The Paine Family

Just wanted to give a quick update on Nathaniel (better known to us as Nate =). He has had the opportunity to go and oversee two Seminars in two different correctional facilities in Florida under the supervision of Chaplain Holliefield. This opportunity is truly fulfilling a vision that Nate has had for years. Please keep him in your prayers as he serves in this capacity. Today was his first day of conducting the seminar. He will be doing this for two weeks.

As his older brother, I have marvelled at the passion that Nate has had towards those in prison and how God has brought about this opportunity. I am really excited to see what God does in the days to come. I praise the Lord for a brother who is pursuing the Lord and has a desire to see those who are in bondage come to the light! Please pray for Nate.

Just a quick announcement about our new family member…Charlie Brown. He has brought a lot of joy and excitement to the family (as well as adventure =). He has a lot of life in him at just 9weeks old and about 3 pounds. He keeps us moving! Here are a few shots of him…he is pretty cute!

The family is doing well. We just got back from a friends wedding over near the Ohio/Indiana border. It was a good time to see a lot of really good friends, though the time was short and we were busy. It looks like we have a full week of work ahead of us. We are keeping a full schedule in the publications department, Dad is working with Mr. Gothard on some special projects, and Nate is leaving for Little Rock to assist with a prison ministry.

The year is off and we are pushing on!

On the last day of 2009 we celebrated Hannah’s birthday. It feels as though this year is taking off already, and I did not want to miss announcing this special event (even though it took place last year =). I have really been impressed with many things about Hannah recently. She has quite the gift of being creative in the many things that she makes and designs. Her creativity in card making has been amazing and has inspired me in areas of art as well. Hannah not only makes great cards but she also expresses gratefulness and genuine love through the cards that she makes. I am always encouraged when I receive a note from her! What a blessing Hannah has been to our family and we pray that God’s blessings upon her would be abundant.

As for the rest of us, we have been working on and off throughout the holidays, relaxing, iceskating, sledding, and simply enjoying the subzero weather. =) (I have actually been thinking about Florida a lot recently =). God has been good and we all are looking forward to what will take place in 2010. 

We had a wonderful Christmas … together … just as a family. There was a home, a fire, snow, each other, times of reminiscing, times of laughter…it was simply wonderful!

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!

What a weekend! Full of excitement, work, fun, and fellowship, and over 350 people, our time down in Indy was rich.  Andy Andrews was the key speaker for the weekend retreat and it was simply fantastic. His enthusiasm and energy plus the vital truths that he had to share gripped the audience session after session.

As a family, we got to help out a little in some of the prep work. In my opinion, this is what builds anticipation for the conference. We have all been looking forward to this time for a while and by the time it was all said and done, we were tired and happy. As I have said before, Christmas conference only comes once a year, so enjoy it. =) It was such a blessed time. The weather was perfect and everything seemed to run smoothly. We praise the Lord for who have been faithful to this ministry over many years. God has truly blessed it.

I wanted to post a little something that occurred in the midst of all the prep work for the conference. Dad’s birthday was on the 9th of this month.

It’s hard to describe the many things that my Dad means to me and the rest of us. As I was thinking about it, faithfulness came to mind. Dad has been faithful to the Lord. Rising early while most of us are still sleeping, he earnestly seeks the Lord’s face. He listens and obeys the small promptings from the Lord. I marvel at his humility and meekness that he demonstrates in everything that he does. Dad has also been faithful to Mom. His love for her has been something that I admire and his example of love, something I want to follow. He has been faithful to the family, always caring for each one of us. He has made it a point to see and ask how we are doing spiritually as well as physically. Dad has been faithful to the ministry that we are now serving in. From working on plumbing, to doing paperwork, Dad has been faithful in what other people would call the “little things.” In God’s eyes, I do not believe that there is such a thing.

Thanks Dad, for being faithful. I want to be just like you. Happy Birthday!