FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART January 8, 2024
As I stare at the blank screen before me, I am reminded of the blank calendars on my desk and on my wall. We are starting a New Year, full of possible blessings from God and opportunities for serving God. I cannot help but think about the eventful year that has just ended. God has worked in my life in a mighty way, during 2023. He fulfilled my desire to return to South Korea, giving me great joy as I revisited the church and pastor that we served with there in 2017 and 2018. The Lord also poured out His rich blessings on our Cordova Baptist family, as we have seen our partnership with our sister church, Cordova Korean Baptist, flourish this year!
This time of transitioning from the old to the new has also been rather challenging, as many within our family and our faith family have been suffering from various illnesses. It is another reminder of our dependency upon the Lord. We are frail creatures of dust, according to Psalm 103:14, where our days are compared to grass and to flowers of the field. Yet, verses 17-18 of that psalm tell us: “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children to such as keep His covenant and to those who remember His commandments to do them.” We know that we can rely upon God to care for us now, because of our loving experiences with Him in the past.
As we begin the New Year, I also want to take this opportunity to express my love and gratitude to those who serve along-side me. We are blessed at CBC to have a devoted and talented staff. Joyce Tate, our amazing Church Secretary, has been serving the Lord and His people in her position for 44 years! Margie Whitney, our awesome Church Pianist and Church Treasurer, never ceases to amaze me with her musical abilities and her dedication to the Lord. Ken Goldsby is a blessing from God to this church and this pastor, with his booming voice and his big heart! I could not ask for a better team with which to serve the Lord and His people. I am looking forward to another wonderful year of being a Lighthouse for the Lord, as we share God’s Word and show God’s love!
Serving in love,
Bro. Jim