I can't believe we are leaving tomorrow for Latvia!! 2 weeks in Latvia!! I am thrilled we get to see Sergeis. I am thrilled to be getting to see a country that has touched my heart so very much. And I can't wait to see what God has in store for us while there!! I don't think it's actually hit me yet that we are REALLY going tomorrow!!!
Oh my goodness....
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
We're going to Latvia!!!!!!!!
Just wanted to say I am soooo excited! Last week God confirmed to us that we should take this mission trip to Latvia! We're going in September--just a little over a month from now. All of us are going! Woo hoo! We'll get to visit several orphanages, including Sergeis'. We all can't wait to see him! So after we have the headache of ordeing plane tickets for all 5 of us over (hopefullly tomorrow) we can work on all the other logistics for this whirlwind trip!!
Just wanted to voice my excitement!
I told E to tell her friends that she gets to spend her fall break in Europe. hehehe
Just wanted to voice my excitement!
I told E to tell her friends that she gets to spend her fall break in Europe. hehehe
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
faith like a child
oh to come to God with a request and have the faith of a child. As adults, something in us has died...our ability to fully trust. After seeing God work in so many ways, after seeing prayer after prayer answered and watching God perform miracles in answer to prayer, I still have some sort of inability to trust my God fully. Why is this? Why does a child not lack the faith but we do??
We have been asking God for a confirmation about an opportunity we have to go to Latvia in September and He gave it to us. Of course He did. We asked Him. But part of me thought I'd have to get that confirmation solely based on my "feelings." Ya know--I felt good about going so maybe God's saying yes. But no...God answers prayers--in crazy ways sometimes! For whatever reason, it still surprises me!
"Oh ye of little faith."
God, increase my faith! Increase my trust in You. Thank you that you answer our prayers and hear your children! Help me to remember moments like these when I'm in another "delay" and can't figure out what's going on.
I love you, Lord!
We have been asking God for a confirmation about an opportunity we have to go to Latvia in September and He gave it to us. Of course He did. We asked Him. But part of me thought I'd have to get that confirmation solely based on my "feelings." Ya know--I felt good about going so maybe God's saying yes. But no...God answers prayers--in crazy ways sometimes! For whatever reason, it still surprises me!
"Oh ye of little faith."
God, increase my faith! Increase my trust in You. Thank you that you answer our prayers and hear your children! Help me to remember moments like these when I'm in another "delay" and can't figure out what's going on.
I love you, Lord!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
for God only
"My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us."
Psalm 62:1-2; 5-8
I have been waiting on God. But have I been waiting for God only? Have I made Him my only rock and have I trusted in Him alone?
I have been waiting on circumstances, on people, on advice...I have put my trust in those things and telling myself that I am relying on God to show me what is next. Yes, God does work through circumstances, people and the advice of godly brothers and sisters in Christ, but I have put my hope in those things when my hope should be in God.
I have poured out my heart to other people instead of God. There is nothing wrong with telling others your heart; nothing wrong with confiding in someone and receiving advice and their opinions. However, I have poured out my heart to others and not to the only One who can actually be my refuge. I have spent my energy elsewhere and forgotten to confide in my God and receive strength and wisdom from Him.
Lord, forgive me for where I have trusted in others instead of you. Help me to seek You alone for true wisdom. Help me to rest in your glory and your presence. I thank You, Lord, that you are persistent with me and that You are patient with me. I thank you that you are teaching me your ways and that you are leading me closer to You. My next step is to be closer to You than I am now. Each step should lead to You; always closer and closer to God only.
From Him is my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us."
Psalm 62:1-2; 5-8
I have been waiting on God. But have I been waiting for God only? Have I made Him my only rock and have I trusted in Him alone?
I have been waiting on circumstances, on people, on advice...I have put my trust in those things and telling myself that I am relying on God to show me what is next. Yes, God does work through circumstances, people and the advice of godly brothers and sisters in Christ, but I have put my hope in those things when my hope should be in God.
I have poured out my heart to other people instead of God. There is nothing wrong with telling others your heart; nothing wrong with confiding in someone and receiving advice and their opinions. However, I have poured out my heart to others and not to the only One who can actually be my refuge. I have spent my energy elsewhere and forgotten to confide in my God and receive strength and wisdom from Him.
Lord, forgive me for where I have trusted in others instead of you. Help me to seek You alone for true wisdom. Help me to rest in your glory and your presence. I thank You, Lord, that you are persistent with me and that You are patient with me. I thank you that you are teaching me your ways and that you are leading me closer to You. My next step is to be closer to You than I am now. Each step should lead to You; always closer and closer to God only.
Mercies are new in the morning
For at least one week, God has had me to wake at (almost) first light. I am impressed upon to spend time in His Word and with Him in prayer. Instead, however, I justify my desire to sleep longer and miss out on the opportunity to start my day in uninteruppted QUIET time (rare in my house) with God. How do I know that it is God who wakes me? I am in no way a morning person. In my whole life, the only way I wake up before 8:00 AM is with an alarm or with my children waking me up. I have been waking up before 7:00 most mornings.
