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Why England?

This post talks about some of the reasons why we have a heart for England. Take a look before you continue on to the rest of the blog.   ...

Friday, September 15, 2017

News article about the most recent attack in London.
Please pray for peace and that as people face this unrest they will open their hearts to hearing the truth.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/15/explosion-tube-train-parsons-green-reports-injuries-district1/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_fb#

Friday, September 8, 2017

Day 7 - Unity

Day 7 - Unity 

- Unity for us; 
In our marriage, in our prayers, and with our partners,

- Unity for England; 
The relationship between churches in the community
The relationship between the young and old generation within the church


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I am sorry that this one is a day late. Yesterday ended our seven days of fasting and praying for England and our journey there. We have been so blessed by this time and all the partners who have joined with us. It was really special to end the fast at Bible study, united with a group of young believers seeking God and living life together.  

We read Acts 2 which includes the example of how the church started. As we read about the fellowship that took place and the unity that happened in the Bible and we are encouraged for what God can do today through us and the church. 

Thank you for joining with us. 

God Bless - 

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Day 6 - Warfare


Day 6 - Warfare

- Warfare for us;
Against attacks and discouragement
Against the enemy's plans to stop us or dismay us

- Warfare for England;
That chains and strongholds that are in place would fall.


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Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.


Eph 6:11-13


Today I experienced an attack. I was expecting it all day.

In the morning as I was packing a tote in the living room a spider spun down from the ceiling right in front of me. I screamed. I felt scared and thrown... but it wasn't the attack.

In the afternoon I was pricing stuff for our moving sale. In the corner of the garage I moved a snowman and found a dead bird. I sreamed. I jumped. I ran away.... but it wasn't the attack.


I kept waiting for the big scary attack that would teach me what warfare was and how to fight it, to pray about it and so I could share with you guys.


Then I settled down for a little rest on the couch and I saw the empty spot where our chair sat, the one we just sold yesterday. Then a little thought came to me. It was quiet and simple and based on a fact.

-we are losing a lot of money by selling our stuff, stuff we could keep if we weren't doing missions-

Then that fact became "life would be better if you did what you planned" the idea wed have our good jobs, our good stuff, a happy family, and no crazy packing... if we did our plan.




There was the attack. In a quiet thought that started as fact but was changing into questioning God's plan.

That is what Satan does, he tries to make you wonder if God really knows best and if God really has best in store for you.




This is where the battle lies. Not in the spiders or dead birds, not in the action but in the quiet first moment of the thought. This is where we need to fight, at the start.




I could of let that thought grow and spent my day wallowing in self-pity believing that my plan would have been better than Gods. But by fighting we are able to stand up and say I know who my God is and what his word says. Those are the keys to winning the battle.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Day 5 - Impact

Day 5 - Impact 

- Impact for us;
 God would move in large ways, that we can't imagine asking for

- Impact for England;
 God would prepare their hearts so that when they hear of Him they will understand the great might of God and go out and impact their community. 

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Thank you for joining us so far on this journey. It has been so amazing to see what God has done since the beginning.  He has moved in ways and brought about events that I couldn't have dreamed of. As we pray today I feel that same excitement I had before Christmas as a little girl. A wonder at what will be next and a realization that what is to come is so much bigger than I am - that I can't even dream it up. 


Monday, September 4, 2017

Day four - Connections



Day four - Connections

- Connections for us;
While here we will continue to meet new people and churches to grow our partner team.
While here and there to have connections with people who will encourage and teach us in ministry.

- Connections for England;
That when we arrive we will be able to connect with the young adults there.
We will connect with the churches in the area, and they would work in unity.

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Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Today as I pray about connections I find myself at home alone. Eric is at work and then has a guys night.  I am packing, and as I put away the trinkets and pictures that have made up a part of our life these last three years I can't help but think of what these next three years will bring.  I can't help but stop to pray that God creates the same fellowship and friendship there that we have been blessed by here. 

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Day three - Truth

Day three - Truth

- Truth for us; 
That we would cling to God's truth and his word over us and his ministry
That we would not let the enemy's lies distract us from what God has called us to

- Truth for England; 
That the Truth would burst through bonds of anxiety and depression in the young adults in the area

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I am so sorry this is out so late, knowing most of you won't get it till tomorrow.  

Today was truth and like the past two days God revealed to me the truth of who He is. 

In the Bible Jesus says "I am the way the truth and the life" 

During worship He reminded me that he is also faithful, that He will always be because He can't deny himself.. it is who He is not just what He is. He is faithful to complete what He has started, to see us though to the end, to provide all ww need, to do what we can't even begin to imagine. 

Good night :) 

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Day two - Safe Place



Day two - Safe Place

- A safe place for us;

Peace of mind, grace and faith (tensions and stress is high)

- A safe place for England;
That God will provide a home once we are there where we can make a safe place for the young adults in the area.

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Isaiah 32:14-20
"The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.
The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field.

The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
Though hail flattens the forest, and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be,
sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free."

