I was filled with excitement all day yesterday, waiting for church at 7pm so that we could do the voting on our new pastor. My husband has been on the pulpit committee since last February but this process has been mine also, since he was so involved in it and I care deeply what happens to our church. I have felt so burdened. I have wept, prayed, begged and pleaded with God for a resolution to our problems. The stress I felt was like a heavy weight–which drove me to my Bible for relief (a good thing!).
If you read my post for Sunday you know that the sermon Pastor F. preached was above and beyond what I had hoped, “O ye of little faith” am I. (always trust Him and have faith!)
We had the vote and the pulpit committee went out to count. They returned with the news that the vote was very close to being unanimous, Pastor F. was called and he immedietly accepted the Pastor “under-shepherd” role for our church.
What a relief after years of unrest at our church! I hope and pray (with faith!) that the Lord is leading us to a fresh, green pasture. (see Ps. 23)
I read this in my devotions this morning and thought it was applicable to me personally but also to our church:
“Every difficult task that comes across your path–every one that you would rather not do, that will take the most effort, cause the most pain, and be the greatest struggle–brings a blessing with it. And refusing to do it regardless of personal cost is to miss the blessing.
Every difficult stretch of road on which you see the Master’s footprints and along which He calls you to follow Him leads unquestionably to blessings. And they are blessings you will never recieve unless you travel the steep and thorny path.
Every battle field you encounter, where you are required to draw your sword and fight the enemy, has the possibility of victory that will prove to be a rich blessing to your life. And every heavy burden you are called upon to lift hides within itself a miraculous secret of strength.” J.R. Miller, from the devotional STREAMS
“How Firm a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord”
1787
1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2. “Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
3. “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
4. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
5. “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never, forsake!”
Magnify theLord with me and bless His holy name
Good to be Home 
Congrats on your new pastor! I pray he brings great spiritual growth to you and your church!
Hugs
So happy to hear your search for a new pastor is over. It is so hard to have unrest in a church. We went through that a few years ago and it was heartbreaking. God is good! Have a wonderful day~ Laurel
What a blessing!
Even Steve was asking about him and if I knew the results yet.
I like how you worded it “green pastures”, I am sure that is just what it feel like.
I know the feeling – having gone through the process after our former pastor retired. We have been so blessed by our current pastor. He just seems to energize the church.
I’m glad that the vote went well. Love you – Col
No, I only visited once a year so I didn’t know Fay Niles. I bet my cousins did though. Very sweet that you all found a pastor! We are still looking
Now you can just have a merrier Christmas! Blessings on your day.
PRAISE THE LORD! I am so happy for you and your church family.
I am so glad to hear that you have a new pastor, and that your church can begin a new chapter. Praise the Lord for His goodness!
Yes, I actually read the book a few years ago. A good read.
GREAT NEWS! Our own little church went through similar times in the late 70’s when it got down to only 4 families…The Lord has blessed their faithfulness with a rich, every age group, spirit filled congregation! Our Lord hears us. I’m so happy for you all.
Congratulations!! Our church has had a new pastor now for six months. Our former pastor retired after 35 years. It took almost two years before the Lord brought the right one our way and the church is growing physically and spiritually under his leadership. What a wonderful Christmas present — love him and pray for him and his family — God bless.
PTL for him accepting his call as Pastor!!!!Have a great weekend and Merry Christmas!!!Blessings,Angie
Glad to hear about your new Pastor! That ice cream sundae on your profile pic looks sooo good!! I haven’t been to a Friendly’s in ages – they don’t have them down south . As a child, I would go with my grandparents – good memories!!
Praise the Lord! What a wonderful Christmas gift for your church 🙂
Praising God for you and your church family!
I am thankful for the good news concerning your church family and new “undershepherd”. It seems that the Lord led you to pray ernestly for a pastor before he came and I trust that all will continue to pray for him just as ernestly now that he has accepted the call. Blessings to you all. Merry Christmas!
i’m so happy that you are able to see God so clearly! what a blessing!
So happy for you! Thanks for sharing that devotional, it blessed me….
I am so happy Shanda. God is so good and He takes care of all things. I know that this blesses you and I pray that it blesses your church. Praise the Lord. God heard your prayers and the prayers of others. I love the devotion, thank you for sharing. This news has blessed me today. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Love, Tara