12 days to go until we move to Fishers, IN...the promised land! It's only the promised land because God has promised it to us! And we are ready to be there. One slight bump in the road...God still hasn't sold our house! We know he is going to...we just don't know when! But we KNOW we are supposed to be in Fishers! Tim is already there...working very hard! And we KNOW that God doesn't want us to live apart any longer...SO we KNOW that He is going to do something absolutely amazing!
So, for now...we do the next thing...which is packing! And we will let God take care of the rest!
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle. Psalm 24:8
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
I don't know where to start! So much has happened since I last posted, that I thought it was time to catch everyone up! First of all, Tim got a job! He started Sept. 6 with Diamond Chain. He is staying with our wonderful friends, Dave and Lori in Fishers, so he gets to make a 30 min. commute each morning! The kids and I just got back from a 10 day visit. We were able to join the Fishers Team for 2 small groups and 2 Saturday night services. Second Chance Church is already growing, and we are so excited and humbled!
Secondly, we have put a deposit down on an apartment in Fishers, so the kids and I will be moving October 29! Our house hasn't sold yet, but we know that God is going to sell it!! We have stepped out into the water, and now God is going to do a miracle! It's really a strange place that we are in right now...I can't speak for Tim, but for me, I know our house is going to sell SOON! I have no worry or concern about how we will pay a mortgage and rent...God has complete control of this situation! My job is to organize and pack, and that I can do! I'm leaving the rest to Him!
It is so awesome to see this adventure through the eyes of our kids! Roger, especially, is noticing that God is moving in our lives! They are going to miss their friends, but all 3 are ready for this adventure!
I've probably quoted this verse before, but it has been brought to our attention a lot lately: Habakkuk 1:5 "Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
Secondly, we have put a deposit down on an apartment in Fishers, so the kids and I will be moving October 29! Our house hasn't sold yet, but we know that God is going to sell it!! We have stepped out into the water, and now God is going to do a miracle! It's really a strange place that we are in right now...I can't speak for Tim, but for me, I know our house is going to sell SOON! I have no worry or concern about how we will pay a mortgage and rent...God has complete control of this situation! My job is to organize and pack, and that I can do! I'm leaving the rest to Him!
It is so awesome to see this adventure through the eyes of our kids! Roger, especially, is noticing that God is moving in our lives! They are going to miss their friends, but all 3 are ready for this adventure!
I've probably quoted this verse before, but it has been brought to our attention a lot lately: Habakkuk 1:5 "Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Many answered prayers!
Tim has a job! That in itself is a wonderful answer to prayer, but the one that happened yesterday might be even better. We knew God was going to give Tim a job, but we weren't too sure how his present employers would react to Tim quitting. He went in yesterday and gave his 2 weeks notice. Not one, but 2 of his bosses were very receptive to the reason he is leaving, and 1 of those 2 told Tim that God would bless us! I prayed for that response, but I definitely didn't expect it! THAT WAS COMPLETELY GOD! And the best part to me is that God didn't have to do that! We know that we are called to Second Chance Church, so it wouldn't have mattered how they reacted! But God gave us another blessing as we take one more step toward Fishers, IN! Our next hurdle is selling our house, but we know that God is going to sell it! And we will continue to give him praise for all the wonderful things he is doing in our lives! Thanks so much for your prayers for us and the rest of the families in Second Chance Church!!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The Absurd
We just got back from Family Camp, and heard awesome messages from evangelist Eddie Phillips! In one service he talked about the Kingdom of the Absurd, and how God does things that don't always make sense to humans. Absurd is defined as irrational, preposterous, ridiculous. Sometimes I think that people feel we are absurd...selling our home, moving to a new place to help start a new church. Usually the first question we hear from Christian and non-Christian alike is, "Is your husband a pastor?" Then the next question usually has something to do with the actual location of the church. It goes against the norm to be a church without a place to worship, but God has led us. There is no doubt about that! God has led Matt and Brooke Robinson to Fishers, IN to start Second Chance Church. And God has led at least 8 families at last count to leave everything and join Matt & Brooke to show Jesus to Hamilton County! Matthew 4:19 and 20 says:
19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
They followed Jesus...left their nets and followed! We have grown spiritually through this experience, but it really isn't tough to follow Jesus. Just obey! I tell our kids all the time that they have 1 thing to do and that's OBEY!! It's really the same with Jesus! All we have to do is OBEY!! Do what He says! And He's told the Hood's to go to Fishers, IN to be a part of a new church called Second Chance Church! If you are interested in more information about SCC, click here. We appreciate your prayers!!
19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
They followed Jesus...left their nets and followed! We have grown spiritually through this experience, but it really isn't tough to follow Jesus. Just obey! I tell our kids all the time that they have 1 thing to do and that's OBEY!! It's really the same with Jesus! All we have to do is OBEY!! Do what He says! And He's told the Hood's to go to Fishers, IN to be a part of a new church called Second Chance Church! If you are interested in more information about SCC, click here. We appreciate your prayers!!
