As Promised, I will update our faithful friends, those wonderful readers of the journal, on a monthly basis. Here then is the update for the month of March.....
Still in Arizona. Most of the month we were in Tucson. And as usual, God broke me and changed my heart. The month began with our attendance at the Pastor’s and Leaders Conference in Tucson. We were overwhelmed by having fourteen different fellowships ask us to visit them for help on their sound systems.
The overwhelming part is that for the first time in two years, we actually have a plan. Instead of traveling from one fellowship to another, never looking beyond our next stop, we have a plan that covers the next two months. We have tried to lay out a route that covers all fourteen fellowships in the most logical manner. But you know God, he always has another plan in mind!
So, we have the semblance of a plan, but are staying flexible!
After the Conference, Jeff worked on a few projects at both the East and West Campuses of Calvary Chapel Tucson. It was good. We stayed next to the Youth Building on the West Campus and had water, power and internet hookups! It was a real treat! Kurt and Grace loved it, as the Youth Room is always busy on the West Campus! Kids are there nearly every day doing something.
Kurt and Grace really enjoy the kids in Tucson. There are some really godly kids (and of course, some not so!), but generally they were with a fabulous group of kids! They went to Youth Group on Sundays and Wednesdays, and a bible study at one of the kids houses on Fridays. There were parties and events for both Kurt and Grace to attend.
Kurt learned about girls in Tucson. There were a group of silly girls that seemed to have crushes on him and followed him around a bit. Several of these girls even befriended Grace. I just watched it happen, ready to step in if there were need. I talked to Grace about older girls coming alongside her to have access to her brother. She understood, but was comfortable with the situation in this case. Kurt was careful to watch after his sister, lest anyone take advantage of her youth. It was a great learning experience for them both.
We realized that Kurt was noticing the girls, when he actively "did" his hair and requested shower times more often! What a hoot!
We also began working with Eve on her obedience. She is a defiant little thing when she so desires! So.... Jeff and I are really working on coming down hard on her when she is disobedient. Better to catch this early than it become a problem later. As Eve is the baby, this could be an issue for us in the coming years. We all coddle her, and she knows it! A few tears and she is in charge! So... that’s changing.
I also stepped further back from the management of Kurt in Tucson. Jeff and I had a few clashes over his management. I felt Jeff wasn’t being strong enough and he, in no uncertain terms, told me he had no reason to be strong with Kurt as I was strong enough for the both of us. Ooooppps!!
So, step back I did!!!
Now if Kurt wants permission for something, has a question or needs direction... I send him to Jeff. It is much better this way and Kurt really needs to learn from his father, not his mother at this juncture. At one point Kurt was disrespectful, so I told Jeff and boy... did Jeff take care of it! My husband made me feel very special and showed Kurt the folly of being disrespectful to a woman (especially his mother) at the same time!! Cool!
I also was convicted in Tucson of a lack in the life of Grace. That lack was ME. Kathy Goodale pointed out to me that I seemed to prefer to be with Eve than Grace. That I was favoring Eve. So, I took a hard look at my relationship with Grace and realized that although the love for Grace is no less than Kurt or Eve, my relationship with her was indeed lacking.
So, I am taking steps to change that. Jeff is being way supportive of my plans. I am trying to actively take Grace out ... alone... just her and me... no Eve. We have gone shopping, had lunch and just laid on the bed talking. I had a special gift for her (the stuff she will need for her cycle – when it comes, including the requisite chocolate!). We spent some great time talking about becoming a woman and all the details!
It’s pretty cool, getting to know my oldest daughter. She is very interesting, very deep and very different than me. She will become an incredible woman. I can’t wait to watch it happen... well, actually I can wait – let’s not move too fast!
While in Tucson, we also took a few days off for our birthdays. We spent two nights at Beaudry RV Resort. It was the first time in a year that we have been entirely by ourselves. We were not with family, at a church, serving with a church or anything. It was two nights completely off from our ministry and responsibilities.
Although Jeff and I were a little on the outs (enemy action!), we had a very restful time and need to do this every few months... not just once a year. When in ministry, rest is important to the soul!
In Tucson, I was also very convicted about how sinful I am. How ugly my heart is, and how incredible it is that God continues to bless me. I mean really.... the thoughts that I have, this heart of mine is sometimes so ugly. And yet, God continues to show me mercy and grace. He blessed us so in Tucson.
It’s not just the gifts that the Pastor and staff gave us, but the friendships, the joy we experienced at the hand of God. We were blessed with some new software, which has really helped my bible study. The Youth Pastor, who already took our kids with them on the winter camp, has offered to host our kids for summer camp. Incredible.
