Strength for Today

The past 2 Sundays have been full of encouragement.  My heart is full.  It's making my weekdays endurable.  I don't have a bad job, but the sudden changes have made it "not like-able".  When you don't look forward to being at work it makes for a long week.  So I will focus on what God is doing in our family.

Last Sunday (Jan. 4th) our pastor and his wife invited us to their house after church to have lunch with a missionary couple from Belize who were visiting over Christmas.  We were glad to go, yet had no idea how God would use that afternoon to build up our joy, faith, encouragement, etc.!!  This couple just "happened" to have moved their 2 teenagers across the ocean to Russia 10 years ago when God called them into missions.  They just "happened" to grow up in the same town/area as Jarrod!!  On and on I could go.  But the point I am making is that God knew how much we needed the words of encouragement, the laughter, the "you can do this" and "you WILL do this!" that we received from Tom and Alida Sharp.   TEARS OF JOY came over me as I realized that God is so true to His promises!  We needed those hours of laughter, tears, smiles, understanding. And in the end, we have 2 new friends!!

As we are witnessing God at work in our family this verse comes vividly into mind:

"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." Phillipians 2:13

Then this past Sunday (Jan. 11th) we went to church as usual.  I had been praying for God to just give me some encouragement.  This whole Preview Trip we are taking to Swaziland in July had me a bit down because we need to raise around $15k, PLUS we are preparing to raise our support for actually moving over there.  I've known all along that it is God who will provide, yet in my humanness I still struggle with what I cannot see.  Our church has been taking up an ongoing love offering to help us with our preview trip.  It was announced yesterday that they have raised $2100 to this point!!  Wow!  I audibly gasped when this number was announced!  WOW!  Thank you, God!

We invited our church to come with us last night to see the African Children's Choir.  They were performing in Albuquerque and because we have seen them and the Watoto Children's Choir we knew what a blessing it would be.  Around 20 of us sat together and of course, I cried through most of the concert because my heart is so there!!  I love those children and cannot WAIT until I step foot on African soil again.  Anyway, before the concert our pastor came and sat with us and told us, "Your support is now at $10,000"!!  WHAT?!?!?!  We have been blessed with an additional $8000 towards our trip!

God is never late, rarely early, but ALWAYS on time!!  There are plane tickets to be purchased now and we feel like we now have the encouragement (that I prayed for) and the momentum to move forward with the millions of details that lie ahead!  Thank You, God!  You are so good to us!! 

I'm Back!

Time to start fresh.  It's almost 2015, and I have taken leave from blogging for 2 years; not intentionally, but because I wrestle with fear and intimidation.  But as we are taking a bold leap of faith as a family this year I believe it time for me to cast off this fear of man and do what I love to do: write- honestly, candidly, from the heart.  Lord Jesus, I need Your boldness.

If I could sum up 2014 in one word it would be "COMMITMENT".  This is the year that we have heard Him speak clearly to both of us regarding our calling.  It is the year that we pursued His calling to the point of commitment; a commitment that placed us on the path back to Africa!  There are so many unknowns, but there are also many affirmations that help us to continue stepping forward, even if it is with baby steps.
So this "commitment" that I speak of...you can read all about it here.  The word "missionary" can cause some distance, if you will.  On this page I want to just share as a real mom, wife, friend who goes through everyday stuff and depends on Jesus to walk me through it all.

I have experienced so many things this year, but for today I'll limit it to one: Working full-time.  This has been a big blessing for our family and has given me the opportunity to work alongside women who are in need of Jesus. Even though it means I am not at home as much as I would love to be I know that God is using this to grow my dependence on Him and to prepare me for where He is taking us.  My husband and kids are so good to understand that working means a messier house, laundry at 11pm, do-it-yourself breakfast/lunch, and frequent "turn off ALL the lights before you leave" reminders.
I am not one of those women who feel so empowered because she now has a job and therefore has meaning.  Really, I'm not.  Where I love to be is in my home, keeping things going for my family.  However, this work thing is a "season" for me, and it is teaching me:
 *multi-tasking (on a whole new level)
*control-release (one simply cannot keep a perfect house when one is working)
*delegation (children are learning that "mom" is not a synonym for "maid")
*days off make me as giddy as a school-girl
*one really can survive on 5-6 hours of sleep on a regular basis

As I am realizing that this is the last day of 2014, my heart is so full of gratefulness for ALL of the big and small things that God has brought me through.  I've experienced extreme heartbreak, exhilarating joy, and quiet peace in my spirit as we've walked a crazy-fun path over these past 12 months.  My children are growing older (and taller), my relationship with Jarrod is growing deeper and sweeter, and my love and dependence on Jesus is unexplainable- cannot find words to tell you how much I love Him.

Can't think of a title

Just when you think you've got a great "game plan"...
I'm not complaining. Really, I'm not.
This simply is not how I saw things playing out in my mind.

Update from last post:
(Transmission fluid leaking all over garage floor.)
All went well for a couple of weeks.
Added more T-fluid and no problems all through Christmas.
Last week- more leakage.
More T-fluid.
This time the squealing began.

