I would like to ask that you pray for Kristy and me today and this week.  We had not yet announced this to the entire church, but we were pregnant again.  Until today.

Kristy had a routine check up today, and they could not find a heart beat for the baby on the ultrasound.  Our baby has passed away.  With Kristy being about 16-17 weeks pregnant her body did not naturally “miscarry” the baby.  Kristy has miscarried before (between 1st and 2nd children), but this time she was much further along.  Last time we only saw a heart beat.  This time we saw the baby moving around her (I am just assuming) arms and legs. 

Furthermore, with her being so far along in her pregnancy we have to make the decision today if they should induce labor for Kristy to deliver the lifeless body, or if a D&C should be done.  We know what it is like to go through the D&C process, since Kristy had to have a D&C for our last miscarriage. 

I ask for your prayers first of all for Kristy.  Pray that God gives her peace and hope today.  I also ask that you pray for our girls.  Pray that they can understand this in the most healthy way possible.  They were excited for the baby.  Also, pray for our decision that we need to make today.  Finally, pray for us financially.  To add insult to injury, from experience we know that it is more expensive to go through the removal of a miscarried baby than it is to deliver a healthy baby. 

In the midst of this we have confidence that God is in control.  We know that He loves us, and that He has never let a little one slip away from His grasp.  We believe that His grace is sufficient for us, and that He knew everything that was going on with our little one. 

Thank you for your prayers!

Pastor Ronnie

A few weeks ago we finished up the “Don’t Waste Your Life” series with a sermon called “Untapped Potential.” Here is the main point of that sermon… “Using your talents for God’s Kingdom is not just something you choose to pursue, but a calling you must choose to accept.”  I am pumped that so many people at Relevant are using the talents God has given us for the Kingdom, but I realize that some of us may not even know what talents (gifts) we really have.  Therefore, below is a link to what is called a “Spiritual Gifts Test.”  This inventory (from Willow Creek Community Church) is not a fool proof system by any means, but I think it is helpful if you have never done one.  If you have never done one, I really challenge you take a few minutes to do this.  Be as honest as you can about who you are, not what you want to be.  Then…ask God how you can start using your talents more alongside of Him.  Just a couple of suggestions if you choose to do this…

• Do the test 1^st w/o looking at the other two documents (spiritual-gifts-test). 
• Do the scoring sheet second w/o looking at the definitions (spiritual-gifts-scoring). 
• Finally, evaluate you score sheet against the definitions (spiritual-gift-definitions). 

Is there alignment between what you are doing, and what your gifts/talents are?  How can you start using your talents more alongside of Him?  Have fun with this!

Finally, you heard me tell everyone on Sunday that I am not going to be leading everything anymore.  We have worked hard to get leaders in place so that we really can function more as a body.  WE are the body…not ME.  I am going to work hard not to be the leaders in every area, not to stick my nose into everything, not to have my hand on everything, and to let our leaders lead.  I am excited how God is going to bless us in that. 

I am humbled that God has called me to be the pastor of this awesome church, and truly believe that He is going to do amazing things in and through this BODY!  

Pastor Ronnie