God, Our Faithful Provider

I am convinced that God is the best provider that there is.

Since we have been back from Mozambique, we have continued to see the miraculous provision of our God! We came back empty (with only 8 pieces of luggage to our name), and ever since, God has used men and women to pour out His blessings on us.

As many of you may know, we lived with Gabe's parents for 3 months while we looked for a place to rent downtown. We were getting a little anxious because nothing was opening up. As we kept praying and seeking the Lord, God opened up a 3 bedroom house with a spacious backyard and a room for homeschooling the kids (exactly what we wanted). There was only one problem: we didn't have the finances to move in. But, God! God provided all the money that we needed just in time! Not only that, but he also provided furniture, clothes, dishes, pots and pans, and much more!

I am overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God, and by the generous giving of those around us. We serve an awesome God!

No Place That I'd Rather Be...

There is no other place that I'd rather be, than right in the center of God's will. Whether it be in a tiny house along the sand and heat in Mozambique, or a small house in the inner-city of Atlanta, it doesn't matter, as long as I am right where God wants me. 

As we were searching for homes to rent in Atlanta, I became quite discouraged because I didn't really care for any of houses that we were looking at. I prefer a spacious, modern, and beautiful house with an extra room for homeschooling and a fenced backyard, all for an affordable price. YEAH, RIGHT! Not in the inner-city of Atlanta! 

After searching for about 3 months, we finally found a small house located right in the heart of Atlanta. It has a beautiful backyard with two patios outside, and is in a safe neighborhood. But, it is so small for a family of seven! I was not  thrilled about having to  squish 5 kids in a 1400 square-foot home. So, I started doubting and got discouraged. Then, I asked God to speak to me (again) about our family moving to downtown Atlanta. I hear nothing. Then, as I continue to seek the Lord (and surrender my will again), he reminds me that He already DID speak to me, and that I just need to be obedient.

In the next few days, we will be signing a lease for our new home! And, there is no place that I'd rather be than right where He wants me. So, I am really excited, not because the house is everything that I want, but because it is such an adventure to follow God!

Let the Children Come

Jesus said in Mark 10:13- "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God."


I take my children with me every where I go. When I do ministry, my children follow me and do ministry as well. They are my ministry. I don't want to leave them behind with babysitters so that I can go "minister." I want them right beside me and following my example. This is how they will learn.


Lately, I have seen many awesome ministries, but the family is suffering. Our main ministry is to minister to those closest to us. Our family is our most important ministry. They see us in our weakness, and when we are having a hard day. The whole world can say great and awesome things about us and can think that we are great, but what really matters is what those in our family think.


In Mark 10:13 I believe that the disciples were probably trying to have their alone time with Jesus, and then the children came and "interrupted." They probably were trying to direct the service so that it would cater to the adults. But Jesus was greatly displeased by their effort to control the situation, and wanted the children to come! And then he says, "Unless you become like a child, you will not enter the kingdom."


Become like a child? Children are not tame. They can be noisy. They can be rude. They sometimes don't know how to act proper. But they have sensitive hearts and a whole lot of faith. We must become like them instead of trying to make them become more like us. 


We must lead our children to Jesus and not forbid them. We should stop leaving them, but lead them instead. They count. They matter. They are important to God's heart and they should be important to our hearts as well.

Our Vision

So, as y'all know, the plan is for us to move into downtown Atlanta and be full-time missionaries in America. But as the weeks have gone by, I have been losing the vision for the poor and really desiring the "American Dream" of having a nice house and living in comfort. This is not a bad thing, but God is calling our family to partner with His vision of all men coming to know Him. We want to be apart of that vision!


This morning the Lord led me to the scripture in Matthew of Jesus telling the righteous, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me..." (Matthew 25:34)


I heard Jesus say to me this morning:


"Will you leave a life of comfort for the thirsty, a life of convenience for the hungry and destitute? Will you lay down your deepest longings and dreams for the least of these? I am hungry. I am thirsty. As you do this for one of these, you are doing it for me. Will you be the one?"


I answered him back by saying:


"Yes, Lord, I will follow you to the highways and byways to bring in the poor for the marriage supper of the lamb. I will forsake this world to minister unto you, Jesus. This world has nothing for me!"


Will you be the one to partner with what the Lord is speaking to your heart, whatever that something may be? He is thirsty for radical and extravagant, laid-down lovers of God that will run with His vision!

Building Our Own Kingdom

There is no need to complicate our calling; we are called to love God and love others. Period. But, sometimes we can lose that focus. 

Instead of serving and loving God and people, we begin to start building our ministry (or our own kingdom), expanding our programs, and we eventually lose sight of our ultimate goal: loving God. Even in the ministry, there is a temptation of building our own kingdom. It doesn't only exist in the work place. Whether you have a regular job or involved in full-time ministry, there is a gravitational pull constantly present: build. 


I don't say this to condemn or judge us as believers, but I say this to exhort us to change our ways! I understand that there is a business aspect of our work place (whether at a church or corporation). But I pray that we would learn to model our life after our primary example: Jesus, whose only agenda (or food) was to do the *will of the Father.* 


I pray that today, whatever we are doing, we would live for His Kingdom and His will and not our own. 

Missionaries in America

   During the past year while being missionaries in Mozambique, my family has been inspired by an amazing couple that we have met here: The Lancasters. They have a ministry in Mississippi called "We Will Go Ministries" where they minister to the poor and broken. What inspired us most about them is that they live right in the heart of the inner-city where they minister. 

   

   Although we have been ministering in the inner-city of Atlanta for 8 1/2 years, we have had our "safe-haven" outside the city in the suburbs. It has been very good for our family, but when we return to the states God has really put it on our hearts to work where we live and be missionaries in the inner-city! 

   

   We are not supposed to be men and women of this world, but to live for God's kingdom. David prayed this prayer in Psalms 17:14-15: "God, deliver me from men of this world, who have their portion in this life... As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness." This is my prayer as well—that God would be my portion in this life, even in the states. That my goal would be to see His face and know Him instead of being satisfied with an ordinary life.

   

   Even though we are returning to the states, we are only transferring our mission field. I don't want to settle. I want God's best. I want to waste my life for Him, because He is my reward. 

Our Last Days in Mozambique...

     Well, our time here in Zimpeto is now coming to a close. We have exactly one week left. Wow! I am so thankful for this year. Although it was challenging, God has done a tremendous work in our hearts that will never be forgotten. Although we are moving on to a new season in our lives, this is only the beginning. I am so excited for all that God has in store! I also cannot wait to get my feet back onto American soil. I look forward to shopping at Walmart and having well-ballanced meals again. I am so excited to be able to spend time with my family—in the same room and not on skype! Even though I will be so glad to return to Atlanta, there are many things I will miss here as well: relationships that we have built this last year, being able to dance freely in churh, and eating rice everday—just kidding about that last one. : ) However, there will be many things I will dearly miss here in Zimpeto. It has left on imprint on my heart that will forever change me. Thank you, Jesus!