Saturday, May 30, 2015

Held Hostage

It's that time again...what time you ask? 

NEW BLOG TIME :)

Since last I wrote we have been busy!  Mike with travel and me with a part-time job.  The boys with school and a new hairy addition to our lives!

I took a seasonal job at Thanksgiving to 'meet people', 'have something more to do' and of course make some money to help supplement out simple way of life.  Well as usual that seasonal, fun, just because, job turned into management within 3 months.  Darn my good work ethics :)

I am store lead at the Children's Place.  I use to shop at that store all the time when the boys were little.  Now that they are way to big for the clothing there I get 30% off.  Oh the irony of life!  Besides the benefits to me that the store has offered, I find myself in the middle of many young women with empty hearts.  They have quickly gravitated to me and I've become the big sister they need!  I love how even in the middle of one ministry, if we open our hearts to others, God wants to use us on a daily bases to touch those HE BRINGS to us. LOOK around, who needs what you have??

The boys are winding down the school year.  They have both remained on the Honor Roll the entire school year.  I'm so glad for that after homeschooling last year and having to come into an entirely new district/state.  Joel was invited into the Junior Honor Society... proud mom moment!  Ethan will travel with Mike for over 2 weeks the end of June.  Joel the next month.  It will be nice for them to be back on the road and sharing in the vision again.

We have a very busy ministry schedule ahead of us.  There are so many amazing things that are playing out before our eyes.  Contacts we are making that can only be explained as a 'God thing'.  There are many exciting things in the 'works'.  We will share them as they come into play.    

Hairy addition...yes...I have not forgotten about that earlier statement!  About 3 weeks ago we brought home a 3 pound bouncy puppy boy.  He has been a much blessed addition to our lives.  He is a Boston Terrier the boys named Sieben (pronounced Z-bin), the German word for the number 7.  He is already bi-lingual.  We are teaching him all the commands in English and German.  We plan to take him with us when we move to Berlin so of course he must know German!!  He is super cute ;)

While reading my Bible the other morning I came across a verse that we all know, have heard and probably even used at one time or another to witness to someone.  But for some reason I read it with new eyes.

      'God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors.' -1st Peter 1:18- 

Without a relationship with Jesus it is an empty life.  Movie stars and people that 'have it all' are a great testament to this.  They have EVERYthing money can buy: beauty, fame, material things, money, the spotlight but still we see so many of them depressed, suicidal, divorced, on drugs and down right miserable.  Proving once and for all that money can't and won't buy happiness, nor can it fill the 'hole' we are all born with.  That hole is filled with 1 thing and 1 thing only- a personal, intimate, relationship with Jesus Christ.  Only He can fill the void of an empty life.  Only He can give purpose and a feeling of belonging.  Only He can show you that your life really does matter.

So many people wonder if God really wants them!  This verse along with countless others give proof to the fact that God wanted us and still wants us today. 

HE PAID A RANSOM FOR US.

Most hostage situations don't go as planned.  The negotiations are hindered with problems. The captor wants to much, the police are not willing to give in.  We have all watched movies on how it plays out.

In the above Bible story the captor wanted lives. Satan wanted to keep the lives of everyone on the earth.  He felt he was owed that much after his fall from Heaven.  But God wanted every life on earth too.  They were at a stand off.  A hostage situation.  But God knew something.  He knew that there was one life that Satan wanted even more then all the lives on earth.  One life that could quench the devils desire for revenge.  One life Satan wanted out of the way once and for all.

That life was Jesus Christ, God's own son. 

With Jesus gone Satan probably saw a 'help wanted' sign over the seat of God's right hand.  A step closer to taking God's throne.  Finally his life long dream of taking over Heaven would be fulfilled.

God in His infinite love for the human race did what negotiators are trained NEVER TO DO.  God paid the ransom.

          'It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.  God chose him as your ransom long before the world began.' -1st Peter 1:19,20-

        He gave over His beloved spotless, beautiful son.
        He gave over the crowned jewel of Heaven.
        He gave over His heart.
        He gave all He could give to pay the ransom for you and me.

Satan was beside himself.  He had the light of Heaven to torture and torment.  He suddenly had a win/win scenario.  He had won the stand off.  He had won the negotiations.  Or so he thought. 

        BUT HE HAD JUST LOST THE SOULS OF MANKIND!!!

God paid the ransom.  God gave all.  The requirement was met.  Man BELONGED to God.  With such a high ransom paid for you...

