William had his Spring piano recital tonight. After 2 years of hard work, he has learned so much! He performed 2 pieces and did an excellent job.

We are so proud of you Buster!

Thank you Susan for your dedication and hard work with William.

MT

Beginning a New Chapter or Starting a New Book?

I really love books! However, when reading a novel I do not care for authors that leave things “hanging”. It really bothers me not to have all of the details wrapped up with a bow on top. I have often wondered why I have a hard time just letting things go. Maybe it is just general laziness on my part. I don’t like to have to think or debate all the possibilities and wonder what really happened. I would prefer the outcome to just be laid out. Well, maybe it is not laziness, but simply the insecurity of it all. I may not like a conclusion, but at least it is final, and I can accept it and move forward.

Two of my favorite authors are Lori Wick and Tracie Peterson. At the end of each of Lori Wick’s books, the story is finalized. She even gives a little epilogue so that the reader can have a few happily ever after details. She moves on to the next book in the series using a few of the characters from the first book, but it is a new adventure and new main characters. I just love that process. Tracie Peterson, on the other hand, almost never wraps up a book. A few things may be resolved and the journey is well established, but the book is almost always abruptly ended. All of the “details” are not worked out until the end of the entire series.

This little quirk in my personality started me thinking about my own “life story”. I have cheerfully said to family and friends that I felt like God was starting a new chapter for me and our family. Childhood chapter (check) Teen chapter (check) College chapter (check) New married chapter (check) Baby chapter (check) 10 years marriage & moving to school age kids (check – right?)

Honestly, I think I have it wrong. This came to me after my birthday a few weeks ago. My mother gave me a new Bible. It is the exact Bible I have been saying that I would like to have. My current Bible still has a lot of wear left in it, but I have made notes on almost all the pages. There is not “room” for God to reveal something new to me.

BUT….I love my old Bible. I love looking at it and seeing all God has taught me over the almost 12 years that I have had it. God has been so faithful. This has not been an easy time in life. I have faced many hardships, struggles and loss, but in many ways I have learned and grown so much…wrapped up with a bow, right?...

Wrong?....I have learned so much, but there are so many things that do not seem complete, and it is really bothering me that all of the details are not “wrapped up”. I have been evaluating my inability to begin using my “new” Bible. Don’t I want God to show me something new? Honestly, I think it has to do with my belief that ALL details need to be pulled together before anything else can take place. I think somehow I have misunderstood God’s process.

I don’t know that life is about “chapters”. Sometimes, I think that He wants to start a new book in the series of my life so that He can keep me moldable and teach me something new. If I am constantly looking back over the past “chapters” to see what God has done, I may miss what He wants to do.

In order for Him to begin a new work in my life, I do not need to have all of the details currently in my life concluded. Sometimes the process of moving on to a “new book” is about simple faith and desire to still be usable. Just like in a Tracie Peterson book, all of the details will be concluded at the “end of the series”.

It is not that I shouldn't look back at the notes and things that God has taught me in my “old” Bible, but in-order for Him to get my full attention He needs me to have a “clean page” in a “new book” of instruction and guidance. Our pastor has mentioned doing something I think is interesting. Many different times he has journaled through a One Year Bible. He has done this with different people in mind to give the Bible to as a gift, but I have thought that it must be a great way to allow God to speak without getting caught up in the “this is what God revealed to me before” routine/rut.

God’s character never changes, and a deeper relationship with Him is built on my current one, but my attitude needs to always be that of a humble student desiring to learn something new.

Your thoughts are always welcome.
AT

“Yes Daddy, I’m Coming”

About 9 years ago, our pastor preached a sermon series about mentors….the importance of finding mentors and being a mentor. As a young married couple, it had a great impact. We began praying that God would send us mentors specifically in the areas of marriage and family. The goal was to find someone just ahead of us in life and someone way out in front. God provided in an amazing way. Looking back over the past few years, we can see how through the guidance, prayer and love of our mentor couples God has been graciously preparing us for our new adventure.

We have been told that the number one reason families leave overseas service is marriage and/or family issues. We, of course, still have a lot to learn, but we can see the progress and changes that have taken place in our hearts and minds.

