Vision Series Update

Hello friends!

These first 6 weeks have been quite a whirlwind. The week that I came on staff, our church was beginning a big push for missional community, which is our church's way of being obedient to Jesus' command to make disciples in our city. Our hope and dream entering this season was to see 1200 people plugged into missional community, and we ended up seeing over 1800! It has a been a blessing to see such tangible evidence of God's faithfulness during this season. 

On a more personal note, I have been experiencing joy far more consistently and fully than I ever have before. It started on a Sunday, when I prayed for genuine joy and love for people. I did it in a spirit of routine, not actually trusting that the God would provide for me. As he promises, he provided more abundantly than I could have ever hoped, and as I begin to attribute this joy to the Lord, I receive even more joy. It has been a constant cycle of being filled with joy, thanking the Lord for providing, and my joy increases. I'm very thankful for God demonstrating his faithfulness in so many ways -- through missional community and through my own life. 

Your prayers and support have meant so much to me. Thank you for being such an integral part of what God is doing in my life. 

Keller 

Being an English Major

I have never been the best at processing seasons of my life. I am naturally a forgetful person, which has become a point of frustration in quite a few relationships. My mind constantly looks ahead, waiting eagerly for the next great excitement, an experience that would surpass anything I had yet seen or been a part of. It is not that I wish I were somewhere else -- that would be my story in high school -- but it is simply that I love change. It is the mystery of what I will learn, who I will meet; the uncertainty of the future fascinates me. However, there is of course a dark side to this mindset. In my constant search for what's next, I fail to remember where I have been, and I am left discontented. That I can learn so much in a single summer and return home feeling unchanged is both a disappointment and a myth. If nothing else, I have learned about the fleeting and misleading nature of feelings.
Coming into my summer at Pine Cove, I had no desire to walk in the Spirit, let alone lead others to do the same. My calling was to shepherd. As someone who felt the weight of condemnation and slavery to sin, leading anyone was the last thing on my mind. Yet, I was reminded of the distinction between desire and obedience.

And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Your's be done." - Luke 22:41-42

 In this moment, don't forget that Jesus is God. He is the Christ, with all the power and glory that comes with being the Messiah. Yet in this moment, He does not point to Himself. In fact, there is not a point in Scripture that I can find where Jesus glorifies Himself. He constantly submits Himself to His Father. Jesus, God Himself, walks in obedient submission.
Jesus' agony in the garden of Gethsemane is understandable. He is to drink the cup of God's wrath while giving his life on a cross. Mine is a less than noble fear. I desire to be lazy, to have time to myself without eyes watching me; ultimately, I desire to live out my life as a hermit in a cave so that I have no one relying on me. Then, through the unmistakable grace of God, I was able to discipline myself to obey, to forgo my desire and submit myself to the law of grace. My desire would soon align with my calling, and I could work and serve with joy.
This is the story of my incredible summer, in which I learned lessons that I have been wanting to learn for a long time. Yet, I return home, ready for my new job and new life, but I allow these miracles that have been worked in my life to be distant memories rather than current realities. I am given responsibility in remembering, and it is my job to discipline myself in this. Thus, I resort to writing.
Thank you once again for your support and friendship, I'm thankful for you.

Grace,
Keller Martin

Big News!

I wanted to write a post and let you know that I have recently been awarded intern housing! This means that I will be living within biking distance of the church offices, where I will be working. Therefore, I will be saving on gas by biking to and from work, not to mention saving myself from fighting traffic in Austin every day. This also means that I will not have to pay rent this year! I am blessed by a church that is willing to offer this, and I am incredibly thankful to be relieved of that expense. Thank you all for your support, I hope you know I mean it when I say I could not do this without you.
Talk to you soon!
Keller Martin

Thank You!

Dear Supporters, As I have told each of you, your support means so much to me. Each of you have impacted me in some way, and I am truly honored to know that you want to support me in my internship and ultimately in my development as a man of the Lord. The website that I will use for online giving is now live! In order to reach the site, click on the tab entitled "Online Giving," which should not be too difficult to find as it is currently the only tab on my blog. Hopefully that will change soon! I will use this website to update my supporters on the internship. Thank you again for your support, whether that is through prayer or financial support. I will talk to you soon, Keller Martin