Well, it has been far too long since my last post, and I apologize to everyone for the delay in providing an update. It was Spring of 2018 when I last sent something out and so much has changed since then. Below is a recap of the last 18 months in the life of the Filbrun family. As you can see from the image above, the kids have grown and changed quite a bit over the months and it is incredible how the Lord has faithfully worked in our lives for His Glory and our good!
I (Aaron) just finished my next to last semester in seminary (98 units completed!) and am scheduled to graduate with my M.Div next May, 2020! This has been an incredible journey over these last 4+ years and the Lord has taught me so much from His Word. During this time I have also been employed at The Master's Seminary and currently am the Chief of Staff there. My role has shifted and expanded over my nearly 3 years working at TMS and I currently oversee Staff and Student Services there. It has been such a privilege to work with so many godly men and women, being used to help train and equip men for ministry around the world. The Lord has been so kind to use our time at TMS and at Grace Community Church to stretch Trish and I and the kids and make us more like Christ. Over the last two years I have also had the opportunity to lead two Short Term Ministry trips to New Zealand where Trish and I (along with some amazing people) were able to strengthen and support Riverbend Bible Church in Hastings, New Zealand. What a wonderful opportunity to see the Body of Christ around the globe ministering the Word faithfully. I am also currently completing my studies for a MABC (Master's in Biblical Counseling) from The Master's University which should be completed in Spring of 2021. In Combination these two degree programs (M.Div and MABC) have been incredibly helpful in preparing me for pastoral ministry. During these same 18 months, the Lord has been faithful to continually provide ministry opportunities at GCC and in other venues. I am honored to be the Bible Study leader over the Generations Bible study. We have been a part of this group since coming to TMS and the people in our group have become dear friends who encourage and exhort us day by day. The Lord has also given opportunities to preach in the Mainstream Fellowship group at GCC and at some other churches in the area. Through all of this, God has continually humbled Trish and I and caused us to depend more fully upon Him. How true the Scriptures are that all good gifts come from God and that we can do nothing without Him! Trish is doing well and the Lord has been so kind to continue to grow and mature her in Christ. She has had the opportunity to help lead the ladies of Generations and has been involved in SemWives (A fellowship for current seminary wives) and Every Woman's Grace (A woman's Bible study at GCC). She is the perfect helpmate and a constant encouragement and support for me throughout my studies here. Over the past 4+ years Trish has had the pleasure of homeschooling our four kids and she (and they) have grown immensely through their studies (as a part of the Classical Conversations homeschool community at GCC). Aidan is now 14 1/2 years old and is totally into surfing and football right now. He is in Challenge 1 at CC and has learned so much over the past several years. Annika is almost 13 and has blossomed into a beautiful young woman. She loves volleyball, hand lettering, and anything crafty. Austin just turned 10 and is a joyful young man who loves legos and sports (especially football) and gets excited about pretty much everything! Ava is 8 1/2 and is growing up too fast. She loves to crochet, write stories about animals, and cook fancy foods she invents. Currently, I am in the midst of that awkward stage of transitions as Trish and I consider where the Lord would have us go next. We have enjoyed our time at TMS and GCC and are seeking where the Lord would have us go next. The hardest challenge of the Seminary process hast to be the separation that occurs when men complete training and leave to minister elsewhere. I am currently candidating at a church in Carlsbad, CA and am prayerfully submitting to wherever God might take us next. These years of seminary have reinforced, time and again, the reality that God is sovereign over our lives and working behind the scenes to move providentially in our lives. We trust Him and His will for our lives and are more and more excited about how we might serve Him in the present and the future. Thank you for your prayers and continuing encouragement and love. May the Lord be exalted through our lives and may we be a useful instrument for His Glory!
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Some seasons of life feel like a blur...that is what the past year has felt like to me. I realized today that I had not been on our website to update you all in about a year! How can this be? Where has the time gone? Well, I decided to sit down at my computer and start updating...so, here it goes.
