Update from the Shuler's 12.24.15

Our update letter that posted on December 24, 2015!

Can your life have eternal significance right now and in the ages to come if you yield to “Thy will be done?”  That was the closing question to an update several weeks ago challenging us all to change the “my will be done” areas of our lives, into “Thy will be done.” 

Most people could sum up the things they do week to week and find an explanation for why their life has “significance.”  But what about “eternal significance?”  Eternity is rarely given much thought when we live for the here and now.  When expressing ourselves we may often devalue the word “forever” to that of an old rotary dial telephone!

            -This traffic jam just goes on forever!
-Wow I haven’t seen you in forever!
            -Ugh, this shopping line is taking forever!
            -You’re my BFF…. Best Friend Forever!
            -Where is the waitress?  We have been waiting for our food forever!

So if one were to define “forever” where would he start?  Is it possible to know that your day to day life has eternal significance?  Let’s ponder for a moment…..

*The Bible teaches God is eternal!  He is from everlasting to everlasting!  He is the Alpha and the Omega!  The Beginning and the End!  The One Who was and is and is to come!
 

*“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

*“For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”  Psalm 100:5

*People will eternally be in the lake of fire (a literal place) or heaven (Revelation 20-22).

           

*God’s fellow workers, the church, will be judged according to our works (I Corinthians 3:9-15).

A year ago Jennifer and I were pondering again on Luke 12:35-48 about what God is asking of us in order to be considered a “faithful and wise steward” whom the master “will find so doing when He comes.”  Then it became simple.  “My will be done” is momentary because it only focuses on me.  My priorities.  My life.  My feelings.  My best interest.  Whereas, if “my will” agrees with “Thy will be done,” then the significance of our day to day lives can have eternal value because the “Thy” is the God of forever!  While this past year has been full of so many changes and our schedules look different every week, one thing is certain, we desire our focus each day to be about the Father's business, investing in what lasts "forever" through loving Him and loving people with His love and His Word. 

"Blessed are those servants whom the master, when He comes, will find watching.  Assuredly, I say to you that He will gird Himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them."  Luke 12:37

Can you imagine Jesus serving you?  We want to be found faithful!

A couple of days each week are devoted to labor on ETM’s property under Ben Thacker, the property manager.  Whether I am helping him split firewood, put in hand rails, or pour concrete, I have been reminded to stay focused on “forever.”  How?  The office building that is currently being built is just bricks and mortar which is only temporary BUT the individuals that will be spiritually challenged and changed in these facilities will matter for ETERNITY!  So can the work you and I do “here and now” be faithfully invested in eternity?  Our prayer is that you and I will be focused “Thy will be done” and that the Master will be pleased and find us “doing” His everlasting work!

We love you all!

Rance, Jenni & Jayden

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.  BUT the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.  Psalm 103:15-18 

Prayer Requests:

• Proper balance and time management daily in the midst of busy schedules and time demands never losing sight of our purpose in bringing Father Glory and investing in what He deems as 'forever'!

• Ability to compartmentalize well ~ wherever we are, being ALL there.
• Wisdom on construction logistics and decisions being made daily on the property.
• Continued prayer on new support partners.