“Normal” I hear you say, you were never “normal”. Fair enough.
It’s been a joy to start back at work even if it is part time after almost two months off ill. Who could think that a urinary tract infection and a few too many paracetamol could cause such damage; but there you go.
At least I’ve been able to attend several services as a member of the congregation even if I wasn’t strong enough to prepare and preach. That’s been a joy. We’ve had some great worship and preaching at PBC over the last few weeks and it’s been a blessing to be able to join in praise of God and receive the ministry of the word.
It’s also given me time to read some books I had piled up on my I’d love to read but haven’t got time pile. I’ve devoured a couple of novels including the first on my new kindle. I was also able to finish ‘Pleasures Evermore’ by Sam Storms. This book was part of a project which has been going on for a year or two inspired by reading John Piper. This book and a few others along with my reading of the Bible has challenged me and changed me. Some of the results of this reading have come out in my preaching; especially the series on the church and spiritual gifts. Other things I am still working through. It’s thrilling to think that God is always changing us and revealing himself to us. We’ve never ‘arrived’ and shouldn’t be so arrogant as to think we have.
One truth that gripped my soul is that the best thing God could ever do for a human being is to give himself to them. And that is just what he has done in and through Jesus. God is the source of joy, pleasure, happiness and satisfaction and we find in him those ‘pleasures forever’ of which the Psalmist speaks and ‘joy unspeakable’ of which Peter speaks.
Everyday he delights to give us more of himself. That is why each new day for the Christian is a day filled with blessing upon blessing if we will seek him
