the energy and exhaustion of sharing my heart

so I returned from Northern California this past Saturday night. It was so good to be with dear friends and to be able to share the passion that God has put on my heart to see Europeans know Jesus. My dear friends Mikey and Jamie Shaw and their lovely daughter Mercy Cadence were my hosts for the week. I LOVE them! I did not get many photos of them.. but here is one of Mikey and Mercy. This little family, introduced me to many of their family and friends and arranged opportunities for me to share with several different groups. It is such a blessing to have people like this on my team.
I was blessed to share with the Sparkies and 3-5th graders at AWANA. I even remembered the Sparky theme song... So I got to tell them about being a light to the world like it says in their song.

And with the 3-5th graders, I got to share with them from Proverbs 3:5... a verse they either have or will soon memorize. I also taught them how to count to five in German. My friend Jamie has some of those kids in school...and she said that they next day they were still trying to count in German. I love kids!

Then I got to share with bigger kids.... Jr. High and High school age students.... Isaiah 25:1, Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 15:4.... don't we all want hope? And those of us who know Jesus have hope and we need to share that with everyone! And of course... in High school you have crazy games with saran wrap, tin foil and paper towels.
I was blessed to share with adults who were in their early 20s and late 80s and every age in between. I do not know what God plans to do out of that yet... But I do love expanding the vision for reaching Europe!

On the trip back, I was exhausted... but I got to see Mt. Shasta with snow. and many many many amazing fall colours. God is so amazing in His vast displays of nature! I crossed the Sacramento River, the Shasta River, the Shasta lake, the Kalamath River and went up to 4,000+feet high and back down again. I wonder if God ever just stops and admires his creation today? I am continually amazed.
So... while sharing over and over and over is exhausting... it is also energizing and it does remind me that with God... nothing is impossible.

The in between moments

As I am in the states, it is fun to reconnect with the people I love and the culture I come from. It is also fun to trust the Lord to work out who will be part of the team He is putting together for me to get to Italy where He has called me to go. hmm.. that is a lot riding on the Lord. :-) I am okay with that.

It was really fun to go to the Portland Timbers game with my brother and his wife. the Portland soccer scene was really fun to see!
I got to be around for my dear friend Bekah's birthday! I love celebrating life events with my friends and family.
And then I drove to northern California on Sunday. Some things I saw on the way....

this sign at a rest area made me laugh...

And another beautiful mountain.... Mount Shasta... a lovely view after crossing over the Siskiyou Mountains.
I am in northern California sharing the vision God has given me to reach Europeans with the Gospel and to be part of the development and care of Europeans to be who Christ has called them to be. I pray that God would expand this vision and increase the team.

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!