Let's get caught up from February!

Thanks for staying updated on what God is doing in raising up new church-planting churches in Salt Lake City, UT! Our God has revealed His active hand once again to us this month! Our goal over the last few weeks has been to steward well the kindness and generosity our God has shown to us! We want to obey our king! We have much to share with you! We hope to keep you updated once a month with new content, happenings and praises. 

We are encouraged by the people God uses to build his church. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says, “thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  One theologian says of this verse, “What Jesus is actually saying, is ‘you disciples will find it almost impossible to believe but it’s through the likes of Simon Peter that I’m going to build my church.’”  Jesus wasn’t exalting Peter.  He was exalting himself, because He is the Savior who can build a world-wide church on the stones of disciples like Peter – maybe even on “living stones” like us – as Peter later calls us (1Pet. 2:5) This transformed Peter would be a disciple used by God to build his church. May God use our weakness and foolishness to shine the glory of the cross to the lost and needy in Salt Lake City!

What's been happening?

Psalm 23 teaches us to trust the Shepherd during times of anxiety. As we have been walking through the passage, we found we can trust him to provide for us and to guide us. Now we will consider how the Shepherd protects his sheep (v. 4).

In David’s time, a shepherd would often have to herd his sheep through deep, dark ravines where danger from cliffs or lurking animals loomed. In life, we also have to travel through dark and dangerous circumstances. Have you ever been through “the valley of the shadow of death”--to be literally in the midst of “death shadows, distress, or deep shadows”? Eyes that have experienced heavy weeping display these shadows. Though we never desire the valley of the shadow and even shudder to meditate on our past valleys, we do recognize that valleys have their purpose – in green pastures we can get satisfied with grass and forget the Shepherd, but not in the valleys. No, there in the valley, we need the Shepherd, we remember him, and we know his protection.

Monthly News & Update

Thanks for staying updated on what God is doing in raising up new church-planting churches in Salt Lake City, UT! Our Savior is on the move, and we have been striving to serve Him well since we first shared God's leading in our lives back in November. We have much to share with you! We hope to keep you updated once a month with new content, happenings and praises. 

Amidst all the changes associated with leaving a place of stability and comfort to go to the unknowns of church planting in Utah, we have been reminded of the demands of following the Lord. He said, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:34-35).  We may experience some measure of loss for the cause of the gospel, but we remember how much Christ sacrificed for us and we gladly embrace this path of discipleship.    

What's been happening?

Through the process this summer of discerning God's will for us, God used the story of Abraham to grab Beth and I with His will.

I am really amazed at how our God communicates the life of faith. Over and over again, the emphasis is that walking in faith is most importantly FOR God--FOR His name. God is FOR Himself. The life of faith is FOR God first and most, not me. I don't know about you, but it is very easy to focus my attention on me. When I allow fear and pride to reign in my heart, I drift toward thoughts of what I want, need and think is most important. God has been teaching me through this process (among many other things) that His will is not about me…or our team…His will is about God! That is what He is doing! I want to make this about Him.

Here are a few of the notes that I journalled last fall as God was working in my heart.

In times of anxiety, not only do we need to trust the Shepherd to provide for us but we also need to trust him to guide us (v. 3b). You know, sheep are funny creatures. They lack a sense of direction. They can easily become lost even in a familiar environment. They stray often. They are prone to wander. They need the shepherd’s guidance.

Christ reminds us that his true sheep are led by his voice. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). He guides his own through the voice of the Word and the Spirit. How many times on our Christian journey do we struggle with where the voice of Jesus is leading us? When he calls, we must follow and we must not turn back. Psalm 23 teaches us two things about the guidance of the Shepherd.

We have noted that the Shepherd’s provision is personal, complete, and securing. It is also refreshing – (v. 3a) “he restores my soul…” God can refresh your soul when you are dry and lifeless. He can rebuild your heart when it is broken or burdened. He revives the heart that is deflated and flat, limp and wilted, downcast or drooping like a flag/sail without wind (Lam 1:16; Prov. 18:14).

People who live a ministry-lifestyle find themselves in moments of desperation, absolutely in need of renewal. We may spend ourselves in crisis counseling, helping the sick, pursuing knowledge of the Word, serving our family, or practically laboring with church construction or projects. We may be so deplete of human strength that joy is a distant melody. At those times, we go to the Shepherd to restore the soul.