           'DON'T slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desire.  For you are a chosen people, God's VERY OWN POSSESIONS.  He called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.'.
                                                               -1st Peter 1:14, 2:9-

You are treasured.  You are loved.  You are owned by the creator of the universe. 
BELIEVE IT, LIVE IT, SHOW IT!





Tuesday, February 3, 2015

A Tale of Two Children

Geesh after rereading my last blog...I wonder how am I ever going to compete with that??

I am so blessed by all the messages I got from so many people about the blog "What are you waiting for".  Your openness touched me!  I want everyone to know that we all go through "those times".  Don't ever feel like you're alone.  That is how darkness works.  It makes us feel as if 'no one understands', 'no one else ever goes through things that I am going through'...LIES!!

We all do/have/will go through things.  It is important to bring those things to light.  To be open with someone about it.  In doing so you take away the power of the 'thing' you're going through.  You cause it to lose it's hold on you.  You make it weak!  Never hide pain, sin, or things that could so easily destroy you.  Share with someone you trust.  Find a Godly friend/mentor.  Open the hidden things.  Let's brighten up the house!

Since last I wrote we have been busy making contacts.  These last 2 months that has been the name of the game.  December and January found Mike 'cold' calling pastors all over the area.  NOT FUN!  But through those calls we have been able to connect with a few new contacts!  Relationship is so important and that is what takes up most of the time for us.  Sitting down with these men and woman and sharing our hearts and listening to theirs.  Mike will start back to 'long distance' trips next month.  This once again means he will be away for weeks at a time so please keep him in prayer (safety, favor and many SUCCESSFUL meetings).  For the boys and I, pray that we remain safe and the household runs smoothly while he is away! 

Christmas was particularly fun this year.  We had a friend (Isabel) from Brazil, that we met in Germany summer of '13, come to stay with us.  Her friend had moved to Washington, DC a while back from Brazil.  This was Isa's first time in the States so of course first American Christmas.  Oh boy...it would be putting it mildly to say I enjoyed every minute of buying her and her friend gifts and surprises so they could truly be a part of our culture's Christmas!  They were spoiled from the minute they arrived till they left ;)

We have also been able to connect with some of Mike's extended family that we might never have gotten to truly know.  It has been great to 'grow' family ties! 

We have continued to up-date our little townhouse. We had to tear out the kitchen from top to bottom, both bathtubs and bathroom sinks.  We had to replace flooring in many rooms and we are still working on painting EVERYthing :)  We have been able to do most the work ourselves.  It is coming together quite nicely.  It was a rental before...so yeah...

The boys continue to do very well in school.  They seem to have found a nice rhythm to pass the days.  They are happy to not have to do so much traveling...we are happy to not have them cramped in a small car for hours on end!  I do miss traveling and meeting so many amazing people but I have been able to do quite a bit of it these last 2 months with Mike keeping travel to NC.  I know it is important for the boys to have the stability of 'daily routine' so it works well this way!

I can't close a blog without something God has been showing me (it just wouldn't seem right :)

So I tell you tale.

A Tale of Two Children *Galatians 4:21-31 NLT*

We all know the story.  God promised Abraham a son but he was old and Sarah was barren.  They were both excited to say the least and probably 'went to town' trying to fulfill the promise or it could have been the opposite.  They didn't try to hard because they really couldn't see how God would fulfill the promise through them.

Either way they couldn't wait any longer and decided God's heavenly promise needed a little earthly help!  So Abe got a slave women pregnant. 

vs 23 -The son of a slave woman was a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God's promise-

THEN the heavenly promise came...

When we try to operate ahead of God's promises or try to give them earthly help bad things can happen!  We very easily could end up a 'slave' to those things instead of what God has promised us.  We need patience to see through to God's promises.  We of course have to do our part but that is all that is required of us.  Abraham and Sara had their part to play but they became easily discouraged and impatient.

Discouragement + Impatience = A Slave Child
Patience + Peace + Belief = A Free Child


vs 30 -So get rid of the slave and her son because they will not share the inheritance with the Free Woman's Son-

We must make every attempt to only BARE God's promises and not have a Slave Child!  We must hold fast and keep the faith.  We most believe the promises God has spoken over our lives.  We must be patient AND do our part.  We must bare Free Children!

vs 29 -The (free) child born by the power of the Holy Spirit-

My prayer after reading this has been -'Holy Spirit help me to only bare Free Children.  Help me to hold fast and keep steady the course set for me.  Father God, forgive me when I jump ahead and try to make things work before your time and bare slave children.  Keep me patient!'

chapter 5:1  -Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you STAY FREE-