It's finally starting to sink in.

I think up until today, the fact that we are moving had not really hit me as reality. And yet, the reality of our move is fast approaching (12 days!!!). Probably a big part of why it had not quite sunk in yet was because we hadn't started packing. But this week is packing week because I'm done work now that it's Spring Break for the schools. I'm so not looking forward to getting up tomorrow knowing how much there is to do.

Today was our goodbye gathering at Solid Rock. We will definitely miss our church family and the people we have grown with spiritually over the last couple of years. The church has truly been a blessing to both of us and although I am sad to leave, I look forward to taking what the Lord has wrought in my life through these years to Calgary and shining for God there. Although Solid Rock is small, their faith is big and their love for God is genuine. I have definitely learned that size means nothing when it comes to what a church should be all about. I'm sure its size has been judged by some as a reflection of what seems to be not happening that is supposed to be happening (rigorous evangelism, outreach, saving souls, etc), but really when you go back to the Word of God, nowhere does it place size or numbers as the defining factor of an effective and "growing" church. Nowhere is numbers even a goal. When we think "growing" in relation to church ministry, the first thing that always comes to mind is numbers. On the contrary, Jesus' commission to his disciples before he ascended into heaven was: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded them." The Acts 2 church devoted themselves to serving one another and to growing together in the Word and in their love for God and for each other..."And God added to their number daily those who were being saved." God multiplied their number according to their faith in Him and their love for one another.

Thank you, Solid Rock, for being an instrument of God's love in my life over the past three years. You will be deeply missed.

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13

Our spiritual giftedness is meant to build up the body of Christ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God. And we all do not possess the same giftedness. But with the giftedness that we do possess, whether for example it be teaching or preaching or evangelizing (as some are definitely called by God to do full time), we are called to exercise them by the power of the Spirit for the building of His kingdom. Regardless of whatever gifts God has bestowed upon us, we are ambassadors of Christ. All of us. At any given time or place. That mandate to us as Christians is set in stone.

God has truly allowed my love for His church to grow, not just the local body of Christ that I am a part of, but His universal church of believers all over the globe. I know and believe that the greatest testimony to unbelievers in our generation is not necessarily words but actions - a living testimony of the reality of Christ at work in one's life. Words take a back seat when it comes to what you believe. People aren't so much convinced by what you say than they are by what you do. When Christians preach love and forgiveness to the world and yet fail to love and forgive those within their own church walls, we show the world a distorted - even futile - picture of our message. Tragic but true. And we wonder why they don't believe.

I have only touched the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, in terms of really loving others with the love that Christ first showed me on the cross. And I mean really loving others. It's always easier to love those who are easy to love and difficult to love those with personalities different from us or who we just don't get along with for whatever reasons. It's also always easier to praise, admonish, and encourage others we love than it is to rebuke, correct, or speak the truth in love to those close to us. I'm working on that one.

So it's finally starting to sink in. I have mixed emotions right now, so I can't really describe how I feel about the changes that are about to take place. I'm excited and scared, joyful and sad, anxious and at peace, at times uncertain. But one thing's for sure, God will be with us wherever we go.