Acts 17:26-28

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for "'In him we live and move and have our being...Acts 17:26-28

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Hurry up and Wait...

Hurry up and wait!, This seems to be theme of life at the moment. There are so many things that need to get done and need to get done within a timely manner, however no matter what I do or try recently get me stuck in a holding pattern. Not only that, but everyone who claims to be committing to something, tends to back out at the last minute causing more of a delay. Whether its websites, non-profit boards, moving, visa permissions, and even relationships they all carry the same theme right now.... wait, wait, wait... It feels crazy but I've been waiting for over 3 years for most of these things to come through, and just when Im on the brink of making them come to fruition, they either fall apart, get put on hold, or just stand stagnate. So what am I to do? Some days I wake up and wonder, just even how to spend my time because Im in such a holding pattern there really is nothing else to do.... This is not pleasant, nor fun to walk in if we're being honest. The difficult wrestle is that I know these are good things, and good things that i feel the Lord has called me to as well as promised. So why dosen't He make them happen... I know, I know His time not mine, right? Yes we've heard it before and can even see this happening all throughout scripture!. Abraham waited 25 years for the promised Isaac, Isreal wondered for 40 years while waiting for the promised land, and there was even a 500 year waiting period between when the Lord last spoke till Christ was born...we as the church still live in the already but not yet form of waiting to be fully restored to Christ while here on earth... So the question remains, how do we remain strong, obedient, and faithful in the times of waiting. The answer is simple but difficult to walk out daily. Remember that God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. Tim Chester came up with this concept and 3 others. He simply said that "underlying all our sinful behaviour and negative emotions is a failure to believe one of these truths at a functional level. Embracing, believing, trusting, delighting in the appropriate liberating truth therefore has the power to set us free from sin – though we need to recognize that this typically involves a daily struggle – the fight of faith" The four G's have helped me as well as a lot of others I know. Honestly some days i don't believe any of them, those day are not my best, and Im usually robbed of my joy. Other days I struggle with them, and other days I walk in them fully... This is the battle, a battle to be fought even when told to Hurry up and wait! Here are some examples in scripture that show God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. a. Promises to Abraham b. Story of Joseph (Gen 37-47) c. Israel defeats Amaleknm- Moses raises staff (Ex 17) d. Psalm 55 e. Matthew 10 (esp16-20) f. Paul’s life (Acts 14-28)

Hurry up and Wait...

Hurry up and wait!, This seems to be theme of life at the moment. There are so many things that need to get done and need to get done within a timely manner, however no matter what I do or try recently get me stuck in a holding pattern. Not only that, but everyone who claims to be committing to something, tends to back out at the last minute causing more of a delay. Whether its websites, non-profit boards, moving, visa permissions, and even relationships they all carry the same theme right now.... wait, wait, wait... It feels crazy but I've been waiting for over 3 years for most of these things to come through, and just when Im on the brink of making them come to fruition, they either fall apart, get put on hold, or just stand stagnate. So what am I to do? Some days I wake up and wonder, just even how to spend my time because Im in such a holding pattern there really is nothing else to do.... This is not pleasant, nor fun to walk in if we're being honest. The difficult wrestle is that I know these are good things, and good things that i feel the Lord has called me to as well as promised. So why dosen't He make them happen... I know, I know His time not mine, right? Yes we've heard it before and can even see this happening all throughout scripture!. Abraham waited 25 years for the promised Isaac, Isreal wondered for 40 years while waiting for the promised land, and there was even a 500 year waiting period between when the Lord last spoke till Christ was born...we as the church still live in the already but not yet form of waiting to be fully restored to Christ while here on earth... So the question remains, how do we remain strong, obedient, and faithful in the times of waiting. The answer is simple but difficult to walk out daily. Remember that God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. Tim Chester came up with this concept and 3 others. He simply said that "underlying all our sinful behaviour and negative emotions is a failure to believe one of these truths at a functional level. Embracing, believing, trusting, delighting in the appropriate liberating truth therefore has the power to set us free from sin – though we need to recognize that this typically involves a daily struggle – the fight of faith" The four G's have helped me as well as a lot of others I know. Honestly some days i don't believe any of them, those day are not my best, and Im usually robbed of my joy. Other days I struggle with them, and other days I walk in them fully... This is the battle, a battle to be fought even when told to Hurry up and wait! Here are some examples in scripture that show God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. a. Promises to Abraham b. Story of Joseph (Gen 37-47) c. Israel defeats Amaleknm- Moses raises staff (Ex 17) d. Psalm 55 e. Matthew 10 (esp16-20) f. Paul’s life (Acts 14-28)

Hurry up and Wait...

