Toledo Is Awesome

Toledo IS awesome, in every sense of the word. The Lord IS here. He is in the saints, His saints.

I use to live in (city a), then I moved to (city b), but I NEVER thought I would live in Toledo. Five Years ago, while I was still in (city b), I met a believer through a friend. He would come over to my house with my friend and we would read the bible together. Although I was a believer myself I never before heard the things that this particular brother 'in Christ' would talk about.

The brother, after several meetings at my home, encouraged my friend and I to come to a Lord's Day meeting. God is faithful, and this was the continuation of the work He began in me when I was nine years old. We went to the meeting and although I cant remember the total content of that meeting, my eyes were open to something I never saw before. Christ in saints.

Even though I was sure that God was in Christ and Christ was in these people I was comfortable, for a brief period, with just driving out to Toledo, or rather finding a ride, once or twice a week and visiting them. I heard them talk about a 'church life' but I had no forethought of what that meant. What I did know was that when I was with them my heart was made glad.

I Quickly discovered that the more I met with these brothers and sisters 'saints' the more real the Lord was to me. I could sense His presence in my life and began to have an awareness of what He would have me do. I married a sister who began to meet about five months after I did. We only knew each other for three months but the Lord's speaking was so clear to both of us. Nearly everyone in our families was against our marriage but they sing a different tune now. It WAS the Lord. But I still was not going to move to Toledo.

My family began to grow RAPIDLY. WE could no longer fit in my little apartment. I told the Lord that I was not going to move unless it was into a house. And definitely not in Toledo. Then a brother called me with a house in Toledo... and I felt very peaceful. More than peaceful, I felt like, Amen Lord, I trust You.

My life has not been easy, to say the least, but it is sanctified. I do know what it means to have a church life. I have a life with other brothers and sisters who only want to see Christ formed in me and expressed in Toledo. The Lord is doing something in Toledo, I know it, I feel it, and I see it. He is real in the saints, He is real in me, and He brought us to Toledo for a reason. He will have His name exulted in Toledo with or without me. The choice is mine and I choose Him!!