We want to "be the church" right?

This past Sunday gathering was, yet again, very different than any of us had expected.  Which, by now, maybe we should be expecting... 
It's been a few weeks since we had met at our house, and we're all excited to be together for some fellowship and seeking the Lord time together!  So, as everyone is showing up for dinner and starting to hang out a bit, the Lord gives us an unexpected opportunity. 
The Buskirk family arrives, and as 3 of their children jump out of the van and begin to play, they begin to get Nathan ready for the party.  Nathan is the miracle child who wasn't supposed to live -but did, who wasn't supposed to walk -but does, who all the odds are against -but keeps on overcoming.  Nathan wears braces on his ankles, and as they were putting them on something in the little guys foot pops... loud.  And all of a sudden, it seems like Nathan has yet another thing to overcome -a broken ankle!

Now the opportunity comes into the picture... what do we do now?  Well, we get the opportunity to "be the church"!   As the parents leave with their son to the ER, the rest of us get to take responsibility for their other 3 children.  We got to adjust our gathering to the needs that were present.  

No program or agenda should ever be more important than people!  We see Jesus often "moved with compassion" adjusting plans, and meeting the needs of the people.  This is what we're called to as a church "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ".

dinner time!

Our gathering was definitely different than any of us had expected, 8 kids (8yrs and younger)  around the dinner table (minus two parents) is crazy, Bible story time with everyone taking responsibility for the kids is awesome, but stretching, and "bedtime" story with one dad and 7 kids is wild.  But there was a love present in a night like that that we seldom get to experience, that some of us seldom take the opportunity to be "moved with compassion" toward.

Community isn't always easy, but it's what we're called to. 

-But that's not the end of the story!  Turns out that Nathan story of overcoming continues... His ankle didn't break, but that "pop" we heard was actually his tight little muscle lengthening.  It still hurts to use it, but he is starting to again already.  So, although, he didn't enjoy the experience, it is a good thing in the end!  Praise God, sounds like Romans 8:28 to me... our community got to "be the church" and Nathan's foot will end up being better than before! 

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good"