AMAZING God

Amazing God

I have to tell the story because God is amazing!

We have been trying to get into this major assessment for church planting. It is the next step in planting a church so we NEED to do it. The original plan was to do it in August but miracles happened and God gave us a job for Alissa!

We needed to ask for days off and the we didn't have anybody to care for our girls while we were at the assessment/training. So by the time we had the days off approved the assessment was full and no further signups were allowed.

So we planned to go to the September one. It would give me time to complete my application and church planting profile. Plus, we now knew that we could get off from our jobs. However, we didn't have the child care figured out yet.

So we began to pray about child care. And also sitting on the couch going through the people we knew. Our first thought was my dad. He is retired and is family.

We called and it was a no go. There were too many things going on during that time frame for him to pull away. So we went back to the think tank.

I had some specific things that I were looking for for criteria. First, I wanted them to be safe for our kids. Family or good friends or well credentialed was going through my mind. Second, I wanted them to be invested in us. They needed to believe that what we were doing was important.

We thought of a church planter coordinator that had been instrumental in helping us see God's plan in church planting. His wife is such a sweet lady and so I called her. She said she would love to but that particular week she was watching her grandkids! It just seemed like it was hard.

Side note: I learned long ago that you do everything you can to pursue God's path. But don't pursue without God or get ahead of him. When life gets difficult it doesn't mean that the "door" (hate that analogy) is closed or open. It may mean that God is working but it isn't time yet. I believe that God's will is more fluid than some old door! /ramble

On Monday August 31, I got a text from a friend that learn so much from. He is a man of closeness with God. But, I didn't really have time to read it on Monday. So it lay dormant in my Messages app.

Tuesday came and here it was September 1st! No prospects to keep our girls. But I knew the time frame to register and get flights was getting shorter. I was starting to get antsy. I was talking to God on a daily basis about it and nothing was happening yet.

But God wanted to show us again that the easy way is not the miraculous way (most of the time).

On Wednesday, I woke up around 4 am. I couldn't sleep and like he normally does, I believed that God wanted to talk with me. So I went to my quiet prayer place and asked God to give us someone to watch our girls.

God responded by reminding me about my text message. The text said:

Good morning bro. I just wanted to let you know that God is impressing on me that we need to bring our prayers and petitions to him with FASTING. In case their is something you need to break loose. I encourage you to FAST and pray. I am doing this now and felt the need to share with you. Remember man of God, you are truly blessed!

I felt that God was calling me to fast over this. So I followed the leading to fast until dinner.

I got ready and headed off to work. I work around food and beverages all day long. Did you know when you are hungry that everything smells extra good??

But in my spirit, every time my stomach growled I would say to God, "You are all I truly need. I trust you, God." My stomach growled a lot.

I made it through the day and headed home.

I looked at my phone and had received a text from my wife 30 minutes earlier. It said:

I love it when God just hands us things on a silver platter!!

I called her and she told that a lady she works with, who I had meet the previous week, had come up and asked how the church plant was proceeding. (She has a friend that is going to a Wesleyan seminary and they had talked about the plant and this spurred her to ask my wife about it.) My wife told her about how we need to go to this major assessment/training for our next step and we have everything in place except . . . And the lady finished her sentence . . . childcare.

The lady simply stated, "Well, I will watch your kids."

My wife's jaw hit the floor. She is credentialed and safe. And she sees our kids everyday!

And now it is all arranged. We are going to the assessment/training! God is amazing!

I told my wife with what God had done that morning. See what he did there?? He grew both of our faiths. He gave glory and honor to himself. He provided a way (when there didn't seem to be one).

UnFair Prayer

This week is the first in our series about injustice in the world. The UnFair Series. Here is the prayer you were challenged to pray this week. Also, re-read Psalm 73 and see how Asaph handles this question of unfairness in the world.