Thank you all for your continuing prayers for us as we pursue the Lord's direction in our lives. We have learned so much and are growing immensely in our faith and trust in the Lord. In Christ, Aaron Do you ever feel like life is a series of steep hikes up rough terrain, with little reward and seemingly no end in sight? Sometimes it seems as though we are struggling along this journey in a mist so thick that we cannot see the reason for our toil. And then God gives us those moments when we get above the mist and can simply rest and see how far He has brought us! We look around us and see the beauty of the mountaintops that we would never have observed without the difficulty of the climb. In many ways this is what this season in our life has been. Over the past 6 years we have went through a season of change and trial and difficulty. In 2011 our house was broken into and we many of our possessions were stolen (God taught us to trust Him and not to trust in stuff); In 2012-2013 Five close relatives went to be with the Lord in a 10-month period (God taught us to appreciate and value the relationships we are blessed with and trust His Sovereign plan and timing); In 2014 God called me to pursue training for ministry which ultimately led to quitting my job, selling our house and moving to Southern California (God taught us to trust Him by stepping out in faith, even when it did not all work out on paper); In 2015 right before making that our son, Austin fell and cut his leg and an ER visit and a few stitches turned into a deadly infection, a fight for his life, and a new understanding of the frailty of the human body (God taught us to trust in the Great Physician rather than the wisdom of man); In 2016-2017 we have experienced living in a new place, with new jobs, a new school situation for our kids, a new church family, and new responsibilities and pressures, and through it all God has ever been Faithful and we have learned to trust Him ever more deeply! This is the background that I contemplate as I update you all today. Life is but a vapor but our God is the Creator and Sustainer of All things! He is continually teaching us to be more like Christ and to depend more and more upon Him. He never fails us, nor forsakes us, but ever provides for us! O Lord, Our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1) All that said, I must confess that it has been far too long since my last update (December of 2016!). I apologize profusely and want to thank all of you for your continuing prayers and encouragement as we continue on this journey. A great deal has changed since my last update and I wanted to take a few moments to update you on those changes so you can know how to rejoice with us and pray for us!
God has been so Good to us and continues to amaze us with His love and care for our family! We are busy and tired and yet rejoicing as we are being equipped and trained for future ministry and yet being used even now in ministry here at Grace Community Church. We are excited about the summer and our upcoming trip to Modesto in June. I will be preaching at RHC on Sunday, June 18th and we will be in Modesto for about a week to do some painting with my dad and brothers. We would love to hear how the Lord is working in your lives as well and thank God daily for the friends and family who continually intercede for us in prayer.
Seems incredible to think that another Fall has quickly come and gone. And what a wonderful Fall it was. The kids continue to grow in so many ways and I cannot believe how much they have learned since starting Classical Conversations (Much of the credit must go to Trishia and her amazing teaching!). The Fall was a very busy semester for me, as I took more units than I should have and ended up feeling behind or close to it throughout the semester. Praise God that He gave both the strength and endurance to finish well and learn so much this semester from His Word. As far as the rest of the Fall went, the time was full and enjoyable... In September, Trishia began attending Every Woman's Grace (Women's Bible Study at GCC) and also had the opportunity to share her testimony in the TMS Sem Wives group (I have posted the link to the audio here along with a link to her written testimony here). The kids also started attending AWANA again (Aidan and Annika are in T&T, Austin and Ava are in Sparks) and had a wonderful time hiding God's Word in their heart. Most importantly, in the mid-September, Austin made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior! What a joy it is to see your children walking with the Lord, and growing in faith and obedience to God and His Word. In early October, we journeyed back North to celebrate the wedding of Trishia's brother, Justin. We had a great time seeing family and enjoying the weekend. My buddy Colby and his new wife and family came to visit us in October as well, and I was blessed with the opportunity to preach at the Mainstream Fellowship Group at Grace. Trish and I also celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary on October 10th (God answered our prayers