Been working through Salt and Light sunday school at church.  Sonship is continuing as we are gaining traction.  Reminder of how great a God has called us his own.

Devotional times have been slow and seldom as we have been prepping many things.  I am reminded that we need to turn to God especially during times like these.  I’ve been having more and more free time due to a slackening in schedule.   We’ve continued the bible readings and prayer at night time, but this is the minimum that we could be doing.

I have found myself enjoying my wife and kids more during this time of slower schedule and this is actually a real blessing.  Feelings of guilt have also come, making me think that I need to be ‘doing’ something but as we have freed up our schedules, we have actually been doing more visitations and building relationships. 

This month has been extraordinary in this type of ministry.  We have hosted a bunch of people for dinners and then visited others.  I think having our two kids are a blessing especially having two that are fairly well-behaved and socially able to interact with people.  They are truly a blessing and we praise God for that.

Some things we have sensed God doing in our lives: particularly for us to encourage and be a salt and light to our family (especially siblings and parents and extended family).  This has always been a weakness for me, but together we have made tremendous progress.  Praise God.

We have been able to build a couple of friendships and reconnected with some older friends.  My prayer and continued hope is that they would come to know the Lord in a more intimate way.  For the past 5 years we’ve dedicated a large portion of time and energies towards the people in our local body, but have in a large part neglected relationships outside of the church.  In having more time and even cutting back on other activities, we have been able to reconnect with a bunch of people.  Some in desperate need of Christ and his love, others in need of encouragement, others in need of more immediate ministering. 

In any case, we have to find a balance between our family, our church, and our friends.  Lord Jesus may you lead us and guide us.  Father, you sent your one and only son into this world so that in his poverty we may be rich in you.  Help us to be reminded of both your goodness to us and the extreme price you paid at the cross.  May we be filled with your Holy Spirt and be generous to this world.  That we may become poor so that others may be rich in Christ.