Convert Baptisms up 81% in Spain

Don't go celebrating that headline yet.  It's not referring to Evangelical Christian baptisms, but the Mormon Church saw an increase of 81% in their baptisms from 2008 to 2009 in the Barcelona area.  It boasts that 2009 was it's most successful year in 20 years.  There were more than 402 baptisms that year.  In addition to the Barcelona area, their other focuses in Madrid and Malaga have celebrated great success.  (information taken from a LDS blog)

Are we ready as believers to wake up and get busy reaching the world?  Or are we too comfortable in our own homes and belief that someone else is doing it.  Well, guess what - someone else is doing it and it isn't Christians.  We are at a crossroad - we either need to get serious about sharing Jesus or admit that we don't care that false religions are winning the world for hell.

Now before you think I am preaching to you, here's the truth - I am preaching to me too.  Yeah, we've surrendered to missions and we are trying to sell our house and prepare to leave for Spain.  I've been in casual mode - no urgency to get there, no need to do things outside my comfort zone - just kind of sit back and let life proceed at its own pace and we'll eventually get there.  But as I pondered that blog I realized everyday that I sit here waiting on progress someone is being convinced that a lie is truth. 

It's time that I get busy - so be prepared. I promise no Amway style tactics, but we need partners and the only way that happens is for people to either volunteer or be asked.  We made less than 5% progress towards our financial partnership in the last 6 weeks.  At this rate, we should reach Spain around 2015.  There is a greater urgency than that.

How about you?  Are you ready to reach the world with the truth or continue to let the Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and other lies get there first? 

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15

ALL your cares

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;

he will never let the righteous fall" 

Psalm 55:22

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 

1 Peter 5:7

 

Carefully read those two verses.  We Christians (or at least me) tend to miss an important part of these two verses.  We teach about who to cast your cares on and we teach about why God is trustworthy of your cares,  but I am firmly convinced we make these verses so "churchy" that we miss the "what we are to cast." 
 
I know I tend to keep some things for myself, not because I think I can handle them on my own, but because they aren't "spiritual" enough to be cast upon the Lord.  There are times I have cares and anxieties that I need help with that have nothing to do with faith, worship, belief, miracles, or anything else we talk about in our "christian lady circles."  There are times I have cares and anxieties about the details of my daily life and I forget to cast them on God.
 
Today I was reminded that God does care about ALL our cares.  We had arranged with a company to work on our wood floors.  I talked with the owner.  I talked with the estimator.  I read reviews online.  I went and saw a house where they had done the same kind of work and I agreed to have them come today.  I arranged to work from home and Hannah had to go to church for childcare so this allowed for a wonderful blessing - an extended, uninterrupted quiet time. 
 
I had awoke with an unsettled feeling about having the floors done but figured it was just because I am a tight wad in regards to what we are spending to try to sell the house.  I even had time to write out my prayer time this morning and I asked God to stop the floors if it wasn't something we should do.  I felt guilty asking for it, but since I have surrendered the house to Him it hit me the floors were already his anyhow.
 
I felt guilty because I have so many other needs right now related to growing my faith, directing my path to the mission field, what to share on Sunday with the children, and more.  But I asked for there to be a miraculous stop of the work if it wasn't the right thing to do.
 
And then he began to move - the tech called to say they were going to be about an hour late and had thought the owner had actually already called.  I hate late service techs.  I find it very unprofessional - especially when I am the first call of the day.   This being late prompted me to do a little more research and I found some reviews that were not real promising.
 
Then the tech finally arrived.  He looked at our floors and told me there was a 50/50 chance we would be unhappy with the outcome of the process on our floors and that our only option at that point would be to totally rip up the floors and start over.  He then says "if we don't do your floors today we won't get paid for working today, but I think you would be making a big mistake to have them done."
 
I realized right then that God does care about everything - not just what we consider spiritual stuff - all the yucky cares and anxieties.  My hope is that I never miss that part of either of those verses again.

Quote to Ponder Today

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t.(Let the Nations Be Glad, Piper 2003)

Missions exists because there is no worship in all nations and tribes in the world.

(quote taken from Scott Talley's Blog)

Lord, I will follow Thee; but ...

 I've struggled quite a bit this last week.  Someone I respect questioned our call to missions.  When drilled on why he questioned he shared he saw the call on our lives and he saw the evidence of God working in our lives, but since our house hadn't sold in 8 months could that be God telling us we were not supposed to go.  I've cried many tears this week - all out of anger.  If you have been reading this blog very long you know that the house has been the place I have struggled with faith all along.  I've finally let go and am just thanking God that He will allow it to sell in his time frame at the exact moment He needs it to sell for us to move on to the next phase of this journey, then someone comes along and uses it to question our call to missions.

You know what - our call doesn't make sense in manly terms.  We are trying to sell our house in an economic time that screams "don't sell if you don't have to."  We have a teenager who will hopefully move to Spain with only a year of high school left.  But we truly believe in all our heart it is what God has asked and we are ready to "bank our faith in the character of God."

And God is faithful to encourage us along the way.  Below is today's reading from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.  He says "We act like pagans in a crisis, only one out of a crowd is daring enough to bank his faith in the character of God.."  What about you?

"YES - BUT . . . !"
    Lord, I will follow Thee; but ...      Luke 9:61

Supposing God tells you to do something which is an enormous test to your common sense, what are you going to do? Hang back? If you get into the habit of doing a thing in the physical domain, you will do it every time until you break the habit determinedly; and the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will get up to what Jesus Christ wants, and every time you will turn back when it comes to the point, until you abandon resolutely. "Yes, but - supposing I do obey God in this matter, what about . . . ?" "Yes, I will obey God if He will let me use my common sense, but don't ask me to take a step in
the dark." Jesus Christ demands of the man who trusts Him the same reckless sporting spirit that the natural man exhibits. If a man is going to do anything worth while, there are times when he has to risk everything on his leap, and in the spiritual domain Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold by common sense and leap into what He says, and immediately you do, you find that what He says fits on as solidly as common sense. At the bar of common sense Jesus Christ's statements may seem mad; but bring them to the bar of faith, and you begin to find with awestruck spirit that they are the words of God. Trust entirely in God, and when He brings you to the venture, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis, only one out of a crowd is daring enough to bank his faith in the character of God.

My Church Visit

This past Sunday Hannah and I were blessed to visit with the missions team at Center Grove Baptist Church.  It is their team that supports the church staff in reaching the world, both nearby and far away, with the good news of Jesus Christ.

What fun we had!  We were motivated and inspired by the team and had a great time just sharing.  We are so excited about what God has in store for us that we love every opportunity we have to talk about.  Spain is lost and most people do not realize how great the need. 

More than that, we were moved by the prayers of the team.  I believe you could have almost physically touched the Holy Spirit in the room as the team prayed for us.  Their hearts were truly broken for the number of people in this world who do not know Jesus.  It was a privilege to be prayed for by this team.receiving financial support (which we still need) I will be honored to be supported with their prayers.  I truly believe that if this church commits to praying for us, we will be covered in prayer.  And not just prayers that are mentioned in a busy life, but ones with a true desire to see God answer their prayers.

Thank you Center Grove for the time you gave us on Sunday and for your desire to reach the world for Christ.