through some dear seminary friends who volunteered to watch our kids for us so that we could go out for a nice dinner). In November, Trishia's mom came down to celebrate Trishia's Birthday and stayed for a long weekend with us. We spent Trishia's birthday on a beautiful Malibu beach and enjoyed time with Nana. For Thanksgiving, we stayed in the area and hosted some families from TMS who are either from out of the State (Minnesota and Arizona) or out of the Country (South Africa, Australia, and India). We had about 30 people in our home, and it was a busy but very enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. It was great seeing non-Americans enjoying their first Thanksgiving and for some their first taste of Turkey! December is always crazy as we tried to juggle the end of the semester with all of the traditions and celebrations we like to enjoy. At the beginning of the month, my mom and dad surprised Austin on his 7th birthday by showing up at our door. We had a great opportunity to go to Legoland for next to no cost, and so grandma & grandpa came down and went with us down to Carlsbad. Early December also saw all of the decorating and preparations for Christmas. We got to see the reindeer at the LA zoo, finally beat the traffic and made it to the top of the Griffith Observatory, saw the lights at Hastings Place in Pasadena (literally 250+ houses decorated for the holidays), and enjoyed making Christmas cookies and goodies at home. We have thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas season and are excited about what the New Year has in store. God has been so faithful throughout 2016 and continues to amaze us daily with His goodness and mercy bestowed on us. It is incredible to think that we are already 3 semesters into our TMS journey. And, while we still have 3+ years to go, I can see how quickly it will fly by. We are so thankful for God's continuing provision in our lives and look forward to what the future holds. Thank you so much for all of your continuing prayers. We plan on making it back to Modesto for a longer stay this coming summer and hope to see many of you then. I will also try to update this site a little more regularly in the Spring. Well, it is hard to believe, but the summer has quickly flown by and we find ourselves on the precipice of another Fall in Los Angeles! Oh and what a summer it has been. Our family has experienced much over the past several months from fun times at the zoo, the beach, and the California Science Center. We have celebrated good times with others including birthdays (Aidan's 11th, and Ava's 5th), a wedding (my nephew Jesse), a trip to see the Giants play in San Fran, and many dinners with friends at our home. God has used the summer to strengthen our convictions and to give us new opportunities to share Christ with others, give comfort to those in pain, and preach His Word. We have enjoyed sweet times of fellowship at our amazing Church (Grace Community Church), in our great fellowship group (Mainstream), and with our home group (Generations). Furthermore, God has continually provided for our every need and has blessed us with consistent work along with the strength and energy to complete it.
What do all of the above items have in common? GOD's Provision and Grace! The picture above was taken on top of Mt. Pinos which we summited last weekend while enjoying the outdoors. It was a two mile hike to the top of the mountain and the Filbrun family made it just as the sun was setting in the West. We rushed to get to the top and then spent a short amount of time there and then quickly hurried back down as darkness settled in for the night. I think life is often a lot like that hike. We spend so many of our days trying to finish the task in front of us so we can tackle the one on deck. We rush from task to task unaware of the beauty and purpose of the very thing we are striving to accomplish. We miss the joy of the process and the enjoyment of the prize because we are more concerned with the next thing. What a reminder that hike was for me to slow down and enjoy each day, each opportunity, each gift from the hand of our Heavenly Father! He is so Good to us and is so kind and loving to his children. So many believers I know (often myself included) live lives full of complaining and anxiety, hiking life's mountains as it were with little joy and little peace. Sadly that is not how God wants us to live out the Christian life. Life is not always easy and the road to the Celestial City is full of trials and tribulations but we need not be afraid, we need not worry or complain, for Christ is ever with us. Remember the great words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1, "3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 [He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Been a while since my last post, primarily because of the busyness of the end of the Semester. Well, the good news is that the semester is now over and God has been so Faithful to us over these past several months. Below is a quick synopsis of some ways in which He has been so kind.
