DeJaVu - 10 years in coming

Well, the winds of change have been blowing since the last post.

God has led and we are heading west again - this time to Oregon.

It was 10 1/2 years ago (October 2008) that we left the Pacific Northwest 

and figured that it wouldn't be long until we were back "home."

In the process of time, "home" has been relocated to NC.

God had us stay in NC 7 years longer than anticipated.

There was so much that we had to learn - 

about ministry, about relationships, about serving ...

But now we will head back ...

in much the same way we came ...

A Penske moving truck pulling a Focus on a car trailer.

There wasn't much to say goodbye to when we left WA so many years ago.

We had struggled to find a good church.

Many of the friends we made had left with or before us.

We had the excitement of no more deployments before us.

This goodbye is much harder.

We bought our first home here and are saying goodbye to it.

We have made friends who have treated us like family when we were far from our own.

We have a church family that has helped us through some tough times and loved us back to health.

But God's grace provides and sustains.

He sold our trailer quickly,

He provided a new job quickly,

As of last Friday, He provided a rental home that meets needs and eases us back into rental life.

And we rest knowing that He would not lead without providing a church and church family,

and so we anticipate finding our new place of ministry.

The trailer is more than half boxed and is looking less and less like home.

By the end of the day, there will be even more boxed up and ready to go.

The truck will be loaded on Thursday.

We head out on Friday morning and hope to be in Oregon in the middle of next week.

So that's the update.

I anticipate that with the move,

the blogs will be a little more regular for a while.

It is always hard to start over and it takes time to find my place of service and ministry

and those things that will keep me busy again.

Yes, He cares!

On this "Thankful Thursday,"

I am thankful for my all-knowing God.

This weekend, we spent time with a converted Muslim from Iran.

He mentioned that Allah was not all-knowing.

Muslims have to pray in Arabic (even if it is not their native tongue).

Allah is not everywhere.

Muslims have to pray facing Mecca.

I am so glad that my God knows my mind and heart.

Last night, my offertory focused on a knowing and caring God.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth or song,

As the burdens press, and the cares distress,

And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark

With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed

To resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief there is no relief,

Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”

To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—

Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Word of the Year 2019: Interim

Interim

an intervening time;
interval

in or for the intervening period;
provisional or temporary

I mentioned yesterday the thought from a book I was listening to.

It really seemed to fit the coming year and some struggles that I am having.

I need to remember that God is still working on me.

I need to humbly accept His work in my life.

I need to give myself grace just as He does.

I need to remember that this life on earth is only temporal ... an interim.

Interim

I was introduced to a great app recently.
It is a book app - Libby.s
An app that allows me to borrow ebooks and audio-books - just like a library.

I am enjoying listening to audio books as I run errands
or as I work around the house.
It will be a great asset on long trips.

I was listening to a book last week and this quote struck me ...

Everything is interim.
Everything is a path or a preparation for the next thing,
and we never know what the next thing is.
Life is like that, of course, twisty and surprising.

We are always learning,

always being challenged.

When I remind myself that God is always working on me,

that I have "not arrived,"

that there are so many things that I need to allow God to change in me in order to be more usable,

it makes the waits, the challenges, the difficulties easier. 

It Must Be A Real Day

You all know that today is "Donut Day."

It is the commemoration of our first date ...

... a trip to Bella Napoli's with my brother, sister-in-law, and 3 kiddos.

Donuts or pastries all around.

Our day was a little busy today for the donut part,

but they wait in the freezer for Monday night.

We actually were out all day.

Sunday School,

Church,

Feed College Students,

Nursing Home Ministry,

Church,

Fellowship with a church family.

One of our sweet friends made cupcakes to help us celebrate

and they were delicious.

Guess what hubby found?

A balloon to commemorate the day.

So it must be a real day!

He actually brought it home on Valentine's Day,

but it sweetly celebrates our 17th donut date anniversary.

A Lot of Heart

The cards and packages all arrived ...

and early.

A quiet night in with hubby.

Valentine's Day!

A special day to specifically remember those we love.

I hope that you celebrate the love of those around you all of the time.

Hubby bought the balloon early in the week and stored it in the office at work.

I love its little reminder.

Shift of Focus

It's easy to complain, right?

I can't be the only one.

But it is also not that hard to stop it ...

it just takes a shift of focus.

A reminder in a different way.

There are people who would love to have the ability to do their own taxes.

There are people who would love to be able to do a workout in the morning.

There are people who would love to have so many options for meals that it is hard to decide what to have for dinner.

There are people who would love to have a home to tidy.

Just a little shift.

I get to do these things today,

because God has given me so much.

Feeling Satisfied at the End of the Day

Aahh!  The end of a Monday.

Monday is my cleaning day and at the end, I am tired.

Today was satisfying though.

