Don’t let your relationship with God fall into a mechanical rut.

If you’re like me, you’re already thinking about how to make the new year better than the current year. Been thinking about that for a while, actually.

In fact, I’m using this week of holidays to get a few things moving. Today I set up my bike trainer in the family room, started outlining a new book and am going to tackle some family projects.

I also think about how I want to recalibrate my own relationship with God.

Like any relationship, it can fall into a rut. If you’re not careful, what was once meaningful can easily become mechanical.

Or maybe you’re new to a relationship with God, and you’re looking for a way to begin a relationship with him. I realize my tips are mostly around reading the Bible, but here’s what I find:

The more I engage the Scriptures, the more I engage God.

Here are five ways to kickstart your devotional life:

1. Find Your Best Personal Time.

For me, it’s a no-brainer. I’m always best in the morning. If I try to spend time with God at night, I fall asleep (it’s nothing personal—I also treat late-night movies, friends and family the exact same way after 10 p.m.). I love having time with God between 5 and 6 a.m. I’m fully awake, engaged and present.

What’s your best personal time? Give it to God. You’ll grow.

OK, I better come clean. I have a bias. I think everyone should become a morning person. I think there are inherent advantages you don’t get any other way. I started becoming a morning person in my early 30s and have never looked back.

Think you can’t do it? Michael Hyatt shows you how.¹

2. Find the Medium That’s Best for You.

I’m a reader, so a written Bible has always equalled awesome for me. But a few years ago I discovered I had stopped reading my Bible in a fresh way because I had been reading it for so many years. The words didn’t feel fresh anymore because they had become so familiar.

Around that time I had bought my first iPhone. I downloaded the YouVersion app² and suddenly I found I was reading the Bible as though it was the first time. Every word looked new, even though I had read it before. And that meant my connection with God and the Bible was stronger. The only thing I changed was the media. Now I read it off my tablet with the same effect.

Experiment with mediums. See which one works best for you. If you don’t like reading, get an audio Bible and listen.

References

1. ^shows you how. (michaelhyatt.com)
2. ^YouVersion app (www.youversion.com)
3. ^Here’s a sampling (www.youversion.com)
4. ^One Year Bible (www.oneyearbibleonline.com)
5. ^other reading plans out there (www.youversion.com)

Here is our Newsletter for the month of October. Also, I have attached a copy of Faith Academy’s staff needs. Please look over it and spread the word if you know of anyone interested in serving God in the Philippines.

Thank you all, and God bless!

Stephen and Amy Black

Dear friends and family,

As you may have heard, Amy tore the ACL in her right knee in September while coaching soccer. She has already had two surgeries on her left knee for ACL issues. We are praying that this is the last.

This unfortunate injury has made coaching PE difficult for Amy. It has also given Amy much pain—at the time of the accident, in surgery, and in physical therapy since.

We have also seen God’s grace and provision in this experience. Several families at school have taken it upon themselves to provide rides to the doctor, food after surgery, and much needed friendship. We are grateful for the work and attention of a physical therapist at Faith who connected us with the (exceptionally skilled) doctor and will oversee Amy’s physical therapy. Amy expects to be in therapy until around February of next year.

TWO WEEKS                                             TWO MONTHS

A few distinctly positive elements offset the stress of this semester. For one, we are looking forward to the wedding of Amy’s little sister in January. This means that we will be “home” with our families in the States for Christmas.

For another, we are striking up a friendship with a family at school. Amy taught their daughter in PE last year, so we already acquainted. This semester they took us on a weekend getaway to a guesthouse in Tagaytay that belongs to their mission. It was probably the most relaxed we have been since before school started.

Speaking of school, God has provided for me to take a full load of school this year through a government grant. I was originally opposed to the idea of being a full time student, but I am still able to volunteer at Faith, and I will earn my degree much sooner than expected, so it has turned out to be a blessing. I only have to complete 13 classes and an internship to earn my degree. I am hopeful that I will graduate in the spring of 2014.

Thank you, as always, for your loving prayers and support!

God bless!

Stephen and Amy Black

Becky and I’ve been enjoying the fresh fruit, unique architecture, BOLD colors & designs (similar to Hawaiian prints), tropical scenery and flora, famous sights, beaches, friendly people, snorkeling, seeing the 2nd largest Aquarium in the world AND seeing my great nephew, ANDREW HASKENHOFF! WOW…it was such a treat! Andrew was a perfect host…showing us the base, introducing us to his buddies, shopping at the PX, eating at Pizza Hut, Burger King and a sit-down restaurant called Tradewinds…talk about a FULL BUFFET!! It was HUGE!! The portions were NOT Japanese standards!

