Sunday, October 16, 2011

2 months in...

...and this is one of the first chances I've had a spare moment to sit down and write an update. We have been learning like crazy, busy every second (going out of our minds sometimes), making awesome friends, trying to squeeze in time together as a family, and neither of us really know where the time has gone. I really can't take long to post today, either, because we're going to head off to church here in a few minutes, then i'm off to work at Starbucks for the rest of the day.

We have been learning tons about prayer, humility, what it really looks like to trust God. It seems like we have been through so much in this time so far, but the hard things have been good, we are actually learning to trust Him with the things we go through - something we have really struggled with in the past. I have been really impressed with Gina and the things she has really learned and taken hold of. I guess the only way to describe some of the things that we are learning is to quote one of the teachers:

"If we do not know the “how” of godly living we will soon give up in defeat. If I try to live the Christian life in my own strength, I will become defeated, discouraged, and depressed, then fearful, frustrated, and fatigued. When I’m depressed, I’m living with [this] attitude: Selfishness. The answer is Christ in me. The enablement through Christ is enough to handle all of life’s situations. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man, but God is faithful, who doesn’t allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able (in His power)! I have to know how this new life is done, then I have to submit to that way! You can’t be saved if you don’t submit to the way that God has made to be saved! This is true of justification, and it’s true in living the rest of the Christian life. God will only accept His righteousness. We can fight this all we want, but it won’t change the rules. The only way we can live the Christian life is through His enablement. He indwells us and has established us in Christ, and has given us His spirit as a guarantee (2 Corinthians). Walking with the Lord is always the right thing to do. There are impure things in my motives because of the constant battle with my flesh, but I can’t second guess every action that I take and be at peace at all! God is faithful to reveal these things to us in His time - when He reveals the impure things, I must be faithful to repent of those things. Second guessing myself all the time could ruin my ministry! I’ve put my faith in Christ, and I’ve learned through the word that I’m positionally no longer a slave to sin. I also know that I’m still capable of sin, but I leave it up to God to reveal those things to me in His time." -Dave Hodgdon


Okay, I'm seriously out of time. Hopefully this gives you somewhat of a clue as to what is happening to us over here. Thanks for reading! -Ben & Gina


2 comments:

J Sews said...

AWESOME!!! Thanks for sharing, and the GREAT picture! Love you guys!

Ruth said...

Wonderful truth! Learning for a lifetime!