God made him just for me

I just wanted to brag on my husband. He is the best husband in the world. We just celebrated our 11th Anniversary and I have had the best time in my life. He took me to a Brazilian Steak House for dinner one night. An experience everyone should have (except vegetarians). We had so much fun watching the waiters move so fast around the restaurant and learn a little more about a culture that is different from ours. Then this Saturday he took me to a target shooting range. We had the most fun. I beat him on the first round but on the second round he beat me 20 out of 25 on trap shooting. Our shoulders are bruised, my arms and cheek bone is sore and I am so thankful that God gave me a husband that takes me to do fun stuff like that (just look at my profile on the blog).

I often sit in amazement that I am married to my best friend...that we have two awesome children and we are on the ride of our lifetime. I could not imagine doing anything else or being with anyone else. Since Ludie was saved 6 years ago I have seen God change my husband from a good man to a godly man (a huge difference). He is a great living picture of the provider, protector and bridegroom of my Savior Christ. Don't get me wrong, I am not putting him on a pedestal. He has his own faults (we all do), but he does a good job of pointing me and our family to the One who is perfect, who is my King, Jesus.

Thank you honey. I love being married to you (most of the time). :)
Love, your wife.

Praise Report for Ireland

We have now gone from 15% to 17% of our goal of 4710.00 for our monthly living expenses of our goal for the end of June pledged for the next two years we will be on the field. We have gone from 8% to 12% of our start up costs of 32000 which include trip costs, technology costs, transportation and conference fees. What a praise!!!! Thank you for your prayers, pledges and commitment. All praise to God for his provision and timing!

Beach Vacation

Just got back from seeing the family at the beach. We had a great time. I am so amazed at how fast the time is coming that we will be leaving for Ireland in less than two months. It is really starting to hit how much I am going to miss seeing nephews and nieces grow. It was so great hanging out with everyone. Thank you Uncle Marty for planning all this!!!! It was an awesome week. One I will treasure always.

What great friends

I go to MomCare on Wed nights at church. There I have met the dearest group of ladies, one of which is Eva. Eva is originally from Brazil. She is so amazing. She is one of the ladies in the group that I just feel that I have known for years but have only known a couple months. Thursday, she was so sweet to take me to a Brazilian grocery store and show me the different Brazilian products of her homeland, then we ate Brazilian food at the cafe (I had a Kibo com Ovo and Griffin had a Pastel with Guava juice). I am craving the guava juice now. I think I could put my head under the dispenser and just drink. Anyway we came home and she taught me how to make Cheese Bread out of Yukka flour and Cotija cheese. OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH so good. So now if you come to my house, I will be happy to make them for you. We have a Brazilian family that we will be working alongside with in Ireland and she taught me how to make those so that I can give them a little taste of home when they need it. God is so good for giving me great friends here and in Ireland. Thank you Eva. (Here is a pic of Eva with Ruthie. I think Ruthie is as big as her!!!) :) Love you. Thank you!

What are we doing in Ireland?

We will be going to Ireland to serve a 2 year term (initially-then see what God wants from there) with Operation Mobilization starting this August, Lord willing. To find out about Operation Mobilization and how they are involved in Ireland and around the world, click on the Ireland links to the right of the blog.
Since 1957, OM has trained more than 120,000 people in evangelism, discipleship and cross-cultural missions. OM works in more than 110 countries and is well represented in the 10/40 Window with approximately 2000 workers there. OM is an evangelical, interdenominational mission agency. OM's role in the body of Christ is to motivate, develop and equip people for world evangelization and strengthen and help plant churches.

Ludie will be the Global Action Coordinator. He will be taking in students (age 18-25) from all over the world, including Ireland and training them and then mobilizing them into the churches in Ireland to help them with short or long-term projects. In doing so he will be developing partnerships with Irish Churches, finding the church's' needs and then placing the students with them to enable the churches to more effectively share the hope that comes only through Jesus Christ through whatever their specific needs are.