Dear Lord, help me not to be a whiner. Help me, when I am tempted to complain and grumble about how life is not fair, to remember that to “follow you” means life will not be fair. It was not with you. May I respond to my difficulties and trials in life with your grace, knowing that you will sustain me just like you did your Son. I thank you that when all I have left is you, you are enough. Amen.

Packing!

Hello all,

Thought I would give a heads up!

Today I have been packing and getting ready to leave. It is an interesting balance. I need to get this done so I can spend time with my family before I leave.

They made me a little note envelope to give me 15 days of sunshine in my day.

If you were one of the ones that said you would pray for me on this trip, please remember my family as well. I have never been away from them for this long and having them brought before our LORD as often as possible is a good thing!

So thank you!!

Tomorrow I leave for Minneapolis and VERY early on Wednesday morning, I get on the plane for Miami. Meet up with everybody else and then on to Cali.

Pray for us!

Will write again soon and keep you posted.

Here is a picture of my daughter rolling my clothes for me as I packed. : ]

A Week Out

Hello again!

I now have all my shots done. Glad I met my deductible already!! Those are spendy!

In case you were wondering, that means I've had Hepatitis A and B (and a booster), Tetanus and a Typhoid shot(s). Yes, me! The human pin cushion! Got in tacks you would like me to pick up?

In case you have not had these in your life, let me tell you. As you would expect, the Hep A & B are not bad. Barely notice them. The Tetanus burns as bad as it did when I was a kid (almost). The Typhoid was almost warm feeling when I got it. But it also caused me to be the most sore in my arm in even into my back a bit. So there ya go. Just what you wanted to know today. Go forth and spread the word! : ]

Aside from some small things, like deodorant and other weird things like that, I'm ready. Don't get me wrong! I'm not packed. But I think I've got everything I needed to have to be ready. It is so exciting!

It is strange to be away from Alissa and my girls that long. It has raised my level of awareness in every moment with them. Audrey has it marked on her calendar.

Then I think, what is God going to do? How can HE use this?

And I think, I can't wait.

Cali Update

Hello!

Wanted to give an update on where I'm at in regards to the trip.

The airplane tickets were purchased last month and they got them for about $100 or so less than they thought! Given God the glory!

After the price adjustment, my balance left was $698.60. (Again, praise God for this! God has used you awesome people to get me this close to the goal.) I am so grateful to God for this coming together. I have been praying that it would all come together.

This morning I called Extreme Nazarene and made a payment. I had been given some monies from my congregation and needed to get it in. So! I am happy to let you all know that after that payment, I had only $250.00 left for the trip. And that just blows my mind.

Really. Those of you that know me well, you know that I am not great at accepting gifts. I know what that is and I am working on it, but I am still overwhelmed at gifts and acts of generosity. They are hard to accept. And so, I have had a lot of practice in graciously accepting gifts lately because you have all blessed me, GOD has blessed me through you all. So thank you God! And thank you for listening to God's prompting.

The story doesn't end for today, yet. I have more to tell you!

I got a phone call from a friend this morning. They live on a very tight budget. Very tight. He has a second job to support his family. He was calling to see how I was and ask me a tech question.

We were sharing some details about our lives and I told him how much I am looking forward to this trip. He asked me when we leave and I told him about how I was just about to call make the aforementioned above payment. And let him know how God had blessed me with this trip and I only had $250.00 left. We chatted some more. And then we got off the phone.

About 30 minutes later, I got a call back from my friend. He had been praying and felt led to send me a check for the last $250.00!! I didn't/don't know what to say. God IS so good.

I'm sitting here as I type with tears on my cheeks because I am humbled by God's care and provision. 

My trip is fully funded. Praise the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! The great I AM!

So VERY humbled by God right now. Thank you, God!

Day Eight 2012

Eight days in. It has been a very hectic week. That's not a moniker to put on my jacket. Just admitting that I'm tired. I didn't get a day off this week so I need to focus better and prioritize. That is to say that I'm going to have to not do some things this week that I would like to do. Or delegate them out. I am also not completing my goal of posting once a day.