Last night, I made it a point to tell myself that I would not miss that quiet time today. God is faithful. I awoke at 7:00 and I won't lie--it was a struggle to get myself out of the bed. I seriously had to fight the temptation to just go back to sleep.
Here I am, though, ready to share what God is teaching me this morning.
"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
Awake, my glory!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens
And Your truth to the clouds.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth."
Psalm 57:7-11
"But as for my, I shall sing of Your strenth;
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindess in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my strength, I will sing praises to You;
For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindess."
Psalm 59:16-17
Does God want me to spend time with Him "in the morning?" Oh yes, He does! Today I will revel in the glory of God! I will praise and worship Him all day! He is the rock I stand on. He will not fail me. Today I will just joy in knowing that God is guiding my next step. Am I still waiting on God? Yes. Is it still frustrating to not know what that next step is? Of course. But I have made that my focus. I have complained to anyone who will listen how frustrated I am. Oh the opportunities I have missed to joyfully sing of God's lovingkindess, His provision, His truth, and His guiding hands to those who would listen.
Don't let yourself become so wrapped up in the problems and the uncertain or unknown that you forget to give God all the glory, honor and praise He deserves!
"Oh God, you are my God, And I will ever praise you. I will seek you in the morning, And I will learn to walk in Your ways, And step by step, You lead me. And I will follow You all of my days."
-Michael W. Smith song Step by Step,
Last night, I made it a point to tell myself that I would not miss that quiet time today. God is faithful. I awoke at 7:00 and I won't lie--it was a struggle to get myself out of the bed. I seriously had to fight the temptation to just go back to sleep.
Here I am, though, ready to share what God is teaching me this morning.
"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
Awake, my glory!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens
And Your truth to the clouds.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth."
Psalm 57:7-11
"But as for my, I shall sing of Your strenth;
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindess in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my strength, I will sing praises to You;
For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindess."
Psalm 59:16-17
Does God want me to spend time with Him "in the morning?" Oh yes, He does! Today I will revel in the glory of God! I will praise and worship Him all day! He is the rock I stand on. He will not fail me. Today I will just joy in knowing that God is guiding my next step. Am I still waiting on God? Yes. Is it still frustrating to not know what that next step is? Of course. But I have made that my focus. I have complained to anyone who will listen how frustrated I am. Oh the opportunities I have missed to joyfully sing of God's lovingkindess, His provision, His truth, and His guiding hands to those who would listen.
Don't let yourself become so wrapped up in the problems and the uncertain or unknown that you forget to give God all the glory, honor and praise He deserves!
"Oh God, you are my God, And I will ever praise you. I will seek you in the morning, And I will learn to walk in Your ways, And step by step, You lead me. And I will follow You all of my days."
-Michael W. Smith song Step by Step,
Friday, July 24, 2009
Journey with my Lord
So, last night I began my reading where I left off the night before: at Psalm 22. Honestly, I had planned on reading only a few of the chapters and then picking up the latest YWAM book I'm in the middle of. But for some reason, I was compelled to keep reading. I read through psalm after psalm--most of which had something to do with "waiting on the Lord" which is so a problem for me lately. I was wondering what exactly God was trying to teach me when reading all of these. When I got to psalm 40 I read:
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.
How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.
Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired;
My ears You have opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
Then I said, "Behold I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your Law is within my heart."
I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.
You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me."
(Psalm 40:1-11)
What I realized through that is that I have been waiting on God to do SOMETHING, to show me my next step, to lead us somewhere and give us a purpose. I have been waiting on God to give me purpose. The only thing wrong with that is that I ALREADY know His purpose! He is a missionary God and I am to speak of His truth, His lovingkindness, His righteousness to all people, everywhere, no matter where I am. I am so concerned about the future and where God wants us to live and what exactly we'll do when we get there and how it will all work out that I am forgetting to just live for Him now. I am forgetting to just take JOY in the fact that the Lord is my God! He is my hope, my salvation, my everything! I am forgetting that while I waited on Him yesterday to tell me the next step for my future, TODAY is the future and I am missing it! Oh Lord, forgive me for waiting to delight in You. Forgive me for thinking I am serving you while I wait when I truly haven't been serving You daily. Help me to change my heart and my attitude towards waiting on you for our next stage of life. Thank you for Your Word which speaks volumes to me!!
The psalm I ended with last night as the need to continue reading subsided was the
41st one and it ends like this:
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen."
And then I was able to put my Bible down, turn out my light and rest. This journey I am on sometimes seems long and tedious, but oh to have the Lord in control makes it worth it all!
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.
How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.
Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired;
My ears You have opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.
Then I said, "Behold I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your Law is within my heart."
I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.
You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me."
(Psalm 40:1-11)
What I realized through that is that I have been waiting on God to do SOMETHING, to show me my next step, to lead us somewhere and give us a purpose. I have been waiting on God to give me purpose. The only thing wrong with that is that I ALREADY know His purpose! He is a missionary God and I am to speak of His truth, His lovingkindness, His righteousness to all people, everywhere, no matter where I am. I am so concerned about the future and where God wants us to live and what exactly we'll do when we get there and how it will all work out that I am forgetting to just live for Him now. I am forgetting to just take JOY in the fact that the Lord is my God! He is my hope, my salvation, my everything! I am forgetting that while I waited on Him yesterday to tell me the next step for my future, TODAY is the future and I am missing it! Oh Lord, forgive me for waiting to delight in You. Forgive me for thinking I am serving you while I wait when I truly haven't been serving You daily. Help me to change my heart and my attitude towards waiting on you for our next stage of life. Thank you for Your Word which speaks volumes to me!!
