Sorry, it's been a while!

Hi, how has it been? I know, I know, it's been a long time!
So for those who don't follow us on Facebook or get our emails, we have been in Kenya for almost 4 months. We are dorm parents for 8, 5th and 6th grade boys and Amy and I are both teaching some classes. We are truly dependent on God's provision and we fully trust that God enables us to do that which He has called us to. Everyday we awake to God's beautiful country, with a gorgeous Africa sky and a vivacious valley below. We are often visited by baboons and other primates, making our stay a little more adventurous.
But what brings the most joy is being planted here by God to bear his fruit. Everyday, we get a chance to pour God's truth into the lives of boys and girls who desire to know Truth. We have also had the pleasure of making friends with some of the local Kenyans.
It is evident that we can not do all of this on our own strength, but need to constantly live according to the Spirit. We are thankful to all of our friends and family who pray for us and support us in many different ways. We are thankful to be here and we know it is only by God's grace and provision that we are here and we pray that God's will be done and not our own.

Running Ahead

When do we go to God the most? Isn't usually when we are in trouble and have no where to turn? That is usually when we cling to God the tightest...The dark, looming, tumultuous, clouds of life threaten to bring a storm or indeed brings a tornado that rips our "home" from its foundation but sooner or later the storm dissipates and eventually the sun comes out and in front of us we see green grass, rolling hills, and maybe a some beautiful sunflowers. Life couldn't be better, no worries, and we often get the urge to run free and do what we want to do! We don't even glance back to notice we have just left God in our dust. Instead of remaining next to him, we have left him. Maybe we just want God to get us out of jams, but God wants to give us a Life we have never even imagined! A life where He is our whole Portion. A life of Peace, Joy, a River of Life flowing through us to touch the dead among us so that they may be alive for the first time.

God wants us to trust and rely in Him during the good and the bad. The hard and the easy.

As June grows closer and the funds continue to come in and we grow closer to meeting our financial goals, there is a temptation to get over excited, to get spiritually careless, to forget how we got here in the first place. Thankfully the Lord is good and the Spirit gently reminds us to "heel."

Dog owners know what can happen if our dogs don't heel and they run...

Everyday, every hour, every minute, every second, let us submit ourselves to Christ and remain in Him.

Why Can't I lose Weight?

Around this time of year, especially this time of year, we look in the mirror and are often disappointed in what we see. “I could really lose 10, 20, 50 pounds or so, then I would be happy!” So we hit the gym, buy some running shoes, or order that awesome workout video that will change your life in 30 days! What we really want is quick results. We want to see the results, we want to wear the results. “Wow I dropped 3 dress sizes!” or “Wow,  I can fit into my old slacks!” In addition we eat bland tasting food or little food at all and fight the beast known as hunger. After a week or two we get frustrated, we missed some work outs, over ate one day, and the scale seems to be stuck. So what do we do? Most of the time we give up. We want change now! And anybody who has tried and failed and tried and failed realize that change can happen but it happens over time, discipline, and a lot of grace. 

Its a lot like our relationship with Christ. We look in the mirror and notice we aren’t the man or woman we wish we were. We have some of the same bad habits, same faults, same baggage we have been carrying around for a while. We often get frustrated because we try a little of prayer, a little bit of giving, or maybe even volunteer a little bit, and yet sometimes we see very little if any change. And sometimes we feel like quitting. “Forget this religion stuff!” We are so used to instant results that we forget that God is not on our schedule. Oswald Chambers said,

“...He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. (Jan. 12)”

So let us also remember what the writer of Hebrews said (10:22-25, 32-37), “22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

   “In just a little while,
   he who is coming will come
   and will not delay.”