Seeking

Happy February, beloved! This month, I want to take a moment to thank you and ask for your continued prayers for my husband as he is in the final stretch of his 3-year  bible training  program. He graduates in May, and is toiling to finish his 60-page thesis paper by April on 'welcoming one another, as Christ' ( Romans 15:7 ). I also want to take a moment to affirm him and our fellow brothers and praise the Lord for them . I have adapted  Proverbs 31:10-31, NKJV , to put this to words.  Who can find an excellent husband?  For his worth is far above a pension. The heart of his wife gladly submits to him; So she will have no lack of gain. He does her good and not evil All the days of his life. He seeks employment and training, And willingly works with his hands. He is like the cargo ships, He brings his goods from afar. He also rises while it is yet night, And provides money for his household, And a portion for enjoyment. He considers a venture and pursues it;...

Happy February Beloved! Recently, I had a conversation with a sister about the film, "Redeeming Love" and the book of Hosea. That evening, I had a sobering dream that Husband was unfaithful. I woke up, distraught, speaking truth to myself about my marriage and the Lord, but I began to weep. Husband woke up, and we prayed together. He hugged me tightly and told me, "I'm right here. I'm right here." But I could not sleep. There was a stirring in my spirit. I went to the living room, began to write and the Lord showed me a deeper instruction: there are  three types of love 1) imperfect, 2) cheap and 3) redeeming. Engagement November 2014 I pray it goes without saying, I love my husband, and I know my husband loves me, yet I am keenly aware,  our love for one another (& others) is imperfect, conditional and ebbs . At times I find myself believing the false reality that our marriage will endure anything, because of our love for each other. But disappointmen...

Happy New Year Beloved! To start off 2022, Husband and I would love to hear from YOU :D What is one area we can be praying for you and what can we give praise to the Lord for 2021 , together? You can respond directly to this email or "enter your comment" at the bottom of the blog post. Also, we would like to share our vision, too. For those that do not know, several years ago, Husband and the boys started writing out their annual goals on a poster board. Since getting married, we now get a little more creative and hang them on the wall as a reminder and encouragement. (Enjoy the PJs :D) Top priorities for us include our relationship with the Lord, each other and others . We want to better use our gifts, resources and time, to the building up of His bride and kingdom . And I am reminded Christ and the Spirit live in us, to carry it out . You and I are precisely where He has us for the good work before us.  As you may be aware, we leave for Rome this Sunday, January 8. This wee...

  Happy July beloved friend and lover of Christ! While there is much to celebrate from the past month alone, I have been tested in faith, thought and walk. But in that, the one thing the Lord has continued to teach and exhort me in is faithfulness - towards me & that which he requires of me.  Psalm 23 ,  1 Corinthians 4:2  and  Philippians 4:4-7  (among SOOO many others) are ringing through my ears and spirit. My prayer for you is that you would be encouraged that  God is forever faithful towards you, without change or diminishing in supply, because of who you are in Christ, even when faithless  - and that this truth would motivate you, out of love and gratitude to  run the race that is set before YOU !  Recently, I have been  anxious  about my  unemployment and redeeming the time well .  Ironically, one prayer has been for me to stay home for work, but we have not been in a position to do so. Yet, since our engag...

The year continues racing by, and Husband and I would like to share four items: 1) Bible Training, 2) Anointing, 3) Praise report and 4) Prayer requests. At the beginning of the year (2021), we shared some of our goals here , and a big prayer has been answered - bible training . About a year ago, Husband researched , applied for and was admitted to the Training Center at Faith Bible Church in Murrieta (the "TC"), even after the deadline was closed. However, one requirement is to be a member of a church for 2 years and monthly attendance by a pastor or elder - at the time, we had only been attending Cornerstone for about 6 months. After reviewing the application with our missions pastor, Husband was told to wait , and he withdrew his application to the TC. I remember how conflicted his spirit and flesh were - discouraged yet remembering God's perfect plans and timing . Shortly after, we met and befriended the missions pastor and his wife from Foothill Bible Church in Upla...

Happy Spring beloved friend! This March, Husband and I had the privilege of sharing a brief summary of how God is leading us to march by faith in the direction of missions , with our church's "Mission Support Group." We want to share some of these highlights below and request your faithful prayers. Also, upon sharing this with some friends and family, they requested to hear it. On Monday, April 12 @ 7:00PM (PST), we will be sharing via zoom how the Lord continues directing. If you would like to add to your google calendar, you can click  here .  It was a test of faith while getting ready for bed, after hours of working on a PowerPoint presentation, Husband comes knocking on the bathroom door asking, "Did you save the document? Because it is now blank..." But God be praised, who uses all things , [refinement continues, and] we were able to remember and recreate much of what had been drafted. We go through 5 sections: 1) testimony, 2) [re]direction, 3), walking, 4...

It is hard to believe it is already practically March. The days are ZOOMING by! I remember when I was young, my dad would tell me, “Just wait ‘til your my age” – LOL. Rick and I just finished reading through “Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End ,” by David Gibson, alongside a Sunday morning equipping class with our church, and it was sooooo good! We want to share some nuggets of truth, in the hope that you might also thirst more for the eternal and live, in that perspective. “Your death and the judgment to follow- the great fixed points of your life -are the very things that can reach back from the future into today and transform the life God has given you to live” (162). “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Vanity does not mean everything is meaningless, but, rather, ‘everything under the sun,’ is brief and quickly fading, much like a vapor or mist. On earth, there is “nothing to be g...

For Rick, Jacob, Zachary and I, "Quarantine Life" doesn't look too different from "Married Life." We already spend a significant amount of time at home, make our own meals and seek opportunities to serve God and others in and outside the home. Granted, Rick staying home from work for 3 months (with pay) was one of the BIGGEST BLESSINGS ever!!! He and I had not spent so much time together since our 2-week honeymoon, 5 years ago. And last month we had the honor of recording our  testimonies  on a marriage podcast, and it's been such a blessing to hear it is encouraging others (listen by clicking here ). We are grateful God continues stretching, growing and using us . We are being practical, praying for wisdom, remaining cautious and are making the most of the opportunities/technology available. Most importantly, the Lord continues opening doors and drawing hurting people to be pointed back to Christ. I am so grateful to Redeem this Time for God, by Ri...