The psalm I ended with last night as the need to continue reading subsided was the
41st one and it ends like this:
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen."
And then I was able to put my Bible down, turn out my light and rest. This journey I am on sometimes seems long and tedious, but oh to have the Lord in control makes it worth it all!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
School
Okay, so I know I wrote that we were officially starting school a few weeks ago but...that didn't happen. :)
We started this week--on Tuesday. Our first day of school was spent at the zoo, enjoying the animals and having Eileen lead us around the zoo with a map. (One of her activites was to find her way on a map.) When we came home, she made cookies as part of her life skills. :)
Yesterday we had a gentle bookwork day with things and today was full swing ahead. (Sort of.) We went to the library to do school but the parking lot was so very crowded. It finally dawned on me that today was the Summer Reading Party and we were right on time! We went there instead and had a blast with a clown who did tricks, told a story and made balloon animals for everyone there. She was really very good. We went to a bait shop in Monroe and bought some worms for an experiment since we haven't found any in the yard in weeks. (No rain--although it is, of course, currently raining.)
Our experiment is one where we have different colored layers of soil and we put worms in there to discover what their niche (or job/role they have) is in the world. Craig wouldn't touch the worms so Merrick and I had to do it cause Eileen didn't want to either! So I am excited to be taking picture over the next few days to see how they will mix the soil.
The rest of our school day consisted of learning introduction things to world geography. We have a cute song to learn the continents as we point to them and all 3 of the kids are enjoying that. Eileen has labeled (with my help) a world map with a few different things and has really enjoyed "teaching" me and anyone else who'll listen about all the different things she learned. How fun!! Of course, our memory verse this week is John 3:16.
So, school has been successful today and FUN!! Finally, Eileen is enjoying herself in school. I pray it continues.
We started this week--on Tuesday. Our first day of school was spent at the zoo, enjoying the animals and having Eileen lead us around the zoo with a map. (One of her activites was to find her way on a map.) When we came home, she made cookies as part of her life skills. :)
Yesterday we had a gentle bookwork day with things and today was full swing ahead. (Sort of.) We went to the library to do school but the parking lot was so very crowded. It finally dawned on me that today was the Summer Reading Party and we were right on time! We went there instead and had a blast with a clown who did tricks, told a story and made balloon animals for everyone there. She was really very good. We went to a bait shop in Monroe and bought some worms for an experiment since we haven't found any in the yard in weeks. (No rain--although it is, of course, currently raining.)
Our experiment is one where we have different colored layers of soil and we put worms in there to discover what their niche (or job/role they have) is in the world. Craig wouldn't touch the worms so Merrick and I had to do it cause Eileen didn't want to either! So I am excited to be taking picture over the next few days to see how they will mix the soil.
The rest of our school day consisted of learning introduction things to world geography. We have a cute song to learn the continents as we point to them and all 3 of the kids are enjoying that. Eileen has labeled (with my help) a world map with a few different things and has really enjoyed "teaching" me and anyone else who'll listen about all the different things she learned. How fun!! Of course, our memory verse this week is John 3:16.
So, school has been successful today and FUN!! Finally, Eileen is enjoying herself in school. I pray it continues.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
RTN Adventures
Today was Reach the Nations Day 7...I think. :) 3 young men asked Jesus to be their Saviour today. How awesome!!! I am so excited about this. Especially because tomorrow there will be a group invitation given to everyone and the gospel even more clearly stated to these kids.
I am praying for one Muslim boy in particular. While I doubt he would come forward in front of his brother and his friend, I am hoping that the Holy Spirit is tugging at his heart. I have been in a different group of kids this week so I haven't been able to see his reaction during devotion time but I am praying and hoping there is change taking place!
On a more heart-breaking note, I was ministering to a 6-year-old girl today who told me, "Everybody knows I'm gonna go to hell anyways." I think my heart broke right there when I heard those words. I wrapped my arms around her and told her that Jesus loves her so much and wants her to live forever in heaven with him and all she has to do is ask Him into her heart. She was talking about bad choices and I told her that Jesus will forgive her for her bad choices. She said, "But he knows I'll just do 'em again." Smile. "Yes, honey, He does know that. And you know what? He forgives you anyway again and again. He loves you that much."
Where does a 6 year old get the idea that she's going to hell??? Only because someone's told her that. It just infuriates me when I think about that. Who would tell a child that? Who would leave a child with THAT kind of fear and not tell them how they can escape going to hell?!
She didn't want to come back tomorrow but said she would if I would stay with her. :) So I agreed. How sweet!! I hope in the day I have left that the Lord will give me the words to speak to make a difference in her heart.
Thank you, Lord for this opportunity to participate in Reach the Nations. Thank you for not letting me pass this up!!
