GCV Blog

Grace Church of the Valley blog.

Year One Recap: By the grace of God, 41 students are about to complete their first year! It is hard to describe the joy it has been to teach through the entire Bible in one year. The daily and systematic study of the full counsel of God has been an indescribable blessing. I am also humbled by the labor and dedication of my students, many of whom balance their studies with work, family and ministry.

Year Two: Starting September 9, we will add a second year of students. My current students will move on to studying Theology with me on Tuesday nights, and the new students will be taking Bible Survey with me on Thursday nights. Please pray that the application process would go smoothly and that the Lord would be pleased to bring many students to prepare themselves to teach His Word.

Family: Clearly motived to keep up with Abby, Noah started walking at 10 months. We are blessed with two children who love to play together. Often we have to go into their room to get them to sleep... but they are sinners too! Please pray that the Lord would save them, giving us wisdom to love and discipline them as He instructs us.

Conference: We just returned from our missionary conference in Oxnard, CA! It was encouraging and exhorting to rub shoulders with our spiritual heroes, and we were “recharged” to continue to serve Him with zeal.

Health: Though overall I feel well, some damage was done in Mexico that needs to be repaired. My cardiologist let us know a few weeks back that I will need to have open-heart surgery again to repair an aneurysm in my aortic arch. More tests need to be done to determine the exact timing, but it will probably be during Christmas or summer break. We obviously covet your prayers for our family and the Institute, and will keep you in the loop as we find out more information.

Lessons “learning”:

  1. Many of you know that I was diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz syndrome just 8 months after we were married. When I got off the phone with the cardiologist and told my wife about the need for surgery, the first thing she said to me was: “I’m so glad you didn’t know you had Loeys-Dietz... I wouldn’t change a thing.” So lesson one is learning what a treasure the Lord has given me in my wonderful wife and family.
  2. Many doctors refer to Loeys-Dietz as the ticking time bomb syndrome, because my arteries are elastic and can burst without warning. I don’t know where I’d be today if God hadn’t drawn the brevity of life upon my mutated genes, but I do know that I’m thankful for His sovereign plan in saving me, no matter what.
  3. The flesh that lies within is stronger than I can imagine. Even faced with death, which often fervently feeds my faith, I find my mind wandering into sin... what a wretched man I am! This of course, only makes me long to meet my Savior and have Him present me without blemish before the Father... what a glorious day that will be!

Thanks for your prayers and support!!!

Love,

Josiah, Crystal, Abigail and Noah Jay

Write a Comment

Comments for this post have been disabled.