We made it to Hamilton (Karl's parents' home). All of our stuff is here, in a corner in the living room. Well, actually spilling out all over the living room. We weighed all of our stuff, knowing that we had luggage space for 400 lbs. Unfortunately, we have about 650 lbs of stuff! So the sorting will begin tomorrow. It's funny - after looking at it all, we continually see it more as just "stuff." None is necessary (a few changes of clothes would be nice, but the rest is just "fluff"). We are so blessed. So, some will just stay here for a year or so or just be given away. Loose grip on it all. We are thankful.
Our delay really is a good thing, even though we are so ready to be back in Serbia. We're having the time to get Kelli set up here at her grandparents'. We're taking care of some things that needed to be taken care of (stuff for Kelli's school, final financial stuff, etc.). We'll also get to rest some these next two weeks after lots of running around the past couple of weeks. We are thankful.
Yesterday we spent the day in Ft. Worth. We had lunch with a couple who will be, Lord willing, going to Serbia in January. We had a wonderful time getting to know them and are excited about serving with them. Then we went to the wedding of our dear friend, James, who served 2 years in Serbia with us. What a blessing! It was such a joy to watch this celebration for James and Katy. We hope that one day they will be back in Serbia with us! We also got to spend time with Ben and Meredith and kids, also our former teammates in Serbia. What a joy it was to be together! We are so thankful!
God is good. He is worthy. He is awesome. Praise Him today. And be filled with JOY!!!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Getting Ready!
Well, in a few hours, I'll be driving away from the mission house here in Houston. I'm finishing up the last cleaning, going to lunch with friends for a final good-bye, and packing up the last few things. No tears yet, but I'm sure they'll come today.
I've just added a link to the right of this (at the top) so that you can sign up for our newsletters. If you know someone who would like to get our newsletters, please have them sign up for them this way. This new format will enable you to change your email address or unsubscribe if you need to. It will also be easier for me to get newsletters out on a more regular basis. I'm thankful!
Well, back to cleaning and packing! Joyfully!!!
I've just added a link to the right of this (at the top) so that you can sign up for our newsletters. If you know someone who would like to get our newsletters, please have them sign up for them this way. This new format will enable you to change your email address or unsubscribe if you need to. It will also be easier for me to get newsletters out on a more regular basis. I'm thankful!
Well, back to cleaning and packing! Joyfully!!!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Radical
I recently finished reading Radical by David Platt. I had never heard of it, but saw it at the bookstore. I wish everyone would read it. The subtitle to the book is Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. The premise is that the American Dream has warped our understanding of what it means to be a Christian.
Have you ever really thought about that? What does the American Dream look like? Someone poor and foreign, comes to this new country, "pulls themselves up by the bootstraps," works hard and is able to achieve everything - wealth, success, fame. And we transfer that over to Christianity - I am poor and foreign to God, new to this "Christian thing;" I "say the prayer" then work hard to "live for Jesus," all the time looking for blessings. Think about how often we say that we must be doing well in our faith if we are prospering materially.
So what does real faith, a real Christian look like? Our lives must be radical - the opposite of this world. My dad's favorite phrase is "Die to it." We are dead to this world. How does that translate into our everyday lives?
I've been doing a lot of reading over the past year. Much has been about believers in other countries. I think we have a lot to learn from them. Think of our brothers and sisters in countries where it's not "hip" to be a Christian. They don't drive around with fish on their vehicles or wearing a cross pendant. They don't have 10 Bibles on their shelves or stacks of CDs of Christian music. What does all of our "stuff" do to actually increase our faith or make us more like Jesus? Does it actually just crowd out what we should really be focusing on or doing?
I've been doing a lot of soul searching and thinking on this. I believe God is calling me to radically live for Him. I know it's easy to say. I know it won't be easy to do. But I know there is more that He wants from me. I want to radically live for Him. Not as a fad or trend. But with my entire life. I'm ready to live for Him - and that means that I die for Him.
Have you ever really thought about that? What does the American Dream look like? Someone poor and foreign, comes to this new country, "pulls themselves up by the bootstraps," works hard and is able to achieve everything - wealth, success, fame. And we transfer that over to Christianity - I am poor and foreign to God, new to this "Christian thing;" I "say the prayer" then work hard to "live for Jesus," all the time looking for blessings. Think about how often we say that we must be doing well in our faith if we are prospering materially.
So what does real faith, a real Christian look like? Our lives must be radical - the opposite of this world. My dad's favorite phrase is "Die to it." We are dead to this world. How does that translate into our everyday lives?
I've been doing a lot of reading over the past year. Much has been about believers in other countries. I think we have a lot to learn from them. Think of our brothers and sisters in countries where it's not "hip" to be a Christian. They don't drive around with fish on their vehicles or wearing a cross pendant. They don't have 10 Bibles on their shelves or stacks of CDs of Christian music. What does all of our "stuff" do to actually increase our faith or make us more like Jesus? Does it actually just crowd out what we should really be focusing on or doing?
I've been doing a lot of soul searching and thinking on this. I believe God is calling me to radically live for Him. I know it's easy to say. I know it won't be easy to do. But I know there is more that He wants from me. I want to radically live for Him. Not as a fad or trend. But with my entire life. I'm ready to live for Him - and that means that I die for Him.
Friday, June 18, 2010
What a Week!
This has been one of those weeks! It's been a whirlwind of fun and some, well, not so fun.
