Looking back through the eyes of retirement, Pat and I have many memories that we often talk about. If we could do it over again, I think of things that could have been done differently, but the slightest change might have altered the life we have shared with so many wonderful folks; so, we will just thank God for the mountains and the valleys. God has been so faithful.

Dear friends, I feel a great need in my heart to encourage you to keep the faith during these challenging times we are living in. Sure, there are a lot of disappointments out there, and sadly some of them can be with the churches we love. These things have always been, they are not new.

It is important that we remember something else that has always been: God is faithful and blesses each morning with new mercy. We are not called to change circumstances, but to be faithful to the only one who can.

The Spirit does not send us to do Christianity, at least not by our own efforts, but to be Christians. “You shall be my witnesses …” Ours is to live as Jesus has taught, be available for God to love through us, and trust that this is the way to lead the world to the feet of the redeeming Savior.

How long has it been since you pondered your life with God? Were there times when you felt alone with no one to understand or care about what was happening to you? Looking back, do you see fingerprints made by the hands of God that you did not see back then?

“He’s been faithful, faithful to me.
Looking back, His love and mercy I see.
Though in my heart I have questioned, even failed to believe,
Yet He’s been faithful, faithful to me.”