Pears on the Front Porch

A Story, A Verse, and The Gospel…

A story…
I came home yesterday to find a bag filled with pears on my front porch.  The bag was so full that a handle was broken…it must have been Rosa.
My friend Rosa and her husband Bill have lived next door to us for 10 years now.  We have had many conversations over our shared fence while watering our yards and hanging clothes on the clothes line.  We have hosted BBQ’s in our back yards and played lawn games and board games at each other’s homes.  We have shared recipes and holidays. (Rosa is from Spain and introduced us to Epiphany – 3 Kings Day on January 6th and the tradition of stuffing as many grapes in your mouth on New Year’s Eve 😊) Our kids have built forts together in the woods, obstacle courses over streams, and trebuchets to launch the many black walnuts that fall in our yards.

The gospel…
I was recently asked when the last time was that I shared the gospel message.  I was taken aback – I thought of the formal teaching and the steps to leading someone to Christ and I had to admit, I couldn’t remember the last time.  I confessed this to a group of women in Regeneration class, and this is what Sylvia said to me: (paraphrased) The gospel isn’t a list or a set of rules.  The gospel is being “with” someone.  It is listening, and sharing.  It is a kind word or a loving embrace.  It is sitting with them in their times of joy and sorrow. 

A verse…
I believe this sums up what Sylvia so simply put:
Psalm 133 rewritten for CSC Ladies Team
By Dana Bringolf 9/12/21
It is excellent and lovely when Sisters
 in Christ dwell together in harmony, 
Seeking one another’s best to the Glory of God.
It’s as attractive as the springtime 
Blossoms that nourish the honeybee
As it drinks in the sweet nectar.
It’s like the fragrance of the air after a 
Rainstorm, fresh and clean
It’s the quiet beauty of snowfall on a cold winter day.
For there the Lord God Almighty pours
Out His blessing of abundant grace and
Strength to keep marching on to victory!

I came home to a bag of pears on my front porch…

Let’s share the gospel with every moment – shall we? 

With Much Love & Deep Respect,
Christina
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