Well, I've been back in classes now for about a month. Most people have one question for me: "How is school going?"
My response to that is, "I love it!"
"Why?" you may ask.
Lots of reasons.
1. My classes are great. This semester I have four classes: Principles of Teaching and Learning, Music Appreciation, Principles of Leadership, and Writing and Research. I am learning so much in each of them and am able to actually apply much of what I am learning to my real life.
2. The professors are great. It is so nice to be able to learn from these people who have so much more knowledge and experience than I do. They make learning really enjoyable, and are all approachable and open.
3. The school is great. The facility is small and intimate, the library is well stocked with a lifetime's supply of great reading material (and a great librarian to help me find stuff - Hi Kathy!), the housing is really amazing with a spectacular view of the mountains (sunsets over the mountains every night!), and the community within the student body and families is awesome.
4. The town of Cochrane is great. It is so much smaller and quieter than Calgary was. I am really enjoying the small-town feel.
5. God is great. There is such a deep sense of peace and satisfaction knowing that we are right in the center of God's will. This is where God wants us to be right now. He has given me many new insights in the past month into who He is, what He wants to see in my life, and how to follow Him. He has shown His faithfulness to us in many ways, including selling our house in a very tough market (waiting of course until the last minute!), providing an opportunity to use what I am learning in leading a Bible study, and allowing us to join another study where we can go and learn even more.
What's next for us? I have no idea. All we know for sure is that God has called us to be missionaries to some part of the developing world. We are still thinking Niger, Africa, but are open to wherever God wants us to go.
We have no backup plan, no other options than to trust and follow where He leads. We no longer own a house. We have two cars, some furniture, and little else. We have some money in our bank account, but will be using much of that over the next couple years.
All we have to trust in is our God. There is an amazing sense of peace in that. A.W. Tozer describes this in his book, The Pursuit of God (one of the books I've read so far this semester), as "the blessedness of possessing nothing." He states, "everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed."
It's actually scarier to put your trust in other things (possessions, people, our abilities, money, government, the stock market, the health care system, should I go on?) than it is to trust in God, who sees all and knows all and loves you.
Reckless? Idealistic? Optimistic? Maybe, but I'd rather have God than have all the stuff this world possesses.
-Steve
Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Our house
Our house sold today!!!!!
Thank you so much to everyone who has been praying for this to happen. It's so encouraging to know that there are those out there who continue to pray for us as we follow along this path that God is leading us on.
Thank you so much to everyone who has been praying for this to happen. It's so encouraging to know that there are those out there who continue to pray for us as we follow along this path that God is leading us on.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Living by Faith
Living by faith...definitely easy to say, yet much harder to do!
We moved out to Cochrane on December 13th and were able to spend 3 weeks getting settled, hanging out as a family and celebrating Christmas together before Julia and Daniel started school last week. Steve starts classes tomorrow and thus begins the new chapter in our life.
We had hoped by this time to have our house in Calgary sold, however that has not been the case and with only two showings for the month of December we made the decision to once again lower our asking price and see what happens. As of last Thursday, we have had six showings which is definitely a step in the right direction, but we are still waiting on an offer. Right now Steve is hoping to concentrate solely on school, so I have gone ahead and put out resumes and am hoping for a part time job.
We really believe that this is the direction that God is leading us and we both have a huge sense of peace being out here in Cochrane. We are learning that sometimes things don't make sense in our minds, but we have to continue to trust God and allow Him to lead us without us trying to step in and tell Him what we think would work best for us. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Isaiah 55:9 says" My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
Once again we would appreciate your prayers for us to take that verse to heart and wait on God's timing.
We moved out to Cochrane on December 13th and were able to spend 3 weeks getting settled, hanging out as a family and celebrating Christmas together before Julia and Daniel started school last week. Steve starts classes tomorrow and thus begins the new chapter in our life.
