Quote from Martin Luther (the Reformer)

I found this passage to be highly encouraging from the old Reformer.

"Again I saw great, thick clouds roll above us, so heavy they looked like great seas, and I saw no ground on which they could rest nor any barrels to hold them and yet they fell not on us, but threatened us and floated on. When they passed by, the rainbow shone forth, the rainbow which was the floor that held them up...But some people look at the thickness of the clouds and the thinness of the ray, and they fear and worry. They would like to feel how strong the rainbow is, and when they cannot do so they think the clouds will bring another deluge."

What if...

...we all lived up to the person He desires us to be??? I've spent a lot of time reading biographies of Christians throughout history. My first thought used to be one of jealousy that these people had been blessed so much. Now I read of their lives and see each as the ordinary human that they are. BUT...they choose to do things that God asks them to do in spite of earthly common sense.
The Church would be mightily shaken if any generation could catch the vision (first as individuals, then corporately) of who He calls us to be. I look around at my church body that desperately is trying to come closer to its calling. But we the people keep wanting one pat answer that will get us all there in the same way.
My own struggle in the past has been feeling the need to do "safe" Christianity for the sake of my kids. Surely God needs them to see legalistic and scheduled belief so that they know who He is. Ha! This Christmas season was littered with us listening to God. I traveled to Thailand for 8 days by myself last week. I missed Ruth's birthday and she missed school. My kids were sent to the grandpartents house. And because of a freak Denver snow storm we almost didn't get home to Jason for Christmas. And yet:
-my kids were loved and adored by grandparents
-my daughter was thrown 3 separate b-day parties
-I learned to trust God that He's bigger than a standby list
-Jason learned that God is bigger than overbooked flights to snowed-in Denver
-my kids are great buddies since most things (excluding family) are so transient
Christmas had the correct focus of praise and awe of our amazing God because of the illogical (but Spirit-led) choice of sending me to Thailand.
Sisters and brothers let me tell you flying standby to Bangkok is a harrowing experience. I needed to make it onto 7 separate overbooked flights to make it there and back to Denver. God got me on EVERY SINGLE FLIGHT. Including a flight through Hawaii that had many holiday flyers. Praise God for who He is. I'm so overwhelmed with Him and His faithfulness, AMEN!!!

Thailand

I'm sure you're expecting some wonderful post about some interesting aspect of a foreign culture...too bad. I'm a little disheartened at the moment discovering how infinately freaked out I am about traveling alone. I'm sure it wouldn't be quite so nerve-wracking if I wasn't flying around the world STANDBY. God's amazing and has gotten me on every plane here and hopefully every plane back. Still, it's enough to mess with my head. I'll post more when I get back stateside.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." (Anyone know who said that?)

I Love my Life

So....

I'm leaving for Thailand on Thursday.I know! We're crazy! I'm blown away by the infinite contuously perfect Timing going on.

Fact #1

My weekend away totally refocused me and has kept me on a road of good (laid back), enshallah timing. It's no accident that weekend happened right before this trip.

Fact #2

Jason's folks can take the kids and the kids are psyched. They're also in traveling mode because of last week and are used to moving around a lot because of our summer "nomadicy".

Fact #3

I was able to see His plan in delayed flights last week in a powerful way...there's a very real possibility of that happening this time as well.

Fact #4

All the books I've been reading have focused me rightly.

The only downside to this whole adventure is the wicked jet lag: 14 hour time difference and only 5 days there! If you're a praying person pray for a miraculous jet lag avoidance!

The Answer

So, I promised to keep you posted, so here is His providence.

Someone has owed us some money for a few months and hasn't had the means to pay us back. He contacted us yesterday and said that he has the funds to pay us back today! The amount he gave us exactly the amount we needed to make rent!

Praise be to the One and only Provider of all good things!

Walking the Fine Edge of Faith

That's where I'm sitting.

I was able to retreat this weekend and focus back on what REALITY really is...

"Hi Reality, we haven't talked in awhile and I love all the honesty you bring to the conversation!"

I highly recommend reading George Mueller's autobiography and "Rees Howells: Intercessor"...both books have changed the very fiber of my life's direction. Their lives were incredibly difficult from a logical standpoint, and yet their growth and faith are something that I continue to desire. To be honest, I'm not sure I have the guts to live as they lived.

All this leads up to me getting home today and laughing when I find out we don't have enough money for rent that ought to be paid by Dec. 5th. How fitting of God to call me back to the place of His providence.

How short are we? Short enough, but I know that God's will is going to prevail. To be honest, part of me hopes He waits to answer until the 5th. I'll keep you posted!