O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. (Psa 63:1-4)

This was the verse for our public reading yesterday at Central. The psalmist is describing his relationship with the Lord. This passage should describe our relationship with God as a Christian. I love the reminder “Because your steadfast love is better that life . . .” 

Yesterday, was a good Sunday at Central. The University of Alabama students are trickling back into town and we had a few new students with us Sunday. This week is “move in” week for many students and I am looking forward to seeing out Tide4Christ group back at Central.

Yesterday was a good Sunday at Central. One sister in Christ responded to ask her forever family to pray for her and her family during a time of stress in their lives. They have a lot going on physically and emotionally. They need the encouragement of knowing that their brothers and sisters are remembering them in prayers and the knowledge that God never leaves nor forsakes. An elder lead us in prayer on this families’ behalf.

Yesterday was a hard Sunday at Central. One of the elders and I went to Hospice care to visit with a the family of a “retired” gospel preacher. He spent 60 years proclaiming God’s word and at 88 years old, he “is not long for this world.” Although there is difficulty in visiting the bedside of one who is near the end of this life. There is a peace and comfort in his family as this faithful servant of the Lord begins the final transition of life. An elder lead a prayer for this family.

Yesterday was a good Sunday at Central. Last evening one of our college students responded asking for forgiveness and prayers. He stated that he does not like the man he has become and wants to be more Christlike. He stated that he has allowed his desires to take the place of following Christ. An elder lead the congregation in prayer for this young brother in Christ.

Yesterday was a good Sunday at Central. After worship had ended and many were still in groups talking about their weekend and the upcoming week, a young mother asked if she could talk with me. We walked down the hall away from the crowds and she said she wanted to ask about baptism. Before I could ask what her specific question was she changed her statement to something like this, “What I really want is to ask if you will baptize me. I have been thinking a lot about it and I want to do this now.” I asked her a couple of questions about her faith, and she and I went into the baptistry. I immersed her  in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the remission of her sins, she came up out of the water a child of God by grace through faith. Before we all left, an elder lead a prayer of thanksgiving for her decision for salvation, for her family, and for her future as a child of God.

It was a good Sunday at Central. How was yours?

– Scott