Monday, August 15, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Semester number sixteen (seven for Joel)
We're a week away from the beginning of another semester. The beginning of two years that will foerever change the lives of 70 new students who are coming to study God's Word. The beginning of a new semester in the process of becoming ministers of the Word for the other 100 who have already begun their journey.
For Joel and I it's a new opportunity to grow as we pour our lives into those God will bring our way. I am keenly aware at this moment of the dangers for me specifically that come at this time if year. The danger of pride, feeling more important than I am and slipping into the mindset of thinking I have something of my own to offer the girls God brings my way. There is tha danger of becoming too busy, of not saying no to the things that I want to do but know I shouldn't. Balancing my duty as a wife and mother with the privilege I have to mentor girls in my home, which sometimes feels more glamourous. Then their is the most important aspect of all. And that is my choice to Abide as a daughter, as a needy child, remembering that I have to stay plugged in to the source of my life or it all becomes wood, hay and stubble.
At the beginning of this semester, I long to know what God has in store for me. First from his Word then for my family and last from my ministry. Keeping that in order and balance... God, beThou my Vision.
For Joel and I it's a new opportunity to grow as we pour our lives into those God will bring our way. I am keenly aware at this moment of the dangers for me specifically that come at this time if year. The danger of pride, feeling more important than I am and slipping into the mindset of thinking I have something of my own to offer the girls God brings my way. There is tha danger of becoming too busy, of not saying no to the things that I want to do but know I shouldn't. Balancing my duty as a wife and mother with the privilege I have to mentor girls in my home, which sometimes feels more glamourous. Then their is the most important aspect of all. And that is my choice to Abide as a daughter, as a needy child, remembering that I have to stay plugged in to the source of my life or it all becomes wood, hay and stubble.
At the beginning of this semester, I long to know what God has in store for me. First from his Word then for my family and last from my ministry. Keeping that in order and balance... God, beThou my Vision.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Changes...Migrations...More To Come!
Over the coming weeks and likely months (we are parents, spouses and full time missionaries afterall...) we'll be making some big changes to how we communicate with you. We'll be trying several new mediums of communication including:
- A new ministry-centric website which is live now. Please click your way to it and check it out! We'll be using this to post stories and pictures that will give you a better idea of what we do as missionaries with New Tribes Mission.
- Some of you may already be familiar with and receive our email updates. Those will continue to be a primary way that we communicate with you. If you're not already receiving these, you'll enjoy the perspective they offer. The link below will let you subscribe to these. Just enter your name and email address in the boxes on the page. We'd love to have you follow us!
- This Blog will likely be under a bit of construction and be used for features on our family as well as for albums of pictures. Watch for the new look to come!
- Some of you may remember my (Joel) old personal Blog, 'Auraltecture.' I hope to relaunch this Blog in the coming months either at it's present location on Blogspot or possibly via Wordpress. I'll make sure to let you know what I do. My intent with that Blog is to talk about music and culture, as well as some 'unique' discoveries that I find about the places we live... If you're interested in looking at some of my previous posts, click your way to Auraltecture below.
That's all for now. Watch for news of our upcoming trip to California. We're very involved in a wedding of a dear friend and disciple (Grace Baldwin) of ours as well as catching up with family and partners on the west coast. Thanks for following!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Welcome Back...
7881 Miles, 3 Kids, 2 Adults...
We're hitting the road...and the friendly skies this summer. It's been 6 years since we last traveled and caught up in person with our support team and it's time again. We're ecstatic to visit many long-time friends/supporters and family and bring them up to speed with this incredible ministry that we're a part of. And we're asking God to bring us into contact with new ministry partners. We're willing to go to the 'ends of the earth,' or at least the earth of North America, to do this!
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
We're flying to CA in early July and will be anywhere from Los Angeles to San Francisco to San Diego and back to Michigan. The train bit, hopefully will be fulfilled by a trolley ride in San Francisco. Then only a week after returning to Michigan, we hit the road on an epic road trip that ends in St. Petersburg FL and then will make our way up the eastern seaboard before heading back to Michigan...
CA, OH, KY, NC, GA, FL, SC, WV, VA
They're not just stops on a fun summer jaunt, but places where people and churches are, who value what God values and are behind us because of that! And if you are in one of these places and want to connect with us, please call us! 517.795.9053
Why Should You Care?AND WE HOPE YOU DO!
We're so excited to be a part of a team that invests in the lives of people who want to make God's Word clear to those who don't have ANY understanding of IT. We're confident that YOU value this as well. So we're counting on YOU! We have some specific financial needs on these trips and are asking God to provide through perhaps YOU! Also with this many miles, little kids, long hours, potential vehicle problems...there's no way we can stay sane and clearly communicate without YOU behind us in prayer! Would you consider investing in this special summer endeavor?
We're hitting the road...and the friendly skies this summer. It's been 6 years since we last traveled and caught up in person with our support team and it's time again. We're ecstatic to visit many long-time friends/supporters and family and bring them up to speed with this incredible ministry that we're a part of. And we're asking God to bring us into contact with new ministry partners. We're willing to go to the 'ends of the earth,' or at least the earth of North America, to do this!
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
We're flying to CA in early July and will be anywhere from Los Angeles to San Francisco to San Diego and back to Michigan. The train bit, hopefully will be fulfilled by a trolley ride in San Francisco. Then only a week after returning to Michigan, we hit the road on an epic road trip that ends in St. Petersburg FL and then will make our way up the eastern seaboard before heading back to Michigan...
CA, OH, KY, NC, GA, FL, SC, WV, VA
They're not just stops on a fun summer jaunt, but places where people and churches are, who value what God values and are behind us because of that! And if you are in one of these places and want to connect with us, please call us! 517.795.9053
Why Should You Care?AND WE HOPE YOU DO!
We're so excited to be a part of a team that invests in the lives of people who want to make God's Word clear to those who don't have ANY understanding of IT. We're confident that YOU value this as well. So we're counting on YOU! We have some specific financial needs on these trips and are asking God to provide through perhaps YOU! Also with this many miles, little kids, long hours, potential vehicle problems...there's no way we can stay sane and clearly communicate without YOU behind us in prayer! Would you consider investing in this special summer endeavor?
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Kate Turns 1!
Yesterday we celebrated Kate's first birthday! It was a fun afternoon with good friends and family. We sure miss our family that isn't with us but we got to skype with several of thme in the morning. Kate is such a joy to our family and we thank God for giving her to us!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Christmas 2010 Picture
What a Christmas! We have had the stomach flu hit 3 of the 5 of us in the past 2 weeks. It's not been the most relaxing Christmas break but it will be a memorable one. ;)
It reminded me though that the first Christmas was less than what we would consider ideal. I'm sure Mary's ideal of childbirth, her first born, the Son of God coming to earth was not that it would take place away from her home, in a borrowed stable with smelly animals, no family nearby and the only visitors to come and see her new baby being low class shepherds, whom she didn't know. Yet that is the exact situation God chose to come into. He had a bigger perspective than the here and now, he had eternity in view. He was humble and came as a human, setting aside His glory to become one of us, in less than "ideal" circumstances" so that he could live among us, without sin and become our Salvation and Life. He had eternity in view and so a stinky old stable was a perfect location.
So as much as I'd love to rewind 3 weeks and avoid the hassle of all that 3 people with the stomach flu means, I'll choose to keep eternity in view and be thankful I have LIFE and my family.
Merry Christmas!
From the Potters
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)