Turn, turn, turn

"To everything there is a time and a purpose under heaven."

Now is a time for prayer...a time for sitting with God and listening. It is a time to not worry about what to do, but a time to wait and trust. Seems like I went through this not too long ago, yet, here I am again.

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

The Byrds

Sheltering Trees

3 years ago this fall, I received a phone call that literally took me to my knees. I had been taking classes for quite a while not really knowing what I was to do with the knowledge, and then the call came to serve as Asst. Pastor at Cloverdale.

The past 3 years have been exciting, educational, emotional and right. Whenever anyone has asked me how things were, I would say, "It is right." And it has been. I have really felt as if this is where I have needed to be. Time moves on, however, and we don't stay in the same place of life forever.

Nor do we see things as others see them. "Ever since you have been at Cloverdale, I have watched you struggle. My prayer for you has been that you would be able to minister in a place where you could relax and enjoy it; where your spiritual health could be nourished."

The insight of friends never ceases to amaze me.

Here I am trying to help this congregation through the changes headed its way, seeing possibilities beyond its current vision limits and someone is doing the same thing for me.

Today's song:

It's been said a friend is like a mighty sheltering tree
A place of refuge we can run when trouble comes for you and me
Someone we can count on through the thick and thin
When the storms of life are blowing, there's just nothing like a friend
(There's just nothing like a friend)

We all need sheltering trees
Friends in our lives who'll get down on their knees
And lift us up before the king of kings
We all need sheltering trees

There've been days that i was sure that i couldn't make it through
Clouds of doubt came rolling in and i didn't know what i would do
I would've given in and said i just can't go on
If it hadn't been for a friend that helped me to be strong
(Helped me to be strong)

You can face the highest mountain andthe climb won't feel so high
Or cross the darkest valley and it won't seem so wide
Nothing is impossible when a friend is by your side

(Newsong)