We had hoped by this time to have our house in Calgary sold, however that has not been the case and with only two showings for the month of December we made the decision to once again lower our asking price and see what happens. As of last Thursday, we have had six showings which is definitely a step in the right direction, but we are still waiting on an offer. Right now Steve is hoping to concentrate solely on school, so I have gone ahead and put out resumes and am hoping for a part time job.
We really believe that this is the direction that God is leading us and we both have a huge sense of peace being out here in Cochrane. We are learning that sometimes things don't make sense in our minds, but we have to continue to trust God and allow Him to lead us without us trying to step in and tell Him what we think would work best for us. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Isaiah 55:9 says" My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
Once again we would appreciate your prayers for us to take that verse to heart and wait on God's timing.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Disappointment
Well, after having our house conditionally sold for two weeks, then signing the papers for the sale on Thursday, unfortunately the deal fell through last night. To say we are disappointed would be a understatment at best.
This is one of those times that although we know that God is faithful and we only have to look back in our lives to see evidence of it, we are asking "why"? I was talking with a friend last night and she was telling me the difference between belief and faith - we can believe that a chair will hold us, however faith is actually sitting in the chair. We believe God is faithful and has everything in control, but having the faith to actually rest in that promise can sometimes be really difficult, especially during the hard, disappointing times.
Right now we are praying for wisdom and guidance to know for sure what we should do. Our moving date is exactly two weeks from today, Dec 13/08 and there is a lot that needs to happen between now and then. We would appreciate any additional prayers for wisdom at this time.
This is one of those times that although we know that God is faithful and we only have to look back in our lives to see evidence of it, we are asking "why"? I was talking with a friend last night and she was telling me the difference between belief and faith - we can believe that a chair will hold us, however faith is actually sitting in the chair. We believe God is faithful and has everything in control, but having the faith to actually rest in that promise can sometimes be really difficult, especially during the hard, disappointing times.
Right now we are praying for wisdom and guidance to know for sure what we should do. Our moving date is exactly two weeks from today, Dec 13/08 and there is a lot that needs to happen between now and then. We would appreciate any additional prayers for wisdom at this time.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Still waiting...
It's been a while since we've updated our blog. Some things have happened, others haven't.
We went out to Cochrane to measure our house out there, and were pleasantly surprised to discover that it's actually bigger than we originally thought. We should be able to fit most of our furniture in the various rooms, which means less to have to store.
Kerri and Julia also were able to go to Julia's new school, which we are very excited about. It seems to be a great school, and Julia is excited to go there.
Some other things are taking a while longer than we had hoped, mainly selling our house. It is a slow market right now. We have had about 6-8 showings but no serious offers yet. We reduced our asking price by $10 000, so hopefully something will happen.
We are trying to not be discouraged by the length of time it is taking, and are trying to trust God that He will work things out like He has over and over (and over and over...) in the past, but it's hard while in the midst of everything to sit back and not worry. The way that we had it pictured was for a quick sale so that we would have lots of time to get everything else done in preparation for moving. We will be moving on December 13, whether the house is sold or not (I think). I hope that it doesn't come down to that, but we have to trust that God knows what He is doing.
We are following Him as best we can, and know that going back to school is the next step, so I'm sure that He will work out the details, right?
We went out to Cochrane to measure our house out there, and were pleasantly surprised to discover that it's actually bigger than we originally thought. We should be able to fit most of our furniture in the various rooms, which means less to have to store.
Kerri and Julia also were able to go to Julia's new school, which we are very excited about. It seems to be a great school, and Julia is excited to go there.
Some other things are taking a while longer than we had hoped, mainly selling our house. It is a slow market right now. We have had about 6-8 showings but no serious offers yet. We reduced our asking price by $10 000, so hopefully something will happen.
We are trying to not be discouraged by the length of time it is taking, and are trying to trust God that He will work things out like He has over and over (and over and over...) in the past, but it's hard while in the midst of everything to sit back and not worry. The way that we had it pictured was for a quick sale so that we would have lots of time to get everything else done in preparation for moving. We will be moving on December 13, whether the house is sold or not (I think). I hope that it doesn't come down to that, but we have to trust that God knows what He is doing.
