If our week in Southern California was all about equipping and our week in Pennsylvania was all about unplugging, then our three weeks at a cottage in coastal  Maine was definitely about refueling and listening.  As many have asked what we did, the answer includes long strolls on the beach and through the woods, cycling the rolling hills of a coastal peninsula, hunting for hermit crabs with the kids, lots of time with the family at the pool and beach. What we did doesn’t really describe the significance of what happened: God truly used this time away to deepen my relationship with Him and with my family. I struggle to put into words how meaningful this was.

Here are a few of my personal takeaways:

• Recognize the difference between lifeless legalistic performance and grace fueled discipline.
• Believe in the power of the gospel for my life, my family, my church, and my community.
• Trust the Holy Spirit to speak to me, guide me, and empower me.
• Have confidence God wired and gifted me as a leader this way on purpose.

Throughout the course of my time there God brought a familiar scripture to my mind to meditate on:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.     Ephesians 2:8-10

I also was so reminded of how much God has blessed me to have Christin as my wife and Jude, Wren, and Skye as my children.  One of the more unexpected surprises was getting to know my four year old red headed fireball of a daughter even better.  If there’s any people I want to display the life and love Jesus with, it’s these four people who I often refer to as my favorites.   As we return to “normal life” God is leading me to make a few adjustments:

• Put my cell phone on the shelf from when I arrive home until we put the kids to bed.
• Place scriptures I need to meditate on in a place where I’ll see them consistently in our home.
• Incorporate a family devotion time (with Jesus Storybook Bible) on Saturday mornings after pancakes and before our family fun outing.
• Go to battle in prayer more often with Christin for her and the children.

Thank you again to all of you who made this possible.