This past Saturday, I was invited by a young couple to bless their new home. They had recently moved into our neighborhood, and their invitation touched me deeply. Their home is beautiful, not just in its appearance, but in the spirit that fills it. There’s a quiet courage in asking for God’s blessing, especially in a season of new beginnings. And there’s grace in recognizing that God often blesses us before we even ask.

What moved me most was their openness, not only to receive a blessing, but to seek it. That willingness is a blessing in itself. It reminded me that faith is not just about receiving; it’s about responding. About naming the sacred and welcoming it in.

Then came Sunday.

As I stood in worship, I saw them walk through the doors of our church. And in that moment, I gave thanks and praise to God. Their presence was more than a visit, it was a response to an invitation far deeper than mine. They had invited me into their home, and now they were accepting God’s invitation to be part of a worshiping community. They came not only to be welcomed, but to welcome others. Not only to receive, but to participate.

It’s a beautiful mystery: we extend invitations, and at the same time, we are being invited, by God, by grace, by one another. And when we say yes, something sacred unfolds.

May their journey in this neighborhood be filled with connection, renewal, and joy. And may we all continue to notice the quiet ways God is already at work, blessing, inviting, and welcoming us home.