Sometimes friendships start in strange ways – even misunderstandings. But over time and through God’s amazing healing, those misunderstandings can fade and friendships blossom. Such is the case with a really cool lady I know named Angela. It’s her birthday and I wanted to take a minute and talk a little bit about my friend. I have know her since 2005 or so when she started coming to Voice with her husband, Roger and four kids. I have many memories of them running around the Camp, playing cards in the pool room, and being on worship teams as little ones. I’ve watched them all grow up in the almost ten years since then, and have seen the many changes in their family. I have seen her walk through some pretty tough circumstances and deal with a lot of struggles, but the thing about Angela is she has a steady faith in Jesus. She is one of those people that at the end of the day, when there is nothing else, there is Jesus. And I know that hope is what keeps her going forward.
They were called to do some pretty radical things as a family – mainly fostering and then adopting children, some with special needs. They now have a total of eight kids — Juel, Jocelyn, Joey, Jake, Jennie, Stephanie, Jonah, Ada! Their oldest daughter, Juel has three of her own now, so needless to say, life at their house is not dull. Their two youngest – Jonah and Ada are both special needs kids, which means frequent visits to Riley Hospital in Indy, 2 hours away. I often call her supermom, because I don’t know how she does all she does in a week.
It’s a privilege for me to be in community with this family – I’ve had the opportunity to work with Joey and Jake, their two oldest boys, and share many adventures with them. Roger has helped me so many times (he’s an electrician) both at the house and at Voice. I have been able to sit in the prayer room listening to Jocelyn sing and play the keys. And of course, I have had the exciting opportunity to take family photos for them… no easy task, let me tell you! But through it all, Angela is one of those moms who is like “the glue that holds it all together” mainly because of her faith and hope. Faith in her marriage, in her husband, that her kids will make wise choices, that God will move in amazing ways (and He does all the time – this family has so many crazy testimonies of His goodness!) faith to adopt a precious little Indian girl named Ada with all kinds of needs, hope for a van to hold them all … and on and on the list goes. She likes to send out scripture reference with time stamps — a particular time = a particular reference. So throughout the day I will get notices at various times and it has helped me to remember certain verses. It’s promises she claims throughout the day and it, in turn, blesses others.
I remember one day, I was standing in Starbucks, and I could see the phone of the person ahead of me who I didn’t know. They were looking at Angela’s Facebook and talking to their friend about this crazy family who adopted all these kids and how awesome it was. I just smiled to myself and thought, hey, I know them. I get to run alongside them on this race. It’s such a privilege.
I pray that the Lord would continue to bless Angela Spier in all she puts her hands to. I pray that her eight children would rise up and call her blessed because she is a woman who fears and honors God by the work of her hands as a mother, and by the words of life that so many often hear her speak. I pray blessing over her marriage with her husband Roger – a hard working man, who is seeking the heart of God – that they would be closely knit in love, of one mind and purpose as together they walk out this crazy journey of life. I pray that she would truly experience the love of community – those around her who sing on the worship team with her, who have been impacted by her life, her kindness, and her words. I pray the Lord would reveal Himself to her in such deep levels of love – that her season would be one of healing rains and that life would flourish in her heart.
May the Lord bless you, Angela, as we celebrate your life today on 7.7.14. There is so much significance to the number seven – but check it out… on the seventh day of creation God rested. I see two sevens there. And then see 14 – 7 times 2! So maybe you have some rest days ahead of you! Rest + rest = lots of rest, right? Be blessed my friend!