Doing Battle

    There comes a time during the journey that there is intense spiritual warfare. This can be good because it means that you are on the right path doing the will of God. But these battles are not fun and they come from the most unexpected sources. Depression, anxiety, car troubles, unexpected bills, relationship misunderstandings, irritability for no reason, pets doing things they've never done before and straight up lies coming from those you love most.
    
    These are the times that prayer and our swords are the best weapons we can wield. What better way to battle lies, misgivings and doubt than to ask the One who has given you the promise to begin with and will always tell you the truth. The God who owns the universe and hold the depths of the sea in the hollow of his hand (Isaiah 40). The God who is faithful and has my best at the very center of everything he does.

    You fight those lies and those off days with the promise that the God who names each star in the universe cares when your hair falls out. Knowing that every creature is cared for, so why wouldn't He care more about me, His master piece, His precious child, His own image. And remember His promise that he will never leave me or forsake me, and that he has a prefect plan to give me a future and a hope.

  What did I do to deserve this...nothing. He only asks that I seek Him, that I ask what He wants for my life and then obey.

  So, I willingly step out in faith not knowing where my foot will land but knowing that God knows and that is enough for me.

Patience, Usefulness, and Goodness

A few weeks ago, I was able to attend church with a family that is very close us. As we arrived and the service was starting, one of the kids grabbed my hand and joyfully ushered me to a seat. The past few days, I have been thinking about that image. When was the last time I joyfully lead someone to hear about Christ? Maybe leading someone by the hand is a bit much, but what have I done that accomplishes the same goal. What is it about children that allows them to so freely and fully give like they do? They don't hold anything back and that includes telling others about Christ. 

As I have become an adult, I have become a very accepting person. I have learned that everyone has their own stories filled with both hope and pain. I try to not make others feel bad about the choices they have made, but at the same time try to make the reason why I live the way I do clear. Is this enough though? Should I find my local street corner and start proclaiming (not in this weather...burr)? Where is the line then? How far into someones life should I trespass?

I have tried to live it out by example so others could see, and then when they need help in their life they will be likely to seek me out. Sometimes I complain about being a problem solver, but the truth is I love it. I love it because I’m good at it. I’m good at it because that's how God made me. I loved working at camp, because there is always a million problems that need fixing. I felt needed and useful.

During this transition it has been tough. I have felt like a star player sitting on the bench. Fouled out of the game and having to watch others do what I love. Its the uselessness that makes waiting so hard. Not that I always have the coolest head in an emergency, it is just so ingrained inside of me to act. That's why for me this has not a period of rest, it has been a period of inaction.

I have been searching through the little moments in my day how I can act. At work there is opportunity, but it is just a small means to no end. At best I am ensuring that some children know they are cared for. A good thing for sure, but not enough.

The search to find what is next for us has been very hard. I sit at the computer and look through listings, check church websites, listen to sermons online, research the area even stalk the church staff on facebook. I see what they are doing, the type of person they want to come serve at their church and immediately my mind starts reeling. I notice immediate gaps, see instant improvements. I’m not saying I’m perfect, its just that action is to strong inside of me, it is my immediate reaction to most things.

But, in the end it is just nice thoughts. I wait, desperate to act, to be needed and feel useful, while at the same time trying unbearably to understand what exactly God wants me to learn in this time.

While I wait, I am warm, fed, clothed, and loved. My heart strives to be content with this, but without being useful, it is difficult. So, I ask you pray for me to be content with what is before me. I ask for patience. I also ask to that you pray for me to be ok with not being needed. That I am not useless.

This verse in look has been looming over me for the past year or so. It has kind of become my mission, and the thing that really has helped my carry on. Luke 6:45 “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Here’s to goodness.

How do you explain God's call?

It's been difficult for us since we have been home when someone asks "What brought you back to Michigan?"

We give the expected answer of bringing Riley closer to family, followed by God called us to ministry so we came back till God tells us what our ministry is going to be. These are both reasons why we came back and they are very good reasons to move for sure.

What is hard to explain is that God told us to go back to Michigan. Period.

He told us "Go to Michigan, I have a purpose there for you."
We asked "What purpose?"
And He answered "I'll show you when you get there."

We knew that He wanted us for ministry but did not know what that meant. There had been an interview with a church in Michigan that we thought for sure that God was calling us to and wanted us to be ready to jump into that position. To our surprise that wasn't God's purpose. Then we liked another church that was looking for a youth pastor, visited and talked to the pastor and thought for sure that was God's purpose-but it wasn't. And still there has been nothing that has indicated what ministry God has for us.

But we know, without a doubt, that this is where God has put us so that He can use us in ministry. We feel very much like Abraham when God told him to pack his tent and set out. Abraham did not know where he was going or what was waiting for him. What he did know is that God knew, and that was all that mattered. This is a hard attitude to maintain when God doesn't meet our earthly expectations for timing and creature comforts. But He never promised that. So, we wait for Him to reveal His prefect will in His perfect timing.

For
All
I
Trust
Him

People look at you like you are a crazy person when you have left a good home, job, and community and moved 2,500 mile across the country for no other reason than God said so. Without a job to go to, or a place to live when you got there and no idea where you were supposed to go.

