Here We Go!

Well, today I went to the old house to get some things worked on since our house SOLD!  I stood outside just looking at it and reflecting on all the memories there.  We brought all 5 of our babies home here.  We shared so many good times and sad times here.  We went on the roller coaster of a ride called the real estate market and learned so much about faithfulness and provision.  We have owned this house for about 8 1/2 years and we have had it on the market for about half that time :)  This house was used to teach us.  This house was used to grow us.  This house was used to reveal that we are not in charge.  We had to believe in Him.  We had to have faith that HE was in control.  We took little steps here and there and once we made that step into faith, God opened the door wide and showed us that he was there.  It is so hard to step into the unknown.  But on the other side of the threshold, HE WAS THERE!  I mean, how many times have you heard people being victims of deed foreclosure, loose the sale of their house, buy a second house and renters agree to move in the next day, and then, those renters leave and another set of renters fall right in.  Only God can orchestrate this stuff!!!  The mission house was wonderful.  The mission house taught us so much.  The last renters, the Jacksons, were here during a hold time.  They were here as they waited.  As they waited for their time to go serve in Africa.  God closed that door, but maybe he just needed that obedience from them.  Maybe he just needed that YES Lord, we give it all for you.  Maybe he has something bigger and he needed them to learn to say yes now for what He is going to present them.  Obedience is my word for the year.  I want my ears to be open and not filled with me, but open to hear the Holy Spirit and what he whispers in my ears.  I want to be obedient and have unshakable faith!  Thank you Lord for teaching me.  Thank you Lord for providing for us!  Thank you Lord for being almighty!  Two weeks from today, we will no longer have the keys to this house.  We are ever so grateful for the many lessons we have learned!

Still Preparing

I can't believe I will be leaving for Africa NEXT MONTH!!   I am getting so excited to go and am diligently preparing.  I am starting to make meals and freeze them.  I am teaching Matt how to do laundry, fix lunches, prepare dinner and learn our daily routines.  He does so well and is ready to take on the crew while I am gone. I know he will do such a great job and it is very comforting to me that they will be well taken care of and I have no worries.  I have gotten almost all my medicine and shots so I will be nice and protected.  I love how God provides all things when you are willing to obey.  My first half of the trip was due last month.  A couple of months ago we got a notice that our house payment would be going up $200 a month due to our taxes getting readjusted.  I told Matt to just call our mortgage company and see what we could do.  They told us we could refinance without having to do closing costs and our payment would go down $250 from the new price!  So we had someone come to our house and we signed all the paperwork and of course you don't have to pay your mortgage that month that you refinance - you know, the exact amount I needed for the 1st half of my trip!!  Jehovah-jireh!  Since then, I have had the almost half of the remainder of the trip cost given to me!  I am ever so grateful. 
My time goes so quickly.  There are days when Matt and I get in the car and just take a deep breath, because that is the only time we sit and don't have to do anything but drive.  I don't want to rush through this preparing time.  I know that I am about to embark on a life changing event and I don't want to get to the airplane before it all hits me!  So as this month is upon me, and my list of to do's gets longer and longer, I am making a commitment to spend time preparing.  Time to soak in and LISTEN to what God is telling me. 
Pray for our team that is going.  There has been alot going on with the other team members and they need prayers.  One member of our team, Katherine Stillwell, passed away suddenly in March.  Her husband and daughter are still planning on going and now her son is going in her place.  They are in such a raw period of grieving and I know as the time gets closer, it will only get harder for them.  Katherine was such a beautiful person and I am so honored to have been able to work with her in AWANAS.  She did so much for the children at Sardis Baptist and it will never be the same without her sweet smile.  This death rocked our church.  It was sudden, she was young, and it was without warning (I was with her the entire weekend prior, as she set up a church yardsale to raise money for our trip to Africa).  She left a legacy and I know God is rejoicing with his faithful servant.  Another person on our team, her husband has been diagnosed with cancer.  Just pray for continued strength as they embark on the long road of recovery.  Satan is scared for what is about to happen with this team!  We are ready and we come with the gospel to proclaim!  We will not be shaken!!

 

Wow...History?!!

I have never been a history person.  I really just have no interest.  The only history I love to read about are the stories in the Bible.  I guess I like stories and history never really came to life to me like a story, therefore I didn't like it.  But the Bible.....man is it alive!!  These stories are so amazing.  They are becoming more and more alive to me and I just can't get enough!  I am reading through the book of Acts right now.  Wow!!  The stories of the apostles and what they did and how they lived to spread the gospel is amazing.  They worked SOOO hard!  They had to go against so much to spread the gift of Jesus Christ.  As I read through the chapter, all I think of is this song and how my heart longs to live like that!!

 

Harper had a project he had to do about a missionary.  He picked David Livingstone.  I have actually heard about him before in school so the whole missionary thing wansn't highlighted.  He set out to spread the gospel to Africa in the 1800's.  (Now this is where I usually doze off because history begins)  So I have to read some and explain to Harper what he did as a missionary.  I read and couldn't get enough.  This man was a true missionary and he dedicated his whole life to the great commision!  His life verse:  "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:18-20).  He did such amazing things.  First of all he said yes to the call to GO to Africa and then when he was there, he gave his all.  He was attacked by lions, was sick with numerous diseases, left his family for over 5 years to go across a dessert to reach central Africa (he tried with his family and one of his children died from them traveling 4 days without water), his body was failing him and yet he never stopped.  He died when he was 60 yearss old and all I picture is a man with a totally broken and worn out body.  Totally broken and worn out due to giving his ALL to spread the gospel.  I read this article (listed below) and this is what was written about how he died:

Remember, he died on his knees! Was his Lord's presence with him even unto the end? He died in the act of prayer! His last words were praying words. He was not alone! He was talking to Somebody! As he entered the valley of shadows and took the road across the river, David Livingstone was holding sweet converse with the One who was his Unfailing Companion on every shore, in every solitude, and on every trail!!

I want to live every minute of my life serving, praying, and living a life consencrated to the work of Jesus Christ! 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/giants/biolivingstone.html