Digging Deeper: Thankful for What’s to Come
“I thank my God in all my remeberance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of you partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ…And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,”
Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)
THANKFUL FOR WHAT’S TO COME
As I began to grow more deeply curious about the things of faith and sought a deeper understanding of Scripture and its meaning in my life, I turned to pastors of note who could help simplify the complex things of God and make them digestible for my mind.
Recently, two of the men I grew to admire deeply have gone home to be with the Lord: John MacArthur and Voddie Baucham. My heart ached each time I read the news of their passing, but I immediately thought of how neither would want lament at such news—for they have gone to the very place we all seek to be!
Baucham even said exactly how he wanted people to respond to the news of his death in a message he once delivered:
“You are going to hear a rumor one day that Voddie Baucham is no more. Don’t you believe it! Don’t you believe it! Don’t you believe it—because though I die, I will rise with Christ. It will not be the end of me, because Christ is raised, and I too will be raised with Christ.”
I am thankful for the ministry and lives of these men. I am also thankful for NorthStar. For while men like Baucham and MacArthur helped guide a curious mind, it has been people like Mike Linch who have walked with me in other ways.
This past Friday, October 3, would’ve been my daughter Roselyn’s 12th birthday. Our firstborn, she was diagnosed late in the pregnancy with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and lived for 22 days, all under the care of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The night she passed was the hardest day of my life. As Deanna and I left the hospital, my phone rang—it was Mike Linch. We spoke briefly, but the phrase he said that I will never forget was: “You aren’t going to go through this alone.”
Those words proved true. As a grateful member of this congregation, I can say they have helped shape the last 12 years in so many positive ways for us. Today we have two healthy boys, and both are so excited about the future opportunities that await with the changes on our church campus.
So let us give thanks for all the new and exciting opportunities ahead, and pray for our church leaders as they aim to grow our influence in the community. We are thankful for all God has done, and we wait in eager anticipation for all He will do!
Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.