Recently, one of the “pieces of advice” that was given to us in the area of parenting seems to be paying off and standing out. We were told it would be easier on us and less exasperating to our children if we would simply call them to us first and then give them instruction. Instead of saying, “William, please clean up your toys.” We say, “William, come to daddy/mommy”. William replies, “Yes daddy/mommy, I’m coming”. After he comes, we give the instruction.

Payoff – We are getting obedience without complaint. Of course, this process is not perfect every time...but we are not perfect people. As parents, we are trying to not call our children right at the end of their favorite show or when they are trying to finish a puzzle/game. We also try to give a 5 minute warning that they will soon be called to obedience, but as a general rule when we call, they come. Amazingly, once we have gotten the obedience of coming to us, to comply to the instruction seems so much easier for the kids.

Standing out – I asked myself the other day why this simple twist of instruction seems to work for obedience and attitude….here are my thoughts:

When God calls us to Himself, we go out of the love relationship we have with the Father. Once we are in His presence, we can’t help but want to listen and obey. When we go out to do His will, our heart attitude is joy because we know even when the task is difficult it is our privilege to please Him.

AT

PS: Thank you Birds and Kimmels for the love you have shown to our family!

God is faithful!

I just saw this on a blog that I look at from time to time. I had heard this song but did not know the story behind it. We serve a God who places us in the perfect place at the perfect time for His glory.

Wow. God is amazing...and I cannot even explain what hit me this morning through music on my way to work. I do not normally listen to the radio on my way to school, but this morning I turned to K-Love and heard that Chris Tomlin was in the studio and was going to perform live. I decided to listen and as he gave the background for the next song he was going to sing my heart tightened, my throat filled up, and tears began to well up in my eyes.

The song was written by a group called Blue Tree. They were in Thailand on a missions trip and during this time, the owner of a bar found out they were a band and asked them to perform in his establishment. When they got there, they found out that his establishment was actually a brothel. They decided that God had given them this opportunity to proclaim His love in one of the darkest and immoral places and as they played for two hours they were able to proclaim the love of Christ for people, cities, and the nations. During this two hour period, the band was hit with this song titled "God of This City". Each member simply began playing improv and from that moment this song was born:

You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are

You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are

For there is no-one like our God
There is no-one like our God
Greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done here

You're the Lord of creation
The creator of all things
You're the King above all kings
You're the strength in the weakness

You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness

Greater things have yet to come
Greater things have still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for You andLove for you
In this city

Blue Tree lifted up praise and honor to God in one of the darkest places...in one of the most immoral and sinful cities on earth. A place where sex slaves and brothels are the norm...in this city they showered light. Light can come out of darkness when our eyes are focused on the One who is light. As I was listening to the song I was struck by the personal application of the lyrics. If you have not heard this song...I encourage you to find it, ready your heart, and pray about how God can allow you to do greater things in your city. Convicting and exciting all at the same time! God chooses to use us and He will do great things in our cities if we will just be ready and willing.

Incredible story about the faithfulness of our incredible God!
MT

The Potter and the clay

Jeremiah 18:1-3

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : 2 "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.

These verses are the prominent verses referenced when people “biblically” reference potters, pottery and the potter’s wheel. What very few of these people realize is the long process that is involved before the clay ever gets to the wheel to become a beautiful or, for the really blessed, usable vessel. My next few blogs are going to cover the process of the clay from start to finish and the beauty of the statement, "You are the potter, I am the clay."

The clay starts in a very different place than the “fairly” clean artist’s studio. The clay resides in a dark, cool, damp hill or river bed. The clay is comfortable. Sure it can’t be used effectively in this location but it also does not have to be worked, pressed or pushed to the limits of its abilities either. Along comes a potter and digs it up. “How rude” the clay thinks, “I was comfortable their. I had a plan to stay there forever. What am I supposed to do now?” Little does the clay understand at this point but, the fun has only begun. The potter says to the clay, “I have a project for which you will be perfect.”

The potter takes the clay and strains it. The clay is squeezed through a strainer that to the clay seems all too small and tight for it to fit all of its "stuff" through. This is done to get the impurities out. Anything that is not clay, like rocks, twigs and grass must be removed so that the clay can become usable. The clay asks the potter, “When does the fun part begin?” The potters answer is, “I am preparing you so that when the time comes you will be ready.”