It Happened Again

We have a guest from Ukraine visiting us and have a wonderful time, however, she did not know about our journey to Spain.  She had been a translator for me so she knows of our love for missions.  She wasn't surprised that we had surrendered to missions, she was surprised we were going to Spain.  In a very friendly way, she asked Why Spain?  Much more comfortable of a place to go than Ukraine?  You won't have to give up so much there?

We have actually gotten similar responses since we first publicly announced our surrender to missions in Spain?  We even got from one friend "well, if I was going to surrender to missions I'd pick some place easy to move to like Spain too."  Other responses have included "you picked a beautiful spot to "suffer for God," (with a little tone of sarcasm) and "'what a "hard' place to have to go." (again with a little sarcasm).

We are definitely blessed and grateful that God has called us to a place where the running water and electricity are almost always available.  I am so glad that they have indoor bathrooms and they flush and have seats (I've been to third world countries - seats and flushing are a blessing).  We are being sent to country where the language is a little easier to learn than other Asian languages.   Thank goodness as I struggle to speak any language other than southern English.  We will have school options that are great.  We are giving up very few modern conveniences.  Yes, we are blessed in the location.

But before you (or we) get too comfortable in where God has called us listen to what a missionary from a 2nd - 3rd world country said to me a few weeks ago:

"I serve in a South American country where electricity is questionable and bathrooms outside of our home are usually a temporary structure where the latest hole was dug.  Water cannot be drunk directly from its source.  Many of the areas we reach are only accessible by dirt roads and some of the roads are questionable as to whether they are a trail or a road.  Our living conditions are what you think of as a stereotypical lifestyle.  Our material sacrifices are difficult, but we serve in a country where people desire to learn of God; where we are welcome because they see that we have the key to a hope that they do not have.  We see visible fruit from the seeds that we are planting.  Our friends and family are excited about ministry because we can tell them regularly of people that have come to know Christ and of baptisms that are occurring and churches that are being started.  However, where you are going will be much more difficult than any material sacrifice we have been asked to give up for you will probably not be able to share of great numbers coming to know the Lord right away.  You are moving to a country where they see no need for God and no need to make relationships with people who know God.  You will have almost every modern convenience you have here in the states which is going to make your task harder, for people in Spain do not believe they need what you have to offer and people in America think you have moved to an easy place to life and wonder where the results are going to be from the financial support they have given you."

I do not write this so that you feel sorry for me.  I cannot wait to be in Spain and I cannot wait to meet people that I have already developed a love for without ever seeing.  I am so excited that God has called us to Spain and that He has a plan for us.  I am also very excited that I'll have electricity and indoor bathrooms.  But be cautious how you think of missionaries in European countries with all the modern conveniences of America.  It just might not be the "cushy" assignment that comes into your mind.

The far reaching influence of Spain

A few weeks ago I had invited a missionary to Uruguay to speak to the children at Cornerstone.  We had never met before so I knew little about him and he knew nothing about me.  More specifically he did not know that we had been appointed to be missionaries to Spain.

Before the children arrived he was telling me about his 20+ years of service in Uruguay.  He talked about how slow the response to Christianity had been in the beginning and how he was now seeing an increase in the spread.  Then he began to talk about those who were leaving Uruguay for Spain in hopes of finding a job.

Now my ears really perked up.   What did Spain have to do with Uruguay?  He then shared one story after another of a Uruguayan moving to Spain, hearing the good news of Jesus Christ, and then calling home and sharing with his family. 

Yesterday I shared how slow the evangelism of Spaniards is, but there is a movement among the immigrants.  And the immigrants are not keeping Jesus to themselves.  They are telling their families in other countries.

Do you get it?   A missionary in Spain is reaching more than just Spaniards.  Hondurans are fleeing to Spain in hopes of a job.  Uruguayans are going.  Many other Latin American citizens see Spain as a source for employment. 

Our prayer is that our presence in Spain will not only influence the Spaniard, but countries all over the world. 

The missionary told stories of the Uruguayans not keeping Jesus to themselves.  Made me wonder.... am I keeping Jesus to myself?   How about you?  Is Jesus in a neat little box tucked away in your heart for those moments you really need him or are you sharing the good news with every breath of your life? 

For the average cost of dinner out....

There is an urgency to reach Spain now.  We know God has called us to Spain as missionaries and the more we learn the more we feel a need to be there.  We do not have all the answers and we know God can reach Spain without the use of anyone, but we are blessed to be included in his plan. 

Consider these statistics:

• Islam is the 2nd largest religion in Spain, 2nd only to cultural Catholicism.
• Approximately 6% of those who consider themselves Catholic actually participate in the Catholic church more than twice a year.  The rest of them consider themselves Catholic because it has always been the religion of the country or because their ancestors were Catholic.
• There are nearly as many Mormons as evangelical Christians in Spain.
• There are nearly as many Jehovah Witnesses as there are evangelicals.
• 48% of the population of Spain believe there is a "supreme being," but not sure who it is
• 41% of the population of Spain claim to be agnostic
• 58% of the population of Spain says they "hardly ever go to church."
• Islam is the fastest growing religion in the country of Spain

What are we waiting for?  There is a battle to be fought in the country of Spain and we are preparing our armor for it, but we need a strong force behind us.  That force is our prayer and financial partners.  That force grew really fast right after we shared our calling, but for the last month it has grown very slowly.  It is time for it to grow.

Will you consider giving up dinner out one time a month and use those funds to reach the people of Spain?  Everyone eats out at different places - but lets consider a family of four eating at Applebees.  By the time each family member orders an entree and a drink and you tip the waitress you are at nearly $50.  The average partnership is $50.  At that rate we need 180 more partners.

I encourage you to ask yourself what eternal impact is that dinner out leaving.  Is it making a difference?  Is your heart broken over the number of Spaniards who will die today without ever hearing who Jesus is?

This post is way out of my normal comfort zone - but guess what - so is laying it all down at the feet of Jesus and saying "yes, I'll go to Spain."  Did you read those statistics carefully?  There are more Muslims than evangelicals in Spain.  There are nearly as many Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses as evangelicals.  You wanna know why?  They are sending missionaries to Spain on a regular basis.  What about Christians? 

Do you want to know how to become a financial partner?  Send me an email at scott.cindy.hunter@gmail.com

Hannah, Rain, and THE Test

According to NC driver's license laws for 16 year olds to obtain their driver's license they must have their permit for 365 days.  To get your permit you must complete both an in class and on the road driver's education course.  The schools are backed up so you rarely complete this by your 15th birthday.  Hannah was blessed, they were only about 3 weeks off - so her 365 days was up on Saturday.  We have now anxiously awaited this morning (which I have been reminded is actually 367 days) for the driver's license office to open.  She has an appointment at 9:00 and the rain has been coming down since last night.  The roads are puddled and wet and the clouds are dark and more rain is falling - but off we go anyhow.  So pray for her and for the examiner.  Pray for me as I anxiously await on them to return with my car (and my daughter).  Life is about to get fun again!

Ready to Scream

I am still telling God thank you every day that he is going to answer our prayer for the house to sell - but I am about ready to scream at the process.  Four showings in a week - two had a whole list of things they didn't like from the windows being open, to the cat on the front porch, to it needing paint, ... one was positive but decided the open floor plan wasn't for them and the fourth showing hasn't sent any feedback.  Isn't there anyone out there who just wants to buy our house?  It's ten years old and is in good condition for a ten year old house.  It's priced right and is in a great neighborhood with the best schools in the district.

