During my time at NorthWoods, I was able to practice some shooting with a couple other people. I had the opportunity to take this picture which reminds me of the need to keep my focus on the Lord and His plans for my life!

“ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. “ Phil. 3:13-14

It amazes me at how fast the past six months of have gone by since leaving Indy. Though the time has gone by so fast, it feels like years when I try to think back to that time…so much has taken place! Through the many changes that we gone through this past year, God has not changed. He has been every so faithful to us and His mercies are new this morning just as they were on June 6…the morning we left Indy.

It has been the first Christmas in a great while that we have spent all alone, in a house that we sort of call our own. =) God has been so good to us and we are very grateful for His goodness. We are looking forward to this next year with anticipation at what God is going to do.

These are troublesome times for our nation and, to those who have no hope, the future is fearful. But we have a hope…and our hope is not in a man or a government, but rather it is is the One who created life itself, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.It is in this hope that we are assured of His everlasting presence and love in our lives no matter what takes place. This is the hope that I have.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

May God give us a new measure of grace for the things that we will be facing in the years to come! God bless you all!

“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: is shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” ~ Verses 10-11

Just as the rain waters the earth that it may bring forth fruit, so God’s Word will accomplish that which He desires in a person’s life…to bring forth fruit. And this is the desire of our family.

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:8).

The result of a fruitful life will be joy and an abiding peace, as seen in verse 12 of Isaiah 55. “For ye shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace…” As well as in John 15, verse 11. As I was thinking about the truths that are interwoven throughout this passage in Isaiah, I realized that there is vital requirement to bearing fruit. This requirement is mentioned in principle in the prior verses of the chapter, but Jesus laid it out simply yet so profoundly in John 12:24.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

A denial and death of our will is required to bear fruit that remains and glorifies the Father. We must make the daily choice to say “No” to our wills and choose to obey the Lord’s perfect will. If we live our lives like this, we will experience a true joy and peace that only comes from Him. This promise is so clear, yet why do I still choose my own way over God’s? O that I would only do the will of the Heavenly Father as Christ Jesus did.

As you see the grass beginning to grow this Spring, and the trees start to bud. And you enjoy fruit that was produced by a tree, remember…that it took the death of a seed in order produce that fruit. Be encouarged when God calls you die to something. He only desires fruit that may abound in our lives…that will result in peace and joy, no matter the circumstance. He loves us so much…

The Paine household has been keeping busy with schoolwork and chores. Nathaniel has been working down at the Indiana state house serving with Advance America. Thomas is continuing to work in the maintenance department here at the training center while I (Chad =) am currently enrolled in  some courses through TELOS, a Christian distance learning institution. The four oldest of the family (Tabitha, Chad, Thomas and Nate) are involved in a training center wide challenge. The Challenge is centered around the theme of our identity in Christ. It consists of memorizing two passages of scripture, doing Bible studies, watching messages, serving in initiative type projects, etc. It is quite the undertaking, but it has been a great experience!

Recently I watched a video by Evangelist Del Fehsenfeld. The topic was on How to Conquer the Fear of Man based on the verse in Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” The session was very challenging, convicting me of my caring more about the approval of man that of God…which in essence is idolatry. At the very core of the fear of man is pride. It was a message that I needed to hear.

The Lord has been good to us and we are blessed. We are looking forward to what lies ahead in the coming months. It is hard to imagine that the month of January is already behind us! Blessings on all…

~Photography courtesy of Hannah Paine =)

One of the passages that was meaningful to me is found in Isaiah 30:21,

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

A couple of chapters later, Isaiah refers again to a certain “way” that we are to walk in,

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness…but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 38:8-10

This seemed to be a fitting passage for all of us guys as we return home. There is a way that the redeemed are to follow. It is a narrow way, a way of holiness that God has called every Christian to travel. If we turn off that path, God in His faithfulness and love for us will come and open our eyes to the the error of our way. He will not leave us to wander or continue to go astray without His Spirit coming and reprimanding us. He paid the ultimate price to set us free from the bondage of our sin, we have been bought with a price, we are now the ransomed. As we walk in the light and follow Him in this journey and way of holiness, God promises that we will have everlasting joy and gladness. For truly, in His presence there is fullness of joy! Psalm 16:11

That is what God has blessed each one of us with as we return home. A true and everlasting joy that cannot be taken away as long as we maintain a right relationship with Him. Praise the Lord for the work that He did at Calvary and the work that He continues to do the heart’s and lives of His children.