After seven months of exploring, waiting and  praying, the Lord has directed us to a brand new adventure.  Steve has been accepted as the pastor of Grafton Baptist Church.  These are exciting times as we get to start this new ministry as a family.  I am often teased at home for giving “sermonettes” so I have now given myself the title of Mrs. Pastor.  (This does not mean I will be writing Hubby’s sermons.)  The purpose of this post is more personal than any of the others have been.  This is a letter to my new pastor.

Dear Pastor Steve,

As you begin this new adventure, I realize you have mixed emotions.  I know you are excited, but you also have doubts, fears and anxiety.  I imagine these feelings will come and go during the duration of your ministry at Grafton.  You join a lengthy list of individuals that experienced the same feelings as they were called out by God – consider yourself “favoured.”  Remember, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called!  For example, most of the disciples were uneducated, but Jesus equipped them for their tasks and they turned the world upside-down.  “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Cor. 1:26-29)  Think of Moses and Gideon – weak and insignificant.  They were assured that, “I will be with you” and “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”  Even Joshua was told, “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Think of the boy with his fish and bread or David with his five stones.  Small and insignificant, yet God used them to do miraculous things.  “For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)  In fact, Paul talks about boasting in his weakness because God’s grace is sufficient and His power that resides in us is perfected in weakness.  He then goes further to say in Phil 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Are you starting to see a theme?  The task you have been given (no matter how great in your eyes) is not something YOU can do apart from God.  The task can only be done by God and He has chosen to use you as His hands and feet.  Makes me think of Mary when she declared, “I am the Lord’s servant,” after being told of her great task.  “For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.” (Phil 2:13)  He does it this way so the glory is not ours, but His.  After all, He’s the one in charge.  That right there should give you a peace and a confidence to press on.

At this time in your life, God has asked you to feed His sheep at Grafton Baptist.  But not on your own.  He has promised to be with you, to guide you, to teach you, and to help you each step of the way.  Trust in His faithfulness.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Prov 3:5-6)  Bathe each day in prayer.  You can be assured I will be praying alongside of you.  You have the love and support of your wife and daughter backing you each wheel of the way.  And, of course, Charlie’s unconditional love.  If you were completely qualified and confident in your job, you wouldn’t need us or the Lord and that is just sad.  I will leave you with a prayer taken from Heb 13:20-21:  “Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever.  Amen.”

All my love,

Mrs. Pastor