Now, I know you are wondering why a guy from Kansas is going to talk about nautical technique and wind, and you would be right to think, “what does this guy know about sailing?” Well, let me tell you that I have had a fascination with Tall Ships since I was a child. I have listened to dozens of audio books about the subject and spent way too many hours watching nautical films or documentaries! I tell you all that to let you know that I have some (secondhand) knowledge about this subject. Anyway, there is a process in sailing known as tacking, this is used when the wind is blowing from the direction you want to go. You can’t sail directly into the wind so you have to “tack”, which means you put your sail at an angle to the wind allowing you to move in the desired direction, then when needed you turn back the other direction and sail in a kind of zig zag which allows you to continue towards your destination even when the wind is against you.

I explain all that because now is the time for us to tack. The “wind” of the world is not allowing us an easy sail right now. We are dealing with a lot of things that try to impede our progress. We feel separated and singled out, we need community but are told it could put those we want to be with in danger, we want to continue to grow in the Lord but don’t feel like we have the support we need, and many more! However, just because these things are pushing against us doesn’t mean that we can’t continue towards the goal! We just have to tack, to change our angle and keep moving forward using the wind we have. God is still calling us onward and we can continue to follow that call, it just might look different than it has before.

This weekend Emily and I are going camping! We are going to spend some time with Rick and Karen enjoying some creation and it will be Grayson’s first camping trip (we will take pictures!) As we were packing up today we had a list of things that we would need to go with us. Thinking about this process of preparing and packing makes me wonder how often we do that on our journey with Jesus. Do we make sure we have what we need for the trip that we are on? Are we prepared for the ups and downs or the twists and turns that might come our way? Do we have enough and more than enough just in case something unexpected happens and the journey doesn’t go exactly as planned? Or are we showing up with just the clothes on our back and expecting Jesus to have everything we need? While Jesus does fill the gaps in our life there is also work that needs to be done on our end to prepare for what He has in store for us. At the same time, we need to make sure there is room enough for what He wants to give us!

What does your preparation look like for the Christian life?

Guys! We have a son! The last two weeks have been amazing. We have totally fallen in love with this little guy. He is so special to us already. Grayson is a gift for us in this time of isolation and social distance. He reminds us of how new life works. We need someone to take care of us when we first come to Christ. Someone to guide us and help us get brought those first years of learning how to be. That is one of the blessings of the church. That we have older believers to show us the way and help us walk in it. We are blessed by God’s wisdom in calling us to childlike faith in the way we need others to help us on the journey. It teaches us humility and reliance on others. It also helps us learn the natural way of discipleship. I hope that you are still reaching out to your spiritual children in this time, connecting with them and helping them learn to walk in the way that they should!

The past week has been a changing world full of
unknowns in a time in my life where unknowns
abound, waiting for our bundle of joy to join us in the
next month. I jokingly told Jesse I just needed to
rearrange the bedroom furniture today so I could be
“in control” of something in my life. But really, I am
thankful for a Lord and Savior who is in charge and
has total control in the midst of what seems to us as
chaos. I don’t need to have control or function from
the need to restore order. Even more so my norms
are turned on their head. For the homebody in me, I
have been gently reminded to cherish moments
outside the home. For the introvert, I am made
increasingly aware of the need for fellowship and
communion with others. I am grateful for technology
and how even though we can be so isolated at times,
we are able to connect even on a virtual level – to my
mom across town, to many of you, and even abroad
to Mexico and Honduras where ones I love are living!
I am taken out of the rut I get myself into of everyday
living and am awoken in a new way – seeing life
through different eyes. Jesse looked at Elijah last
week and how his encounter with God proves He can
overcome any obstacle. As we look to Ezekiel this
weekend and the amazing unexplainable life brought
into dry dead bones, I am reminded of my own
encounters with a restorative, transformative and
overcoming faithful Father. I am encouraged to step
out and trust the God who has complete control and
to just to rest in His presence.

Our prayer for you this week is the same. Open eyes to
a glorious, powerful, present Father whose greatest
desire is to meet you this week and to pour out His love,
peace and goodness on you as you trust in Him to being
order to the disorder. Know you are loved and prayed
for.

We love each of you,
Emily and Jesse