HOME FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

We did it.

 

HE did it.

 

We hosted our first home fellowship style church service yesterday and it was a sweet, sweet time.

 

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew 18:20

 

A couple years back, we had friends who hosted a family church in their home. It ministered to our hearts in a dear and nostalgic way. We loved their ministry and learned much from our time with them. They have since moved out of the state,

but the seeds they had planted in our hearts to appreciate the age old practice of a family worship service remain.

God has cultivated the soil of our hearts and watered those seeds. He's taken us through a season of learning and

even wounding to bring us to this place of embarking upon a home fellowship church of our own and we're grateful.

 

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,

singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Colossians 3:16

 

We don't know how long this season will last. It could be a few more Sundays...It could be the rest of our lives.

But, what we do know is that this is what we've been called to do right now. There's peace in that.

 

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Matthew 6:33

 

Yesterday, 36 grown ups and children came together in our home.
Yesterday in our living room, children and parents worshipped the Lord together in song. 
Brodie shared his testimony and the gospel. Families shared a fellowship meal after.
It was a very special time.

 

Some of the older kids and cousins are forming a worship team.
Even the midweek practice gets to be a special part of worshipping the Lord in community.

What a JOY to see them all using their gifts and talents to praise the Lord!

I am SO excited for next Sunday!

 

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!"

Psalm 95:1

 

Today, I'm thanking the Lord for the fellowship that warmed the heart of our home yesterday. It was precious to me.

Prayerfully, our gathering was a pleasing aroma to our Father God as we offered ourselves to Him.

We're eager to serve, encourage, and LOVE His body in this way as long as He should will.

 

By God's grace, may we glorify Him each Sunday as we set out on this new venture, 

worshipping Him together through the blessing of home fellowship church.

 

"Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation."

Joel 1:3


MAKING IT WORK...BOYS BUNK PROJECT

We love making it work in our home.

 

As long as we continue to feel that this house is where we belong, we're determined to maximize our space the best we can.

 

In our home, we have a boys bunk room and a girls bunk room. Even if we had a HUGE house with multiple bedrooms,

that would be our preference. We all love snuggling in and bunking up and sharing rooms and space. It's great for the kids' relationships and grooming for their hearts to cooperate and meld in their bedrooms. We love it!

 

As our family has grown (and our house has not), what we've realized is that we can make the most of our space with a few tweaks here and there. It's fun, educational, and cost effective...especially when we can sell a once-loved possession in order to buy supplies for the next...as was the case with the boys bunk beds.

Here's to documenting our latest space maximizing project:

 

This is the boy's bunk bed space before...all spare and ready to sell.
(We're sad to see it go.)

 

 

Since Boden has slept with Mommy and Daddy most of his life, that trundle bed has had a desolate existence.
Knowing he is ready for a Big Boy Bed was part of our motivation to swap out our bunks, as was our need for more
storage space in the room for clothing and necessities. The plan is for the new bunks to take up less space while
adding a 4th bed (you never know...) and also dresser drawers which the boys have been needing for a while now.

So, we sold our beloved old bunk bed and used the $ to buy what we needed to complete the new project.
(I'd say 9 out of 10 times this is how we fund our "make it work" projects...the beauty of recycling!)

The framework begins:

 

 

What a blessing that Brodie can take a vision and make it a reality,

because my head spins just thinking about how to build something like this!

(Thanks for your willing heart Brodie!!)

 Slats and a ladder provide stability and accessibility...starting to take form:

 

 

 Time for railings and paint:

Trundles serve as dresser drawers...finally room enough for everyone's clothes and PJs!
 

Here's where I pause to appreciate the individual reading lights installed by...me.
Ummm...if I had that to do over, it's safe to say I'd wait till Brodie was home!

Lastly, we added one more middle drawer and our same bedding to finish the project!

(I had at one time bought 4 duvet/sham sets when we thought we were expecting another brother...so that worked out!)

Thank you, Brodie, for another job well done with a joyful, serving heart.
Your efforts are such a blessing to us all!!

...especially your boys this time around.

(That 4th bunk looks awfully lonely. Hmmm... :))

"Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."
Ephesians 6:7



READY...SET....LEAP!

It's a leap of faith moment...

 

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1

 

It's been brewing for a while (as in over a decade) but it seems a ministry opportunity we have been waiting for may be here.

 

As in right HERE in front of us.

 

For years we have searched and prayed and prayed and searched and wondered if God was leading us into ministry. It seems He is...just not internationally as we had expected, even hoped for. But, here we are in our own home town, primed and ready to stay.

{For now, at least.}

 

Confirmations. JOY. Excitement. PEACE.

 

Just one step at a time, flashlight at our feet style, we're stepping and leaping with blind faith into the unknown and it feels...right.

 

So, ready or not, here we go. The time has come to LEAP!

 

"And [Jesus] said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'"

Matthew 4:19


SUNSHINE

Who knew Sunshine could be so much fun?!

 

 

Elka's "lifelong dream" of having her bird perched on her shoulder has officially come true.

She's put her time in with training every day and her efforts are really paying off.

 

Leave it to Brodie to get Legos involved...Mr. Lego himself:

 



 

He too has become quite the bird trainer...following in the footsteps of his dad, but of course!

 

 

Olia, who at first shrieked at the idea of Sunshine perching on her finger, has a new friend:

 

 

Even India has gotten into the action!

 

 

Soooo...I'd say little miss Sunshine has brightened many a day around here.

 

 

She's a keeper.

 

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"

Matthew 6:26

OPEN

Over the course of this year as we've prayed for direction for our family, tides have turned,

things have changed, doors have closed...and opened. We find ourselves available.

 

Open.

 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
 Proverbs 3:5

 

There have been moments of confusion, moments of perfect clarity, and moments of blind trust despite both.

 

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:6

 

What we seek more than anything else in our lives is to glorify God in all that we do.

This is our first priority in life and ministry, eating, drinking, things like that. 

 

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

 

We love Him most and ask that He would love others through us with His LOVE.

 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 

This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 22:37-39

 

These are our hearts desires as we delight ourselves in the Lord daily, seeking Him for guidance.

 

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act."

Psalm 37:4-5

 

Still before the Lord, we're waiting patiently for Him...He knows the plan. He leads the way.
He's given us glimpses of what may be, but time will reveal His will.

For now, it seems that our part in this season is simply to be...open.

 

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him."

Psalm 37:7