Seeking

Beloved, it is that time of year when the season is about to change and students are going back to school. Recently, in a Q&A, a young lady shared her testimony and call to serve as a missionary with bible translation. She defined her "spiritually dry season" as a time of being lonely with unmet expectations, in a region where there are no thriving, strong or welcoming churches - she had to bear her burdens alone, apart from her strong church family and look straight to the Lord. This summer, while reading "God does His best Work with Empty," by Nancy Guthrie, it was made clear I am naturally dry and empty, but Christ is faithful to continue providing Himself  (see Philippians 4:19 and Romans 8:32 ). In her book, Nancy hones in on the perspective of seeing emptiness in our life as a pre-planned opportunity for God to personally fill us in ways no one and nothing else can. Instead, we tend to quickly and regularly feed on our 'disappointment or frustration...

The year continues racing by, and Husband and I would like to share four items: 1) Bible Training, 2) Anointing, 3) Praise report and 4) Prayer requests. At the beginning of the year (2021), we shared some of our goals here , and a big prayer has been answered - bible training . About a year ago, Husband researched , applied for and was admitted to the Training Center at Faith Bible Church in Murrieta (the "TC"), even after the deadline was closed. However, one requirement is to be a member of a church for 2 years and monthly attendance by a pastor or elder - at the time, we had only been attending Cornerstone for about 6 months. After reviewing the application with our missions pastor, Husband was told to wait , and he withdrew his application to the TC. I remember how conflicted his spirit and flesh were - discouraged yet remembering God's perfect plans and timing . Shortly after, we met and befriended the missions pastor and his wife from Foothill Bible Church in Upla...

I have a friend I love dearly but does not know the Lord . Is there someone that comes to mind when you read that? We have been friends since we were five, meeting through MVGSA – Murrieta Valley Girls Softball Association. Different circumstances through the years resulted in physical separation and even ended communication, but for reasons only the Lord knows, the relationship has continued to ebb and flow. In high-school, I understood the gospel, and in college I believe I was called to Christ. Shortly after, spiritual conversations came up and were politely declined . As time passed, 8 years in fact, and I grew in my walk, I kept praying for an opportunity to share the full gospel. Last May, I sent my friend a 2-for-1 birthday and Mother’s day card, and, to my surprise, I received a very long email reply. This was the opportunity I was waiting for (reply below). While communication remains sparse, and there is no indication of a change of heart, I rest knowing God has allowed me to...

It is hard to believe it is already practically March. The days are ZOOMING by! I remember when I was young, my dad would tell me, “Just wait ‘til your my age” – LOL. Rick and I just finished reading through “Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End ,” by David Gibson, alongside a Sunday morning equipping class with our church, and it was sooooo good! We want to share some nuggets of truth, in the hope that you might also thirst more for the eternal and live, in that perspective. “Your death and the judgment to follow- the great fixed points of your life -are the very things that can reach back from the future into today and transform the life God has given you to live” (162). “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Vanity does not mean everything is meaningless, but, rather, ‘everything under the sun,’ is brief and quickly fading, much like a vapor or mist. On earth, there is “nothing to be g...