Monday, July 4, 2011
The Land Between
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wish Lists
I came across a list this morning while I was decluttering our desk. It's a "wish list" that I made several months ago of things I wanted for our house as we put it on the market. Things to make it look nicer! Nothing too expensive, but I couldn't just go buy it all either. Now, as I look at the list, I see that God took care of my list!! For instance, I wanted a slip cover for our couch...just happened to mention it to a friend, and she found one EXACTLY like I wanted at a garage sale for $15!! Or how about the pillows I bought at Hobby Lobby for our bed...$325 worth of pillows(not that I would have ever paid that!) that I got for $32.50! The list goes on...and on...God wants to give us our "wish lists"!! Keep praying for us as we continue to take steps closer to our new home in Indiana!
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Roof!
We finally have our new roof! My dad is getting us started on the ridgecaps as I type this! This whole roof experience has been a long, tedious process, but it's our next step...to selling our house...to moving to Indiana...to following God's call on our life!!
Since it rained all weekend, we were roofing during the week, so there weren't many who could help. That meant that the kids and I were on the roofing crew! That was the ultimate homeschooling field trip! I was up on that roof, setting the shingles, and Joely or Roger would nail them down with the nail gun! I told Joely, "There aren't too many 11 year old girls who can say they helped roof a house!!" And it's an experience they will NEVER forget, just one of many new experiences as we get ready for our great adventure!!
God is pushing us, pulling us, encouraging us, stretching us, and leading us as we daily seek His will! Thanks so much for your continued prayers for our family and the Second Chance Church team!!
Since it rained all weekend, we were roofing during the week, so there weren't many who could help. That meant that the kids and I were on the roofing crew! That was the ultimate homeschooling field trip! I was up on that roof, setting the shingles, and Joely or Roger would nail them down with the nail gun! I told Joely, "There aren't too many 11 year old girls who can say they helped roof a house!!" And it's an experience they will NEVER forget, just one of many new experiences as we get ready for our great adventure!!
God is pushing us, pulling us, encouraging us, stretching us, and leading us as we daily seek His will! Thanks so much for your continued prayers for our family and the Second Chance Church team!!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Books!
I am a reader...you might even say I'm a voracious reader! My genre of choice is fiction. I know that I should be reading some nonfiction. Dave Ramsey says that millionaires read at least 1 nonfiction book a month! AndI will say that lately I have read a few great nonfiction books. Here's the small list:
Crazy Love by Frances Chan --a MUST READ!
Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels
Guerrilla Lovers:changing the world with revolutionary compassion by Vince Antonucci
I'm pretty proud of that list! But my favorites are still fiction! In the past week, I have read 2 books. They happen to be Christian fiction, and in each, these words "popped out" at me:
Psalm 37:4 "delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
"You see, our God doesn't supply only what we need to scrape by. The almighty God is our Father. He loves us. He delights in delighting us." -Mrs. Sachs in Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith
First of all, I find it as no coincidence that the thoughts in these books were very similar. God can even use fiction to get his point across! Secondly, Pastor Matt has asked us to read John 14 every day for the last week or so. I was blown away when, after reading John 14 for a week, I read about God delighting us! John 14:13-14 says, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me anything in my name, and I will do it."
Sometimes I don't ask...not because God can't do it, but because I don't think it's important enough to ask. It's time to put it all in God's hands...the insignificant things along with the huge things! The 2 huge things for us right now are #1-the sale of our house, and #2-a job for Tim. We have been praying daily for these concerns, and we would welcome your prayers as well for us and the entire Fishers Team! We are just getting ready for the adventure of our lives! We are so excited to see what God is going to do through Second Chance Church!
Crazy Love by Frances Chan --a MUST READ!
Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels
Guerrilla Lovers:changing the world with revolutionary compassion by Vince Antonucci
I'm pretty proud of that list! But my favorites are still fiction! In the past week, I have read 2 books. They happen to be Christian fiction, and in each, these words "popped out" at me:
Psalm 37:4 "delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
"You see, our God doesn't supply only what we need to scrape by. The almighty God is our Father. He loves us. He delights in delighting us." -Mrs. Sachs in Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith
First of all, I find it as no coincidence that the thoughts in these books were very similar. God can even use fiction to get his point across! Secondly, Pastor Matt has asked us to read John 14 every day for the last week or so. I was blown away when, after reading John 14 for a week, I read about God delighting us! John 14:13-14 says, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me anything in my name, and I will do it."
Sometimes I don't ask...not because God can't do it, but because I don't think it's important enough to ask. It's time to put it all in God's hands...the insignificant things along with the huge things! The 2 huge things for us right now are #1-the sale of our house, and #2-a job for Tim. We have been praying daily for these concerns, and we would welcome your prayers as well for us and the entire Fishers Team! We are just getting ready for the adventure of our lives! We are so excited to see what God is going to do through Second Chance Church!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Waiting
A lot has happened since we decided to move to Fishers! We have been working on the house...trying to get it ready to put on the market...And on the other hand, not enough has happened! We're ready! We just want to go!! But that's not always how God works...God sometimes says, "Wait!" We have no doubt that we are doing what God wants by going to Fishers, but, at times, we get frustrated when things don't progress like we think they should. We were experiencing that this week. Tim heard that he didn't get the job that we both thought was a "sure thing". We both know that God has an even better job for Tim, but in the moment we were both feeling a little down. Tim had just left for work, and I was praying...sitting in front of our picture window. I was asking God what he is going to do...In my mind...it's time for Tim to get a job! It's time we sold our house so we can get to Fishers!! I looked out the window, and I saw a robin in the yard. The little robin reached down, and pulled a worm out of the ground. I started crying! Matthew 6:26 says
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? God's in control!