Please continue to pray for the house to sell and for us as we walk through this process.  We believe without a doubt that God is faithful and will answer, but in our humanness we want it to happen now.  

Jeremiah 29:11

I know all the blog rules about being a paragraph or less, but I tell you today's is gonna be long, so grab a cup of coffee or diet coke and join me as I share about my Monday that required me to declare that God is good!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

God is good was my status on facebook Monday evening.  Not that I didn't always believe it, but I saw the above verse come to life on Monday and it just needed proclaiming from the mountain tops and the closest mountain top was facebook.  Let me tell you a little about my day.

Monday Morning - I serve on an associational leadership team and our monthly meeting was Monday morning.  I wasn't really looking forward to going.  I enjoy most of the work and am learning a lot, but we had discussed a sensitive issue last month and tabled it for more discussion this month. I had a very uncomfortable feel for the decision we were being asked to make and as much as I hate confrontation I also knew I couldn't vote for the proposal as it was.  The problem was, that at the last meeting when the discussion was brought up, I felt like I was the only one with concerns so I dreaded walking into the discussion having to say what I felt I had to say.  I prayed and prayed and God left the unsettled feeling.  When we reached this item on the agenda and discussion was opened the room fell silent.  I finally spoke up and then I quickly learned I wasn't the only one struggling.  The discussion got intense but good.  God answered my prayers and the prayers of the team.  I saw Christian brothers and sisters disagree and work through an issue until a decision was reached that glorified God.  My favorite line in a favorite movie is that there is a fine line between faith and wisdom.  I think the team found that line.  But more importantly, we allowed God to direct and we saw Him move.  God is Good!

Monday Afternoon  - About two or three weeks ago my prayer for the house changed.  I quit asking God to sell it like I had for day after day after month after month.  I finally decided I ought to be taking him at his word.  He called us to missions and therefore all that is required to get us there is part of His will.  The bible says anything we ask according to His will we will receive.  So I quit asking and just started thanking God for the fact that He would sell our house.  Sounds easy and maybe a little silly to some, but it isn't easy.  There have been mornings when I didn't necessarily feel thankful, but I meant it and said it anyhow.  I know God is going to sell it (just don't know when) and I am going to praise and thank him for it until it happens and then after it happens.  So after the house sitting for a month with no activity and a showing on Saturday that was not met with love by the lookers we get a call on Monday asking for an appointment for a showing on Tuesday.  God is Good!  (it got even better on Tuesday afternoon as we got a request for another showing on Tuesday evening - two showings in one day after a month of nothing - God is good!)

Monday Evening - As part of raising our financial support we mailed out more than 20 packets to churches in the area.  (if your church didn't get one and you'd like to help us, let me know).  One of the packets was to Center Grove Baptist Church, the church where I spent my teenage years and where I was married, the church where I learned the love of serving God.  I received a very nice letter back from them saying thank you for the information but unfortunately there was no money in the budget.  Last Friday I called and left a message for the author of the letter just thanking him for taking time to write a letter (most churches just toss the packets and you don't hear anything back) and shared that we love to share our journey with them and become a missionary they pray for.  Well, on Monday afternoon he called me back and we talked for half an hour.  He promised to pass our name on to the missions team and have them call us.  He kept his promise because Monday evening the team chair called and we talked for nearly an hour.  He joined the church after I left, but we talked about all kinds of people that we both knew and talked about the positives of being a missionary that has to raise their own support (that is a whole different post) and by the end of the conversation he was working to set up a time for us to come share with the congregation our journey, had committed to praying for us specifically, and to throw our name on the table when the discussions began for the 2011 budget.  God is good!

But why did I entitled this post Jeremiah 29:11?  The entire time I was talking to the team leader Monday night God kept reminding me that back in 1978 when my family moved from Tampa to Lewisville (I called it podunkville back then) and transferred our membership from a huge church to a church with 9 pews God knew the plans He had for me.  God knew that in 2010 I would be working to raise my support so that I could tell the people of Spain about him.  God knew from 1978 - 1987 when I was learning about serving Him and the joy that comes from it that I would need those lessons in 2010.  God knew that economic times in 2010 would be difficult and the relationships that he allowed me to have over the years would be a part of Spaniards hearing of the love of Christ.  God knew and knows the plans He has for me, plans that don't always make sense or seem only for the moment.  God is definitely Very Good!

After a month of waiting....

... our house is finally being shown tomorrow.  Please pray for wisdom on our part and that the lookers might walk through the front door and know that they are home.

Do you have the government you prayed for?

That was the question asked yesterday at our National Day of Prayer gathering.  Most of you who follow this blog are believers so you are thinking to yourself "no way, I didn't pray for this."  But you know what, I got what I asked for.  Or better yet, I got because I didn't bother to really, truly, ask for something different.

I have to confess that I didn't spend time on my knees pouring out a true request to give me a government that was blessed and led by God.  I half heartily said a prayer when reminded to in church.  I will offer a prayer when I hear of something I disagree with.  But have I really asked God to anoint the government of the United States?  Have I asked from the bottom of my heart that God return this country to its christian roots?  Have I believed He was capable of answering the prayers that I half heartily threw his way?

James 5:16b says "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  Do I believe that?  Do I think that God can get a hold of America or have I just thrown my hands up and said whatever happens will happen? 

So, I ask you to seriously ponder that question yourself... "do you have the government that you prayed for?"

Creative Partnership Development

Once again I am amazed at the creativity and encouragement and love shared by friends and family as we learn to depend on God for our financial partners.  About a week ago one of the beautiful girls (she is a senior in high school) in this photo asked me if it would be OK if she sponsored another Parents Day off to help our mission fund.  Now realize, my paid job includes leading short term mission trips and I am helping the team raise their costs, so I just assumed she meant to help with that mission fund.  This morning as I was going through status updates on facebook I found the announcement below.  God is good!  Not only does he desire we have an intimate relationship with Him, he places people in our lives to have close relationships with too. 

Meghan - you are a special girl and mean the world to us.  Thank you for support not only in words, but in actions.

Local parents - feel free to contact her and sign up for the day.


"Its time for another Parents day off. This is a time for parents to leave their children ages baby up to 5th grade, with the youth for a while. All we are asking is instead of paying us, please give a donation. This time all the money that is donated will be given to the Hunter family for their mission fund.Every child will be given lunch, unless told otherwise. Fliers will be at the welcome center. Hope to see ya there! if you have any questions feel free to shoot me a message! (nvybrt123@bellsouth.net)



Parent Day Off


Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 10:00am"

Decisions

Do you remember those days in college when every decision before you carried the weight of your future? 

Zach needs to make a decision before the end of the day tomorrow.  He has an internship offer that is incredible, but it got sent to his junk email folder so he just found it last night.  The deadline to accept is tomorrow. 

It would change his summer plans for sure - as the internship is June through December.  But it might also change his college plans.

Will you pray for him today and tomorrow as he seeks God's will for his life both today and the long term future.

Well, it finally happened.

