The end August has arrived. We have been blessed beyond measure throughout this month; we celebrated 34 years of marriage, mom celebrated her 80th, a new church is supporting us as missionaries, and what many of you have prayed for, a 5% increase in support came in at 4.75%. Please continue to pray that the momentum that has started will continue throughout the fall. We officially end the month with 77.5% of our financial support reached. We are anticipating the day we report to FamilyLife and begin the work God has called us to.
Hal
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Church Support
A small church had decided to support us monthly, this is so cool since this is only the second church along with TBC. God has been so faithful in providing 72% of our support from individuals like you. We are forever thankful. "God is good all... the time, all the time God is good". (noted quote from Marshall Gordon)
Hal
Hal
Saturday, August 22, 2009
God will bless us if we let Him
God has a sense of humor! When we finally get off ourselves and our abilities, He surprises us with something wonderful.
I am on a youth retreat with TBC at a camp called New Life Ranch. God's creation is everywhere and it is impossible to say 'there is no god', He is everywhere. After opening games and orientation for the kids, they had free time to get snacks from the store. As I picked up a candy bar for myself and Amy, I sat down with some adult friends to catch up. As we are sitting there the wife pops up with "we sent our first support check before we left". That may not sound all that special, but we met with them over a year ago to share the ministry and at that time they were gracious to share a one time gift with us, but were unable to help monthly. Now a year later, during a really low week connecting with people, hitting an all time high amount of folks saying 'no', calling on the Lord for His help, and He brings a monthly supporter out of the blue. God loves to bless us when we get off ourselves.
I was reading through "Leadership as an Identity" by Crawford Loritts this week. Throughout this book he keeps going over the fact that God can only use leaders who let God lead and stop using their own abilities to lead. That has really played out this weekend after a week of trying to do ministry myself.
Hal
I am on a youth retreat with TBC at a camp called New Life Ranch. God's creation is everywhere and it is impossible to say 'there is no god', He is everywhere. After opening games and orientation for the kids, they had free time to get snacks from the store. As I picked up a candy bar for myself and Amy, I sat down with some adult friends to catch up. As we are sitting there the wife pops up with "we sent our first support check before we left". That may not sound all that special, but we met with them over a year ago to share the ministry and at that time they were gracious to share a one time gift with us, but were unable to help monthly. Now a year later, during a really low week connecting with people, hitting an all time high amount of folks saying 'no', calling on the Lord for His help, and He brings a monthly supporter out of the blue. God loves to bless us when we get off ourselves.
I was reading through "Leadership as an Identity" by Crawford Loritts this week. Throughout this book he keeps going over the fact that God can only use leaders who let God lead and stop using their own abilities to lead. That has really played out this weekend after a week of trying to do ministry myself.
Hal
Friday, August 14, 2009
Eureka Springs
It's that time of the year Charlotte & I get away to be alone to celebrate our wedding day 34 years ago. Time has flown so fast, but it doesn't feel like yesterday every time I look at our kids and how old they have a way of reminding us that it has been a few years. What a blessing to be married to the same woman and have all six children together. This again is another reminder why God has called us to FamilyLife.
Charlotte saw in the Tulsa World Tuesday the list of marriages and divorces. The list went something like this:
9 marriages, 9 divorces requested, and 8 divorces granted. No longer are 50% ending in divorce based on this list, twice as many are getting divorced than getting married. Where is the family going and where is God going along with it? All the more reason for Christians to help those who have struggling marriages by inviting them to a Weekend to Remember.
Hal
Charlotte saw in the Tulsa World Tuesday the list of marriages and divorces. The list went something like this:
9 marriages, 9 divorces requested, and 8 divorces granted. No longer are 50% ending in divorce based on this list, twice as many are getting divorced than getting married. Where is the family going and where is God going along with it? All the more reason for Christians to help those who have struggling marriages by inviting them to a Weekend to Remember.
Hal
Monday, August 10, 2009
What has happened since we returned from Colorado?
Upon arrival home on the afternoon of July 30, we noticed we had new neighbors across the street. In a tradition Charlotte began 15 years ago in our neighborhood, Charlotte made some muffins and we went over to introduce ourselves. Our new neighbors, Chris & Jen Giles just happen to be Christians and work in family counseling (God thing). Upon further conversation, they go to a church in Tulsa that we know quite a few people at. One of those mutual friends is the head volunteer for the FamilyLife conferences in Tulsa each year. What a small world especially in God's eyes.
Kristi returned from Guatemala about one hour before we did and ended up crashing on Monday. Her first activity when she got home was to take a shower. You never know how important showers are until you can't take one each day.
We moved right back into meeting with people and finding new partners. The thrill of getting to know people and having them join our team has not changed. What a privilege.
Hal
Kristi returned from Guatemala about one hour before we did and ended up crashing on Monday. Her first activity when she got home was to take a shower. You never know how important showers are until you can't take one each day.
We moved right back into meeting with people and finding new partners. The thrill of getting to know people and having them join our team has not changed. What a privilege.
Hal
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Our FamilyLife Team
We wanted everyone to see our future co-workers at FamilyLife. These are our friends that went through training at the same time and have also been raising support. The couple on the right reported to FamilyLife in Little Rock just before the conference. The couple standing next to us are reporting to Hope for Orphans in Dallas in September.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)