trusting God to provide

As a missionary, I am on a constant adventure of finding out who God is preparing to partner with me financially and prayerfully. I love that God does not call me to go out alone into the mission field to which He has called me. He provides ministry partners along the way.

People who pray for me and for the requests that I send out. People who give financially. I am humbled and amazed by the people who give sacrificially so that I can do what God has called me to do.

Especially when I think of the financial crisis that is hitting everyone in the world. It would be easy for us all to stop giving in fear of not having enough. Isn't that what the man who stored up grain in Luke chapter 12 was doing?

I think of that as I tithe and support other ministries and missionaries. It is a temptation for me to stop giving so that I will be sure and have enough. but that is not what God calls me to do. He calls me to give faithfully and trust Him to provide for me.

It is an interesting way of living.. being a missionary. I love it! I love that God opens my eyes to see the world in need as He sees it. I love sharing with my ministry partners what God is doing in Western Europe. I love that I am continually faced with trusting God to provide for me. I love that God puts me on the hearts of others as they pray for me and give to the ministry.

Isn't God good?! I was watching a sparrow today and it reminded me of Matthew 6:26- "look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."

I can trust the provision of my heavenly Father who even cares for the tiny birds. He will provide people to partner with me. He will provide people who pray fervently for me and the places that God is using me. And He will provide for those who partner with me.
God is good!

it is about God.

so I am in Colorado right now at the Campus Crusade for Christ US staff conference. This occurs every two years and it is a gathering of all those in the US who are called by God go reach students and faculty on campuses, to reach Athletes, to reach families, etc...

I go because it helps me to understand this organization that I am a part of now.

This year, I heard the Vice President of the Americas speak about how we all need to be more about God than about the organization. This was music to my ears. I have been struck in the recent months with how often we as Christians focus on the the thing that God has given us to do rather than on the Lord Himself. We are called to worship the creator not the created! We are called to give our lives to Christ, not to give our lives to our work!

I go because it is here that I am blessed to see people from all over the organization that are dear to my heart.

Do you ever wish that you could have all those dear to you in one place? I wish that a lot. And here in Ft. Collins, CO, i have the privilege of having many who are dear to me in one place. It is so fun to run into people that I joined staff with, or went through international training with, or met when they were part of a conference that I organized in Europe, or met some other random way. I love hearing stories and sharing the heart that God has given to me too. There is something so sweet about hearing and sharing what God is doing in the world.

So... it is about God. God IS. there has never been anyone like Him there will never be anyone like Him. Amen?! Amen!

life these past days

I have been blessed with some dear friends over the years and I love that God does not ever leave me alone in that department.
In the end of May, my friend Amy came with her dear mother Sue. As I have written before, it is so pleasant to be in the company of friends who have known you for ages. Thank you both for coming!!!!
May was also a time of Spargel!!!!! Asparagus to the English speakers. SO good! There is a small group of us in Kandern that makes it a point to get together when we are all in town to enjoy some of the local seasonal delights like Spargel.

Also in May I had another Birthday. And even though some key friends were not able to be there, I enjoyed the company of all who came! And a HUGE thank you to Rick and Mary Beth Holladay for hosting it. A beautiful May day for a BBQ!
Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold. ... that song goes through my head any time I am thinking of the people God allows me to enjoy in life. One such person whom I have only known since December of this past year is Kari Sue. :-) She is a delight! She works with the English Camps that are held at Black Forrest Academy each year. I thank God for her! We went to the Alps a week ago and at one point we were saying.. "has it really only been since December?" That is what happens when you have a kindred spirit.

So in the midst of preparing for some time stateside, and planning for the upcoming transitions in my role and living place, I have been delighted by God's provision of friendships.

going to the States...

There are some people who would not like to hear me say this... but going to the States is not going home. I love people in the States. I love Oregon. I miss the Pacific Ocean. I miss Stumptown coffee. I miss family and friends all across the states... but the states does not feel like home. Europe feels like home. Home in the way that you know you belong there. I know I belong here.

But that aside, I am looking forward to seeing some of you dear people soon! Honestly!

re-occurring dreams

I woke up this morning and realized that I am not in school anymore. Yes, I know that is an odd statement, but I had to really think seriously about this in relation to a re-occurring dream that I have.

In my dream, I am in school. for some reason, I think it is high school... because the hallways seem to scream HIGH SCHOOL! :-) So always in the dream, I am really enjoying a class and I am doing well in the class. It is generally a literature or philosophy class.

Then I find myself not going to class. I never know what is keeping me from class...all legitimate reasons but nothing concrete... and I know that really enjoyed the class and I get more and more upset and the thought that I might fail due to absences scares me.

So I try to go to class. But I can't find the classroom. I can't remember the schedule or where classes meet. And then I stumble upon the classroom at the right time, because I recognize the teacher and the classmates.

The teacher is always forgiving and understanding. I had been doing so well and the teacher kept wondering what happened to me... I had just disappeared.

So... I don't fail. but I always wake up as the teacher is telling me how worried they were and as I am feeling relieved to have found the class and scared that I cannot make up the absences.

Last night I had that dream. And when I woke up... I thought... I am not in school anymore. ...so know I wonder... why did I not realize this truth the other times I have dreamt this dream?

But it does make me wonder what God wants to show me through this.