Our church held VBS this week, and that's always fun! We were so privileged and honored to be the focus for the missions time. The offerings this week are going to buy Bibles in Serbia! As of today (Thursday), over $2000 has been collected! Thank the Lord!
Also this week, my dad rented a beach house in Surfside for the whole family. Our family (minus Kurt who is working), my parents, my brother and his family (who live in Ukraine, but are here for the summer), my sister and her family (who live in New Hampshire, but came down for 2 weeks), my other sister and her family (who live in Katy), and aunt, uncle, cousins, and other family have spent time together at the beach house, playing in the ocean, sitting at the beach, playing games, visiting and catching up, and, of course, eating! What great fellowship and family time! It's been great! Because of VBS, I had to be back and forth almost every day, but we managed to spend time there. What a blessing!
On one of the days back in Houston, we had our final dentist appointments and cleanings. I had been having some "discomfort" on the left side, but thought I had just been clenching my teeth, causing the soreness. Well, come to find out, I have a bad infection under a root canal that was done 12 years ago. That tooth has been trouble from the beginning. So, next week, I get to go to an endodentist for treatment. I am thankful that they caught it before we left!
We're packing up the kids' rooms and stuff - one suitcase for Camp Tallowood next week and the rest for Serbia and grandma's. We are moving out of the mission home next week, moving it all to Karl's parents for our final couple of weeks before we leave for Serbia. Time is ticking! In fact, I better get back to packing!
Like I said, it's been a week of joy!
Our church held VBS this week, and that's always fun! We were so privileged and honored to be the focus for the missions time. The offerings this week are going to buy Bibles in Serbia! As of today (Thursday), over $2000 has been collected! Thank the Lord!
Also this week, my dad rented a beach house in Surfside for the whole family. Our family (minus Kurt who is working), my parents, my brother and his family (who live in Ukraine, but are here for the summer), my sister and her family (who live in New Hampshire, but came down for 2 weeks), my other sister and her family (who live in Katy), and aunt, uncle, cousins, and other family have spent time together at the beach house, playing in the ocean, sitting at the beach, playing games, visiting and catching up, and, of course, eating! What great fellowship and family time! It's been great! Because of VBS, I had to be back and forth almost every day, but we managed to spend time there. What a blessing!
On one of the days back in Houston, we had our final dentist appointments and cleanings. I had been having some "discomfort" on the left side, but thought I had just been clenching my teeth, causing the soreness. Well, come to find out, I have a bad infection under a root canal that was done 12 years ago. That tooth has been trouble from the beginning. So, next week, I get to go to an endodentist for treatment. I am thankful that they caught it before we left!
We're packing up the kids' rooms and stuff - one suitcase for Camp Tallowood next week and the rest for Serbia and grandma's. We are moving out of the mission home next week, moving it all to Karl's parents for our final couple of weeks before we leave for Serbia. Time is ticking! In fact, I better get back to packing!
Like I said, it's been a week of joy!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Back in Cyberspace
Well, it has been way too long between posts! I hereby join the millions of other bloggers who promise to do better and try harder! It's funny - there have been many things that have happened over the past year that I wanted to post, but, I don't know, I just didn't feel that they were "worthy" of being on a blog. (Yeah, but I did put up the post about my "chocolate" shoes! :) )
The past year has been one of growth. I've had to face some big things - changes in our location (having been the past 4 1/2 years in Serbia), reverse culture shock, changes in relationships, changes in our organization, changes in my dad's health, changes in myself, changes in Karl, changes in our children. I have been able to see good in some more easily than others. I've cried buckets of tears, I've laughed myself silly, and I've spent a great deal of time in prayer, not knowing why some things happened, but learning to "let go and let God."
Over the last year, I've seen Scott grow more than 6 inches and grow in knowledge. I've seen Kelli get her driver's license (we really did celebrate this!) and learn to jump rails while horseback riding. I've seen Kurt maneuver through his first year of college and many truly independent, adult decisions. It's all been good, and God has given me joy.
I've also watched my dad struggle with an irregular heartbeat that the doctors can't get to go back in rhythm. I've had a few people "unfriend" me on Facebook. We left the place that we had called "home" for the past 4 1/2 years to arrive in a place that had somehow become foreign and uncomfortable. But God has given me joy. I'm learning to hold things so loosely - palms open, eyes heavenward, and heart ready for what God wants.
I want to joyfully live each moment for Him.
The past year has been one of growth. I've had to face some big things - changes in our location (having been the past 4 1/2 years in Serbia), reverse culture shock, changes in relationships, changes in our organization, changes in my dad's health, changes in myself, changes in Karl, changes in our children. I have been able to see good in some more easily than others. I've cried buckets of tears, I've laughed myself silly, and I've spent a great deal of time in prayer, not knowing why some things happened, but learning to "let go and let God."
Over the last year, I've seen Scott grow more than 6 inches and grow in knowledge. I've seen Kelli get her driver's license (we really did celebrate this!) and learn to jump rails while horseback riding. I've seen Kurt maneuver through his first year of college and many truly independent, adult decisions. It's all been good, and God has given me joy.
I've also watched my dad struggle with an irregular heartbeat that the doctors can't get to go back in rhythm. I've had a few people "unfriend" me on Facebook. We left the place that we had called "home" for the past 4 1/2 years to arrive in a place that had somehow become foreign and uncomfortable. But God has given me joy. I'm learning to hold things so loosely - palms open, eyes heavenward, and heart ready for what God wants.
I want to joyfully live each moment for Him.
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