2022, A difficult year in the life of this Country Preacher. Covid left its terrible scar, many church members passed away and satan landed more blows than one could number. I did not lose my faith, I found myself asking God, over and over, for more. I recognized that I was walking in a place of complacency. I was sailing along in a "comfort zone" of my own making. I have been preaching/pastoring for well over fifty years. My heart is solid within my relationship with Jesus as he has carried me through hundreds of battles and always been a "Present help in a time of need". I am in my golden years and life is good.

What I have learned through all this is; I am weak, weary and worn. God gives his children strength, endurance and refinements fit for the season of their lives. God is a great big, loving, longsuffering, supplying God.     

 

 I have been on the shelf long enough. The time has come to get back in the harness and share my ministry, the good, the bad and the ugly. Over the last several months I have been to the lowest places I have ever known as a minister. The covid outbreak took many of my dearest friends and relatives and all but shut Elm Grove (The Church I Pastor) down. Long hidden family secrets leapt out of the shadows creating Grand Canyon size Casems. The divisions created by the last election cycle were a constant raw edge to navigate around and then my youngest daughter lost her battle with a rare bone marrow disease.

I thought many times, this is it, I can't take any more pain, loss or grief. My heart broke so many times, so many ways and the pain just kept coming. As I considered all this, added in my advancing age and my own physical problems it seemed it was time to just "hang it up", retire and let a younger person lead Elm Grove.

I spent more time in my prayer closet than ever before, praying, begging, seeking for the answers to it all. God is so patient with me, and his longsuffering love carried the day, over and over again.

I will chronical some of this battle in my next article and try and show you just how big God can be if we just let him.