Our Journey, His Work

Sunday, July 21, 2013

TwO AwEsOmE TeAmS

Are you still with me out there?! If so, I will continue on to share the Father's work here in Indiana.

We were super blessed to have TWO different teams come to Zionsville, Indiana the last two weeks of June. One team was from Robbinsville and the other team came from a new church plant in Ducktown, TN.

Robbinsville :)

Ducktown, TN (plus Ben, David, & Rance)

You may be wondering why two teams traveled to Zionsville? I can't wait to tell you! One of the leaders in the church at Cornerstone has been renting a home for over 30 years. This man is known for his servant's heart and his willingness to give and serve others constantly. As a leader of the church and a man committed to the Father's plan of making disciples - having a home open and hospitable to others was key. That's where the need for laborers and willing hearts to invest time into a doing an Extreme Home Makeover in the home of this leader came in. We are so thankful he was willing to receive this gift of grace. It is absolutely incredible all the behind the scenes details that the Father worked out in ways that ONLY He can do for this project to even take place. Yes, we had the laborers but we needed the funds provided and extra special deals on furniture, etc. The Lord has blown our minds in what seemed to be just a house project yet has impacted our faith deeply.

Let me share a few BEFORE shots of the home:

I love pookie!

On a side note - when this project came about - Robbinsville was the only team coming to Zionsville, Indiana at the time. Due to the fact that Pastor Renny (from Ducktown, TN) visited Cornerstone a few weeks earlier to speak at Sunday morning service - he saw the vision and purpose of this house project and immediately committed to bringing a team the week after Robbinsville to continue working on this house. That my friend is the beauty of the Body of Christ working together in all parts of the world!

Coming next is the work in progress of this house...

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

JUNE, WHERE DID YOU GO?

Hey you lovelies out there!

We are thoroughly enjoying living in Zionsville, Indiana this summer. It's hard to believe it has been over a month since we moved here. I am determined not to focus on the fact that we only have 3 weeks left here because it deeply saddens my heart. Yep, I said it. There is nothing sweeter than being in the Father's will and this summer has been yet another testament to that. Rance and I are learning more and more about what a New Testament church is supposed to look like according to Scripture. We are overwhelmed by Father's passionate pursuit of His Bride and what He is teaching us through this entire adventure. The Lord has also been teaching us so much on what it means to be a part of a spiritual team. We are so blessed to be working together with a team of people who are all committed to being disciples of Jesus and following Him no matter the costs. We are one big family :)

If only I could communicate all that has been going on here - but honestly, I am still processing it all.

For now, the month of June went something like this:

We moved at the beginning of June and immediately left for a leadership retreat a couple of hours away. We spent our weekend enjoying some quiet time with the Father being still, praying, and listening. We met together to discuss what the Father was teaching each one of us and also re-evaluated everyone's committment to Father's plan for His Bride in Zionsville, Indiana. Rance and I are so blessed by this team!

The Mahseh House

Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a mahseh (refuge) for us. Psalm 62:8

Gorgeous Sunset! We have been enjoying these every single night since we moved to Indiana!

David & Dana - our teammates

Leadership Team
Top Row: Jeff, Ryan, Diane, Dana, David
Bottom Row: Jennifer, Eric, Ellen, Rance

Rance has been delivering the message on Sunday mornings as we all walk together through the book of Ephesians.

Sweet lil preacher man!

Eternal Truth Ministries annual board meeting was the 2nd week in June so we ventured to Robbinsville for a couple of days for that!

The Thacker kiddos plus Dana!

Rance and I spent a few days in Nahunta before we ventured to Greensboro, NC to celebrate Weston & Brooke's marriage and covenant before God on June 15th!

Mama Gale and I on the farm!

Fields & Sunsets!

Representing ORANGE!

We enjoyed a QUICK overnight trip to the beach! That was a sweet blessing because I did not think I would see the beach in 2013!

thankful for mi amigas and their desire to grow spiritually!

I was super thankful to spend a night with these girls! Rachel is leaving for Africa long term in July so spending QT with her was top priority!

Meet Weston & Brooke

We had a blast with The Ritter's!

I mean a BLAST! :)

It was a gorgeous day for an outside wedding!

The wedding was on a farm with a gorgeous reception inside these 2 huge doors~!

Rance and I were both excited to get back to Zionsville after being away a few days in June!

More to come in the month of June...

Saturday, June 1, 2013

May Happenings Part IV

Graduation has now come and gone! Three of the teenage girls in my discipleship group just graduated from high school (*tears*) - Lindy, Autumn, and Jaycee. These girls are all so very unique and I have loved every minute I have got to spend with them the past 1-3 years. The fun part is, they may have graduated but I'm in their life as long as they will have me!

Baccalaureate service was at our church for all the graduates last Wednesday night and then graduation followed on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend!

Lindy sharing scripture at baccalaurette service

A-long (Amber) is ranked #1 in the junior class so she was the lead marshall at graduation!

Lindy is heading to UNC Asheville in the fall!

Charlton is heading to Western Carolina University in the fall!

Jaycee is heading to UNC Chapel Hill in the fall! (I still love her even though she is always wearing Tarheel blue now)

Anna was also a junior marshall!

Meet Novi - whom I love!

Autumn & Lindy :)

Before I ever met Autumn, I prayed so much for her. She was in the hospital when Rance and I were dating and he would go and visit her and I'd just pray and pray for her (a girl I had never even met). In fact, the first time I ever met Autumn was at our wedding! I love that Father knew way back that we would become so close bonding over HIM and entrust me with her!

Last Thursday night was full of love, hugs and tears as we celebrated graduation and our last part of the discipleship study on making disciples! The Lord put 2 Timothy on my heart about 2 weeks ago and I have probably read it 20 times since then. This is Paul's last letter he is writing to Timothy from prison. I love reading Paul's heart for Timothy whom he called a beloved son. Paul wanted to encourage Timothy, give direction and urge him to visit one final time. It is apparent that Paul knew that his work was done and that his life was nearly at an end.

Paul begins with thanksgivings and an announcement to remain faithful and strong. Paul also reiterates the important work of “entrusting the faithful men who will be able to teach others” (2:2). Paul’s desire was to equip the saints with the knowledge of how to teach others. In 2 Timothy 3:14 - Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in the things he had learned and to remember who he had learned them from. Paul had invested so much time inTimothy and he wanted to see him do well.

As I read 2 Timothy over and over, I could not help but think of Lindy, Autumn, and Jaycee as they graduate. I love these girls so very much and I pray for them day and night. I don't invest in them to make myself feel better. I invest in these teenagers for the glory of God - because it was and is the Father's plan - with the hope and prayer that they will continue in the things they have learned and eventually invest in faithful women who will be able to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).

best friends

I should just call this Autumn's blanket because she
never comes over without wrapping herself in it.

graduation gift time

*2 Timothy 3:14*
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it"
Lindy, Jaycee & Autumn - as they where this around their neck, I pray they are reminded of the things they have learned as they enter the battlefield of college!