Sweet Words...

Have you ever noticed how God is the ultimate sweet talker? He gives you just what you need...just when you need it. Every word that flows from His mouth to your heart is like stepping into a bakery shop and smelling that sweet aroma of all the goodies. Can't you just smell it?

This past week in particular...God certainly gave me some "goodies" while we were in Holland saying our goodbyes to family and our home church. It was such a unique time to have both our parents and extended families together on the same continent!

We had the privilege of sharing with the church about God's leading us to the States. We also took the time to acknowledge and thank our home front committee on stage.

It was an emotional time...and once our team leader started the tears rolling...I don't think we saw one dry eye in that church. It was just a real precious time.

As we stood there...reviewing our life in missions like a flash of a movie reel in our minds...we both felt so heavy...so sad...but also so excited because we know that God has a good plan for us in the States. There were many mixed emotions we were struggling to understand fully.

Just when it was too much to take...the Elder came up to pray over us. Before praying he handed me a small note that said "voor Jacco en Mary Oldenkamp" (for Jacco and Mary O). Then he began to read what was written on that note.

The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.

-Numbers 6:24-26

Now you may say...well that's a nice verse and stop there. But let me tell you...that was the PERFECT verse...one that God knew would touch my heart! Why you may ask? Well...that very verse...was the same one that God gave me when I first went into missions.

We felt it was very appropriate...no PERFECT...that He would give us that same verse as we are leaving this mission and heading to our next.

God is so cool like that...the Dutch word that describes it is "Prima"...excellent. He uses His sweet words...the Bible... to speak over us...to give us peace....to allow us to know that He cares. It just so blessed us.

I now have the note on a special place on our mantle...to remind me of the intimate relationship we have together. I know that no matter what is going on in my life...I can trust Him...He is reminding me by His sweet words!

Application:

You may be in a similar situation...where your world seems upside down. Maybe you have had something unexpected to come into your life and are wondering if God has forgotten you down here. Take heart...remember that God is always watching and taking care of you. There is not one thing He doesn't know about...and there is no situation that He can't handle. TRUST in Him...get into your Bible and ask Him to reveal to you what you need to hear. And then wait for those "sweet words" to coming flooding over you. They will!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Hello friends! So glad to be with you on this glorious day. As I write this I am reminded of a few of my favorite things...one of which is photography. Just this past year we were blessed with a fabulous deal on a VERY nice camera...which developed into a new hobby for me...of capturing "LIFE".

Every chance I get I am taking pictures of people...in their natural surroundings...doing the things they love...and being around the people that are most dear to them. Below are examples of my passion. Take a peak with me through my lens and see the world as I do...

Falling in Love

Intrigued...

Belly Love...

Reading...

Pondering...

Standing out...

Heading somewhere...

Take on the World...

Father and Son...

If this bench could talk...

Cottage life...

A day out...

Little feet...

All the kids...

A winter's walk...

Lonely...

I hear you...

Ride in Style...

Daddy love...

Walk a mile...

Family life...

Pink...

Soft Beauty...

His presence...

British pride...

A day in the park...

Mommy love...

Fireballs...

And I end with this picture...as sometimes...as in life...you just have to laugh!

The ROYAL Wedding

Photo curtesy of devrese.com

Being in England at such a historic time to be able to witness the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is so exciting to say the least. Everywhere you go you find shop windows adoring pictures of the couple and the Union Jack is flying high on just about every street corner. With one week away the excitement is building!

Photo curtesy realradio-scotland.co.uk

The people of the UK are welcoming this sweet couple's union with cheers of joy...and being that the public will be given a "bank holiday" (national holiday) every year from here on out on April 29th to commemorate the special event...that is just icing on the cake!

People are encouraged to have street parties, as is custom here when a Royal is wed. Almost every grociery store has the Union Jack adorning just about everything from lawn chairs to paper plates! You can't help but become patriotic!

Photo curtesy theroyalweddingwilliamkate.com

Photo curtesy aroundtownwales.co.uk

For us, we will be joining the all the crowds in the city centre to watch the couple tie the knot on the huge jumbo screen. Also we have heard there will be a Beatles tribute band to entertain us. Needless to say I can't wait!

Photo Curtesy apps.detnews.com

But I can't help but think of "THE WEDDING"...the reunion one day I will have with the Bridegroom, Jesus. He is coming...and we are going to have the biggest feast you will ever see...the tables will be adorned with the most beautiful things you could ever imagine!

Photo curtesy tolucantimes.com

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. -John 14:2-3

Thought to ponder...Do we anticipate Christ's return in our hearts with joy...adorning the shop windows of our hearts with excitement? Or do we simply acknowledge He is to come... but have made our choice to stay away from the crowds of "joy"...too wrapped up in our own little world to realize the excitement of what is to come?

Too Late to Turn Back Now...

You've heard the phrase "If you told me I would be doing _____ five years ago...I wouldn't have believed you!". I'm sure you could fill in the blank with many things such as..."met the person I was going to marry"...or "working in this job"...or "living in this country". For me personally...I would have never guessed I would be married and living in a foreign country. I certainly wouldn't be able to predict that I would have been living with an incurable illness...that one still continues to shock me, but with the grace of God, I am learning to live with it.

When you think about the future it can do one of two things. It can excite you or it can scare you. When you get into the thicket of life, when electronics tend to break, marriages go through struggles, children get sick, or even your own securities of a home and finances are stripped away you can tend to want to turn back. But for those of us who know Christ Jesus as our Lord, we must continue on the road He has paved for us...always trusting in Him, despite our circumstances. It is a CHOICE to BELIEVE that God has a good plan. Now that does not mean a bed of roses all the time, but it will still be good because He is good and He has a purpose for us (Romans 8:28).

