I've lost track of the number of times, whether it be after a Saturday night service, or a Sunday morning service, a Tuesday Bible Study or a Wednesday night service, that I find myself sitting back for a moment and watching the people of God and just thanking God for all He has been doing and is doing.
I thank God for the uncommon love and unity in this church, particularly considering the glorious number of people groups in our church! I thank God that the power of the gospel allows people to love one another from the heart, no matter the ethnic background. I praise God that He has been bringing the nations to Stonebridge. I thank God that this church has an exceptionally high view of Scripture and the people of God want to come under the authority of Scripture. I thank God for the work He has done in the church giving our people a love for theology and a desire to know how to share the gospel with an ever changing culture, in a time when people are increasingly hostile to Christianity. I thank God for the four we have enrolled and taking classes at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, for the number of people who have a background in Biblical Counseling.
I thank God for the high view of prayer in the church and for the way we have seen the Lord answer our prayers and order our steps. I thank God for the many faithful, loving, godly servants there are in the church, from our children through our adults. We are amazingly blessed! I love the blessing the Lord has given us by giving us men who have served as pastors to help lead various areas. I also love the emphasis on family in this church and family ministry.
I thank God for transformed lives, for the people He continues to bring and the good 'problems we have,' mainly space, and our need to expand our facilities so that we can more effectively minister to more people.
I thank God for our Constitution Revision Team who have worked tirelessly and faithfully, studying Scripture and working on our constitution so that everything is aligned as closely as possible with Scripture. I thank God for the team's commitment to prayer, study and research. I thank God for how this will enable us to more effectively minister to the body and to the communities.
I thank God for every church member and regular attender and visitor. I thank God for the privilege of being your pastor. I thank God for grace that He gave to allow me to reach my ninth year as pastor at Stonebridge in June. I thank God for the love and support of brothers and sisters who sharpen me and encourage me, just as they do one another.
My wife and I thank God for the blessing of seeing all that He has been doing and is doing and the love He has given us for this church.
There is so much to praise God for, to thank Him for. I felt led to simply declare His Goodness to us, and in that, I realize I have missed or left out so many other things.
Church Family: it is good for us to thank the Lord for His Goodness to us, for the work He is doing and has done, and by faith, will do. It is good for us to do that and to also humble ourselves and continue to seek Him as we look to Him for the wisdom for the days ahead.
Stay in prayer. Stay in the Word. Continue to love well. Thank God and give Him the glory due His Name!
For the King and His Kingdom,
Pastor