The last couple of weeks have been rather interesting at the Cox house. Angie has begun a new career teaching Bible at Life Way Christian School in Centerton, just a few miles away, and Ella started second grade there today. Though Angie will take Ella with her each day, I had the privilege of delivering her to her new classroom today. All I can say is she seems a little bit less like a little girl each time we do this.

For me, I’ve remained a little emotional about it throughout the day. I’m not sad that she’s growing up, though that’s probably Angie’s feeling. Rather, I’m afraid of that day when I won’t be able to protect her. She’s a bit timid and had a difficult time when we got to the classroom. It reminded me of what a comfort zone her parents are to her. At least for now.

Over time, she’ll become a little more independent. Someday she’ll drive herself to school. Someday she’ll move off to college. Someday…

At the end of these thoughts I’m reminded that instead of wishing away the present, or dreading the future, perhaps we should enjoy each and every moment we have with the precious people in our lives. I can’t even begin to express, in this single blog post, just how thankful I am for the gift of Ella Grace, nor can I convey how proud I am of my wife. For both of them, this is a great new adventure with a lot of scariness thrown in for effect. That’s life, isn’t it? It’s how God grows us – by facing down all the scariness with faith, we learn how to run with confidence.

Who knows what else this year may bring?!

Ella has finished the first grade. Hmm… strange since she was just born a few days ago! Or at least it seems that way. The past day or two, perhaps with the commencement of summer, I’ve reflected a lot on the amazing process God is allowing me to behold – the growth and development of my daughter. She’s an artist in the making.

No, I don’t mean she’s going to grow up to paint, draw, sculpt, design, or write. I don’t have any idea what direction God will take her, but I do know she’ll be an artist, nonetheless. This picture was one of her final works before getting out of the first grade. It’s part of a larger body of work attributed to the rising star that is Ella. Wherever she goes, whatever she does in the long run, she’s going to do it all artistically and creatively.

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Rather than writing a lengthy post about this huge moment in my daughter’s life (and mine and Angie’s as well), I thought I’d just let you watch the video and hear my comments. I’m quite thankful that family and friends at a distance can enjoy this video. Two things to notice. On her way down the steps, she panics for just a second and says, “I don’t want to today…” But she never stops smiling. Then, we’re not sure what was up with her feeling of paralysis at the end, but it also gave us a good laugh.

Ella’s Baptism from Brandon Cox on Vimeo.

Dear Family and Friends,

It seems impossible that three years have passed since we moved our family to northwest Arkansas. . We feel so overwhelmed when we think about all with which God has blessed us since coming home to Bethel.

Ella started the first grade and seems to be coming out of her shell a “little” bit-(she gets that from her daddy). One of our greatest gifts this year was Ella making the decision to place her trust in Christ and accept Him as Savor. We look forward to her baptism in January. Angie continues her work as a therapist with children and families. She faces unique challenges everyday with children and families that have been wounded by this world and it’s a constant reminder that there are hurting people all around us-in need of redemption. In addition to loving ministry as Bethel’s Pastor, Brandon has also taken up the hobby of graphic and web design. In Angie’s words, he “plays on his computer.”

Many of you are aware that we are continually praying and seeking God’s plan for our family- in particular “growing” our family. This year has not been without its difficulties; however a cute little furry dog name Beau was added to the Cox household and he has been sweet comfort for a little girl’s heart who has prayed daily for a brother or sister. Please keep us in your prayers that we will know and embrace the Father’s will for us as a family.

This year we will travel to St. Louis to be with Angie’s family for the Holiday. We look forward to her mom’s great cooking, singing Christmas carols around the piano (yes they really do that) and reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning! We won’t get to travel to Kentucky this year, and we will dearly miss our family and friends there.

This is a season to rejoice-to celebrate God’s great gift to us-Emmanuel! We pray for God’s blessing to be upon each of you this Christmas and throughout the coming new year.

We love you all-

Brandon, Angie, & Ella Grace Cox

Yesterday, I was too sick to go to church, so Angie and Ella went. We had a Trunk-or-Treat in which David Stewart, our awesome Children’s Ministry Director told a story about a pumpkin. I have no idea what David said, but Angie used it to spark a discussion when we got home. She had enough insight to see the question marks written on Ella’s face.

She’s been asking a lot of questions for a long time. In fact, just a couple of months ago, we had one of those “near misses” in which we really thought she might be ready, but encouraged her to wait a bit longer. We’ve sensed a deep longing in her to have peace about this issue. When some of her friends made a commitment to follow Jesus, she took notice and has remained in deep thought until now.

We talked about the meaning of a relationship with Jesus. We talked about the meaninglessness of terms such as “asking Jesus into your heart.” (Never use it… ever.) She expressed a thorough understanding of sin, guilt, separation from God, hell, the meaning of the cross, forgiveness from God, and the fact that being “saved” really means a lifetime acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior. She got it all right. Then, she bowed her head, acknowledged her own sinfulness, expressed her belief that Jesus died to pay the penalty of her sins, and asked Him to save her.

Afterward? My lovely wife led them in the “welcome to the Kingdom dance” (a phrase we picked up from our good friend t-show). Ella was ecstatic! She danced… with Jesus! She smiled… with Jesus. She laughed… because she was relieved of a burden. She’s free forever! She’s truly, in every sense of the word, eternally a child of the King!

