...to be BLESSED

Our family is still working out how we view life. There are a few things that we believe with solid assurance and sure enough we learned most of them in kindergarten. We believe that Jesus loves me, all of the little children and everyone who is in the world. To love and be loved are two of life's simplest and greatest joys. Life is meant to be lived with others not in isolation. Finally, (this is not an exhaustive list by any means) a man on the streets of Portland taught us the eloquent phrase, "The present is one of God's greatest gifts."

We are slowly learning to live each day as the result of a promise. We shall be blessed. Our challenge is the vehicles of blessing. Challenges are often thought to be hard, unwanted and generally difficult things to stay away from. Today, August 2nd, 2009 will mark a day where our family accepts God's challenge to follow him. Belfast is a place that we feel called to live and learn and partner with what God is already doing. Our hearts are open and yearn "to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" Philippians 3:10-11.

Yesterday we surrendered the keys to our condo. Today Joy resigned from her role and compulsory income at Calvary. Even more challenging, we had a going away party where people lavished love, appreciation and blessings upon us. After yet another lesson of what it means to receive, we are quickly learning that to be blessed is a humbling position to be.

To all of you who have blessed us, thank you!