Blessed Again!

It's amazing the things that happen when God speaks to His believers. I've found myself on several occasions as people are telling me their experiences with God, saying, "What a coincidence!" It's funny because I really don't mean it. In fact, I don't think I even believe in coincidences anymore.

Here's our latest coincidence (not!). Sandra and I have rented a beautiful home in Monterrey, MX from a YWAM couple. They were very supportive and encouraging to us as we went through our DTS. We will be renting the same house when we return to Monterrey. They offered to sell some of their belongings to us with an upcoming relocation they will be going through. Sandra and I prayed about it, and we talked through the items in the house and discussed what we thought the value was for them. After doing that, we shot off an e-mail to this couple to see if they were interested in selling them and if so, for how much. Their response was amazing. They were interested in selling almost all the items we were interested in and the prices they were looking for came in within +/- $10.00 of the prices Sandra and I had discussed.

Coincidence? I think not. I believe that God spoke to both us and the other couple and is making a way for His servants to move on to their next assignment (and us as well).

Thank you Father! I'm amazed by You!

Give to Caesar what is Caesar's

Give to Caesar what is Caeser's. Tax day is more challenging when your only file cabinet is a portable one! I spent part of the week prior to tax day gathering needed documents and running them in to my tax preparer. I suppose one of these days I'll take matters into my own hands, but for the time being, I'm content to leave it in the hands of the professionals.

Best part, we're getting a return! Praise God!

Pick Six

Not a lottery where you pick six numbers in hopes of striking it rich. I was given the challenge of picking six pictures from our last six months of missions training and outreach. Boy was it difficult, but it was a good exercise! It's funny, when you experience so many things and experience God in new ways, it's hard to narrow the whole experience down to 6 pictures. It was worth it, though. It made me really sit back and look at what were the most significant things that happened.

We feel so blessed by what God has brought us through these last 7 months and are adjusting to this stage of raising support and reconnecting with our friends and family. It has been a ton of fun!

ET Phone Home

Well, I got in for my oil change. I guess they did want my money after all. Have you ever watched ET? While waiting for car in the customer lounge, I was exposed to about 1.5 hours of ET at high volume. Did you know that Hollywood's most volatile divorce right now is David Hasselhoff? I had no idea!

Got me thinking...what is Hollywood's most successful marriage. While I'm sure it is far less newsworthy, and less likely to sell advertising space, I'd love to hear about the Hollywood marriages that are making the grade. I'd love to hear about those actors/actresses and directors who demonstrate a faith that makes people notice the difference in them. Where are they? I'm sure they wouldn't want the publicity, but I think it would be good for all of us to see. Maybe it's Tom's latest marriage? Time will only tell. Well, the car's ready and I have to go.

Raising the Bar

What is your sanctification?

Main Entry: sanc·ti·fi·ca·tion
Pronunciation: "sa[ng](k)-t&-f&-'kA-sh&n
Function: noun1 : an act of sanctifying2 a : the state of being sanctified b : the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion

During a time of prayer yesterday, I was challenged by this question. It really got me thinking, "What is my sanctification?" I had some things come immediately to mind, however I was challenged by the fact that my best ideas of what sanctification is, from God's viewpoint, may be totally different. It seems to me that by God sending His Son to die for us, He's given us a sneak peak into His heart. Because of His Son and the grace given to us, we can approach the throne of the creator of the universe.

Yet, on my best day, my most ideal of sanctification still doesn't even get me on the game board in comparison with God's idea of sanctification. I need more of His word in me so that I'm lining up with His idea of sanctification, not my own.