Six Months Out: A Look Back!

I was thinking the other day how short six months really is. When I was living and ministering in north Minneapolis, I remember when people who were new on the scene and had a passion to help change the city, and I remember my message to them. I would tell them slow down, people have to get to know you, learn to trust you, and make sure you are for real before you will be able to do what you want to do here. I remember that coming in and pushing an agenda and trying to make something happen without putting your time in building relationships tended to rub people the wrong way and trying to gain something back was more difficult. Yet here I sit, six months into our move to Tucson, feeling like I should be further along.

God's timing is not our timing. And He is very patient with us. His plans tend to work out according to His time table and rarely does it line up with ours. Apparently I have forgotten everything I used to say for advice to those moving into a new neighborhood, a new culture. If God led you here, then be patient and learn the culture. God reminded me of my own words this week and it gave me some sense of peace knowing that I am walking according to His plan, and once again I am free from having to produce results. That is His job.

So where are we now? Jean is a few weeks into her new job. She is an inclusion specialist at Cottonwood elementary school. This position gives her direct influence over 10 students and 11 para-professionals. It is definitely an adjustment for our family having her working full-time. But despite the long hours she assures me, she loves her job. She commutes to work on a scooter and loves it. That is one of the blessings of living in Arizona. If it isn't raining, you can go on two wheels.

The kids started school last week and are enjoying getting to know there new teachers and class mates. Hopefully, we won't be switching schools on them any time soon and they will be able to get into a groove. They all played baseball this past spring and loved it. There is always something going on in the apartment complex where we live and there is rarely a time they can't find a group of kids to play with. It kind of reminds us of our neighborhood back in Minneapolis. They have practically lived at the pool and are darker than probably a lot of their friends from Minneapolis. We are certainly outgrowing our apartment fast and are seeking other arrangements down the road. Now that we know where God has planted us and we have a specific geographical part of town to focus on, we can begin looking for housing opportunities.

As for me, I am quite the domestic spouse . . .NOT! I am learning to manage every one's schedule, taking more of an active role advocating for the kids. I am handling all the cooking, cleaning, homework, and laundry duties. At the same time, I have been serving others as needs have popped up. I am still ministering regularly at the Gospel Rescue Mission and have been allowed to take a more active role in ministry at our church as well. And I am starting a handy-man business. The Lord impressed this on me since I have been here. This will enable me to serve my community, build a network, and disciple men who are skilled laborers but having trouble finding work. I told the Lord how crazy that was for ME to be a handy-man. His response was humorous: Was it any more crazy than packing your family and moving without knowing where you were going? How did that turn out? Was it any more crazy than shutting down Community of Men and letting my income go with no plan in place to replace it? Well when you put it like that Lord it's not crazy at all.

So let's see what the next six months hold. More adventure as we follow our path down God's plan. I am so grateful for His invitation to journey with Him on it. 

A New Identity

I have been going back and forth with the Lord about something lately. As I await His direction and wait for doors to open for ministry, I have been trying to hold on to certain things that I thought I needed. For one, I have continued to remain employed through my ministry Community of Men and receive a monthly pay check. It has been essential up to this point because it was needed income. I am grateful for the faithful financial partners I have had and their giving has served our family greatly. But with that, I have clung to who I was in that role. I was a great advocate and resource to those struggling with sexual sin. I helped start seven different men's groups doing just that. I wrote curriculum books that have helped serve the guys and the groups I helped start.

Lately God has been asking me to give those up. He wants me to wait on Him to define who I am and what I will do in Tucson. As I have tried to make what I did in Minnesota fit here, I have found nothing but closed doors. That's not to say it can't work because I believe it can. It's just that God wants me to not get stuck on that thing, or the things I have done in the past and miss what is right in front of me.

I have been seeking the Lord earnestly about these things this week, and the Lord brought me to a study of the Biblical character Timothy. We first get introduced to him in Acts 16. He is introduced as a son of of a Jewish believer, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium. Paul decided to take him along with him on his missionary journey and so begins their relationship of spiritual father and son. The first thing Paul did was had him circumcised. It said that he did it because the Jews in that area knew that his father was a Greek. I thought that was odd because Paul and Silas were bringing the decree from the apostles at Jerusalem that said that gentiles didn't need to be circumcised. As I pondered this and inquired of the Lord about it, He told me that Timothy was getting a new identity. He was known as Timothy, who's father was a Greek. And that was a stumbling block to other Jews. He would no longer be known as Timothy, the son of a Greek. Rather, He was Timothy, child of God.