It is interesting that today we are praying over a house to hold ministry in while in England. I say it is interesting because today we sold our first large piece of furniture.. Now we have a card table instead of a kitchen table.  As we see this home we built here being dismembered piece by piece, whether to a tote or through a sale, we are trusting that God is preparing a new home for us. We are praying that it is one where we can grow as a family and use to minister to the young adults in the area. Like it talks about in Isaiah, God was talking about providing a home of peace and rest for his people. We pray that God creates a home that is full of peace and rest in a culture and time that is fast, careless, and harsh.   

Thank you for joining us in prayer and fasting this week. Please know if you want to share a comment, a verse, a prayer, or a word of truth - feel free to comment on the blog or send a text/email. If you do send a text or email let me know if I can share it on the blog to encourage others as well. 

God Bless. 

Friday, September 1, 2017

Day One - of prayer and fasting

Day one - Preparation


- preparation for us; 

Eric's schooling, that he would be able to accomplish what needs to be done for the classes.
Pre-field training, we'd have a spot to attend in October.
Preparing us for things we don't even know yet 

- preparation for England; 
Hearts and minds of the young adults in the area for the Word.
Hearts and minds of the people in the churches for young adults. 



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Today starts our 7 days or prayer and fasting for us as we prepare to leave for the mission field and for England.  Webster describes preparation as "the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use" 

1 Peter 3:15. Says "but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."  

Prepared here is the same word used when talking about the virgins who had enough oil and we're prepared when the bridegroom came (in Matt 25:10).   

When I woke up today I didn't know what God was going to teach me about being prepared.  Then the doorbell rang.
You see we are moving at the end of Sept and our land lady wanted to stop by this weekendto look at the place and see if any repairs were needed. I told her I'd be home all Sat and Sun. I was going to be prepared for this. Scrub the floor, dust the shades, make homemade cookies so the house smelt nice... fresh fruit bowl on the table.  I wasn't prepared for it to happen today. I had boxes and bubble wrap and piles of books to sort through.

We were caught unaware even though we knew it was comming. The Bible tells us somthing is comming, tells us that people are going to ask questions and that we are going to have to give answers. We are told through both the verses above that we are to be prepared, to make our selves ready, for the things we know are coming and for the things we can't know all the details about.  What can you do today to be prepared for that?

During this season we are taking many steps so that we are prepared when it's time to leave - even if we don't have a departure date yet.  What is God asking you to be prepared for? Are you living life prepared for when God asks you to do something?


Join us in Prayer



For those of you who receive the newsletter by email you will have seen this. If you get it through mail it will be coming to you soon.



7 days of prayer and fast for the ministry.

September 1st starts the seven days we have set aside to pray and fast for the ministry. Each day has a specific topic to pray about and a focus for us while we are preparing and for the people in England. We want to invite our partners to join us in prayer and fasting over this week period. Each day we will post a little something on the blog about that days topic. Please feel free to post prayers, verses, or words of wisdom in the comments on that days blog.

Note: we don't expect or encourage anyone to go 7 days with out food. If you choose to fast with us do it how you feel called, Whether it is fasting for partial days or from something like TV, or maybe it is a specific type of food (like soda), what ever you choose please be safe about it.


Here is an outline of the seven days.


Day one - Preparation



- preparation for us; 

Eric's schooling, that he would be able to accomplish what needs to be done for the classes.
Pre-field training, we'd have a spot to attend in October.
Preparing us for things we don't even know yet 

- preparation for England; 
Hearts and minds of the young adults in the area for the Word.
Hearts and minds of the people in the churches for young adults.

Day two - Safe Place

- A safe place for us; 
Peace of mind, grace and faith (tensions and stress is high)

- A safe place for Engalnd; 
That God will provide a home once we are there where we can make a safe place for the young adults in the area.

Day three - Truth

- Truth for us; 
That we would cling to God's truth and his word over us and his ministry
That we would not let the enemy's lies distract us from what God has called us to

- Truth for England; 
That the Truth would burst through bonds of anxiety and depression in the young adults in the area

Day four - Connections

- Connections for us; 
While here we will continue to meet new people and churches to grow our partner team.
While here and there to have connections with people who will encourage and teach us in ministry.

- Connections for England; 
That when we arrive we will be able to connect with the young adults there.
We will connect with the churches in the area, and they would work in unity.

Day 5 - Impact

- Impact for us;
 God would move in large ways, that we can't imagine asking for

- Impact for England;
 God would prepare their hearts so that when they hear of Him they will understand the great might of God and go out and impact their community.

Day 6 - Warfare

- Warfare for us; 
Against attacks and discouragement
Against the enemy's plans to stop us or dismay us

- Warfare for England; 
That chains and strongholds that are in place would fall.

Day 7 - Unity


- Unity for us; 
In our marriage, in our prayers, and with our partners,

- Unity for England; 
The relationship between churches in the community
The relationship between the young and old generation within the church