On Wednesday, March 3th we were given the keys to our new apartment. The following day, with a lot of help, we got everything moved in from four different locations on campus where it had been stored.
We are so excited to finally be in our new place! There is still a lot of work to do. Evidence was found of mice living in our boxes, meaning that we have had to wash all our dishes and linens. But, slowly we are seeing the pile of empty boxes getting bigger and it is starting to feel like home.
God is in the business of changing me to make me more like Himself. Romans 12:2 says to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”. He wants to change my thinking, my perspective, the way I look at my life and the world around me.
I recently read a post, Why I Find Myself Staring at Jars of Yogurt, that spoke of this very thing from the perspective of a mother with young children.
Sharon, my cousin, writes…
Although I’ve been working from 5:00 am until long after dark, I find it hard to point back to any physical evidence of the things I’ve poured myself into.
How do I measure what I do every day? If I spend an hour making “cakes” and pizzas” with my boys, in the end we squish it all up and put the play dough back in their tubs. And although you can’t tell when you walk in the door, I actually did spend an hour picking up toys and strewn laundry and even did a spot of cleaning today! I made three square meals from “scratch” and even a batch of cookies but you won’t find the results stacked in my fridge, freezer, or pantry. Somehow… mysteriously…they are already gone! And how do you really measure all the patience it took to brush the teeth of a two-year-old who thinks he can do everything himself, or answer a four-year-old’s question (for the fifth time that day) about why it rains, or spoon feed a babbling, daydreaming ten-month-old baby a mashed banana as she occasionally swats at the food?
I was encouraged to hear Sharon’s heart because I could completely relate, being that I have two boys of my own. God is continually teaching me that it’s not about finishing off my “To Do List” but rather about accomplishing what He has for me each day.
Just last month, the New Tribes Mission Academy construction (read about the context on page two of our October 2009 newsletter) was completed. Soon after, all of the classrooms and equipment that were occupying space in the HQ building were moved back to their original locations.
This returned a few empty rooms to the headquarters building, allowing me to stake a claim on some space for my very own office. I’ve been thrilled with my new work area, and have been able to arrange some desks and shelves to house the equipment I need to work more effectively.
I even have my own telephone extension, woohoo! Though I still prefer IM. ;-)
A few months ago I found myself missing my “Moms and More” group from our home church. More specifically, I missed the Bible study and discussion about what we had read. I’m living in a new area and haven’t yet found a Bible study group to join.
In the mean time I have found a new resource that has helped to fill that gap… online devotionals. If you do a Google search, you’ll find there are many different ones to choose from. I have enjoyed reading Proverbs 31 Ministries (daily encouragement for women) and Daily in Christ (discovering freedom through Jesus). Some online devotionals will email it to you daily, or if you’re like me, you can add their RSS feed to your Google Reader. :)
I have been really enjoying these resources and found them to be a great encouragement to me in my own walk with God.
Jehovah Jirah - “God Will Provide”
God has been providing for our family in many ways!
You may have read in a previous post about our need for appliances. Before we even knew that we would need them God had already supplied us a washing machine. After we shared of our need, many responded back and offered two stoves, two refrigerators, and a dishwasher!
God has also provided food for us. On this last Sunday we came home from church with an entire bushel of apples that had been given to us! Denise has been busy dehydrating them for snacks and making homemade applesauce. Also, here at New Tribes Mission of Canada there is a “food room” where people can donate to the missionaries and students on campus. This last week we have been able to get a variety of items including an entire box of frozen shepherd’s pie. Anyone want to come for dinner?
Recently Chesley and Kaden have been taking turns praying before meals. It has been a great opportunity to stop and talk with them about real ways God has been working in our lives.
Thank you so much for your prayers. Praise Him for the ways He has been supplying our needs and continue to pray for His provision for us!
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
We would like to ask you to pray, and ask God to provide for us. One specific need we have is for appliances. We are in need of a fridge, stove, dishwasher, dryer, and freezer.
God has already provided a used washing machine for us. Praise the Lord!
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
