i'm not exaggerating at all. as i think back over the summer, i just realize again and again how blessed i was (am still) by everything. i'm not bragging or trying to inflate myself in any way. but as i wrote, i continually realize how good this season has been.
here are some highlights:
- ended as successful school year for me and kara and now are beginning a new school year. for kara, it's the big one--senior year. please pray for her as she works to make this year the best yet (academically, socially, vocationally and spiritually) and as she makes plans for the future (college, life choices, etc).
- an all-around great experience in community theater. beauty & the beast had a great cast of talented people who became food friends, had a great run of sold-out performances, a good foot in the door with a new group. and, we got to meet emma following one of the shows. please pray for future theater experiences that they will be ministry-motivated in my heart and not born of a desire for the spotlight. please pray for emma.
- the birth of emmaus. need i say more? please pray for our child. he is growing, but he has a calling on his life to be the reconciler of his generation. he definately needs the Lord's help to pull that off.
- almost 3 weeks off work (when emmaus arrived). please pray for the continued efforts of the worship arts ministry at lcc. it's a lot bigger than me--it is a team that i am priviledged and humbled to lead. great things are planned for the fall, but great plans required the work of a great God.
- the garden produced a lot of somethings and a little of other things. all-in-all, we were able to can and preserve many foods. please pray for our family that we continue to learn and grow (no pun intended) in this ancient and often forgotten art & science of home gardening and preserving. pray that we continue to be good stewards that work the land and enjoy the bountiful harvest the Lord brings.
- the weather has been wonderful--warm, almost hot, but not scorching nor oppressive like it can sometimes be in the 'nati. please pray for continued motivation in my own life to spend time outdoors with the various works that God calls me to do.
- rhonda's birthday extravaganza (which took about 5 months to plan and pull off) came off with only one small hitch. so, rhonda and kara have an IOU for that one small thing. we celebrated with friends and had rich memories of the time we spent together. pray for my wife. she needs a daily renewal of the Lord's Spirit in order to fulfill His calling for her. plus, life with me is never easy.
- i was convicted by the Spirit of God that i need to take better care of my body. i need to do everything in my power to ensure longevity of my own life to spend with my children (things might happen to me (disease, accident, etc), but i needed to begin making healthier choices). so, i have. that's why i started walking to and from work. please pray that i never move from under the conviction that we are called to care for our bodies. pray for my sense of self-discipline, but pray more strongly that i allow the Spirit of God to make choices for me.
i could go on and share specific stories of how we saw God's thumbprint on our summer, but you'll just have to ask me about them when you see me. my point is that many times, the calm comes before the storm. perhaps i'm in for a great storm soon. but, i believe the Bible tells us that God blesses and rewards the faithful. i hope my good fortune is a symptom of faithful living and not karma.
