Something I have learned [Rob]

Today I was thinking that it was time to give a little information to you all about how we're doing. Cy and I have been sharing in many cell groups and giving classes on how to study the Bible inductively. It's been rather busy, but it's been a lot of fun and very rewarding. God has been good to us as He always has been. The pictures on this blog are of a cell group and of our Bible study class. I hope that gives you an idea of where and what we are doing.

I have been learning a lot in this time here as well. Life is not always easy, but it's an adventure, even in Canada. I have learned to stick to the basics of a relationship with God. In some ways it's tough and in others it's very easy. For example, it's a lot easy to maintain a high level of spirituality if our spirituality was based on what we do. But it's not, so it's not so easy. Our spirituality comes from being in touch with the one who has given life to our spirits: Jesus. And so if I want to be spiritual, I have to be in Christ. And it's also easy to be in a relationship with God for that very same reason. I don't have to base it on what I do, but rather on simply sharing my heart and life with Him and He with me. I have found that there is a rest in all of this truth. The Bible says it as well, Jesus says: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful...Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:1-2,4

I have also found all of this to be true because I have seen fruit in my life in Canada. I always found it hard to talk about God in Canada, to my friends and to my family. But as I have been working at staying in Christ (relating to Him constantly) I have seen how many people have been encouraged to come nearer to God. I have even been with someone while they decided to start a relationship with God and get to know Him. The fruit has begun to blossom and I haven't even tried to do anything in my strength. God is good.

I want to encourage all of you to continue to press into the intimacy of a relationship with God. Get past the superficial prayers and begin to pour out your heart in the truth of your life. He wants to get intimate, it's only in our hands to reveal our true selves to him. Go ahead, share your life with God.