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| Rec Lab 50 |
The most recent trip included attending the 50th anniversary of Rec Lab in Orlando and it is absolutely one of my favorite weeks of the year and always one of the most humbling. To sit with those who have been in ministry for so many years and to learn from their experiences is such a blessing. There is no way I could be doing what I am now apart from those who I have met there. The week served as a reminder that there are times we take life way too seriously and sometimes we as adults need to be reminded what it's like to play like kids, while also being reminded how even simple recreation games can be in used as a platform to share the Gospel. In addition to that, the most memorable moment of the week for me came in one of the recreation seminars when the leader said, “Learning always happens on the edge of uncomfortable.” He was referring to how many lessons we miss because of how quick we are to give up when things become hard and cause us to move beyond our comfort zone. I immediately thought of the spiritual implications of that statement. God wants to grow us through every circumstance and looking at my life, I know the times I have often learned the most have been through trials or circumstances far beyond my comfort zone that I chose to persevere in until God brought me through to the other side. In the Bible God tells us to “consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds because the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work in you so that you may be mature and complete and not lacking anything (James 1:3-4).” May we resolve to always stick it out in uncomfortable circumstances and trying seasons until we learn the lesson God has for us, for there is blessings that come on the other side of every trial as we are made to be more like Him.
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| Sweet mentors and friends God has put in my life. |
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| Sweet mentors and friends God has put in my life. |
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| Sweet mentors and friends God has put in my life. |
After the conference in Orlando I was able to swing through Nashville for a few days, worship with the Judson church family for a Sunday and attend a couple missions meetings, stop in for a visit with all the kids at Foundations Christian Academy and throughout my time there see so many people the Lord has so graciously put in my life.
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| Sweet time at the Poenitske's |
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| The Allen kiddos |
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| 16th Birthday Celebration for Rachel |
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| Nashville Snow Day! |
Exciting things are happening back here in Bozeman as well – we are getting ready to split our Sunday evening prayer group at Kirkwood because it has grown to the point that is necessary, getting ready to host the Family Promise homeless ministry for a week at the church, preparing for summer mission teams and other events, seeing a couple people accept Christ and also step forth in obedience to be baptized as a public profession of their faith, and the opportunity to start discipling new believers while encouraging others along the way. I am constantly reminded that none of these things just happen overnight. It is so sweet when the Lord allows us to take a step back and gain perspective of all He is able to accomplish over time when we are obedient in the little things He asks us to do each day. As it has been said, "Do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, to the best of your ability...every time."
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| Quality time with baby Levi! |
One other bit of exciting news is the opportunity I will have to return to Honduras for the 4th year in a row in April to serve alongside Sam and Peggy Feazel of Ignite Missions. Over the past three years down there, I have seen villages transformed by the Gospel message, hundreds come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and churches planted. This year we will continue the work in two of the villages the 2012 team visited and the team will be doing women’s ministry and Vacation Bible School.
Please pray for:
-Pastor James and the Kirkwood church family. For God to guide him in leading and for everyone to be on board and fired up about what God is doing.
-Upcoming Family Promise week at Kirkwood.
-Ability to disciple new believers here in Bozeman and train them up in how to walk with the Lord consistently.
-Mission trip to Honduras in April - for God to provide the funds and everything else that is needed to go on the trip.
-Personal – for the time to rest and recharge and dive into His Word even deeper in the coming weeks.
Please pray for:
-Pastor James and the Kirkwood church family. For God to guide him in leading and for everyone to be on board and fired up about what God is doing.
-Upcoming Family Promise week at Kirkwood.
-Ability to disciple new believers here in Bozeman and train them up in how to walk with the Lord consistently.
-Mission trip to Honduras in April - for God to provide the funds and everything else that is needed to go on the trip.
-Personal – for the time to rest and recharge and dive into His Word even deeper in the coming weeks.
