Reality Check!

So, last post ...I said this was a lighter quarter...I'm not sure if I was wrong or every season just has its own hardships and challenges...

This past month everyone in our household has had some form of a tummy bug...and Nate may have had it twice...
Also, with our calendar that fills up, its hard to catch our breath! From staff meetings to conferences, now birthdays are coming around the corner, all good things! JUST. SO. BUSY. Am I being a good mom too? Are we failing at homeschooling while trying to juggle lots of different things? Are we going to master this season just in time for a change?

It just makes me look to the sky, where my help comes from, the Lord of heaven and earth! His grace is sufficient for me! And I will say of the Lord He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in Him will I place my trust!
When struggles come and hurdles seem to just get higher and higher, we must remember to look up!

If His plan for me is good and His word is a lamp unto my feet, I should not plan or look too too far down the path(or calendar!) to check on the future! For He holds it in His hands!

I must remind myself how faithful God has been to me, how around every corner and every mountain...He shows Himself to be who He said He would be. and in the words of that song...Its gonna be worth it! Because Jesus is worth it. every. single. day. And when we struggle with our kids, with our task at hand, with our marriage, with our finances, our future, being in God's "perfect" will, all these things add up to ...trust! He only asks us to trust, obey and rest. Why worry about tomorrow... He's got this!

Being Sustained...

What Lies Ahead for 2018...

January

Graciously, we have a lighter load this quarter. We are leading the Mission Focus for DTS and we only meet with the students on Friday mornings. But we will be available to them easily throughout the week since we live on base with them here. We have plans to share with them about our lives in missions, have guest missionaries share also, and to introduce them to some new culture and ethnic foods! ...We will be a safe place for them to process what God is doing in their lives, the topics in their classes, and hope to help them prepare for their outreaches come April.

We have felt the Lord say its a year of establishment and also sustaining.

So 2 things...of discovery...

What can we do to be established as a family?

What can we establish in our lives that will sustain us in missions?

There are other things on our weekly calendar besides the Mission Focus. We have plans to seek out ministry opportunities in the city with refugees and whoever God puts in our path, of course.

We have some connections to the refugees here in the city that we will be working with, as well.

God as a sustainer

...Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. Psalm 54:4

The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms...Deut 33:2

My life verse has continually gone back to ..

Matthew 6:33...Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

So this verse...the way I see it, gives a command and a promise! When I live for Him to please Him and put His plans first above all, He promises to sustain me!

We have seen this time and time again in our lives in missions/ministry as we have sought Him in making decisions. Its times that we jumped ahead of Him, acted out of insecurity and frustration in our marriage that we made stupid financial decisions and regretted it, taking us years to pay off our mistake! It takes patience and a listening, humble heart to follow God. Because He doesn't microwave the answers we need! Sometimes, it takes TIME! So...it takes us...waiting!

..... .....

Walking out the waiting, being diligent with the task at hand, patience producing character...it can be a challenge to keep JOY in your attitude. Especially in small living spaces! 

We currently live in a 2 hotel room spot on base here. We are praying and waiting for a larger space to open for us to become more established with our family, providing the kids with more stability. But also trying not to count my chicks before they hatch, so to speak! 😜

This is a process for us to keep trusting the Lord for direction and provision in all areas as we walk by faith.

Stay tuned...

Guess who is 16 months old now? Banner Isaac is growing into a charmer with these big brown eyes and contagious smile! We love and adore this boy of ours!