Letting go...

Our orchid has made it through every move

   
The month of September was spent moving totes, of things deemed too valuable or sentimental to sell, between my parents and Eric's parents. There they will sit for the next 3+ years as we are serving in England.

     The last week of September found us moving the boxes of things we currently need, items that we may ship overseas with us, and our bedroom furniture to Eric's parents. We are officially moved in to his parents basement.

We were so blessed by so many people through out this whole transition. We want to say thank you to our friends and family who helped not only on our moving day but through out the month - packing the number of totes (a little more than 50), car trips taken, and furniture hauled.  We are also blessed by the generosity of Eric's parents to let us stay with them for the next few months.

We are so encouraged by our support team, we couldn't do it with out you!

Through out this whole transition I have been pondering on the difference of a "here and now" view and "eternal" view. This time has been especially difficult for me, as a woman I desire to take care and provide a home for my family. As someone who has been independent and self reliant for the last 8 years it is hard to rely on other people for my basic needs. My personality is one where I like to do well, to have things ordered and in their place, to have things make sense...  being in a position that the world would consider as 'losing' it is hard to remember our lives are held to a different standard.

If we aren't careful the world's view slips into our thought process and takes our eyes off of God's plan. It can be easy to look at things with the "here and now" view, the desire to have a good life now. It is easy to forget that our purpose isn't to have a good life now, but to follow God's plan and bring him glory.  Does that mean that everyone has to sell everything and go overseas? No of course not. It also doesn't mean that I have it figured out and don't struggle with the desire to have what the world calls a good life.

It just means that when we set things aside to follow God we have to remember to look at it from an eternal perspective so we don't get discouraged in what we are 'letting go'.  This past month my focus has been on what is being let go - when God wants our focus to be on what He is preparing us for.
When that is our focus it isn't so hard to have Joy in the midst of change, because our God works things out for our good and knows how to give good things to his children - whether those are things the world consider good or not.

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#

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 - 

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.

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. 

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. 

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 :)