Hello everyone,
I don't know about you but sometimes life just doesn't work out like I expected or would prefer. Things are difficult. I feel discouraged and disappointed. Sometimes, I don't see God clearly working. He feels distant and I'm tempted to wonder if He's really answering prayers and moving on my behalf. I've felt like that more in the last year than at any other point in my life. I'm being brutally honest (even more so than normal). But I do it because I don't think I'm the only one. David, Job, Elijah, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul and many others in the Bible felt the same way at times. I'm willing to bet that you've felt that way before as well. Maybe even right now.
But I've been thinking about something recently. Maybe that is precisely the time when faith actually becomes something more than just a feeling, a cliché, an empty platitude or a nice thought. Maybe that's when faith becomes real. When we continue counting on His goodness and His promises, even when we don't see them--that is real faith. When we continue walking with Him and seeking to obey Him, even when we're discouraged and don't feel like it--that is real faith. When we continue to rest in Him, even as the storm around us rages--that is real faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith allows us to continue on, with our eyes on Jesus, rejoicing in His grace and resting in His faithfulness no matter what's happening around us or within us. May you be encouraged today to place your faith in Jesus because He is worthy of it.
We are planning trips to California and Colorado this summer. We hope to be able to rest and recharge but also to visit our supporting churches to share what God has been doing. If you'd like to meet to hear about God's faithfulness in and through us and the plans we have moving forward, let us know. We'd love to connect.
Below we have some praise reports and prayer requests that include more details about what's been going on in our family and in the church here in Chihuahua. Thanks for praying with us and for all of your support. We appreciate you so much!
-Tim, Priscilla, Josiah, Hannah & Abby
Eph. 3:20-21
Praise Reports
-We got good news about my mom's cancer! She has finished her chemo treatments and the doctors say she is ready for radiation. After a week of radiation treatments and some rest, they are thinking about doing surgery at the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall.
-The Lord provided in an incredible way for us to be able to visit Colorado this summer and spend time with my mom and the rest of the family! We didn't think we would be able to go because of the financial cost but the Lord provided through some wonderful friends. God's goodness through that act brought me to tears.
-The kids are about to finish their first year in a Mexican, bilingual school! It has required lots of hard work and perseverance, so we are very proud of them!
-God has been doing a beautiful (albeit painful) work in the hearts of Priscilla and I as He calls us deeper in our relationships with Him.
-There has been steady growth in the church (Roca Norte) as we've had more first-time guests recently and more people stepping up to volunteer.
-As a church, we've been going through a Bible study called "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" that has been a challenge but a great blessing to all of those involved.
-At the end of this month we celebrate 1 year in our new church building!
Prayer Requests
-Continued prayer for my mom's health with the cancer treatments and the surgery to come. That she would have peace and rest in Jesus and that God would remove all of the cancer.
-For the emotional and spiritual health of everyone in our family. It has been a really hard year with lots of lows and more doubts than ever regarding our direction, vision and plans as a family. Pray that we would cling to Jesus more than ever and move forward in unity resting in His perfect plan.
-The trips to California and Colorado this summer. Please pray that God would continue to provide the finances we need for all of the traveling. Pray that our family would be refreshed and renewed in the details of His calling for us. Pray for the opportunities we'll have to share about what God is doing in Chihuahua, that we would glorify Him and encourage those we speak with.
-Starting July 1st, Roca Norte will need to be self-sufficient to pay the rent, bills and other operating costs. We are still a small church so it will be difficult to gather enough through our normal tithes and offerings. Please pray that God would move in the hearts of those in the church to give sacrificially and that God would show Himself strong on our behalf by providing for all of those needs.
-For a sign for the front of the church building. We've only had a banner up until now but we are praying that we would be able to gather enough money to buy a sign to capture the attention of the many non-Christians that pass by the church every day on the busy street.
-That God would raise up and/or bring leaders to Roca Norte to take on heavier ministry roles and help relieve some of the burden that falls on our shoulders.
-For U.S. churches that are praying about bringing short-term teams to Chihuahua to serve the Lord with us at Roca Norte.
-For God to be glorified through all we do as a family and as a church.