Grateful for Pastor's Ponderings

As I mentioned yesterday... I am on a roll!

I am finding as I look through these photos albums that I have so many memories and so many feelings that I simply cannot put words to. And if I were to try, I would only mis-speak, stammer or put my foot in my mouth as in typical Dawn-like fashion!

So I am finding these music slide shows a good way to express what is in my heart without messing up with my words.

My pastor has been an integral part of our life-- he's like family.

In the (almost) 10 years we have been in this church, he has baptized my husband, all 3 of my children, prayed and cried with us through the loss of 7 babies in pregnancy, the death of brad's father and some other deeply wounding experiences.

We have a motto in our church..."we are doing LIFE together!"

Boy howdy! We've given him lots of LIFE to deal with! Pastor David is a sophisticated, slightly balding man, and I am most certain that our family has contributed greatly to the number of hairs on his head that have either turned gray or turned loose!

I have lost count of the life lessons that Pastor David has taught me that has changed the course I was going. These were life-changing lessons. He has seen me at my worst... He steered me through times of deep seated legalism that I needed to break free from. He has navigated me through "the valley of the shadow of death" where I teetered on slippery slope of losing hope... his words, his guidance, his prayers...and his constantly pointing back to Jesus has anchored me.

So as I was looking through more photos last night, I though I would make a video slide show as a tribute to my pastor.

There is a line in this song that really rings true for me where Pastor David is concerned. "Cheer up church...you are worse off than you think. But don't despair, do not fear, His grace is near."

Pastor has seen me in what I thought was my worst state ever-- but he was able to see far beyond the place where I thought I was ...and instinctively knew I was far worse off that what I was able to discern at that time. He is a true shepherd... he never scolded me. He never doubted me... He simply encouraged me to never forget the GRACE of God in all circumstances.

Pastor David is keenly aware that the congregation he shepherds in not HIS sheep, but GOD's sheep and he pastors us with a great stewardship of knowing that we belong to God.

So this one is for Pastor David...

Love, Dawn

PS...you should read his blog at www.pastordavidkerr.blogspot.com !!