I am praying for one Muslim boy in particular. While I doubt he would come forward in front of his brother and his friend, I am hoping that the Holy Spirit is tugging at his heart. I have been in a different group of kids this week so I haven't been able to see his reaction during devotion time but I am praying and hoping there is change taking place!
On a more heart-breaking note, I was ministering to a 6-year-old girl today who told me, "Everybody knows I'm gonna go to hell anyways." I think my heart broke right there when I heard those words. I wrapped my arms around her and told her that Jesus loves her so much and wants her to live forever in heaven with him and all she has to do is ask Him into her heart. She was talking about bad choices and I told her that Jesus will forgive her for her bad choices. She said, "But he knows I'll just do 'em again." Smile. "Yes, honey, He does know that. And you know what? He forgives you anyway again and again. He loves you that much."
Where does a 6 year old get the idea that she's going to hell??? Only because someone's told her that. It just infuriates me when I think about that. Who would tell a child that? Who would leave a child with THAT kind of fear and not tell them how they can escape going to hell?!
She didn't want to come back tomorrow but said she would if I would stay with her. :) So I agreed. How sweet!! I hope in the day I have left that the Lord will give me the words to speak to make a difference in her heart.
Thank you, Lord for this opportunity to participate in Reach the Nations. Thank you for not letting me pass this up!!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Morning Psalms
This morning as I was going through some psalms searching for verses about God's guidance, here is what I found:
"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, do not let me be ashamed; do not let my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. MAKE ME KNOW YOUR WAYS, O LORD; TEACH ME YOUR PATHS. LEAD ME IN YOUR TRUTH AND TEACH ME, FOR YOU ARE THE GOD OF MY SALVATION; FOR YOU I WAIT ALL THE DAY."
Psalm 25:1-5
"The earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face--even Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your head, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory."
Psalm 24
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14
"To You, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, for if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary...." "Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. The Lord is their strenth, and He is a saving defense to His anointed. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also and carry them forever."
Psalm 28:1-2; 6-9
Isn't it wonderful how a little time with God demolishes the pity party inside my head? :)
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for guiding my steps even when I can't see where You're leading me. Thank you for picking me up and putting me back where I belong when I stray. O Lord O Lord how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!
Amen!!!
"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, do not let me be ashamed; do not let my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. MAKE ME KNOW YOUR WAYS, O LORD; TEACH ME YOUR PATHS. LEAD ME IN YOUR TRUTH AND TEACH ME, FOR YOU ARE THE GOD OF MY SALVATION; FOR YOU I WAIT ALL THE DAY."
Psalm 25:1-5
"The earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face--even Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your head, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory."
Psalm 24
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14
"To You, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, for if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary...." "Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. The Lord is their strenth, and He is a saving defense to His anointed. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also and carry them forever."
Psalm 28:1-2; 6-9
Isn't it wonderful how a little time with God demolishes the pity party inside my head? :)
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for guiding my steps even when I can't see where You're leading me. Thank you for picking me up and putting me back where I belong when I stray. O Lord O Lord how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!
Amen!!!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Wanna be Facebook Post
"My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In Your our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed."
Psalm 22:1-5
Since apparently negative-type comments about my attitude are supposed to be kept from facebook, I guess I'll have to share my feelings here instead. :)
I feel let down but I know that God will answer in His own good time. I know He has better things out there for us. I think I have briefly fallen into coveting another lifestyle or something. Oh God please help me to move on past this and to GET OVER IT!!
Psalm 22:1-5
Since apparently negative-type comments about my attitude are supposed to be kept from facebook, I guess I'll have to share my feelings here instead. :)
I feel let down but I know that God will answer in His own good time. I know He has better things out there for us. I think I have briefly fallen into coveting another lifestyle or something. Oh God please help me to move on past this and to GET OVER IT!!
what is wrong with me?
Found out today (after falling in love with a house we went to look at in Acworth) that Craig isn't going to get the children's/youth pastor position he applied for. I was sooooooooo hoping he was going to get it. I really thought that was how God would prepare us for one day going on the mission field. But apparently not. Now I am sad. Can't seem to shake it off. Craig said he never really felt one way or another about it so he's okay. But me? Not okay. What's wrong with me? Why can't I just roll with the punches? What is God doing here? Why does it seem like when I get one or two questions answered, a thousand more follow in their places? What are we supposed to do? Why won't anyone hire him? How come when some people seek God they get an answer immediately...or in a few weeks/months??? But us---nope. I am having a hard day praising Him in the storm today. I wish I was one of those people who could always see the good in the bad. Usually I am. Not today. I am having a nice little pity party over here and I'm apparently ALL alone in that party.
I hate that we drove all over Acworth today. I hate that we looked inside that house. I hate that we have it all on video. I hate that I apparently have no clue where our lives are headed. And I hate that I feel like hating everything right now. I want to be happy, upbeat, excited about what God will offer in the future. You know...when God closes a door He opens a window and all that. Only trouble with that is now I'm thinking about that house with all the doors and windows!!
Please don't take this the wrong way. I do trust God. I do trust He will bring something better. I do know He will take care of us and provide for us. I've watched miracles take place in the last 9 months. I am just tired of not knowing where we will be in a month. And I am just human.
