Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Payback
God is on an all out search to find lost people. He wants partners in sacrifice. We sacrifice order. We sacrifice neatness. We sacrifice control. We sacrifice the comfort that comes from only meeting the needs of people like ourselves. We sacrifice the tranquility of those who close their eyes to the eternal needs of others.
But the payback far outweighs the pain. For the joy set before us, we endure the pain of sacrifice. We are invited to an everlasting party, where every little step we took to reach the lost, every little sacrifice we made will pale in comparison to the weight of the glory that will mark the lives of all who helped even one sinner come home.
But the payback far outweighs the pain. For the joy set before us, we endure the pain of sacrifice. We are invited to an everlasting party, where every little step we took to reach the lost, every little sacrifice we made will pale in comparison to the weight of the glory that will mark the lives of all who helped even one sinner come home.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Spring in the Rockies
Hello from colorful Colorado! With the green grass and bright red tulips that come with the new growth of Spring, the Creator's hand has also been at work in nurturing our new Gospel community in Loveland. With warmer weather, we have definitely experienced more recent opportunities to connect with friends and neighbors that we are patiently loving towards Jesus. Yesterday, Liz, Rylee and I spent the morning with our neighbor Agnes after inviting her to participate with us in a four mile CROP Walk (and yes, I finished all four miles) to help combat hunger around the world. One fourth of the proceeds also went to the House of Neighborly Service, a faith-based, non-profit organization that our church is partnering with in Loveland. We had a great time walking and talking with our friend and building our relationship with her. Agnes has expressed that she has a Catholic background and wants to become more involved with "church." We're praying this will be an open door to invite her to become more involved with "Jesus!"
More Spring growth has come through our friends Rick and Anna. My friendship with Rick began over one year ago as we were co-workers at the driver education company where I was employed. Rick and Anna's commitment to being part of our church and their deep desire to serve others has been a special encouragement and blessing to us!
And yet even more seeds are starting to sprout as God works out His plan for our church! Two more couples that have connections to our church through the Berean Fellowship (our church planting network) have been called by God to move to Loveland and help us continue the work he has started here! Travis and Danielle, and their baby boy Max, will be moving from Wyoming to Loveland in June, and Mike and Liz, will be moving from Wisconsin in July. Praise the Lord for the calling He has placed in their hearts to be 21st century missionaries along with us on the Front Range! Please pray for God's timing and provision in regards to employment and housing for these families!
Every day, we realize more and more that there are so many people in our community that have never been touched by Jesus or His Church. We can't say thank you enough for so many of you who pray for us daily and generously give some of what God has given you to touch lives here in Colorado! We truly feel that we are simply the instruments God is using through your faith and obedience to share the Gospel here!
More Spring growth has come through our friends Rick and Anna. My friendship with Rick began over one year ago as we were co-workers at the driver education company where I was employed. Rick and Anna's commitment to being part of our church and their deep desire to serve others has been a special encouragement and blessing to us!
And yet even more seeds are starting to sprout as God works out His plan for our church! Two more couples that have connections to our church through the Berean Fellowship (our church planting network) have been called by God to move to Loveland and help us continue the work he has started here! Travis and Danielle, and their baby boy Max, will be moving from Wyoming to Loveland in June, and Mike and Liz, will be moving from Wisconsin in July. Praise the Lord for the calling He has placed in their hearts to be 21st century missionaries along with us on the Front Range! Please pray for God's timing and provision in regards to employment and housing for these families!
Every day, we realize more and more that there are so many people in our community that have never been touched by Jesus or His Church. We can't say thank you enough for so many of you who pray for us daily and generously give some of what God has given you to touch lives here in Colorado! We truly feel that we are simply the instruments God is using through your faith and obedience to share the Gospel here!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Pray for Jake
As we continue the work of planting Jesus in people's hearts in and around Loveland, God continues to faithfully deepen our desire to be missionaries to our culture. In a region where only around 10% of the population claims to belong to any kind of faith community it is becoming clear that many of the people we encounter are hurting and lonely.
Over the last several months, while working part time as a driver education instructor (I know, pray for me!), I have become friends with a gas station attendant on our driving route named Jake. Jake is in his early fifties, and has suffered through some tough times in his life. When I stopped to get gas a few days ago, Jake told me he wasn't sure he was going to be able to get a ride home from work that night. Because of a DUI a couple of years ago, he lost his driver's license. I felt God prompting me to take advantage of an opportunity to love Jake toward Jesus and offered to drive him home when he got off work at 10:30 that night. We stopped for coffee on the way and I listened to Jake emotionally struggle to share his story of divorce, DUI, and bankruptcy. He told me I was so lucky to have family and friends that love me, and I said, "You know Jake, it's all because of Jesus."
When I dropped Jake at his apartment, he told me I was now one of only three friends he now had since moving to the Loveland area two years ago! I called Jake yesterday and offered another ride and coffee tonight. Please pray that Jake would see that Jesus is his greatest need!
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