It is amazing to think about how much has changed for my family in the last few weeks. We said goodbye to the church family, the friends and the community that was our home for nearly 12 years. We bought a house in a couple of whirlwind trips to the Capital District. We packed up our belongings and moved across the state, set up our new home (with lots of help). I organized my new office at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (take a look now while it is still relatively neat) and I began this new call of being Senior Pastor at POP.
According to what psychologists teach about change my stress levels should be off the charts. Honestly, there have been a few moments when I felt a bit stressed. All in all though, I feel a remarkable sense of peace and confidence that this move is God's will, not only for me, but for the people of POP and those whom we will impact with the love of Jesus.
As this whole process began about 6 months ago one of the verses that helped focus my prayers was this: "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." Psalm 37:5
We may not all be moving, beginning new positions or otherwise navigating major changes, but we are all on a journey with the Lord.
God loves you just as you are - that is true. Know this as well, God loves you too much to leave you just as you are.
The earliest name for Christians was "The Way" (see Acts 9:2). We are still on that journey, following Jesus, seeking his way, trusting in his presence we know his peace.
Grace and peace,
Jeff Silvernail
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Pastor Jeff-Welcome to POP! Am looking forward to continuing our spiritual journey with both POP and you as we enter into this new and exciting relationship. Checked out all your links to and from your linked pages and all is working okay. POP Webservant, Rich
ReplyDeletePeople of POP - you are so lucky to have welcomed Pastor Jeff to your church. I grew up in the Bemus Point area from whence Jeff is coming. Although I now live in the Capital District, My family back home has been close to his ministry for the last 12 years, and whenever I got a chance to go home for a visit, I would rub elbows with him as well. I am staying anonomous, but he knows who I am. Someday, I will stop by and say hello again. I've already done it once.
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