Christmas Present

For the last 23 years we have pastored a church that loves their Pastor and Pastor's family. Life Tabernacle is a very loving church and I am proud to be their Pastor's wife, but more than that they are our church family and friends. I remember many years ago when we were pastoring in another town, my husband was Home Missions Director for Section 1 (use to be 13) and he scheduled a Christmas for Christ service in Wichita Falls at Life Tabernacle. When we left the service that night and we travelled the back roads on our way home, I looked at my husband and said, "I felt so at home tonight at Life Tabernacle. I felt like I belonged there as Pastor's wife!" Of course, I did not know the plans God had for our lives, but many times wondered about those feelings. Several years later we accepted the pastorate of Life Tabernacle and it has been a wonderful relationship! I love how God "orders our lives" and puts men of God and saints together to accomplish His will. My cup definitely runs over with love and thankfulness for the people God has placed in our lives. Every Christmas the saints of Life Tabernacle have given us a gift, and this year was not any different. This year they presented us with a "two night stay at the Gaylord Texan". They also gave us money to spend while there! What a wonderful, relaxing gift it is and we are enjoying it at this very moment! We arrived here this afternoon after spending Christmas in Pflugerville. After getting settled in our room we went to eat at P.F. Chang's and it was a wonderful experience for us. We had called and made reservations, then decided to "just go and see if we could get in earlier". By the time we got our name on the list my husband was needing to eat!! He can't go too long or he will have a "low" so he asked for "something to drink and a little something to munch on while we waited". The manager said, "Yes sir! I'll get you fixed up." In a few minutes the manager came by and said, "Sir, what is the name on your reservation?" My husband told him and he said, "I'll be right back." I watched him as he cleaned off a table in "record time" and then he went back toward the kitchen. In a few minutes he walked out of the kitchen with a plate of egg rolls and sauces, set them on the table and walked over and said "Mr. Elms follow me." We followed him to the table he had been preparing for "someone" and from that moment we were waited on as if we were "somebody come"!! :) We ordered our meal and as we were enjoying the delicious "Lettuce wraps, Mongolian Beef, Spicy Chicken and brown rice", the manager came by again and said, "You ordered some of my favorites, but I'm going to bring you something else that will compliment those dishes." He brought back an order of "Vegetable LoMein" and served our plates! It was very good and really did enhance the meal. We were so full and as we were finishing up he came back by and said, "I've got dessert for you, too! Do you like chocolate?" LOL! He then brought out a "Chocolate Torte with fresh fruit"!! It was very rich and good, but there was no way to eat it all. It was amazing how he treated us and didn't even charge us for all the "extras"!! You know, there are some wonderful people in this world. We do not know "why" he treated us with such kindness, but we felt "very special" once again. We looked around to see if there was anyone there telling him what to do. My husband said, "Do you think he knew we were coming?" Well, I don't think anyone told him anything, I just know we enjoyed one of the best dining experiences we've ever had, and that I'm so full I can't hardly breathe!! To our Life Tabernacle family let me say, "there was a man at P.F. Chang's who treated us exactly the way you do and he represented you well!" THANK YOU for our Christmas gift this year. We love you ALL!