Monday - Missionaries breakfast. We will be spending the morning with our church and missionaries sharing about what we all do.
Tuesday - Robert may be speaking at the Men's study. (this however has not been finalized)
Wednesday - All Church event. In N Out truck and Robert will be sharing with our church.
Thursday - Women's Coffee night - Liz will have a chance to share with the women in our church.
Friday -Our daughter Shelby has a choir show so will be with her.
Saturday - we will have a table set up and able to share and meet with people interested in what we are doing. That night we will be with all the Missionaries for dinner.
Sunday - table set up again for all services, farewell lunch with our missionaries then Robert and his assistant (me) will be performing magic and speaking to the college service Illuminate.
What once was lost...
As a lot of you may have heard by now, our sweet dog Ginger, who ran away 4 months ago (2 days prior to Wayne's wedding) was returned to us!
We are so
overjoyed to have her home! She is Robert’s and my dog. Robert picked her out because of her sweet disposition and immediate love she showed us. When she and our other dog got out, we were heartbroken. While Toby (the other Italian Greyhound) was given back to us, Ginger remained missing. We posted flyer's around the neighborhood. We went to 2 different pounds; I checked every lost dog website I could find, posted lost and found ads on Craigslist, and contacted the IG society in Orange County for help. I was desperate and sad. I pined and cried for weeks.
After a couple of months, our family was adjusting. We had a new puppy (Madeline or Maddie) that brings a certain life and energy to your family. Toby was adjusting to Maddie but still was not himself. We all still missed her but life goes on. I on the other hand have a tough time knowing when to let go. I continued posting ads, checking the pounds website regularly, fielding e-mails and calls from some pretty interesting people.
Then, out of the blue, almost 4 months later I got an e-mail from a site I signed up on months ago that sends me e-mails when any dogs in my area have been found. It said a tan Italian greyhound found November 5th in a neighboring city. I thought there is no way! Though I continued to search, when the possibility of it being my dog was placed in front of me I was skeptical. I waited 3 hours then decided to call. The woman was kind and sweet saying she did not know how to find us. The dog was badly injured but they cared for her and her youn
g daughter suggested they place this ad. Still the doubter, I described my dog to her. She said; let me send you a picture. When I saw it I was floored, it looked just like her. I was unwilling to allow myself to get hurt again so I said I am still not 100% sure it is her. We agreed to meet at Church and see if she had my Ginger.
I sent the picture to Robert who instantly said it was her. I said I still wasn’t sure. I cried the whole way to the church still not wanting to go thru the pain of that day again. That day we lost Ginger I also found out my previous boss and friend had passed away, and my Mom was too ill to come to our son’s wedding. One of the worst days I can remember.
When the woman arrived and got out of her truck with my dog, I couldn’t believe my eyes. After 4 months, sure I would never see her again, she was there. She was thin and frail, but it was my dog! She knew me instantly and cried and whimpered to get to me. (I cried too…a lot) When she saw Robert she did the same thing, and with all the kids. We all had tears of joy!
When she got home Toby could not contain his elation! He followed her around for 2 days solid, never letting her out of his sight. She slept; he stood by her side watching her. Maddie, the new puppy just wanted to play with her and they seem to get along just fine. She was home! All that mattered, was she was home.
Now, each day when I get home there is a sweet faced dog, wagging her tail, extremely excited to see me. I am greeted with unconditional love every day. I missed her more than I can say.
This all got me thinking, how much more than does God miss us when we run away? He made us. He knows us. He was there at our birth. He knew the life we would choose, and how heartbreaking it would be to lose us. (Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.") We leave to seek adventure, excitement, independence. We become lost and afraid and lonely. How long does it take before we realize that? Twenty years, a lifetime, maybe never?
God never gives up on us. He never stops loving us and trying to bring us back to Him.
My dog saw
an exciting world outside of our home. The back gate opened and she saw freedom and took off, not a thought to the end result. She didn’t stop running, even though her feet were damaged and bleeding, she was hungry, hurt, scared and alone. She got picked up by strangers who did things differently, and took her places she didn’t know or like. She didn’t eat; she was missing her family and the love we gave her. She was frail and weak.