I finished my Spring semester in early May and was so blessed by the classes I was able to take and the lessons and information I was able to learn. I am taking one class this summer (in June), called Biblical Conflict Resolution. I also was accepted to the MABC (Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling) program at The Masters University (new name - changed from The Masters College just recently) which I will be taking courses concurrently with my TMS schedule. So in the Fall I will be taking 13 units at TMS and 2 units at TMU. Our summer looks to be a very busy one. Trish and the kids will finish up their school year completely at the end of this month and then they will be able to enjoy some much earned summer fun. They have worked so hard this year and are deserving of a nice break. I am now working full time in my painting business and have work coming in all the time. God has been so kind to us and has provided for our needs at every turn. His compassions never fail and His mercies are truly new every Morning! We look forward to all that He has in store for us this coming summer and pray that we will be faithful to follow Him wherever He leads. It is incredible to think that we have been down here in LA now for nearly a year! We have a large storehouse of memories and examples of the continuing trustworthiness of our God! May He receive all Glory, Honor, and Praise! Well it has been a little while since my January update so I thought I would take a few moments on this rainy morning in SoCal to update everyone on what has been going on since last time I posted. We have now officially lived down here for 6 months and it is incredible all that has happened in this half of a year. God has been so very gracious and kind to us and has poured out such blessing on us. We thought that we were moving to LA for seminary training, but God wanted us to move to LA for sanctification and spiritual growth. Isn't it amazing how a man plans his steps and yet God determines his course!
So what has been going on? let me describe some of the important happenings that have occurred over the last month and a half. February was an interesting month that ended up being full of sickness. Trish and Ava both got sick near the beginning of the month and fought it throughout most of the month. Fortunately, the rest of the kids and myself did not come down with it, at least not in the same strength and duration as Trish did so I was able to care for Trish and help around the house as needed during that time. I will say, I do not make a very good mother nor homemaker! It's amazing how much I appreciate Trish when she is sick and I realize all that she does around our home. At the end of the month Trish and the kids drove up to Modesto and spent 7 days with family (I had to stay home because of work and school). They had a great time with family and friends and were able to see Trishia's sister and her family from Boise. I must say that a week in an empty house was almost unbearable - it is interesting how you come to enjoy noise and constant action and yes, even clutter and kids messes! Ok, maybe not the messes, but needless to say, I was very ready for the 5 of them to get home so I could see them. God was gracious to protect them on the roads both there and back and they arrived home on March 1. As for my classes over the past couple months, I am now over half way through the Spring semester and am enjoying my classes immensely. I especially like my Biblical Exposition of Prayer class which has probably impacted me more than any class I have ever taken. The time I have been able to spend studying the doctrine of Prayer and then putting that into practice has been life changing! Prayer, which has so often in my life been an afterthought, has become a staple of my life. God has been so kind to help me grow in this area and has given me opportunities to pray with others regularly. At TMS we have prayer meeting every Tuesday/Thursday morning at 6:30am and in February I started a lunch time Prayer meeting every Thursday on campus for guys who could not make morning prayer. Those hours of prayer with brothers from all around the globe have been some of the sweetest times I have ever experienced as we pray for one another and intercede on behalf of our world. I did not realize how little prayer was a part of my life before coming to TMS, and now I cannot imagine my day without time spent with the Lord in committed prayer. Speaking on the topic of prayer, I