We began publishing this newsletter in early 2020 (March I believe). Since then, you’ve been kind enough to hear from us weekly, and sometimes at great length.
As we start the new year, we’d love to hear from you.
If you’re up for it, please use the button below to share with us one conclusion and one resolution.
One conclusion, a learning from the past year.
One resolution, something you’ve set your heart to wait for or invest into this next year.
Click the button below to share yours.
Our answers below -
One conclusion: There's no substitute for purity, no alternative for holiness. We (my wife and I) saw the lack of this in our life this year. This led us to a singular prayer for most of the year, “Purify us, make us clean!”
A revelation of His holiness will always lead to a realization of our need for purification. We concluded that we must be pure again - no alternatives. Purely devoted to Him in all things, “a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew…but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3:11)
One resolution: We came across this quote from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones last night, “True understanding of doctrine should always lead to adoration, to praise, and to an utter humbling of ourselves in wonder before Him.”
We resolve this year to be as Daniel in the way he sought and the way he responded, both in utter humility. In seeking, he continually “set his face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer,” and in response to the answers that would come, he was “astonished,” “fainted,” and then “arose and went about the king’s business.” (Daniel 8:27)
In love,
Derek
What would you say? What have you learned or reflected on this year? What has God put on your heart for the new year? What are you waiting for? Please share, we’d love to hear from you.
I think for us it would be to set our minds on the things above. There is nothing new under the sun, but 2020 certainly gave us an opportunity to see how fleeting are the things of this world. Our health, finances, earthly security can all diappear very quickly. We're reading Pilgrims Progress and his journey to the celestial city is marked by trial and testing. God, in his grace, gave us a year to really examine where we are placing our trust.
Our resolution would be to trust Him more and to see His kind, generous work in our lives more clearly.
Bryan and Stephanie
1 conclusion: My heart is more ungrateful and rebellious than I thought.
1 resolution: Less of self and more of Thee.