I Have No Idea!

August 3, 2009
Dear Fellow Travelers,
With so many unsettling changes and broken promises being made by the leaders (on both sides of the aisle) of our country, I am very thankful that there is One who never changes, that there is One, whose Word is forever settled in Heaven. Many, many years ago, He gave me the faith to believe that I can depend upon Him to keep His Word, always to do what is best, never to leave me nor forsake me, and to get me Home before dark. For reasons far beyond me, the faith He placed within me still holds, as the anchor of my life. It really is the substance of things I hope for and the evidence of what I cannot see.
Oh yes, there are times when my faith is shaken to its very foundation, but even then, He never lets me forget that it is His faith, not mine, that is working in my life, so I need not panic. He has ways of encouraging me, that I could never in my wildest dreams imagine. When I am convinced there is no hope and no way out UNLESS He comes through, HE ALWAYS COMES THROUGH! No, He does NOT always come through the way I want Him to, but that is a tremendous blessing in and of itself.
A few weeks ago, Annis and I were having dinner with a couple, who have faithfully supported GCF (the church I pastor) with their prayers, their love, and their money for probably a dozen or more years. I have no idea how many prayers they have prayed for GCF, or how many expressions of love I have received from them, but I can tell you, that for that dozen or more years, they have not missed one single month of contributing very generously to GCF.
In these years of their lives, they have some dreams they really want to see become reality, very exciting dreams; it excites me, just to hear them talk of them. They have waited and waited for the doors to open, but thus far they have remained closed. In our conversation during dinner, I think I detected a bit of frustration, well maybe a bit more than a bit; after all, prolonged waiting for something you truly desire in never easy, even for committed Christians.
We are their friends, and we really want this dream to become reality for them, but, I must admit there is this one hitch: the fulfillment of their dreams will mean a severe decrease in their income, and, therefore, a severe decrease in what they are able to contribute to GCF. Honestly, as much as I want to see their dreams become reality, this causes me a bit of anxiety, well maybe a bit more than a bit; after all, the uncertainty can be a bit frightening, even to a committed, Christian pastor.
I will never forget the words these beloved friends spoke to us (the husband actually did the speaking, but his wife’s heart was with him): Knowing that God is using us to be a financial blessing to GCF makes all the waiting for our dreams to become reality worthwhile (my paraphrase but it is close to an exact quote). I couldn’t help but notice the tears that were welling up in their eyes, and, to be sure, I was humbled beyond mere words!
Would you please pray that our incredibly faithful God would allow the dreams of my friends to become reality—soon? Thanks! I knew you would.
On another note, I learned just this Sunday morning, that another dear friend, along with one of his friends, is going to be translating my perspectives, aka “Mac’s Perspective,” into Spanish and Portuguese, and, then, passing them on to believers in Brasilia, Brazil and Lima, Peru! I stand in deep appreciation for these friends, who will be extending my preaching of the gospel, even to the uttermost parts of the earth. Talk about encouragement!
To be honest, I have no idea how, in these tough economic times, God will continue to finance the ministry of GCF, I cannot even say that I know He will, but I can say this: I am very thankful that there is One who never changes, that there is One whose Word is forever settled in Heaven, and I am especially thankful that He gave me the faith to believe that I can depend upon Him to keep His Word, always to do what is best, never to leave me nor forsake me, and to get me Home before dark.
To each of you, who read my perspectives, who pass them on to others, who trans-late them into other languages, who pray for me, who encourage me, who so obviously love me, who financially support GCF, I want to express my sincere thanks.
“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20: 24 NASB).

Grace lavished,

Mac