This week, a close family to many of us will be transitioning from BVBC. Dan, Lori, Daniel, and Grace Ulichnie will begin their trek to their new home in North Carolina. Tiffany and I were able to build a relationship with Dan and Lori before any children were born to either couple in Phoenix, Arizona. In fact, they were the first outside of the Foothills Baptist staff to befriend Tiffany and I after our move from Ft. Worth in 2000. We have greatly appreciated our relationship with them over the years, and now they are moving away for a second time. Of course we naturally ask the question...is it us? Of course that is not the case! How could it be? At least that is what we tell ourselves. We will miss them once again, but are excited for them, and are challenged by their commitment to follow the Lord in His calling for their family in the move. Recalling memories with the Ulichnie family today, Experiencing God came to mind. One section of Unit 2, Week 5 of the student version (pp. 36-37) entitled "God Speaks With A Purpose" reminds me of Dan and Lori. They are without a doubt responding to God's voice with obedience, and they challenge me to do the same, regardless of the size of the assignment. We will miss you, Dan and Lori, but look forward to vacationing where you are in the days ahead!

"I have known some people who would not interrupt a trip to the mall or a football game for anything in the world. In their mind they say they want to serve God, but they keep eliminating from their life anything that is going to interfere with their own plans. They are so self-centered that they do not recognize the times when God comes to them. If you are God-centered, you will adjust your circumstances to what God wants to do. God has a right to interrupt your life. He is Lord. When you accepted Him as Lord, you gave Him the right to help Himself to your life anytime He wants. Suppose that five times out of ten when the Master had something for the servant to do the servant said, 'I am sorry. That is not on my schedule.' What do you suppose the Master would do? The Master would discipline the servant. If the servant did not respond to the discipline, sooner or later that servant would find that the Master is no longer coming to him with assignments. You may be saying, 'Oh, I wish I could experience God working through me the way John (or Sue) does.' But every time God comes to John, John adjusts his life to God and is obedient. When John has been faithful in  little assignments, God has given him more important assignments.  If you are not willing to be faithful in a little, God cannot give you a larger assignment. The smaller assignments of God are always used of God to develop character. God always develops character to match His assignment. If God has a great assignment for you, He has to develop a great character to match that assignment before He can give you the assignment."

Matthew 25:21 "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"