I am in Portland

I am in Portland. Arrived last night. Today I helped get my grandparents to the airport and on a plane so they could go back down to southern California. It has been a long time since I could go to the gate with someone to say goodbye. And after being at the airport 2 times within a 24 hour span after 24 hours of being awake.. I am not very coherent. :) I was confused when a friend told mentioned her sister... because I got her sister mixed up with another friend's sister... both of whom I know really well. Ah.. Jetlag. fun times.

going to the States...

Tuesday I fly to Portland. If you have been there.. you may have seen this sign. I love this sign. It makes me think of all the ways God calls us into different places to fulfill the Great Commission.

My arrival to the states begins a time of discovering whom God has been prompting to join my ministry team for the calling He has given me to work and live in Rome, Italy.

This is an interesting prospect during these economic times. But I have to believe that God is still the master and holder of all finances. He is the one who clothes the flowers in finery and feeds the birds of the air. He is the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is Jehovah Jireh, my provider.I find it humorous how we try to figure things out for God to provide. For example. When I look at how much money it will take for me to live and work in Rome, I can figure out that if all my facebook friends gave 10 dollars, I would have enough to move and settle in. And if all my facebook friends gave 3 dollars a month, I would have enough to live and work in Rome.

But... God does not go by our calculations does He?! And isn't that a good thing?! I do not know how God is going to do this. But I trust that He will.

I am looking forward to seeing so many of you.

"Crazy Love" -Francis Chan

I am reading a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Special thanks to my dear friend who sent it to me!

page 42:
Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.
Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional.

As I look ahead to the next couple months, I have many opportunities to sin in these areas.

God has called me to work in Italy.
And I see how this could leave me wanting to fall into worry and stress...
It costs considerably more to live and work in Italy than it does to live where I am now. The economy as we see it in the media and in life around us is in crisis. Where is God going to provide the resources for this move and change? Who is He calling to join me financially? Are there people whom God has prepared?
I am in Rome right now for a few days before I go to the states. As I look around, learn about the people, see the need they have for Christ, I know again that God has called me here and I know again that I need to trust that He is the great provider and I need to not worry or stress.. Oh Lord, may I not sin in these ways!

getting rid of junk

Twice a year there is an occasion when all the residents of Kandern put their junk out on the sidewalk in front of their houses. Everything from potting pots, to mattresses, to mirrors, to couches, to random statues show up on the streets this day. It is the most messy you will ever see the streets in Kandern. But it is for a purpose.
This twice yearly day is a way for the residents to purge the things from their houses. I think it is brilliant! All day, anyone who decides that one person's junk is another person's treasure may take that junk to their house. The following day, the trucks come and take the remaining items to the dump. I put out an old coffee table and someone took it. I could not think of who might need it so now someone who needs it has it... I hope. :-)

The thing that it makes me think of...is how we often hold onto the junk in our lives. The junk we can see with our physical eyes and the junk we can't see with our physical eyes. We all hold onto junk in our lives. Stuff that clutters up our minds and hearts and our homes.

Have you ever cleaned out a room in your house and felt the lightness and freedom and freshness that it brings? Have you ever cleaned out the thoughts in your head or the lies in your heart and felt the lightness and freedom and freshness that it brings?

How often do we intentionally go through the things in our houses to get rid of junk? ...other than the times we need to move.

How often do we go before the Lord to ask Him to go through the junk that piles up in our lives which clutters our relationship with Him?

Something to ponder.. and for me... something to take more action on.

Streams of living water can't flow through my life if it is cluttered with junk.

Thanks for praying!

I have slept well two nights in a row now. Ah.. sleep is a beautiful thing. Designed by God to give our bodies energy, to remind that each day brings new challenges and excitement.. sleep is a good thing!