A Sad Reality

Soon, Kathy, my faithful co-laborer will be leaving newLife. She is moving to Fallon Nevada with her husband and granddaughter to retire. Its a sad reality of earthly ministry that not everyone who starts with you ends with you.

Not that this is a bad thing, but it is a sad thing. For years I have been telling Kathy to move to a dryer climate to help her husbands aches, I just didn't think it would happen.

Trust me, I could not be happier for Kathy's new adventure. She deserves it, but that does not mean I can't be sad. I never thought that she would not be with me until we retired together. Weve been through a lot together and I just believed it would always be that way. But with my sadness comes a Joy.

Joy that she will be happier as her husband is healthier.
Joy that she will be so much closer to her whole family.
Joy that she will get to experience God in a new way as He leads her to this newLife.

But her life has given me so much joy as well.

Joy in her faithfulness not only to newLife but to me as her friend
Joy in Spiritual growth that has totally transformed her life
Joy in her willingness to trust me when I even questioned myself.

While we spend 17 years working together at newLife, our time apart will be short as our Lord will return soon and maybe in heaven God will grant us the blessing of having mansions on the same block.

I love you Kathy Butcher and while my sadness will be short lived the joy you've brought me will last long into eternity.

Proverbs 17:17 (ESV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

 

Never under estimate the value of a Faithful Friend

Colossians 1:1 (ESV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Paul had an interesting habit in his writing as he would often not only introduce himself but someone who had been with him. In the letter to the Colossians he writes of his friend Timothy. Timothy was not a co-writer but a faithful friend, a companion.

Now, I am sure that Paul loved many different people, but his love for Timothy was unique. More than just someone Paul led to Christ, Timothy's presence comforted Paul.
In fact if you study this relationship you will find that it was Timothy who was most loved by Paul. They had together endured so much through long years of difficult ministry.

But Timothy wasn't the kind of companion you would expect the great Paul to rely upon. Timothy was often sick, hesitant, cried a lot, and always needed encouragement by Paul. Yet no one had a greater impact on Paul than Timothy and Paul placed no greater confidence in any other man.

This week I thought of some of the Timothy's God has given me and I just had to thank God. There are a few, who have endured so much through long years of difficult ministry. None of them are what you would think. They are often weak, fearful, and need constant encouragement but they comfort me. I am so glad that they are with me in life and this journey of ministry.

Never under estimate the value of faithful friends