It is interesting that later in the Bible we get to read about the letters that Paul sent to Timothy while he was in charge of pastoring the church in Ephesus. A young man with a large task. So much of Paul's two letters were about how a believer should conduct himself and how Timothy should focus his time and attention. He challenged him to operate not as the world does, to not judge himself or others according to what they could physically see (such as circumcised or uncircumcised), but as an example of how a believer should act. God had given Timothy a new identity. And He desires to do the same thing for us as well.

My location has changed. The people I have been sent to minister to are different than where I came from. I am viewed differently. In fact the very basis for the ministry I did in Minnesota was an openness and vulnerability. Here in Arizona, people are skeptical of people that are that open and honest. They struggle to accept them and trust them. So who I was and what I did has to change. Like Timothy, I am having to give up my old way of operating. And I have no idea what to expect. But I know who is in control of my future, and I am willing to follow Him wherever He leads. I will no longer be the director of Community of Men Ministries. I will no longer look to that ministry to provide me with a salary. For now I am a child of God, a husband, a father, a friend, and a pursuer of God's presence. Check back for further updates as I seek the Lord for His direction. God Bless!

A position of Influence

It is a different culture here in the desert. People tend to isolate and hide to get out of the heat. The culture of Arizona has adjusted to the weather. Movie theatres off free movies to children as an alternative to being outside in the heat. The shopping malls are packed with families during the day as a way of giving people some place to go. And parks are usually empty. In Minnesota, we were outside all summer. We did outdoor outreaches in the summer, because in the winter people hibernated. As I have wandered around Tucson praying for God to show me how to do ministry here I have come to this realization: Outreach looks completely different. My prayers have been for God to put me in a position of influence, so that people are drawn to me, rather than me going to them.

That has happened in a few ways. First of all, through being able to minister regularly at the Gospel Rescue Mission, God has literally sent guys to me who have let me direct them, teach them, and help them any way I see fit. I haven't had to convince them or prove anything to them, they came to me and I have been helping them build a community of support for them. Second, I had the chance to paint some one's house. This enabled me to provide income for two other guys for a couple of weeks. The Lord showed me that as I meet their physical needs, I instantly gain a platform to speak into their lives. In two weeks of ministering to the one guy I saw him go from being angry at God, to embracing him, joining a church, and being baptized. The third way it has happened is through coaching baseball. I volunteered to coach one of my son's teams, but by the end of the season was coaching two of them. I was able to directly teach these young men about being good citizens, having a vision and purpose for their life and pushing yourself to become better than you believe you are. I was also able to be bold with the parents about parenting with purpose and looking at the big picture of your child's life. I taught the dads how to affirm their children and we all watched together as these moments produced greater results. I also had a chance to do some counseling with one of the coaches and am watching him surrender more and more areas of his life to Christ.

My first temptation when I got to Tucson was to run out and began to promote my ministry and myself. When I found that those actions made people uncomfortable, I was forced to wait for God to promote me. Slowly, He has elevated me to a place of influence. It may only be over a few people, but I have to be faithful with the few if I expect to be given more.

The question for you is, who has God given you influence over? Are you waiting for God to elevate you to a place of influence? When that happens, what will you do with that? I pray for God to give you the boldness to speak words of truth, hope, and direction into all those who let you speak into their lives.

The Faith to Stand

The church here in Tucson that we have had the privilege of being a part of is called New Song Foursquare Church. It has been a real blessing for our family because it is hard enough moving to a new place and trying to find schools for the kids and work and housing. But to have a church that welcomed us into their family so immediately was an absolute blessing. One of the the many things I love about New Song is the way we start the sermon every week. We hold up our Bibles and say the following:

This is my Bible.

It is God speaking to me.

I am who it says I am.

I can do what it says I can do.

I can have what it says I can have.

So I open my heart to a receive a word from God

That will change my life forever.

