A Time of Testing

I want to start this by thanking God even for the times of testing.  It has allowed me to see how His hand has worked in my life.  Several months ago I had let some things at work steal my joy.  I was grumpy most of the time.  After prayer and encouragement from Kim I was able to get past that.  

We decided to buy a ski trip for our Christmas/Anniversary present to each other.  The day we booked it I had to put my truck in the shop.  There goes a lot of our emergency fund!  So fast forward to Friday before vacation, 3:25 pm and I have a flat on my work truck, what a way to start vacation.  By the time I get to a place where I can change the tire I am within sight of Discount Tire but can't get there because its already on the rim! UGH!

We got up early Monday morning to head for Angel Fire, NM.  Kim and I stopped for lunch in Amarillo.  Kim loves Chicken Express and there was one right off the highway.  Shortly after leaving Chicken E I put my thumb through the side of the cup!!! A large water in now in my lap.  I had to change on the side of the highway.  About two hours from our destination my power steering and brakes start acting up.  I just had this fixed three weeks earlier!  We limp into Angel Fire on a dirt road in about five inches of snow.  God provided us a mechanic that comes and gets my truck Tuesday morning and we go skiing.  About half way through the day I realize that the room key has fallen out of my jacket pocket.  Thats $35.00 to be replaced.  

For two days half of the mountain was pretty much unaccessible because of high winds.  So far you can tell that the last few days have really been frustrating.  The skiing was good and Kim and I were enjoying our time away.  The mechanic, Chris, got the truck fixed and Kim and I enjoy exploring the the area after skiing.  Friday morning we get up early to head back home.  My phone beeps saying that I have a new email, there is a issue with one of our bank accounts.  Another issue!!!   

We get checked out of the hotel and head home.  Kim routes us through the mountains and we saw some amazing views.  As we pull into a gas station not far from the NM and TX state line I hear the familiar sound of a power steering/brake pump messing up!!! We are 70+ miles to Amarillo and the nearest Firestone, there is fluid all over the engine and down the side of the truck.    Once we get to Amarillo the guys at Firestone were really helpful.  After two and a half hours we get back on the road.  Thank the Lord they replaced two hoses and covered all the cost.

Kim and I finally made it home about 10:30, about 15 hours after we left Angel Fire.  It was great to see mom and dad and Samson.  This morning we had our first Kenya training session for our trip in June.  It was a great time of fellowship and sharing what is going on in our lives.  I got to share with the team how Kim and I have been recently tested.  Each member of our team is facing some kind of trial.

As Christians we go through times of trials and testings.  We have to trust God in them and through them.  We can not let these test steal our joy.  God will never put more on you/us than we can handle!!! I will trust Him today because He was faithful yesterday!!!

God Bless!

David

A "Right" Way to Worship

Today we had a wonderful service at Hallmark. Dr Jerry Thorpe preached an encouraging message, "The lake, The begger at the gate & The cowboy!"

As we meet more and more missionaries and travel my eyes have been opened up.  This world is full of lost souls, its like a lake full of drowning people.  If there was a large lake full of people we would do anything and everything to get those people out of that lake.  God has asked us to tell as many people as we can about him and rescuse them from drowing in the lake.  He never said that there was only one way to reach them.  He didn't say that they had to be reached in a church that is four walls and a steeple.  He didn't say that the words to the songs had to be in a book or on a wall.  People in China have to worship in under ground house churches and in Kenya many worship under mango trees and dance.

There is not just one right way to worship God.  If the "right" way is one of the many American ways what about all those people around the world that worship different than us?  I will never look down on someone that worships differently than I!