When we were in Ireland last we were talking with one of the local politicians.We had asked him about the suicide rate in Ireland. The suicide rate among young males, is statistically the highest in Western Europe. He actually added that there are more suicides in Ireland than there are deaths from car accidents. Another local politician mentioned that the younger generation has a different perspective than the older generation that lived through "The Troubles" during the 1960's and 1990's). The younger generation is currently searching for answers traditional religion has failed to answer. They are experiencing the material prosperity that has come over Ireland in recent years since Ireland has entered with the European Union, however they have become disillusioned with the church because of recent scandals. In recent years drug addiction and alcoholism have increased also. It is a great time to bring back the Good News St. Patrick brought to this wonderful land so many years ago. Now that there is outward physical peace in Ireland, there is an inward search for peace.

The lifeblood of our ministry is regular, monthly financial supporters. We have established a June 30th deadline to raise our necessary financial support of $4600.00 per month and an additional $32000.00 in initial start up costs. At this point we are considerably behind in this target.

For more information on how you can partner with us through praying, giving or going please contact us directly at blcActs420@gmail.com.

A Deliberate Choice

"When we do not make the deliberate choice to think according to the Spirit, we tend to default to the flesh...pray for a heightened awareness of the way you are thinking." -Beth Moore

I have been talking with my son about choices. There are wise choices and bad choices. Most of what happens in our lives are due to the choices we make. I realize that I have been more deliberate in planning my meetings about God than I have been on pouring time into my relationship with God. I have been living out of reaction than deliberate action. Our busy schedule between Ludie's work and meetings about Ireland partnership,and keeping the house clean for sale, homeschooling, adjusting to a the changing schedule of a baby has allowed me to make excuses for shortened time with the Lord.

I pray throughout the day. I do a 10 minute devotion in the morning and if I can get it in before the kids wake up, I read a passage out of the Bible (the genealogy of 1 Chronicles is not as exciting as the adventures in Genesis-but there are really cool tidbits within the genealogies. I have to actually read it to find out what they are). This is what I call survival mode. The only thing is, this is a false survival. I have to rely on God. I have to put on the mind of Christ or else I will slowly start to slip into a pit. Today, I am making a deliberate choice to go to bed early and put my first priority that I claim to be my real first priority as shown by my action. Forgive me LORD for taking you for granted.

God a Genie?

Below is part of my devotions from this morning. I often write so my thoughts will stay focused. I am putting it down for you to see. I don't know why, I just feel that I should. I don't like bearing my soul because that would leave it out there for others to tread on. But, I'm doing it anyway so here you go...

I often find myself treating God like a genie. I don't desire to do that but often find myself doing so. We have a lot of things going on in order to get over to Ireland at the beginning of August, including raising support by the end of June and selling a house. I find myself falling into old habits of trying to please God in order to find His favor so that he will work the way I want in my timing. Deep down my heart just simply desires to please God but that natural desire can quickly become twisted into manipulation. Thank God He can see this better than I can and will not be manipulated. I have to constantly remind myself that other than through the redeeming blood of Christ, my works are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). When God sees me He only finds favor in me through the covering of His son's blood that covers my sins. Through this covering my Father sees me as beautiful. Nothing I do will ever make God love me more or less than He does now.

I am overwhelmed at the task before us. I have to remind myself that it is God that called us to His work and therefore it is His responsibility that He provides for us. We just have to be obedient to His calling. I have to rely on Him and trust Him so that I can have peace(Isaiah 26:3)...so that my life can glorify Him. Deep down that is my desire. I don't know how or when He will move, but I trust that His plan is better than mine. I praise God in advance for the work He is going to do in the perfect way He always does.

Lord, have your way in my life. Let it not be my will but Yours. Show me what you would have me to do today. Help me to die to myself. Whatever it is You want me to do, my answer is Yes. Help me to obey your will. I believe in You, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24).