Seeking

This past month, our church sent a team from our missions support group to the 1-day "TMAI International Symposium (pictured above)," live-streamed the 3-day "Shepherd's Conference" (pictured below) and hosted two "Missions Sundays." It was "fast and fierce," as my husband says, but in a good way. We were immeasurably blessed, encouraged and convicted by the word. I am still basking in the good of these last few weeks. But one thing that has been rising to the top for me is the sufficiency of the word and how tempting it is to get comfortable - though we are dependent on the Lord, we are responsible to walk in the truth we have been richly provided.  In a Q & A with pastors John MacArthur and John Piper, they were asked: why expository preaching? MacArthur started by stating something that can be taken for granted - ' the word is inexhaustible and covers everything .' Piper shared, 'God wrote a book and gave it to us, and He ...

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;...

At the start of each year, my husband and I sketch out annual goals, and the anchor verse that has been rising to the top for me is  John 15:5 : " I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." Throughout my life, I have found myself asking and being asked, what is God's will in X, Y or Z? Can you relate? It is a good question to ask, because believers desire to glorify the Lord with their lives, in response to the Father's love in sending His Son for us . But I confess, I can get so fixated on what is uncertain and my action, I lose sight of the big picture. This month we hope to encourage you as you rest and walk in the finished work of Christ. In two recent conversations with young adult students, we discussed ambitions and what should I do with...? Oh how I remember my college days drawing to a close and the anxiety over choosing " the right path " from what seemed like a...

Happy December beloved!!! How many times have you been asked: are you ready for Christmas? I get caught off guard, and I wonder, what are they asking me? This month, I had the privilege of getting together with women from my Thursday morning bible study group in our home. We discussed one question: what do you look forward to and what do you dread about   this time of year ? It was helpful as I examined my own heart, and it also provided specifics on how to pray for these dear sisters. Wherever you find yourself this season: in sickness, suffering, loss, estrangement, pressure, disappointment, etc., we pray that you would remember what the angel said to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people'" ( Luke, 2:10 ). Our payer is that you would find great joy in the good news that Jesus came to rescue sinners, as we celebrate  this Christmas . May the Lord guide your time, expectations, conversation and he...

It was an ordinary Sunday in Galilee...or so I thought. I was on my way to the priests and expected all to be calm in the city, because of the Sabbath. I was in search of a lamb. I noticed people were gathering in the streets, and I heard a man shouting, "He who fed the 5 thousand men has arisen from the dead, as He said. Two women went to the tomb this morning, and an angel of the Lord told them He was alive." When I arrived to the temple, there was a board on the doors with the words: "Do not believe the tales: the man who says He is the king of the jews was crucified on Friday. His followers stole the body." Later, I witnessed a wealthy young man throwing coins, fine linen and valuable items from an upper room crying out, "I am ready to give all that I have to follow the one who called me to Himself."   It was near dusk, and I had not found what I was looking for. I stopped by a well for a drink of water, before returning home. A woman who was rejoicing...

Greetings to you in the Lord, beloved! October 20th marked the 1-year anniversary Husband and I attended a  12 Stones counseling retreat with four members from and at our church. I had never felt so exposed and humiliated by my sin. By the last day, I began to shut down, wanting to run away and hide. But it was part of God's perfect and gracious plan to continue exposing a distorted understanding and application of the gospel. Through much of my life I thought He responded to me based on my performance (which I thought was fairly decent), and I responded to others based on their performance (not so decent), damaging relationships, especially my marriage. I was looking down on people, as opposed to looking up at Christ . But fellowship with the body plus   consistent preaching of the word and gospel from the pulpit, equipping school and women's bible study  began to chip away at my heart these last 4 years and especially the last.  Our prayer is that the Lord would ...

Happy Fall Beloved! Over the Summer, I had the blessing of reading and discussing Dane Orlund's book, "Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners" with 8 other women, and it was a fantastic read and time of fellowship. I used to think if I wanted to grow spiritually, I had to try harder, be more disciplined or focus more on the end result i.e. be more patient or submissive (I can easily fall back into those thought patterns, too). But by God's grace, He continues showing me: spiritual, heart changing growth is only found as I gaze at Jesus then walk in His provision  - may the Spirit quicken us to remember [the gospel], rejoice and repeat. First, as the book title implies, to grow in our walk, we do not need to learn new things, but, rather, keep pressing into the one thing and person we have already come to know: the gospel of Jesus Christ. As stated in 2 Peter 1:3, "...His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true ...

During a meeting with Israel Contreras, the pastor at Iglesia Biblica Misionera (IBM church), he encouraged our Short Term Missions team of 7 to ask the Lord why He would send us to Queretaro, Mexico and consider the impact would outlast the week. Every time I pause to consider, there is a new facet for which to remain in awe! But one thing we want to highlight about our trip is God's gift to peel back the curtain to see a glimpse of that future day by witnessing  unity in the body, in service and in the hope & need we all share today .  STM Team + Pastor Isra (blue shirt behind wife Maru) & wife Maru (pink pants) @ IBM church on Sunday Our team stayed in 4 different houses of IBM church members, and we were welcomed like family - given their bedrooms, time and love. Before we even arrived, our host husband reached out to mine asking if I preferred almond or coconut milk, since I am sensitive to dairy. Late on our travel day, I was eager to get "home" to rest, tho...

Happy July, beloved! This month, Husband and I would like to share more details on our wedding anniversary trip to Cancun, Mexico and one on the horizon to Queretaro, Mexico, in hope to stimulate praise and prayer.  At the beginning of June, Husband and I had the blessing of traveling to 'la jungla' - the jungle in Cancun - to celebrate our 8th year of marriage (May23rd). One concept Husband has been learning at the Training Center , and I have been reaping the benefits of, is for the man to take the lead and ' get away with his wife' (Song of Solomon 7:11 ) . With uncertainty at work since January 31, fiscally, it seemed unwise to proceed with our travel plans. Below that, I did not want to go so far away for so long just the two of us. By God's sovereign grace, I received counsel from a sister that exhorted me to submit to and rejoice in my husband's leading and trust the Lord for the provision of emotions to follow. My heart continues to melt under the warmin...