God's Hand in the Middle of Harsh Realities

It is hard to believe that I've been down here for 10 months. Things are going well at the church. Attendance has been up and the church appears to be growing. Our youth group returned a few weeks ago from a retreat to Camp Vesperpoint which was attended by 27 people. That was definitely a blessing.

The retreat's focus was upon friendship, specifically friendship in Christ and the results have been good. It appears that a number of our students are beginning to form freindships with each other. I am very thankful for that, because those are the kind of relationships they will need as they grow in Christ and live in this world.

As of this past Sunday, I've preached about 5 Sunday mornings in the last 10 months. Something of a record for me, I believe. I am thankful for those opportunities that help stretch and grow me as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. I was especially blessed this last time to lead in the partaking of the Lord's Supper.

We continue to pray for those who are struggling in these hard economic times. It has touched my family as my father-in-law and sister-in-law are both out of work. My parents have seen their retirement dwindle, as most Americans have, in the stock market. Within our church (and I'm sure within your church and family) there are a good number of people looking for employment.

When the Lord works in your life, through your circumstances, He often does so for multiple reasons. Recently, I've had a double confirmation of being here in the Atlanta areaq. First, as many of you know, my son Seth was born with kidney problems. We thought these problems had been corrected by surgeries when we first lived in Atlanta a number of years ago. However, recently we have found that the "good" kidney is no longer functioning within a normal level and that his "bad" kidney is actually the one now that is picking up the function and that it is enlarged. Tomorrow we go for a test to determine whether there is a blockage. Your prayers are appreciated. However, it is confirmation to me that before we knew anything was wrong with Seth, the Lord moved us back down here to the place where he can get the best care. We very much trust our pediatric urologist and nephrologist and are hoping for the best. Whatever the case, we know that this is one of the reasons the Lord sought to bring us here to Kennesaw.

Another confirmation came this afternoon as my father phoned me with some disturbing news. He called to let me know that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is believed to be in the earliest stages, so the prognosis we believe is good. Yet, Mom and Dad have a place to go while down here in Atlanta. That to me is another confirmation that God intended for us to be right where we are. I can't imagine what life would be like traveling back and forth from Chattanooga for all of these visits.

So even with the grim picture that I've just painted, I know that God is there. His hand is visible even in the midst of disappointing things. I feel a certain peace that He has placed us here in Georgia for a reason. Not only for the purpose of ministry, but for the sake of my own family.

We look at Scripture and we see how God provides for His people through harsh realities. I think of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his own brothers. I think of how God used him to prepare the known world for the famine and to preserve His people during the seven years of want.

You always know when God's hand has moved, because it accomplishes multiple things at one time at just the right time. Now, I have but to learn how to trust Him in the midst of harsh realities. It starts as it would for any frighten child....reaching for His hand.

Read More......