This is Scott writing.  Someone from my work heard our latest episode on "The Journey" on "A Place Missionaries Call Home."  We knew it was going to happen eventually and we trusted that God would handle whatever came out of it.  We decided not to initially share what was happening in our lives regarding our mission call with my employer.  I really do need to retain my job and one just never knows what the reaction will be when you tell your employer you are thinking of leaving at some point, no matter how far in the future that might be.

I committed to God that I would never lie about what was going on in our lives so when this Christian brother asked me today "What's your wifes name?  Is it Cindy?" I knew what was going on and I fessed up to him.  He was very understanding about what is going on in our lives.  He asked what the process was like and I explained about Send Int., the selection process and how we are now in the process of raising our funding.  He understood what that was all about and told me about the missionaries that his church supports.

I thank God for his faithfullness and protection in all things.  It doesn't matter how big or how small, he is looking out for us.  He guards our steps as long as we remain in his will.

An Encounter from the Past

God most definitely has a sense of humor! 

For those of you who know me, know that exercise does not rank in the top 1000 things I enjoy to do.  Couch potato is an excellent description of me and if it weren't for the 30 pounds I'd like to lose and the fact that I am afraid I won't have a car when we get to Spain and thus need to build up some walking endurance, i wouldn't be doing it now.  But, I gave Scott a gym membership for Christmas and then joined myself too.  I then decided a personal trainer was what I really needed.  So, I took all my Christmas money and bought 12 sessions.  And then God intervened!

I have a fabulous trainer.  She is soft spoken and encouraging, yet pushes me to do more than I would without her.  I have learned a lot.  If the saying "no pain no gain" is accurate, then I should be gaining a good deal (and not weight).  I am trying to figure out my finances to keep her for a little while longer - I really enjoy my sessions with her.

Through the weeks I have learned that she "doesn't do that church thing."  Isn't that just like God?  I hired  a trainer for the sole purpose of preparing to go to the mission field and he put it right in my lap.  Needless to say, there have been some interesting conversations.  Pray for me as I continue to live out my faith both in actions and words to my "captivated" audience.

But, that wasn't enough for God.  This past week a girl came up and started talking to my trainer.  My trainer tried to cut the conversation short so that it wasn't occurring during my paid time.  But I recognized the voice, but not the person.  As I continued to do exercises she kept talking and I kept trying to place who it was.  Finally she said to me, "you don't recognize me do you?  you have a daughter don't you?  about 15 or 16?  and an older son?  can't remember how old he would be?  yo had several miscarriages too, didn't you?"  By now I am beginning to feel like I have had a 20 year stalker and didn't even know it.  Then she said, "remember, we participated in Comfort at Women's Hospital together 16+ years ago?"

Comfort is a support group for families, although almost totally attended by women, who have had a pregnancy loss.  I attended and then later served as a counselor for the group around the time Hannah was conceived and then born.  She kept chatting and my trainer shared that I was at the gym to build endurance because I was moving to Spain to plant churches (remember, she isn't a believer).  This old friend then said "we probably haven't seen each other since my 2nd marriage and divorce (I had seen her a couple of times in the last 16 years) - he was a missionary and then came back to be a pastor.  But he should have stayed in the foreign country cause he was planting a whole lot more than churches.  So what kind of church planter are you going to be?" 

She didn't really want an answer.  She changed the subject to tell me of her kids and then said she'd see me around the gym later.  My trainer just stood there quiet through it all.  But a few machines later she said "you really lost 7 pregnancies?  how did you survive?"  My answer "the love and faithfulness of God." 

Only God could take someone who hates exercise, put them at the gym and impress upon them to hire a personal trainer, have them working with a non-believer trainer who also trained a friend from 16 years ago who had experienced life's hurts alongside them, and then orchestrate such an encounter! 

Sweet Sixteen

Today is Hannah's 16th birthday. I still have a hard time believing I am old enough to have a 16 year old and a nearly 20 year old. I surely must have had them when I was just a wee little child.

She is so much like me. I probably should have known what was ahead when she was two weeks late, following in my footsteps. She came home from the hospital sleeping through the night and was this content, sweet little thing until she encountered cold weather. Something snapped inside of her when she found something she did not like - being cold. (She still hates cold weather!) Since then she has always known what she did and did not like and has not hesitated to share it or get stuck in the mud regarding it.

People often say she is me on steroids - oh my! She cannot work in clutter, she is a rule follower and comes near to melt down when there is a gray area. She makes a list and sticks to the list - she even sometimes writes something on the list that she is already doing just so she can be sure something has been marked off. She has a plan for everything in life and when the plan doesn't work she freezes.

She is beautiful on the inside and the out. She has a servants heart and a tender heart. She would love to change the world. She loves preschoolers and they love her. She interacts with adults as an adult and then turns around and interacts with preschoolers on their level too.

She loves the Lord and it is exciting to see how she is growing in that relationship. She is going to Honduras this summer with me and had to pay her own way. It has been neat to see her prayers be answered in ways bigger than she expected!

Happy Sweet 16 Birthday Hannah!

come back tomorrow for a reflection on a friend I ran into at the gym last night - a friend from 16 years ago.

Missions and a Sanctuary

Last night we did things a little different at church.  (Cornerstone Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC)  The evening began at 5 with a fundraiser dinner for the short term volunteer missions teams.  Fourteen of us worked to serve dinner to 300+ people.  It was a good old fashioned cook out - hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, baked beans, home made potato salad, and all the fixings.  A girl scout troop who has been studying issues related to food and hunger sponsored a bake sale with many, many great looking treats.  The funds from the bake sale will also go to support the mission teams as they go to Honduras and have several opportunities to provide food for the homeless and hungry.  The Family Life Center was filled with great fellowship and laughter.   Lots of words of encouragement were offered to the teams who will be heading to either Honduras in July or Ukraine in September.

After dinner, the congregation picked up their chairs and moved outside.  We gathered as a congregation on the plot of land where we believe we will eventually build a new sanctuary.  We spent time worshiping God and praying and asking for God's wisdom and vision for Cornerstone.  We ended the evening with all 250+ people standing in a circle around the land and praying that we will move in the exact direction God has designed for Cornerstone.

Several things struck me when I got home last night. 

• Cornerstone is growing - not just in numbers but in relationship with our God.  The last two weeks sermons were on the power of prayer and I stood among 250+ people claiming that power and seeking to hear from God.  That is powerful!
• Cornerstone is growing - not just in a building but in a vision.  The congregation didn't stand there last night and ask God to give them a new building and cast everything else aside for a building.  They first supported two teams reaching people across the world for Christ.  I do not believe that God will bless the efforts of a congregation who make themselves more important than the lost.  As of today, even as we struggle to make budget each week, I have not seen Cornerstone cut a missions or outreach budget so that they could build a new building.  My prayer for Cornerstone is that they increase what they are giving "out" so that they may see an even great blessing on what they need for "in."
• I will miss them when we leave for Spain.  Sometimes the excitement and focus of what tomorrow holds clouds the reality of today.  Last night I realized it will be hard to say good-bye.

The Tensions of a Missionary Calling

The playlist below has the latest episode of  "A Place Missionaries Call Home."  This is the radio show that is following Scott and I on our journey to the mission field.  As I listened to the completed episode tonight I realized how many different ways people in our lives are pulled by our call to missions.  We are not walking this journey in a vacuum; it is a journey with a lot of passengers.  I am glad you are part of the journey.

