This Far - Pastor's Pen for 10th August 2025

Centennial Park Panorama

I was having a personal prayer time and singing a song from 1979; He Has Brought Us This Far By His Grace. I guess 1979 is about when I first heard the Gospel in any meaningful way. It has some lyrics that spoke to me again; "He has brought us this far by His grace, He has led us by fire and by cloud...He has sheltered us under his wings, and He planned every path that we trod." Some biblical allusions in there, and a reminder of the character of God.

If God has got me this far, why would he abandon me now? He wouldn't. I suppose I've got a bit of a project on the go to see what God is saying to me as far as life and ministry goes. There are so many things I don't know the answer to; How are the kids progressing in life? Are they happy and making good decisions? We won't be living in Auckland later in life, so where will we be? How am I doing as a husband, father and minister? Why does everything hurt when I run? Stuff like that...

Life is always full of challenges. Sometimes there is a clear direction, other times we feel like we are bush-bashing through the wilderness. We discern God's path from the midst of very busy lives. Occasionally we have the luxury of a little time-out to think about it properly. Then we realise he has brought us this far by His grace, and He has led us. Our whole lives, God has been leading us. John 1:16 says about Jesus; "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." Thanks be to God.