Another Great Day At Shorewood

I know it seems repetitious, but we have been on a wave of “great days” at Shorewood. Not simply attendance wise, although that has been very good—near capacity actually; more important has been the spiritual interest of those in attendance and the joy of week after week seeing folks liberated from the religious treadmill into the joy of the grace life. This has all come in the midst the common trials and trouble of life, along with the natural opposition of the adversary to such activities of grace. But God’s grace is abundantly sufficient!

Ray Keable taught the Adult Sunday School and I preached both morning and evening services today. Tomorrow I’ll know more about how I did strength wise. My stamina is still limited, although preaching itself makes me feel better—at least while I’m doing it. Afterwards, well that’s when a bit of a price has to be paid. Frankly, its worth it!!

The reason I did both services is that Alex has been in Tennessee since Thursday. Last Tuesday evening Sherry’s mom went to be with the Lord. Sherry has been in Nashville for a couple of weeks due to her illness (she was in the final stage of terminal cancer). The whole family was able to be there for the holidays. Alex and the children had returned home but naturally went back for the funeral. He had a good time with his mother-in-law before she died, getting a clear testimony of her faith in Christ alone. Thus this has been a time of rejoicing, although very exhausting for them. I know they'd appreciate your prayers.

All our troubles in life are opportunities for God’s grace to manifest itself. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we are weak then are we strong, Paul says. We usually don’t think of being weak and being strong at the same time. The troubles of life should make us realize that we are weak and in need of God’s strength. God’s strength goes perfectly with our weakness. In fact, it is only as we acknowledge our weakness that we access His strength. We sing, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”--but do we? The "everlasting arms" that He wants us to lean on are the riches of His grace to us in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. What a place to rest!

Maranatha!