have to give God all the glory and praise for his continuing provision for us physically as well. I came to TMS without a job and only the intention of starting a painting business. I had no clients (save 1) and no idea how to go about starting a business in this area. So we prayed and I began sharing that prayer request with others in our Bible Study. Well our prayers have been answered far beyond what I expected. In February I was able to complete my Contractor's License (Passed the exam and finished all of the paperwork-just waiting on the State to send me my license) and am now officially Aaron Filbrun Painting. God has been so good to send me customer after customer and I am now dealing with the problem of trying to find time to finish all of the jobs that are coming my way. I have had the great privilege of working for some wonderful people who have passed my name on to other wonderful people and thus my business has grown and continues to grow. Now I am prayerfully considering whether or not I should hire some guys this summer to help me (there are some seminary guys who could use the work and this may be a way I can bless them with wages greater than they could earn elsewhere, and they could help me complete the many jobs upcoming). Oh how kind is our Lord! Another area of answered prayer has come in the last couple of weeks. Since arriving here and plugging in at Grace I have struggled to find where I fit. I spent much of the last 4 years serving regularly and intensely at RHC as an elder and music leader. Then we come to LA and we don't have those same responsibilities. Near the end of last year I began to get a little discouraged, unsure of what God had for me and eager to begin to practice with the tools and skills I am learning at TMS. Well, God's timing is perfect, he gave us time to get settled and to focus our attention on the aftermath of Austin's accident and hospital stay without the pressure of extra responsibilities. But now he is beginning to open doors for ministry. I have been given the opportunity to preach at an upcoming TMS camping event we are having over spring break, I will be preaching in our Bible Study in May and am preaching at our Mainstream Fellowship Group at Grace on April 10! I also have some opportunities to volunteer and preach with some local jail ministries in the area. I would appreciate your prayers as I prepare for each of this ministry opportunities that I would rightly divide the Word and proclaim the Truth clearly. Lastly, this week is the annual Shepherds Conference at Grace Community and I am eager and excited to attend again this year (4 years running). My dad and my good friend Colby are going to come and stay with us through the week and attend the conference so I am looking forward to time to spend with them as well. Please pray for all of the 3500 men who are traveling to the area for this conference. Also, pray for the men who will be preaching and proclaiming the truth this week. You can stream the conference live at the Shepherds Conference website if you are interested. (P.S. - I will be singing with the TMS Men's Choir Wednesday morning at 10:00am, what an honor to kick off the Conference with a couple hundred other guys). We are blessed to be able to hear from John MacArthur, Al Mohler, Ligon Duncan, Paul Washer, Nathan Busenitz (I take apologetics and Historical Theology from Him), Phil Johnson, and Tom Pennington. It should prove to be a wonderful event and great time of exhortation and encouragement. Well that is an update of how things are going down here with us. Please continue to pray that Trish and I and the kids will daily deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow after Jesus. We pray the same for each of you and would love to hear from you as well. Please let us know if there is anyway we can pray for you as well. May God be honored and glorified by our lives! Well, wanted to take a few free moments to update everyone on how things are going in LA. Been a crazy first month of 2016 as I (Aaron) have begun classes again at TMS and am now right in the thick of the semester with papers, reading, exams, and all that goes with it. It is amazing to think that we have now been in SoCal for 5 months. Time is flying and we are learning more and more each day how to trust in God and walk in obedience. Our Heavenly Father has been far more gracious and merciful to us than we dared hope and we are continually enjoying his care and concern for us poured out in our lives.
