The Gift of Knowing What Love Is
Yesterday, I was a part of something that left me feeling …
overwhelmed.
In the very best of ways.
The church hosted a drop-in to thank God for our time together.
It was amazing beyond words.
To all of you who came and to those who wanted to come but couldn’t …
thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The stories you shared, the hugs and cards and gifts you gave …
I am so undeserving of it all, but please know I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
_______
As a part of yesterday’s gathering, I wanted to thank everyone by sharing the comments that follow. What I did was nervously fumble my way through them. Here’s what was on my heart:
“Thank you for today — this is amazing … Caroline, Kay, Teri, Curt (everyone who had a hand in putting this together) — just amazing!!
I’ve heard there’s a video/slideshow — that bumper this morning, that was a killer – I so don’t deserve ANY of this – but Courtney, Bobby, Mark — thank y’all so very much!!
You guys aren’t here to hear me talk, but if it’s ok, I’d like to read a scripture passage and then share some “thank yous” …
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 [NIV]
In some circumstances it’s really challenging to give thanks; but not today. Truthfully, it hasn’t been much of a challenge the entire time we’ve been together …
First, thank you to You, Jesus
- In 1976, (I was 16) He saved me and called me to be a pastor and ever since He’s loved me and led me (I haven’t always followed as I should have, that’s a huge understatement) but thankfully He has forgiven me time and time and time again.
- If anything good (ANYTHING) has been done and my name has somehow been attached to it, that’s a huge mistake; it is because of Jesus, the power of His name, and He and He alone deserves all the glory and honor. // I love You Jesus, please help me to love You more.
Thank you, Michelle and Andrew
- Y’all are so beautiful (Morgan, Lucy, Miller, and the little one who’s almost here — so precious)!
- Over the years Michelle and Andrew, we’ve been a team; you both have made the many great times even greater, and the rare tough times so much easier.
- Michelle married an in-shape coach who had been running down the hill at Clemson only to end up with an out-of-shape preacher who’s over the hill in Chapin. And you haven’t left — yet! You’ve supported me every step of the way — you’ve sacrificed so much for the Kingdom (look up “pastor’s wife” in the dictionary and it’s your picture beside the definition) — you’re so amazing in more ways than I could ever list – I so don’t deserve you, but I love you so much!!
- Andrew, you are every parent’s dream and this dad’s pride and joy! You could’ve spent your early days on the sidelines and in dugouts but instead spent a lot of time at potluck dinners and on the road as we traveled from church to church, from revival service to revival service — and you never complained, not even once. Remember we would pray on the way to school in the mornings for the Lord to help us: Love Listen, Learn, and Lead? Man, did He answer that prayer in you!! You have been so gifted by God; you truly are amazing in every way! Love you so much, so very proud of you Bud!!
Michelle, Andrew, Morgan, and the girls, thank you. Love y’all with all my heart!!
Thank you, Staff …
- you have trusted me and supported me and endured me … I’m so grateful for you
- you’ve put up with my idiosyncrasies, my insecurities, my perfectionism, my OCD tendencies and so much more (so sorry)
- you bought in to my “Every Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday” … to my “Every blade of unmown grass is an evangelist” … to my “Make sure you’re a thank you machine to our volunteers” … to “What is, can be better!” … you bought in no matter how cheesy I was
- and I never ever (not even for a single day) did not want to come to work — and that’s because of you!!!
- over the years I’ve told you you’re “The Dream Team”, you’re “The Incredibles”, that you’re all “Hall of Famers” (remember the T-shirt HOF Jackets? talk about cheesy!). Listen, the Indiana college football team may be one of the best “teams” I’ve ever seen, but they don’t come close to you guys!!
Man, I love y’all so much!!
Thank you, Church Family …
- for being so welcoming and so loving, so generous and so faithful
- from the very beginning almost 25 years ago it was clear that this church had open arms and was not a closed circle
- you are THE BEST volunteers on earth. Period. End of discussion. I don’t know why the Lord would give me the privilege to be called your Lead Pastor, but He did, and I am forever grateful!
- you come early and you stay late and what I’ve seen God do through you is so amazing!!
- the souls saved, the lives changed … the Holy Spirit at work in and through you! So powerful! So beautiful!
The first advice I received when I first became a pastor was this: “Love your people and they will love you back.” (Rev. Farrell Cox, 1990)
He was right. You’ve loved me back. And I’m so grateful.
To quote one of my favorite theologians — Forrest Gump: “I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is.”
Foreigner (’84) may not have known, but Forrest did!
And I’ve known what love is through you!
We’ve passed the mantle of leadership of this great church to someone who knows. Pastor John, as gifted as he is (he is so gifted) – I’m completely confident that God will work in him and through him to lead us – I’m so excited he’s my Lead Pastor – to levels of Kingdom Impact that we’ve yet to experience! Pastor John, he knows what love is.
So, PJohn, I lovingly say to you what was said to me: “Love your people and they will love you back.”
And, to you all, in this new, exciting season for C4 … Let’s …
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for
you[us] in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 [NIV]Let’s do what God calls us to do and watch Him continue to build a truly great church!
Thank you!
I love you guys!
I am so undeserving … but so very grateful.”
So, if you’re a part of Chapin Christian, or if you’ve been a part of any of the churches we’ve served the past 35 years …
I love you.
We love you.
God is love. He revealed His love in Jesus Christ. And He shares it so freely through His children.
We know what love is because of you.
What a gift!!
Thank you!!
-Jody & Michelle, Andrew & Morgan (Lucy & Miller)
Jody Flowers 