This morning I woke up with fear.
"Can I even make it to take the kids to school??"
"What are we going to do with one vehicle??"

But this morning, the Lord spoke to me:
"Melissa, trust Me.  I am already there.  Do you trust Me?"

"Yes, God.  I trust You.  It's Your van, anyway, and worrying won't make it work any better than it did yesterday...but just keep it going until next month when we can hopefully get a new car.  pleeeeease?"

But this morning, on the way to school, the transmission had enough.
 As I crept down Rt. 66 to drop the kids off, I felt myself saying,
"This is NOT the way it was supposed to happen!!
Just get us to the school , Lord.  Please, just get me home, Lord."
The van did not agree with me.  No gears means no driving.

I called Jarrod, who was half-way to Albuquerque, and he turned around.
He picked me up on Rt. 66 (thankfully in an Elem. school parking lot).


We had our "PLAN"...
Tax refund + trade-in= NEWER CAR...
Next month.

Seems good.  Seems wise.  Seems "right".

On the way to Albuquerque to take Jarrod to work God brought this verse to my mind:

Proverbs 19:21
21 You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail."

I have no idea what His purpose is in the timing of this.
We made plans that seemed good and right, what we ought to do.
Yet He is proving Himself true today.
He does have His purpose.

And I trust Him.

Never means NEVER

Just last night on the way home from school/basketball one of my kids brought up the story about the rich man that Jesus talked to about surrendering his life to God.  The kids were puzzled by the statement He made to His disciples,

"I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” Matthew 19:24

And what I just noticed is that Jesus said it twice!  In verse 23 He said, 

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

We talked about what that meant.  In our own family we have walked through numerous times of need, and rather a few times of plenty, monetarily speaking.  We all had to agree that in the times when we have "plenty" our focus all too quickly can turn to our money, our fun, and our own abilities.  How quickly we can lose our desperate need for God and His provision in all areas of life.

Yet in the the many times we have lived on so little, our talks with Jesus are open, constant, and real.  We know that every penny we have is His, that our needs must be met by Him alone, not a paycheck.  It flows over into all areas, not just money.

This morning I had an opportunity to claim another verse related to money. (Thanks, hubby dear, for this reminder):

 ^"Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have.  For God has said,

'I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.' ”   ~Hebrews 13:5                                         

As I went to start the van this morning I saw red transmission fluid leaking out all over the carport.  I had no time to deal with this as I was taking all three kiddos to school, and Jake, especially had to be there on time as his team is leaving for a 3 day tournament in Artesia, NM.  

I backed out, and was mad. 

I.was.so.mad...

"God, this van is 15 yrs. old, has nearly 248,000 miles on it, and we've pleaded for years...YEARS, for You to provide a newer vehicle.  We have waited, prayed, looked, waited and prayed some more!! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LISTEN AND ANSWER?!?!"

He was so patient with my ranting and raving.  

That old purple van got all three kids to school and me back to the house.  

Along the way as I talked to Jarrod (in Santa Fe for the week), among many things he reminded me,"Melissa, remember what God says to us?.. 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.' "  

Stop.  Stop right there.  

That is true, therefore my anger needs to stop, my fears need to stop.

I told Jarrod that sometimes I get so mad at having 2 old cars that I just want to trade them in and who CARES if we have car payments??  I just want better cars!  Yet...

Yet, we've asked GOD to provide this need.  He knows what we need before we even ask (Matthew 6:8).  

Several years ago we committed to not having car payments, knowing full well that it means waiting on HIS timing to provide the cash or the vehicle itself.

So, if I were to go out, trade in this old clunker and get a spiffy newer car complete with monthly payments and God didn't tell me to...He will not bless that decision, and we will regret not waiting on Him.

It's the age-old truth:  Obedience brings Blessing, Disobedience brings Conflict.

I want His blessing.  I want to obey Him because He's in charge-not me.

Lesson for today:

I have all that I need right now.  He will provide for us when it is time.  
I need to thank Him for always taking good care of us and never leaving us abandoned. 

Never means NEVER.

Take Time to Get Into Their Lives

Last night Jarrod and I took time to deal with a couple of issues with our youngest. 

It had to do with this "in-between" stage of one minute being a kid, the next minute being a teen, emotions, etc.

We had not even seen a glimpse of the trouble in his little heart. 

He's such a fun-loving, care-free kid.

We sat him down and gently asked some questions.  

As tears were welling up in his eyes I could see the hurt feelings, and the complete confusion about life and how to handle it.

He doesn't know why he's feeling this way, acting this way, or why kids have to be so cruel.

He didn't shy away from us, and was honest when he couldn't explain his actions or feelings.

We realized that he needed us to sit him down and just CARE.  

It isn't that we don't; not at all!  

But when you have older children and busy schedules, sometimes the youngest gets lost in the shuffle.

After our talk, the difference in his countenance was amazing.  

In fact, the rest of the night he wouldn't leave us alone.