Consider, first our family - even within our immediate family there is the tension between being a parent to Zach (almost 20 years old and will stay here in the states) as he tries his wings of adulthood and our desire to get to Spain as soon as possible.

The tension with Scott's mom and Cindy's parents as they want their children to be obedient to God's calling while at the same time want their grandchildren to at least be on the same continent as them (and maybe their children a little bit too).

The tension with our pastor as he considers it a privilege to help a family surrender to full time missions and yet at the same time is losing a staff member.   Or consider the tension he feels as serving as a trustee of one mission sending agency while one of his staff members and family has been appointed with a different agency.

The tension Scott feels as he is excited about where God is taking him and his family and yet as an employee to a secular company he is not free to discuss this change with excitement for the future.

The tension SEND International experiences as they receive repeated requests to place more families on the mission field and yet at times having to turn families away.

When we surrendered to missions no one prepared us for all the emotions that were ahead.  Thank you for your support and interest as we travel this journey.   We never know what is going to be around the next curve.

Calculus

Zach has his calculus exam today at 11 today - pray for him please. We made a contract with him regarding returning to school and he needs to do really well on this exam to meet his end of the contract and our help him return to school in the fall.  Pray for us as parents as we seek God's will in parenting an adult.  No one told it was going to be this hard!

Is there a SMALL gift?

Last night I was having a conversation with one of our financial partners.  She was asking the details of where we were in our progress and just talking about the range of emotions that we are going through, but also what they go through in sending a friend out as a missionary.  We were talking about the difference in being a part of sending an individual or family to the field directly and through gifts that go into a general fund to support a variety of missionaries.  It was a great conversation!

Then she said, "if people would only realize there is no small partnership gift, they all add up to the needed total.  I think people are hesitant to commit because they think their $25 a month won't make a difference and isn't needed.  If they can't give BIG gifts, then they shouldn't give."  Boy, she hit the nail on the head. 

We have partners at every level of commitment from $13/month to $500/month.  I cannot count the number of times partners have apologized for what they saw as a small gift or made comments that they weren't sure it was enough to help.  Every penny will help reach the people of Spain!  There are no small gifts!

Right before we started our partnership development a friend said to us, it will only take 525 partners at $25/month to send you to Spain.  We know of another couple who is headed to Alaska as missionaries and they have raised almost all of the last 25% of their support with $15/month commitments. 

Are you hesitant to become a partner because you think your gift is too small?  Don't be!  There is no gift too small or too big.  They are going to make a difference!  Hey, if you divide our present level of support by $25 we already have 53 of the needed 525. 

Zach has a Job!

In today's economy it is even more exciting to share that Zach has been offered 5 summer jobs as a camp counselor/lifeguard.  He has finally made a decision and accepted a job.  He will be working as a sailing instructor and life guard at Don Lee Center in Arapahoe, NC (don't worry, I had to google map that place too).  He is excited and we are excited for him.  Check it out at http://www.donleecenter.org/.

His exams began today and go through next pray.  Pray for him as he finishes up this semester and moves home.  Pray for the transition to living back at home for a few weeks (and that he gets the hang of living in a house that is on the market quickly).  Pray as we face some hard decisions regarding his plans for the coming semester.  But before you ask God for anything, remember to thank him for providing an exciting job in a Christian environment for Zach.

Till Death Do Us Part

Today I am celebrating my 23rd wedding anniversary.  There were days I was not sure I would see 23 years of marriage.  There have been times when I was sure I missed God's will and had married the wrong man.  We had decided from the beginning of marriage that divorce was never an option so there were days when I had conversations with God about death (and not always mine).  Now before you get all self righteous on me, laugh a little and admit you have probably had those same thoughts.

But today, I can truly say I can't wait to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary! 

What caused the change?  Prayer.  The day that Scott asked me if we could begin praying together I knew that there were many, many more anniversaries ahead.  This morning our pastor preached on the power of prayer (James 5).  He talked about the power of prayer when you are having problems or pain.  I am here to testify that He is right.  Prayer has power.  Prayer changes lives.  Prayer may change circumstances, or it may give you God's grace to endure circumstances.

My advice to couples who are struggling to make it to their next anniversary?  Ask yourself, when was the last time you prayed for your marriage?  When was the last time you prayed for your part in the marriage?  And even bigger question - when was the last time you took your spouse's hand and came before the throne of God together and asked for God's grace in your marriage?  Men - wanna know the fastest way to your wife's heart - pray for her in front of her and do it out loud. 

I know, I know - some of you are saying "but,..." - I don't have all the answers to all the "buts," but I promise you there is more power in prayer than you can imagine.  Not prayers said to the wall, but prayers to a living God that are voiced by a believing, faithful servant.  Start where you are.  Unleash the power and stand back and watch what God can do!

Family Ministry Day

I am exhausted, but refreshed!  Today was the fourth Family Ministry Weekend at Cornerstone.  We had about 150 people working at six different sites today.  We were building a horseshoe pit at a nursing home, doing landscaping at a different nursing home, painting birdhouses with nursing home residents, painting rooms, doing landscaping at a home for mentally/physically handicapped adults, screening a cabin at a summer camp, and running electricity, installing a roof, cleaning up brush, painting porches, and hosting a fellowship at Siloam Missionary Homes.

It was a great day.  It was also a little strange.  You see Family Ministry Weekend has always been my project, yet this year I wasn't in charge.  Forrest, our new staff member, was in charge this year.  He did a great job!  He didn't do it my way, but he did just fine.  Whether I was leaving Cornerstone to go to the mission field or not, Forrest would have been in charge.  But knowing that I am leaving makes it seem a little strange.  It was the first task that used to be mine that has been handed over to someone else.  I know there are many more to come.  But it was a little bit of reality today.

The other thing today that was a little bit of a "slap of reality" was that we fellowshipped with 10+ missionary families that are living at Siloam.  They are there on medical leave or furlough.  Most are in the process of raising their support so that they can return to the mission field.  They are where we are in regards to support, and where we hope to be in four years - home from our first term.  At first it was exciting, and then it was "ahh."  Can't actually put the feeling into words.  We really are heading to the mission field, aren't we?

Continue to pray for the sale of our house.  Activity has slowed down on it and we know that the longer it takes to sell it, the harder it gets.  Pray for us to wait on God's timing, but to also hear his direction.

We have raised a little more than 13% of our financial support.  We mailed out 25 church packets hoping to connect with churches both to be financial and prayer partners.   We need to line up churches and appointments to share our journey.  Pray for doors to open and for both us and those receiving the packets to be open to partnership.  Pray that we have time to follow up with each church that we reached out to.

Sorry for the lapse in writing, been a crazy week or two!

Life Changing Business

Christ is in the life changing business!  I know that is obvious, but often forgotten.  Oh, I don't mean in the eternal sense of life changing.  That is really hard to forget.  But what about the everyday life changing work that He does!

This week my co-workers and I were having a conversation about how many changes we have seen in a member of the congregation.  We were describing the new peace that he exhibits, the new countenance we see in him, and just how different he is.  Later it hit me.  Why were we all so surprised?  He is a strong believer in Christ and of course Christ is going to change him.  Made me start thinking of other changes in other people:

• a friend who trusted the Holy Spirit's nudge and is teaching SS and having a blast
• a parent who speaks to her children with a tone of love, even at times of discipline
• a couple who I saw holding hands as they walked down the hall
• a single mom who has found a life style that pleases God
• a family that has totally changed their financial patterns
• a teenager who speaks with confidence

What about me?  Can I say that God is in the life changing business in my life.  Most definitely!  But he has a lot more changing to do.

