Aquarium, Market, Passport

I went up to Seattle to renew my passport Monday. 

I drove up Sunday, and was delighted for quality time with a dear friend of 17 years. 

Then Monday I drove through the heavy Seattle traffic to find a parking garage and walked to the US Passport office. I had a 9am appt to apply for my passport. 

After handing in all my paperwork and paying all that money, I was told I could return after 2pm and before 3pm to obtain my new passport. 

So... 4 hours in Seattle... It was lovely! I walked along the waterfront until I got to the Aquarium... and I went inside. I am always amazed by God's creativity when it comes to fish and other sea creatures. It was a delightful time in the Aquarium. Between the amazing sea creatures and watching the children who were amazed by the sea creatures... I was so happy!

starfish. I can't help but be amazed at how they can grow a new arm if they lose one. And their colours!

calm puffer fish. Fascinating! It kept coming over and showing off. :-) 

I saw fish yawning, I saw otters playing. 

I learned that sea otters swim on their backs and river otters swim on their stomachs. 

So fun!

Then a walk through the Pike Place Market and lunch of Salmon chowder while sitting at a table overlooking the bay. That feels like Northwest to me!

And a walk down the street past a gelateria that also served Illy coffee. I had to stop. Lemon Gelato and Illy coffee cappuchino. And... a significant conversation with a woman who has never met a Christian who displayed grace and love with the truth. So sad!

Then back to the passport office to wait for my new passport to be ready. 

Good day. I am thanking God for that day!

quick update

I am often asked by many of you how my support is coming along. As God brings me new ministry partners, that answer changes. Yay! :-) 

I don't know if I am more excited about the new people who are partnering with me or watching the remaining monthly amount decrease.

So, as of today, if all those who have committed to partner with me financially will begin their giving, I have just over $500 per month to come in.

There you go. please keep praying and if God calls you to be part of the solution financially, please act on that. 

The Tangibles and the Intangibles

I find it fascinating in life how we always are faced with things that are tangible and intangible.

Here are the tangibles in my current situation of returning to my job in Europe and moving to Italy.

1. I need a visa from Italy to move there
2. I need to renew my passport before I obtain my visa 
3. I need 100% of my support coming in monthly before I am freed to return to Europe. 
4. There are set tangible dates of meetings and conferences coming up that it would be beneficial for me to be part of.  
1. Oct 29-Nov 1 is the kick of gathering for all the people working in Italy...a time of vision casting and preparing for the year ahead.
2. Nov. 5-14 is the final gathering of the Leadership Development group I have been part of for the past 2 years. It is the culmination of all we have learned. This is in Estonia
3. Nov. 11-17 is the meeting of all the national leadership teams for Agape Europe. Here is where I will be able to connect with people face to face to talk about the upcoming all Agape gathering. This is also in Estonia.



The Coliseum


4. 

   an evangelical church in Estonia

And the intangibles:

1. How all my support will come in
2. When all my support will come in
3. How long it will take for my Italian Visa to come through
4. When I will move my things from Germany to Italy

Funny isn't it? the hows and whens are really in God's hands. And the truth that He is the Provider and that He is in control... is very tangible!   so while things seem intangible to me... They are really not.

Psalm 90

I love that no matter how many times I read the Scriptures, God opens my eyes to see new aspects each time. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalm 90:14 "Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

This morning I was reading Psalm 89 in which I was amazed at the how the author extolled the greatness of God, then reminded God of the promises He had made, then asked how long God would forget those promises-detailing all the hard things that were happening and then ended the Psalm with "Praise be to the Lord forever!"  

After pondering the magnitude of that process and the end resolution, I continued to Psalm 90.

As I read, I was struck with the depth of thought regarding how fleeting our lives are and how much we need to live each day intentionally abiding in Christ. "Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom"

A prayer of Moses the man of God

 ¹ Lord, you have been our dwelling place
       throughout all generations.                             
 ² Before the mountains were born
       or you brought forth the earth and the world,
       from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
 ³ You turn men back to dust,
       saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."
 ⁴ For a thousand years in your sight
       are like a day that has just gone by,
       or like a watch in the night.
 ⁵ You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
       they are like the new grass of the morning-
 ⁶ though in the morning it springs up new,
       by evening it is dry and withered.
 ⁷ We are consumed by your anger
       and terrified by your indignation.
 ⁸ You have set our iniquities before you,
       our secret sins in the light of your presence.
 ⁹ All our days pass away under your wrath;
       we finish our years with a moan.
 ¹⁰ The length of our days is seventy years—
       or eighty, if we have the strength;
       yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
       for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
 ¹¹ Who knows the power of your anger?
       For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
 ¹² Teach us to number our days aright,
       that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
 ¹³ Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
       Have compassion on your servants.
 ¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
       that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
 ¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
       for as many years as we have seen trouble.
 ¹⁶ May your deeds be shown to your servants,
       your splendor to their children.
 ¹⁷ May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
       establish the work of our hands for us—
       yes, establish the work of our hands.

Panic and peace

This morning I had a moment of panic realizing the major things that must happen before I can go back to Europe and the time constraints that are present in the process. 

Major things to have happen:

• Just under 900 dollars per month in financial support coming in.
• About 4,000 dollars in special needs for moving and getting settled in Rome
• Obtaining my visa to live in Italy... from the consulate in San Fransisco.

Time constraints that are present:

• I hope to move to Rome before the weather turns.. driving from Kandern to Rome is more challenging in winter weather.
• The final meeting of the Leader Development program that I am part of in Europe is the beginning of November.
• at the end of the Leader Development meeting we transition into the meeting of the new Round Table for Agape Europe. This is a meeting with all the national leadership teams. These are newly formed teams in many countries. At the Round Table I have a large responsibility of presenting vision for our All Agape gathering in 2012. It is at this Round Table meeting that I will be able to connect with the national leadership teams face to face!
• My visa to live in Germany expires October 7th. 

I am really glad that God is in control of all time and all circumstances.

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

I was introduced to a little devotional book last Autumn called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. She wrote it from the Lord's perspective using scripture. I am finding that each day I read it, I am drawn into the truth of who God is and who He wants me to be. I wanted to share what I read today:

"Living in dependence on Me is a glorious adventure. Most people scurry around busily, trying to accomplish things through their own strength and ability. Some succeed enormously; others fail miserably. But both groups miss what life is meant to be; living and working in collaboration with Me.

When you depend on Me continually, your whole perspective changes. You see miracles happening all around, while others see only natural occurrences and 'coincidences'. You begin each day with joyful expectation, watching to see what I will do. You accept weakness as a gift from Me, knowing that My Power plugs in most readily to consecrated weakness. You keep your plans tentative, knowing that My plans are far superior. You consciously live, move and have your being in Me, desiring that I live in you. I in you, and you in Me. This is the intimate adventure I offer you. "

2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Acts 17:28; Colossians 2:6-7; John 14:20

Here is what I wrote today as my Facebook status: Looking for people who will partner with me in prayer and people who will partner with me financially as God allows/calls. Is that you? $10/mo? $25/mo? $50/mo? $70/mo? $100/mo?

And a friend I met last year, when we were both in Rome,  wrote this in response: If you've ever thought about supporting a missionary, this would be a great opportunity for you. Purpose to pray weekly or daily or choose to give a financial gift - every little bit helps. Don't think that what you have to give isn't enough. If your not even sure what Melissa does, then have her over for coffee or dinner and give her the opportunity to tell you how God is using her!