So many people are lost and hurting and in need of their Heavenly Father to put His arms around them and say “welcome home.” That is what He wants too. I want; no I need to help with those reunions. I will not give up. I won’t stop praying for and seeking the lost. I will celebrate each time the lost sheep is home, the lost coin is found; the prodigal son returns.
We are so
overjoyed to have her home! She is Robert’s and my dog. Robert picked her out because of her sweet disposition and immediate love she showed us. When she and our other dog got out, we were heartbroken. While Toby (the other Italian Greyhound) was given back to us, Ginger remained missing. We posted flyer's around the neighborhood. We went to 2 different pounds; I checked every lost dog website I could find, posted lost and found ads on Craigslist, and contacted the IG society in Orange County for help. I was desperate and sad. I pined and cried for weeks.After a couple of months, our family was adjusting. We had a new puppy (Madeline or Maddie) that brings a certain life and energy to your family. Toby was adjusting to Maddie but still was not himself. We all still missed her but life goes on. I on the other hand have a tough time knowing when to let go. I continued posting ads, checking the pounds website regularly, fielding e-mails and calls from some pretty interesting people.
Then, out of the blue, almost 4 months later I got an e-mail from a site I signed up on months ago that sends me e-mails when any dogs in my area have been found. It said a tan Italian greyhound found November 5th in a neighboring city. I thought there is no way! Though I continued to search, when the possibility of it being my dog was placed in front of me I was skeptical. I waited 3 hours then decided to call. The woman was kind and sweet saying she did not know how to find us. The dog was badly injured but they cared for her and her youn
g daughter suggested they place this ad. Still the doubter, I described my dog to her. She said; let me send you a picture. When I saw it I was floored, it looked just like her. I was unwilling to allow myself to get hurt again so I said I am still not 100% sure it is her. We agreed to meet at Church and see if she had my Ginger.I sent the picture to Robert who instantly said it was her. I said I still wasn’t sure. I cried the whole way to the church still not wanting to go thru the pain of that day again. That day we lost Ginger I also found out my previous boss and friend had passed away, and my Mom was too ill to come to our son’s wedding. One of the worst days I can remember.
When the woman arrived and got out of her truck with my dog, I couldn’t believe my eyes. After 4 months, sure I would never see her again, she was there. She was thin and frail, but it was my dog! She knew me instantly and cried and whimpered to get to me. (I cried too…a lot) When she saw Robert she did the same thing, and with all the kids. We all had tears of joy!
When she got home Toby could not contain his elation! He followed her around for 2 days solid, never letting her out of his sight. She slept; he stood by her side watching her. Maddie, the new puppy just wanted to play with her and they seem to get along just fine. She was home! All that mattered, was she was home.
Now, each day when I get home there is a sweet faced dog, wagging her tail, extremely excited to see me. I am greeted with unconditional love every day. I missed her more than I can say.
This all got me thinking, how much more than does God miss us when we run away? He made us. He knows us. He was there at our birth. He knew the life we would choose, and how heartbreaking it would be to lose us. (Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.") We leave to seek adventure, excitement, independence. We become lost and afraid and lonely. How long does it take before we realize that? Twenty years, a lifetime, maybe never?
God never gives up on us. He never stops loving us and trying to bring us back to Him.
My dog saw
an exciting world outside of our home. The back gate opened and she saw freedom and took off, not a thought to the end result. She didn’t stop running, even though her feet were damaged and bleeding, she was hungry, hurt, scared and alone. She got picked up by strangers who did things differently, and took her places she didn’t know or like. She didn’t eat; she was missing her family and the love we gave her. She was frail and weak.So many people are lost and hurting and in need of their Heavenly Father to put His arms around them and say “welcome home.” That is what He wants too. I want; no I need to help with those reunions. I will not give up. I won’t stop praying for and seeking the lost. I will celebrate each time the lost sheep is home, the lost coin is found; the prodigal son returns.
Liz
One Call, Many Jobs
This was a devotion I read last week and it really spoke to me. I often wonder how my experience in banking, real estate, lending, managing, organization, etc. will configure into the ministry in Arizona. I can't wait to see how God has prepared me to fit in. Please read and see if it speaks to you ~ Liz
"LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”- (Ps 16:5-6).
