Psalm 36:5, 7 Your steadfast love, O Lord extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds. How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
I want to begin by expressing my gratefulness to each one of you who contributed and prayed for our ministry last year. It was a challenging year for me personally, and yet your faithfulness and friendship contributed to our end of the year being one of the best ever. I am truly grateful.
These verses speak to me as I think about the year ahead. We have much to do to reach men with the gospel, disciple them, come alongside of them, and seek to change the marketplace and our culture. What a challenge!
It seems everyone I have talked to this week is concerned, anxious, and apprehensive. We have discussed: the war on terrorism, the potential of a racial war, the changing values of our society, where are the leaders to step up, what about my children and grand-children, and fighting among Christians. Other questions like “how do we continue to be salt and light when our society is blatantly going away from Christian principles” have been asked. The answer: We continue to do what God has called us to do well, dig deep in the Scriptures, pray fervently and trust God.
I certainly need God’s steadfast love. I must recognize nothing surprises our God. I can take refuge in the shadow of his wings. And I need that shadow to be big!
He goes on in chapter 36:10&11: Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
When I (we) get discouraged with all that’s going around us we have the assurance that God’s Spirit is still working behind the scenes. He will never leave us or forsake us. He will not let the wicked or the evil one touch us unless it passes through His Divine filter. Please remind me of this as I seek to remind you. We can continue to rejoice in His steadfast love, and His mercies are new every morning.
Please pray as we continue our search for a new Women’s Director and a new Director for our Jackson ministry. We are gearing up for our March 4 Breakfast with Donnie Smith, CEO of Tyson Foods and our Sporting Clays fundraiser on March 18th. We have started the year strong with our existing discipleship groups, one new discipleship group has started one and two new studies have been launched.
Thank you again for your faithful prayers, support, and commitment to this ministry. Let’s rejoice in advance for what God is going to do.