We still don't have our house listed. We are waiting for a weekend with no rain to replace the roof! But we aren't worried! It will all be according to God's schedule, not ours! We are learning to wait. God has been bringing the song "While I Wait" into by head this week...
"I will move ahead bold and confident, Taking every step in obedience. While I'm waiting, I will serve you. While I'm waiting, I will worship. While I'm waiting, I will not faint. I'll be running the race, even while I wait." -John Waller
Keep praying for us and the whole Fishers team. Several families are already there, and are beginning to meet together. If you know me, it's KILLING me to be here when they are getting together there! But we'll be there soon cuz God has a plan and we are following him in obedience!!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Our Story
Last summer, I started feeling...the only word that I can think of to describe it is...restless. We have been at BridgeWay Community Church for 5 years, and know that God placed us there for a reason. I have always loved worshipping and serving there! So that's why it was strange that I was feeling restless. My first thought was, "go to a different church". And I immediately told myself, "NO! Everything is fine here! Nothing has happened! God is moving in this church!"
Then in the fall, Matt Robinson, our pastor of equipping, announced that he and his wife, Brooke, and their little boy, Warrick, were moving to Fishers, IN to plant a church. I was so excited for them, and sad to see them go! Of course, at first, I thought, "We could go too!" But I wasn't serious, and I mentioned it to Tim, and he didn't say a thing!
The Hood's were just going about the business of home schooling, and serving at Bridgeway, but I was looking at houses in Fishers...just kind of dreaming! Little did I know, that Tim was online looking at job opportunities around Indianapolis!
So, now it's Dec. 19th...the Sunday before Christmas. We are in the middle of an awesome sermon series called The Guerrilla Lover's Guide to Christmas. We were challenged during the series to find ways to show God's love to others! So, there we are in worship service...the worship band has just sung an awesome song, though I don't remember what it was now! Steve Hazlett, our good friend with a fantastic voice, read John 20:21..."Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' " Tim and I both started crying...Joely and Roger were sitting between us probably wondering what was going on! After church, we started talking and realized that we were both looking toward Fishers...for a house and a job...I said, "Well, what do we do?" and Tim said, "I guess we are going to Fishers!" You have probably noticed that I haven't mentioned prayer about the issue...That's because I didn't pray specifically about moving to Fishers, that I remember.(I'm not sure about Tim) But what I was praying was that God would use me...put me in the right places...make me aware of needs around me. So, God took our willingness to be used, and said, "GO!" Immediately, that restless feeling I had lifted! It's gone! God really was saying, "Change churches!"
We are so blessed to be a part of a church that welcomes everyone "where they are"! We will miss BridgeWay and all our friends, but there are 5 families headed to Indiana, so I guess we are taking a little bit of BridgeWay with us!! This blog is going to be a place where we can share what God is doing in our lives as we get ready to go on the adventure of a lifetime!!
Then in the fall, Matt Robinson, our pastor of equipping, announced that he and his wife, Brooke, and their little boy, Warrick, were moving to Fishers, IN to plant a church. I was so excited for them, and sad to see them go! Of course, at first, I thought, "We could go too!" But I wasn't serious, and I mentioned it to Tim, and he didn't say a thing!
The Hood's were just going about the business of home schooling, and serving at Bridgeway, but I was looking at houses in Fishers...just kind of dreaming! Little did I know, that Tim was online looking at job opportunities around Indianapolis!
So, now it's Dec. 19th...the Sunday before Christmas. We are in the middle of an awesome sermon series called The Guerrilla Lover's Guide to Christmas. We were challenged during the series to find ways to show God's love to others! So, there we are in worship service...the worship band has just sung an awesome song, though I don't remember what it was now! Steve Hazlett, our good friend with a fantastic voice, read John 20:21..."Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' " Tim and I both started crying...Joely and Roger were sitting between us probably wondering what was going on! After church, we started talking and realized that we were both looking toward Fishers...for a house and a job...I said, "Well, what do we do?" and Tim said, "I guess we are going to Fishers!" You have probably noticed that I haven't mentioned prayer about the issue...That's because I didn't pray specifically about moving to Fishers, that I remember.(I'm not sure about Tim) But what I was praying was that God would use me...put me in the right places...make me aware of needs around me. So, God took our willingness to be used, and said, "GO!" Immediately, that restless feeling I had lifted! It's gone! God really was saying, "Change churches!"
We are so blessed to be a part of a church that welcomes everyone "where they are"! We will miss BridgeWay and all our friends, but there are 5 families headed to Indiana, so I guess we are taking a little bit of BridgeWay with us!! This blog is going to be a place where we can share what God is doing in our lives as we get ready to go on the adventure of a lifetime!!
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