No More Jelly Donuts and Welcome to Mexico

It is hard to believe that Christmas is Monday!
Here is where we have been this last month:



December 3rd – New Hartford, CT
December 10th – Litchfield, ME
December 14th – Missions Night: Mexico, ME
December 16-18 – Brewer, ME


We are looking forward to the next couple weeks home side to rest and reconnect with family and friends.


Becky’s Deputation Perspective:

I only have 10 weeks left before the new baby comes! Where we are going to put it in the car when we are on the road… I do not know. Josiah’s new thing is wanting to be held like a baby when he drinks from his sippy cup, he wants to be the baby. Josiah is handling nursery’s and over nights in new houses very well. The car seat is a different story. Our neighbors let us borrow their DVD player for our four hour ride to Maine last weekend. That was a blessing. The first hour I thought it was on and Josiah starred at the “play” menu. The music really was repetitive so I checked the screen and sure enough, I didn’t hit play yet! After this he learned to say “on.”


Dad’s Deputation Perspective:
I really thought Josiah would enjoy a jelly donut. I don’t need to finish this story it’s kind of self explanatory, you’d think I’d have some foresight. Anyways 10 wipes later we had him cleaned up and after 10 more wipes we had most of the car seat and his shoes somewhat less sticky.

January is going to be a big month for us. Many churches have their annual business meetings and we are going to be voted on by several churches. Please pray that the Lord would lead.


A verse that I have been clinging to is:

Psalm 62:5
“My soul, wait thou only upon GOD; for my expectation is from HIM.”

David’s confidence, defense, and deliverance came only from God. He knew that God alone was in control. Though man seemingly plans and proceeds, it is God whom David clung to. The unchangeable, all powerful, all wise God. David didn’t wait on man to come to his aid, David’s one expectation was that God would show up and take care of him. He waited only for God.

As men pursued David and planned mischief against him their plans were in vain because an Almighty God was on David’s side. In this chapter David calls God his rock three times and also his defense, salvation and refuge, He declares that power and mercy belongeth to God.

With this view of God David then exhorts:
“Trust in him at all times; ye people”

On deputation and in daily life many times we feel like we have to wait on man for things to happen and for things to get done. I am encouraged by this verse to:
1.) STOP being anxious
2.) PRAY without ceasing
3.) WAIT only on GOD
4.) EXPECT nothing from man and everything from GOD.
5.) PRAISE God as we see Him answer.

If we expect everything from man and nothing from God we will always be let down.
and Missionary William Carey said:
“Attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God.”

Where We've Been

As Becky and I laid Josiah in his crib at about 10:30pm, he whispered "...Nigh, Nigh..." "You said it!" I told him. The last few weeks have been real busy but profitable! We took part in three back to back missions conferences:

October 28-29th Raymond Baptist Church
November 1-5th Calvary Bible Church, Derry
November 6-12th Merrimack Valley Baptist Church

We did everything from visiting Spanish and grade school classes, preaching in chapel times, and sharing our presentation. A lot of time was spent just getting to know people which was great.

Last night (Nov. 15th) I went on a solo mission to Twin Mountain Baptist Church, in Twin Mountain NH. It was about a 2 hour car ride. I raced home from work at about 4:00, showered, shaved and hit the road at 4:20. I got there at about 6:15 and set everything up for prayer meeting at 7pm.

November 18-20th - Old Saybrook, CT

Praises:
God's Provision: We are overwhelmed by the generosity of God's people. It is really humbling, knowing that the King of Kings never leaves us hanging but provides abundantly.

Many Meetings: A full fall and winter schedule in New England!

Prayer Requests:
A neighbor in our park lost her home in a devastating fire. Pray for her, that God would work out all things together for good.

That we would abide in Christ and our ministry in churches would challenge and bring about change.

A friend's mother who is battling cancer, pray for healing.

Thanks for your faithful prayers!
-Steve, for the Diem Family


On the random side of life:
-Josiah discovered the moon - very cute.
-In a blog entry I boasted, "toll booths take pennies!" - please note: some toll booths take pennies (story to follow)

Becoming Christ Conscious and Avoiding Traps

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25

To fear man is to fall into a trap. I struggle with this during meetings with Pastors or presenting our work to congregations. It is easy to become self-conscious. We question ourselves “Does the display look okay,” “Did I remember to mention,” and my personal favorite “What do you think that they thought of…” Wanting to know what people think of me is pride and makes me fall into a trap. In this trap nerves are rattled, burdens are felt, imperfections are overwhelming and mistakes become terrifying. A trap keeps something from moving and immobilizes and may eventually kill it. It’s possible to be so fearful of man that we do and say nothing. (Ever not shared your faith?)

Avoiding the trap – TRUST IN GOD
The opposite of falling into the trap of fearing man is found in this verse – "but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD…” We must turn our self-consciousness to Christ- consciousness! We can be aware of His presence and have confidence in His Word. We can put trust in CHRIST, His Word and His Power. What REST there is in His strength and grace. Those who do so are, as this verse says, “safe.” They are free from traps, free from ulcers and stress! They are free to walk close after Christ unhindered. A walk that seeks to bring Glory to Him and not compliments to ourselves.

Here are some practical steps that I use in avoiding the fear of man trap:
1.) Pray for all things and for all activities.
2.) Leave the consequences and outcome to God.
3.) Be committed to doing what is right and saying what is true.
4.) Rest in Christ - don't replay conversations and events in your mind. We can always overthink something, but we can never over pray!!


Itinerary Update

Please be in prayer for Becky and me during this fall season. God has been so faithful in giving us meetings, please pray for our support to come in. Here is our updated itinerary:
Oct 15 - Castleton, VT
Oct 21 - Wedding in NH
Oct 22 - Surry, NH
Oct 23 - New England Bible College
Oct 25 - Burlington, MA
Oct 26 - Durham, NH
Oct 28-29 - Missions Conf. Raymond, NH

Stay clear of traps!
- Steve

Whirlwind Tour of New England

In New York City last summer, as I stood up to preach the gospel in the subway, I opened my mouth and everyones eyes were on me. My mind was racing – is this crazy? will people listen? And sure enough, people listened, people believed, and people accepted Christ! The same feeling sweeps over me on Thursday morning as I begin to make phone calls. Will we get a meeting this week? Is this crazy? – God is faithful! And does not let us down! Nor will He ever!
Praise God! We’ve had some good meetings this last month. And to God’s glory have started to into 2007. September has been a tour of New England. We think of our “road trips” and that meaning 6+ hours a day on the road, but this does not compare with some of our colleagues at BMW who have been around the country and back! But here has where we have been:

August 27th – (PM) - Heritage Baptist Church, Hooksett NH

September 1st – (FRI) We visited Haven of Rest Baptist Church, West Haven CT
Calvary Bible Church, Plainville CT

September 2nd – (SAT) Family Reunion – Wakefield, RI

September 10th – (AM/PM) Calvary Bible Church, Narragansett RI

September 17th – (AM) - We visited Free Baptist Church, Waterboro ME
Pastor Charlie Storey and his wife fed us lunch, Josiah took a nap
and we were on our way to a meeting at (PM) South Gardiner Baptist
Church, S. Gardiner ME

September 24th - (AM) Walnut Grove Baptist Church, Rochester NH
(PM) FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH, CHESTER NH!!


Things We’ve Learned:
- Toll booths do take pennies (first take them out of the roll!)
- I don’t think Hudson Taylor had a laptop with a DVD player to keep his kids entertained,
nor a bottle of bubbles projected by a an AC vent.
- I learned not to be controlled by my notes when preaching