Here we are in 2008! Can you even believe how time seems to fly? Another year also brings many changes for us as we have said in the past muse and as of now we are in the middle of getting things together for the change.
As we look outside from our windows, we see dead grass and dying flowers; yet in the back of our minds we know it's only a matter of months when spring will come and life returns. In the same way, we feel life has returned to us; our hearts are filled with excitment as we prepare to take yet another step in our journey with God.
The places we have been, seen, served and followed so far, have not been our inheritance but only part of the inheritance. Together we have been in full-time ministry since 1995 and separately even longer. Those years have taught us much about God, others and especially ourselves; we have learned things within our hearts; likes/dislikes, gifts we have and some things we are just able to do which we don't neccessarily enjoy but have done for a season.
The question that many people like to have answered is "What is your dream/vision?" For us the dreams are many and cannot be taken down to simply one goal or 10 year plan; however, for right now our dream and vision is to discover community with others who love the nations and give of ourselves, in the experience we have to benefit the greater Body of Christ. We long to effect the nations of the world with the Love of Jesus and this can not be put into a 10 year plan. However this is a lifetime plan which we have been living and will continue to live.
For us, this means stepping back into a ministry where we live by support of friends and family who love and believe in us. For others it means flying planes, operating a business, caring for people as a medical professional or working in a factory. We believe God has a place for all of us in the fulfillment of His hearts desire; it is our desire that all of us find the part we play and it may be more than one. Whatever we are doing we should be doing unto the Lord and not just to get a paycheck or pay bills. These are things which have to be done, yet when our lives are consumed by the job only to make ends meet, life will seem much more meaningless. God's desire is to show us how we can bring glory to Him, as well as bringing heaven to earth with the way we live, even (if not especially) in the work place.
We are grateful for all the experience we have been able to gain, whether through being in a full-time ministry poistion or in the marketplace. God is still God and we depend upon Him in each thing, not just while we are in missions raising support. All of us have the opportunity to trust God more as we lay everything down to Him, realizing it's not the customers, business, or some other person who provides; it is God! God's call to us is total dependance upon Him, no matter the geographical or occupational setting we find ourselves in. Total dependance; with desire to answer, "yes Lord I will go!"
Missions and ministry are not just being done overseas or in established local churches; but in backyards, living rooms and around the tables of the world everyday. Our cry and desire (Vision if you will) is to see the "Body of Christ" be the Church God had in mind. Our longing is to see missions organizations working alongside of local churches (as we know it) as the Body of Chirst. It has been said "the local Church is the hope of the world", rather we believe "the Church is the hope of the world" when we are joining together to bring "heaven to earth rather than hell".
Another year and more changes, so many things have happened in our hearts and much more will be done in the future. This is the God we continue to serve with, a God who has so much in-store, we can't get it all at one time but He keeps showing us new things as we walk in obedience.
May this New Year be the starting of new things for you as well.
8 "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare;before they spring into being I announce them to you." Isaiah 42:8 & 9
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