We also got to worship with Andrew on Sunday and that was one of my highlights! Worshiping in English — hearing the scripture read and being able to understand; singing to God and understanding what I am saying; Hearing the sermon and being able to understand by myself without Becky translating– it was such a GREAT experience!! REMEMBER, I work in Japan and there are about 8 million gods – 3 million Shinto gods alone! So to sit with Andrew and worship the SAME God…the ONE, TRUE, God of heaven and earth, together…UN-forced! It was VERY special for me! Something that I do not take for granted!

On our flight home, Becky and I experienced the topping on our whole experience – we met some of the Japanese Para-Olympic team. The man I am sitting next to is Tomiya Ito who has taken Gold at the last three Olympics in wheel chair racing in 100, 200, 400 and 800 m…he’ll retire after these Olympics at 48! It was so exciting to meet and chat with them!! OF COURSE, Becky and I are rooting for them all-the-way!!!

Churaumi Aquarium with Andrew

On Plane with Japan Para-Olympians

God blessed our trip soooo incredibly I just HAD to share a bit with you. THANX for sharing my joy and persisting in prayer for me and our work here!! ‘I’m praying you are having a Great time where you’re at, as well!

MUCH love …
(Aunt) Carol

Carol Potratz
carol.potratz@yahoo.com

We felt blessed to spend the last six weeks with all our loved ones in the States. What felt like a whirlwind tour is now over and we have finally unpacked our suitcases for the last time…for a while.While in the States, we were able to attend my oldest sister, Amanda’s wedding. It was a awesome opportunity to meet with most of the extended Black family, as they consider every wedding an excuse for a family reunion.Also along with seeing many supporters, we got the chance to relax and celebrate our 3rd anniversary on June 21st. We spent it in the Black Hills, where we honeymooned 3 years ago, and it was so lovely.

Meeting my sister’s boyfriend, Matt, was also very special, as he is a great guy and it was so important for us to be able to get to know him better.

We arrived back in Manila July 18th, and immediately got started with meetings and getting ready for school. Between Friday the 20th and Thursday Aug 2 (the first day of school), we went to new staff orientation, all staff retreat, and staff meetings.

Now we are in full swing, and Amy finally received six boxes of supplies for the cosmetology course that she is teaching this year. It was doubtful whether the boxes would arrive before school started, so Amy is excited. The class has gotten off to a wonderful start and the girls love it.

I still do not know what I will be teaching, but am not too worried about it. I have been subbing for the learning center until the teacher arrives from the States, and assisting with ELL. We will see if that sticks. This semester I will be attempting three or four classes with Moody, with hopes that my workload with Faith will be somewhat less than last year and I will be able to finish my degree sooner.

Right now, we are in the middle of a typhoon that is flooding most of Manila. We are safe, but pray for the many people being evacuated and losing all they have.

Overall, school has gotten off to a good start, although for the past two days school has been canceled because of the flooding here. But we hope to be back at it again soon.

God bless,

Stephen and Amy Black

  ]]> http://www.pilgrimbaptist.com/amy-stephen-black-newsletter-aug-8th-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.pilgrimbaptist.com/home-of-hope-2012/ http://www.pilgrimbaptist.com/home-of-hope-2012/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 06:14:01 +0000 Harry Leung http://pilgrimbaptist.com/?p=411

This July a team of young adults will be sent down by the people of Pilgrim Baptist Church to build a small, but safe and weather-proof home for a family in need.  Our team is partnering with YWAM Mazatlan and replacing a shack made of scrap metal, wood, and wire, with a proper home with walls, roof, windows, locking doors, and a concrete floor.  Living here in Vancouver it can be hard to imagine a home without doors, windows, locks, and a floor that turns to mud in heavy rains, yet many families around the world live in these conditions.  We are a small church, but we can still do small things together, and this is just one of the ways we are focusing our time and resources on those in need here and around the world.  We could never buy a home for someone in Vancouver, but in Mexico, it doesn’t take much.  We are using funds that we’ve been accumulating for several years, but we are still trying to raise an additional $5000 for building materials, as well as another $4000 for the cost of travel, accommodations, food, and program fees for our 15-member team.  Most of members of the team are contributing hundreds of their own dollars, months of preparation, and also missing a full work week.  We are looking to partner with other Vancouver people in this humanitarian project, including both individuals and local businesses.  Here is a link to give you more information in regards to the type of home we are building, the types of materials we will be using, and how this simple project and relatively small amount of money can change, even save lives, not to mention give safety and security to women and children in a very vulnerable situation.  Please think about it and explore the following link: http://www.ywammazatlan.com/homes-of-hope.

If you feel motivated to do something good for a family in Mexico, please contact the team leader (Curtis Collins curtiscollins2010@gmail.com) for more information or details on how to make a financial contribution.  We have a deadline of May 31st for ordering our building materials.  Thank you.

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Last Updated: June 27th 2012