Are not YOU more of value than they?

Your prayers are being heard; thank YOU. As you know carrying out my responsibilities with my current employer has become more and more a challenge as a need to devote time to ministry, support raising and moving become higher priorities. Though as I am still working full work weeks, I have to continue to fulfill all requirements to meet numbers, provide service to customers, etc. I hope to keep my job for as long as possible for insurance sake as well. Missionary insurance won't begin until I actually depart in a plane to Serbia. So, communication with corporate office on what is best for the both of us has been a great prayer request. I had a prayer partner text me this morning to say that they had been, "praying that (my) conversations with them (job) would blow (my) mind." It has... God has been providing in some rather obviously and mind blowing ways just this week. I am incredibly grateful for God's grace and love in tangible ways just this week alone. I can't NOT share how great our Father is:

Monday was MLKJ day. Contacting my boss on a day off seemed unwise. However, being two weeks from JV (mission board) orientation in Chicago, I really wanted to touch base. Just when I thought, no, the day has passed, my boss began texting me! Next thing I know, we are chatting on the phone about the very scheduling conflict I needed to talk with her about. The transition was too smooth. JV orientation and work conferences are coming up on the EXACT same days in Feb. As I was explaining I need this time off work, my boss said, "Well, you will never guess. There was an oversight and you are not registered as we thought. No problem. Have the week off." We went on and chatted and the conversation went too well. She was so supportive and helpful.

Two days later, another conflict arose and God sent in 3(ish) inches of snow and all the schools in the tri-state were called off! Then Friday the "Snow Blizzard of 2016" was to hit Northern KY, yet it just missed us. We only had maybe one inch of snow even though all the school were called off!

As I share a week of miracles in two, short paragraph form, I know I have ingloriously taken from each day's events. However, God's glory shall be declared even GREATER as I share all He did this week! Though the details may be minuscule to you, they are the very thing He heeds most. The very details I neglected to share to you, were the ones He rushed in to provide.

As mom and I are doing a puzzle right next to our window (photo to the right) enjoying the light dusting we got yesterday, I am reflecting on how He provided out of my control, unrealistic, unfathomable ways this week. As I sit, little birdies of such small statue are feasting on seed mom has provided outside our door despite the storm. To these little birds in a big storm, the snow looks debilitating as they have no knowledge of when the storm will end or where they will receive their next meal of nourishment, yet God does, He knows, He cares. He tells us just how much He cares for them in Matthew 6: 25-27.

Just as God has provided from my mom's simple seed for these birds in a storm, He has done just the same for me. This week He has provided such nourishment for my faith. I don't know what any step ahead holds, but I know He is holding me. Through my church's new year challenges, my commitment to God this week was to bring all I had. All I had this week was a little faith to trust Him in whatever this week of rough situations brought, and He blessed what I thought would be challenging to face week instead with a smooth, stress-free, exciting and His glory filled week! Nothing can explain this week but His love. I am so encouraged and excited for what is ahead, even more than before! God provided miracles and an unexplainable series of events, so I can't even fathom what is ahead! We serve a mighty, indescribable Lord and Savior!

Matthew 6: 26b Are not YOU more of value than they?                                                                                

Snow Day

Ever amazed at how God's timing is just indescribably perfect? 

This morning I woke to a snow day. It wasn't "drive-debilitating" or freezing cold. Rather, we got just an inch or two in 32 degree temps. I, of course, was happy to have a snow day to catch up on work, but I wasn't really sure of the need for them to call off since roads looked fine. As I work for a fundraising company in schools, I still cannot go out to work if schools are closed.

I am trying to maintain my job (for as long as possible) and work with excellence (as God calls us to work diligently in all we do). It will soon be difficult for me to keep my job though. I have yet to tell my current employer of my leaving so that I am able to maintain it as long as possible. I want to be respectful to them through this though. That is a huge prayer request right now. Departing for the field in faith, means you can only take one day at a time.

