Twelve Ways to say "Good - Bye"

Moving is not for the faint of heart with packing, unpacking, moving addresses and private data, uprooting yourself from familiar surroundings and learning the new cities to which God has called you. Farewells are never easy and often are accompanied by tears by the one leaving and those who are left behind as I can attest having once again relocated from one city to another. You leave behind precious friends, co-workers and churches. In contrast consider how simple life must have been back in Paul’s time with only a coat and a staff, a pair of sandals and a parchment! But, no matter now or then, farewells are just as hard. As we follow Paul, we come to the Aegean seashore where he tearfully said his good-bye’s to the elders of Ephesus. and we now in the 21st century can join him in this farewell and learn much about what to do and what not to do.

What to do:
• Plan and prepare for your departure with excellence and meeting your own needs and those who will be left behind.
• Remind those left behind of the successes you all had together as a team and the reasons why: they were prepared spiritually, emotionally and physically.
• Remind them how they provided for your needs and in return they reaped benefits.
• There may be trials which are unknown to you and to them which lay ahead so prepare by putting on your armor.
• Remind them that you are leaving because you know that God’s purpose has been fulfilled there and His work will continue…no one is indispensable; God will always provide for your needs and theirs.
• Remind them to minister to the weak ones left behind.
• Remember Christ’s words: it is more blessed to give than receive.
• Pray with and over those you leave behind.
• Allow them to accompany you to the “ship” and love on them there.
• See each move as one that will bring glory to God and good to you and them.
• Lastly see each move as an adventure that only God could plan! Look for the “silver lining behind the cloud” of new friendships, new cities to explore, new ideas to broaden your horizon.
• Leave with a smile on your face and a song in your heart!
What not to do:
• Do not labor over the farewells
• Do not allow others to sway your decision…when God calls; it is time to move

So what farewell is in your future? Take to heart Paul’s example and plan for your leaving others. This is important not only in physical moves but also for any who are nearer to eternity than here. Plan on your farewell with these points in mind.

God is Able

Feb 20^th: Ps 21-22 “I Know Whom I have Believed and He is Able ”

This hymn written in 1883 by Daniel Whittle reflects the truth found in our reading today: ‘I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.’  King David long ago wrote praises to the Lord about those truths. 

Some thoughts to reflect upon today:

1.      Blessings and joy find their source in the Lord

2.      God’s lovingkindness provides a foundation of trust and security

3.      God will search out and destroy our enemies

4.      God will not forsake those whom He has chosen (Heb 13:5)

5.      God is near even in desperate times to assist and deliver

Now in turn we are to use those reflections to:

1.      Go and tell both within and without the assembly… go and praise

2.      Remind others of Gods’ past, present and future protection

3.      Remind others that if one seeks, one will find (Prov 8:17)

4.      One day wall will see and praise God (Phil 2:10)

5.      Tell the next generation of God’s righteousness (Ps 78:6) 

May these two psalms be your joy and praise this day as you walk through challenges or blessings.