> Rest <

Rest/Sabbath is not the same thing as taking a day off. Rest/Sabbath takes planning. It is an act of worship. It is life-giving and powerful. It involves our mind, body, heart, and spirit.

A restful heart is a heart that is coming to the place to believe and embrace the truth that its value, worth, and acceptance with God is based on a free gift and has nothing to do with our performance or striving. ~from The Heart of the Matter

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So, God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Genesis 2:2-3

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

> Vulnerability <
What if Vulnerability is the ultimate display of strength?

Our friend Rob and Steve spoke often about vulnerability and weakness. How could we better model to one another vulnerability and weakness? Little did we, nor anyone, know that 2020 would remove so much of the comfortable, outer layers thus exposing our perceived weaknesses.

One place of vulnerability of us has been Steve’s ongoing health with idiopathic anaphylaxis. It has limited our travel and interactions with others including meals with internationals. It has caused us to pause, cry, wonder, doubt, plead, and lament. However, it is also deepened our empathy and understanding of suffering.

Rob models knowing that in weakness is strength. He boasts in knowing Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 1:31-2:3). He knows that in quietness and rest comes strength.

We experience the truth that living in holiness is living with nothing hidden. Then I am clean; I am free; I am healing. We are able to give our lives away when we are no longer preoccupied with failure. This is life indeed. What if there was a friend so safe that the worst aspects of us could be known? We would not be loved less but actually loved more by opening up. It is the exact opposite of what we’ve always feared. ~from The Cure

> Collaboration <

Praytell Stories Podcast: Steve and four others began a podcast where anyone can go to learn how to pray and pray with us through the various struggles any disciple of Jesus faces. Check out it: anchor.fm/praytell.

Ongoing partnership with Vision 5:9 – Medina Focus: Our vision is to see reproducing churches of reproducing disciples growing in faith and truth among all Muslim peoples particularly within North America.

Monthly Prayer Call for Unreached Peoples in North America in partnership with the Ethne Prayer Group and has been blessed by the Lausanne North American Diaspora Strategy Group

Integration Team: Steve serves with others from various entities on a “team of teams” to codify how to best care for refugees globally in terms of trauma.