God is gracious beyond measure for granting us this great salvation and He is kind above our highest thoughts for allowing us the privilege of serving Him as ambassadors of Christ. Thank you for your prayers, through which God strengthens our hands and is at work in our midst.
The past month has brought us a much-needed time of rest as our family was able to get away for a few days on vacation to a cottage by the ocean. This provided us with a nurturing time of relaxation and nearness as we slept in, read, walked on the beach, and made meaningful memories together. Through it, the Lord has granted us a renewed sense of joy and well-being in Him. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! … who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1, 5 ESV)
The Lord has been showing me more deeply how great our need is for Christ. I desire to experience more of Christ and to be an instrument in God’s hands to the end that others would come to know Christ and grow in their love for Him. Apart from Him, nothing matters.
Recently, I spoke with a man for the last time. He came to the church for the first time in January and was diagnosed with lung cancer in March. Seven weeks later, he was on his deathbed after a losing battle. Holding his hand and speaking with him shortly before he entered eternity, I told him once more how the Gospel was true and that he could place the full weight of his hope in Christ as he stepped into eternity. I prayed for him, then left, and thirty minutes later received the call; he died. A few days later, I had the privilege of conducting his graveside memorial service where many of his family members heard the Gospel, possibly for the first time. Please pray that the truth they heard would bear fruit in their hearts and lives.
Truly our greatest need is Christ! It is in Him that our souls are made alive and it is by His power that we are being transformed from one degree of glory to another. I am thankful for our local church, that God has brought together a local body of believers who love to hear the Word of God and who desire to grow in His grace.
In order to help the brethren know and experience more of Christ, I am currently preaching through the Gospel of Mark on Sunday mornings and am also teaching a book by book series on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings on how each book of the Bible fits into God’s story or redemption and points us to Jesus. My desire and aim is to help them know and love Him better, for this is the soil in which our lives flourish and become fruitful. Please pray for us, that we would be increasingly filled with the life and power of Christ, and that many would come to know and love Him here.
