October 1, 2019

Dear Friends of Rockwood,

God Is Good! In devotional time over the last few weeks I came across a couple of passages of scripture associating the vast presence of sand to the believer’s life.  Psalm 139:17,18 “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they are more than the sand.”  Job 6:2,3  “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed and my calamity laid with it on the scales!  For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea.” 

The authors’ exclamations tell the story.  Within our own life experiences I think most of us can relate to Job’s pain and weariness, as we too have been weighed down by the troubles of life both personally and corporately within our families and the church. 

Galatians 6:2 reminds us to bear one another’s burdens and for sure there are many of our friends and loved ones that we need to come alongside and help in carrying some of their load.  For the present the Daars, Palms, Doughertys, Thwaits, Hubatka, Hills, Follens, Bishops, Winslows readily come to mind, not to mention many who are carrying silent or less obvious cares. 

When we pray, provide a meal, make a call or visit in the Lord’s Name we are lifting together that  great weight which at times feels almost insurmountable.  Surely our friends are often tossed back and forth from hope to despair and we must hear the call of scripture to come alongside one another.

There is also that perspective from heaven which we don’t always see, but is exposed to us through the Psalmist. The constant, the ever present thoughts of our Father for His children. This is such a powerful statement of encouragement and hope as we meditate upon it.  This should not surprise us, God is not short on love or ability.

Maybe we should not have to be told so emphatically that He never quits caring for us, but I am glad to read it and then read it again.  His Son and our High Priest, Jesus is seated to the right of Our Father and intercedes that we may know His grace and strength as we go through life’s pressing moments.  Praise God From Whom All Blessing Flow!

We have a list of events I would like to share that are coming  up.

October 6^th  Allan Henderson from Calvary University will be with us.

October 23^rd  The Culp Family from South Sudan will be with us for dinner at 6:00pm.  We will have a birthday party for their son and get a field report.

November 3^rd  The Pastoral Exchange with Alton Bible Church,  Lunch at Alton

November 10^th  Bryan Sharp with Gentile Ministries is coming to Rockwood

November 27^th  The Annual Thanksgiving Eve Dinner and Praise Service

Hope you will be able to arrange your schedules and join us for these blessings.

Pastor Pete

Pastor Charles “Pete” Patton    2425 Glencoe Rd, Wildwood, MO 63038