As we make the final preparations for leaving Brisbane in a few hours back to Carlisle, I mull over the past 5 weeks and sum it up with the words “extravagant Love of The Father”. When we have talked to Akila, Mike and Laura about Australia they excitedly remind of us the crazy people at our church. One aspect of the culture of the church is an over the top generosity. That has been my experience of that community since I first came in 1986. Some months ago, Akila said to Kathy that our church in Australia was the model of the church she would like to belong to and find in other places.
I have experienced generosity from many over the years but extravagant action is very powerful. I watched on Sunday the Pastor anointed Andrew as he was ordained. Gone was the normal finger tip full of oil, the whole bottle of almond olive oil was poured over him. Crazy? Sounds like it but that extravagance was not only fun but an incredibly powerful symbolic action.
Kayleen, a wonderful believer with a passion for intercession, said she would like to paint a portrait of Mike for us. I had no idea how long that takes and whether it would happen before we leave. I emailed her a few shots of Mike. On Sunday, when the painting was presented to us at church, we could not believe what we were being given.
I took this photo of Mike in May 2006. It summed up at that time where Mike was in life. Knowing he had not done well at school academically, thinking about a fabrication course at college in September, which I pushed him into, we called this photo “contemplation”. We had no idea how profound this photo would be to us and Kathy placed it at the back of his funeral service sheet.
Can you belive Kayleen has only been painting 2 years! Words cannot express how we as a family feel to receive this awesome painting. It is far more than a painting and as it was revealed I know something also happened in the spiritual. Hard to unpack that statement.
There have been many “hands & feet” the Father has used during this time to lavish us with extravagant love. THANK YOU.