Eight Years

Last week was our 8^th anniversary as pastor and wife at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, KY.  It has been a joy and sometimes a challenge, but always a certain confidence God placed us here to do His work.  We are so thankful for the people who have stood firm with us through all the seasons these 8 years have brought.  I want to say thank you to our loving church family and precious staff who have trusted that Bill was God’s man, even when the landscape was full of shadows. It is easy to be obedient and follow when there are no storms.  The true test comes as we pass through the darkest part of the shadows.  To so many who have faithfully journeyed with us, Bill and I both say thank you and we love you.

As there are seasons in our lives, there are seasons in the life of a local church body. This happens to be a season of excitement and leaps of faith toward a wonderful future and hope for my church, SVBC. We just paid off the debt of our 10 year old facility and land.  We unanimously voted to build a new worship center and other additions.  We are on our way to raising the finances to break ground on this exciting project.  We are seeing new growth as people are being brought into the kingdom of God.  The unity and spirit of our body is healthy.  I love what God is doing in our church.  I love what he has done over the past 8 years in our church.  God has been at work to give us the right people who make up this family for such a time as this.

Sunday Bill preached a sermon on having faith over fear.  Faith isn’t a feeling. “Faith is the Confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1)  Isn’t that a powerful word of truth for our lives?   II Timothy 1:12 tells us, “I Know the one I trust and I know He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.”

The law of expectation tells us we tend to get pretty much what we expect in life.  We set our own limitations!  “According to your faith it will be done for you.”  (Matthew 9:29)     

 I think we need to each ask ourselves these two questions:  (1) What are you expecting God to do in your life?  (2) What are you expecting God to do in your church?

Just Jesus,

Sheri Langley