Hurry up and wait!, This seems to be theme of life at the moment. There are so many things that need to get done and need to get done within a timely manner, however no matter what I do or try recently get me stuck in a holding pattern. Not only that, but everyone who claims to be committing to something, tends to back out at the last minute causing more of a delay. Whether its websites, non-profit boards, moving, visa permissions, and even relationships they all carry the same theme right now.... wait, wait, wait... It feels crazy but I've been waiting for over 3 years for most of these things to come through, and just when Im on the brink of making them come to fruition, they either fall apart, get put on hold, or just stand stagnate. So what am I to do? Some days I wake up and wonder, just even how to spend my time because Im in such a holding pattern there really is nothing else to do.... This is not pleasant, nor fun to walk in if we're being honest. The difficult wrestle is that I know these are good things, and good things that i feel the Lord has called me to as well as promised. So why dosen't He make them happen... I know, I know His time not mine, right? Yes we've heard it before and can even see this happening all throughout scripture!. Abraham waited 25 years for the promised Isaac, Isreal wondered for 40 years while waiting for the promised land, and there was even a 500 year waiting period between when the Lord last spoke till Christ was born...we as the church still live in the already but not yet form of waiting to be fully restored to Christ while here on earth... So the question remains, how do we remain strong, obedient, and faithful in the times of waiting. The answer is simple but difficult to walk out daily. Remember that God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. Tim Chester came up with this concept and 3 others. He simply said that "underlying all our sinful behaviour and negative emotions is a failure to believe one of these truths at a functional level. Embracing, believing, trusting, delighting in the appropriate liberating truth therefore has the power to set us free from sin – though we need to recognize that this typically involves a daily struggle – the fight of faith" The four G's have helped me as well as a lot of others I know. Honestly some days i don't believe any of them, those day are not my best, and Im usually robbed of my joy. Other days I struggle with them, and other days I walk in them fully... This is the battle, a battle to be fought even when told to Hurry up and wait! Here are some examples in scripture that show God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. a. Promises to Abraham b. Story of Joseph (Gen 37-47) c. Israel defeats Amaleknm- Moses raises staff (Ex 17) d. Psalm 55 e. Matthew 10 (esp16-20) f. Paul’s life (Acts 14-28)

Hurry up and Wait...

Hurry up and wait!, This seems to be theme of life at the moment. There are so many things that need to get done and need to get done within a timely manner, however no matter what I do or try recently get me stuck in a holding pattern. Not only that, but everyone who claims to be committing to something, tends to back out at the last minute causing more of a delay. Whether its websites, non-profit boards, moving, visa permissions, and even relationships they all carry the same theme right now.... wait, wait, wait... It feels crazy but I've been waiting for over 3 years for most of these things to come through, and just when Im on the brink of making them come to fruition, they either fall apart, get put on hold, or just stand stagnate. So what am I to do? Some days I wake up and wonder, just even how to spend my time because Im in such a holding pattern there really is nothing else to do.... This is not pleasant, nor fun to walk in if we're being honest. The difficult wrestle is that I know these are good things, and good things that i feel the Lord has called me to as well as promised. So why dosen't He make them happen... I know, I know His time not mine, right? Yes we've heard it before and can even see this happening all throughout scripture!. Abraham waited 25 years for the promised Isaac, Isreal wondered for 40 years while waiting for the promised land, and there was even a 500 year waiting period between when the Lord last spoke till Christ was born...we as the church still live in the already but not yet form of waiting to be fully restored to Christ while here on earth... So the question remains, how do we remain strong, obedient, and faithful in the times of waiting. The answer is simple but difficult to walk out daily. Remember that God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. Tim Chester came up with this concept and 3 others. He simply said that "underlying all our sinful behaviour and negative emotions is a failure to believe one of these truths at a functional level. Embracing, believing, trusting, delighting in the appropriate liberating truth therefore has the power to set us free from sin – though we need to recognize that this typically involves a daily struggle – the fight of faith" The four G's have helped me as well as a lot of others I know. Honestly some days i don't believe any of them, those day are not my best, and Im usually robbed of my joy. Other days I struggle with them, and other days I walk in them fully... This is the battle, a battle to be fought even when told to Hurry up and wait! Here are some examples in scripture that show God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. a. Promises to Abraham b. Story of Joseph (Gen 37-47) c. Israel defeats Amaleknm- Moses raises staff (Ex 17) d. Psalm 55 e. Matthew 10 (esp16-20) f. Paul’s life (Acts 14-28)

Hurry up and Wait...