A Beautiful Spring Day

Scott and I spent the day together enjoying the beautiful day!

Pilot Mountain

An old barn along the side of the road.

A Sense of Urgency

I love to blog hop.... read a blog I am following and either click on a blog they are following and read it and keep going or use the "next blog" button at the top of blogspot.  Amazing the things that are on the Internet!

Tonight instead I entered Spain, missionaries, blogspot into a google search.  I was heartbroken by what was returned from my search.  Listing after listing for Mormon missionary websites.  The Mormon blogs out numbered the evangelical blogs by many times.  I've heard all along that the time is now to reach Spain for Christ, but thanks to technology my eyes have been opened even wider. 

It is urgent that Christians share the love of Christ with Spaniards.  They need to hear the truth and they need to hear it now!  They are hearing the lies of the world and believing them because they have not heard the true story. 

Oh how I pray that God will move quickly in our lives as we prepare to go to Spain to share his love.  There is no time to wait - people are dying every day believing lies.  There is an urgent need for the love of Christ to be shared!  May God hasten the process for us as we prepare to go and may he equip and refresh those who are already in Spain proclaiming the fact that He is Alive!

House Decisions

I do believe everyone who reads this blog will be able to hear me celebrating when the house sells, without the use of a computer!

We have had two showings this week.  One did not like the house, the other we have not heard back from yet.  But we did hear that a short sell house in the neighborhood dropped their price again yesterday.  It is now below our house and will most likely sell for even less than it is listed for, especially if it goes into foreclosure.  Now we have to make a decision.  It's been on the market for six months and we still own it.  We've done all kinds of things to make it more sellable (is that a word?) and yet we still own it. 

I was teaching my last Fit For Health Bible Study class yesterday and we did a lot of talking about being able to grasp that God really does care and is truly interested in the things we think aren't so spiritual - weight loss, houses selling, ... - but do we really grasp that.  Each area of our life He desires to be involved in and in control of.  Do we really know that that looks like?  Do we really believe that?  I say it.  I want to believe it with all my heart.  But am I there yet?  I don't think so and I think the sell of our house is a daily reminder.  If I really got it would I be bringing the house back to God every day?  Would I have a pit in the bottom of my stomach about the decisions we need to make regarding the house?  What about you?  Do you really get what it looks like to believe, really believe, that God wants to be involved in every aspect of your life and that there is nothing too little to bring to him?

How do YOU measure success?

I had a conversation with a friend yesterday regarding success.  I left the conversation with a lot to think about.  I had said some things they didn't agree with and they pointed out that from their perspective I was looking at a situation wrong, then they shared some of their frustrations.  We are both in similar situations but see them from very different view points.  So, I walked away from the conversation with a lot to ponder.

The bottom line of the thought process has become, how does one measure success when they serve in ministry.  What is success for a missionary is where my thoughts ended last night.  I'd love to hear some of your comments as to the answer of that question.

When I taught school I worked with special needs children.  Each child had an individualized education plan with their goals for the year.  At the end of the year I had a black and white measuring stick to determine if I had succeeded as a teacher.  When I sold Pampered Chef I had a paycheck and an incentive program that determined if I was successful.  When I was a stay at home mom success became a little more fuzzy to determine, but there were days when I called it successful if the house was still standing the children were still alive at the end of the day.

But what about in ministry?  In a church setting there are some things that can be used to measure success, although that is where I am struggling at the moment.  Is success a building for your ministry?  Is success a senior pastor who repeatedly lets you know you are doing a good job?  Is success overflowing Sunday School classes?  Is success having the population you work with represented in each baptism service?  Is success being loved by the people you work with?  I know, I know - success is reaching people for Christ and discipling them into mature believers.  Boy does that sound like a true "churchy" answer.  But at the end of each day when I look back on my ministry how do I know if I am succeeding? 

And if I think it is difficult to define success in ministry when serving in a church, what will it be like on the mission field?  Will success be the fact that I bought groceries on my own and actually got the food I was intending to buy?  Will success be that in all the stress of a new environment we all got along for the day?  Will success be making a new friend?  A lady who once served in Spain as a missionary said that it takes as much as 8 years to bring a Spaniard to the point that they understand their need for God.  If that is still true, I hope success is not only measured in terms of people I have said the sinner's prayer with.

I wonder what the congregation I serve would say determined success?  According to God, what is success?  I have a lot more thinking, praying, and studying to do today.  What about you?  What would you say determines success in your life?  In the ministry of those around you?  In a missionary?

Hmmm... a lot more thinking for the day.

Its My Birthday!

It's my birthday and I actually share the date with several dear friends from church - Cassy, Joy, Emily, and little Mallory.  My cousin had his first child yesterday and missed sharing this special day with me by just a few hours.  It's interesting how as the years pass what is important for the celebration changes.  I remember not too many years ago when what I got was so important, but today I found more joy in the facebook birthday wishes than in any gift.  I am slow, but I am finally learning that life is so much more rich with lots of relationships and few things.  Thanks to all my friends that remind me how blessed I am.

Alex just came in as I was typing and asked when I was going to open my presents.  I told him I didn't get anything and he proclaimed "we'll have to change that."  Then he came back and asked what I wanted.  Well, I thought of two things - our house to sell and to raise our support.  So, if anyone is looking to give me a birthday gift today :) feel free to either buy our house or make a donation at http://www.send.org/missions/hunterfamily.  

Enjoy your day!  I am off to spend it with friends and family!

House Update

Have had several people ask about the house, so here is a quick update.... we still own a house.  Activity on the house has slowed down, but we did have a showing yesterday and a few people stop by for our "inpromptu" open house.  Keep praying.  We have no choice but to trust that the day for selling it is fast appraoching.

What in the world is an "outgoing expense" account?

Question #3:  In addition to monthly commitments, you are having to raise an out "outgoing expense" account.  What in the world is that?

Answer #3:  In simple terms, it is all the onetime expenses that we will incur between now and our arrival in Spain.  In a little more elaborate answer, here is a list of some of the expenses that this account will cover:

• Training before we leave
• Partnership Development expenses (newsletters, traveling to speak at churches, ...)
• Airfare (too far to swim)
• Visa applications
• Freight - we won't take a lot, but airlines only allow one bag per passenger nowadays, so what we take will have to be shipped
• Set up costs in Spain - things such as apartment deposits, utility deposits, furnishings, ...
• Language School - we will be in language school for the first 12 - 18 months
• First month's salary - we don't get to pull from our monthly commitment funds until we complete our first month on the field
• A car - we won't get our licenses for awhile, but when we do we will need a way to purchase a car
• Immunizations and physicals

It is amazing how fast these expenses add up! 

As I type this I begin to dream about what our first apartment in Spain will look like and cannot wait until I get to see it!  Thank you for your support!

How do we know the financial gifts we send go to you?

Question #3:  We want to be sure that any gift we give to SEND for your use you get.  How do we make sure that happens?  How do you know that we have given?

