Welcome to The Pastors’ Pen – an update for life at Southern Cross.
I went to pen this on Wednesday afternoon this week. But I wanted to write something helpful. I just didn’t want it to be, well, ordinary!
Over the next 24 hours I was heavily rebuked. Wednesday night I began reading the SCPC book club book for this term called ‘Ordinary’ by Michael Horton. In the opening chapter he strikes at a western insistence on the ‘extraordinary’ – BiGGer, better, risky, radical movements that change the world. In contrast, he appeals to the ‘tried and tested’ ordinary works of God in the world. His word. His people. His church.
Life has been particularly ‘ordinary’ in our city of Lismore. Even ‘ordinary’ is an understatement! Words like crushed, exhausted, empty, low and miserable better capture the mood. So praise God that he works by the ordinary means of His grace, His word, His people and His church in our broken town. May his Spirit grant us supernatural strength to survive the everyday grind and get us through 2022.
To close, it is worth noting and appropriate to give thanks for what can really only be described as ‘extraordinary’ support we have received from our Sydney-based brothers and sisters. One church on Good Friday raised $27, 618.59 for our staff team so we can continue to provide hope in our city following the extraordinary events over the past two months.
I pray you have an ordinary weekend and are encouraged by our extraordinary Father God who works powerfully in the everyday…
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
SP
