NEWSLETTER ALERT: READ STANDING UP! As I write this, the snow is softly and quietly accumulating atop every accommodating perch at A Light In The Forest, but Im very pleased to report that it has assuredly NOT been so throughout the rest of 2014. Far from it, there has been a great deal of noise, a ton of work has been done, some substantial steps forward made (and one slight stub o the toe), but most importantly it has been a year of increased ministry and usefulness in the name of Jesus! Welcoming the year with some long overdue work in the forest out at The Forest helped turn it into more of a forest and less of a jungle. Thanks to Justin, Hannes, Lembit, Mattias, Josh n Olly, and all the other erstwhile Jaan Bunyans who laid axe and/or chainsaw to the matter. Plenty left to do... any takers? (See movie of Josh felling tree) We also welcomed (back!) the estimable Paul Grice who, along with man-child son Josh (and I know a thing or two about man-child son Joshes), and Troy, put to flight a number of projects which had been nagging me for years. They are from the open-handed Johnstown Independent Baptist Church, which is a pretty fair mouthful for a church name but still a ways back of the current title holders in that weight class: The Saint Matthews Fire Baptized Holiness Church Of God Of The Americas! (pic below) CLOSED CIRCUIT MESSAGE TO ALL WHO HAVE COME TO HELP OR MAY CONSIDER DOING SO: I cant think of a single one of you who has ever shown up here with less than an any job, any place, any way attitude - have you ANY idea of how much wind in my sails, what a direct blessing from our Heavenly Father you have been to me through the years? What , are you kidding me?! You guys have been a tree barkin, log fittin, wall chinkin, stuff paintn, goop haulin, splatter chippin, wall raisin, wood totin, concrete pourin, gutter hangin, mymess cleanin, board slicin/fittin/screwin/sandin - and EVERYthing elsein SWACK of servants of the Most High God - and He sent your obedient hands deep into the northern willywoods to do it! WE NOW RETURN TO THE LETTER INTENDED FOR GENERAL CONSUMPTION... ...Having received these kind of helpers makes me especially anticipate teams from Long Island Christian Church and my own sending and still home church, Northwest Bible Church. Oh yeah... it is goin to be BIG! Well be putting a serious slick on the shower/outhouse facility which I think will be called The Kremlin Telegraph Room. Thanks to the willing work of my favorite frequent-flyingTexans from Temple Bible Church and the Osburn family, the Texas Cabin is now in use! I hope everyone who has not yet done so will check this out at valgusmetsas.ee, and be as gladdened by things as I am. NOT yet satisfied, but heartened for the still-long road ahead. (pic below) With gratitude we announce that Arlon Greiner of TBC has joined the Board of Standfirm Ministries. We regret to announce that he has already retired from his catering business but dare to hope that he may yet find a way to employ those, along with his considerable other building and business skills, in his continuing leadership role with Standfirm. (pic below) Janice and John and Bob and I will count on those skills for sure, but above all we want the mainstay of Standfirm Ministries ever to be the guiding, providing hand of our Father, so I here note the encouragingly growing number of friends who have told me in the past few months of their commitment to pray for us specifically for: *Gods hand over the planning and paperwork part of Standfirm. *Builders Teams coming in 2015 *Safety in the work *Prepared hearts among the participants in events at A Light In The Forest *Deeper inroads among the neighbors around us in the country *Health and strength in the work - I hope youve heard me say, I sometimes get tired IN the work, but I never get tired OF the work.. Herewith a quick update on my health... ....having spent 5 days in hospital a week ago Im keenly aware of my pledge to a very dear brother to take my blood pressure question more seriously. I went to the doctor for a consultation on just that and the upshot was a hospital stay during which they discovered that my adrenal glands are defeating the medication which would otherwise control my blood pressure. Ill shortly go for another test and I hope soon to go under the (skilled?!?!) knife of someone OTHER than the O.J. protege who jabbed n stabbed her unsuccessful way past my popping vein and into a nerve in my arm a week ago (hey, not that Im still sore about it or anything...). Itd be a real mercy to me to kiss off the pills and their jerky side-effects. (pitiful pic below) Do please pray about this, friends - and then, for reason and temperance in returning to the work which, I hope you know, I sooo love to do. It is a thrill to my soul to see each step forward at A Light In The Forest and Id like not to do the dumb things that would alter my ability to do so. (Anna would want me to add ...more of the dumb things...). Ahh, yes... and speaking of dumb things to do, a word about the 900 pound gorilla in the room when reviewing the year 2014 at A Light In The Forest (this time I was NOT the gorilla, Im relieved to say): I think you mostly know about the fire which destroyed the pre-existing house on the property at the beginning of September. The take-home lesson from that is: DONT light your woodburning stove with a good slosh of gasoline! (SeeMovie of old house burning) The other - and more important - lesson is that while the Enemy of our souls no doubt smiled as that house, which was little more than my tool repository with a few beds in it, went up in flames, I , on the other hand, will haul the block shell down and use it for base material for the soon-to-be relocated driveway and it is ME who will SMILE and be thankful every time I DRIVE OVER IT! In the weeks since that challenging moment, Jehovah The Provider has shown Himself very strong in restoring ALL that was lost through the generous obedience of my brothers and sisters in Christ to His prompting, for which I am of course exceedingly grateful - and whats more, even more deeply committed to the work He has given me to carry out. Will we be dissuaded or deterred by such literally fiery darts? Scarcely. And lastly on the subject, join me, please, on this Christmas Day and in full view of the Fathers extravagant gift to us, in this: I want ALWAYS to be amazed at how He provides - and STOP being surprised that He does! ( I know there are some desirous hearts out there saying amen right now. Good.) Out the door: Light In The Forest was pleased to host the recording sessions for Daniel Levi Bands CD. Check it out at Daniel Levi on itunes. https://itunes.apple/us/album/daniel-levi/id897125167 PS For the gold level Glutton for Christmas Newsletters AND Poems badge, please apply at https://facebook/photo.php?fbid=680479128735508&set=a.243453529104739.52285.100003202812334&type=1&theater
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 13:34:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015