Reflecting on God's Blessings

Dear Pali Pres Family,

Since many of you have been asking, I wanted to share with you an update on the recent Hardin/Fish family vacation to Japan. We did, indeed, have a blast! Mary and I deeply appreciate your prayers for us and our boys while we were so far away from home. Outside of one lost shoe (Mary is absolutely heartbroken) and some nasty jetlag (I dare say the worst either of us has ever endured), everything went extremely well. It was such a joy to show our boys our old neighborhoods, the places where both of us used to work, and delight with them at all the beautiful/fun/quirky things that make Japan so unique and special.

An unexpected blessing during the trip was to see our children play with the children of our dear friends. It was almost beyond belief to watch our kids interact with our friends’ kids in places that Mary and I used to spend time, like our favorite park or restaurant. How is it that time moves so darn fast?!

I come back to the Pacific Palisades with a sense of deep gratitude for the blessings of my life. As quickly as time is moving, I look back on the different chapters of my life with heartful thanksgiving to God for what I have been able to see and experience. My time away from home has also helped me realize just how much God has blessed me in the here and now, with the life we have here and in this community of faith that the Lord has called me to help shepherd.

If you have not done so recently, I hope you will take some time from your usual routine this summer to reflect on God’s blessings. Perhaps that comes in the form of a fun family vacation, or perhaps it comes in the form of a simple hike in nature or walk around your neighborhood. However you do it, I pray you will find a way to give thanks to God for the precious and special life he has given you. What a true gift it is!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Matt