Answer#3:  On the bottom of every partnership form there is a six digit number 195902.  This is our number.  When you submit a partnership form they see that number and know it goes to us.  Also, once you make a commitment or send a gift, you are given a donor number.  That donor number is attached to us.  This enables you to send in additional gifts, even if you don't have the form because of the numbers being attached.

We can regularly log in to the SEND system and see all donations and commitments that have been received.  We can get an up to the minute update on where we are financially.  Also, if someone indicates on their partnership form that they would like to be a prayer partner, we get an email.  SEND stays in constant communication with us regarding our partnership development.

If you are ever concerned that a gift wasn't received or may not be allocated to us, please do not hesitate to send us a note and we will check into it for you.

Are you going to get rich as a missionary?

Continuing yesterday's theme with answering some frequently asked questions...

Question #2:  $10,000+ per month?  That's more than anyone I know makes in a month!  Why do you need to raise so much per month?  Is that all salary?

Answer #2:  No, it is not all salary and no, we are not going to get rich as a missionary.  In fact, as Scott and I both step down from professional type jobs we will take a major pay cut, but we can't wait.  So, if it isn't all salary, what is it?

Here is a brief outline of where the money will go..

• Salary - we will receive a monthly salary that is to cover our living expenses - clothing, utilities, food, furnishings & house operations, taxes, telephone, non-business transportation, health & personal care needs, reading & recreation, financial planning & savings, tithe/offering/giving ... pretty much everything your take home salary presently covers except housing and some school expenses
• Housing - we will receiving a monthly housing allowance and the amount is based on the number of children that will be living in our house
• Retirement - we will need to continue to plan for retirement and they figure what minimum percentage of our income we need to put aside based on our age (and the fact that there is no one adding to this account except us).  SEND is very conscious of the fact that a day will come when we are ready to retire and will need to have planned for a way to come home.
• Insurance - medical insurance is very expensive and remember there is no employer helping with the cost as an employment benefit.  More than 10% of our monthly support is to cover insurance.
• Schooling - we now have to send our children to private school as they are teenagers and do not speak Spanish.  There is an allotment to help with these costs.  Also, we will have one child still here in the states in college and another one less than two years from returning to the states for college.
• Travel - we are expected to put aside some money each month to prepare for the need to fly home at some point.  Also, we will get a travel allowance to allow for ministry needed travel.
• Ministry - all the supplies needed to do ministry comes out of this monthly support and both Scott and I will be actively involved in ministry.  Everything from a new bible for someone, a bible study, crayons, and more comes out of this support.
• Administrative Support - we are blessed and grateful to be serving as missionaries with a solid mission organization and not just being send "to the wolves" on our own.  They provide substantial administrative support and training to us.  A percentage of our monthly needs is to enable this support to continue.

And after they projected those costs a financial wizard looked at projected cost of living changes and exchange rate trends and came up with a figure that represents needed income both today and in five years.  The $10,378 figure is the projected mid point need.  That allows for the fact that for the first 2 1/2 years our account will have a little more money in it than is needed to be distributed and for the last 2 1/2 years our account will have a little less money coming in than needed to be distributed.  This figure should keep us from having to panic half way through our first term because of economy changes.  (that does not mean that like you, we won't have to tighten our buckles with economy changes, but it should keep us from starving during the 2nd half of our first term)

So, back to the original question.... are we going to get rich as missionaries?  Absolutely not, but we will be provided for and able to live a comparable life as those we are ministering to.  We will be able to be comfortable and know that the bill collector is not around the corner waiting to pounce. 

Once again, thank you for your continued support and encouragement.  This is continuing to be one wild ride!

Why become a partner now if we aren't going to Spain for a year?

As I have begun to talk with people regarding our future plans and timeline I get the same questions repeatedly, so I figure there are others out there with the same questions... so for the next couple days I am going to try to answer some of the questions.

Question #1:  So, if we are not planning on going to Spain until at least early 2011, why is it important for people to become monthly partners now? 

Answer #1:  In worldly terms, because it gets you the "biggest bang for your buck."  Let me explain how this financial partner stuff works.

We have to raise two types of financial support - 1) our outgoing expenses, which includes one time expenses required to get the four of us to Spain, and 2) our monthly partners, which keeps us in Spain and provides for ministry.  Tomorrow I'll answer the question what does all that include, but back to today's question.  We cannot receive any monthly funds until we are in Spain, but the outgoing expenses have already begun.

When you give a gift to our outgoing expenses it goes straight to that "pot" and can be used for one time expenses but is not calculated at all into our needed monthly support.  When you make a monthly commitment that begins now, it goes into both categories.  Your commitment is calculated into our monthly requirements and your money goes into the outgoing expense pot until we are actually gone.  Confused yet?

Let me give you an example.

Say Sally wants to give $500 to us to help for outgoing expenses and then intends to also support us at $50 per month once we depart for Spain, which we hope is in approximately 10 months or less.  She can do this in several ways:

• Send a check today for $500 to SEND and wait to hear from us that we are actually close to leaving and then make the monthly commitment - but remember we can't leave until the monthly commitments are also made.  OR
• Send a monthly commitment for $50/month now and indicate it begins in January, 2011 and send the $500 check to SEND now and have it applied as a special contribution (our outgoing expenses) OR
• Send a monthly commitment for $50 that begins now and include the $500 check to cover the 1st 10 months of commitment, which will automatically be applied to our outgoing expenses because we can't draw monthly funds yet as we are still here, but her commitment will also be applied to our monthly funds we are having to raise.

Are you confused?  Basically, any monthly commitments made now go into both financial categories and thus help in both areas of needed financial support, whereas, special contributions go only into our outgoing expense category.

Both categories are necessary and every gift and commitment is valued.  We have been overwhelmed, honored, humbled, and more by the people we have had become a partner.  We are amazed daily by the people who are expressing their support of our calling.  We are still in awe that God is allowing us to share His love with the people of Spain and that He is calling others to join alongside of us.

Thank you for every prayer, word of encouragement, and financial gift.  I cannot wait to see where God moves next!

A Thousand Questions

This video is a little lengthy, but it is challenging.  How will you answer the question?

Solution for Sleepless Nights

I cannot figure out my body!  How come when I am so exhausted I cannot sleep?  I just knew when I fell into bed last night I would not remember my head even hitting the pillow.  I was tired physically, mentally, emotionally, ...  just totally worn out!  But guess what?  I remember my head hitting the pillow, Scott's head hitting the pillow, the kids going to bed, the bugs singing, the cat settling down for the night, the clock numbers changing one by one and a whole lot more.  Eventually I got up and tried sleeping somewhere else.

But sleep still evaded me.  So, as any good list maker and type A personality would do, I decided to take full advantage of my being awake.  First I thought through what I needed to do today.  Then when I was sure I had my day filled I decided to get "spiritual."  Maybe if I spent time with God I would sleep.  So I started in with God on my list - praying about the kids, for some friends who need a special touch, for the house to sell, for our partnership development, and a whole lot more stuff.  Guess what - I was not only still awake, I was no more relaxed and ready to fall asleep than I was when I worked on my to do list. 

