Being Surprised by God...

This week has been AMAZING! Last weekend when we reached 63%, we were so excited! We weren't sure what it all meant b/c it happened so fast. A few friends were praying "specifically" for us, so I decided to give it a try.

In the past, I haven't prayed specifically b/c I didn't want to feel like I had to have it my way. But when we received a big amount after someone prayed for a big amount, and when we reached "60% before school started" like another person prayed... I began to wonder if I should pray specifically. I am reminded of the verse in Matthew: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

So I began to pray that by this Saturday, 1 week later, that God would get us to 75%! Something I am also learning is that I need to wait patiently for Him to do it His way. To give it to Him and not try to do it myself... a lesson I'm continually being reminded of:-)

On Monday I had lunch with a friend who is already supporting us. Before I could even tell her anything she told me how her landlord was going to cut her rent back. She said that she told God that whatever the amount was-that she would give 1/2 of it to us each month. She was thinking it would be around $25. Nope, it was $75... a month! That's when the tears started to flow. I knew it was the beginning to seeing God provide in ways I never thought!

Tuesday was a different surprise! I found 4 cucumbers in my garden (that I thought was dead!) God was encouraging me to not give up. Just when you least expect it-there's the fruit!

Wednesday, just when I thought the day was over, someone called and helped us out with something we really needed. I just laughed as I was walking home and thanked God... for yet another surprise that I wasn't expecting.

And then today, we thought we were at 66%, and as we were working on the next newsletter, we went up to 70%!

So, you can imagine... I'm looking forward to the next 2 days just wondering what God is gonna do next! The rest of the verse in Matthew rings true for me..."If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Ecuador Video

This is a video that Larry and I, well... really Larry put together when we returned from Quito:-) It was so good to be able to see where we will be serving and meet the people we will be working with. It is exciting to see what God does each and every day as we get closer to our goal. It has been a huge blessing and we praise Him for all He has done and will do.

From 50-64% in 24 hours!!!!!!

So I woke up at 6:30 yesterday morning unable to sleep. I went to the computer to check my email which is where we received some really good news! But first let me tell you the story behind it.

About 2 weeks ago, I texted a friend to see if she would pray for us as we went to talk with a couple from our church. When we were finished talking with them, I texted her to say thank you for praying, b/c they told us they would support us! That is when she texted me and said, "I prayed and asked God to give ya'll a BIG amount." So I picked up the phone and called her. I said, "Brenda, that is crazy that you prayed that!" She asked, "Why?" I told her that the couple had not only told us that they would support us, but that they were going to try to work with an organization so they could give us a BIGGER amount, but that they had to meet with them first! We both thought it was really cool how God let us both know that He was listening :-)

So I mosey on over to the computer yesterday morning to check e-mail, and that is when I found out that the big amount...was a BIG amount! It brought us from 53% to 63%! AMAZING! I ran to the back bedroom to wake Larry up and tell him. He thought I may have been mistaken and saw for himself. So, I'm running around Larry's parents house like a little kid telling everyone! My heart raced all day long! I called my friend Kelly to tell her as well. She said, "Wow! Just last night (which is when the organization was meeting) I specifically prayed that God would get you to 60% before school started!" So we are officially at 64%, and praying for 75% to come soon! Oh my goodness...God is good!

We are so thankful for the support we have received. It has been an incredible and exciting journey, with many bumps and turns, yet God has been FAITHFUL! We give Him ALL the glory for what He is doing. Please pray for us the next few weeks as we continue to raise support.

I love what Paul says in 2 Corinthians: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

The Lesson Behind 50%

Just last week we reached 50%! We praise God and thank Him for all He has done and will continue to do. When we started the process with HCJB 2 years ago, we prayed that God would open the doors, and that we would know which path to take. It was scary as we stepped out into the unknown. God was simply asking us to trust Him, and we are so glad we did!

Since Larry has quit his job, we have been pretty busy talking with people about Ecuador. It has been the biggest blessing ever! I told Larry that it's like "going fishing." It has been so amazing to see God prepare people's hearts. All we do is cast the net out, and He brings in the fish. It is so exciting when we get another fish (supporter)! We are filled with so much joy and excitement.

I was telling a friend, and she said it reminded her of when Jesus called the First Disciples. Jesus said to Simon (Larry & Amanda) "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon (We) answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But b/c you say so, I will let down the nets." You probably remember the rest of the story, they caught so many fish that their nets began to break, and then their boats were so full that they began to sink!

Jesus then said to Simon (Larry & Amanda), "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." Their response: They pulled their boats on shore, left everything, and followed him.

Lord, we want to follow you, and glorify you in all we do! Thank you for getting us to 50%!

In 3, 2, 1... I'm Letting Go!

Have you ever tried to figure things out and just couldn't? You talked with others, hoping to find answers to your questions or problems, all the time knowing you needed to bring it to God. There is power in "letting go."

The funny thing is-I've learned this lesson before when I was trying to pass one of my tests to teach. I had to take the test 5 times before I finally passed... and it didn't happen on my own. I tried everything I knew how to do; talked with others, did my "homework" and it just wasn't happening... until I reached the end of my rope and cried out to God for help. That is when I got the results I needed, by letting go and letting God do His thing so He could get the glory!

I'm shaking my head now, wondering why I didn't see it before. But I know why, I was too busy trying to "figure it out." I was the one in control, and it was driving me crazy. I felt like if I let go, it was like I didn't care. But now I realize that by letting go, I am no longer trusting myself to fix the problem, I am trusting God to do His thing in His time. And I believe in Him and trust Him, because I've seen Him work miracles in my life as well as others.

It's like a breath of fresh air, thank you Lord for allowing me to see what I need to do. Thank you for lifting my weight and carrying my burden. And when people ask, "So what did you do?" I can tell them...I trusted you!

Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."
John 11:4

Whatever!

I was all excited about going to a cycling class this morning at the gym. We got there 45 minutes early, just so we could get a bike! (I was #26 the day before and missed out!)

I think I did okay the first 5 minutes of the 45 minute class! I looked at the clock 25 minutes into it and thought... "Man, there is just no way I can go for another 20 minutes!" I was so tired, and sweating like never before, and my faced looked like a red cherry tomato!

I remembered something from the Biggest Loser (last season) that Jerry said at the finale and it stuck with me. He said, "the biggest factor to get over is getting your mind out of the way!" Let me tell you, my mind was speaking to me. I was tired, my body hurt, I didn't feel like I had any more to give. So, I began to say the verse in Philippians over and over again, "I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me!" Yet the other voices were still telling me to sit down, that I was done, it was my first time after all.

And then it happened, I said... "WHATEVER!!!!!" I'm doing this. Man, I wish I could tell you the power I felt at that moment! I think I was the only one in there smiling. So I began this conversation with God. I just wanted him to get rid of ALL my junk. Lord, just rid my body of it. So, now I'm not only smiling, I'm crying, and laughing... and yelling at my friend, "I can do all things through Christ!" And she is thinking I'm crazy, not hearing a word I'm saying.

Needless to say, I finished the class, but I experienced much more. Today I spoke back to the negative comments in my head with God's Word. And today, He really showed me that there is POWER when we rely on him to get us through! Once you get over your mind (the hump) it was all down hill from there!