Dying to the Flesh

It is impossible to live according to the flesh and please God. It is impossible to think according to the carnal (fleshy) mind and abide in the life of Christ and peace of God. It is impossible to walk after the flesh and bear the wonderful fruit of the Spirit that brings our Father much glory. And it is impossible to set our affections and hearts on things of the earth and really love and seek Christ who is above. Dying to the flesh is never pleasant, but this is what the Lord requires of us. This is where his grace is manifested. And this is how we will get the victory in HIM. Let us lay down our lives daily and die to the flesh and world, so that we might live and walk in newness of life by the power of Jesus Christ within us.  His grace is sufficient!

The Grace of God

Having 4 children that are 5 and under, with twins that are a few months old, and one of them being special needs, along with a new church that we are seeking to shepherd in righteousness; the grace of God is literally what carries us and strengthens us day-by-day. There was one week in particular where the spiritual attacks were so great in our home that I truly felt like I was being swallowed up in the pit. My only hope was to make it to a men’s prayer breakfast on a Saturday morning where I could find some brothers in Christ to pick me back up. We have been counseling some couples with some big problems, and we have been laboring abundantly in prayer and doctrine to help them. We praise God as the LORD has shown great grace in coming through for one couple particularly (especially the husband)! The LORD has heard our cries and their cries and has given him serious breakthrough unto righteousness! All glory to God! Let us remember that the battle gets the hottest just before the breakthrough; this is why we must continue to press through by God’s grace when laboring to bring others to victory. God then allowed us to escape to the mountains for 5 days with another dear family in Christ (the Labascagnes) that we met here in SA and whom we love greatly. I believe that of all the people that we have met, they are the most like-minded and sober concerning the things of our LORD and his gospel. During those 5 days, God ministered to both of our families in such a gentle yet wonderful way. All praise and glory to HIM for this respite. His grace is more than sufficient.  

The 3 Weddings

By God’s grace, we were able to help 3 couples (Thomas & Carla, Andrew & Annaline, Willem & Candise) enter into the covenant of marriage over the past 2 months. Each wedding was so different, but all of them were blessed by our Lord. The first wedding was the smallest with the last being the largest. Each of these couples have faced hardships and difficulties over this past year, but all of them determined they wanted to live clean and holy before the LORD, and so he gave them grace to get to this new starting point. What also was a blessing was that many of the family members of all these couples do not know the LORD, so by his grace, they were all able to bear witness to a Christian wedding. From quite a few reports that we have heard back, this had some profound impact on some of the family members. May the LORD continue to draw those whose hearts are tender and may he help all three of these newly-wed couples forward into his will and purpose for their lives. Please keep them in prayer. His grace will certainly be sufficient.

End of 2021

I cannot believe how quickly this year flew by. We have seen God do so much on our behalf this year and so much has changed (our house, our church, our family, our world, etc…), but truly, through it all, our LORD has remained STEADFAST and FAITHFUL. Praise God that we serve the true and living God who changeth not! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! His Kingdom shall destroy all other kingdoms! He is the chief cornerstone, the ROCK, from whom flows the rivers of living water! Let us continue to DRINK from HIM, STAND on HIM, and TRUST HIM! May the LORD bless all of you greatly as you seek his face in 2022 and beyond. We truly thank God for every one of you who has supported us through prayer, fasting, and giving. May his grace be more than sufficient IN you all!

“If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” - our Lord JESUS CHRIST (John 7:37-38)