I feel like our family has been terribly absent lately on the forums. We have had some great blessings these past few months in our family, growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord God in more ways than we could ever explain here. I just wanted to say hello and let folks know that our family continues to seek out Christian fellowship in our area. We have visited a local church (where the pastor and elders know our position on PM) and been quite welcome there. I continue to wonder how long this will be possible and how to deal with what we feel may be inevitable conflict, but for now we enjoy the fellowship.
We have also been greatly blessed in the monthly meetings with a family from BF. We have met a couple times now and spent the day together, times of blessing and fellowship. We have also enjoyed the teen chat these past few weeks. We have a few families teenage children join each week with Sara chaperoning so to speak. The teens have decided to read John's Gospel together and share each week some of their gleanings from this study. They aren't doing a teaching time or structure per se, but rather sharing what the Lord teaches each one with the group. We hope our youth use this forum to continue to grow spiritually and also to have relationships that can be built up during retreats when we all get together.
My job is going great, I am taking a class this week for work and am finding more opportunities to learn and advance within the organization in the coming days. We thank the Lord for providing all these things for us, for the fellowship with you all, and for the unity and peace in our family. Though some continue to cause trouble for us, we see the Lord defending us in these trials if we will trust Him and let Him do the fighting on our behalf.
We doubt that we will be able to make it to the New Years retreat due to travel issues and timing, but I (Mark) may be able to come if I fly down and get back in a timely manner. Maybe the Lord will open the doors for us all to come, maybe none of us will be able to make it, but we are confident in the Lord's provision in all things, and so we leave it in His hands.
Thank you all for your love and fellowship, for the encouragement of emails and phone calls. We are sorry that we have been so busy, and we hope to have more time to be on the forums and in other communication in the coming days. Most of all, we love you all and pray for God's richest blessings as you live for and serve Him.
We have also been greatly blessed in the monthly meetings with a family from BF. We have met a couple times now and spent the day together, times of blessing and fellowship. We have also enjoyed the teen chat these past few weeks. We have a few families teenage children join each week with Sara chaperoning so to speak. The teens have decided to read John's Gospel together and share each week some of their gleanings from this study. They aren't doing a teaching time or structure per se, but rather sharing what the Lord teaches each one with the group. We hope our youth use this forum to continue to grow spiritually and also to have relationships that can be built up during retreats when we all get together.
My job is going great, I am taking a class this week for work and am finding more opportunities to learn and advance within the organization in the coming days. We thank the Lord for providing all these things for us, for the fellowship with you all, and for the unity and peace in our family. Though some continue to cause trouble for us, we see the Lord defending us in these trials if we will trust Him and let Him do the fighting on our behalf.
We doubt that we will be able to make it to the New Years retreat due to travel issues and timing, but I (Mark) may be able to come if I fly down and get back in a timely manner. Maybe the Lord will open the doors for us all to come, maybe none of us will be able to make it, but we are confident in the Lord's provision in all things, and so we leave it in His hands.
Thank you all for your love and fellowship, for the encouragement of emails and phone calls. We are sorry that we have been so busy, and we hope to have more time to be on the forums and in other communication in the coming days. Most of all, we love you all and pray for God's richest blessings as you live for and serve Him.