I have two big training sessions coming up in which I will not be able to be at work for:

1. Josiah Venture Orientation (February 1-5) in Chicago.
2. Missionary training in CO that is a month long session. I am looking into reserving my spot for the March 28- April session as session fill up quickly. For this, I must quit my job as it is a month long. 

Orientation, just three weeks out, requires much "homework" before I go. I just received an email this morning regarding the steps necessary for me to work on before I go.  As I read through the list of items to memorize, informational test to take, presentation and tutorials to watch, accounts to set-up, etc., I was grateful that God provided this snow day. 

As the large, fluffy flakes fell, I had the joy of communicating with two ladies who are inviting me to their small groups in the near future to share more about Serbia to gain prayer warriors and financial supports. Many of my immediate friends and family have already made their pledges and kindly made their commitments to pray with me and for Serbian youth. The next steps are to speak at small groups, Bible studies and to have current, willing supporters to host new, potential partners as I share more about the need for the Gospel and especially discipleship in Serbia. 

Sometimes we don't understand why things out of our control happen, yet we know each time God is, thankfully, in control. I wanted to encourage all of you today as things may be going out of your "desired" hope, yet God has something better in store. Just like today, He knew I had an email full of "to-dos" coming my way just hours later. 

As you see to the right, I even made it out into the lovely snow to play with my dog (which is cherished time now as I don't look forward to the day I have to leave her). Also, I got to pull the little kids in the sled down the yard. 

God continues to amaze me each day as I work toward departure for Serbia. This time is special as God is preparing my heart (and I know Serbian hearts too) before I go. 

Thank YOU for joining along and praising God with me.

Psalms 46:10 - Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

A Skype from Slovenia

God has used so many of you to tangibly encourage me today. I'm amazed at how He intertwines our lives! The body of Christ is such a powerful tool of encouragement when we let God use us- 1 Corinthians 12.

1. Someone came up to me unexpectedly during church and handed me a check toward the ministry. That very moment I was praying that the Lord would provide discernment through today's sermon as to my next steps in quitting my job, support raising and going to training. I felt as if God had touched me. Thank you to that person for listening to God in the moment.
2. I had the opportunity to call via phone and speak with an intern who served in Serbia helping with camps this past summer. It was such an encouraging conversation. She has the dearest heart for serve the Lord and impacts all she comes in conversation with. She brought a smile to my heart, and God used it to give me peace that I can and will be effective through discipleship there.
3. I Skyped with a missionary in Slovenia (through same mission board- Josiah Venture) who encouraged me and gave me such wisdom toward next steps to better prepare myself for ministry.
4. A person called me to say their pastor would like to talk to me more about the ministry!

The day aligned in such a way that each of these conversations were just minutes apart. He couldn't have aligned it any better. Thank YOU for your part of this ministry of reaching lives in Serbia! Praise God for His indescribable love and mightiness!

A New Year, A New Country, and A New Prayer

A new year is such a precious gift God gives. It is a time to set your path straight if there is anything needing realignment. It is also a time to thank God for all He has provided and will in the next year. 

I had the sweet opportunity spending the new year with my two brothers and their wives along with my little nephew to bring in 2015 and start 2016. This year is a big year in my life, moving to Europe, completely uprooting all I have here to serve there. Yet, I feel so blessed through this change. God has called me to this, and I already know and thank Him for all He will do. He has provided such support and love through you all. I am looking forward to 2016 and grateful for so many of your joining me in prayer and financial support.  I just want to thank you all for being a part of this journey and change. 

The president of Josiah Venture shared this quote (below) by a missionary, and I wanted to share with all of you as we begin the next year. Prayer is so powerful and effective. I am praying for the impossible this year, and I pray I give more and more time to Him, using all my strength for His glory and Kingdom's gain. We often forget it takes an investment on our part for God's blessing in return. He is such a good and selfless father to us. 

I pray all of your years ahead are blessed as we serve Him whole-heartedly.

Do not work so hard for Christ that you have no strength to pray, for prayer requires strength. -Hudson Taylor

(View for the entire article by Dave Patty, president of Josiah Venture)

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