Changes

God has done some amazing things in our lives throughout this year. Maybe that is partly why we have been missing from the blogger scene.

January, as you may have read, was a sad time for us. God gave much grace and we are trusting in His hand and plan. In February we learned of a church in Millville, PA that was looking for a pastor. We found out about this church through our leaders in the teen ministry. Cindy's dad was on the pulpit committee and requesting to get the information of their youth pastor. I believe it took Cindy some time to actually give him that request, but she eventually did having asked us what our thoughts were on the matter. We were not planning on going anywhere for a while and were rather content at Lighthouse Baptist Church, but who can stand against God's hand?

We began our adventure of visiting, preaching, waiting, and praying concerning this ministry in Millville. At the moment we heard of their desire to have us come, Tim immediantly began renovating our master bathroom. It was during a big snow storm that he began tearing down walls and cutting apart our shower. We continued working on this project and candidtating (though not officially until the third visit). The waiting was so difficult, yet full of growth for each of us. God is so amazing in His continual working in our lives, using every circumstance to make us stronger if faith and love for Him.

May 16th was our official candidating at Emmanuel Baptist Church and we went home to wait for the church's final vote on whether we would be called to be in ministry there. Many questions were made throughout the week that could have hindered the call and been a clear direction of God to stay, but the questions were answered and the following Sunday we heard of the positive vote for us to come. Tim confirmed that he would come to be their senior pastor the following Monday. And then the work began!

We are presently in full force remodeling (we're still unsure of the proper terminology...remodeling or renovating?) our kitchen and dinning room while a sign sits in our yard claiming our property is for sale. We hope to have it up and ready for walk-throughs mid June. Wouldn't that be amazing if it sold in a few weeks! We are praying!

Our kitchen cabinets were delivered today and Tim has been working on leveling the floor for tile as well as figuring out electrical work (he just informed me that he had gotten it!). I have been dreaming about how to pack and yet leave things accessible for apartment living until we find a new home, as well as finding what color of wall paint should be applied to the walls. I love the decorating part...it's just strange to think I won't be here to enjoy it much. Maybe the same colors will find their way into our new home!

What amazing changes! And these are only a few...there are so many stories behind every detail. The amazing thing is that God knows all about them, has planned them, and is using them to help us grow! I love our God! He is so amazing to me!

Our Little One

Sarah and I are overwhelmed by God's grace and your support during this time as we grieve over the loss of our baby. This may be news to some of you, but we found out that Sarah was expecting the day before Christmas.

In the midst of this grief, we have an abiding joy that our child is in the presence of God. On Monday Night (when we realized that Sarah was losing the baby), we read a precious article together entitled, "They Will Only Know Heaven." What a comfort it was to our hearts to realize that our baby's first sight will be that of Heaven. His or her first steps will not be recorded on my digital camera, but they will be taken on streets of gold. The first words uttered from his or her lips will be praise to God.

We were comforted by Scriptures in Psalm 139 where David writes, "My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance ye being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them." Sarah has been especially comforted by Jeremiah 1:5 in which God speaks to Jeremiah saying, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee."

There are many other verses that have brought comfort and the conviction that our baby is with the Lord in Heaven. God is good to provide a home for our child.

Thank you to our church family that has taken such good care of us. We are stocked up with food for the next week, and more is coming. But we give thanks to God most of all who has given and has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. In our grief we bow our heads and worship God. We look forward to seeing our little one someday, though we certainly miss our baby right now.

Sarah is slowly recovering, and I would ask for you to pray for her physically. It has been a blessing for me to be home this week to help her with Micah and Kiersten. It has been good to spend time together as a family. Thank you again for your care for us.Tim and Sarah