|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| Well, it has been 3 months, but let me give you an update.
Karrie
and I enjoyed the Christmas break with my family (parents, brother and
sister-in-law, and niece) in Beckley, WV, Karrie's family (parents,
sister and brother-in-law, neice, brother and sister-in-law, aunt and
uncle, and grandparents) in Lancaster, PA. We had a great time seeing
everyone.
We
have also been praying for and targetting our attendence of a
Pre-Departure Orientation with our mission at the end of Jan., and we
just found out this week that we will be able to attend. That means
that we only have a few more steps until we can head for the field.
Those steps along with about 50% more support, that is. You can pray
for us as we try to move toward the field by the end of this year.
May you walk in the grace of God and know Him more and more. | | |
| This is a little portion of our last prayer letter:
I
have been challenged recently about my own motivation for ministry. 1John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God,
that we keep his commandments. And his
commandments are not burdensome (ESV).”
As I have been working on pre-field ministry and support raising for our
ministry with Christar, I have seen it become a burden to me at times. This
stands in direct opposition to 1 John 5:3.
I also have to say honestly that God’s commands are burdensome to me
at times. As I processed this in the
context of 1 John, I realized that the key is love. If I love someone and they ask me to do
something difficult or burdensome, I am quick to do it, and it is not a burden
to me because of my love for them. I am
willing to sacrifice much without giving it a thought because I love them. I am convicted that my love for God is weak,
because sometimes I see His commands as a burden. Pray for Karrie and me as we seek to develop our relationship and love for God. It is exciting to see God speak through His word. | | |
| Yes! The rumors are true. Karrie and I are still alive. We made it back from Europe safely and are into a new school year. Karrie is teaching French at a local high school for the first nine weeks for a lady who is pregnant, and I am teaching four hours of Bible at a local Christian school. So that means I am working half-time, and the rest of my days are spent working on our support raising for the most part. We have had some great contacts the last few weeks, and I believe God is going to get us to the field quickly. Hope that has you all caught up. Live for Him and Him alone. It is the only way to live life.
Daniel
| | |
| It has been quite a while, but I just wanted to give an update on what Karrie and I are doing right now. We have been leading a group of teens on a missions trip to Luxembourg, Europe. Our teens helped lead two weeks of "Softball Bible Camp." Both weeks were outreach oriented, and the teens from our church did a great job. The third week was spent reaching the kids of Christian Community Church in Luxembourg through a week of adventure camp. Our teens were counselors and Karrie and I led the camp. God is faithful and we are priveleged to have been used in His service these last weeks. Now we are enjoying a couple of days of vacation in Holland. We are enjoying it a lot. That should get you caught up.
Daniel
| | |
| God is still speaking so clearly, why is it so rare that I actually listen? We had a communion service last night at church, which is humbling enough as I sit before God and lay my heart bare (not a pretty picture) trying to prepare to take part in the Lord's Table. Then our pastor turns to Titus 2 and read verses 11 through 14:
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
Renouncing ungodliness and worldly passions? Sometimes. Living a self-controlled, upright and godly life in the present age? Occasionally. Waiting for (anticipating) the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ? Not a much as I anticipate my wife's return on Thursday. Once again I am reminded how far short I fall from the life I am called to live.
How do I respond to this kind of humbling from God's Word? First of all, I am a little frustrated with myself, which I should be. However, I take great encouragement from Paul in Phillipians 3 verses 12 through 14:
"Not that I have already obtained this or am perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
I don't give up then, but instead I am driven to press on to become more like Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. I turn my frustration into determination to live my life more self-controlled, upright, and godly in the present age. I trust that God is faithful to continue to make me more like His dear Son.
God teach me to be holy! Teach me to anticipate the return of my blessed Savior, Jesus Christ!
| | |
|
