God has been especially good to me all my life.  Actually, I’m overwhelmed by how He has taken even what I would consider not “my finest hour” (hours) and made something good of them.  Have you found that to be true in your life?  

One of His very best blessings to Mary and I is when He called us to West Highland.  It’s one of my greatest joys.  The past 17 years have been filled with blessings that came to Mary and I over and over.  We have been enriched and “saved” for having you in our lives.  And what can I say about my staff… AMAZING!   Andy and Pam, Sue, Kiki, Kathy, Laura and Lisa, Corky and Kim.  I have always been encouraged by the faithfulness and love they have for the Lord and His people.  And the many volunteers over the years … well, thank you for your heart for Jesus and the Lord’s Church.  I read a quote that said, “don’t ever question the value of volunteers, Noah’s ark was built by volunteers the Titanic was built by professionals.”  School, youth groups, small groups, Awana, buildings and grounds, the kitchen, meals, funerals, praise team, media. Bible ministries, God’s people always doing above and beyond.   

Actually, with God there is no such thing as happenstance or accident.  The people He places in our lives are not an accident.  Nothing catches Him off guard.  We need to remember that even what we see now is not the whole story.  God has done much more for this congregation.  I heard John Piper say years ago: “In every situation you face, God is always doing a thousand different things that you cannot see, and you do not know.”

Oh, we may be able to discern a few things, but He is in fact doing a thousand things more.  Believe that!  Things that one day will become clear to us, either in this world or the next. Changing people - mending hearts - attending to His forever family - which brings me to my last comment:  In Christ friendships are forever.  Michael W. Smith sang a song in the late 1980s. The lyrics say, “Friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the lord of them.”  Smith’s point is that when our earthly friends are also friends in Christ, our relationship does not end, even when we are separated.

Perhaps from where you sit today, you can see only frayed, disconnected strands of life. But God is on the throne, and He is weaving in and through our lives so much more than we know. He is creating a picture of great beauty and worth for those who will trust Him.  So, we keep walking - we keep trusting.  In Him we will never be disappointed (Isaiah 49:23) of that we can be sure.  Our future is going to be amazing…   For Now…   Tom