Yesterday I had the privilege (along with my precious parents) of hearing my little brother, Jeff, speak at his and his wife Karin’s church in Federal Way, WA.  This wasn’t a special speaking engagement, since he is the pastor.  But it was an extra special engagement for me, as I rarely get the chance to see them do what they do so well.

Jeff did an amazing sermon on the birth of John the Baptizer. (Jesus’ cousin whose ordained mission it was to proclaim the arrival of the Messiah). Or, rather, on the  prelude to his arrival.  The message delivered by the angel, Zechariah’s (John’s father) doubt and subsequent period of silence, Elizabeth’s (John’s mother) thrill after her pain of infertility.  Through it all God was gracious.  Which is exactly what John’s name means – God is gracious.  And how God’s timeless character and eternal grace extends to us today, no matter what our circumstances.

I won’t even try to do justice to the wonderful talk Jeff gave.  But he has the ability to look at things from a different angle and highlight things that would normally be overlooked or misunderstood.  It was sheer joy to hear him do it once again :-).

But there was even another joy in watching the “family” that he and Karin have had the privilege of serving.  The people who come week in and week out to set up “church in a box” at Meeker Middle School.  The people who so warmly greet you when you walk in the door and sincerely care about what’s happening in your life.  The people who remember me on my annual visit and somehow know more about me than I remember about myself!  People that genuinely look out for each other and think of each other as family and dear friends.

This warmth and true fellowship trickles straight down from Jeff and Karin’s example of love and utter acceptance.  Not just at church, but absolutely everywhere they go.  It’s a beautiful thing, and God uses it again and again in people’s lives in the Federal Way community.

I left inspired, motivated and humbled.

And very, very grateful that in one weekend I got to see both of my brothers and their wives doing exactly what they were meant to do, each loving the people in their communities in their own unique and beautiful ways.  And feeling the smile of God Himself on their endeavors. 🙂