Julie loves Tue and Tue loves Julie.
That is not the blockbuster news.
What *is* the bombshell is their joint concern about "hurting" us because Tue is not (yet) a Christian. I think that is sweet and just a bit scary. The scary part is the uncertainty I have about how to respond.
Lord, I am tempted--not in the best way--to say "Has the Lord really said...?" I know what You say. I also know that there are misinterpretations that demonize unbelievers. (In fact, that is one of the several things that Julie and Tue react to so negatively in certain churches.) Where is Your love? Your oh-so-welcoming LOVE?
And Tue has made all the right promises about attending church with Julie, about raising their prospective children as Christians, about continuing to seek. He is just not ready to "convert." His father's faith seems to be something of a barrier, although Tue does not observe it (at least to my knowledge and outwardly).
It is about You, Jesus. Can we make it about YOU and not about stupid Christians?
...but I digress. This is also about Julie and Tue. In fact, Lord, it is in great measure about Tue, and in another perhaps equally great measure about Julie. Individually and separately, their faith journeys have been rocky. You don't have a lot of good ambassadors around the United States today. (Let me be one.) How would You address this sweet couple? How do You want to use me in Your work here? And, more importantly, how will You step in? It so seems to me that they are inviting You. Please, please lead them. The path they have been taking to find a good (or good enough) church has been torturously twisted.
Will the Alpha experience help? I have done what I could. Now, Lord God, I leave it up to You to nudge them toward it. I see much about it that awakens hope in my heart, but they have to experience it. All I can do is pray...which is, of course, not "all" in the sense of "so little."
Can You and I make an agreement that I will document, if on my phone app, prayer every day for Tue's salvation and Julie's recommitment? For the number of days that You choose, Lord. Then I will welcome Tue into our family. He is already in our hearts, or mine, at least.
(And do I email CityLife? Emailing churches has not been good for me.)
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