(Hopefully I will have something better to report next time...or at least be in a better mood.) :)
I hate that we drove all over Acworth today. I hate that we looked inside that house. I hate that we have it all on video. I hate that I apparently have no clue where our lives are headed. And I hate that I feel like hating everything right now. I want to be happy, upbeat, excited about what God will offer in the future. You know...when God closes a door He opens a window and all that. Only trouble with that is now I'm thinking about that house with all the doors and windows!!
Please don't take this the wrong way. I do trust God. I do trust He will bring something better. I do know He will take care of us and provide for us. I've watched miracles take place in the last 9 months. I am just tired of not knowing where we will be in a month. And I am just human.
(Hopefully I will have something better to report next time...or at least be in a better mood.) :)
Friday, July 10, 2009
This week
We had an awesome time this week serving in Stone Mountain amongst kids from the city as well as kids recently relocated here from Iraq, Tanzania, Nepal, Bhutan and I'm sure there were others. We only saw a little bit of it because some groups went into different apartments complexes to do backyard bible clubs as well. But what we were able to participate in has been an awesome experience. I almost passed up this opportunity. I almost said no when asked if I could help...why? Because it involved sports which is out of my comfort zone. Oh my goodness...thank you Lord for convicting me right out of that comfort zone. This week has grown me in ways I didn't think it would. I thought I went there to impact children's lives for Christ...and I hope that happened. However, my life was impacted as well. These children touched me. I now have such a desire to reach people who have never heard about a relationship with Jesus.
I have a special place in my heart for the kids I met this week. There was one child in particular...I didn't show favoritism in any way towards him but I will pray hardest for him. He is Muslim and I'm honestly not sure why he was allowed to come back after the first day finding out this was a Christian event. He didn't actively participate in Tuesday's devotion but he did sit there and listen respectfully. Wednesday I worried about him because he didn't come back. However he was back on Thursday and Friday but he had a friend with him. This friend tried to distract him during the devotion by walking away or quietly talking over me to him. I tried to get him involved, especially today since we talked about Abraham and we share that background of our faiths. I think, if it weren't for his friend being there, he would've listened intently to everything we had to say this week. I pray he comes back next week. I pray his friend does as well. But I pray they are in separate groups so that at the very least, one can hear the loving message of Jesus Christ preached.
I have smiled a ton this week. This is where God wants us for now. :) Until we know where to go next, "I will serve you while I'm waiting, I will worship while I'm waiting on you Lord!!"
Here is a video of what we did this week:
I have a special place in my heart for the kids I met this week. There was one child in particular...I didn't show favoritism in any way towards him but I will pray hardest for him. He is Muslim and I'm honestly not sure why he was allowed to come back after the first day finding out this was a Christian event. He didn't actively participate in Tuesday's devotion but he did sit there and listen respectfully. Wednesday I worried about him because he didn't come back. However he was back on Thursday and Friday but he had a friend with him. This friend tried to distract him during the devotion by walking away or quietly talking over me to him. I tried to get him involved, especially today since we talked about Abraham and we share that background of our faiths. I think, if it weren't for his friend being there, he would've listened intently to everything we had to say this week. I pray he comes back next week. I pray his friend does as well. But I pray they are in separate groups so that at the very least, one can hear the loving message of Jesus Christ preached.
I have smiled a ton this week. This is where God wants us for now. :) Until we know where to go next, "I will serve you while I'm waiting, I will worship while I'm waiting on you Lord!!"
Here is a video of what we did this week:
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
So, what next?
"Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7
Easier "read" than done in my case. :) But one thing I know for sure, God's peace definitely surpasses my understanding!
With Craig in Romania, each of us has been thinking about our future in missions. He is growing and praying and being mentored over there. I am growing and praying over here. (Dont' so much have the mentor part...)
Should we be overseas missionaries? Latvia, Romania, some other place? Should we be missionaries where we are and take a few trips each year to these other places? What should our missionary lives look like? We have been called to international missions, but as I am learning there are TONS of opportunities for that right here in our area. How can we overlook these people who need Jesus, too? But on the flip side, how can we overlook those still in other countries who need Jesus and lots of physical help?
I am being presented with many opportunities for international missions over the next few months. I will be praying over which ones to do. I know I can't do them all because of finances and life in general, but I would like to do many of them.
How do we know what to do? What would best suit our family? More importantly, which option does God want us to choose? Why does it seem like all I ever do is to ask questions?
I do know one thing for sure, though--God has given all of us a heart for His people ALL over the world and a desire to know them, help them, love them. I pray that we will fulfill our part of going into all nations and making disciples for Jesus Christ!!
I can't wait til Craig gets back and we can have a real heart to heart about his experiences during this trip to Romania. Hopefully we'll plan a family mission trip to Romania in the semi-near future as well!
Philippians 4:6-7
Easier "read" than done in my case. :) But one thing I know for sure, God's peace definitely surpasses my understanding!
With Craig in Romania, each of us has been thinking about our future in missions. He is growing and praying and being mentored over there. I am growing and praying over here. (Dont' so much have the mentor part...)
