February 2021
Dear Family and Friends,
We are about 6 weeks into this new year. It's been an eventful few weeks, as has been the last 11 months. It's been a time and season like none other. But it's been a time to draw closer to the Lord as we need Him in every area of our lives. What the next few weeks, months, year holds I don't believe anyone but the Lord knows. It's an uncertain season but an exciting one as we watch His love triumph over the lies and deceptions. Our Savior isn't being still right now.
We are so thankful that we could continue to minister through the tough times of 2020. There were many challenges and times of discouragement. We praise the Lord that He never left us and continued to bring us to see and focus on Him. We learned so much. The Holy Spirit empowered us to gloriously walk through the uncertainties knowing He was guiding our ways and our paths.
We are thankful for each of you that have supported and prayed for the ministry as we were not always able to be together but we knew we were together in the spirit. Financially, we continued to feed the children in Kenya and Peru weekly. We didn't decrease our giving to any of our missionaries the entire year. What a joy it was to give around the world in such tough times. Again, thank YOU! All the bills were paid on time and we were able to do many improvements in the church house and church building. We continued with most of our outreaches and reached many people. Our church family has grown with many new families which is exciting. We have 2 weekly prayer meetings, one on Tuesday morning at 7:30am and 6:00pm on Thursday evening. Our Ladies Ministry has grown and we meet once a month to pray together, encourage one another and grow in His Word together. The men's breakfast has continued every other week with empowering messages for this time and season. Lives have been healed of cancer, other sicknesses, substance abuse, injuries and many more situations. Gratitude fills our hearts!
What's ahead for 2021? What we see is being more than conquerors, overcomers, and victorious in every situation no matter what is happening in the world around us. We have been preparing our hearts for the outpouring that has already started. We continue to trust the Lord and know the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through us will in limitless ways bring love and glory to everything we put our hands to. We don't have too many certain events right now but there will be a pig roast, a couple cowboy churches, FMN Women's conference, Youth conference and Men's conference. Like Abram we are headed in His direction not knowing exactly where we are going but we know what it will look like as we go in Him. It's an exciting journey we are on!
"This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine - these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers. But God unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit who constantly explores all things."
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
We cannot even imagine what He has for us. No matter what it looks like in our surrounding world we must have eyes to see what He wants to reveal to us through the Holy Spirit. It's the only way to stay in peace in a troubled world. Our eyes must look to Him alone and our hearts be open to receive what is in His heart for us.
During February we celebrate love. Love for one another and love for the Lord. And the greatest love is His love for us.
"A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how he breaks through for me! Ecstatic praise pours out of my mouth until everyone hears how God has set me free. Many will see his miracles; they'll stand in awe of God and fall in love with him!" Psalm 40:3
"O Lord, our God, no one can compare with you. Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with you! And you think of us all the time with your countless expressions of love- far exceeding our expectations!" Psalm 40:5
"Your love is so extravagant it reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness so astonishing it stretches to the sky!" Psalm 57:10
"Now, may the grace and joyous favor of the Lord Jesus Christ, the unambiguous love of God, and the precious communion that we share in the Holy Spirit be yours continually. Amen!" 2 Corinthians 13:14
"Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him." 1 John 4:7
The Lord showed me that this is to be a year of worshipping Him. I've always liked to read about every time Abram had a breakthrough, he built an altar and worshipped the Lord God.
"Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him." Genesis 12:7
I heard the Lord say to my heart, "This is a time to build an "altar of worship" at every breakthrough, big or small. This is so important in this season." What is an altar of worship? It's an act of remembrance of every good thing He has done and continues to do. Our prayers are being answered in the heavenly realm we may not have connected to the answer yet. Take time to worship Him daily for the blessings you have received or the mercies that are new every morning. It's a powerful weapon against the enemy when you praise and worship the Lord, acknowledge what He has done and thank Him now for everything He is about to do.
As I close this letter of love and gratitude, we want you to know that we pray for you daily whether you are with us in spirit only for now or with us weekly. I've said this many times but the unity of our church body coming together as one is strength beyond what we can grasp. I also share this verse often. :
"So now we must cling tightly to the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises! Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning." Hebrews 10:23-25
We, again, thank you for all your love, blessings, support, prayers. As we continue to walk by faith with so many uncertainties facing us day by day, may we continue to keep our focus on His endless blessings and promises He is faithful to keep. Remember His name is to be praised!
