The blog is back
July 2, 2013 2 Comments
So I figured today would be as good a day as any to resurrect the blog that’s laid dormant in the deep recesses of the internet for almost two years now. Actually, this is something I kept telling myself I’d do soon but soon hasn’t had a deadline until now. That deadline is July 2. Boom! punch in el estomago de procrastination.
A lot of big things have happened but I’m pretty sure that anyone reading this is, for the most part, pretty current on our goings on. The main reason I wanted to get this blog going is to keep you up to date on things the Lord is doing in our lives and to keep you praying for us as we continue to run this race.
I will, however, fill you in on a little bit of what else we’ve been up to. First of all, there’s six of us now. In February our daughter Naomi was born, evening out the sides and making our family an even 3 dudes/3 ladies. Levi the Canadian is doing awesome. He is a brilliant, hilarious, chubby two year old who pretty much fits in anywhere except for his jeans. Ruthie is now six and is growing up way to fast. She is doing great with school and is an all around awesome kid. Johnny is seven. Geeze. He’s already got two seasons of baseball under his belt and caught more fish that most people ten times his age. He’s the best old brother that any of his siblings could ask for. Rachel is the glue holding us all together. I could write and write about her but you’d be better looking up Proverbs 31. I don’t even want to speculate on where I’d be right now if it wasn’t for a completely supportive, sacrificial, understanding, loving, patient, perfect, smoking hot wife.
People ask me all the time how I’m doing. I usually just say that I’m living the dream or something. That’s such a tough question and more often than not is asked without seriously wanting to know the answer. I’ll pretend now that someone has just asked me and I’ll answer for reals:
“Ryan, what’s up homie? How are things?”
“Things are good. We’ve all been really busy but keeping it together. The Lord has been moving us in directions that we would never had pursued on our own. Over the last couple years we have been forced into corners where we have had no other options other than to trust in God for His provision and direction. I strongly believe that the strengthening of our faith as well as new doors that have been opened to us are direct results of us submitting all to The Lord. It’s usually counterintuitive and almost always goes against the counsel of the world but as Brett likes to say, “There is no safer place than in the will of God.” I know there’s no place I’d rather be.
Rachel, myself, and a solid group of good friends have recently started a home fellowship over in Tampa in an area that is in need of some Bible teaching. We are waiting on The Lord, being patient, flexible, and letting Him lead it in His timing. It’s an exciting time and I can’t wait to see where He takes it but at the same time I am thoroughly enjoying where we are right now. You can be praying for that.
In my quiet time I have come back ’round to Acts. Which is super encouraging and timely being that we are in the same situation as many of the folks in the first few chapters of the book. I love how there is so much emphasis placed on waiting on The Lord and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The church starts with them going to Jerusalem, praying, and doing nothing until the Holy Spirit shows up. I think that this should be the broad instruction for the Church in everything absolutely. However, in a more focused aspect, this needs to be our direction in all we do as individuals too. In our decision making, our thoughts, ours hopes and dreams, etc. “Unless The Lord builds the house, the workers labor in vain.”
I am encouraged by Peter in the first couple chapters of Acts so far. A man who we are used to acting quickly in the flesh in the gospels is now filled and led by the Holy Spirit. You compare his response in Luke 9:33 where “Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out…” to where he is now in Acts 4:8 where “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said…” and you see a man who has been truly transformed by the renewing of his mind. A man who, being obviously untrained and uneducated, makes the religious leaders marvel because they can tell that he has been with Jesus. My prayer is that it’s obvious to those around me that I have been with Jesus.”
So you wanna know how you can be praying for us? Be praying that we will be being filled with the Holy Spirit. That as I am excited to see what The Lord has planned in the future I can be focused on the ministry I have at hand. I don’t know if it a result of our culture or what not but it is a dangerous trap to be so focused on our goals that we forget or even worse neglect the opportunities that we have right in front of us. I think one of the best examples of this is Paul, especially in his time in prison. Never once do you hear Paul talk about how he’s biding his time so he can get out and get to work. Rather, in Ephesians 6:19-20, he asks for prayer that he may open his mouth boldy to make known the mystery of the gospel of which he is an ambassador in chains! Now I’m not literally in chains but I can sometimes lose focus on the work at hand. Please pray for me that in the opportunities that I have that I will be able to open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel of which I am also an ambassador.
Other than that, all is good. The family is great. Catching big fish and keeping on keeping on.
Grace and peace,
Ryan