The Pastor’s Garage April 19th, 2023

So this will likely be my last Pastor’s Garage email. I preach once more
this Sunday and then the last Sunday of the month Pastor Mike will be
preaching. During the month of May, I am going to use up my holidays and
continue the packing, planning, garbage run, garage sale, clean up the
house before you move and all that jazz process. ..all the while looking
for a house in Ontario. We are planning on and hoping for a move sometime
in June. We are still on the house hunt!

I will miss sharing my thoughts and dreams and ideas with you in this
format. It has been a nice way to keep you in the loop of some things and
to bounce new ideas around and process some thoughts. Honestly, I never
intended it to continue this long, so for those who have read it, thank
you. As far as I understand, the Pastor’s Garage will continue on after we
leave.

I am going to be finishing my series on the gospel this Sunday with “I Must
Decide.” While the decision part of the gospel is primarily a stage in our
journey as a new believer, it is also a regular if not daily part of our
journey as disciples – even for those of us who have been following Christ
for a long time!

We must constantly make the choice to follow Jesus, to call him Lord and to
allow him to lead us. We must choose to lay down our agendas, plans and
wants in favor of what He wants for our lives – on a very regular basis
because we get off track so easy! So in light of that I’m planning on
having an altar call and a time to respond after I finish preaching this
Sunday. I know I need to respond to God in some way. I am in need of
renewal. I am in need of a refreshing touch from the Lord. As I finish out
this season in Grenfell and look to our next season I can feel my need for
a touch from God. As we leave Grenfell and as the board and leadership
begin mapping out the future… this church and its leaders need to have
their eyes on Jesus. I think God is perhaps calling all of us to a time of
response, a time of rededicating our lives to Christ. Perhaps this Sunday
is a part of that process for you. Would you come with the intention to
respond to Christ? Would you come with faith that God is going to meet you?
Would you come knowing that your response to God and that the softness of
your heart matters to Him?

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy
set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
~Hebrews 12:1-3

I am hoping I will see all of you at some point before we leave, but in the
chance that I am unable to, know that Liz and I love you all very much. You
have literally been like family to us for these past 9 years. It will be a
hard day when we say goodbye and finally drive off through the snowbank
(which will probably still be here when June comes!). Also, please stay in
touch and feel free to come and visit.

God bless,

Pastor Dave