We are following Him as best we can, and know that going back to school is the next step, so I'm sure that He will work out the details, right?
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Walking the path before us
We have great news - Steve has been formally accepted into the Bachelor of Christian Ministry program at Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and we have a townhouse available for us to rent for the time we are there. The next thing is to sell the house and actually move to Cochrane. We take posession of the townhouse on the first of December, and will begin at that time to move things in, but we will officially move the second weekend of December. We want both Julia and Daniel to be able to finish the first term of school and then move.
It's an amzing feeling to begin walking down the path that God has designed for us. We have known for some time that this was the direction He was leading us in, but to actually head down the path is incredibly exciting. That being said, I'm sure once the "For Sale" sign has been placed in front of our house, it will really hit me and I will probably shed a few tears. This has been our home for 9 1/2 years and Steve and I have put a lot of work into it. We have brought two beautiful children home to this house and have watched them begin to grow up here, and that's about to change. Steve once remarked that it seems as though we are going backwards - selling our house, going back to school and starting basically a new career, all because God has asked us to. It's really crazy! I have to remind myself to take it all one step at a time instead of trying to figure things out too far down the road or else it becomes absolutely overwhelming! I also have to remind myself that this is all in God's hands and he is the potter and we are the clay being shaped in whatever way He sees fit.
Please continue to pray for us as we follow where God is leading!
It's an amzing feeling to begin walking down the path that God has designed for us. We have known for some time that this was the direction He was leading us in, but to actually head down the path is incredibly exciting. That being said, I'm sure once the "For Sale" sign has been placed in front of our house, it will really hit me and I will probably shed a few tears. This has been our home for 9 1/2 years and Steve and I have put a lot of work into it. We have brought two beautiful children home to this house and have watched them begin to grow up here, and that's about to change. Steve once remarked that it seems as though we are going backwards - selling our house, going back to school and starting basically a new career, all because God has asked us to. It's really crazy! I have to remind myself to take it all one step at a time instead of trying to figure things out too far down the road or else it becomes absolutely overwhelming! I also have to remind myself that this is all in God's hands and he is the potter and we are the clay being shaped in whatever way He sees fit.
Please continue to pray for us as we follow where God is leading!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Waiting and Learning
Well, we are back to waiting one more time. We received an email from the Seminary saying that they have received all of Steve's documentation, and now everything has to be given to the Applications Committee for review and approval. That will take another week or two, so the wait is on once again.
I am trying to remember that all of this is God's timing and not ours, and I was reminded of this during my devotions this week. I was reading "Experiencing God" and two sentances leaped out at me - "When God gives directions, you accept it and understand it clearly, then give God all the time He needs to make you the kind of person that He can trust with that assignment. Do not assume that the moment He calls, you are ready for the assignment."
Wow, that spoke tons to me. This desire for missions has been placed in both mine and Steve's hearts by God, but the culmination of it will occur in God's time, not ours.
I need to remember that God is shaping not only Steve and I, but Julia and Daniel as well, into the vessels that He can use and that He is also preparing the hearts of the people that He has chosen for us to minister to.
I am trying to remember that all of this is God's timing and not ours, and I was reminded of this during my devotions this week. I was reading "Experiencing God" and two sentances leaped out at me - "When God gives directions, you accept it and understand it clearly, then give God all the time He needs to make you the kind of person that He can trust with that assignment. Do not assume that the moment He calls, you are ready for the assignment."
Wow, that spoke tons to me. This desire for missions has been placed in both mine and Steve's hearts by God, but the culmination of it will occur in God's time, not ours.
I need to remember that God is shaping not only Steve and I, but Julia and Daniel as well, into the vessels that He can use and that He is also preparing the hearts of the people that He has chosen for us to minister to.
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