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Amanda brought it to my attention that it has been almost 3 months since we last posted a blog! I can only say that life has been richly busy. It seems like I turned around and it was December! If I’m being honest, I did think about the need to blog several times and have prayed over what was meant to be the topic. Since I still can’t say that I have a specific something in mind, I decided to just begin by sharing the many ways that God has been at work on The Drove.

 

We are now three months into having started the Dunamis Drove youth group! We meet weekly with young people to share a meal and then gather around the word to feed our spirits. We have a wonderful group of young people and have steadily grown in number, but more importantly we are all growing in relationship; both with one another and with Jesus. Through our bible study we have placed bibles in the hands of many teens, several who have never owned a bible of their own, and some who have never opened one. They are an amazing group of young people who are diligently seeking God and their willingness to share openly is inspiring. We see the work of the Spirit taking place in their hearts and lives as they seek to know and understand all that God is and has in store for them. It is a blessing beyond words to watch as the light in their eyes and their hearts grows brighter.

 

Not only do they seek to understand, but they also authentically apply that understanding. I have the honor of seeing the work that God is doing in their lives translating into changes in the way they see themselves and others on a daily basis. I have witnessed one young man take a truth that God enlightened him to and apply it to changing the way he treats others. He even went so far as to take it upon himself to share love and kindness with another of his peers by offering him support in a way that left me in tears. As if that wasn’t enough, he also led another of his peers to be a part of that light and love moment. It is breath taking to watch them receive the seeds that are being planted and in short amounts of time nurturing those seeds to growth through deepening relationships with one another that are becoming rooted in their growing relationship with God. It is a work that only comes by way of the Holy Spirit.

 

We have also begun hosting DIY on the Drove days during which additional young people spend time together on the Drove crafting and fellowshipping. That also led to a service project during which several teens spent their Saturday afternoon making blankets for the homeless. It was a sweet time spent together in service of others. So not only are they forming bonds with one another that are eternally strong, but they are swiftly becoming the hands and feet of Jesus. I really cannot adequately put into words the depth of blessing that God is pouring out. We are also blessed to have one of the young men coming regularly to work with the animals and help out with chores around the farm. He is fast becoming family as are his siblings and cousins. There is just something so special about being a part of the family of God. The richness of living life with His children is something that cannot be measured with earthly weights or words.

 

On top of all of this, we are blessed with tremendous neighbors who contribute to making our lives full (and often a good biteasier) and have had many gatherings with family and friends. In fact, this holiday season we not only continued many family traditions, but we were even blessed to share Thanksgiving with family that we haven’t shared a holiday with in almost three decades. I think Ephesians chapter 3 verses 20 and 21 sum it up nicely in this way, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!”

 

We are overwhelmed as we watch everything that God said He was going to do and more transpiring. It is one thing to believe in faith that God is going to do what He places within your spirit, take steps in faith and see Him opening doors, and yet still, it is another level entirely to watch Him blow the roof off the place! Within all of this, perhaps one of the most amazing things to me is having the privilege to be a part of His work. I falter and fail every day in more ways than I care to admit and battle against my flesh routinely and yet the God of the universe allows me the blessing of being in His presence as He moves. Y’all…there just ain’t no explaining that!!

 

So let me leave you with this, God is big. God is powerful! God is an awesome God!! He knows that it is from dust that we came, after all He formed us, and yet he has compassion on His children (Psalm 103:13 – 14). If you think that there is anything He cannot do or anyone He cannot use, you are sadly mistaken. Does that mean He is always going to do it the way we think or hope for, no. The fact is we live in a fallen world, but let me tell you, He will use you to bring light and love by shining it through every broken place you have, if you surrender. And make no mistake about it, when you do, the blessing He brings and the work He does within your heart is unparalleled and eternal.

 

There is absolutely nothing like being part of the eternal family of God and you do not have to wait till heaven to live within that. He desires that you might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10), and that includes during your time on earth. Whatever it is that He has called you to, take the leap of faith, you will not regret a moment and you will be in for the true ride of a lifetime and beyond.

 

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bring you into the new year with renewed purpose and greater depth of peace and love. Until next time…pray for us, as we too shall pray for you.

 

~ Jen