AUGUST 2020 UPDATE!
This is our 2nd OFB Newsletter!
BRIGITTE:
Is working full time at the hospital and seeing an increase in the amount of patients coming in for care, compared to March and April. It can still be stressful and scary and your prayers for protection are greatly appreciated! I am enjoying editing and casting BIG visions for OFB with Brandon and am so excited to see how this community will grow in the coming years. =)
brandon:
Starting to go back into the office a couple days a week but is primarily still working from home with lots of Zoom meetings and calls. There are many changes as our church (and many other churches) adjust to doing online services and connecting with the family in new ways. This pandemic cannot and will not stop God from moving and his people growing together towards each other and Him!
kids:
The kids both start school this month! Brielle this week and Benjamin next week. We’re grateful they’re able to physically attend school, but of course are still worried and taking the precautions we can to help the transition go safely and smoothly.
youtube subscribers: 3,660+ … you all rock!
goals & VISION:
Guys there is a LOT here… and we need your help. We’re starting something new as of tomorrow. We are launching Patreon and YouTube channel memberships. We do NOT expect y’all to offer financial support and NOTHING is going to change about how we connect with you.
You can watch our Patreon announcement below for details:
devotional thought:
Brandon writing here - today Brigitte got sent home from work because of COVID19 symptoms. Shes scared and, honestly, I don’t like it. It’s probably just the flu, we can’t get her tested at work for a few day but.. it causes worry. This is something she struggles with more than me but I feel the responsibility for my family. I feel the concern for our kids. I am having to remind myself of the devotional thought from last month’s newsletter - Matthew 6 wherein Jesus is teaching us about worry and telling us we can trust God. Maybe harder still is the lesson from Paul in Philippians Chapter 4: 6-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
What do you mean rejoice? My wife is feeling sick and she is constantly exposed to COVID patients and we are in the midst of a global pandemic with a new disease, the long term effects of which we still don’t know. She is worried about Benjamin missing his 1st day of Kindergarten and about there not being enough coverage at work and I am just trying to be an encourager but you say REJOICE??
Yeah… and he brings up being anxious here.. about nothing? Well… he was in prison writing this.. and the world was a crazy place and he and the other followers of Jesus were being persecuted - so I guess he gets some authority to speak on this. More important though I think is the next part. He gives us a checklist!
He says to think on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise” - by extension to NOT think on whatever DOESN’T fit these criteria - DON’T dwell on the fears and the anxiety and the problems - and he says what will happen… “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you”.
Y’all this is hard. What I love though, is that our God loves us enough to not just tell us His best for us.. but to give us a road map to accomplish it. I’m going to work on this. What are you struggling with ? Is your focus on the things that fit this list or are you focusing on everything else? Ask God to help you shift your focus so that you can have the peace of God and be able to “rejoice”!
practical tip:
Lately I’ve been BATCHING like activities and it’s really been a time saver. For instance, when I’m in the kitchen, making my breakfast or lunch I also try to do another kitchen related task - like filter our cold brew (which if you haven’t made, you should totally check out that video here and try it for yourself!), chop some fruit for the kids lunches, prep my to-go meal for work, etc. If I run upstairs to get something, I take an item that needs to go up with me and same for going downstairs. If I use the bathroom - does it need a quick wipe down? I just DO IT while I’m there so I don’t have to make a separate trip back to clean it!
This is a way I am making the most of my energy. I do like tasks in the same room and so I’m not running all over my house like a crazy person trying to frantically get everything done!
What are some ways you save time? Let us know!