Should we be overseas missionaries? Latvia, Romania, some other place? Should we be missionaries where we are and take a few trips each year to these other places? What should our missionary lives look like? We have been called to international missions, but as I am learning there are TONS of opportunities for that right here in our area. How can we overlook these people who need Jesus, too? But on the flip side, how can we overlook those still in other countries who need Jesus and lots of physical help?
I am being presented with many opportunities for international missions over the next few months. I will be praying over which ones to do. I know I can't do them all because of finances and life in general, but I would like to do many of them.
How do we know what to do? What would best suit our family? More importantly, which option does God want us to choose? Why does it seem like all I ever do is to ask questions?
I do know one thing for sure, though--God has given all of us a heart for His people ALL over the world and a desire to know them, help them, love them. I pray that we will fulfill our part of going into all nations and making disciples for Jesus Christ!!
I can't wait til Craig gets back and we can have a real heart to heart about his experiences during this trip to Romania. Hopefully we'll plan a family mission trip to Romania in the semi-near future as well!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Potty Training, Swimming Lessons, and other Random Thoughts
Well, Craig left this past Thursday for his mission trip to Romania. The team has many stories to tell, I'm sure, and I can't wait to hear them! I know that poor Craig is still missing his personal luggage so I'm sure his clothes are starting to get pretty stinky! :) But they are all having a wonderful time and learning tons, I know! Craig was performing a puppet skit today for the kids at the orphanage so I'm anxious to hear how that went. He loves that sort of thing!
I have volunteered to help out in Reach the Nations with Shannon and Kathy Ramsey in Stone Mountain next week. We will be having fun with Internationals and Refugees as well as underpriviledged kids from the area playing soccer and basketball. This is SO very much outside my comfort zone since I'm not a sports person, but God convicted me last night that I need to get outside this comfort zone a tad! :) I am excited to learn more about exactly what we're going to be doing. Shannon is supposed to call me today to give me more details. Depending on if we can get a sitter, Craig might be joining me as well. We will pray and see what happens.
Adalynn has chosen this week to decide to start using the potty. Great, right? Um, not really. She is refusing to wear a diaper--only big girl panties--which would be fine if she had actually used the potty more than 3 times so far. Not much fun cleaning pee and poop off of everything!! Why does she choose the week that Craig is in another country to decide to start doing this?? Oh the joys of being a mother! LOL. (Actually, I LOVE being a mommy---even when it's disgusting!)
We start the last week of Eileen's swimming lessons tonight. I hope it's not a repeat of Thursday where Merrick cries the whole time because it's not fair that he's not swimming and then Eileen doesn't obey when it's time to leave and I've got grumpy, crying children walking out of the YMCA facility! Pray for peace over that situation please!
We plan to start 2nd grade this week. We're going to take it slow and make it fun!!! She's going to learn so much this year, regardless, because everything is NEW!! I am so excited to go through the book of Matthew verse by verse and memorize with her some really awesome passages of Scripture! I am also excited to read the missionary biographies that go along with each country/region we're learning about. Eileen has such a missionary heart already and Exploring Countries and Cultures will only help to cement that love for other people deep within her. I'm so glad I was introduced to My Father's World and I hope we can use it for our entire school career until college!
Okay well these were just totally random thoughts for today!! Hopefully I'll have something worthwhile to write about another time!
I have volunteered to help out in Reach the Nations with Shannon and Kathy Ramsey in Stone Mountain next week. We will be having fun with Internationals and Refugees as well as underpriviledged kids from the area playing soccer and basketball. This is SO very much outside my comfort zone since I'm not a sports person, but God convicted me last night that I need to get outside this comfort zone a tad! :) I am excited to learn more about exactly what we're going to be doing. Shannon is supposed to call me today to give me more details. Depending on if we can get a sitter, Craig might be joining me as well. We will pray and see what happens.
Adalynn has chosen this week to decide to start using the potty. Great, right? Um, not really. She is refusing to wear a diaper--only big girl panties--which would be fine if she had actually used the potty more than 3 times so far. Not much fun cleaning pee and poop off of everything!! Why does she choose the week that Craig is in another country to decide to start doing this?? Oh the joys of being a mother! LOL. (Actually, I LOVE being a mommy---even when it's disgusting!)
We start the last week of Eileen's swimming lessons tonight. I hope it's not a repeat of Thursday where Merrick cries the whole time because it's not fair that he's not swimming and then Eileen doesn't obey when it's time to leave and I've got grumpy, crying children walking out of the YMCA facility! Pray for peace over that situation please!
We plan to start 2nd grade this week. We're going to take it slow and make it fun!!! She's going to learn so much this year, regardless, because everything is NEW!! I am so excited to go through the book of Matthew verse by verse and memorize with her some really awesome passages of Scripture! I am also excited to read the missionary biographies that go along with each country/region we're learning about. Eileen has such a missionary heart already and Exploring Countries and Cultures will only help to cement that love for other people deep within her. I'm so glad I was introduced to My Father's World and I hope we can use it for our entire school career until college!
Okay well these were just totally random thoughts for today!! Hopefully I'll have something worthwhile to write about another time!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Love
For whatever reason this has been on my heart and mind lately and I wanted to share it.
