Happy Thanksgiving

We pray that your holiday was filled with times of rejoicing in all that the Father has done for you.  We spent the holiday weekend surrounded by many friends from all over the world.  When you live in an ex-pat dominated country (Emiratis are only 10% of the population!) it is not a hard task to find yourself rubbing shoulders with people from every continent.  I believe that I spent an hour speaking Turkish; 30 minutes talking in French/English; almost 2 hours trying to remember proper Spanish; 20 minutes going from Arabic to English and an entire evening attempting to discern the Queen's English from a New Zealander and an Aussie.  Praise the Lord for an hour conversation with my dad and mom.  I can successfully communicate in Texan.  I don't even have to finish my sentences to be understood! LOL!  Yes, there is much to be grateful for! 

 

This year we made a thankful tree with glittery leaves that we purchased in the States.  I love seeing our praises written down.  What great reminders of God's goodness to us.  Here are some highlights:  

 

Matt: travel mercies; a car that fits our expanded family; God's provision; comfort in hard times 

 

Amy: Salvation and forgiveness; people that are good listeners; modern conveniences  

 

William:  family; home; tennis; new friends 

 

 

Grace:  God's goodness to us even when we are hurting; family; ice skating; people to talk to



 

Micah:  my special blanket "lovie"; my shoes (that means I get to go somewhere)  

 

Joy: my camel "Kami"; yogurt (my favorite food!)

 

 

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with Thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30 

 

AT 

 

 

Following God Can End Badly

Loss.  It seems like a small, simple word, and yet when it happens there is nothing simple about it.

Loss has been a theme in our last 2 years:  loss of a country we loved, loss of friends, loss of relationships we held dear, loss of a culture that had grown dear to our hearts, loss of a vision, loss of a child, loss of innocence, loss of life...

As 2014 draws closer to an end and we reflect back, it is beginning to make total sense why we have gained weight/have some health issues, feel stressed, finances are strapped, have withdrawn a little from things of old, etc. Loss has a way of gutting you; complicating the norm; weighing your daily walk; and causing you to question.  

Grief.  Grief is the natural result of loss.  It is what makes us question; makes us feel alone and isolated; makes us search for greater meaning...

Walking through the 5 stages of grief (Denial and Isolation; Anger; Bargaining; Depression; and Acceptance) is time consuming and messy.  It makes people around us feel uncomfortable; it often means taking a step away from "normal" life things.  However, it is needed and valuable.  This is where we have been...well and still are in some areas.   

Faith.  "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.  Sounds simple. Right?  How do you explain your faith?  Yes, loss and thus grief can be a weight that at times seem too heavy to bear, but it is by faith that we stand.  We get up the next day and take up our cross and follow him.  

I just recently watched a short clip by Matt Chandler.    (It is under 5 minutes.  You can click on the following link to view Following God can end badly.)  In it he says, "God has not hinged any of His Kingdom goals on me being here."  I would add...He has not hinged His goals on me being happy, me having all "I" deem necessary, me feeling comfortable, me being important in HIS story at all.  Bottom line is:  My life is not even about ME. "The man goes in the ground and the message goes on.  The story is not ours it's God's."  MC 

Heart.  SO, how do we carry on when we know that we are but a tool being used to paint a larger picture for His Kingdom?  I believe that the answer is found in the heart.  Do I have a heart of gratitude?  Do I choose to thank Him in all circumstances?  Do I wholeheartedly say, "Thy will be done!"?

During this time of Thanksgiving, the Travis family is choosing to reflect on all the things that we have to be grateful for over the past few years.  Despite all the difficult circumstances we have experienced and are still walking through, HE IS GOOD and HE IS GOD!  

Praise His name today with us.  AT