We have a couple people in the hospital right now. Remember to pray for Char and Shirley. Char just had her knee operated on for replacement and is doing well. Will  probably come home tomorrow. Home is not literal. She will be staying with her sister. Also, her mother just went in to the hospital and Char is concerned about her. If you would like to send Char something, Tom S. has the address. Also, Shirley is in the hospital with an infection, influenza and pneumonia. They are giving her meds and she is recovering. She has good friends and family come see her and seems comfortable.

God has answered our prayers with Char and Shirley as well. Both are doing well and recovering. Char feels really well and is healing. Shirley's cough has improved a lot!

Today we are going to talk about Service. Servanthood. I am applying the text from John 13:1-17. I wanted to list out some things that I can't fit into the sermon. Here is a list of Self-Righteous Service determiners, not Self-Giving Service determiners.

1. Make a Big Deal
2. External Rewards
3. Pick and Choose
4. Moods and Whims
5. Temporary
6. Insensitive
7. Fractures Community

I will briefly explain them.

1. If we make a big deal and draw attention to ourselves then it is about serving yourself not the thing or person you are serving.
2. If there is a reward for you. You get something out of it. A new car. A piece of candy. If the question in your mind is "What am I getting out of this?" then you are not giving with the right heart.
3. When we choose who to help and who or what not to help or do, we are neglecting God's work in our lives and theirs. Walk with God and you will know the right ways to help. Sometimes it is not apparent in what they are saying they need, or the perceived need. God will help. Ask him.
4. "I don't feel like it." Many are those that receive no help or do not receive the gift of love through service from others because of this attitude.
5. "True service is a lifestyle." It isn't something that is orchestrated necessarily (out of necessity via laxity). It comes from within and floods others.
6. Self-giving love is sensitive to staying tuned in to others. Sometimes the best service is listening. Doing nothing. Being there.
7. Self-serving is all about the one person. Or the group. It divides some or one from others. The thought is that I did this and I am better than them. Even if we don't say it. We think it.

If you find yourselves serving others and one of these thoughts goes through you mind, it needs to be expunged. It is not from God. It is either the evil one spurring you or your human self coming through. Ask God to remove this spirit from you. Ask him to cleanse you from it and give it over to Him. He is a God that sanctifies.

Day Four 2012

Today is the fourth day of my fast. I meant to blog every day and that hasn't happened. Not off to a good start!

I was hoping to blog each day and have a small devotional thought plus list some prayer needs that I have prayed for. Maybe I can start today and go forward.

Today, Shirley is on my mind. I just found out she went to the hospital yesterday. She asked for something to read so tomorrow I'll go over and take her a book.

Char needs prayer. I know she is getting ready for her operation tomorrow.

Cathy is on my mind too. She is having a hard time with her stomach issues and it is knocking her out from doing the things she wants to do.

Dan Bohi is traveling and preaching at churches and will be here next Thursday and Friday. These services will be at 7 pm. I believe he will help us draw closer to God and give our lives to living a holy life. I am excited to see what God is going to do. I am praying that he will use Dan to transform our hearts.

- - - -

This morning I read about David testing out his armor and it not working for him. So he took it off and instead picked five smooth stones. He then went forward with God's power and those five stones.

It only took one. One stone. That is God's power. We prepare and then we give it to God. He takes it and says, "Watch what I am gonna do!" And he does the amazing. And ultimately this led to him becoming the king of Israel.

The question my book asked was, "What are your five stones?" And she was talking about picking five pieces of Scripture to be the mainstay of what your stand on during this time of preparation for whatever God has in store for you. This is all about seeking God. Knowing him well.

How many of us would say we know God well? If God walked up to us in the flesh, would we be able to say that he is our best friend? Would God agree based on His experience with us? Do we "hang out"' with God on a regular basis?

More about Prayer!

Here is another post about prayer. There are some great books out there that talk about prayer. Here is an interesting article about four books. I found it helpful.

Prayer Review

Let me know what you think!