We sat with another child for a few minutes to "get into their life", and the same result: this one kept following us, too!

They plopped on our bed and just wanted to talk...about nothing big.

In fact, most of what they said was just goofy.  

But they felt safe with us.

They knew we loved them and cared.

Eventually, we had to make them "scram" so we could have our bed back. 

Have you sat down one on one with your kids lately and just asked them how they're doing with friends, the boy/girl thing, school work?

They are in a world we know so little about. 

Do it!!

There is so little time, and even your teenagers are dying to know that you CARE.

It won't be long before you're kicking them off your bed, too!

 

In all Seriousness

This is a time in my life that I have to admit I don't feel very "funny", or "witty".  God is taking us through things right now that have really turned my heart to more important matters, and although, yes, I still love to laugh and make others laugh, I have a sense of urgency that overrides my silliness.

For the past couple months Jarrod and I have been given a task; an uncommon task that a lot of people may never understand or agree with.  It seemed to come out the blue, but I believe one thing:  God is Sovereign, and everything that happens to us must first "filter through His fingertips".

We weren't "thrown into this", and we weren't "looking for trouble"- trust me.  If we truly truly believe in the sovereignty of God, in the holiness and righteousness that He demands, then we have to understand that He really does use us for His glory and does want an intimate walk with us.

I firmly believe that we as "American Christians" are just so used to our little worlds and living our daily little lives.  Do you ever really stop and consider that this is GOD'S world?  That HE is in charge?  That HE made us (and not we, ourselves)?  That unrighteousness is real and abominable to Him??  Really?

Well, God met us in that place several months ago and we have never been the same.  And we were thrilled at all He was doing in our personal lives and in our family.  Because of this, however, there is a real "enemy" who is going to try to stop us; who wants to deceive us so that we continue to live happy American Christian lives, believing that life should be good, easy, and comfortable.

Wake up, dear friends.  There is nowhere...NOWHERE...in the Bible that God tells me that life should be good, easy, and comfortable.  Abundant?  YES!  But our definition of "abundant" is far different than God's definition.  In John 10:10 when Jesus tells us that He came to give us life, and life more abundantly, He was talking about life in His Spirit, not our earthly natural life.  And so, if He meant our spiritual life, then the abundance has nothing to do with our "happiness".  Now, I know I sound like "Debby Downer", but I just want you to understand, really understand, that this goes so vehemently against our feelings and our likes.  We've come to believe so adamantly that we are supposed to have physical abundance- go to college or you're a bum, save for retirement so you don't starve, be thin and fit so you impress your Facebook friends, make enough money to look respectable, and by all means never admit that you are struggling.

I'll be the first to say:  "Hey, world, I'm disqualified!!" ...and I'm glad. 

We read our Bibles with our minds, not our spirits.  If Jesus says,"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows...", do we honestly believe Him, and then NOT get angry or confused when it really happens??  And, peeps, I'm not talking about our Smart Phones getting dropped in the sink, or our spiffy new cars costing us too much.  I AM talking about attacks on our reputations, or financial struggles that just come from living in a fallen world, sicknesses that cannot be understood, etc.

If Paul says in 1 Timothy 4" Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.", do we believe that it is really true today?  And I'm not talking about "preachers" on TV who are wacked!  I AM talking about pastors teaching things that simply make you feel good about how you're living, or friends/family who tell you that they don't believe God and His Word to be entirely true; teaching or beliefs that contradict what God Himself said and meant. (this is happening waaay more than we even know or want to know).

And those are just two "for instances".

I am fully aware of the fact that some of you may read this and think, "wow, she's weird.".  I'm ok with that.  Really...I'm OK with that, because I have come to the place in my life that acceptance by people is not my goal.  My relationship and growth with God is what matters at the end of the day (and this life).

So I blog all of this for the purpose of letting you in on my life- to let you know that my Facebook life (what's for dinner and where my kids are) isn't all that's on in this heart of mine.

Only spoken in New Mexico

Ok, all you New Mexicans...if you grew up here you'll TOTALLY understand these phrases.  I can't disclose the source (unless you personally want to know) because I don't endorse the title.  
However, trust me, when you read these you'll laugh as hard as I did because it's SO true!  NOW I know why I say some of these things!
Below are comments made to the website from various locals:



"Omberrrrs"
Eee... I seen you the other day .
I burley fit that stuff in my car.
It's right there (pointing with lips).

I was born here all my life
For reals!
How 'bout "Oh Yeah, No?"
Eeejole!!
A la modies!
"Are you going to go to Shurch?"
"And she's all like and then he was all like"

"Shut the light."
"I ALWAYS DO THAT SOMETIMES HUH?"...
You guys wanna go to Lottaburgers?

"I been born here all my life."
I haven't laughed this hard in forevers!
"I want a sangwich"
"I'm goeen to Saven Elaven
"Ooo, forGET it!"

officer, that light was not even red... it was yallow.
everyone in abq says "libary" 
"dont be a baby cry"
"ala vagers"
Impor-ent, moun-ain
I drawl good, no?