Grace upon Grace John 1:16

The gospel writer John said "...from his fullness we have all received Grace upon Grace" How true it is in my life these past few months. Each day has been a Gift from God in which I experience God's Grace and Love. The Apostle Paul begins his letter to the Colossians saying "Grace to You and Peace from God our father". Well, that's what I had been living in these past 13 months - in God's Grace and Peace. For no good reason I used to say, I will live anywhere but TX and Alaska. I came here following Will and his new call. I am so pleased to be proven wrong. I love it here so far. I have learned a few things. It is not the place that makes it happy or not but it is the people in it that makes a place. I find people living out their faith in ways of: hospitality and friendliness, honesty and no flowery words, straight to the point kindness, simplicity lived by highly educated people... I can go on for pages. Will and I prayed that the Lord will give me a call in Houston so that I can continue to respond to my call to serve. We had been thankful that pastor Steve and the personnel committee chose to call me. Every day from that interview on was a blessing filled. I had a great time working on reorganizing and introducing new things/programs to CLPC, mainly because people got excited about them and accepted them. I thought it was so good and can't get better. Then came Thursday the 26th (two days ago). The staff gave me a surprised high tea in the living room. Flowers everywhere, real tea pots and cups and saucers, food of all kinds, linens, men in ties and coats (Jamaal even had a top hat on), ladies in dresses and hats (some had white gloves on), I was shocked. I thought I had died and gone to heaven!!! I, who hate surprises, loved it. They sang a chorus for me to the tune of "My Girl" the words written by Jeannine Stone. They looked wonderful and were marvelously choreographed! I did say "looked" - right!?!, I did not say "sound"... David Stocker performed a song he had written about the whole staff including me. Mendy was playing that keyboard like no one's business. They had invited Will to be there who also brought my own hats from home. They even gave me gifts - all to my liking. All through these 13 months, indeed - each day - I received from God Grace upon Grace through life, people and work here. Although I don't know what my next call is clearly yet, banking on God's Grace and Love I look forward to tomorrow. As John Roper my last senior pastor said, "God's Grace is like grits at restaurants in the south. You don't have to ask for it, it just comes." I am glad that when my interim work is done in a few more days, God's Grace will continue to come to me.