The Night Before Pastoring

Twas the night before pastoring and all through my soul

Were nerves that were raging and yet peace over flowed

Because my savior is a Sovereign King

Who reigns and rules inspite of me.

The fears that swell in my heart are unfounded and untrue

Becasue Jesus has equipped me to accomplish the task I must do;

Yet I know my own fraility, my weaknesses and sin

The feelings of doubt that fill my mind again and again .

So I turn to the Word, the truth, the written reality

And fall to my knees convicted, yet set free

Beseeching God to open my eyes so that I might see

And behold the wonderful things in His law that He has for me.

I learn of His power, His might, love and mercy,

His righteousness and wrath, but more importantly

I am reminded of his all-sustaining grace

That keeps me and causes me to finish the race.

True there are things I don't know or understand

But God works all things out according to His Sovereign plan;

Like the times of joy and heavenly bliss

But also the pain, suffering, and distress.

There is one thing that I will always aim to do

By the sustaining grace of God this will remain true:

That in my body, whether by life or death,

Christ will be magnified and my soul will find rest.

One thing I pray and make it my goal:

That Christ will become the treasure of your soul

And that you will always find Him to be

Faithful and true now and throughout eternity.

One last thing before we depart

And I hope that you will take it to heart

From the ocean depths to the mountain heights

Happy Sunday to all and to all a good night.

The Misery of Moving and the Power of Preaching

Did I tell you that we might be moving? I travel to South Carolina on June 26-28 to preach in view of a call at a church outside Anderson. If the church gives a yes vote we will be moving in early July. Moving is miserable, but we are excited about the oppotunity to serve in this particular church. Did I mention that I would be the Senior Pastor? Just thinking about it causes me to trimble because my heart is so prone to fear. So what do we do when we become afriad or face a difficult situation or risk big things for Christ? Isaiah 41:10 has been my song in the night "Fear not! For I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God, I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you by my righteous right hand." Oh how I love the Word of God, what comfort it brings to my fraile and fragmented soul.



I am excited and overwhelmed by the thought of being a senior pastor for many reasons, but what I do know is that if God has called He will also equip. I might be taking a risk--stepping out by faith with confidence only in Christ, but God is not taking a risk with me--not because I am a safe investment, but because He is a sovereign God. Martin Luther once said, "Lord command what you will but will what you command." In other words, if God has called me to be a pastor or you to take some great risk for Him then He will enable you to do it--Trust Him!