Then I remembered about a year ago reading an article about not being able to sleep and decided to give it's method a try.  Just use the hours of the night to spend time with God for who God is.  Not for what He can do or you need Him to do, just for who he is.  Spend time resting in His arms and praising and thanking him for being God.  The article offered several strategies but the only one I could remember was alphabetical.  Shoot - it was the middle of the night, I was exhausted, and sleep was nowhere to be found - so why not give it a try.  And so I began...

• A - God you are amazing, almighty, all powerful, all knowing, ...
• B - God I praise you for being my God, the blessings you have bestowed on me, ...
• C - your creation is beyond anything words can express, thank you for the cross, ..
• D - your death Lord was the cost of my salvation and I thank you...

Somewhere around E or F I began to feel myself totally relaxing and the last thing I remember is telling God that I praise Him for my life that will be lived eternally.

This wasn't a gimmick, it was relationship that gave a peace that passes all understanding.  By just spending time with God and remembering what kind of God He was I not only relaxed physically, but mentally and emotionally and was able to drift into a peaceful sleep knowing who holds my life and all the details in it in his hands.

And the rest of the night was filled with sleep..... until the cat decided she needed to be under the blinds in the window - but at least it was morning at that point.

What's keeping you awake at night?  What do you do to when you can't sleep?  Is it working?  Maybe remembering your ABC's will work for you too.  May tonight be filled with peaceful, restful sleep!

I'm Tired...

Isaiah 40:27-31 (The Message)

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,

or, whine, Israel, saying,

"God has lost track of me.

He doesn't care what happens to me"?

Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?

God doesn't come and go. God lasts.

He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.

He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.

And he knows everything, inside and out.

He energizes those who get tired,

gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,

young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

They run and don't get tired,

they walk and don't lag behind.

 

But Praise God... He is not and does not get tired!

A Long Night and a Gentle Reminder

I just wanted to take a moment and say how thankful I am for friends.  Last night I had the opportunity to minister to a friend who had a relative at the hospital.  We spent several hours together in the emergency room just chit-chatting and passing the time.  And although today I awoke after a very short night (although not as short as hers) still wishing to be in bed, I was reminded of how powerful relationships are.  As crazy as it sounds, I had a good time with her last night.  Not because of the circumstances, but because of being together.  I was blessed to be able to drop everything and spend time together (although last night was the night I had decided I would beat the laundry pile and quit getting dressed in the garage where the clean laundry is stashed until I get it all ironed, foleded, and put away -thus today I had to gather clothes from the garage again).  When I got to the hospital she told me she had wanted to ask me to come, but figured she could get through it without someone and she didn't want to inconvenience someone else.  Today I am so glad she allowed me to come.  Today I am thankful not only for her friendship and the chance we had to spend time together, but I am greatful that God created us to need friends!

Can you imagine life if God had not given us the need for relationships?  Ultimately, we would be lonely people who not only walked the earth alone, we'd miss every blessing of the relationship with God.  What a miserable life that would be!

I am also reminded that my days with my friends in NC are slowly coming to a close.  I pray that I never lose the relationships, but distance will definitely change them.  But I also realized that we aren't promised another day even without going to a foreign country.  I pray that I will seize every moment of time we have together here and for the new friends I will have in Spain.  Friends are definitely a gift from God!

On another note, I went to the hospital because the Holy Spirit nudged me.  I read between the lines of a text message and knew I needed to go and I was blessed beyond measure (although the laundry pile is still there).  I wonder how many times the Holy Spirit has nudged me and I've ignored it for a "to do" list.  I can only imagine all the things I have missed out on.  May I become more and more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's nudging.  It's me who is missing out on being a part of God's great plan for relationships when I ignore Him.

Another excerpt from Humility

In Humility by C J Mahaney you find the following quote by Leon Morris describing our humanly unalterable condition in this way:

God created man, created him to be His own... God set him in Eden to live in fellowship with Him, but man sinned.  Man became the slave of evil.  He cannot break free. Thsi is precisely the situation that the ancient world saw as calling for an act of redemption.  We who belong to God have gotten into the power of a strong enemy from we cannot break free.  If I can say it reverently, God, if He wants us back, must pay the price.

And the great teaching of the New Testament is that God has paid the price.  He has redeemed us.  Christ became our Redeemer....To release the slaves of sin He paid the price.  We were in captivity.  We were in the strong grip of evil.  We could not break free.  But the price was paid and the result is that we go free.

We do go free!  We're ransomed...liberated...forgiven of our sins. 

Consider for a moment...Where would YOU be today if HE hadn't ransomed you, if He hadn't liberated you? 

What Other People Think Part 2

Wondering what the picture has to do with this post...keep reading and you'll find out.

....So what else in my life am I so worried about what people are watching that I am not doing what I know I should be doing? 

Our surrender to missions has involved a lot of hesitations at times due to being worried about whether other people are watching or not.  When we first surrendered to missions I was very worried people would think we were just following the Judys (a family in our church who we were friends with who had just recently left for the field).  I worried that people would think we were being copy cats instead of really being called to missions.

When we received our first "no" I worried what people would think of us instead of wondering what God wanted to teach us.

When we decided to go through a 2nd organization outside our denominate I worried what people in our church would think.  I worried what our pastor would say.  I worried what my parents would say.  I worried what our other missionary friends would say.

When we were finally appointed as missionaries to Spain I worried about what people would think of the idea that we were going to Spain and not some "real" mission country.

What did all this worrying about other people get me - a loss of peace that God wanted me to have.  I took my eyes off God and put them on people and I missed out on the blessing that God was waiting to give me.  When I finally and repeatedly reached the point to focus on what I knew I was supposed to be doing and not what other people were doing there was a contentment that was beyond description.  The excitement returned and replaced the anxiety. 

I wonder, what else in my life am I missing out on because I worry about what other people would think.  How about you?  My first resolution is ballroom dancing class.  When Bible Drill (class times conflict) is over I am heading to the gym to take Ballroom Dancing.  I have always wanted to take a dance class with Scott and they offer it at 4:00 on Sunday afternoons.  I will probably be a goof at it and we will probably look pretty silly together, but who cares. 

What Other People Think - Part 1

Ever realize how much time we (or is it just me) worrying about what other people think?  Ever think about how much time we spend in decision making wondering what someone else is going to say?  How many things in life have we let pass us by because of what other people might think?

Tonight at the gym I met with the personal trainer.  Makes me sound really athletic doesn't it?  Do not be fooled - it is called I need to lose weight and build up some endurance before I have no car in Spain and find myself walking everywhere.  Right after we got started I saw a friend there.  We spoke and then my mind began to run ninety miles an hour.  Are they going to think I was goofing off?  Was I working hard enough for their standard?  Did I look really goofy in the pants and shirt I was wearing?

Later, as the trainer and I were walking laps around the gym we passed the exercise classroom.  I commented to her that I had not tried any classes yet because I wasn't sure I was coordinated enough.  She of course encouraged me to try one and said I would do fine.  I then admitted the real reason - I was afraid of how foolish I was going to look in the class.  Her response was a chuckle.  But the words that followed were true words of wisdom - nobody is looking at you.  The people who are here tonight are here for their own exercise.  They really don't care if you are sweating enough, balanced enough, or working as hard as they are.  Nobody is watching you.

Ooo!  So maybe next week I'll try a class.  But even more so, maybe next time I'll just do what I know I should be doing and not worry about who I think is watching.

And perhaps this lesson has meaning in even more of my life....