Most of us will have many jobs over our lifetime. As I look back over my past, I've had quite a varied history of jobs that included being a waiter, retail clerk, golf pro, advertising sales executive, ad agency executive, and ad agency owner. Today, I am a writer and lead an international workplace ministry. All of these jobs were important because they gave me a level of experience from which I now express God's ministry. I am able to relate to those in the workplace because of my varied work experience throughout my career.
With each of our jobs, God is building something in us that will be used for His purposes now and in the future. Oswald Chambers says "In the beginning we do not train for God, we train for work, for our own aims; but as we go on with God we lose all our own aims and are trained into God's purpose. Unless practical work is appointed by God, it will prove a curse."
Jesus was prepared for His ultimate calling by working with His father in his carpentry shop until He was thirty years old. More than 54% of Jesus' teaching arose out of issues in daily life experience. Joseph was prepared to be head of a nation by serving prison time and being a slave in Potiphar's house. Moses was prepared to lead a nation out of slavery by serving in Pharoah's house and later working forty years as a shepherd.
Do not despise the small jobs-for they are stepping stones to a greater purpose in God's plan for your life and for God's preparation for your ultimate destiny. Some of these jobs are necessary for the message He is forming in you.
Daily Workplace Inspiration by Os Hillman
"LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”- (Ps 16:5-6).
Most of us will have many jobs over our lifetime. As I look back over my past, I've had quite a varied history of jobs that included being a waiter, retail clerk, golf pro, advertising sales executive, ad agency executive, and ad agency owner. Today, I am a writer and lead an international workplace ministry. All of these jobs were important because they gave me a level of experience from which I now express God's ministry. I am able to relate to those in the workplace because of my varied work experience throughout my career.
With each of our jobs, God is building something in us that will be used for His purposes now and in the future. Oswald Chambers says "In the beginning we do not train for God, we train for work, for our own aims; but as we go on with God we lose all our own aims and are trained into God's purpose. Unless practical work is appointed by God, it will prove a curse."
Jesus was prepared for His ultimate calling by working with His father in his carpentry shop until He was thirty years old. More than 54% of Jesus' teaching arose out of issues in daily life experience. Joseph was prepared to be head of a nation by serving prison time and being a slave in Potiphar's house. Moses was prepared to lead a nation out of slavery by serving in Pharoah's house and later working forty years as a shepherd.
Do not despise the small jobs-for they are stepping stones to a greater purpose in God's plan for your life and for God's preparation for your ultimate destiny. Some of these jobs are necessary for the message He is forming in you.
Daily Workplace Inspiration by Os Hillman
Live Life on Purpose
We are currently reading the book Live Life on Purpose by Claude Hickman in our Church. It is a book helping people to find God’s purpose for their life.
It has caused us to look back over our journey for the past few years and wonder what would be different if we had chosen to move 4 years ago when we felt God pulling at us?
· Our house was worth much more - we calculated we had enough to sell it, payoff what we owed, including credit cards and cars, with a little extra for a down payment on a new place in AZ.
· Our kids were younger and most likely would have moved with us – at least 2 (not saying which ones), how would they feel changing their lives in the middle of their teen age years.
· Unsure of the team we were planning on joining.
Instead, we felt we needed time to really listen to God, really pray and seek Him. Here is some of what we experienced –
· With my job loss, collapse of the housing market, all our savings/retirement gone, we nearly lost our house as well. We had to do a government modification on it to try and save it; we are upside down currently.
· Our oldest is married; our middle child received a job promotion and our youngest starts college this fall.
· A new ministry formed with our dear friends doing what we feel God wants us to do, 3:18 Ministries.
· We finished the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class, I completed a 2 1/2 year study as well as continuing our studies in Bible classes.
· Daily prayer and reading of the Bible.
I feel confident God had us wait. We weren’t ready. We learned to earnestly pursue Him daily. He has stripped away from us all we did not need, and has taught us to truly trust in Hi
m and His provision. Though a lot of it has been quite painful, He provides all we need. Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Philippians 4:6-8 tells us “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Liz
It has caused us to look back over our journey for the past few years and wonder what would be different if we had chosen to move 4 years ago when we felt God pulling at us?