With all our love, Ed and Mona
Dear Family and Friends,
We are about 6 weeks into this new year. It's been an eventful few weeks, as has been the last 11 months. It's been a time and season like none other. But it's been a time to draw closer to the Lord as we need Him in every area of our lives. What the next few weeks, months, year holds I don't believe anyone but the Lord knows. It's an uncertain season but an exciting one as we watch His love triumph over the lies and deceptions. Our Savior isn't being still right now.
We are so thankful that we could continue to minister through the tough times of 2020. There were many challenges and times of discouragement. We praise the Lord that He never left us and continued to bring us to see and focus on Him. We learned so much. The Holy Spirit empowered us to gloriously walk through the uncertainties knowing He was guiding our ways and our paths.
We are thankful for each of you that have supported and prayed for the ministry as we were not always able to be together but we knew we were together in the spirit. Financially, we continued to feed the children in Kenya and Peru weekly. We didn't decrease our giving to any of our missionaries the entire year. What a joy it was to give around the world in such tough times. Again, thank YOU! All the bills were paid on time and we were able to do many improvements in the church house and church building. We continued with most of our outreaches and reached many people. Our church family has grown with many new families which is exciting. We have 2 weekly prayer meetings, one on Tuesday morning at 7:30am and 6:00pm on Thursday evening. Our Ladies Ministry has grown and we meet once a month to pray together, encourage one another and grow in His Word together. The men's breakfast has continued every other week with empowering messages for this time and season. Lives have been healed of cancer, other sicknesses, substance abuse, injuries and many more situations. Gratitude fills our hearts!
What's ahead for 2021? What we see is being more than conquerors, overcomers, and victorious in every situation no matter what is happening in the world around us. We have been preparing our hearts for the outpouring that has already started. We continue to trust the Lord and know the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through us will in limitless ways bring love and glory to everything we put our hands to. We don't have too many certain events right now but there will be a pig roast, a couple cowboy churches, FMN Women's conference, Youth conference and Men's conference. Like Abram we are headed in His direction not knowing exactly where we are going but we know what it will look like as we go in Him. It's an exciting journey we are on!
"This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine - these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers. But God unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit who constantly explores all things."
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
We cannot even imagine what He has for us. No matter what it looks like in our surrounding world we must have eyes to see what He wants to reveal to us through the Holy Spirit. It's the only way to stay in peace in a troubled world. Our eyes must look to Him alone and our hearts be open to receive what is in His heart for us.
During February we celebrate love. Love for one another and love for the Lord. And the greatest love is His love for us.
"A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how he breaks through for me! Ecstatic praise pours out of my mouth until everyone hears how God has set me free. Many will see his miracles; they'll stand in awe of God and fall in love with him!" Psalm 40:3
"O Lord, our God, no one can compare with you. Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with you! And you think of us all the time with your countless expressions of love- far exceeding our expectations!" Psalm 40:5
"Your love is so extravagant it reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness so astonishing it stretches to the sky!" Psalm 57:10
"Now, may the grace and joyous favor of the Lord Jesus Christ, the unambiguous love of God, and the precious communion that we share in the Holy Spirit be yours continually. Amen!" 2 Corinthians 13:14
"Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him." 1 John 4:7
The Lord showed me that this is to be a year of worshipping Him. I've always liked to read about every time Abram had a breakthrough, he built an altar and worshipped the Lord God.
"Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him." Genesis 12:7
I heard the Lord say to my heart, "This is a time to build an "altar of worship" at every breakthrough, big or small. This is so important in this season." What is an altar of worship? It's an act of remembrance of every good thing He has done and continues to do. Our prayers are being answered in the heavenly realm we may not have connected to the answer yet. Take time to worship Him daily for the blessings you have received or the mercies that are new every morning. It's a powerful weapon against the enemy when you praise and worship the Lord, acknowledge what He has done and thank Him now for everything He is about to do.
As I close this letter of love and gratitude, we want you to know that we pray for you daily whether you are with us in spirit only for now or with us weekly. I've said this many times but the unity of our church body coming together as one is strength beyond what we can grasp. I also share this verse often. :
"So now we must cling tightly to the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises! Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning." Hebrews 10:23-25
We, again, thank you for all your love, blessings, support, prayers. As we continue to walk by faith with so many uncertainties facing us day by day, may we continue to keep our focus on His endless blessings and promises He is faithful to keep. Remember His name is to be praised!
With all our love, Ed and Mona
