Reflections >> After One Month

Reflections >> After One Month

After six years of having the privilege of serving some of the most friendly, kind, and encouraging people I have ever known, on July 21, 2013 I preached my final message (Where Is Your Hope?) at New Hope. My family was overwhelmed by the expressions of God’s love through the thoughtful words, generous gifts and tearful goodbyes to friendships that I am confident will last forever.

What We’ve Been Up To For The Past Month

After celebrating Blake’s 11^th birthday and closing escrow of  our Portland house, we packed-up all of our earthly belongings and by faith set our sights south to what the Lord was preparing for our family in the Central Valley of California. Moving into our new ‘rental’ house has almost immediately begun to feel like a home that we could have lived in for years. Paige’s journal entry says it beautifully.

Life in Fresno has provided the blessing and opportunity to see, celebrate life, and even worship with our Deffenbacher & DeGroot families. Amy’s role at Fresno Christian Schools has shifted from Elementary to teaching High School Honors English, Yearbook and Bible where she is thriving. Blake and Paige love their teachers and going to school with cousins at Fresno Christian.

In addition to jumping head first into my Doctoral studies, I have been given the opportunity to join the Adjunct Staff of the FresnoPacific University Biblical Seminary as a ‘Preaching’ Professor. That’s right, beginning next week the Lord will be entrusting me with a classroom of Graduate students with impressionable hearts and minds to equip and guide toward discerning future ministry placement.

I’ve loved re-connecting with my Fresno friends and am excited to continue partnering with churches and ministries through teaching / preaching / equipping / consulting / and encouraging.

In a vulnerable moment of insecurity this past week I was reminded of 3 important truths that I’d like to leave you with.

1. God loves you.
2. God is in control.
3. If you ever feel overwhelmed, refer to numbers 1 & 2.

It doesn’t get anymore straight forward than that. There are still many unknowns, but what I do know for certain is that God is Good and has a Wonderful Plan for our Life. Thank you for your ongoing friendship, words of encouragement and prayers for our family during this new season of life.

Grace & Peace,

Brent