September 2007

Joy and I recently had an enjoyable evening hearing from some of our members about their trip to Clan Gathering in St. Andrews. For those of you who don’t know what this is, it’s an acronym for ‘Christians Linked Across the Nations’. It is a meeting together of many people for a week-long worship and praise gathering. For a number of years it was just Joy and me and Dave and Maggie Gurney (et al.) who went and came back hoping to encourage more people to go. The reason for us trying to do so is that it has always been a place of great favour and blessing from God. One of the reasons is that the leaders are men and women of great Christian integrity and example. Clan has something for all ages as Wilf and Marian Campbell will testify, along with Megan and Robert Gurney and all ages in-between.

It is an opportunity to learn new songs and enjoy different worship leaders and it is an opportunity to be blessed with anointed preaching and teaching from various people. I have also observed over the years that Clan also allows Christians who have maybe wandered or become disillusioned or disheartened to be recharged, refreshed and renewed. God meets us where we are. I was sharing the other week that we can’t stay on the top of the mountain for ever but we have to come back to everyday life. The people who all went to Clan have to be able to come back and allow the blessings they have received to be seen in their daily lives with their feet on the ground. Quite a challenge to maintain!

Similarly with Joy and myself as we had to forsake going to Clan in order to go and visit our family in Australia. While we missed out on the blessings of Clan we had a wonderful time with the family. We enjoyed special time with our wee granddaughter, Millie. Leaving was not so easy and we have to accept that life goes on for everyone. We are both aware that God has called us to this time and place of service for as long as He sees fit. We are also aware of the many blessings God continues to pour out upon us. We were also blessed in one particular church we attended where we met some lovely Christians. Once again, I was made to appreciate the work of the Holy Spirit, who can allow Christians to meet and feel as if they have been friends for years. I do believe that this is a special work of grace of the Holy Spirit.

Our lives are all about priorities. We all have choices to make every day.  Sometimes we have to sacrifice one thing to do something else. God will guide us when we ask. We don’t need to travel to St. Andrews or to Perth in Australia to receive God’s blessing. He meets with us wherever we are and whenever we seek Him. I started my sermon the other Sunday by saying, ‘Well, it’s back tae the auld claes and purrich.’ The truth is, when we work for God it’s like being at a banquet dressed in royal robes because that is the picture painted in Scripture of how God sees us. Keep that in mind the next time you are having a bad day.

I hope your service for the Lord isn’t a chore but a delight to be part of the work of extending His kingdom wherever He calls you to serve.