Happy New Year!

I have been horrible about writing this month, but things have been incredibly busy. I just thought I'd take a quick moment this morning to update everyone.

Mark had some business in the month. We were very thankful for that. We need continued growth and consistency in the work, so please continue to pray about that. He'll have a few inspections close together, and then nothing for 6-8 weeks. As you can imagine that isn't bringing the income we need! Just pray, pray, pray! I do have to say, I received some assurance through a radio show I listen to regularly.... they were saying that 2 out of 3 Realtors are putting their licenses into referral right now and many people in real estate related fields are getting out during this housing market slump. BUT, (they said) when the market does pick up again, there will be bigger pieces of the pie for those who manage to hang on through the slump. Many people have said to me that it was "bad timing" for Mark to get into this line of work right now. That does appear to be so on the surface. I often say that God's timing doesn't make sense in our economy.... but HE knows what is around the corner. Maybe, just maybe it was the PERFECT time. If we can just hang on until the market picks up, then he just might have a better shot at making a very good living at this, than he would've if he'd tried at another time! Please continue to pray for God's provision and that He'll bring as much work as possible to us.


Hope in the Lord. . .

Have you never heard or understood?
Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to those who are tired and worn out;
he offers strength to the weak.
Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.
But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength.
They will fly high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

I will learn to fly!! (Yes, I'm STILL learning!)

Thank You

A box arrived.... wow! How did you know Mark's favorite candy... and our teenagers' favorite coffee... and our affinity for a bowl of fresh nuts in the wintertime?

God-selected gifts on a God-selected day. He knew we needed a little encouragement.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity!

Not what we wanted to hear...

Mark didn't get the inspection.This is one of those days when we just have to yield to the Almighty's sovereignty and know that He is in control even when it doesn't make sense in our earthly economy.

When a man doubts the sovereignty of God he shows himself to be Adam more than at any other time. He is saying, “God, I do not want you to run things; I want to run them.” But when a man says, “Yes, Lord, You can do with me what You please; You created me,” he accepts the sovereignty of God.

..... What is required of us is that we be so yielded to God that we can understand the nature of the place where He has put us, the nature of the assets He has put at our disposal; and that we should say to Him, “Lord, I would be faithful as I am, where I am, for Thee.”

excerpt from sermon by Donald Grey Barnhouse

Pray Today

Mark got a call a couple of days ago for a bid on a commercial inspection. He NEEDS this job... please pray that God will open the doors.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer!

We Have a Secret Santa

We have a secret Santa and I have no idea if he/she reads this blog, but just in case.... thank you!

“ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Power of Prayer

Apparently someone came into the church office saying that they had ordered too many turkeys for their staff (or something like that) and wanted to know if they knew of people who could use them. The church staff took several for our church's adopted Christmas families and for others, including our family. I know the turkey is nowhere near as dramatic, but it made me think of a George Mueller story. He is the man who ran an orphanage completely through his prayers and the Lord's provision.

Here's an excerpt telling this story from George Mueller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) :

“I hate to bother you, Mr. Muller,” began the matron, “but... the children are all ready for breakfast and there is not a thing in the house to eat. What shall I tell them?”

George stood up. “I’ll take care of it."... [He] reached down and took [a little girl's hand] hand. “Come and see what God will do,” he said. Inside they found three hundred children standing in neat rows behind their chairs. Set on the table in front of each child were a plate, a mug... and spoon. But there was no food whatsoever to be seen....

“...where’s the food?” Abigail asked in a whisper.

“God will supply,” George told her quietly, before he turned to address the children. “There’s not much time. I don’t want any of you to be late for school, so let us pray,” he announced.

As the children bowed their heads, George simply prayed, “Dear God, we thank you for what you are going to give us to eat. Amen.”

George looked up and smiled at the children. “You may be seated,” he said. He had no idea at all where the food he had just prayed for would come from or how it would get to the orphanage. He just knew God would not fail the children. A thunderous din filled the room as three hundred chairs were scuffed across the wooden floor. Soon all three hundred children sat obediently in front of their empty plates.

No sooner had the noise in the dining room subsided than there was a knock at the door. George walked over and opened the door. In the doorway stood the baker, holding a huge tray of delicious-smelling bread.

“Mr. Muller,” began the baker, “I couldn’t sleep last night. I kept thinking that somehow you would need bread this morning and that I was supposed to get up and bake it for you. So I got up at two o’clock and made three batches for you. I hope you can use it.”

George smiled broadly. “God has blessed us through you this morning,” he said as he took the tray....

“There’s two more trays out in the cart,” said the baker. “I’ll fetch them.” Within minutes, the children were all eating freshly baked bread.

As they were enjoying it there was a second knock at the door. This time it was the milkman, who took off his hat and addressed George. "I'm needing a little help, of you could, sir. The wheel on my cart has been broken, right outside your establishment. I'll have to lighten my load before I can fix it. There's ten full cans of milk on it. Could you use them?" Then looking at the orphans sitting in neat rows, he added. "Free of charge, of course...." [pp. 166-168]

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power
and produces wonderful results.
(James 5:16, NKJV)

Please continue to prayer for us. Prayer is one of our most powerful resources!