2 years ago last month, we moved from San Gabriel, CA to Emporia, Kansas. I think milestones are a great way to remember God's faithfulness, learn from the past and have hope for the future. So lately I have been thinking about the past 2 years. I looked at some of my earlier blog posts like this one and this one and have come to 4 conclusions about our time here in Kansas:
1. God has graciously shown me more of my sinful heart
When I got here, I felt humbled and honored to even be here serving the Lord as a pastor. How quickly I have now taken that for granted. My sinful pride, selfishness and self-absorbed heart is no longer grateful to simply be saved and to serve my great God in any way shape or form. Sure, I have moments where I feel humbled and honored and grateful to be serving the Lord. But my wickedness creeps back out before I can even offer a prayer of thanksgiving!
However, this has helped me to appreciate God's infinite love for a sinner like me who keeps on sinning. Every evil thought and prideful moment has allowed me to love God more for His abounding lovingkindness and his patience with me. Praise God for the cross of Christ. Who can measure it? But I feel like I have grown to love God more as He has shown me more and more of my sinful ways.
2. Our family has grown in so many ways and been very blessed
In skimming through our picture and this blog, our family has had so many fun trips and made so many memories. Life seems quite busy, but we have managed to really enjoy our immediate family and I think, made the most of living here in Kansas.
On top of that, the spiritual strides that the boys and girl have made these past 2 years are truly a praise to God. The dozens of verses that each of them have memorized and still maintain, the steady reading of God's Word - we are about to finish 2 Kings and have not only read the 4 Gospels and Acts but Genesis to 2 Kings as well, the simple Bible study that Andrew I have started together - finished 1 John and are now doing James, and Andrew's new found faith have been a fabulous 2 years for them.
The kids have grown a lot physically too. Andrew learned to ride a bike, read regular books and play organized sports. Matt has started to read small words and has really started growing into his own. Emery is no longer a baby but a beautiful little girl now! It's amazing.
We've had a ton of fun working on our house and yard. Gardening has been a blast. And our house, inside and out has really been transformed in 2 years. Once the weather cools down and we finish painting the house, I can't wait to post the before and after pictures. They don't do justice to seeing it in person though.
3. God has allowed me to have a more prolific ministry in 2 short years than I ever thought I could
I have preached 13 sermons. I never thought I would do that so fast and feel so comfortable doing it now too. I just completed a parenting class that was so much fun to teach. The children's ministry has been renovated to say the least with almost 40 adults involved with teaching kids ages 2 to 6th grade. I'm so blessed not just with the numbers of teachers but the proactive God centered focus of the teachers.
We started an Awana program last year and are about to launch into year 2 with almost 30 workers and probably 50+ kids. I have also been in charge of our VBS the past 2 years which is quite the project involving 137 kids last year and some 80 adults. I am now in charge of our praise and worship ministries which involve almost 30 people as well. It's hard to describe the changes there, but there have been quite a few.
I have been involved with teaching adult Sunday school and children's Sunday school, training for Awana, children's ministry, praise ministry, and VBS. I have also been blessed to lead my son to Christ and another teen this past year. And 6 children made confessions of faith in Christ at VBS too!
I definitely don't deserve the fruit that I have reaped in the past 2 years, especially the last year. But God has done amazing things around me and maybe in spite of me.
4. Ministry does require certain sacrifices
Initially, things were exciting and new. Family came out to KS and we managed to get to CA fairly regularly. Our kids got to see their grandparents quite a bit...at first. But now life has settled in. And it's hard to maintain those relationships, especially during this fleeting time while the kids are young.
We appreciate our church family and building new relationships. But can't we have those along with our earthly relatives? I am continually reminding myself of Matthew 19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life."
God is good. We have had a good 2 years so far in Kansas. I am thankful that He has allowed me to be faithful for 2 years. It is not a lot to be proud of in many respects, but for a sinner like me, it is far more than I deserve. Hopefully, I'll be faithful for many more.
No comments:
Post a Comment