Angie and I are relieved, elated, and blessed! God has brought us tremendous joy by watching our daughter take multiple steps toward a personal relationship with God. Now… the huge and heavy responsibility of guiding her faith until we release her into adulthood. God be praised!!

Our little baby’s growing up! Few things are more precious, and more heart-breaking, than your six-year-old little girl with a backpack on, marching off to school. We’re happy for her, excited about her future, and prayerful that she’ll be used of God in mighty ways! But we also don’t want her to age another day.

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I just returned home from a whirlwind adventure! We started out last Monday and stopped in Branson to spend a couple of nights with Angie’s family. We spent a day at Silver Dollar City, ate at some good restaurants, and spent some time by the pool with the kids.

Then we headed to my hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky where I was scheduled to perform the wedding of a couple whom we had come to know over our years of ministry there. Ella had flowergirl duties to perform as well! I then preached on Sunday and we headed home again, stopping to celebrate Ella’s birthday (in advance) with her Nana and Papa. (more…)

Saturday, I flew a kite! It was a beautiful breezy day and my daughter had just gotten a cheap (99 cent), flimsy kite, so we headed over to the front yard of the church. On the way I thought, “This is never going to work, but at least we’ll have a nice walk on a pretty day.” Much to my surprise, the kite flew easily. In fact, it soared to at least fifty feet – pretty impressive for a five-year-old and a Dad with no kite-flying experience. (more…)

I’ve been saying for weeks now that I’m totally okay with Ella starting Kindergarten. Today was the day. We arrived in plenty of time to fight the terrible traffic mess that had gathered in front of the schools (someone thought it would be really bright to place two elementary schools right next to each other on a neighborhood street). We found a parking place and took a deep breath. Ella did great all the way into the classroom and over to her seat. Then the tough moment came…

We had to leave. You’ll notice in the photo that Ella’s hands are on her ears. This has been her sign of trepidation for quite some time. We’re not sure what she’s hearing, but we’re sure she doesn’t want to hear any more of it! As Angie and I headed across the classroom and out the door, Ella turned her head away from everyone else and began to cry softly. She wouldn’t call out, as that might attract attention. She just cried.

Now I have to tell you the strange part of what I’ve been feeling since that moment. I’ve been divided in half. On the one hand, I think this is a very important step for her. She’s been painfully shy and quite fearful of uncertain situations, but life is full of uncertainties. She’s going to be meeting new people in every class and at every job for the rest of her life. She’s going to have to face new challenges and learn to stand up and speak up when the time comes. I was shy too, just like Ella. It never got easy, but interacting with others is just what we do from now until the grave.

Then, there was the other side of me. For a brief moment, homeschooling crossed my mind, not for any spiritual or religious reasons but only because home is the one place where we can shield her from anything of which she will ever be afraid. Bugs and bees are outside the door, people and academic challenges await her at school. Bullies and boyfriends will be her lot as she grows through the grade levels. All of this terrifies me just a bit, as the Daddy whose little girl needs my protection.

Somewhere in the middle is perhaps the place where our hearts ought to lie. We must love them, and release them. We must prepare them for evil, and shelter them from it. We must make home heaven for them, and launch them into the real world. Our hearts should break over our children’s fears, but we are right to let them go, to force them to face each next step. Life is really made of those steps.

As for me, I’m okay. As for Ella, I’m pretty sure it will be several weeks before she adjusts, if not several school years. As for Momma, I admire her more today than ever as a Mom, and as a little girl in a grown up body who doesn’t want to be left alone. Here I am, one guy placed on this earth to protect two precious girls, a Momma and her daughter. I suppose my only recourse is to depend fully upon the grace of our magnificent God to carry me and my family along. Maybe Ella might catch that vision, and find her fears released as she learns to trust the Father more each day.

I have work to accomplish today, but I can’t wait for 3:00 to come!

Isn’t summer supposed to be our vacation from the busyness of life? This summer, for the Cox family, is flying right by in a whirlwind of activity. We’ve traveled to see family in three different states (Missouri and Georgia for Angie, Kentucky for me). We’re getting ready to spend a week at church camp. And then, it will be time for Angie to return to work, for me to get busy with a new church year, and for Ella to begin Kindergarten.

In the midst of being busy in these bigger ways, I’ve also found ministry to families and needs to be rather pressing lately. My phones are ringing off the hook and I’ve done more “people work” in the last few weeks than ever before. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I’m very thankful to be needed, to be used in God’s hands, and to watch God at work in people’s lives. On the other hand, I hate what Satan is doing to the people around me that I love so dearly. It has certainly caused me to have an appreciative perspective on my own life. God has been so gracious and merciful to me, especially when I’ve least deserved it!

I will also say that the pressing nature of many of the issues I deal with drive me to my knees. I feel the continual need to remain constant in prayer so that my own spirit is not dragged down by the multitude of problems in the world. Depravity, and its results, can be draining on our frail emotions and if we aren’t careful, we’ll be tempted to despair. But then there is that verse in Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” More than conquerors, winners, valiant victors in the war called life. And why? Because Jesus died and rose again!