Our church honoured our dear friends, Ron & Audrey Matthews, yesterday. This couple, formerly missionaries to Columbia, were instrumental in beginning Grace Trinity Community Church about 8 years ago. Ron, a retired pastor, was always ready and willing to step in and preach at a moment's notice. Audrey has been a true Titus 2 example to the other women in the church, both by her life and her teaching.
Now the Matthews have decided to attend a sister church of ours, simply because of distance. They will miss us, and we will miss them, but those with whom they fellowship will be the richer for their presence.
I told them yesterday that they are living examples of Psalm 92 to me.
92 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
3 to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
Ron loves to sing and to play his harmonica, praising the Most High God!
4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5 How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!
Audrey always testifies to the Lord's good work in her life!
6 The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:
7 that though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever.
9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord,
for behold, your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.
10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over me fresh oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
Ron & Audrey experienced their share of pain; they have seen evildoers at work, and they know that in the end, all evildoers shall be scattered.
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Ron & Audrey continue to flourish, to be planted in the house of the Lord. They bear much fruit as they patiently deal with all the Lord sends their way, and they continually declare that the Lord is upright and their is no unrighteousness in Him! What an example they set for those of us who are younger! How I pray that I, too, will bear fruit in my old age!
Ron and Audrey were uncomfortable with the praise and accolades of God's people. Ron insisted that all of the glory belongs to the Lord! He quoted the following verse:
To Your Name Give Glory
God is faithful, and His love is steadfast. He has proved Himself over and over again in the lives of these His servants. We are privileged to know them and to follow their example.
"We are privileged to know them and to follow their example."
ReplyDeleteWe certainly are.
I've felt blessed by them ever since we first went to Grace. They're encouraging and exemplary. I hope I can have even a smidgen of the faith they have.
I truly thank God for them.
Wow, they sound like a real blessing for any church in which they serve.
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