantic, hilarious, frustrating, infuriating, exhausting, vindictive, doubtful, loving, energized, depressing, playful, encouraging........... just to name a few! Wow, what a day (and night!)! The Fellowship family got the majority of our belongings packed up and out of the building we were currently using and off to storage or to our new location.

During a lull in the activity, I was sitting in the sanctuary, resting a moment and taking the time to reflect for a moment. It had been a little over 2 years, since we began Fellowship Church. First in the park, then in each others homes, then to this building (notice, I didn't say church! It's a building, plain & simple). Lot's had happened in 2 years, good & bad. Soul's have been brought into the Kingdom, lives have been changed. We've shared in the excitement of 2 weddings and we've grieved over the death of a member. We've seen miracles (how about a $40000.00 offering) and we've prayed for miracles. We have loved each other and fought with each other. We have been kind to each other and hateful to each other. We've delighted in the addition of members and we've cried over members who have left. We've struggled with being different. So very different, from the "traditional churchy way", that the majority of us came from. Stan made a statement, in a meeting, I was in, a week or so ago, that really opened my eyes. He said, that we (the very first member's), have had changes made in our hearts, in a big way. That, 2 years ago, we would not have been as loving and accepting of people, who are not just like us. You know, the suit & tie thing, best dress the store had, wing-tip shoes and definitely no tattoo's, don't raise your hand in praise, only use the Hymnal to sing from, blah, blah , blah...you get it. It's taken 2 years for our hearts to evolve, to be more like the heart of Jesus! How profound!! We are beginning to rip off those chains of tradition and man-made rules. We're beginning to see more like our Savior, that all of mankind needs a Savior, not just those, who fit into the stereotypical box! Father God, I'm so thankful, that this body of believer's have been moldable by You.

So, anyway, back to sitting in the sanctuary. Gary came in, after I had been sitting there a while and asked me "What was I thinking?". I told him a lie, I told him "nothing". I was thinking about all those things, I mentioned above. But, the thing I was pondering the most, was the fact, that I didn't feel any regret or a sense of loss about leaving that building. It seemed strange to me, that I wouldn't feel even a twinge of regret or loss. I felt like I do, when reading a good book. Can't wait to turn the page and see what happens next! We're on an epic journey and I can't wait to see what happens next!!


There's still lot's to do, to prepare for the beginning of the next chapter. Will you be, one of the main character's in the next chapter or an after thought? Pray for Pastor Craig, as we move forward, he carries a heavy load! Let him know, you support him.........by your words & your actions! PEACE ALL & I LOVE YA!