As Carol and I begin a new chapter of life and ministry at East White Oak, God has been so good to teach us precious truth.  In sharing some of these, my hope is that we will all be encouraged and strengthened in our faith in Christ.  For each weakness that we have learned about ourselves, we see so clearly the hope and provisions of our great God.

We are learning how weak we are.  There are times where we are overwhelmed by how many details need to get done and must not be forgotten.  Who is smart enough to do all that?  Certainly not us!  BUT we are learning the provision of God to take everything to Him in prayer.  We are finding an increasing dependency upon Him because there is simply no human capacity that can measure up to the task.  Isn’t it interesting that the only times that we learn this is when we are aware of our weakness?  If only we knew how completely weak we are!  Then, we would “pray without ceasing.” 

We are learning how insignificant material possessions are.  There is nothing like the exercise of having to touch (sometimes multiple times) everything that one has and deciding to dispose, sell, give away or keep it.  This exercise pointed out to me how little these things matter and how much we want to have Christ be our life rather than the things of this decaying world.  The words of Colossians 3:1-4 have meant so much to us:  “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”  That phrase, “When Christ who is your life,” is so beautiful, is it not?  It gives us a perspective on our possessions.  Those material things are gifts from God;they can be helpful to us, but only if they serve to help us serve Christ.  Christ is our life.  Again, this has helped Carol and me to pray.  We want Christ to be our life, and we pray that we will be able to use the resources that the Lord provides us through the dear people at East White Oak to proclaim Christ and to glorify Him.  The real “stuff” of life is not found in stuff;  it is found in Christ!

We are learning how precious God’s family is.  We again have been overwhelmed by the love of God’s people.  We are so grateful for your prayers and notes as well as the many tangible ways you are blessing our move to you.  It has been so sweet to see your concern for the folks at Wildwood and your prayers for them in this transition.  God is wonderfully at work at Wildwood, and He is answering your prayers for them.  We have been so blessed by the ways in which the folks at Wildwood have shown their love and appreciation for us as well.  We are doubly blessed and cannot even express in words how much we have been ministered to by God’s family.  In Ephesians 2:22, the Apostle Paul declares that the Ephesian church is being built together in Christ “into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”  It is a delight to see that same work of God at both Wildwood and East White Oak.

We are learning how sinful we are.  There is nothing like the pressures and stresses of deadlines along with lots of details to reveal that one’s soul is more empty than expected.   We are learning ever more the amazing provision of the blood of Jesus Christ and confessing our sin to Him.  The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, but “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (see 1 John 1:7-9).  The delight that God has in having a relationship with us is overwhelming.  Carol and I found that getting away to spend extended time in the Word and in prayer have been essential for the challenges we are facing.

Finally, we are learning more and more of the glory and character of our great God.  What a great and good God we serve!  He is building His own kingdom and, amazingly enough, has invited us to join that kingdom.  He calls us to recognize who He is and to act on that (that’s how one of my former professors defined “fearing the Lord”).  Jesus Christ is both God’s Son and our brother.  He enables us to join God’s kingdom and even equips us by the Holy Spirit to advance God’s kingdom.  As Carol and I contemplate the call of God to advance His kingdom at East White Oak, we are brought to our knees in worship and praise.  We are blessed beyond measure.  Our hearts are being knit to yours.  It is with joy that we join you in serving our Lord Jesus.