Challenged and Encouraged

Challenged and Encouraged is the name of the blog one of our students writes. Let me just tell you a bit about this amazing lady. Not only is she an excellent writer, she has a heart bigger than her little body can contain. She is going to graduate this May (after fitting 4 years of college into 3!). The Lord has been working OVERTIME in her sweet heart...I will let her tell you about it...

It's not about me. It never was. It's never going to be. It's about that tapestry up in the boughs of heaven being sewn together by God's great hand- it's those moments when a person struggling feels like the light has been left on for them. It's the community that leaves that light on and watches and aids the struggled body make its way to safe shores. It's those moments when I lay down in bed at night (or at 3 am) and just breathe deep thanking God for putting His work in front of me. For working pieces of this out at a time. For presenting me with moments of testing, but for making me work all the same.

For hands outstretched and a heart clear cut. For days like today, when I can still hear the courage through moments of loss and anxiety. Hey God, thanks. Truly.

What else? Well, there's the huge monster of Grad School and graduation. That comes around after night when I'm laying down and just, well, God just knows. He gets my fear. He gets my wonder and that's all there is to it. The formulas and plans I thought I had before are still existent, but they're changing all the same.

I know, after weeks of research and understanding, that God is starting to push me toward teen/ youth work and counseling. But even more, He's pushing me toward the door of biblical counseling. If you knew me just one year ago? This NEVER would have been a path. But here I am, caught in the thick and dedication patches of God's plan. He's writing to me, and i need to properly find the words to answer back.

Can't you just put yourself in her heart after reading her words?

I cannot tell you how encouraging this young lady is to me personally. It has been a rough start to this semester for me. I have had a lot of trouble getting back into the groove of things. On the ministry front, things are not how we envisioned them to be at this point in the semester. After reading these words I am reminded that it is not so much about how we think things should look. It is about hearts being changed. Lives being transformed...

God is so Good. HIS mission in being accomplished on this campus.

Pray with me for this sweet young lady as she boldly follows the Lord's plans for her life.

Catching up! GOOD GOOD stuff going on!

School started back up in late August and we've been staying very busy with the ministry here. I'm excited for the number of first-year students who are getting plugged in to this ministry.There are currently 8 small groups going, covering topics from the Gospel Centered Life to tough questions of the faith to Pauline epistles to Jonah. Our large group gatherings on Thursday nights are going well.
Our fall retreat in September was great...check out this video for a taste of our crazy good weekend! (Our theme was "I quit trying")



A praise I wanted to share with you is that Alaina, a first-year student accepted Christ as her Savior last week! Her small group leader, Kate, met with her for breakfast and shared the gospel, gave her a chance to respond to it, and prayed with her to receive Christ! Pray for Alaina and our students as she begins this new journey and others gather around to support and minister to her.

A prayer request... I'm going to be hitting the pavement to increase our financial support level. I really need to focus on it for the next few months in faith that God provides a bit extra here at the end of the year. Some extra administrative expenses (insurance), family expenses, and ministry expenses have increased and what's coming in is about $1500/month less than what going out. Please pray with us for provision, for me for boldness to ask, and for faith to those God calls to support us. If your church or individuals you know would be interested in more info, please follow up with me.

We're Famous!!!

Check out the CCO's 40th anniversary book! Open to the first page...you might see some familiar faces!!

Open publication - Free publishing - More cco history

Annnnd.....We're off!

It is hard for me to believe that Summer is over and it is time for school again. Classes at Arcadia started last Wednesday and our first ACF Large group meeting and Afterparty was Thursday night!

We had an absolute blast!In the slide show below you will see pics of the activities fair, where students have a chance to learn about all the clubs on campus. We had about 60 people sign up to learn more about ACF!

About an hour after the activities fair ended we had our first ACF large group meeting of the year! We wanted the first night to be really great, so we invited a local musician named Jason Min to lead our worship time. He was AMAZING! Overall it was a great night we had a big turnout with over 60 students there!

We also decided to make the Afterparty a bigger event for this first week, so we moved most of our furniture outside...lamps and all! It was a lot of fun. We had a great turnout...especially of first year students. (Going anywhere off camous the first few weeks of college is a big, and sometimes scary deal!)

Here are some pics of our night!

(Just realized in the preview of this post that there are a lot of exclamation marks...and YES, I am going to make the choice to leave them! It was an exclamation mark kind of night!)

Ahhhhh Vacation!

I know it has been a while since there has been any update...We had an amazing summer. The beach project was AMAZING... and EXHAUSTING! Hence, not many blog posts. Sorry friends! We needed a little time to recuperate!

We just returned from a very relaxing vacation in Rangeley, Maine. We took two recent graduates (who just returned from a summer serving youth) along for the EPIC road trip!
Here is a video one of the girls made...

July newsletter

Friends,
Greg here. Below is our newest ministry update. It's been a challenging summer... sharing our family for two months straight has produced some trials. But it's also been a blessing to see and hear transformation in the lives of 31 college students. As I type this, I'm overhearing two students, Tori and John, talking about what will be the toughest part about leaving the Beach Project. John said to Tori, "Honestly, it's going to be weird not being around three kids." I've told them before that I know I'm loved when others show love to my wife and kids. Our kids are ADORED here (as they are back with our Arcadia students) and I'm certain that we've been able to have a part in making this house a home for the past two months.

Update in pictures!

Hello all, I have a blog post that I am currently composing in my head about the summer. I am back in Philly for a week and I need to get Caed all packed for camp, so I can't sit down to write. Here are some pics from summer for a quick pictorial update!

Adventures

We have had a fun first week at the Beach Project. The kids are absolutely eating up all of the attention from students. Check out this blog post from Brittany...

Adventures with Abby

Beach Pics

I am sure these are only the first of many beach pics...

The kids and I joined Greg for the weekend in OC last week. We had to return home for the last week of school. But we head back to the shore on Friday afternoon!

Jersey Shore...Sovereign Style!

For those of you who do not know, our whole family is going to be living at the Jersey Shore for the summer! We are going to be working in a CCO summer ministry called Ocean City Beach Project (OCBP).

What is OCBP?

The Ocean City Beach Project (OCBP) is a summer-long community living opportunity for Christian college students to develop further as campus leaders. The Project provides the opportunity for you to grow personally in your faith and to develop a deeper vision for your life. At OCBP, you work and worship in one community while being challenged to become a kingdom leader. You live with other college students in a large beach house while you make an impact on the New Jersey shore. At the end of your time at OCBP, you will not only have sand in your shoes and the taste of salt water in your mouth, you will have developed character and skills to become an effective leader.

Sounds like fun huh? Watch this video to get a better picture of what our summer will look like!

The Ocean City Beach Project from CCO Campus Ministry on Vimeo.

Greg left this morning for the shore, the kids and I will join him when they get out of school in a couple weeks.

Thanks for checking in on us!

Laughter through Tears

Wow, there has been a lot of laughter...and tears the past week.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that one of my favorite movies is Steel Magnolias. There is a quote from the movie that is appropriate for any occasion! Today's applicable quote is "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion".

Last Tuesday we put together a day trip to NYC for the Seniors in ACF. Here are a few pics.

Talk about a lot of laughs and great memories!

ANNNNDDD then came graduation. I wish I had I had a group pic to post here...but I did not get one with my camera so I have to wait until they are posted on FB to share with you all.

It is hard to see them go. Graduation gets harder and harder each year. One of the many reasons this class was special is that 2 of the girls who accepted Christ in the fall graduated. In my head, I am thinking "It's not fair! I want more time with them!" They are BABIES!!! But then I come to my senses and realize that the time we had with them was a gift. Both of them are growing like wildfire in the knowledge and understanding of the Lord. What better hands can I leave them in?

Another graduate has been a Christian since middle school, but her faith came ALIVE this year like never before. Right now she is in training for a summer of leading a Christian camp for teens. Here is her blog if you are interested in checking it out. I read it this morning and just wept...tears of Joy. Check out her "about me" profile....it says

I am madly in love with Jesus and following Him through everything I do. I've only recently learned to fully let go and have faith He will guide me and my life has been all the better for it. God is so good.

Ummmmm....just so proud...and humbled...and realizing afresh that it is ALL Jesus. We are only tools, broken ones at that.

Seasons

So....I am not a fan of change. I like a schedule. I have a weekly routine with chores, meetings, and ministry stuff. This all works out well for 8 months of the year when students are around and life is crazy busy. But right about this time of year I start to loose steam, and then graduation comes and we have to say goodbye to students who we have come to love and are a part of our family. I DON'T LIKE IT.

When one thing in my routine gets thrown off the other things inevitably follow. I start dropping balls all over the place. The laundry doesn't get done, othodontist appointments are missed, I forget what day of the week it is. I am a MESS!

But I am coming to the realization that it really is OK. Things come in seasons for my life, it has always been that way now that I think about it. Moving a lot when I was younger, making new friends. It seems like even in our married life the same thing has happened. We have now lived in PA longer than we have lived anywhere else in our 10 year marriage. But the nature of campus ministry is change.

I recently completed a personality in leadership test and one of the encouraging things it came up with for me was to realize that "mentoring for the moment" is ok. There is no possible way someone with my personality can actively keep up with all the people/students in my life.

This concept is so freeing to me. I can get up in the morning and have one job...to love the people in front of me, and let the Lord work out the other details.

THAT is something I can rest in.

See these girls... (they all all dressed up for a dance they were in together)

I LOVE THEM.

Although I will miss them terribly, I know the Lord has BIG plans for their lives. I am honored, and blessed to have been a "mentor for a moment" of their lives.

We have our own YouTube video!

A student in a film class this semester did a project on our family & ministry. Check it out!

Bragging!

I just saw this on facebook and HAD to share it with you all. This is Brittany...or "BITNEY!" as Cole calls her.

I just read an article about Brittany's experience studying abroad last semester in Jordan. Brittany is part of our ACF servant leadership team and has a special place in our hearts! Soooo I had to brag. Go read the article here.

April 2011 Newsletter

Thanks for stopping by to check in on us! Read and enjoy!
04

Baptism Video!

Here is the video to go along with Greg's recent post about the 4 girls that were baptized last week.

Warning: Kleenex MAY be required!



Ok, now watch it again and notice the "gang" all crowding in the corner in the background! :) Love them <3

Public Declaration of Personal Faith

Greg here.
On Friday afternoon Jincy and I made the short walk to Dunkin' Donuts to catch up. It has become the place we go about every 6 or 8 weeks so I can hear about her young faith journey and encourage her in her new walk. Jincy trusted Christ on March 17 last year. She shared about her growth and the ways she has seen the Holy Spirit work in her heart.

We also talked about baptism. Jincy was very close to a decision about making public her faith through baptism. She decided to take the next step of obedience. On Sunday afternoon she joined ranks with three other girls from our fellowship who all worship at the same local church and were taking this next step of faith together. The pastor allows someone who has been part of the faith journey to assist him with the baptism. I previously wrote about the honor of being asked by another student, Candace, to help with her baptism. Jincy asked the same of me and I was equally privileged to help.

Jincy, Candace, Monica, and Caylynn all publicly professed their faith and were baptized on Sunday!

Welcome Home Scavenger Hunt!

Greg left for Nicaragua on March 12th...on the 13th Caed and Abby started planning Daddy's welcome home party! Lots of ideas were discussed, including jumping out of a giant cake. They finally settled on putting together a scavenger hunt!

Here are some pics!

I am not sure who had more fun on the hunt, the giggling kids or Greg looking for the clues! The hunt ended with a Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge cake Abby and I made and decorated. Greg also brought back a few goodies for the kids from Nicaragua!

We are glad that the trip went well, but even MORE glad Daddy is back!

Nicaragua!

Hello All! We have had a busy week around here! Greg just returned from leading a group of AU students on a mission trip to Nicaragua. They had an amazing time, but don't take my word for it, go check out their blog!

Spring Break in Nicaragua

The kids and I had a fun time home, but were VERY ready for Daddy to come home yesterday!

Post to come with pics from their welcome home scavenger hunt they planned for Daddy!

Wait on the Lord

This semester I have been hosting a ladies bible study on Wednesday nights. There are about 18 girls that come each week to study the book of Esther. I love my girls, we have a blast together. Some nights we are just rolling on the floor laughing and others we are left in awe of how relevant the book of Esther is to our lives.

This week we look at chapter 5 of Esther. Now, I have to be honest. The part of the story where Esther has her 1st dinner party with the King and Haman has never made sense to me. You can almost feel the build up in the story. Esther has just survived the first hurdle without loosing her head...literally. She manages to charm the king into coming to dinner and bringing Haman along. The Lord has paved the way and she is skating right on through.

I can even imagine the amount of self control she has to muster just being in the same room with the man who is trying to wipe out her entire race. Then...the time comes. The king asks her about her request. HELLO...open door, why not just walk right through?

It was not time. Instead she asked them both to come back the next night.

I wish we could know what was going through Esther's head right then! Did she chicken out and not go through with it, did she feel in her spirit that something was off and decided to wait? Either way, the Lord's purposes were accomplished. A lot is going to happen in the next 24 hours for the King and Haman that will change their lives forever.

That is where out lesson left off. Esther making the decision that the time was not right, and waiting on the Lord.

Our time ended concentrating on Isaiah 40:31. We talked about how waiting on something is exhausting. We go through all the possible outcomes in our head until we are just emotionally and physically spent. BUT look at Isaiah 40:31.

31 but those who wait on the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

There it is! I can't believe this has never "clicked" for me. Waiting on "something" (a boyfriend, a job, someone to change) IS exhausting.

BUT

Waiting on the Lord renews our strength!

I don't know about you but I could use some renewed strength. And soaring like an eagle? Yes please!

More Jubilee Reactions

Greg here. I asked our students to flesh out some of the key things they learned at the Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh a couple weekends ago. Here are some sound bites...

Jubilee was definitely a life changing experience for me. I learned so much about myself, God, and what God wants from us as Christians. I learned that we can serve God in our everyday lives no matter where we are or what we chose to do with our lives in the future. God changes the world through changed people. As long as we accept God into our hearts and allow Him to work in us and through us, he can use us anywhere and in any type of setting. Jubilee also taught me that Jesus uses unlikely people to do incredible things.
- Sarah T.

I can confidently say that attending Jubilee was one of the best weekends I have had since coming to college.
I strengthened my relationship with God and I strengthened my relationship with other Arcadia students who were able to attend.
I really appreciate everyone that made a contribution that helped me get to Jubilee; it was a blessing that I was able to attend and I will be forever grateful of their generosity.
- Katie

Gideon Strauss led a discussion on how Americans, Christians included, get too caught up in fast politics.
…biblical politics should be able to cross party lines since there are Christians on both sides. Political theories may differ, but biblical values should largely be the same.
- Josh

I tore my ACL and some other things in my knee in November 2010. I've been unable to play basketball this entire season. So the Steeler's punter told us a story about how he had torn his ACL earlier in their season. He talked about the struggle of not being able to play especially during the Superbowl. Standing on the sideline, wishing and desiring to be there in a jersey with his name on the back, he realized right then the lesson God had been so long trying teach him. His identity lied in the Pittsburgh Steelers above Christ. God's message just overwhelmed me at this point as I thought about all the ways in which I had placed basketball before God and... all the ways I put more effort into my team than in my relationship with Christ.
- Ash

The weekend of Jubilee as a whole was a great experience! I was very interested in the breakout session related to the music industry and feel that its title was appropriate: A Career in Music: Calling or Oxymoron?
...our intentions of glorifying God and His holiness should be the foundation of our music.
- Jeff

After going to Jubilee last year I knew it was something that I had to go back to again. This year I learned so much about myself and who I am in God. One of the plenary speakers used the Hebrew word 'tselem' which means 'made in God's image'. This weekend really reinforced that God made me to be me and nothing should change that. God sees all of me and considers me beautiful because those scratches and dents have brought me closer to Him. I am first and foremost a child of God and my identity is with Him.
- Emily

Although this was my second time at Jubilee, I still had that “kid in a candy store” feeling. It really is overwhelmingly exciting for me to be surrounded by thousands of Christians that want to live so vibrantly for God.
... Dr. James Emery White... addressed issues such as “functional atheism” in our world and how we, as Christians, are fighting a war of thoughts and ideas. He spoke about how we need to read, read, read, and reflect so that we’re essentially “thinking God’s thoughts, after Him.”
- Niquelle

I will begin with a single word and move outward from there. Identity. I must be honest I still struggle with who I am but Jubilee made it incredibly clear to me that my identity lies in Christ. To the core of my being I am a child of God and that realization alone I know will be enough to sustain me in the hardest of times and it is what facilitates the joy that awakens my heart.
- Candace

I have been uncertain of future plans for a while, but after going to the session discussing Mathematics through the lens of faith I have a renewed sense of how my vocation can honor God.
...I have been affirmed in my desire to move forward to graduate school without feeling that I'm wasting 'Kingdom Resources' in the meantime.
- Dave

God broke my heart for what breaks His. I was heart broken for the people all across the world that are living in poverty and desolate conditions, but what could I do? I am just a young woman living in suburban PA after all. Combining my passion for serving God and healthcare, I realized that I could use my skills to fight the injustices happening right here in Philly. You don't need to go far to find poverty, just drive down Broad Street.
- Sarah K.

God is at work!

About Ashley

No, this blog post is not about me. It is about a student named Ashley.

Ashley trusted Christ as her Savior the summer before her freshman year in college. She is a deep thinker and feeler...and LOVES anything and everything purple. Ashley, like many students is trying to figure out how the Lord is going to use her gifts, talents and heart in this world.

Last year a couple who has served for many years with Trans World Radio hosted a pizza night for anyone interested in internships with TWR. Ashley was there that night, and she felt her heart tug. She applied this fall for the internship and was accepted... She tells the story so much better than I could...

I just read a blog post she wrote this week about her journey. I am just blown away by all that the Lord is teaching her. I know you will be blessed to read it.

Ashley's Blog is called A Separate Sky.

Afterparty fun

Just in case you ever wonder what we do at our weekly ACF "Afterparty"...

Putting pretzels up our noses...always a fun pastime!

Best Snow Man EVER

Ok, so I know Spring has Sprung...or at least we hope so. But I just discovered these pics while I was cleaning off the SD card. Enjoy.

A week later...

This time last week we were just returning from the Jubilee Conference! Greg has been collecting student reactions all week, and I thought you all would like to read a few.

Sarah said :

The theme for Jubilee was injustices in God's eyes and what we are called to do in response. Going to sessions focusing on healthcare and rescuing the oppressed raised my awareness. At that point God broke my heart for what breaks His. I was heart broken for the people all across the world that are living in poverty and desolate conditions, but what could I do? I am just a young woman living in suburban PA after all. Combining my passion for serving God and healthcare, I realized that I could use my skills to fight the injustices happening right here in Philly. You don't need to go far to find poverty, just drive down Broad Street. Jubilee opened my eyes and helped me determine what I am called to do.

Rose said:

Jubilee was a fantastic experience for me. What I took away from the weekend, that the main thing, is that I am is a Child of God. Lately I feel like I've really been splitting my life into difference pieces- one for school, one for work, one for Jesus, one for thinking about the future. None of them have really taken the front burner, and it feels weird to not have one main thing to focus on. This weekend it was so clear to me- Jesus is the front burner. Jesus is the number one thing, the thing i'm living for. Once I know that and live that, all of the other things will just fall into place.

Dave said:

For myself the session about my major had the greatest impact. I have been uncertain of future plans for a while, but after going to the session discussing Mathematics through the lens of faith I have a renewed sense of how my vocation can honor God. It amazed me how great and many the analogies between modern math and the infinite nature of God are, and that through understanding math better I can more clearly understand and articulate truths about Him. From this I have been affirmed in my desire to move forward to graduate school without feeling that I'm wasting 'Kingdom Resources' in the meantime. I thank the Lord for the Holy Spirit guiding the speakers words and all who helped to get me there to hear them - I was truly blessed by the privileged to attend Jubilee.

Wow! How can you not be excited for all that the Lord is doing in the lives of this generation of believers?

Jubilee!

We just got back from another AMAZING Jubilee weekend in Pittsburgh! This year we took 20 students, and for many it lived up to this year's theme...

The Jubilee conference is about living faithfully in every area of your life. This weekend we were challenged, inspired and provoked to action by the many people we heard who are living out the Jubilee theme in their lives every day.

Check back in a few days to find out what our students had to say about Jubilee. Until then...enjoy a few pics!

What an Honor!

Greg here.
About three months ago I had the privilege of assisting in Caedmon's baptism. It was an honor both because I am his earthly dad and because he is my "true son in our common faith". Ashley and I shared Jesus with him and helped him understand man's sinfulness and God's grace as shown through the perfect spotless lamb, Jesus. Caed responded to the gospel on Feb 22, 2007. This was a special moment that I treasure.

In October I had the opportunity to share Christ with a student on campus. Candace has continued to grow in her new faith and is being discipled by Ashley.

This new faith goes against the grain of her upbringing, but she has experienced God's grace as she continues to navigate through those difficult waters. On Wednesday night Candace approached me to let me know she decided she wanted to be baptized. I was thrilled that she was ready to take this next step of obedience. But I was surprised and excited that she asked me to stand beside her and the pastor and assist in her baptism. I praise God for letting us sow seeds, glimpse the harvest, and walk along our new brothers and sisters as they make these decisions. Candace, my true daughter in our common faith, is special to us and her request humbled me.

Hardly Time to Breath!

STOP...Take a BREATH with me.

Whew...that felt good. I needed that. As I write this I am listening to a mixture of laughter from the guys having their "Man Night" on one end of the hall and a symphony of coughing coming from Caed and Abby's room at the other end. Just when I think we are in the clear and all healthy, another one bites the dust.

I am so grateful that the Lord meets us where we are.

I just began a new bible study by Priscilla Shirer called "He Speaks to Me". It is just what the the Lord knew I needed this semester. In order to keep up with this crazy pace of life and to bear fruit in this place he has planted us I HAVE to stay connected to that vine and hear from the Lord.

This week something that David wrote in Psalm 131:2 caught my attention.

But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.

Did you catch the words CALMED and QUIETED....where can I get me some of that??
I am so glad David helped us with HOW this calm and quiet can be attained.

Psalm 42:6 (I like how the Aplified Bible puts this one)
O my God, my life is cast down upon me [and I find the burden more than I can bear]; therefore will I [earnestly] remember You...

How did David quiet his soul? By remembering all that the Lord has done.

When was the last time you sat back and just reflected on God's goodness, on the ways He has shown up in your life and worked things out just perfectly?

When I step back and take my eyes off the distractions of every day life and focus on my GREAT and FAITHFUL God...the chaos of my life gets smaller as my God gets bigger.

I am in a season of craziness. It is pretty easy to get overwhelmed and take my eyes off of Jesus and start looking only at the "waves" swelling up around me.
I am thankful for this reminder to stop...and remember.

Psalm 42:5
Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.


So here I sit...calmed, quieted...and waiting expectantly for Him.

So, I know it has been a while...

(Insert witty euphemism about time here)

Update on the Home front:

It has been one thing after another around here for the past month. We have been battling illness, snow, illness again, snow again, and internet problems for a while. This morning we had another 4 inches of snow, and Greg is battling asthmatic bronchitis. I need to take Cole to the Dr before we get another 8-10 inches of snow tonight!


Update on the Ministry front:

Last Thursday was our first ACF large group and Afterparty. We had a great turnout, about 50 students! (Pics to come) We were also super excited to announce the reinstating of MAN NIGHT (the guys small group study time followed by games) as well as 6 other small group bible studies going on this semester.

There is also a new peer mentorship program we are calling "Journey" that we are making available to new believers and other students who want to be mentored or discipled by more mature students and lay volunteers from the area.

Spring Break:
This year for Spring Break Greg is leading a team of students to Nicaragua to work with a missionary we got to know through our old ministry. More info on that to come!

It is shaping up to be a great semester...if we can all only get well enough to enjoy it!

Memories in the Present

I am currently working on a post about Christmas (and by working on I mean THINKING about starting to work on) until then I wanted to share something that Greg recently wrote and share some pictures. :)

God is generous with His love and abundant with His blessings. He is also generous in providing moments... opportunities to see and experience His holiness and goodness.



Life is filled with moments. I love to live in the moment. I love to plan and organize those moments, too. A favorite kind of moment-- more special than others-- is when I can be in the moment yet also stand at a distance and watch a memory in the making. A moment is just a memory in present tense.



Last night after a nice family dinner, Ashley put some cookies in the oven and we played a board game with with kids. It was quiet outside and snow was on the ground. Inside, only some quiet background music and the kids' laughter filled the air. After they went to bed I curled up with my bride on the couch and watched a movie while sipping hot chocolate. Though we had two blankets, we shared them both.



Today began with a gentle snowfall and some time worshiping God. The kids went outside to play in the snow and I used the down time to send some emails and work on a few other things. I was watching out the window at Cole stomping through the snow with a grin from east to west on his face. Abigail was kicking up snow and Caedmon was throwing snow at her. Ash was staying warm in my sweatshirt outside and capturing those moments on film. As I wrote some emails I was listening to Saviour King on repeat and meditating on the anthemic repetition



And now the weak say I have strength

By the spirit of power that raised Christ from the dead

And now the poor stand and confess

That my portion is Him and I'm more than blessed



Let now our hearts burn with a flame

A fire consuming all for your Son's holy name

And with the heavens we declare

You are our king

We love you Lord, we worship you

You are our God, you alone are good



As I write this, the kids are back inside. I'm still listening to Saviour King and experiencing renewal of His grace. And I am awakening to the realization that loving my family and cherishing His goodness in these memories, these moments, is yet another act of worship.