Pastor's Letter May 2012

Dear Friends

Behind any great film is a great soundtrack. The music that accompanies a film can make or break it. It can move our emotions making us happy, sad, tense, relieved or scared. The soundtrack is a vital part of any film. I wonder if you have ever thought what soundtrack you would choose to accompany your life? What would it be and what effect would it have on those around you?

As I was reading the Bible last week God drew me to this verse:

“He put a new song in my mouth,
A hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
And put their trust in the Lord”
Psalm 40:3

I got a sense that God was saying to me that “many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord”. In these days to come, we will see many coming to Christ and putting their trust in him. Then I looked at the earlier part of the verse, about the new song that he puts in our mouth. As I looked at this I got a sense that this “new song” was more than something that just comes from our lips but is more like the soundtrack of our lives. What is the song that our lives sing when people see us, when they hear the words that come from our lips, when they see how we act and react? Do our lives act as a “hymn of praise to our God”.

As I look at our church I am continually blessed by the people we have and the heart to give, to serve and to honour God. As we celebrated 10 years of Choices this past week I believe that the song that comes from that ministry is a clear song of praise to our God, lifting his name and pointing people to the God who loves them. As I look at CAP, Street Pastors and the Foodbank reaching out into our community with love, acceptance and hope, as I see people loving and caring for each other within the body and as I see people wanting to share their love of God with those around them and to see those they love come to faith in Christ, I hear a song of praise to our God.

I believe that God wants to encourage us to continue to allow that “hymn of praise” to sing out from our lives. As we live for him wherever he has put us, and in whatever he has called us to do we declare his praises and when we do that “many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord”. May the soundtrack of our lives be one that sings out the praises of our amazing God.

Much love and blessings

Jon