I can so feel Peter's heartfelt words when he is asked if he too would walk away from Jesus. Can't you just imagine big ole Peter with tears welling up in his eyes saying...

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life. And we have learned to believe and trust, and [more] we have come to know [surely] that You are the Holy One of God, the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the living God." (Read below John 6:66-69 (Amplified Bible)

When we are going through struggles in our life...are we going to turn back and go our own way or are we going to continue on BELIEVING...that God has a good plan for us...TRUSTING...that even though we can't see where we are going...He is guiding?

I personally can learn a lot from this scripture and it is a great reminder that I've come too far to turn back now! I am trusting in Him to take me the rest of the way...and in 5 years from now...I pray that I will say "Father if you told me that I would be doing _______ I DID believe that!

After this, many of His disciples drew back (returned to their old associations) and no longer accompanied Him. Jesus said to the Twelve, Will you also go away? [And do you too desire to leave Me? Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life. And we have learned to believe and trust, and [more] we have come to know [surely] that You are the Holy One of God, the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the living God. -John 6:66-69 (Amplified Bible)

Bearing Fruit

Lately I've had the biggest craving for fruit popsicles. So my hubby being the blessing he is, drives me to the store and patiently waits as I pick out the perfect one...all natural and full of 100% fruit of course. Then as I unwrap that pretty little paper... a juicy, delicious fruit sickle is revealed and with one taste my craving is satisfied.

Its funny that I've been craving fruit...let me explain. The Bible tells us that if we "remain in Him we will bear much fruit". (John 15:5) This is a verse that is very near and dear to my heart as it is my life verse. No wonder it has been coming to light with recent difficult roads I've been forced to walk. Roads that could easily lead to discouragement and even a stinky defeated attitude that could totally leave my little tree dried up. So I've been asking God to show me the fruit that He has placed around me. In particular to the city...the country...the culture of England that He has called me and my husband to.

This morning I read an interesting article on the front page of the BBC entitled "British Sangfroid: An Outdated Stereotype". (I had to look up the meaning of sangfroid...which means "coolness and composure, especially in trying circumstances.") The article talked about how the British culture seems to be changing from the "stiff upper lip"-mentioned in my last post...to a now more emotional based culture. I found it most interesting...as I do sometimes struggle with the lack of emotions people seem to have...but I do keep it in perspective that I tend to be just a bit over emotional...a bit I said!

Now back to the fruit thing...so I was asking God to show me the fruits around me. After reading the article I realized that it was an answer to prayer...you see I've been very open with many around me about my difficult roads...and in return many have been open with me as well. We have been praying that those around us would see us as different and be challenged and changed by that. What is more different than an emotional American girl who talks a mile a minute? Me and hubs have seen this just recently...that people around us are opening up...and emotions are flowing. I for one think that is a great thing! And then to read on the front page that it seems to be a general change in culture arising...it just sat well in my heart. People seem to be dried up in life here...but so yearning for some water...and eventually some good, wholesome fruit! I instantly praised the Father for showing me this.

Its been said that during times of famine tree roots are forced to drive deeper into the soil to find water. Let's pray that those that are lost and hurting here in England will turn to the loving Father...dig deep...and eventually bear fruit for Him!

Keep Calm and Carry On...

Photo curtesy of keepcalmandcarryon.com

During WWII a series of propaganda posters were created and distributed all over the UK. Just about every shop window proudly displayed them. The most famous being a simple 5 word phrase... "Keep Calm and Carry On". It was meant to encourage the British to stay calm and try to go about life as normal, despite the bombing taking place all around them from enemy forces. The British to this day seem to still have this attitude of "keeping a stiff upper lip" and carrying on through tough times. I must say in some ways it is inspirational and you can really see the strength and courage of the people.

Photo curtesy of decorativeliving.com

Lately I have been humbled with the fact that I have a long ways to go before I am where Jesus wants me to be with my life. There are many "bombs" the enemy drops...especially that of discouragement. Many times I think to myself..."it would be so much easier just to give up and go into my bunker for safety and hiding"!

But I know that Jesus would want me to keep on "carrying on" striving with my entire being...to be more like Him everyday. I can so relate with Paul when he writes to the Philippians and says

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own." -Philippians 3:12

Paul's goal was simple: Become more like Jesus. He did this by getting to know Him more, trusting in Him, and then being open and obedient for the choices He had made for Paul's life. We all know the difficulties Paul faced...but he "Kept Calm and Carried On". He was and is an example for all of us to follow.

One thing is for certain...there is a battle raging. It may not be something that we can see...but it is there...a spiritual battle! (Ephesians 6:10-18) But take heart...this battle is not ours and for those of us who are IN Christ Jesus...he is right there with us whispering every so gently "Keep Calm and Carry On!"

Application:

Is there something happening in your life right now that has you consumed? Remember "Panic is Manic" in the words of Beth Moore!

Maybe you have often found yourself wanting to know more of God but not sure how? His Word is a good place to start. (Those who seek me will find me... Proverbs 8:17)

Maybe you have trouble with trusting God...especially with the plans that He has for your life. Remember that He has "good plans for your life"...Jeremiah 29:11.

Ask God to give you the courage and tools to" Keep Calm and Carry On"...

Photo curtesy of Wiklipedia.com

After a fierce attack from the enemies, Londoners soon were out on the streets "Carrying On".