The Wilkes Team

“…..but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life (Pr 13:12 ).”

The long awaited moment had come! Numerous obstacles had arisen, plans changed, opportunities to rejoice  abounded, but when at last our van pulled into the driveway of the Stelzl’s home, a season of inspiration and encouragement began!

Though the North Carolina skies stood full of thick, dark clouds and heavy rains were just beginning to fall, spirits were lifted & warmed as the fellowship began: laughing  together, making meals, cleaning up the dishes, catching up on each others lives, playing games, and even sharing goals for the new year!

Reports were heard on how the Lord is opening doors for the Stelzl family to disciple others in their local community! How? Through faithfully studying the Word of God and strengthening their relationships with Him, they are equipped to give an answer to a watching world – praise the Lord!

During family devotions the next morning, Mr. Stelzl asked everyone to share how the Lord has been working in our lives. We heard testimonies on listening to the Lord, hospitality, discipleship, and how God’s Word is changing hearts.

Thank you Stelzl family for being a living testimony of hospitality. We felt right at home! May the Lord use the work He is doing in your family as a means of encouraging and discipling many more.

The desire came and it was a tree of life indeed!

5 Comments » | posted in Family News

Our Happy Hannah brings us so much joy!

Hannah’s love for the Lord encourages us all greatly. One way that Hannah encourages us is by her faithfulness in finding time each day to read her bible. She delights in spending time with the Lord! Even if that means waiting on having breakfast! She desire to keep that special time set aside for the Lord.

Another way that Hannah blesses us is by her thoroughness in doing whatever task she has been given. You can count on Hannah to do her absolute best!

Without each member of the Wilkes Team doing their part we would fall apart! Hannah plays a very key role and we look forward to this new year of doing many special things together. Happy Birthday Happy Hannah!

4 Comments » | posted in Family News

The preciousness of each individual member within a family is all too often overlooked until they are absent for even a short time. Jennifer has been absent for the past couple days for a time of service to a dear family down south. The picture up above shows her plane’s current position as of 10 minutes ago, and my are we excited! A special meal featuring one of Jennifer’s favorite dishes has been postponed until we arrive back from the airport. As many as possible will be piling into the van to greet and her at the airport with a good old Virginia welcome!

This brings to mind the importance of never taking for granted the meaningful years spent all together as a family. Some friends up in Connecticut have recognized the brevity of life and so are encouraging others to invest time and energy into those things so many wished to have accomplished earlier in life – like the building of family relationships and memories.

4 Comments » | posted in Family News, Tid Bits

The great attention to detail, order, and beauty within Williamsburg was a real joy to behold during our December visit to Williamsburg. 

It is a testimony to the Word of the Lord when He beheld His creation and declared, “…it was very good (Gen. 1:31).” Why do such manifestations as the golden mean, evenly ordered landscapes, and beautiful floral arrangements strike such awe and wonder to the eyes of the beholder? They are in harmony with what God designated as beautiful.

Furthermore, as was accounted of in a post early last year, beauty and order should be present at our abodes, ”So…That the traveler would not have passed it, without wishing to see it’s inhabitants: and the weary wanderer would have approached the door, in confidence of a kind welcome to nourishment and repose.” It creates a hospitable atmosphere so that souls may be warmed with the love of and thereby drawn to our Shepherd and Creator, Jesus Christ.

Christmas time in Williamsburg is beautiful!

4 Comments » | posted in HIS-story, Photography

We rejoice over the work of the Lord in 2009. It was a year full of changes for our country. A year full of Providential encounters. A year full of opportunities to recognize that God is still Sovereign over the affairs of men. As one dear uncle put it, He is not up there wringing His hands over what is taking place on the earth.

The year 2010 comes with an abundance of anticipation, wonder, and excitement. As God’s children, we have been entrusted with the Truth, life changing principles, and inspiring testimonies for to share. We are living stones of remembrance that should spark questions and wonder from the world around us so that many may be drawn to Christ.

With the advent of a new year, many are filled with aspirations for improvement and change. Goals are good, but what will be the steps of action unto the completion of the goals. How do these goals line up with the Word of God, the family vision, and God’s specific call upon your life?

Over this next week, we are looking forward to, as a family, reviewing the goals of last year and setting the sights for 2010. Last year, we found this time to be of great benefit and would encourage every family to spend at least an evening or two planning out definitive goals with as much specific steps of action as you can. It takes time and effort but the rewards are well worth the investment.

Here are two earlier posts that help provide some direction on family goal making:

Ponder, Prepare, Perform

Show me a way to get more things done.

as well, a list of questions for you to review the year with as your finish up your 2009 journals.

May the Lord draw your family closer together this year. May He strengthen your relationships one with another. For as families draw close together around Jesus Christ the church is unified and the world glorifies God.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:34-35).

May each of our families be tools in the Master’s hands unto the proclamation of His name unto the world!

Happy New Year

2 Comments » | posted in Tid Bits