Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. – James 2:17-18
For Rebekah and for me, one of the many beautiful things about Tarboro is how we have been received so generously and openly into the heartbeat of life here. Dinners, lunches, events, celebrations, parties, golf, receptions….
This week we attended our friend Chauncey’s birthday celebration. What makes it more special is that this is a gathering of immediate family and a few close friends, and it feels as if we are in an intimate circle of love and care. Not there as “the preacher” because of church, but invited into the real, unfiltered, genuineness of family.
Chauncey has a beautiful spirit and a heart full of gratitude and appreciation for the goodness of life. So what we experience at Chauncey and Tammie’s home (and in many other venues here) is more than fabled Southern Hospitality, it is what Paul is talking about in Second Corinthians when he writes:
“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
It is only when we live as visible and compelling testimonies to the grace and goodness of Jesus that we have any power or authority to represent and to share God’s Kingdom.
Keep reading at DerekMaul.blog for more on what God is up to in our lives and in this community – DEREK
Chauncey’s dear mother, Peggy Rodgers Leggett, is smiling on all this!
You bet!!
It’s rare I have the opportunity to read about how I live my life and the importance of family and close friends through the lens of another person. I forget that Derek is a writer and how gifted he is in describing surroundings and gatherings that he and Rebekah experience. The way Derek ties scripture to life events introduces another way for me to open my eyes, even more to see God is in the middle of it all. Honestly, it creates motivation to try to live up his description.
Mary, you were right Peggy Rodgers was smiling, and her presence was felt!
Rebekah thank you for the blessing and Derek thank you for sharing your gifts.
With gratitude, Chauncey
That’s awesome!! Thanks !
[…] ago. But not just a feature, the spire also stands as a memorial to my friend Chauncey’s (see yesterday’s post) mother, Peggy Rodgers Leggett, who served this part of the Presbytery as a much loved lay pastor […]