How do explain that to someone who has never had that kind of call placed on there hearts? How do you convey that you aren't crazy for following God despite the looks they give you? How do you show the greatness of God when you are homeless, jobless (fyi: not anymore), and have a child that you can't afford food for? How do you not look like a crazy person? So, we give the more simple and more widely accepted version of why we moved back to Michigan.

Would we have followed knowing it was going to end up the way it has? Would we have, knowing that it would last longer than the few weeks we first expected? Would we have jumped knowing we would have no income for 2 months while we waited for in interim job to pay the bills? Would we have left knowing that we would have to wait on God to reveal his purpose? Honestly, I don't know, which just proves more that God knows our hearts and how to make us move. He knew that we wanted to follow His will for our lives. So He called us trust Him and to be in the center of His will...in the middle of Michigan in the middle of winter.

Square Peg, Round Hole

   Since we have decided to go into ministry, we have had many discussions about what want to do, what type of ministry we want to do, where we want to be and what we can bring to a ministry. We have talked about camping ministry since we have a ton of combined experience in camping. We have talked about what working at a church would look like for us and what kind of children's ministry we would like to see since we would be raising our child there.

    After many hours of talking about it all we decided that no matter where we ended up that we are a square peg for a round hole.

   For all the years of experience, all the education and philosophies of ministries we have come to the conclusion that we will never fit perfectly in any church, camp or ministry. We have very high expectations when it comes to doing God's work. 

  By no means do we think that we are perfect or that every ministry is doing it wrong. What we do see is that many churches and camps have a fundamental biblical flaw of choosing manly ways of ministry instead of Godly ways of ministry and that is the change we desire to bring to the world. 

  Something that I have discovered about my husband is that has the gift of understanding what children and youth desire most, what they need and how to meet both of those things in practical ways. I have never seen someone create such fast relationships with kids he sees for only a few hours a week or after spending a day with him how attached they become to him. It is truly a God given gift of love and understanding. 

  The desire we share is to build relationships in order to bring people closer to God. We are not big into traditional programming or extravagant shows to draw people in, we don't care about how many people come through the door. We care about quality services, time spent together building up the church and preparing youth to take their place in leadership and teaching those younger than them and in the future.

   

   This seems to be the hardest thing to bring into practice in ministries because someone said that getting numbers in the door at any cost was the best and only way to measure success. That building relationships, teaching good biblical life-style and raising up the next generation to take over the leadership was secondary to bodies in the chairs and flashy modern programming. This makes us a square peg that seems to never fit into a round hole.

A Re-Introduction

It has been awhile since we have written on this blog.

It has been re-purposed.

This will now be a place where we will be sharing our journey. Our journey to the call to missions and ministry. A call to work for God kingdom full-time.

We are currently "stationed" in Michigan with family while we wait for God to send us out into the field. It is the hope of our family for God to send us and give us a ministry home. Whether that is in a church, camp, or international setting we are unsure but we are ready for God's calling.

Our daughter, Riley Issabella, has been enjoying all the love and time with family. She is now 6 1/2 months old, crawling and pulling herself up and getting ready to walk! (This blog may also become a place where I chronicle Riley's life and accomplishments-prepare yourself!)

Thank you for tagging along on our journey. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Blessings!

Catch up

WOW! So much has happened since our last post.

Mike began his full time job at Bright Horizons at the school age teacher. While he did that I worked for camp for 40 hours a week until I also got a job at Bright Horizons as a infant teacher. This made it so that we needed to move. We found a delightful 2 bedroom duplex in downtown Issaquah that is super close to work

 During all of this we found out that I was pregnant!! I'm due April 29th. Pictures will be coming soon of the baby bump as it grows and pictures of the house.

Would still appreciate prayers as God is continuing to supply everything that we need and more and as our baby grows.

Blessings to you all!

Continuing the Call

Camp is officaly over. And as we woke up on Saturday morning there was a sad quietness that swept over camp. Our morning are usually full of inflatables, loud music, and over 200 kids having a blast. As we move on into the Seasonal part of camp ministry, there is finally time to reflect on the things that have happened here.

     The last two weeks of camp have been the most uplifting to me by far. I have had time to interact with the staff, and give lots of attention to campers. Working closely with the children has been very rewarding. Getting to spend the day with them and see how God works in their lives.

     Now that the summer is over, we are moving to a time of preparation and planning for next summer. This season is always a little difficult for me, as there is less interaction with people and more interaction with things.During the retreat season Amy and I will be doing some work for camp for groups that are coming in and helping with the plans for next summer. With many of the staff gone, and the change in programming we have another big adjustment to make. Please pray for us as we become engaged in the community around us. We need to find a church home, employment, friends, and support out here.However, we are trusting in God and know that he will provide for us. This is very evident in the fact that I have already found employment.I will be running a before and afterschool care program for elementary aged children for a local daycare center. This will be a great opportunity to continue to work with kids and meet parents in the community.

     Please pray that Amy is able to find employment and that we are able to establish and impacting presence to the people around us. The ministry is not over, it has just changed. Thank you for your continued support. Our address will remain the same and we would love to hear from you. In Christ