It is with much gratitude that I thank all of you who have been faithful or even occasional readers of this blog as I have had a chance to write it. I think it was Charles Dickens who said, "It is disquieting thought to do anything for the last time." Disquieting - that is a good word for how this feels. I am drawn to reminiscing at times like this but I think it better to say, "Thank you."
Thank you for taking a chance on a small town pastor back in 2003. Thank you for your patience and your encouragement. I appreciate you overcoming some of my mistakes and affirming, what can only be described as "stumbles forward." I heard Paul Powell once say, "It is much more likely that a church will make a pastor than a pastor will make a church." That has been true of you and me.
Northside is a church that has a firm grip on its spiritual heritage and the unchanging message of Jesus Christ. But it has also been a church that embraced new ministries and undertook new challenges. Keep doing that as God guides - and He will guide.
Will I do a blog at my new position? That remains to be seen but if I do, I warn you that you may read things that you have seen before. If I do blog and you re-read something, please, again, be patient, a new idea will come.
The Northside Journey will continue in some form during the interim. Stay in touch so that you can know what is happening as we "Journey Together" to new things.
for the journey...
Tim
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Friday, August 21, 2015
Friday, November 22, 2013
Thankful for What You Had
"Who will be my role model, now that my role model is gone, gone..."
I heard those words from a song by Paul Simon while I was sitting in a sandwich shop waiting on my order. To be honest, I had not been really listening to the music but the moment I heard those words playing I had a connection with them and a connection with a sense of grief.
Not long ago the man who had been my mentor for the past few years, Charles Price, past away. When those words played I immediately thought of him. The question did come to my mind, "Who will be my role model?" Charles challenged me, encouraged me, taught me, mentored me but mainly Charles loved me in his own unique way. I will miss him. I am not sure what I will do now, but I am really grateful for the time I had. I look back and see how precious it was now.
Recently, a mom I know, lost her second grown child; both were daughters and both died at age 42. She shared how blessed she had been to have had them both for 42 years. There are a lot of other ways to look at those losses. Her ways is obviously the best and probably the most blessed.
We will grieve, there is no way around that. The choice we have is how will we choose to think about what we have lost - grateful for what we had or grieving for what we no longer have. I want to be in the first group.
To be able to do that, I need to be grateful now, even in the losses, thankful for what I had.
for the journey...
Tim
I heard those words from a song by Paul Simon while I was sitting in a sandwich shop waiting on my order. To be honest, I had not been really listening to the music but the moment I heard those words playing I had a connection with them and a connection with a sense of grief.
Not long ago the man who had been my mentor for the past few years, Charles Price, past away. When those words played I immediately thought of him. The question did come to my mind, "Who will be my role model?" Charles challenged me, encouraged me, taught me, mentored me but mainly Charles loved me in his own unique way. I will miss him. I am not sure what I will do now, but I am really grateful for the time I had. I look back and see how precious it was now.
Recently, a mom I know, lost her second grown child; both were daughters and both died at age 42. She shared how blessed she had been to have had them both for 42 years. There are a lot of other ways to look at those losses. Her ways is obviously the best and probably the most blessed.
We will grieve, there is no way around that. The choice we have is how will we choose to think about what we have lost - grateful for what we had or grieving for what we no longer have. I want to be in the first group.
To be able to do that, I need to be grateful now, even in the losses, thankful for what I had.
for the journey...
Tim
Friday, November 18, 2011
A Thank You Note to God
I do not know how many thank you notes I have written. I do know I have not written enough to say how blessed I am. So today I want to change that to some degree. Here's my thank you note to God, just for 2011 so far...
Dear God,
Thank you as always for your gift of salvation that I need everyday. I don't tell you enough that it is still working and I can see the difference you continue to make in my life by your grace that flows every day. Your faithfulness and steadfastness are amazing. Even when I don't even notice what you are doing, you continue to do it. Thank you.
You have also blessed me so in my family. Thanks for the check up my wife had today that says 'Everything is OK.' We don't give you the credit you deserve for those results. My wife is such a blessing to me and to this church, thank you for giving me someone so loving and wise who is a person of prayer and loves you deeply. She helps me so much, I don't let you know enough that I appreciate your work through her life.
My girls have been such a blessing this year too. Kelley serving you this summer helping other students go on mission trips overseas - it is a real blessing to see her grow in you. My goodness, there are so many things you have done in Meredith's life this year, high school graduation, a mission trip to Paris, a call from you to go back to Paris this coming summer to work with refugees, her going off to college, you have been working overtime there and I really appreciate it. Thank you too for that family vacation we go to take this summer, that was a special blessing to be together as a family.
Now God, this empty nest thing is still something I am getting used too. I miss the girls but you have also brought many others into my life that deepen my life and walk with you. Thanks for helping me get the hang of it.
Lord, you know I still have some foot problems but it has improved this year; thank you. I can see your hand at work there and also in teaching me in this to be humble and dependent upon you. Thanks for those lessons in the problems. I could go on and on and to be honest I should but there is just so much I can get out in words now because the words just fail. God, you are good to me and I thank you, but I also deeply appreciate who you are and not just what you do. Thank you for a great year so far, they just keep getting better.
Your servant,
Tim
Well, that's my shot at a thank you note. This Sunday, that will be the challenge I give you for this coming week - write your own thank you note to God. You don't have to blog it but I would highly recommend putting it down in words. Can you give me a good reason why you shouldn't write your thank you note right now?
For the journey...
Tim
Dear God,
Thank you as always for your gift of salvation that I need everyday. I don't tell you enough that it is still working and I can see the difference you continue to make in my life by your grace that flows every day. Your faithfulness and steadfastness are amazing. Even when I don't even notice what you are doing, you continue to do it. Thank you.
You have also blessed me so in my family. Thanks for the check up my wife had today that says 'Everything is OK.' We don't give you the credit you deserve for those results. My wife is such a blessing to me and to this church, thank you for giving me someone so loving and wise who is a person of prayer and loves you deeply. She helps me so much, I don't let you know enough that I appreciate your work through her life.
My girls have been such a blessing this year too. Kelley serving you this summer helping other students go on mission trips overseas - it is a real blessing to see her grow in you. My goodness, there are so many things you have done in Meredith's life this year, high school graduation, a mission trip to Paris, a call from you to go back to Paris this coming summer to work with refugees, her going off to college, you have been working overtime there and I really appreciate it. Thank you too for that family vacation we go to take this summer, that was a special blessing to be together as a family.
Now God, this empty nest thing is still something I am getting used too. I miss the girls but you have also brought many others into my life that deepen my life and walk with you. Thanks for helping me get the hang of it.
Lord, you know I still have some foot problems but it has improved this year; thank you. I can see your hand at work there and also in teaching me in this to be humble and dependent upon you. Thanks for those lessons in the problems. I could go on and on and to be honest I should but there is just so much I can get out in words now because the words just fail. God, you are good to me and I thank you, but I also deeply appreciate who you are and not just what you do. Thank you for a great year so far, they just keep getting better.
Your servant,
Tim
Well, that's my shot at a thank you note. This Sunday, that will be the challenge I give you for this coming week - write your own thank you note to God. You don't have to blog it but I would highly recommend putting it down in words. Can you give me a good reason why you shouldn't write your thank you note right now?
For the journey...
Tim
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