Stories in the Missional Journey of Bruce & Deborah Crowe

February 4, 2014

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Abigail first skate. That’s about as far as we got.

Our Christmas in Canada is but a vague and pleasant memory!  We’re back in Ukraine. Kids back in school, bringing home various flu-like symptoms that have kept us mostly stationary this past week.  My lovely wife is bed ridden today as the next casualty.  The power goes out for about 6hrs today in our neighborhood.

I discovered a new water leak coming from our furnace, that makes two sneaky leaks this week.  Paid 3,000hrv yesterday for the Cafe’s new electric meter – a requirement now that we’re officially a ‘business’.  They are installing a new phase/switch board to better balance the random jolts of juice our area is known for.  Still no gas, but glimmers of hope coming from the regional office, they’ve started saying ‘next week’ instead of ‘next month’.

photo-1Closed our programming office this month.  Too unpredictable, too cold.  Our rink is in full use, perfect weather.  I think we’ll text out some invites tonight for some night skating.  We have about 20 pairs of skates.  We had the local orphanage kids to our house to skate this weekend, they had a blast.  I was an idiot and put halogen lamps next to my window to provide light to the skaters.. from the INSIDE of my house.  Cracked two windows simultaneously.

Launched a 4 month project this past week, and the guys in Texas another 1.5yr project this past weekend for The Brooklyn Tabernacle.  Big relief, but now time to recalibrate and pray about what focus needs to be.  All of us can get busy.  Busy fixing, running around.  Too often I feel last year I was vested in the wrong things.  Emotionally and spiritually engaged in good, but not what the Lord had directed necessarily.  I’m trying to hear His voice more in this area, being caution before committing and knowing my limitations.   I think the first step may be recognizing you have them.

A verse that really encouraged me over the holidays was this promise in Proverbs 16:3:

“Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established.”

I think our ‘works’ consist of the greater, overarching actions of our life.  This might consist of our parenting, our marriage, our workplace, our interests, our time.  What are we doing with our life?  What is the motivating influence for how, what, where and when we spend our energy?  Commit your life’s work, your individual works, your mission – to the Lord.

The promise is that those plans will produce results.  I don’t want to chase my tail, or be swallowed up in a mire of anxiety.  I want my plans established, solid, sure, and to be meaningful in God’s economy.   I want my life to count.   I need to start by giving, laying down, setting before, committing my life and all the works it may consist of to Christ – then trust, and walk in faith.

May the month of Feb be filled with commitments to the right things, pleasing our Lord and bringing pleasure to Him.

Blessings to you,

Bruce & Deb

2 Comments

  1. Lindsey

    Good message! Nice to read an update 🙂

  2. mom

    great to see a update. praying that the cafe will open very very soon.

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