“You are my God, and I will thank you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.”
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; His mercy endures for ever.                       Ps: 118:28,29.  

August 5, 2020  

Dear Sister and Brothers in Christ,  

Now – but Not Yet  

There may be a tendency always, and especially now, to look ahead, to what is coming - and why not? Perhaps things will get better, soon! Perhaps we shall see ‘normal service’ and life resumed sooner. Perhaps we shall see more of God’s Kingdom come. How far we try to look ahead and for what is to come, depends upon our own personal circumstance at the time. However, we should not neglect to appreciate the ‘now’. Before all else, our God is “I AM” always present, active and in control; he is not’ I WAS’ or ‘I WILL BE’. In just the same way the Kingdom of God is here now and ever growing - even if we cannot see that at this moment.  

Living in the ‘now’, it is good to count our blessings and to give thanks – always. Doesn’t matter if we are young or older; it just becomes a longer list and more reasons to give thanks when you are older! The lifting of ones hands, turning our attention to our Lord is therapeutic, good for the soul (our whole being). And giving thanks for every moment, every blessing honours our Lord, for the fullness of life he has given us and his ongoing purposes working in and through us.  

Consider this (adapted from an article out of St James Church, Richmond, VA);                                           Imagine …….. there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.00. It carries no balance from day to day; every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use that day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!                                        

Each of us has such a ‘bank’. Its name is TIME. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes it off, as lost, whatever of this you failed to invest for good purpose. It carries no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account – just for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposit, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against ‘tomorrow’. You must live in the present on today’s deposit. Invest it so you get from it the utmost benefit. Make the most of today!                                                                                                                           

To realize the value of One Year, ask a student who failed a grade. To realize the value of One Month, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of One Week, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of One Hour, ask two lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of One Second, ask a person who has just avoided an accident. To realize the value of One Millisecond, ask the person who won silver at the Olympics.                                                                                  

Treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it because you have shared it with someone special; special enough to spend your time. And remember, time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is gift – that’s why it’s called the present.                                                             

Knowing the Lord Jesus in the present, now, makes today all the more precious.  

May the very presence and enfolding love of our Lord be your greatest blessing this day and always.  

In His Service,  
Tony Grainger,
Interim priest-in-charge.  

If you will excuse the intrusion of a personal note to this letter: As was announced briefly on last Sunday’s ‘broadcast’, I had a visit to the Foothills Hospital last week. While in hospital I had some tests pertaining to my heart’s function. I was home by mid-week, resting and now waiting for test results, which may take a while. Your prayers are much appreciated – a blessings and encouragement.      

Don’t let your worries get the better of you; remember Moses started out as a basket case.  

The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose; but mosquitoes come close.  

Opportunity may knock once, but temptations bang on your front door forever.  

God Himself does not propose to judge anyone until they are dead. So why should we?  

Some minds are like concrete; thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.  

Peace starts with a smile.