This month we took two weeks to read the New Testament out loud together. It was a joy to read the gospels and the epistles straight through in one sitting. As we read through Galatians, we were captured by the work of the Triune God in the lives of believers. Not only did God the Father send his Son into the world to redeem us and make us his children (Gal 4:4–5), he sent his Spirit into our hearts to guarantee that relationship. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal 4:6). That indwelling Holy Spirit gives us the confidence to cry out intimately to our heavenly Father, assuring us that we need add nothing to Jesus’ finished work.
We have found many opportunities to cry out to our heavenly Father, thanking him for his goodness and asking him for his grace and help. A seeming answer to a long-term prayer request has appeared with a building that our church can purchase to meet in. As we have been praying as a church for a more permanent meeting place, we had five criteria: location, space, access (via public transportation), price, and condition. After literally years of looking, our teammates, David and Kristi Flinck located a building that meets all five of those needs in a surprising way. Additionally, God provided the funds that were lacking through several donors, and our church has been moving forward through all the paperwork and legal requirements. This coming Lord’s Day we will take an official vote to approve the purchase. We thank our heavenly Father for answering many prayers and we ask for your continued prayers.
We also thank God for a small advance in our residency paperwork as Bekah’s application was changed to “in process,” which makes her status less precarious and hopefully represents movement toward our goal of permanent residency, current ID cards, and driver’s licenses. Please continue to pray with us about this.
The first week of March we plan to take a week-long trip to visit Mark’s mother, Patti Perry, who has entered hospice care. We thank our heavenly Father for each day of life and ask for your prayers for God’s grace.
- Thank God with us for his grace in the access we have to him through the Son’s finished work and the Spirit’s indwelling ministry.
- Thank God with us for his grace in providing our church with this building opportunity and the necessary funding.
- Thank God with us for his grace in advancing Bekah’s residency application.
- Pray to God with us for his grace in the purchase of this property for our church’s meeting place.
- Pray to God with us for his grace in the ongoing application process for our permanent residency documents.
- Pray to God with us for his grace in the life of Mark’s mother.
This is our February 2020 email update. You can sign up to receive our updates in your inbox here. You can download a printable PDF here.
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