The Memory of Your Abundant Goodness

One of the most meaningful moments at last night’s Friendship Banquet in Chicago happened after it was over. I can’t remember a time when I hugged so many people. People started arriving an hour early–one couple drove from Holland, Michigan, another came from northeastern Indiana, others came from all across Chicago. So Marlene and I greeted our old friends, met some new ones, and hugged and laughed and smiled through the whole wonderful evening.

As we drove from Chicago to Tupelo today, Linda Hale read the names of those who had made reservations for the banquet. We were blown away to realize that among those we know personally, virtually everyone showed up. That’s amazing considering the rain last night made it difficult to get to the banquet hall. 

After the reader’s theater and the video, it was my time to speak. I had something in mind to say at the beginning, but when I stood in the midst of so many friends who have loved us and prayed for us, I was overcome with emotion. I commented that the people who came last night were like family to us. After all, we’re not a huge ministry with a long history. And the video (produced by our son Josh) begins with an excerpt from one of the final sermons I preached at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park. It was clear then that God was tugging at our hearts, calling us into a new ministry. 

Seeing so many dear friends overwhelmed me and I said that in the last four years Marlene and I have experienced what it means to be loved unreasonably. And then I added, “God has been so good to us. He has been faithful to us every step of the way.” Back then we didn’t know all that he had in store for us or where the journey would take us. But last night gave us a chance to say Thank You to our friends and to proclaim God’s goodness in the assembly of his people.

I recounted a story from one our first home meetings, back when Josh and Leah lived in Chicago, and a small group of their friends (all in their 20s and 30s) gathered in their apartment. After I shared the vision, Deneen Taylor raised her hand and said in a quiet voice, “Are we all you’ve got?” When I mentioned that last night, everyone laughed. And then I said, “Yes, you’re all we’ve got.”

I ended my talk by telling the folks how much we love them and how grateful we are that they are part of the Keep Believing family.

We happened to be sitting next to Greg and Grace Thornton. After the closing prayer, Grace leaned over and said, “I thought of this verse while you were speaking.” She had written the words of Psalm 145:7 from the New American Standard Bible, «They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness.” «That’s what you were doing tonight,” she said. “You were remembering God’s abundant goodness.” Then Greg chimed in, “I love that word eagerly.”

That’s good, isn’t it? To eagerly utter the memory of God’s abundant goodness. 

Before the banquet we prayed that God would get the glory. Yes, it was about the ministry, and yes, it was about us. But when I got to speak and looked out over so many faces of people who have loved us, I was eager to speak of God’s abundant goodness.

It was that sort of night from beginning to end. It felt more like a family reunion than a formal banquet. Today we got up early and drove 10 hours so we could sleep in our own bed tonight. It’s quiet and peaceful in Tupelo. Even our basset hounds are sleeping. And very soon I’ll go to bed. But before I do, I want to thank everyone on the KBM team who worked so hard on the banquet. And I want to thank those who shared the evening with us. We experienced God’s abundant goodness last night, and we will remember it forever. 

Here’s the video we showed at the banquet: