Here is our church update: Timberline is an official e-free church in the central district as of Monday! Praise God! He is doing great things as always! We are seeking to love God, love others, and serve the world together. That is the simple vision God has given the pastors and we're striving to follow Jesus' example as disciples and disciple makers.
We've seen people come to Christ and others grow in amazing ways. Here are a few highlights of what Christ has done. A few weeks ago we heard two testimonies of forgiveness- one of a 50 something year old man who just forgave his father for sexually abusing him as a child and one of a man asking forgiveness from his family members for the way he behaved as an alcoholic. Wow! Amazing life transformation! Many husbands have begun to rise up and lead their families spiritually, rejecting passivity and stepping into the role God designed them for. We also just had a missions team return from Venezuela and heard the amazing testimonies of all The Lord did down there. I've been accused of being ambiguous and unspecific in my updates, so I'm trying to give examples of the way Jesus is working (without writing ten pages). :)
I've seen people in our own small group begin to open up and tell each other how they are really doing and the group is beginning to hold each other accountable (not in a legalistic way, but through encouragement, prayer, and asking how we are progressing in the area of discipleship God is growing us in). We have a long way to go before we are functioning the way the Lord is leading us to, but we're a work in progress as everyone is. We're getting to know our neighbors and starting to learn some of their stories and deepening friendships there. We've heard similar stories from the other small groups at Timberline.
In my own life, God has just brought me through a tough time. Vala was not eating well at all and I felt like all I did all day was try to get her to eat while she screamed. So, I think that probably had a lot to do with it, but I finally realized that I must be going through post partum depression. I've never dealt with anything like that before, so it was new to me and it took me a long time to figure out that's what it must be. And let me say, it was rotten! But, God slowly turned my attitude to joy in Him (little by little) even though I was still feeling the same way and . . . oh, my poor husband and children . . . I'm glad they are forgiving! But, praise the Lord, she is eating better now (I gave up dairy) and our house is much happier. And, spring is on the way!!
Thanks again to all of you who have been praying for our family and for Timberline church. Our Savior has answered your prayers and continues to stretch us and mold us into his image. And, let me tell you, the enemy does not like what is going on here, so please pray that we would remain alert and put on the full armor of God! We love you all and as always, would love to hear updates of what God is doing in your lives as well. God bless you!