The Bible tells us that God is love (1 John 4:16). He did not create love and He isn't "made of" love but He IS love. God's Word is always teaching us about love. Love God, love our neighbor...my favorite set of verses on love, though, have always meant something else to me and probably to most people. They are read at wedding ceremonies and mostly looked on as how a husband and wife should love each other. Now, they very much can be used that way. But if God IS love and His love is perfect, whole and not based on performance or being loved in return--if He is true love--then these verses are talking about Him.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 state the following (NIV):
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Now since God IS love, let's replace love in that verse with God since they are synonomous and therefore, one in the same and let's really ponder on each part of the verse--these are God's attributes.
God is patient,
He most certainly is. Just look at how many times he forgave Israel and turned them back
onto the right path only to have to go and forgive them again. More personally, think
about how many times He has forgiven us and turned us back onto the right path only to have to go and forgive us again. :)
God is kind.
"I am the Lord, who exercises kindness..." (Jeremiah 9:24) In numerous other references,
the Bible talks of God's "everlasting kindness" towards us and it also tells us to express
kindness to others.
He does not envy,
He does not boast,
He is not proud.
He is not rude,
he is not self-seeking,
he is not easily angered,
he keeps no record of wrongs.
Psalm 103:12 says, "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our
transgressions from us." There's wonderful song by Casting Crowns called East to
West that speaks of this very things.
In Psalm 130:3-4, it says, "If you, O Lord, kept a record of sings, O Lord, who
could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared."
God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
He always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
God never fails.
When you think on each statement in light of it talking about God, it really makes a huge impact. Sure, we can aspire to live these things in our relationships and we should. But none of us can ever live up to it. We are not perfect. We are not love. Somewhere along the way, in every relationship--no matter how good--one person fails another, one person gives up hope, one person breaks trust, both people keep record of the other person's wrongs, both people are rude and self-seeking and easily angered. Both people lost patience and kindness with each other. These are things that happen from time to time in every relationship--especially marriage relationships! It seems that we lack these things the most towards those we love the most. Why is this? God made us in His image and we have a huge capacity to love. But we are only flesh. We are not perfect. We make mistakes and we forget to love others as God loves us. We even feel some people (or groups of people) are unworthy of our love (or even unworthy of God's love). Do we forget that we are all God's children? Do we forget that we are all made in His image and that Christ died the same death for me as for everyone else? Do we forget that way down the line we are all brothers and sisters anyway and therefore, not all that different to begin with? Do we forget that those who have hurt us or who have hurt someone we love are just people who have probably been hurt somewhere else and that no matter what they've done God loves them and He tells us we should too? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighboar as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39) Someone then asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29) Jesus then goes on to tell the story of the "Good Samaritan" in which a man was robbed and beaten and left to die and different people pass him by on the streets--a priest and a Levite--both people who should have had compassion enough to help this poor man. Then a Samaritan comes by--traditionally hated by Jews because they were unclean and "half breeds"--and THIS MAN helped the hurt man. He even went above and beyond what he needed to. Jesus said this is how we should live. No matter who needs our love, we are told to give it. There is not anyone who doesn't deserve it. There is no ethnicity that doesn't deserve the same love that God gives to us. There is no country that is less worthy to hear the Word and Love of God than we are.
"For God so loved the WORLD that he gave is one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) God loves the whole world. Not just a select few.
Now...who's going to go show them love and tell them about God's love?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Showers of Blessings
Since posting the last blog, God has given us direction on a few things we've been asking about. There are, of course, things we are still waiting on, but those will come in His time. I was happy to at least have a few questions answered. :) Not quite a billboard, but hey--it's a start!
However, the REAL reason I'm blogging tonight (as opposed to getting my kids in the bed) is because yesterday (and continued today) I experienced something so GOD!!
Yesterday, we had a yard sale to raise money for Craig's upcoming mission trip to Romania. Our goal was set at $300 although we hadn't told anyone that amount. The sale went extremely well. We had tons of people stop and lots of people buy things. One lady, in particular though, will forever stick in my mind.
In a natural course of conversation yesterday, I would tell just about everyone what we were trying to raise money for. This one lady was so excited to hear about Craig's trip and our upcoming plans for missions. She knows some people with YWAM in California and was so happy to hear about what God is doing in our lives. She said she would pray Ezekial 34:26 over us--that we would receive showers of blessings. She said this 3 times. Then she also said to look up Numbers 6:24-26. Before she lefts, she said again, "I will pray for showers of blessings for you. In fact, I will pray for a double blessing for you." She asked my name and said she would pray.
Here are the verses she gave me:
Ezekial 34:26
I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.
Number 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Wow--she doesn't know us and yet she prayed for God's blessing to be poured down on us in showers and for God to give us peace. She also prayed for double blessing...and we got it, in financial terms anyhow.
We made a little over $300 at our garage sale yesterday. Well, today 2 different people have given us money that together total $300. :) We were not in any way expecting that--in fact one of the checks was from someone we didn't even know was back in the States and didn't know they even knew Craig was going on a mission trip!! God is soooo good!
