Last night I sat by the window on my flight from Dallas to Louisville and watched the view toward the south. From miles away I could see the sky light up in a pocket of clouds to the right, then to the left, then in the middle, then sometimes all at once. I needed to have symphony type music playing in the background. The horns, then the wind instruments, the strings and then a loud percussion finale. (I tried to take a picture, but it just wasn’t possible on the plane. This is a stock photo.)
I thought about what I saw must look like to those in the middle of that storm. It probably didn’t seem as amazing or beautiful if they were experiencing strong winds, thunder, lightning or hail.
God must have that type of view as He looks at our lives, even when we’re in the middle of a storm. I wonder, does He think of our storms as something beautiful with symphony music in the background?
I’m not trying to make light of the struggles we all experience. I realize some of you are going through tough stuff that I can’t even relate to, and I wish I could be there to give you a hug. Please let me know how I can pray more specifically.
May this encourage you wherever you are, if you are in the middle, heading into or coming out of a storm: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
face-to-face
I’m so excited to sit down with some of you and share my heart, ministry vision and financial goals as I head toward Austria. My schedule until Sept. 5 is full, although not completely jam-packed. I’m not sure what God will want me to do with those extra minutes and hours. I’m praying for unexpected appointments and contacts.
Pray for me as I travel. I’ll be driving to the Michigan/Chicagoland area on Monday and will be driving back toward Louisville on Wednesday. Pray that I’ll be available for whatever God might want to do on this trip. I don’t want to be so boxed in to my plans that I miss an important conversation or relationship connection. Pray that I will understand more deeply how much God is my Provider. Yes, I’m excited to have you on my team, but really I know that as you give financially you are giving to God and I am receiving from Him. It’s not a horizontal exchange, but a vertical one. I thank Him for how He has provided in so many ways, including this relationship we have on our journey together.
it’s just beginning
As I start this fundraising process I’ll keep you updated on where I’m at and what still needs to happen. My first day was August 1 and my ending date is May 1. Only 24 days into this thing and God has done sooo much. He’s provided me with funds to cover all kinds of training expenses and airfare. He’s expanded the borders by connecting me with Michael and Shannon Primicerio and their book Life. Now. He’s given me numerous freelance projects and a part-time job where I can get more magazine training. I could go on and on with people connections and stories of God moving in my life. Thank you for your prayers!
I’d love to hear how you see God moving in your life. How is He showing up? What is He up to? How are you joining Him?
check out the new features!
I added links on my blog page (on the left-hand column) that will take you to Greater Europe Mission’s Web site as well as to their donate page. If you’re interested in giving financially this page will give you more information. There are many options and if you want to know more specific info please let me know.
Also, I added a Feedburner feature where you can subscribe and unsubscribe to my blog. If you were already on my e-mail list I will submit your e-mail address for a Tandem Living subscription. You will receive a confirmation e-mail that you need to respond to in order for the subscription to work. I will continue to send out a few more e-mails when I post, but would like to eventually have Feedburner send them out instead.
Well, that’s all for now! I hope you have a wonderful Saturday!
Blessings!
hey my name is Marie and I’m 25 years old. I read your Tandem article on boundless. Your life and heart remind me of myself actually. I’m also on the verge of jumping with God! I’m about to go and live in New York City in Manhattan, West Harlem actually (a better part of Harlem) for about 5 months! I live in Va in the country. Country girl goin’ to live in the city! Bring it on!!!I’ll be working with Youth With A Mission in Manhattan actually. I’m staffing a Discipleship Training School from Sept.-March 2008… I didn’t know I’d live in NYC…following God like this:) I’ve had a desire to work with street kids in NYC cause of David Wilkerson’s book “The Cross and the Switchblade”… God brought him to NYC to work with gangs actually. The focus of my YWAM team isn’t street kids but I’ll be that much closer (and I’ll be attending David Wilkerson’s church, Times Square Church actually)…but we will be focusing on Urban Youth Discipleship. We desire for our students to learn and be discipled than for them to turn around and disciple kids in Manhattan…ages Jr. High-Highschool. I’m excited. My brother is driving me up to NYC on Saturday. Check out my blog:http://www.journeygirl4god.blogspot.comI have alot about my time in Thailand on my blog too. God and I went Tandem to Thailand last summer for me to teach Art to 31 kids-displaced kids originally from Burma. If they weren’t born in Burma they were born along the Burma/Thai border or in a refugee camp. Where I taught was a christian boarding school for these wonderful kids. One kid had actually prayed even before he knew I was coming that God would send an Art teacher:) God sent me from the US all the way there to answer his prayer…wow…almost brings tears to my eyes. Your time in Austria will be amazing. You will sooo leave a part of your heart there. I’ve also had the opportunity to do alot of short term mission trips…I’ve been to Russia and the Ukraine too:) It was some special times I’ll always remember!God Bless you! And keep trusting with the funds…I have to do the same…since I’m raising my own funds too:) I have more than half but also a big chunk that I still need, that I know God will bring in!I’d love to hear from you:) -Marie
I enjoyed reading your article on Boundless.Thank youBlessings-Tiffany
Dear Krishana,I tried to find your email address somewhere, but perhaps I never had it. So I guess I’ll just leave you a comment here …You may or may not remember me. I was one of the Brio Girl top 4 finalists for 2005. I’m from Texas but I go to school in Nashville now. I still remember that weekend in Colorado; it was such a good time. I just wanted to let you know that I read your Tandem Living article on Boundless, and I’m really excited for you. I know God is preparing things for your move to Austria. Chansin BirdChansinBird@msn.com