We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years Holidays and were so blessed to be able to spend time in Modesto with our families. We were so excited to be able to spend time with my brother Joe and his family from Seattle (they cannot make it down every year) along with my other brother Gordon and my sister Stephanie. What a blessing to be able to spend time together and celebrate the birth of our Savior. We also spent a great deal of time with Trishia's mom and her brother and enjoyed our time there as well. The kids are back in the swing of Classical Conversations and are enjoying their school experience. Trish is doing a great job teaching them all and I am so blessed to see them grow in wisdom and knowledge. They have learned a great deal throughout this short time in homeschool and it is incredible to see their progress. We have been blessed to begin to develop some wonderful friendships in the area (through TMS and the church) and are enjoying greatly our time with our Bible Study group and church Fellowship Group. It is a pleasure to see the Body of Christ come together for each other's good and for the ministry of the Gospel in the community and world around. We also had the opportunity earlier this month to take a trip to the LA zoo (for Annika's birthday) and then surprise the kids with a weekend trip to the snow. Aidan got sick on the trip but was feeling well enough to get out the 2nd day and throw snow balls at me! We had an epic snow battle (Dad vs. Kids) complete with snow fortresses, snow sentry, and the kids secret weapon. I am still not sure who won the battle, but it was a great deal of fun and we made many fond memories. Trish and I also took some time at the end of 2015 to reflect on all that God did and how he provided over the year. WOW! It was amazing to consider all of the ways in which God provided and cared for us! His providential care included the sale of our home, a temporary place to live during the summer, friends to move all of our stuff down here (while we were in the hospital), a wonderful rental house in Sylmar to live in, a washer, dryer and bookcase, 2 refrigerators, TV/stand, Coffee table, kitchen table and chairs, rugs for our rooms, provision of medical insurance, multiple painting jobs and opportunities for work, and thousands of dollars in gifts during Austin's hospitalization and to help provide for our schooling and living expenses. God has provided above and beyond for all of our tuition expenses for CC and for TMS. Most of all we are thankful for his care and provision for Austin's healing and full recovery and and we are overwhelmed and overjoyed each time we see our little boy running around. Thank you to all of you who have been faithful to pray for us and have been used of God to help provide for our needs and to make our time in LA a blessed one in which all Glory and Honor goes to our Heavenly Father!!! May he ever and always be glorified by our lives and may we follow him wherever he leads that we may proclaim the message of the Gospel to a dying world. Another month has come and gone and it is incredible to think that we have already been in LA for 4 months! This last month has been a very full and busy one with a host of activities, assignments, and events to go to. God has been so gracious and faithful to meet our needs and provide for us in some pretty amazing ways. Below is a bullet point list of the last 6 weeks.
We Have so very much to be thankful for and look forward to what the 2016 year has in store. God has been so good to us and we have grown so much over the 2015 year! Well, you blink and another month has gone by! I cannot believe it has been 6 weeks since I have given an update on the Filbrun Family so here it goes.
A lot has happened over the past month or so as we have continued to get settled in our new home in Sylmar. Trish and the children have become more familiar with the demands and joys of Classical Conversations, I have adjusted to the life of a seminary student, we have joined a new church family at Grace Community Church (Tonight in fact), and have been exposed to the vast array of things to do in Los Angeles. Most of all, we have been blessed by God's generous provision and providential care in our lives. It seems like years ago that we were in the hospital with Austin, not sure what would come of that experience. I was not even sure if Seminary was going to remain in our immediate plans given the uncertain outcome of everything. Amazingly, 4 months have passed and Austin is now running around, with as much energy and gusto as ever, and we are almost done with our first semester at TMS! Since that time we have seen God provide in every way imaginable. He has blessed us with a home in LA that is beautiful and practical for the size of our family and gives us the ability to open our home to others (We even have an amazing view of the San Fernando Valley, and two parks within walking distance of our house!). He has given us a homeschool program that aligns with our view of the purpose of education and is challenging and pushing our kids to learn more about God and His creation. He has provided financially through gifts and donations, and through painting work that continues to appear as if out of nowhere! He has brought us to a Bible Believing, Doctrinally Sound Church where we have met so many new friends and acquaintances. He has allowed us to join a local Bible Study group so we can grow in the Word and serve others. All in all God's provision has been more than sufficient and we anticipate what He will continue to do in the future! Couple of side notes. We will be coming to the Modesto area during the Thanksgiving break and hope to touch base with as many of you as we can. We greatly appreciate your prayers and encouraging words. It can seem like we are so far away and living on a different planet (ok, LA can seem other-worldly: If you have ever been to Hollywood or Downtown you know what I mean) but we continue to remember and pray for so many of you and miss you all. Please continue pray for us that we might grow in the Grace and Knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and that we may be equipped to serve Him and minister for the spread of His Gospel to the Nations. May God be glorified by our lives! |
Filbrun Family6 sinners saved by God's unmerited Grace, trying to live for the Glory of God in all things! Archives
December 2019
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