Ok, so many have asked us over the course of a year if we are still traveling? I will attempt to answer that now...
Q: Are we still traveling?
A: Yes!
I didn't know what to expect when we picked up from Redding, CA and set out. I had no idea what things would look like after our trip through California - if we'd still be traveling together, or where the road would take us. For all I knew we could end up on the other side of the world!
Somewhat to my surprise we landed here in TX. However, neither of us felt that Texas would be "home" and have known pretty much since our arrival that this was to be a "season" in our journey, and not the stopping point.
We began our journey away from Redding to pray over Sacramento, and San Diego and up the coast back to the San Francisco BayArea. God provided amazingly the entire way. We grabbed hold of God's heart for California during that trip, and found out even more so that He has BIG plans for that state!
Our time here in Texas has been no less miraculous than that first trip, although we do not always see it that way, I am sorry to say. God has met us with the same abundant provision and goodness that He has always shown. And though we have been at place of residence rather than living out of a suitcase for a year now, it has still been quite a journey.
On personal levels, we have been through some changes and transitions. Healing is an interesting thing - as is the depth of our hearts. It amazes me that we often do not even know ourselves. But what I have found is that my Father is a master at revealing our hearts. Most of us have passion, and creativity waiting to be unlocked. We all have broken places that need healing. He knows just how to do this. I love this about Him.
There were some things that had really died in my heart due to hurts, or disappointment, or just plain tiredness. When we try to work hard for what is already ours, we tend to burn out! I found that I had been working hard to be useful to God for a while now. And I was coming up short. It was becoming a way for me to gain His acceptance - not merely to serve Him. And acceptance is already mine! One day a few months after our move to Texas, when I was talking to God about some things I heard Him ask me so clearly, "What if I never call you to be in a place of ministry again? Are you ok with that?" I was shocked that He said it to me so plainly - and that I heard Him so clearly. It was a mirror to my own heart and motives. I tried to answer immediately and found that I could not and instead tears came. If I can't be useful, how can I be valuable? The point He was making to me wasn't that He doesn't want me in "ministry" but that if I never stood on any platform to speak, preach, prophesy or lead worship again, or if I never got to feel that affirmed feeling of knowing I helped someone to know God better or to touch Him - that our relationship was what mattered and that it was enough. If I never got to "minister" again - it was enough. As I said, it took me a long while to respond and even then I had to answer "Lord, I want to be ok with that - I want You to be enough." In a moment, He had cut through all of the other distractions and laid my heart before me.
I give you this story as an example of what our time here has meant for us. It has been moments like the one I described above that have made such a difference in our lives since we arrived here. It has been a time of God speaking life into us in many ways. It has been a time apart that was very much needed to clear our hearts and our vision. It has not always been easy or clear what we were here for. It has been lonely at times. But I see that now we are coming out on the other side with renewed dreams and new ideas and a new, fresh courage to go after these things.
So that's a little more about where we have come to, and what God has done...
Next posting - Mine and Teruah's little adventure to the Birthplace of Texas ;-)
Q: Are we still traveling?
A: Yes!
I didn't know what to expect when we picked up from Redding, CA and set out. I had no idea what things would look like after our trip through California - if we'd still be traveling together, or where the road would take us. For all I knew we could end up on the other side of the world!
Somewhat to my surprise we landed here in TX. However, neither of us felt that Texas would be "home" and have known pretty much since our arrival that this was to be a "season" in our journey, and not the stopping point.
We began our journey away from Redding to pray over Sacramento, and San Diego and up the coast back to the San Francisco BayArea. God provided amazingly the entire way. We grabbed hold of God's heart for California during that trip, and found out even more so that He has BIG plans for that state!
Our time here in Texas has been no less miraculous than that first trip, although we do not always see it that way, I am sorry to say. God has met us with the same abundant provision and goodness that He has always shown. And though we have been at place of residence rather than living out of a suitcase for a year now, it has still been quite a journey.
On personal levels, we have been through some changes and transitions. Healing is an interesting thing - as is the depth of our hearts. It amazes me that we often do not even know ourselves. But what I have found is that my Father is a master at revealing our hearts. Most of us have passion, and creativity waiting to be unlocked. We all have broken places that need healing. He knows just how to do this. I love this about Him.
There were some things that had really died in my heart due to hurts, or disappointment, or just plain tiredness. When we try to work hard for what is already ours, we tend to burn out! I found that I had been working hard to be useful to God for a while now. And I was coming up short. It was becoming a way for me to gain His acceptance - not merely to serve Him. And acceptance is already mine! One day a few months after our move to Texas, when I was talking to God about some things I heard Him ask me so clearly, "What if I never call you to be in a place of ministry again? Are you ok with that?" I was shocked that He said it to me so plainly - and that I heard Him so clearly. It was a mirror to my own heart and motives. I tried to answer immediately and found that I could not and instead tears came. If I can't be useful, how can I be valuable? The point He was making to me wasn't that He doesn't want me in "ministry" but that if I never stood on any platform to speak, preach, prophesy or lead worship again, or if I never got to feel that affirmed feeling of knowing I helped someone to know God better or to touch Him - that our relationship was what mattered and that it was enough. If I never got to "minister" again - it was enough. As I said, it took me a long while to respond and even then I had to answer "Lord, I want to be ok with that - I want You to be enough." In a moment, He had cut through all of the other distractions and laid my heart before me.
I give you this story as an example of what our time here has meant for us. It has been moments like the one I described above that have made such a difference in our lives since we arrived here. It has been a time of God speaking life into us in many ways. It has been a time apart that was very much needed to clear our hearts and our vision. It has not always been easy or clear what we were here for. It has been lonely at times. But I see that now we are coming out on the other side with renewed dreams and new ideas and a new, fresh courage to go after these things.
So that's a little more about where we have come to, and what God has done...
Next posting - Mine and Teruah's little adventure to the Birthplace of Texas ;-)