Next, the potter takes the nice, now twigless, rockless and grassless clay, and does what I am sure the clay thinks is very strange thing. He lets the clay get dry and hard. All of the water that was in the clay must evaporate. At this point I am sure that the clay is thinking, “You took me out of my comfort zone, put me through a process that took things out of me that I did not think were a problem, and now you let me whither away? What kind of potter are you? I thought you had a plan for me. Still the Potter says, “I do have a plan, just wait for it.”

What comfort zone is the Potter taking you out of today? What impurities is He straining out of your life? What "tight spots in your life are being used to purify you to be more usable for His service? In what area of your life are you dry and thirsty and feel abandoned by the potter when you thought you understood where He was taking you? Are you rejoicing today in the fact that He chose you to be a part of His plan? Our Potter loves us more than words can describe. In Jeremiah 31:3 it says, "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.'"

Rejoice in Him today!

MT

HE Speaks Thru Music – If I would only listen!

A few months ago, my mother-in-law was sweet to remind me of an old chorus, God Will Make a Way. It has been very encouraging to sing it and be reminded of God’s amazing ability. I am not very good at always remembering the right words to a song so one day while singing I began singing the words to the song, All in All. Funny, God would bring that one to my heart….there is a phrase in it that says, “Lord to give up I’d be a fool.” I know I have sung that many times, but suddenly the phrase struck a cord. (well, my heart cord…singing abilities are all Matt!) I had just had a conversation with a friend regarding my prideful distain of looking foolish. I have had to confess this sin many times when God has prompted my heart to do something. Blogging is the example I mentioned in my first post, but what is closest to heart right now is our calling to overseas service. Matt & I know with a certainty that we are exactly where we are to be, but when things are not “working out” exactly like WE would like, fear creeps in and I confess I begin to want to take back the throne of my life…often silently saying that I don’t want to be made a fool.

Well, as God would choose to work on my attitude last week, I woke up with a song in my mind. It was strange; it was like I could see the song, but not read the words or get the melody to play out. I clearly new it was the Holy Spirit trying to tell me something because I could not get away from the image. I prayed and asked God to reveal His message. The next day during the opening of Bible Study Fellowship, we were singing from the hymnal as usual, and I stopped singing and simply began reading the words. When I flipped the page to read the next hymn, the words popped off the page and into my prideful heart. The hymn was, Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me. It is an old one, and I should probably know the tune, but several phrases held God’s message for me. “Not the labors of my hands”; It would not be God’s will for me to work to manipulate any situation – HE alone wants the glory for moving us forward! “And behold thee on thy throne”; Well, this phrase did not set right with my prideful attitude! HE was on the throne and not me. Oh, I say that Christ is on the throne of my heart. No worries; I know all the Sunday school answers, but am I really resting in Him and allowing Him to be in control? Unfortunately, the answer to that is not always, “yes”.

Which brings me to yesterday….during church God kept whispering to me, “Are you going to let ME be in control?” The pastor’s message was about saying, “Yes” to God. In my mind, I was telling God, “I HAVE said yes to your call. I HAVE obeyed. I know this is not a one day thing, but an adventure a journey, etc. etc.” Then our worship pastor began to play the hymn, When We Walk with the Lord. Oh, I was really upset then! “Trust and Obey”! Trust!…I really do believe that God can do what He has told us He will do. Obey! We have obeyed! We have taken each step. “Happy in Jesus”! Right then I cried…which I also pridefully hate to do….but I knew I was shaking the finger of my heart up to God and saying, “It’s Your turn. If You want us to do this thing, move!” WOW, where did I want Him to move…off His throne so that I could be in control? Oh, what foolish pride!

Finally (I’m sure God was saying!), last night we were in the car and my Mother’s Day CD was playing. The song, You are God Alone began to play. Oh, I began to cry again, when I heard the words, “You are not a God in need of anything we can give, and by Your plan, that’s just the way it is!” I knew He was saying to me, “I fully know the time crunch you are under to be invited to conference. My plan is still in place and you still do NOT need to be in charge."

He IS on the throne…He IS God ALONE. Joy & freedom will come when I allow Him to be on the throne of my heart! Pride is an ugly thing. I am trying to take to heart that if I am made a fool, it will be to HIS glory...and to glorify Him is everyone’s calling. – “That’s just the way it is.”

Here is, You are God Alone on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34xwj6p46u4

AT

First Tooth

Tonight, I pulled my baby girl's first tooth! She was so excited! Boy, the kids are getting big too fast!

MT