It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!
Good morning, Church. It’s a blessing to be back home, and I’m looking forward to worshiping again with you this weekend. God gave us a good, productive trip to Africa and back, and Pat Courtney and I will be sharing some of what we experienced and learned during the sermon time Sunday morning. I really hope you can be here with us.
I also really hope that God has received from all of us the honor and love he is due. One of the many things you learn from going overseas for mission work is that God is alive and at work in the world. Did we see poverty and injustice? Yes. Did we see orphans and AIDS victims? Yes. Did we experience hardship and inconvenience? Yes.
But we also saw and experienced God. His faithfulness is felt in the first rays of each morning’s sun. His love is displayed in the generous hospitality of those who have nearly nothing left to give. His sovereignty is reaffirmed with each answered prayer. And the power of his kingdom is demonstrated in the brotherhood and unity God’s people experience when they gather together for worship and communion each Lord’s Day.
I hope you know those things. I hope you feel those things. I hope you are living life each day with the One who made you, redeemed you, and promised to return again for you some day. He is alive and well and at work in the world, and on Sunday we’ll gather together again to thank him and give him the honor and love he is due. Until then, may God bless you and keep you.
Patrick Barber