missions and prayer.

I've been looking through a bunch of international missions web sites lately. It's lighting a fire inside of me that I've been praying for. The more that I read about missions work the more I believe that missions is something that God has been preparing me for. It's exciting and intimidating at the same time.

If you pray, I'd love some prayer for discernment for Lauren and I as we wait on the Lord for his perfect timing.

Weather and Praise-a-Thons

I was quite disappointed with the lack of snow. I realize that there aren't too many on my side with that comment. When I heard about the potential snow, my anticipation for my day at NOVO grew. I pictured myself sitting in the quite lobby sipping on a warm cup of coffee reading to pass the time. I pictured watching the snow fall onto a still parking lot.

Needless to say I was a little disappointed. But when I read this, it all made sense.

I have a slight rant up on my Wordpress blog. Please don't be offended that I didn't post it here. All you need to do is click here and you'll be whisked away to the post.

Enjoy the sun my friends.

posts and links

I've got a few new posts up at Wordpress. Nothing too exciting, but I do make a big confession in one post. That should make you want to look.

Also, I posted some thoughts from our prayer time last night. Thank you to those who were there. It's been good to pray with you over the past few weeks. I'll be posting church-type reflections here.

And if you're looking for good short stories to pass some time during your day, check out "The Daily Dime."

Enjoy the sun while it's out. Take a moment to feel the cold breeze on your face. Thank the Lord for the shelter you have to retreat to.

I feel like Cuyler.

two new blogs. nothing new to say. what can I say, I was intrigued by Wordpress.

Another personal one
and
one for church stuff


[edited 4/11: thanks Todd for the help.]


enjoy.

comment problems

I'm not sure what happened, but for some reason there isn't a option to post a comment on my last post. Sorry. I'm sure there's hundreds of people who wanted to comment but couldn't. Feel free to comment here if you want to.

If I had the time...

Another slow day; another great cup of coffee. When I sat down to write yesterday I didn't expect to write the words that I did. I expected to write some thoughts that have been working through my mind. So today I'll write.

If I had the time....

... I would write about the first few weeks of being married. Being married is wonderful. It has been great to know that however busy Lauren or I are we get to "come home" to each other. "Home" has been a great thing for us. I feel at such peace when I'm with her. It has been good to learn new ways to love her. I love having the opportunity of making her breakfast and a sack lunch on days that she has to work. I love knowing that she is coming home to me when she gets off of work. It is work, though. Marriage certainly doesn't make everything perfect. But we weren't naive, we knew things would be difficult too. The "difficult" things are things that I don't think that we could have prepared for. They are the subtleties of our separate lives that are becoming one flesh. It's been good to talk to other married people. They nod their head with a smirk that reveals an unspoken understanding. I don't think any amount of dating or engagement could fully prepare us for marriage. I've talked with people who dated for 3 years before they got married-same thing.

...if I had the time I would write more.

... I would write about the wedding and the honeymoon. Both things seem to be a nothing but a blur. During the wedding I could tell that time was moving fast, which I assumed would cause my memories of the day to play back in fast forward. Even as a blur, it was a wonderful day. We were surrounded with family and friends who care about us. The downside to the day is that we didn't have the time that we wanted to spend with those who came to see us. The time during the honeymoon seemed to pass at a normal speed. Our time was peaceful. The complaint though, we should have stayed longer. We really had only three days there. It would have been nice to have more time away. But it was wonderful and restful.

...if I had the time I would write more.

... I would write more than just congratulations to Giles and Emily, and Todd and Micah. Both of you couples are in different places that Lauren and I were when we were engaged, but I feel confident in saying that this path that you are now on will be more rewarding and more difficult then the path that got you to this place.
Giles- I'm happy for you. Continue to place your relationship with GOD before every thing else. GOD has been working in you to mold you into a man that is ready for marriage. Don't neglect that relationship and expect yourself to continue to grow.
Todd and Micah- It's been fun to see you two grow closer together over the past 2+ years. I've seen you grow as individuals and as a couple. Surround yourselves with people who encourage you to be yourselves, but are willing to challenge you in why you do it.

...if I had the time I would write more.

... I would write more about what GOD is doing at church. I've wanted to write weekly about what is going on. We've shared meals together. Prayed together. Studied together. Laughed together. Cried together. I would love to commit time to write about all of these things. I am learning so much about church by being in community with you. I believe that GOD is preparing us for great things if we are willing to submit to his plan for our lives. I see the anticipation in many of your eyes. GOD is moving. GOD is answering our prayers. The sick will be healed. The lost will be found. GOD will be glorified.

...if I had the time I would write more.

clarity and patience

Another slow day at work allows me some time to sit and reflect. So as I sip my Elida Estate , brewed in a French Press, I'll share a bit of what's been on my mind. [side note: NOVO received a Best Of award from Westword.]

I've wanted to write. I really have. But it seems that any time I would sit to write I would lose any clarity that I had. Clarity is one thing that I have been praying for lately. My mind races with words, images, and sounds for every topic I try to focus on: marriage, church, work, family, friends, missions, school. They all hold their own set of confusion. Clarity seems to be the thing to pray for in this situation, doesn't it? I want to be able to see clearly. I want to know what is in front of me. I want to know where GOD is working. I read a quote a few weeks ago that has challenged me in this thinking. I wish I could remember the author. I would love to give the credit. "Do not pray for clarity; pray for patience." I had to mull this over for many days before I started to understand. In my prayers for clarity, I was wanted knowledge and understanding. However in pray and seeking for patience I would have to force myself to a place of faith. Today my prayer has been for patience. I am confident that GOD is in control of all areas of my life. I believe that GOD is working in ways that I can't see and in ways that I'm not looking for. I think my desire for clarity took me to a place where I was wanting to control what was around. Patience, on the other hand, admits that it doesn't always have control. I was reading Paul's letter to the church in Colosse, and the first part of his letter was something that I spent some time reading and rereading.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints-- the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Paul's prayer for the church, at this time, was that they would have "great endurance and patience." I wonder if it was the prayers for endurance and patience that worked through this church to be known for it's faith? As I've thought more about praying for patience rather than clarity, I'm reminded that patience is a characteristic that shows the Spirit is active in my life. Paul puts it in a list that we call the "Fruits of the Spirit." The clarity I was praying for was primarily for my own benefit. It was for my peace of mind. (I think that this kind of clarity that I was praying for is different that praying for a prophetic kind of clarity. That's a whole 'nother topic) But having patience is something that could and should point to the Spirit's work in my life.

During the past two weeks I look at a countless number of job postings. What an awful thing for anyone to do. I looked at all types of jobs: clerical, labor, retail, restaurants, hospitality. One job stuck out more than the rest. It was a job working at a landscaping yard. I sent my resume to them and received a response that they had filled the position. I was so frustrated because that was the only job that I felt like I would enjoy doing. I prayed that GOD would grant me patience as I continued the search. Tuesday I received and email that let me know that they were looking to hire one more person at part time, and wanted to know if I was interested. Wednesday I went in for an interview. They offered me the job, and I took it. GOD has answered my prayers. Not only did I find a job, but I've gained an understanding and desire for more patience in my life.

One area of my life down, six to go.