· Our house was worth much more - we calculated we had enough to sell it, payoff what we owed, including credit cards and cars, with a little extra for a down payment on a new place in AZ.
· Our kids were younger and most likely would have moved with us – at least 2 (not saying which ones), how would they feel changing their lives in the middle of their teen age years.
· Unsure of the team we were planning on joining.
Instead, we felt we needed time to really listen to God, really pray and seek Him. Here is some of what we experienced –
· With my job loss, collapse of the housing market, all our savings/retirement gone, we nearly lost our house as well. We had to do a government modification on it to try and save it; we are upside down currently.
· Our oldest is married; our middle child received a job promotion and our youngest starts college this fall.
· A new ministry formed with our dear friends doing what we feel God wants us to do, 3:18 Ministries.
· We finished the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class, I completed a 2 1/2 year study as well as continuing our studies in Bible classes.
· Daily prayer and reading of the Bible.
I feel confident God had us wait. We weren’t ready. We learned to earnestly pursue Him daily. He has stripped away from us all we did not need, and has taught us to truly trust in Hi
m and His provision. Though a lot of it has been quite painful, He provides all we need. Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”Philippians 4:6-8 tells us “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Liz
Mourning
So...
I read a couple articles that got me to thinking.
One was about an eighth grader who was shot and killed by police while he was at school. The article was really one sided. They portrayed the kid as a good kid who was doing well and the parents couldn't understand why the police would use such brutal force to stop this poor kid. This poor kid had gone into school punched a kid in the face and pulled a gun. The police confronted the kid and he refused to drop the gun, it turns out it was a pellet gun, so they shot him 3 times and killed him.
My first reaction was the police were justified because he was a threat to everyone. 
Plus it is difficult to tell it was a pellet gun. The police had to make a decision on the spot. Here take a look. Can you tell which one is a pellet gun and which one is a real gun? So I just knew I was on the cop's side on this one. Btw...the the kid's pellet gun is on the left.
Plus it is difficult to tell it was a pellet gun. The police had to make a decision on the spot. Here take a look. Can you tell which one is a pellet gun and which one is a real gun? So I just knew I was on the cop's side on this one. Btw...the the kid's pellet gun is on the left.The second story is about a woman who went to have an abortion. She was having twins and one of them had a heart defect so the doctors said she should abort the child. She agreed but they aborted the wrong one. Then they had to do a C-section to remove the other. So this woman lost both of her children. This article was also written with a bias. It was written as such a terrible tragedy. The doctors made a huge mistake and this family is devastated. Me? I was angry, my first thought was what is going on here. How could the doctors do such an awful thing?
Then I heard the story of a 15 year old girl who was being "bullied" by other kids at school and on Face Book. She was so distraught that she wrote a suicide note and stepped in front of a bus. The article said she killed herself because she was bullied. They actually said the cause of her death was the bullying.
These three articles got me to thinking. And here is the conclusion I came to. It is our fault. We as a society have devalued human life. I didn't mourn for an eight grader who was so messed up he took a pellet gun to school. I could only think it was his own fault. That his life meant nothing.
Women get "legal" abortions all the time. We as a society don't value human life. I know some will say that it isn't a life yet. That it's just a piece of tissue. If that's the case then why are we upset that this woman lost both pieces of tissue. We are upset because the doctors made a mistake by killing the wrong "CHILD." We should be upset that we as a society don't care about human life.
And this 15 year old didn't kill herself because she was bullied. She killed herself because we as a society taught her that human life isn't important. If we tell her that an eight grader deserves to die and a child with a heart defect deserves to die then how can she ever know how important her own life is?
I know I've stepped on a lot of toes. That was not my intention. This is something that I have been struggling with for the last couple of days. So today I will mourn for and eighth grader who died when he didn't have to, I will mourn for Two children who died when they didn't have to, I will mourn a 15 year old girl who stepped in front of a bus and died when she didn't have to and I will mourn for all of as we have all allowed this to happen right in front of our eyes and have done nothing about it.
Robert
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