Following up from last month's post, the most important part to me is how our entire family is adapting to the changes this journey has brought. I would answer "splendidly."
Ellie, in particular, has great enthusiasm about the new church and is a little evangelist and marketing representative everywhere she goes---all on her own initiative, of course.
Jack, James, and Thomas don't get a lot of it, but there are moments when they want to serve by cleaning up the yard for church gatherings or testing out some Sunday School curriculum. Also, they eagerly ask when they will get to go to the new church.
The greatest impact on all of us has been in the testing of our faith. Starting a church with no guaranteed money or people is very daunting. However, this is the first time we've truly had to trust God and not rely on our own means (it's been easy in the past to give ourselves more credit than we ought). It's freeing in many ways. It's expanded our prayer life. It's caused us to reflect on the value we place in others and their approval ahead of the Lord's.
We've seen the children grow in their faith life as they are memorizing scripture and gaining a better
It's caused us to reflect on the value we place in others and their approval ahead of the Lord's.
|
understanding of biblical narratives as they apply them to their lives. I don't know that we've been more intentional with them, per se, but by simply being more intentional in our faith and prayer life as adults, it's bleeding into how we parent them. It's a great witness for them to see what it is like to be living with Christ at the center in a way we haven't before.
While I see all of the uncertainty as mostly positive--because it keeps us desperate for God--I know it is hard for Wes when doubts creep in. When the doubts come, they tend to be over the things we truly cannot control: the people God's calling to be a part of this church and those He's calling to invest in it. It's one thing to say and believe that God will provide, but it's another thing to overcome the ingrained tendency to attach worth and productivity to having a stable income. As much as we pray for God to provide, we also pray that God wouldn't make us too stable so that we start to take credit for His glory or stop relying on His power and provision. We have already seen God respond beyond what we have prayed for. It is very humbling and I'm amazed that God has given us a front row seat to see His glory on display.