Hurry up and wait!, This seems to be theme of life at the moment. There are so many things that need to get done and need to get done within a timely manner, however no matter what I do or try recently get me stuck in a holding pattern. Not only that, but everyone who claims to be committing to something, tends to back out at the last minute causing more of a delay. Whether its websites, non-profit boards, moving, visa permissions, and even relationships they all carry the same theme right now.... wait, wait, wait... It feels crazy but I've been waiting for over 3 years for most of these things to come through, and just when Im on the brink of making them come to fruition, they either fall apart, get put on hold, or just stand stagnate. So what am I to do? Some days I wake up and wonder, just even how to spend my time because Im in such a holding pattern there really is nothing else to do.... This is not pleasant, nor fun to walk in if we're being honest. The difficult wrestle is that I know these are good things, and good things that i feel the Lord has called me to as well as promised. So why dosen't He make them happen... I know, I know His time not mine, right? Yes we've heard it before and can even see this happening all throughout scripture!. Abraham waited 25 years for the promised Isaac, Isreal wondered for 40 years while waiting for the promised land, and there was even a 500 year waiting period between when the Lord last spoke till Christ was born...we as the church still live in the already but not yet form of waiting to be fully restored to Christ while here on earth... So the question remains, how do we remain strong, obedient, and faithful in the times of waiting. The answer is simple but difficult to walk out daily. Remember that God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. Tim Chester came up with this concept and 3 others. He simply said that "underlying all our sinful behaviour and negative emotions is a failure to believe one of these truths at a functional level. Embracing, believing, trusting, delighting in the appropriate liberating truth therefore has the power to set us free from sin – though we need to recognize that this typically involves a daily struggle – the fight of faith" The four G's have helped me as well as a lot of others I know. Honestly some days i don't believe any of them, those day are not my best, and Im usually robbed of my joy. Other days I struggle with them, and other days I walk in them fully... This is the battle, a battle to be fought even when told to Hurry up and wait! Here are some examples in scripture that show God is great-therefore we do not have to be in control. a. Promises to Abraham b. Story of Joseph (Gen 37-47) c. Israel defeats Amaleknm- Moses raises staff (Ex 17) d. Psalm 55 e. Matthew 10 (esp16-20) f. Paul’s life (Acts 14-28)

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Out of the Storm and into a new Season

I feel as if the storm may have passed from the last time we spoke and now Im in a new season of joy. Being stuck in thailand was difficult, but I feel the Lord used the time to prepare us well for Myanmar. It actually feels good to be here where the Lord has called us. My affections are stirred all the more because I get to do the things that stir my affections like teach and share the gospel, as well as disciple men. I wasn't able to do this all that much in thailand, and being there I felt a spiritual oppression like I have never felt before. maybe it was the phase of culture shock, or maybe it was spiritual attack, or both. Either way I feel I am out of this fog and into a new light for which the Lord has prepared for us here. As of now our team is all here together (3) safe in a neighboring country. We even have a new place to stay for when we move up north, the business registration is happening faster than expected. I just got back from a trip up north and in 3 days the Lord not only blessed us with a place to live and start the school, but also we got permission to live there. I met with the Secretary for the Ministry of Social Welfare and Education and Business for __________. He is also the State committee chairman president. Basically all that means is big boy in charge of it all up there. It was a little crazy and a bit scary when this guy and another rolled up with truck loads of armed guards and military police. We didn't even have an appointment, so at first i thought we may have done something wrong. But after waiting a few hours he allowed us to see him, we told him what we were doing, and he not only welcomed us, but also gave us advice on how to continue the process as well as his personal guarantee that we would have no problems in living there. This was huge because no foreigners live there, and I prayed that God would soften this mans heart to allow us permission and his favor before we went in to see him. I can't tell you how important this kind of permission is. I pray it goes further and that He one day knows Christ and is an advocate for the gospel amongst his own people and government. With this happening as well as so much more in 3 days, I returned home the other morning really full of a lot of gratefulness and sure that this is what the Lord has for us. Not sure if you remember from a few newsletters back, but we traveled around the whole country back in June trying to just listen to the Holy Spirit as to where to start our work, similar to the macedonian call, we felt the Lord say go this way and not that. Once we were in this town our whole group felt at peace from the Lord as to where we would begin. This weekend has confirmed that call. So please continue to pray for us. Although we have been blessed much with favor, we still need to finish the registration process without getting ripped off or rejected so pray for our business registration. Also pray for the strength of our team as we will have to move here again at the end of March. Also pray for me to know what to do about starting a non-profit or not. We need to do something soon this year in order to set up a flow through for funds and such that will need to be raised bc my personal money will run out by the end of the year. So pray for direction in this. Pray also for future teachers. I think we will needs them fast because, word has already been spreading about our school and many are interested in attending, bc there is nothing like it in this area. continue to pray for my heart and leadership.