Dearest of Friends on This Stretch of our Road in Life,
I was just thinking about what this world quarantine has taken from us, and the list is greater than what we would expect. First of all, it has infringed on our friendship. It makes us feel as though our extended family has gone on a trip across the country, on an extended vacation, and stayed too long. It is like an old Swedish saying goes, “The path between the homes of friends is well worn.” But when you think about it, we all know that we travel to God’s House to meet our best friend, and it there we get to be with one another. It is also good to know that He actually is forever with us and will never leave us.
Don’t you think it is amazing how long days become when we don’t have something to do? I have found that my thoughts are more easily stayed on Him. This is not a bad thing at all, especially when the Word says, “I will keep you in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon the Lord, for he trusts in me.” So much talk about anxiety has a way of producing greater anxiety. One of our cameramen told me over last weekend, “I have just quit watching the news. I can’t take any more of it.” Some jokingly say, “Stop the world, I want to, get off.” Anxiety is built into what we are going through, and we are going through it together. ANXIETY IS UNRESOLVED CONFLICT, and it is not something that you can escape when it is a worldwide issue; but the child of God knows that in this life there is, “No continuing city, but we seek one to come.” Hebrews 13:14
Heritage has always been called a gathering of eagles, and we love to soar together in worship and challenges. It has been our calling for nearly four decades. I was thinking about this and realized it is like the scripture that says, “They that wait upon the Lord who renew their strength, who mount up on wings as eagles.” The word waiting in the Hebrew means, to bind together perhaps twisting or figuratively to expect. What are you expecting for corporate worship when we can return to church? What are the challenges that we are facing? What new mission will we find before us? What new degree of passion will we experience in corporate worship? Will we participate more in church activities and the assignments God gives to us as a body? Will we discover that our hunger and thirst for righteousness has become much more prevalent in our pursuit of God? I cannot wait to find out the answers to these questions. At this point, we all have a question mark right on our foreheads, but we also know the answer, “BLESSED ARE ALL THAT WAIT ON HIM”. Isaiah 30:18. I find myself not just waiting for the Pandemic to be over. I find myself waiting on Him. I have, over the years, mentioned a time in my life where it took me five years to learn one life lesson God taught me. It was not an easy lesson to learn, “BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.” I have to say, this is one, if not the most, important lesson that the Lord has ever taught me. Finally, a poem came to mind when I woke up this morning that may help you as it has helped me in days gone by.
PRESSURE
Pressure by foes and pressure by friends, pressure upon pressure till life nearly ends. Pressed into loving the Staff and the Rod, pressed into needing no Helper but God!
We love you, we need you, we want you, and we believe in you. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support. You are the best.
Your loving pastors,
Cleddie and GayNell
p.s. - "...Centrals never busy, always on the line, you can hear from Heaven all the time..."