Gratitude, Growth, Explanation, and Momentum

First, I want to thank you, my dear reader, for your encouragement and prodding. I love to write, and I love to share; I've seen the Lord's hand in it time and time again. Some of you have seen His hand in my writing, and by that I am floored, humbled. Nothing that I have done, or could ever do, could avail me of that honor; and yet it has been given to me. Grace on grace it is, to be both a son and a minister of the kingdom. He lets me hold His glory in my hands.

As I work out my faith, wrestling with the Lord, I find myself actively pursuing self-understanding as a son of God, and equipping in my calling as a minister*. The pursuits of my own growth and the growth of my community, have consumed much of my time of late (hence the lack of writing). But they have provided no less introspective ponderings than life months ago. Much thought has been born in crisis and need, much in community and challenge and joy. And much more of my growth in character and understanding has occurred within my relationship with Lizzy, and has been deeply personal, and private, at least for now. I'm learning anew the blessedness of pondering things in my heart and not on paper, and the depth of wisdom needed to discern what to share when in order to best honor each other and the Lord's continued work in us. And much have I found that I will not share now, and perhaps will never share- there are secrets which the Lord leaves us to treasure**. But nonetheless, many thoughts have been coalescing, and I'm excited to share some of them with you. Thank you for your persistence, and your patience. I pray my writing will be a boon to us both, honoring God and calling us to Him in worship, obedience, and love.


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* Generally, we are all called to be priests in the kingdom of God, and so I seek general equipping, as I seek to equip those around me (particularly in my LifeGroup) towards the same calling. Yet I also feel called to particular ministry, that of pastoring a community of some sort, and so am pursuing equipping specifically in that direction.

** Revelation 2:17. I have found so much joy in sharing what the Lord gives me. But sometimes it does seem that the joy is not always in the sharing, but sometimes is in the keeping, treasuring up in our hearts, like Mary, all these things which the Lord is showing us. Perhaps He intends us to share them eventually, but so great is His love for each of us, that He would share something as finite, personal, and private with us as a new name.