The Hills Roll On

It still hurts, to walk away from something so good, so very much in line with our hearts passion. Yet we trust that we are here in Ottawa for His purposes, not our own. God is opening doors we never would’ve sought ourselves; so we’re totally walking by faith, financially starting over, and trusting God is going to get some massive glory from this situation. Honestly, it seems like a season of heavy pruning and refining. The pressure is on and the outside circumstances don’t make sense (to us)…but there is something deeper that whispers ‘this is all happening for a reason, don’t give up now.’ So I say “bring it on!”. Pruning and refining HAVE to happen — and by definition they are uncomfortable, ugly, and don’t seem to make sense…until later. We miss the community of friends, comrades, and fellow ministers of the gospel. I try not to think about it too much, else pity come knocking at the door of my heart. And brings friends like despair, procrastination, hopelessness and death of vision. Yuk. Don’t need those! So each day I declare (and Eden even prays it now as part of her rote breakfast prayer) “Thank you God for a new day!. His mercies are new, I will rejoice and be glad, I will count my blessings and name them by name. I will enjoy the autumn while I still can, and I will savor the sweetness of my children’s infancy.

The boys are crawling, sitting, cutting teeth and well into solids now. Blows my mind how fast they develop in this first year.

Eden is wonderful; her articulation and thought processes amaze me. She will dress as a princess this year for a little jaunt around the block on Wednesday; I will escort her as a queen:) Red dress, jeweled crown and all! It’s a sweet time of life; and soon we will have a nest of our own, which I will truly, truly appreciate. When you’ve gone without you appreciate it when you have it again. Like health returning after a bout of illness, or a friendship re-kindled. I am learning lessons that I suppose, in God’s infinite wisdom and grace, I would only truly learn in a time of want. Humility and trust grow in the soil of faith; where I can only see with eyes of faith that which cannot be seen. A tenacity is being strengthened in me in the midst of adverse winds; and though I don’t like the discomfort of my present situation, I adore and trust the One who is letting me mature in love and grace and truth in the midst of it.

And it’ll make SUCH a great story when it comes full circle!!!

Don’t you think I wish I knew?

How did Peter feel when the waves were surging beneath him, water filling his mouth, the boat rocking nauseatingly underneath him promising a grain of possible safety in the security of the familiar?

What what raw nerve, what audacious faith it must’ve taken for him to make the choice to ARISE, to stand in the gale. The moment of hesitation was past, the decision made the moment he stood; Peter was about to do the IMPOSSIBLE. Surely others in the boat screamed at him to “sit down for God’s sake! You’ll get us all killed!” Surely his own doubts assailed him with the lunacy of the decision he was following through on.
He had to know.

I must know.

I must know the One upon who Peter locked eyes with. I must know this Man who beckoned Peter to come. I must know…there are deeper waters of this faith that I am about to walk upon.

Friends, I don’t know exactly what’s next..can anyone? All I know is that my heart is set, my eyes are fixed, I have risen in faith because He’s called me by name to step out of the boat and do something I have never personally witnessed anyone do before.

How can I be sure that this is what He wants us to walk in? What if it’s just a good idea of our own vain imaginations? Or worse? That’s a blog for another day…perhaps I’ll just let this walk of faith unfold step by step and you’ll see for yourself.

But friends, let me forewarn you, if you too should dare to do something so outside the box as we are…the worst of the counter attack isn’t from without…it’s always within. When you settle the issue with Him of Who is Lord, you’ll be unstoppable.

So what are we doing? To be utterly vague, secretive even, let me quote my favorite person ever and simply leave it this:

“Come and see.”

Life is pretty simple and straightforward right now: keep our hearts warm towards God, love one another, take care of the kids. So that pretty much sums up our prayer requests!

But to be a little more specific…

GAVIN is working hard juggling family, mentoring responsibilities and his maintenance job. Please pray that he will be a channel of God’s love and deep heart work in the men he is mentoring. And of course, for plenty of refreshing sleep!

TARA is in full time mommy mode now. Please pray for health, joy and plenty of milk for the boys and grace with Eden. She’s a little apprehensive about what life will be like in May once all the help runs out, so pray for peace, hope and confidence in God’s all sufficient grace.
EDEN is adjusting to a major life change (not one, but TWO ‘little brudders’). Please pray that her heart and mind will settle down, she will have peace and joy in every day.

JETHRO is doing great. A hearty eater and wonderful sleeper — praise God for his life and the plans laid out for him. Pray he will grow in grace and already be a means of God’s healing power in the lives of all the people we meet.

JUDAH is also doing wonderfully. A laid back little guy; he’s in no particular rush at all. Praise God for his life and growth. Pray that he will get all the nutrition and sleep he needs. Pray also that he will be a means of blessing to all.

THANK YOU for praying for us! We couldn’t do this without you!

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12.4-5)