Long Talk….

As we say goodbye to July, August brings an end to the summer, the beginning of school, and yes, Pastor Tom will soon return from sabbatical.  I have learned so much about myself during this season of rest, renewal, and remembering.  During these final 30 days, I have been asking myself, “Where Have You seen God?  What is God calling you to do?”  Along this journey, I have remembered first, that I am loved and of value to God, period.  I know that I know, God is doing a new thing in me for this new season of ministry, finally, my call to ministry is unique, embrace my gifts/graces, and trust my instinct. 

I have said previously that I have learned to sit with God’s word.  The book of Joshua and Psalm 23 has spoken to me in so many ways.  During the next 31 days, I will continue sitting with the same scriptures but will encounter them through the Passion Translation.  I love the direct language that this translation offers me.  Joshua 1:9, “My servant Moses is dead, Now get up!!”  Previously in Deuteronomy, the people and Joshua, people were grieving the loss of Moses, however, with Joshua comes Yahweh saying, come on Joshua, you better get to livin’. (Tom’s translation).  Yahweh goes on to say, “You must remain very strong and courageous.”  These words and Psalm 23:4, “Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have!”

Recently in one of my early walks, I discovered new energy in what God is doing.  There was this sense that God is telling me to get ready, it was time to leave the cave and get to livin’!  As you can imagine, there is a Dolly song.  Picture it, Dolly singing these words, “

You better get to livin’ givin’ 

A little more thought about bein’

A little more willin’ to make a better way

Don’t sweat the small stuff

Keep your chin up

Just hang tough

And if it gets too rough

Fall on your knees and pray

And do that every day

Then you’ll get to livin’.

As I am finishing up this blog, I have just returned from spending time with family and friends.  One of the reasons for this, we attended the dedication and first worship service in the new First Baptist Church of Aspermont.  This church is my wife’s home church and the church we married in on November 1, 1997.  It dawned on me today, that this church greets people as they entered Aspermont or the last thing people saw as they left town.  Sadly, two years ago the church burned.  The building was a total loss.  Today’s service was a great reminder of God’s ability to bring beauty from the ashes.  Brother Kenny preached a great message centered on Philemon 1, reminding us that you cannot outrun or hide from God.  I immediately thought of a song that I have been processing for some time.

If you need a love that’s true
Need someone to stand by you
Here I am, oh here I am, here I am
If you need a helping hand, need someone to understand
Here I am, oh here I am, here I am

I am reminded of Isaiah 61:3, “To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.”  Isaiah reminds us of the wonderful future we have with God.  For many, including myself, it has felt like we have spent an eternity in exile.  Yet, God has reminded me the last few days that our God is a God of restoration, wholeness, abundance, and love.

Blessings

Pastor Tom