I am so thankful to that lady for praying double blessings on us! She will probably never know how she blessed us just by giving me that Scripture and then praying for us. I, probably, will never know her name! But this is just another example of how we never know how our words and prayers will affect someone else. We should seize every opportunity to share Christ's love because it will ALWAYS have a tremendous effect! Prayers never go unanswered. The Word of God never comes back void.
Thank you Jesus!!!!!!!!
However, the REAL reason I'm blogging tonight (as opposed to getting my kids in the bed) is because yesterday (and continued today) I experienced something so GOD!!
Yesterday, we had a yard sale to raise money for Craig's upcoming mission trip to Romania. Our goal was set at $300 although we hadn't told anyone that amount. The sale went extremely well. We had tons of people stop and lots of people buy things. One lady, in particular though, will forever stick in my mind.
In a natural course of conversation yesterday, I would tell just about everyone what we were trying to raise money for. This one lady was so excited to hear about Craig's trip and our upcoming plans for missions. She knows some people with YWAM in California and was so happy to hear about what God is doing in our lives. She said she would pray Ezekial 34:26 over us--that we would receive showers of blessings. She said this 3 times. Then she also said to look up Numbers 6:24-26. Before she lefts, she said again, "I will pray for showers of blessings for you. In fact, I will pray for a double blessing for you." She asked my name and said she would pray.
Here are the verses she gave me:
Ezekial 34:26
I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.
Number 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Wow--she doesn't know us and yet she prayed for God's blessing to be poured down on us in showers and for God to give us peace. She also prayed for double blessing...and we got it, in financial terms anyhow.
We made a little over $300 at our garage sale yesterday. Well, today 2 different people have given us money that together total $300. :) We were not in any way expecting that--in fact one of the checks was from someone we didn't even know was back in the States and didn't know they even knew Craig was going on a mission trip!! God is soooo good!
I am so thankful to that lady for praying double blessings on us! She will probably never know how she blessed us just by giving me that Scripture and then praying for us. I, probably, will never know her name! But this is just another example of how we never know how our words and prayers will affect someone else. We should seize every opportunity to share Christ's love because it will ALWAYS have a tremendous effect! Prayers never go unanswered. The Word of God never comes back void.
Thank you Jesus!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Why am I Worried Again?
It seems I am a worrier by nature. My mom worries about everything all the time. I'm not quite as bad as that, but as I get older (not old--just oldER) I find myself worrying about more things. These days I worry about direction. When there are so many choices to make and none of them are "bad" choices, how do you know which choice God wants you to make? How do I know by choosing one of them that I won't be making the wrong decision?
Do you ever wish God would speak to you through billboards? Maybe huge neon signs that say, "You should choose...."
I think it's just like God that this is what the kids church lesson was about on Sunday. Here we are teaching the kids about seeking direction from God--praying, reading the Bible when we have tough decisions to make. And what do you know? It seems that I am so bogged down with trying to make the right decision, that I (instead of letting God) am trying to make that decision. We taught that no matter what that decision is, that God is always trustworthy. He will never make the wrong choice for you. He will not fail us.
Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God knows what decisions we are facing right now. And He knows exactly how it will all play out. I know that I can trust Him because not only does He know my future--but His plans are to prosper us...soooo how do I know what it is He wants us to do? Why am I so scared about making a decision?
1 John 4:18 (New International Version)
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
I know I should not be scared. I know God is in control. I guess my problem is, I'm not always sure how to hear Him out of all the other chaos all around me.
Lord, please help me to seek you in all I do. Please take my burdens from me and allow me rest. I know that in seeking you, I will find the peace you offer. Help me to trust in You with all my heart instead of leaning on my own understanding. Help me to seek your desires instead of my own. Help me to remember to be anxious about nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let me make my requests known to you and Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my mind and heart in You. Thank you, God, that I can rely on you to never steer me wrong.
In Jesus' name.
Amen
Do you ever wish God would speak to you through billboards? Maybe huge neon signs that say, "You should choose...."
I think it's just like God that this is what the kids church lesson was about on Sunday. Here we are teaching the kids about seeking direction from God--praying, reading the Bible when we have tough decisions to make. And what do you know? It seems that I am so bogged down with trying to make the right decision, that I (instead of letting God) am trying to make that decision. We taught that no matter what that decision is, that God is always trustworthy. He will never make the wrong choice for you. He will not fail us.
Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God knows what decisions we are facing right now. And He knows exactly how it will all play out. I know that I can trust Him because not only does He know my future--but His plans are to prosper us...soooo how do I know what it is He wants us to do? Why am I so scared about making a decision?
1 John 4:18 (New International Version)
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
I know I should not be scared. I know God is in control. I guess my problem is, I'm not always sure how to hear Him out of all the other chaos all around me.
Lord, please help me to seek you in all I do. Please take my burdens from me and allow me rest. I know that in seeking you, I will find the peace you offer. Help me to trust in You with all my heart instead of leaning on my own understanding. Help me to seek your desires instead of my own. Help me to remember to be anxious about nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let me make my requests known to you and Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my mind and heart in You. Thank you, God, that I can rely on you to never steer me wrong.
In Jesus' name.
Amen
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