Mount Up With Wings As Eagles

We've been busy almost all summer working on remodeling and painting the exterior of the church

Titus Flying a Kite

buildings as well as being involved in three city parades in getting the word out about our upcoming Vacation Bible School that will be August 4-7 (our church was able to get out approximately 2,500 invitations).

Before Photo

Preparing to Prime & Paint

It feels like it's been busy non-stop. At times the adrenaline and excitement of accomplishing many projects in serving the Lord by repairing the breaches of the house of God seems to keep you from even getting tiresome. However, after awhile you see the many things completed, you also see the many things that still need to get finished and you begin to get weary. You also understand that family is needing some time together.

After Photo

 

We've been working together as a family when possible, but there is a time to relax and have fun together as well. Plus some of those in our church family probably need a little break as well! Though we're still not finished yet, it was about time that we spend some family fun time! So off we went spontaneously to Long Beach Monday morning! We had such a great time driving on the beach, playing in the sand and ocean, visiting shops, and doing other activities that my wife had the idea that we camp out in our vehicle overnight and enjoy another day at the beach! 

All cramped up in the morning, but it soon wore off and we had another adventurous day. We went to historic forts, went hiking, ate huge Texas Donuts in Washington, and climbed huge rocks to lose the calories we gained! We even saw a good sized rock in the distance while driving on the beach.

As we drove closer, it started to look like it might be some sort of large bird. The kids said "no, it's a rock daddy." Then as we got closer wings spread out with a wing span of 6-7 feet. It was an American Bald Eagle and it was a beautiful sight to see! We got to drive alongside the eagle for a few miles and see it fly over the ocean alongside the shore of the beach. What a beauty it was seeing this magnificent creation of God soar so graciously yet with power, agility, and confidence. Before we went to the beach, we charged our camera's battery the night before, only to then forget to bring the camera with us when we left. So we didn't get to get any amazing pictures like we hoped, but we did manage to get a brief video on a low-quality phone-camera. We were a lot closer to the eagle than the video appears to depict, though far enough not to attempt to be a disturbance. It was an awesome time at Long Beach. We had such a great time of refreshing as a family Monday and Tuesday.

I also was reminded on Wednesday, being a special day, that nine years ago I made one of the best decisions in my life. That was to take Jaimee to be my wife. I'm so thankful that she chose to join me in this life's journey. We are a family blessed of the Lord and we are also grateful to be able to serve amongst such a great church family.

Solomon driving bumper cars for the first time at 8.
It seems like I had to wait till I was 13 or 14 before
I was tall enough to ride a bumper car myself!

We come home and one of the ladies of the church had weed-eated around our house and the church, then one of the men came and mowed the lawn the next day. Another man came and cleaned out the gym a little bit so he could come back tomorrow so he can prime and paint the trim boards that we'll be installing on the church building soon. Others are making preparation for Vacation Bible School. It is a blessing to serve as pastor amongst many great servants of God. May we as a church family always remember to wait upon the Lord, and he will renew our strength and enable us to mount up with wings as eagles. May we see Napavine Baptist Church run and not be weary, walk and not faint. Remember to take times to rest and "come apart as a family, so you don't come apart." "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:9-10

Children Climbing Mountains of Rocks

Isaiah 40:28–31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, That the everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; And to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.