A little update

Well, they have finally put the stone in arround my fireplace! I guess I didn't take it at a good angle because it is hard to see the texture/3d nature of the fireplace...but I really like it in person! Closing is only 2 weeks away!




Last week after months of getting to work in the dark, I started to see the first hints of light on the horizon. At least I guess it will feel like I'm getting to work later :)

In other realms, things are going great. Details for the church plant are moving rapidly forward and most items seem to be falling into place. We have an initial place we can meet as a church planting group, but are still looking for a good place to start our official public meetings. If would pray for God's provision that'd be great!

Can you hold the waters in the palm of your hand?

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand..." Isaiah 40:12

Today I listened to an awesome message by Bruce Ware from WorshipGod04 and was reminded of a cute story he tells of at time at the beach. He had just read Isaiah 40 to his kids (3 and 7) and so he took them down to the beach for an experiment with dad. He proceeded to walk out in the water and told his kids to watch the water level really closely has he their "big" dady scooped up as much as he could in the palm of his hands. Needless to say, the kids didn't see anything happen on a couple tries! He then told them that this was a "very important lesson." That even their "big" dad couldn't make an impact on the waters...yet if God scooped them in his hand the oceans would be totally dry...God is big and powerful beyond any human. I love the example of a father training his kids in such a way, but also even thinking of the simple truth is a good reminder that we serve an awesome God! He is so much greater than we often remember, and to him none compares.

What to say?

Wow, there is so much I'd love to write about, and so many things that have been flying arround in my mind and heart. (all good...!) The past few weeks have just been full of all sorts of activity, but at the same time a time where I've been able to slow down a bit before the Lord.

I just finished a book that I very much loved called..."Too Busy Not to Pray." It was a fairly simple book, but really right along the lines of some things the Lord had been putting on my heart and a great encouragement. The first part of the book was geared towards a gaining a biblical perspective and faith for prayer. I actually started a post on that part last week, that I never finished...maybe I will at some point...but that in conjuction with reading some parts of the gospels was an awesome reminder of the greatness and majesty of the God we serve and his willingness to intervene. It was freshly faith building to live in confidence, following God's leadership and guidance and taking steps of faith...being aware that that things which would naturally seem daunting when considered from a human perspective are really nothing to be concerned about, but actually to be boldly pursued. We serve such an awesome God, capable of controlling whatever he pleases, be it events, human hearts, nature or anything else, that if he is in it he will work and do things much greater and accomplish that which seemed initially imposing to us.

The second part of the book then was more personally geared to encouraging the spending of just quite private time with the Lord and listening to his leadings. This section was also encouraging. One of the things I've been realizing in the past months is just the importance of not letting busyness, even if its serving in the church or family, prevent getting quality and consistent times with the Lord. I certainly do not "have it all together" when it comes to this, but I can say that as I've been spending more time before the Lord that he has been so kind to be increasingly meeting me. Reading the last section of the book was a fresh reminder of the wonderful gift we have of access to the Father and how much I want to grow in taking advantage of it. We have such a wonderful means of grace there as we seek him and he imparts wisdom, and power, hears our prayers and also deepens our affections!

There are many ways for me to grow in my pursuit of God, but I am encouraged that God is so faithful to continually draw and guide his children and that as we by grace seek and ask of him that he will reveal himself and pour out more grace!

And we have cabinets

Well, as of last Friday they had finished the drywall and had put in cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. The interior doors had been delivered and were sitting in the family room. It will be interesting to see what they get done this week.

A Prayer

Tonight as I was spending some time with the Lord, I was just asking that he would deepen my affections for him, and freshly redirect my heart to wholly focus upon him. In light of who he is, in light of all he has done for me in the cross, and in light of all the blessings he pours out daily, my heart should be so full of grattitude and love!...yet I know I am not but a fraction as thankful as I ought. I so want to love him more, but at the same time realize that it is not something I can just drum up, but must be something that by grace, the spirit develops in my heart. So for that I cry out to him for grace...and know that he delights answer. After praying I randomly openned up the Valley of Vision and happened upon this prayer which was along the lines of what was on my heart...

Christian Love

"O Lover of the loveless
It is thy will that I should love thee
with heart, soul, mind, strength
and my neighbour as myself.

But I am not sufficient for these things.
There is by nature no pure love in my soul;
Every affection in me is turned from thee;
I am bound, a slave to lust,
I cannot love thee, lovely as thou art,
until thou dost set me free.

By grace I am thy freeman and would serve thee,
for I believe tou art my God in Jesus,
and that through him I am redeemed,
and my sins are forgiven.

With this freedom I would always obey thee,
but I cannot walk in liberty,
any more than I could first attain it of myself.
May thy Spirit draw me nearer to thee and thy ways.

Thou art the end of all means,
for if they lead me not to thee,
I go away empty.
Order all my ways by thy holy Word
and make thy commandments the joy of my heart,
that by them I may have hpapy converse with thee.
May I grow in thy love and manifest it to mankind.

Spirit of love, make me like the loving Jesus;
give me his benevolent temper,
his beneficent actions,
that I may shine before men to they glory.
The more thou doest in love in me and by me,
humble me the more;
keep me meek, lowly,
and always ready to give thee honour."

A Drywalled House

After a bit of a delay, the drywall is now up! A few quick pictures of the latest progress:


From the entry way

From the kitchen area

From the kitchen area towards the family room

From the back porch into the kitchen

The master bedroom...kind of hard to see. Not massive, but big enough with a good size bathroom and walk-in closet.

The House

Was in the area of my house the other day, so I stopped by and snapped a couple of pictures. They've got it all sided and are close to beginning to put up insulation and drywall.