New on the Spurgeon Home Front

For those of you who have been following our blog, I apologize. I'm sure that it has felt like a dog following a parked car. (Note: Not that I am equating anyone to a dog, but I am equating our "updates" to a parked car.) Upon checking the date of our last "update", it amazes me that it has been 2 1/2 years since we last posted ANYTHING about our ministry. (That is one seriously parked car!!!)

I can hear someone out in the blogosphere inquiring, "Where have you been?" and furthermore, "What have you been doing?"

Well.......

Since the last time we spoke (if we can refer to blogging as "speaking"), we have adopted a little girl, been involved in a variety of different ministry opportunities in our home church, and preached/ministered in local churches in various parts of Wisconsin (Racine, Ashland, Oshkosh, Mukwonago and Manitowoc). Two of our children have picked up, and have become somewhat proficient in new instruments. Our oldest daughter has been battling sickness for over a year, but we are seeing the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel".

(If you want to know more about life in the Spurgeon household over the last 30 months, check out "Hitting the High Notes".)

Overall, it has been a time of learning, growing, and stretching for us. God has allowed us to go through some tough times and some physically/emotionally draining times to "grow us up". (Isn't it interesting that we can be reaching milestones in our physical years, but still be needing to "grow up" in certain areas of life?) In talking to a good friend at church recently, I commented that God was using a specific trying area of our lives to make me a better dad. The realization hit me (even though the truth was there all along) that we don't grow into better "anythings" (as in dad, mom, son, daughter, sister, brother, etc.) without the tough times.

God has been amazing to us! I marvel when I think that God loves me even when I am being me!

Take care and check back often. We won't wait another 2 1/2 years to post!

Rob

P.S. Check out our website at http://www.spurgeonhomefront.org/ We will be updating it soon.

Our First Meeting

Please be in prayer for us as we head out this weekend for our first set of meetings. We are excited and a bit nervous. It seems like things are coming at us from every corner. We are still busy getting unpacked and settled and also preparing for the meetings. We are glad that God gives grace and strength!

Our first meeting is this evening. Rob will be preaching and the kids singing and doing some special musical numbers. We then have two services tomorrow. Pray for God's wisdom for us and for hearts to be touched by the power of the Word of God.

I will fill you in on the weekend when we return home. Thanks for your prayers. I trust you have a wonderful weekend and are challenged by the things of God at your church services. God is good!!

Serving Joyfully,
The Spurgeon's

Details

We are beginning to get things packed up here and ready to move into the new house God has provided for us. There is a lot to do - and we are thankful that the kids will be able to help out - they are such a blessing to us.


Today, details were made for a meeting we have coming up in September. We are excited to have our first meeting planned and we are looking forward to the time we will have with the people at Northport Baptist Church in Racine, WI.


We have had some practice times with the kids and are enjoying getting back into practicing together as a family. It has been awhile since we were able to have some time for the music.


We are looking forward to this upcoming year as we venture into the ministry to which God has called us. We covet your prayers!

Looking to Him,

~The Spurgeon's

A Plainer Path

We have searched and prayed that the Lord would direct us in finding a home. Much planning,

thought and prayers have gone into this decision.
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We found out that the owners have accepted our offer! We now start the process of a home inspection and loan approval.

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We are trusting that the Lord will work out all the details - and thankful that He has brought into a clearer focus the direction He has for us!

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We appreciate your prayers for us as we are busy with so many plans and details.

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Rejoicing in His Leading,

~The Spurgeon's

Still Searching

We found out last night that the house that we had put an offer on has been taken off the market. Our offer fell through; because it was taken off the market before our offer reached their desks. It was a bit of a blow - as we now have to start over again in our house hunting search. Yet, God knows and we are praying for His direction. It is always nice to know when God directly closes a door - and we are viewing this new development as such.



Thank You for your prayers as we continue our search for a new house.

Awaiting His Direction,

The Spurgeon's

Family Update

Just an update here on how things are going.

We spent the entire time last week in the Milwaukee area. The Lord allowed us to be able to spend our time there in an apartment that was more than adequate for our family and allowed us to be comfortable both in accommodations and in our pocketbook.

We spent the mornings helping out in VBS at Falls. It was a joy to be able to minister in our new church and also to get to know other church members during the week of ministry. Our younger children were able to participate in the VBS in the mornings while we worked. It was a blessing. Rachel was able to help out and work in the morning VBS also. It was especially wonderful for her to be able to lead two girls to the Lord. (That was a first for her and she was pretty excited about the opportunity the Lord gave her!)

Our afternoons were spent house hunting in the Milwaukee area. It was quite and adventure - (if we stayed in the right mindset that is!) We are thankful to report that we do believe that we have found the house that God has for us. We put on offer in on Friday afternoon and are expecting to hear back as to if the offer has been accepted. We are praying that it will go through without a problem.

Rachel was able to attend the teen Cola Clash in the evenings at Falls. It was a blessing for us as parents to listen as she told us how God is working in her life. She was challenged by the messages and also by other Christian teens who desire is to serve God with all their hearts.

We arrived back home here in Kaukauna late Sunday night. We are starting to get things packed here. We have a busy month ahead of us and we would covet your prayers for us during this time.

Rejoicing In His Goodness,

The Spurgeon's

An Accepted Offer

The Lord has answered our prayers!! We have an accepted offer on the house. We are scheduled to close the end of August.

We have a lot to do. We will be spending this week looking for housing. We are praying that God will clearly open the door for us and that we will unmistakeably know His will for our new home.



We are rejoicing in His workings in our lives and trusting His direction for the future.



Rejoicing in Answered Prayers,

The Spurgeon's