Saturday, October 24, 2009

Blessed and Highly Favored

In trying to think of a title for this post we tried to think how we are feeling at this time in our lives AND we believe that the words of the title are most descriptive of how we see our life. God is SO good!

The ministry here in Paso Robles continues to be challenging and yet God continually reminds us that lives are being touched and changed. The congregation has a great desire to be more, do more and share more. We are small in number (presently) but mighty in spirit. Please come and be with us as your plans permit.

We will be celebrating 39 years of marriage this December 12th. Our daughters are faithful to the Lord and are blessings to their friends and church. Our sons-in-laws love God more than our daughters (as it should be). Our grandchildren are being raised in the Lord and love Jesus. What more can we ask for?

The blessing of serving our Father fills our lives with joy and a peace that is beyond description. Never would either of us imagined that God would bring us to this place. Having grown up in homes that acknowledged the existence of God but knowing little of serving him it amazes us that our Father has brought us to march under the "Banner of the Towel".

Sometimes life is difficult and disheartening but we are sustained by the knowledge that God is still in heaven, Jesus is still at His right hand and the Holy Spirit continues to guide us. Your love and prayers bolster us and lift our spirits. Your participation in the ministry God has appointed us to has touched the lives of many. There are those who have a relationship with God that would never have had that opportunity were it not for your love for us and the desire to see His love shared with those who know Him not.

We are overjoyed that every day we learn more and understand deeper the love of our Heavenly Father. Many of you have become "Jesus with skin on" in our lives. Angelina, Allen, Christine and Brandon in many ways have come to be numbered among our teachers. We see in them the glory of our King! Their spirit of hospitality and love for the saints makes us want to do more.

It is our deepest prayer that we have been a blessing to our family and to you. Pray that God will continue to use us and that we will bloom where we are planted. We miss you all and love you dearly.

In HIS Service,
Steve & Cheryl