I felt like I accomplished a lot more than I have in a while.

I am enjoying finally sitting down for the night.

The house and especially horizontal surfaces are cleaned and tidied.

Dishes done.

Laundry done.

Vanilla Cedar candle burning

as well a Campsite Coffee (Which smells like Dunkin Donuts).

I just took hubby's black bean brownies out of the oven

and have 7 minutes until the vegan gingerbread cookies are done.

The shifting, sliding piles of papers are gone.

It just feels good.

I listened to podcasts while I worked today

and each one ended with this quote ...

"You can't always change or control your circumstances,

but you can change and control your attitude."

A reminder of God's commands to be in control (or to let the Holy Spirit control) of my emotions.

 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,

 to the which also ye are called in one body; 

and be ye thankful.

Ephesians 3:15

It also reminded me of a facet of one of yesterday's sermons that struck me.

"Charity envieth not ..."

It's been a struggle recently.

While it may be easy to rejoice with the good news of others,

it is not always easy to control the emotion of envy as well.

Tomorrow?

Well - taxes, closing the financial books on January and its bills 

and working on some Valentine's Day goodies.

Natural Pick-me-up

Winter days can get long (even though they are technically short).

This winter, we have seen an abundance of rain

and therefore cloudy days.

While I do enjoy an occasional coffee,

while the daily exercise helps,

I have been enjoying a different "pick-me-up" for the last 2 weeks.

2 Week ago, we made a trip to Costco using a Christmas gift card.

Hubby couldn't pass up the deep discount flowers.

Wow! Have I enjoyed them.

And then 1 week ago,

I had a little child-sitting job and was sent home with some more pretties!

Won't be around much longer,

but they sure have been a cheery part of each day while they last.

What's an instant pick-me-up for you?

Happy New Year!

Did anyone else feel like 2018 just flew by?

At this time last year, we were searching.

We were searching for a new church home.

We were searching for direction.

We were searching for ministry.

We were searching for the lessons in the trials.

God has brought us so far.

He led us to a new church home with folks to build us up,

with folks to encourage us,

with folks to teach us,

with new directions, challenges, and ministries.

In January 2018, we felt lost.

We felt weak.

We felt confused ...

...And God never failed.

2018 was one of growth in new and unexpected ways.

We learned to sit.

We learned to look beyond our typical ministries.

We learned to get out of our comfort zone.

Isn't God good?

Of course in the new year,

I have to look back at my goals.

They were lofty.

I didn't accomplish them all.

But I did stretch myself in some areas.

Personal Goals

Blog at least 3 times a week.  

Started strong, but this got particularly lost because of the church printing ministry, travels, and hubby's book.

Develop (and use) a Prayer Journal to be more focused in prayer by February.

Yes - Chalk this one up to a success.  It ended up being a stack of 4x6 cards, but it really helped me focus.  

Read through the Bible in the year.

Check.

Memorize 24 Psalms (1-24) - 2 per month.

Review/Rememorize - James, I - II Thessalonians, I-II Peter, II Timothy, Galatians, Jude (1 per month).

Memorize I,II,III John (remaining months after reviewing others).

No - I did get Psalms 1-3 memorized and reviewed James.  

I must admit that this is a discipline that I know I can do, but I let it slip through the cracks.

Exercise 4 days per week.

I think this was met.

Meet step goals daily.

13000 a day.  I met this at least 5 days a week.

I had to learn to give myself grace - especially when ministering to others led to less steps.

Learn Hebrew Using Rosetta Stone program - 4 lessons a week - 2 years.
(I've failed this one in previous years)

I got farther than any other year, but did not keep up with 4 lessons per week.

Read 12 books (1 per month) emphasizing American History and Missionary biographies.

Success.  Definitely read more this year!

Family Goals

Help encourage, format, and edit hubby's commentary on the book of Isaiah.

This was completed just at the end of December.

Walk at least 4 miles together each week.

This was a success.  Exercise is a big part of our life.

We are enjoying regular workouts together during the week as well.

Be done with regular housekeeping by the time hubby comes home each day.

I think I made great strides in this area.

Ministry Goals

Write 1 card to a college student each week.

Pretty close ...

Write one note of thanks or appreciation each week (in the home, at church, in the community).

Yes, so many folks to thank ... 

Entertain in our home at least once a month for a meal.

Score!

Find a place of ministry.

I feel like I learned that ministry is sometimes just the friendly face and hand shake.

There are so many people who just need a friend.

I also helped in the college care package ministry and the church printing ministry.

Home Goals

Continue developing a useful meal/recipe book - Reorganize it monthly.

This was a great blessing to the whole household.

Work to organize and declutter 5 home areas - 2 under bed areas, 2 closets, and 1 shed.

Have maintained these areas so much better.

So there you have it.

Some successes ... some failures ... but lots of learning.