I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
Psalm 145:1-4
What a blessing that in a world filled with so much darkness, evil and despair, God has opened the eyes of us who believe to see the light of the glory of Jesus Christ! He has given us reason to praise and bless the name of our Lord every day! Our God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him (Ps. 145:8, 19, 20). Praise God that we have an eternity to extol him for his goodness and mercy and love!
I am so grateful that in this season of my life God has placed me among so many wonderful believers who are dedicating their lives to commending the grace and mercy of God to the next generation. This week, I enjoyed a gathering of all the women of Bethlehem College & Seminary—undergraduate students, wives of students and seminarians, wives of teachers and professors, staff and wives of board members. I talked with a board wife whose family has been undergoing a long, long season of sickness and strife. It was beautiful to see her glow at the way God has met and sustained them in every discouraging moment. I sat at a table with two delightful undergraduate students who are both juggling jobs and full-time course work in a very rigorous academic program that includes learning Greek. They both appeared to be thriving in the challenge, and delighted to be learning about God and drawing on his strength for all he is calling them to do.
Also at our table was a third year seminary wife who last year worked seventy hours a week so that her husband could be free to devote himself to the serious but glorious preparation for the calling to preach God’s Word. We also had the wife of one of our seminary professors sitting with us. She, like her husband, has advanced degrees at prestigious educational institutions. In this season of her life, God has called her to use her gifts primarily to train up their children while her husband trains future pastors and missionaries. I could see she sees this calling as a high one. Our children are perhaps the most important people of the next generation to whom God has called us to commend his mighty acts.
The world needs the message of Christ so desperately. The pastors, teachers and missionaries we are training at Bethlehem College & Seminary are pouring their lives into this serious yet joyful call. It is so good to be reminded that those of us who support these students as spouses, financial partners and prayer warriors also have an indispensable role in sharing the good news. As we pray for God’s provision for Bethlehem College & Seminary, we do well to remember that we ourselves are often his means of answer. It is a glorious and holy calling to commend God’s works and declare his mighty acts to the next generation. May he find us faithful.
Adrien K. Segal is the wife of Rick Segal, and mother of Marshall Segal MDiv ’12, Dr. Dieudonné Tamfu TBI ’11, and two other sons.
Professor Joe Rigney’s Message at Chapel,
September 10, 2015: “Biblical Sexuality and Our Society”
Join us for our weekly Chapel Service on Sept. 24, featuring Dr. Steve Calvin speaking on abortion.
Prayer Requests:
– That God would bless the Experience Bethlehem weekend before us.
– That The Gray Havens would be anointed to bring us a musical blessing in concert.
– That many of the visiting prospective students would be moved to apply.
– That the Spirit would be on Dr. Andy Naselli as he brings us the Word at Chapel.
– That financial support for our Serious Joy Scholarship would grow in depth and breadth.
– That Chancellor Piper would be equipped to teach with power and clarity as we “Look at the Book.”
– That residents of the nearby Phillips neighborhood would sense the aroma of Christ as we minister there.
– That the church, college and seminary, students, faculty, parents, and guests all be woven together in a ministry for Christ and a blessing to each other.
