I FEEL LIKE I'M PUNCHING THROUGH A WALL WITH MY HANDS TIED BEHIND MY BACK!!

Wasn't sure what to name this blog. They've been so erratic lately :) It's been months since I've posted yet it's been on my mind for months to post. I either think that far ahead or that far behind LOL ;)

Punching through the wall is all I could come up with because that's what I feel like I am doing, mind you with both hands tied behind my back. Has anyone ever felt like this? I'm sure you're saying, "I hear ya girl." Here is my perspective on this: You may think that this comes as a disadvantage. In fact, it is an advantage. You see, the battle is in our minds. Our defeats, our victories, our successes, and our challenges. It's all up there in our head. Here's something even better.. what's in our head comes from our hearts. Guard your hearts guys, it's the wellspring of life. Jesus was on it and still is.

We have been taught so many things from the time we were born until this moment in time. How many of those things are actually truth? I encourage you today to take each thought that comes to your mind via your heartand hold it against God's word. .The heart is the gateway to your mind. How else can guys remember all those statistics on sports and forget the milk at the grocery store. The love of sports lies deep in the heart for many men LOL.  Let every man be found a liar and God's word be found true. There is only one supreme truth, and that is God's word. We are either aligned with Him or aligned with someone else. In every area that we are aligned with Him we will see fruit and blessing because His word DOES NOT return void. In every area we are not aligned with God's word, there is only bareness. NOT BECAUSE GOD IS JUDGING YOUR SIN. Your sin was dealt with on the cross. Those areas are baren because the word has not been planted in those AREAS of your life, or perhaps, the word was choked out, or grew quickly but did not take root. If there is barenness in your life, IT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT GUARDING YOUR HEART. Instead of life you are sowing death.You are sowing seeds of death to your health, to your relationships, to your finances with every lie that you believe. Every lie that you believe allows a door for the enemy. GUARD YOUR HEART, IT IS THE WELLSPRING OF LIFE. Soak in God's grace and allow His word into your heart because it is life. Life to those who choose to BELIEVE. Not to those who strive for perfection, or never mess up, but for those who choose to believe. Funny thing is, as we believe, we become renewed, and start looking a little more like Christ each day.

All this to say. As I'm punching through this wall. I have the advatage because even if my hands are tied it's not about my strength but God's. It reminds me that where the fight really is, is in the heart and head. That's what I can do. Just simply do what God asked and BELIEVE!

And those are the thoughts of the day. Someone needed this :)

Peace and love to you all!

In The Battle

I have been thinking for months about blogging again. I was reminded of it when someone I know said something meaningful. Part of what he said mentioned taking the next step, and the next step, and then another step. We don't always have the big picture. Sometimes we may know what we are setting out to accomplish but aren't sure of how or where to start. The way to start is by taking the next step. Many of you have probably been wondering where we are and what we have been doing for the last year and 2 months. That's almost exactly how long it's been since I have posted. We have been doing just that. Taking step by step by step toward what God has called us to do in life. The vision that he has put inside of us is clearer than ever and though we face challenge after challenge we are determined to to keep moving forward toward the mission set before us. 


As I look back on the last year... I can honestly say it has been stretching, trying, challenging, and utterly despairing all at the same time. We knew that God had told us to come home with no doubt. But WHY!! We prayed and decided not to make any major decisions the first 6 months we were in America. This was difficult. We wanted to make plans and push forward. Instead we were to sit and wait. To rest in God and trust his direction. Easier said than done ;) Actually, I think it's even hard to say :) We did it though. During that time we had several things put before us as far as directions we were to take once the 6 months were up. We weren't really sure what to do. Funny thing was.. during those 6 months of waiting and waiting and waiting God clarified our vision and what part we played in that vision. He gave us the key connecting all of the things he had placed in our hearts. WOW! Thanks God!!!!


It became clear to us that every step we had taken leading up to that time planted into us some type of wisdom or knowledge that prepared us for stepping into our mission. God made it clear he was moving us from training into the real thing. Not the warm up lap, not the trials,THE ACTUAL RACE! Let me tell you what that feels like in all honesty. YES!!! WOOOHOOO!!! OH NO!!! WHAT!!! ARE YOU SURE!!! YEAH!!!! You know the scene in the movie Tangled where Rapunzel first breaks free from the tower. Yep. sort of like that. Regardlesss of all of the fiery arrows and fleshly doubts that beat against us and even to this day. We are sure of our mission and know that God is the source of everything. All we have to do is be willing and believe. So, we are believing and we are willing. We are mixing our faith with action and following God even through some of the greatest challenge we have experienced yet.


If you are not sure where to go or what to do with your life. Be encouraged that God will show you if you only ask. Sometimes it's not as fast as we would like. However, if you are obedient and tuned into God's heart. You will not fail!


There will be more to come with details. For now though, I will say goodbye and thank you for  your love and support over the years. They have meant so much to us. Stay tuned! More to come.

Coming to America!

Well,

Happy Summer! Hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather. As I am sitting here typing this it's 10:30 p.m. our time. I am utterly exhausted but in a good place. Our house sits nearly empty. A shell of what it was 5 days ago. My clothes are being washed and folded getting ready to be packed along with various other items... like my favorite curtains... if they fit. I also unstuffed the couch pillows :) My home is nearly empty except for my family and the fullness of our hearts realising the impact we have had on the people around us here. We have done our best to love those around us... even in difficulty, as culture can often make it. As we have been saying goodbye to our neighbors, co-workers, students,and friends we have been shocked to find how much God has used us in their lives. Many of them were teary eyed at the news. Some of them.. we weren't for certain if they even liked us in the first place :) God has used us to love those around us in a culture where love and compassion for others is minimal. He has used us to plant many seeds and we are confident that those seeds will grow with the help of God. They are all sad to see us go. We are also sad to leave but God has shown us that He wants us in America for a time. As you have probably figured from the above said, we are in the process of moving back to America. We are not exactly sure what God has for us there. We were not expecting to leave Thailand so soon. However, we will follow where He leads us even if it is not in our plan :)Right now every day is one step at a time.

We will be leaving for Bangkok on Friday afternoon... Thursday sometime for you guys. There we will stay the night and catch a plane to Taiwan in the morning. From there we have a 4 hour layover and then we will be headed to L.A. We'll wait around for a bit longer and catch a flight to San Jose where we will be staying for a little over a week. After that we will be in Indiana! We arrive on July 4th! What a homecoming :) How many travel hours... let's just say I need more than two hands to count it!

Please be praying for us as this has been difficult on the little guys. Especially Maya, she's been quite upset having to say goodbye to her friends. We know she will be OK once she is back with her friends and fam in America but it's hard for her right now. Jet will turn 1 on July 3rd! He is hanging in there. It has been very busy as we have been getting ready. Jared's mom is currently in the states and will remain there. We will be seeing her in San Jose along with his younger sister, we hope! Let's just say.. this will be an unplanned but FUN family reunion!

We are looking forward to seeing our church family! We can't wait to get involved. We are very curious and looking forward to God's plan for us while we are in America!

Thank you for your prayers love and support! They mean the world to us!

Prayer Points For Our Family:
Safety and health during travel
Ease of travel
Ears to hear God's direction for our time in the States
Provision

God Bless! See you soon! Can't wait to give you guys our love in person!