June 5, 2011

The Shepherd's Corner

Joni Erickson Tada says, “In this world there are only two joys. One is having God answer all your prayers; the other is not receiving the answer to all your prayers. I believe this because I have found that God knows my needs infinitely better than I know them. And, He is utterly dependable, no matter which direction our circumstances take us.”Joni Erickson Tada says, “In this world there are only two joys. One is having God answer all your prayers; the other is not receiving the answer to all your prayers. I believe this because I have found that God knows my needs infinitely better than I know them. And, He is utterly dependable, no matter which direction our circumstances take us.”Last Monday at 11:25 pm God set the direction: He took Pastor John home! We were praying that the Lord would set the direction toward healing but instead, He chose another direction— homecoming. So, this week we chose to welcome the joy of NOT receiving the answer to our prayers.

Beginning from Saturday evening till early Monday morning Pastor John drifted in and out of consciousness. Then he went to a deep coma till that late evening when he finally slipped into eternity in the arms of his beloved wife, Tante Barbara.

On many occasions Pastor John quoted the words of St. Paul, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Pastor John always knew that death was looming on the horizon but he refused to live in the shadows of death. Instead he chose to live in the shadows of life—living with and for Christ!

Pastor John loved many people but the love of his life was his wife, Tante Barbara. He never ran out good words to say about her—her faithful partner. As a matter of fact in the recent days she was on his mind a lot. He knew life wouldn’t be the same for her. So, let us love her whom he loved the most. It is the least we can do for him.

Pastor PaulLast Monday at 11:25 pm God set the direction: He took Pastor John home! We were praying that the Lord would set the direction toward healing but instead, He chose another direction— homecoming. So, this week we chose to welcome the joy of NOT receiving the answer to our prayers.

Beginning from Saturday evening till early Monday morning Pastor John drifted in and out of consciousness. Then he went to a deep coma till that late evening when he finally slipped into eternity in the arms of his beloved wife, Tante Barbara.

On many occasions Pastor John quoted the words of St. Paul, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Pastor John always knew that death was looming on the horizon but he refused to live in the shadows of death. Instead he chose to live in the shadows of life—living with and for Christ!

Pastor John loved many people but the love of his life was his wife, Tante Barbara. He never ran out good words to say about her—her faithful partner. As a matter of fact in the recent days she was on his mind a lot. He knew life wouldn’t be the same for her. So, let us love her whom he loved the most. It is the least we can do for him.

Pastor Paul

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