Thank you Church

It’s been a crazy ride this past month, and not one I wish to repeat. Thank you to everyone for your prayers, visits, calls, care, and meals. It meant a lot. I am now nearly three weeks post gall bladder removal and still on a very restricted diet. Who would have thought that such a small organ could cause so much grief!

Well done Connect Baptist Church. I’m so proud of you all for delegating and working together while I was away. A special thanks to elder, David Hydes, our preaching team, and Vivienne, for your co-ordinated efforts with our Sunday services, Pastoral care, and admin. A church that continues to function in a pastor’s absence is a sign of good health.

I’ve missed you all very much and am pleased to be back preaching and fellowshipping with you today. Please don’t hesitate to ring me if you need prayer, counselling, or pastoral support. I’m here to serve you. 😊

I learnt many things in my pain journey. One was, “If you don’t rest God has ways of enforcing it!” I’m not saying that God caused my gall bladder pain, but He allowed it to continue. I was struck with pain on the first day of my supposed two-week holiday, which I had packed to the hilt with “busyness.” In hospital and during recovery God reminded me of the importance of rest, and fun, and friends and laughing. “Work” must never fill our lives, as I slowly let it.

So, my encouragement to you is to diary-in times of refreshing each week, doing things that lift your spirit and give you life. It’s not selfish, it’s necessary for your health. God desires that we have life in all its fullness, and that includes having fun. My prayer for us all is that we each enjoy God, enjoy life, enjoy fellowship in the Body of Christ, and enjoy serving God in sustainable ways.

Sometimes God’s teaching is painful, but if we submit and don’t resist, He eventually leads us to still waters. Psalm 32:8 says: “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”