Dear First Pres,

   The stirring of God is a powerful thing. In the book of Ezra, God stirs the heart of Cyrus, the king of Persia, to send the captives of the kingdom Persia conquered back to their homeland. He even put the stirring of God in an official proclamation to the entire realm: the people of Yahweh may return to Judah and rebuild Yahweh’s temple. Can you imagine that? If you were one of those exiles living in that foreign land, Cyrus was probably one of the last people you’d imagine to be stirred by God. And yet, he was. God grafted him into God’s holy history for the ongoing plan of redemption and restoration for the world that would come through the children of Abraham.

   On a much smaller scale, ten years ago I was minding my own business as an Associate Pastor of another church in another state. I wasn’t looking to make a move or anxious to leave, but the Lord stirred in my heart the hurts and hopes of First Presbyterian Church Fresno. I tried to shake it for several months, thinking it was just my own ambition or my own desire to get back to the Central Valley. But, in the end, I couldn’t shake it. God was stirring my heart to be your pastor.

    This morning, at the Men’s Breakfast, I heard the story of God’s stirring in the heart of Jeff Rooney toward those who are incarcerated. It started with a prayer over twenty years ago and now it’s building into a local ministry to help bridge the gap from incarceration to restoration.

   At the Women’s Conference this last weekend (which I hear was fantastic), God was stirring the work of forgiveness in the hearts of many women. Forgiveness is always used by God to unleash His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. So, I wait with eager expectation to see how God will use this for His purposes.

   Have you felt the stirring of God? So often it isn’t about moving to a new place or starting a new job or even making a proclamation to the realm. So often it’s about how God is calling you to live today. It’s about how God is reminding you of our identity and mission in Christ as we go about everyday activities. But here’s the deal, the stirring of God is a powerful thing. No matter how insignificant it seems, God’s stirring can be like that tiny mustard seed that grows into the largest bush in the garden - a bush that gives shade and shelter to many.

   So, may we listen for the stirring of God today, individually and corporately, trusting that He can use us as part of His holy history. I wonder: what is the Lord stirring in you today?

Blessings,

Pastor Jeremy