New family picture

I had not added a family picture in a while.This is rare for us all to be together in the same place. This is all of us plus Lee-Melissa's husband.

Becoming one of my favorite artists- I guess you can tell I have a housefull of teenagers

the next one is oe of Graces Hip Hop songs for her recital





Performing at John Pipers Church Bethlehem Baptist Church.

redundancy

I can't believeIi am still writing about waiting. I have found the principles in this song to be the focus that i need at this time. We are waiting with great anticipation for the church that God has for us.So many decisions are hanging in the balance.All decisions have to wait.So much will change when the time comes yet so much is anticipated with joy yet unfulfilled. We have worked so long and so hard and have exhausted our earthly storehouses and efforts that seem fruitless at the moment.Surly we have not worked in vain if God is in control but yet it still feels like we have hit a brick wall.We are helplessly at His mercy to guide our life paths. I have been determined and am more inspired to increase that determination to do as this song encourages....I will serve you while I am waiting....So hard to do when it seems the harder you work the less you see the fulfillment of your desires. I must not dwell on my present circumstance but dwell on my service where I am at and leave the rest to God. I must do the mundane and repetitious things that he has given me to do now and stop dwelling on the frustration that I can feel if I contemplate our present state too much.i am coming to understand the verse "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I have often thought that this verse was needed when attempting to do great or dangerous or heroic things but i am seeing that it is not just for those times. It is for times like these when I need to do the tedious things or the everyday things the preparational things. I need that verse when my dreams don't seem to be coming true or that they are being redirected. So I know I can do "all" things through Christ who strengthens me for the journey that I do not control... for the path He has laid out that i knew and know nothing about, and while I am waiting to see just where God is going to lead us I will serve Him while I am waiting with joy in my heart because He does strengthen me to do "all" things.

Still Waiting

Still waiting hopefully more patiently but things are changing rapidly. The realities of what has to be done and I thought the wedding was stressful WOW. I will fill everyone in when I have more information.I will have more information when God chooses to give it to us. We are praying and would ask you all that pray to keep praying for us to find our place soon.To direct us to a church soon.Pray for the church that needs a pastor that God would direct them to us.Thanks and I will let you know what it happening.

praying for patience...maybe not a good idea

Why do i feel so much anxiety? I have walked down this path before and seen God answer prayers that were not even uttered. I want so badly to be "Home".Where is that "Home" going to be? I so want to be with our new church family and begin to sow seeds in the community and in the church with believers and unbelievers alike. I long for a little more permanence than I have had in the the last few years. I want to plant gardens and flowers and berry bushes.I know it sounds so silly to write and then read it back to myself but it is a joy that God has given to plant and see the fruits of our labors. I want my kids to experience time in a garden planted and cared for by our own hands and learn the many lessons that come from spending time in creation. I have not bothered doing that in the last few years much because of the temporary state we have been in during seminary. I know that the nature of ministry is temporary.We have been blessed with 20 years of ministry and only 2 churches. I hope that the next church is our last and can spend 30+ years serving a particular congregation. How blessed that would be. I thought I had learned the lessons of patience but I am reminded daily how impatient I really am. I check the mail and email with anticipation that someone will contact us about a church position.I am getting so impatient. I want to go and go now not 2 years from now.I have been in this place of limbo for so long I just crave a church to settle down in.We have been blessed with a church to call home when we are here but it is also temporary. I pray that God hears my plea's for help! We are at His mercy to find us the right place to go.I pray for patience knowing that he may teach me patience by not answering for a while. I pray for help knowing He may make me lean on Him more to build my faith. I pray for the next congregation and hope they are praying for their future pastor and family as well.God please work quickly on our behalf and prepare us for the next congregation and please prepare them for us.

I NEEDED TO HEAR THIS!

This is such a difficult message on a very difficult passage to hear but I needed it today.To contemplate a perfect God and my horrid sin.Grace is a wonderful thing indeed.

Please pray for strength of heart

I guess I am feeling unsettled since I never make 3 entries in one day especially at 2am. I saw this song on you tube and it happens to be the dance finale for Graces recital this year and it made me start to grieve for her when we leave this town. She has grown so much spiritually since finding a way to glorify God through dance. It was unbelievably beautiful to watch the 3 hour recital bring Gory to God and I hate that she may have to leave this studio but at the same time I am trusting God and encouraging her to do the same. She may be able to find another Christian dance studio in the next city that God has prepared for us. Please pray with me for Grace to have strength and courage and that her faith will be built up during this time.