And even though God blesses us... I wonder and am amazed at his generosity. How he can continue to bless us, bless me – despite our depravities and hopelessness. He is truly an amazing and gracious God. I am so grateful that He loves me.
And so, Tucson... typically a hard place for me, lived up to it’s reputation in my life. God challenges me here. He changes me here. He molds me and grows me. He blesses me.
And then we went to Casa Grande, Arizona – helping at the Calvary Chapel there with their new church building
. Casa Grande is hot, dry and has nothing much there of any interest except a marvelous group of believers!! We spent a week helping to get the new building ready for sound. Ordered some equipment and moved on to Goodyear, AZ while we waited for the parts to arrive.We were in Goodyear for about four days, helping the fellowship there... it was a nice group of people, very loving. Again, spent very little time outside the fellowship - at the end of the week we went back to Tucson for Resurrection Sunday as Jeff was to help run sound for the Crusade held at the Convention Center!
You know, God is so, so good.
In January our health insurance bill was due. January came and went. February arrived and still the bill was not paid. We were covered, but unpaid. The bill for our whole family was $500 per month, billed every two months. So, that gave us a bill of $1000 that was due January 1 and would be due again (for the period of March and April) on March 1.
I was not concerned whether or not it would be paid. I knew God would pay the bill. I just wasn’t sure why He wasn’t paying it on time. Why was it the end of February and the bill was still unpaid?
Then God did an amazing thing. I called Blue Cross and they cancelled the bill for the kids (that’s $500 for two months) and by changing the coverage I now had a bill of $227 per month to cover the five of us! We were blessed with some money from one of the fellowships, enough to pay the balance of $500 for the January and February bill that covered Jeff and I. So, God eliminated an entire bill AND he cut my future monthly cost for insurance IN HALF!!
Now that’s a good God!
PLUS.... Kurt had a procedure done on his toe today at the Podiatrist (yep, another ingrown toenail) and although his coverage does not become effective until April 1, we were able to pay the bill of $140 (which the Christian Doctor discounted by $50) because yet another fellowship blessed us with a check that covered that expense!
IMAGINE!!
What a great God.
He doesn’t always do things on our timeline... but HE always takes care of His children.
WOW.
And let me tell you another thing about this great God we serve....
He provides for our daily bread. Every day God makes sure that we have food and clothing, a place to live and fellowship with other believers. Well. Last year, when I was first getting accustomed to living a life of lower means than that of my previous existence, I felt poor.
I wandered through the grocery store, not purchasing items because I was fearful that we wouldn’t have enough money. I felt so bad... so poor. But I hadn’t learned yet that my Father in Heaven owns EVERYTHING. He wants me to be provided for... abundantly.
What I have learned is that He knows how I tick. He knows that I like to purchase my jeans (okay... so I’m a little round and these are the only jeans that feel... right) at Nordstrom's. They are expensive. And yet... God provided a way for me to purchase those jeans, without spending the family funds. I didn’t feel guilty – GOD made sure!
And then... for my birthday, He ensured that I got a gift (from my Mom!) that would give me the freedom to do a little shopping – for me! WOW. He knows me, He loves me... He provides for not only my daily bread – physically, but also emotionally. He knows what makes me tick and isn’t mad at me for being like this!
In fact, He designed me. As my creator – and a perfect creator at that, one who does not make mistakes – he plans for my needs... all my needs.
We serve an GREAT God. He loves me. Even though I am not perfect, I make mistakes and I am sometimes selfish and self-centered.... He still loves me.
Wow.
I love Him too.
So, now I gotta go find a Nordy’s!!!!!
Something is on my mind. There is much talk among the youth of this "vow of purity". What is purity? What does God say about purity? Doesn’t purity also involve the mind and the heart... not just the body?....
I looked up pure – it is taken from the Greek word hagneia , which means: pure from carnality, chaste, modest. Pure from every fault, immaculate. Clean.
I believe that this is not just a physical word, but also reflects on the state of being holy – set apart.
Thus... when it is time for Kurt and Grace to dedicate themselves to purity... we will be looking this word up!!!
It has been a very busy month.... both spiritually and physically!! Thus we head onward - back to Casa Grande to finish the work there. After that... oh my, there are twelve more fellowships (met at the conference) that we must visit before the end of May...
It's gonna be busy!!
See ya all next month!
God Bless you and Keep you. Watch heavenward folks... He's coming soon!
Christa
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