Two Months In

I've been on the job two months now and last night was reflecting with my wife about how things are going and where they seem to be heading.

Overall things are good, though not without some challenging adjustments!

The people at All Saints Anglican are wonderful and we feel very, very blessed by them and privileged to serve among them. My ministry at the church is going well and I am busily engaged with preaching, teaching and assisting musically at our Wednesday evening Prayer and Praise gatherings.

My community contacts are being strengthened. I am participating in a weekly Bible study that is largely made up of students and staff at Missouri State University and after the new year will likely lead a similar Bible study myself. I am also taking steps to begin an Anglican fellowship for students at Evangel University, Drury University and Missouri State University. I have established relationships with leaders of close to a dozen different ministry organizations in the community and our church will be discerning which ministries we will formally tie ourselves to and support them.

We are continuing to learn to trust God - his timing, provision and direction. We have had to adjust to a new city, a new home, Miriam's new "routine" (if you can call it that :))and the reality of life after seminary. We've been blessed by some new friends, but miss old friends as well.

We don't know what the future holds but we know God does. We are expectant that he will do great things and we are excited to participate in them. God is in the midst of his people who gather at All Saints and we believe we have been brought to this place for a purpose. The church is currently constructing a brand new building that will house worship and other activities. God has brought several key people to the congregation with very needed gifts. It is as if God is about to do something great. We believe he is and we are grateful to play a part in it.

That is not to say that there aren't difficult days, days of questioning or uncertainty or second guessing. In those moments I have been strengthened by prayer, conversation with dear brothers and spiritual fathers and meditating upon the Psalms. For the past couple of weeks I have really been captured by these words from Psalm 16:

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; In the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; My flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, Or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; In your presence there is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. ~Psalm 16:7-11

It is a great joy and comfort to know that God watches over us and that he makes known to us the "path of life" who is in fact a person: Jesus Christ. In him there is indeed fullness of joy. Praise be to Our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Grace & Peace,

Micah