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What is going to Happen Next?

                The church in Estevan celebrated its 100th anniversary this past weekend and it was great! 
                Over the years, the congregation has grown from a small group meeting in Thomas Orr’s living room to being large enough to own property on Second Street.  In the 1930s, many moved away, and the property was sold, leaving Ann Johnson as the only member.  Then it began to grow again.   A small building was constructed on highway 47 north and the congregation began to grow again.  That original building now serves as the kitchen of our current facility.  If you put the life of this congregation on a graph, it would look like the Rocky Mountains as people came and went over and over.
                It would be nice if everything in life was straight-forward, certain and easy.  No deviations.   No distractions.  Just a straight line to our goal.  However, for most, life looks more like a river winding its way across a valley.  It has twists and turns that we did not expect.  It meanders along and we sometimes wonder if we are ever going to get to where we need to be.  It can be very discouraging!  Therefore, we must keep one truth in mind.  One that we see displayed in Genesis 28.
                After having a dispute with his brother, Esau, over who was going to get the family inheritance and blessing, Jacob runs away from home.  Fearing for his life and uncertain about what was coming next, he has a dream in which he sees a ladder extending from earth to heaven.  He sees angels going up and down and, at the top, he sees God himself.   When he wakes up, he makes this declaration that changes everything; “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Genesis 28:16).
                We need that assurance.  God is here!  He is always with us.  He is in this place even when we do not understand and are not aware of him.
                I am sure there were times in the last one hundred years when the church here wondered what was going to happen next, but there was no need to worry.  God had a plan. 
                In fact, he still does!
                “I will never leave you or forsake you!” (Hebrews 13:5)

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