We recently finished a neighboring study with a small group from our church on the book, Placed for a Purpose, A Simple and Sustainable Vision for Loving Your Next-Door Neighbors. This study really helped us focus on what it means to love our neighbors. 

Here is a short excerpt from the book.

"God makes it clear in the Bible that a true response to his sacrificial love is demonstrated by our love for God and our neighbors. "On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40, ESV). This is the big picture of our Creator's plan for us. God gave us new life by faith in Jesus so that we might be salt and light, bringing blessing to the people and places in our contexts. This is good, hard work, and our culture makes it even more challenging for us to learn to love strangers and to share our hope in the gospel with them."

We each have truly been "placed for a purpose" by God in our neighborhoods, workplaces and communities. How we approach this placement has the potential to really make a difference in the Kingdom and reshape how we view those around us.

We are praying regularly that we show God's love to our neighbors in our current location, and we look forward with hope to how God may use us in the neighborhood to come. We also lift each of you up, that you might be salt and light in the neighborhoods where you live.

Texas transition update

We were able to take a trip to the metroplex last month to get a better feel for the area. While we don't know yet where we will land it was very helpful. Now when looking at houses online we at least have a better understanding of the surrounding areas. Another thing we learned while in the DFW area is that it is a very difficult housing market for buyers. We are currently thinking that we will place our house on the market late April, hope to close late May with a lease back option of 30-45 days while we look for a house in DFW.  We are trusting God that he has just the house, in just the right area and neighborhood for us. Please join us in praying that we will be sensitive to His leading in the days ahead.

"Going into this weekend my husband and I were coming off the toughest time in our marriage. It was slowly getting better, but my fear was that we would slide back if we didn’t focus on our relationship. This weekend gave us hope and practical information that I feel that God needed us to hear to turn back to him and save our marriage." 

Married 9 years

"This weekend tied together many things that God has been working on in my heart for months. I have now a clear mission and plan of action. Live out my marriage the way God intended."

Married 1 year

• • • • • • Please pray God would give us clear direction about where exactly we will move.

          • Pray for the timing of the listing of our house, move to TX and finding a house - all while in the midst of planning my Plano Weekend to Remember.

          • Pray for Rachel as she is finishing Grad school and looking for a place to rent. 

          • Pray for the events team as we have our 1st Weekend to Remember in over a year this week in Branson. We have almost 600 people signed up and we are praying that all of the COVID adjustments won't detract from what God has for each couple.

This spring we currently have 7 events scheduled, but check the website for the most current information. Group code thebarbers to save $100.

• • • Branson -  Chateau on the Lake - March 26 - 28

    • Indianapolis -  Marriott Downtown - Apr. 16 -18

    • Plano - Renaissance Legacy West - June 4 - 6

More events and information at familylife.com/events.