Of course, for some, the past year has brought challenges of far greater significance than money. Family problems. Physical difficulties. Turbulent circumstances.
Living in a fallen world is hard. Scary. Troubling. Who knows what tomorrow may bring? At one moment the Dow is riding high at over 14,000 — and then, in a matter of weeks, falls to 7500. At one moment all is well, and then suddenly we are sick, heartbroken, knocked off kilter.
At such moments when the storm clouds form, the winds begin to howl, and the rains beat down in unrelenting fury, we are forcibly reminded that there is but one Place in which we can find shelter. That Place is in the Hands of the One by Whom and for Whom we were made; the One who loves us and always proves faithful to His promises.
He promises never to leave us or forsake us. We may not comprehend immediately or for years His plans or purposes, but we know that He will always do what is right and best, for the sake of His glory, our temporal and eternal welfare, and the good of others.
At times, God chooses graciously to provide for us a demonstration of His loving faithfulness.
Someone touches our arm, hugs our neck, kisses our cheek, and whispers in our ear words of compassion. And we know, it is God ministering to us through the voice and embrace of another.
We read His Word — for me, this happens most often as I read the Psalms — and He speaks to our hearts. We cry out to Him in prayer, and we experience His presence.
Our minds are quieted. Our emotions are calmed. And we rest in the wonder of His love.
At times, He does for us what we least expect. Oh, we’ve prayed for His mercy, we’ve begged for His grace, but we haven’t expected to have our particular prayers answered.
It’s not that we don’t believe God answers prayer. It’s more a matter of not being comfortable about what we’ve prayed. Surely God has more important matters to attend to than the requests we’ve put before Him.
And then, He answers our prayers. And we’re stunned — stunned because we know that we are experiencing the unmerited favor of God. Yes, we know our theology. We know that God’s grace is always unmerited. But then we experience that grace, and we’re stunned by God’s loving kindness. We believe, and by His grace, He has helped our unbelief.
As 2008 ends, CPC has experienced God’s grace. Why God should choose to so prosper us is beyond my reckoning. At the beginning of December we were further behind in our giving than at any time in our history. And 2008 was unlike any year we’ve ever known.
But God chose through you to meet and exceed our budgetary needs. As I write this Newsletter, giving to CPC has surpassed our budget for 2008 by nearly $15,000.
There are other issues far more important than our budgetary needs. But in choosing to so bless us, God has reminded me — and I hope you — that He is able to do far more than what we might ask or imagine.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Pastor Caines