From Agony to Elation

I was pretty sure that the Lord was pulling a cruel joke on me. Two days before I was in Florida enjoying 70 degree weather while golfing and hanging out at the beach. Now on this morning it was 10 degrees with a wind chill below 0 as I was preparing to start my prayer walk time around Sebewaing. The mountain top experience of two weeks of vacation in Florida was over, and it was time to get back into the valley and do some ministry. But why did the valley have to be so cold!

As I walked I began to focus less on the cold and more on another thought. While I was on vacation I read through the book of Leviticus as part of my Life Transformation group. Now in the past when I have read through Leviticus it has almost been like my walk that morning started out, a struggle that I had to get through! But this time Leviticus seemed so different. God was showing me new things in this portion of scripture that were making sense in new ways, and shedding new light on the gospels. It was exciting and all of a sudden my walk became a pleasure.

Working through hard, difficult things seemed to be a theme for the day. Later when I was having a conversation with Rhonda she told me that an older gentleman whom she and John had taken under their wing had passed away while I was gone. This man, Frank, had gone to church with them off and on for the past several years, but never seemed to truly have the peace of the Lord in his life. Rhonda related to me how she had the opportunity to spend a good amount of time with Frank in his last days and to share again the truth of the gospel. She shared with me how maybe for the first time in his life Frank seemed to truly reconcile to Jesus and a peace came over him. Frank's concern seemed to switch from himself and dying, to getting his son to church. I could see the joy in Rhonda as she shared this story, and also I heard from both John and Rhonda how they will continue to reach out to Frank's son. What a great joy to hear and somehow again it seemed not so cold.

The day ended with all 12 members of our group together that night at the Elenbaum's. My wife could not be there but we had Anna there, as we continued our journey through the Live 2:6 materials they had started two weeks ago. I am just so excited about this group and hearing the interactions and the praises as we worked through lesson 2 in our Knowing Him manual.

When the evening ended and I stepped outside, the cold that had greeted me that morning was still there. But somehow it did not seem like agony. There was a heavenly elation in the air! Ministry in the valley has its rewards!

Praises:
Frank's home going with salvation assured!
The great start that our Live 2:6 group is off to
The growing and bonding of our group

Prayer opportunities:
Be in prayer for Jim, Frank's son, for comfort and salvation
Our upcoming Sonlife seminar at Elkton Missionary Church. Praying for a good showing of people. If you would like to attend let me know.
The possibility of starting another group with some younger couple

Your servant in Christ,

Brian