The world is getting ready to say goodbye to
2013. Some are happy to see it go; some aren’t. For me it
has been a year of great new beginnings. This daily devotion first
appeared in April. Since then it has been read daily by people
around the world. I trust you have been blessed by reading
it. Please share it with your friends and church family so they can
receive this blessing as well.
In the fall this devotion was picked up by FEBC, a worldwide
missionary board, and added to the blog site on their website. Since
my goal has been to minister to the Church as God provides opportunities, I
appreciate this expanded opportunity. Three times my beloved bride
and I tried to go overseas as missionaries and three times God closed the door
shut quite tightly against that move. Now to be able to help reach
the world for Christ in this way is a great joy.
This year also saw the publication of my first three
books. The comments I have received from this ministry to Christ’s
Church have been very encouraging. The books are specifically
designed to edify, encourage and exhort God’s people. I call them
collectively “Books from a Pastor’s Heart”. They have given me a
wonderful opportunity to meet more believers and assist them in both their
personal and church ministries. The joy of service this year has
been wonderful. My dear bride and I love the Church and have spent
years serving in it. We look forward to all the expansion God may
provide for us in the coming year. We look forward to you all being
an ongoing part of it.
This wonderful hymn by Charles Gabriel reflects the joys and
struggles of the Church past and the great expectations of the Church future.
“O Church of God Triumphant”
“O Church of God, triumphant, o’er human doubts and
fears, Which in the faith of ages comes marching thro’ the years; Baptized with
blood of martyrs, with conflicts dearly won,
Beset with persecutions, yet ever marching on.”
Refrain
O Church of God, triumphant, with conflicts dearly won,
beset with persecution,
Yet ever marching on.
Yet ever marching on.
“With backward look we see thee, thy scattered members
few; We see thee struggling ever their courage to renew; Strong amid
tribulation, uprising from each fall, We see thee marching onward triumphant
over all.”
The Friday Benediction
Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with
His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy
Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched
with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen
You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my
website: www.davidccraig.net
You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/
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