This very idea has strengthened my faith. The idea that I am who God says I am. In Ephesians 6, Paul teaches us that we are in a spiritual battle. He then tells us how to put on our spiritual armour. In verse 16 it says to pick up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. I find it interesting that the flaming arrows often represent questioning our identity. He tries to get us to doubt our security as sons and daughters of God. If he can get us to look down upon ourselves due to our circumstances and keep us from entering boldly into God's presence, he will do so. It is in these times when we are often feeling really low, looking at our circumstances, staring at our weaknesses and being disgusted with ourselves where we do not have the strength to return fire and attack. But that is not what the scripture says. It says to lift the shield of faith. Faith is described above in the words, I am who God says I am. We choose to believe that God is who He says He is and we are who He says we are. So no matter what difficulty or trying time you might be facing, remember that by simply speaking those words aloud, you take away the enemy's power to steel, kill, and destroy what God is doing in your life.

So stand by faith today. God has a plan and He is faithful to complete His plan. It may not happen in our timing, it may require some suffering. We may even find ourselves questioning it, but His promises remain. Nd if He promises us something, we can rest assured that He will complete it. So stand firm, reminding yourself often of the above statement, and know that God is moving on your behalf and He longs to give you all that He has reserved for you.

The Power of our Testimony

In John Chapter Eleven we read about a story where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. It is a familiar story and I love to use it to minister to people about suffering. Many people suffered throughout the story. Lazarus suffered to the point of death. His sisters suffered wondering why Jesus stayed away when he had the power to heal. Those who had come to comfort them suffered with the reality of who this man Jesus really was. Why didn't he do something for someone he loved when he had done so much for strangers along the way. It even says that Jesus wept. He was overtaken by his emotions and the compassion he had for all those he loved who were hurting. Then He did the impossible: he brought a man back from the dead who had been dead for four days.

What struck me recently about this story is in the twelfth chapter of John, verses 9-11. A great number of Jews were coming to see Jesus and to witness with their own eyes Lazarus alive. As a result, the chief priests were seeking a way to kill Lazarus, because on account of his testimony, many Jews were becoming followers of Jesus. This struck me as I read it because when I started my ministry seven years ago I was told by God to share my testimony with every man he put in front of me, and he would open doors for me and take care of my family. That is what I have been doing ever since.

Being here in a new place, with people who think differently and do things differently I have been more hesitant to share my testimony. The biggest motivating factor was for fear of persecution. But when I read this passage and realized that my testimony is going to make the enemy afraid and I am going to be persecuted as a result, I have found a renewed passion to do what God has asked me to do. It is becoming clear that my doing so will probably make things more difficult here. But God never promised our lives would be easy when we follow him. He just promised He would take care of us. As I was praying about this today I got a peace that comes form knowing who has my back. The enemy, the world, other believers can only do to me what God allows them to. And every person who wants to shut me up or discourage me is another platform on which to share the good news.

Same Book, New Chapter

As we were preparing to move, all I knew of God's plans were what He revealed to me at the time. I wasn't sure if we would be doing the same thing we did in Minneapolis or if we would be doing something brand new. God told me that one of the purposes of the move was for Jean to be a resource to other people. That is starting to manifest itself here. She has been helping some friends of ours here in Tucson with their autistic son. He is making strides in how he communicates his needs and doing things differently than before. The purpose is to get people to see the big picture of where their child can and will be. If we look at our present struggles and circumstances through the lens of what it will accomplish in the future, we are empowered and encouraged instead of discouraged and hopeless. We were also able to make connections with the down syndrome community here. I see big possibilities for Jean and her business. She has already been approached by parents who want to help their children read and communicate more effectively.

One of the things that is helping Jean is that she has been hired by a local school district. This district is very cutting edge in how they do inclusion. In fact her job as a special-ed teacher will be to work closely with a team of adults that includes regular-ed teachers as well as para-professionals. They call this position an inclusion specialist. When I look at all the training she has received the last several years, and the lessons she has learned from Joseph and working with other educators, I am excited to see her do her dream job. My hope and prayer is that this opportunity will lead her to greater opportunities to affect long-term change in the disabilities community.

Another thing the Lord showed me was that I would reap the benefits of someone else sowing. And my previous post focuses on a focus on deliverance. Well I have been ministering alongside the Tucson Gospel Rescue Mission. The head chaplain for the men's facility has given me an open door to minister there. I have seen great opportunities to share my heart with the guys. Every week I am there, I see God send me men who are not new to recovery. The mission has done a great job of sowing into them and now God is sending them to me to reap the benefits. We are currently planning a Community of Men group that will focus on helping men who graduate from the recovery program get assimilated back into their community. I will work with the men to use the principles they have learned to change their lifestyles and build a support community or themselves. Right now, I am working with two guys, and my plan is to pour into them and prepare them to lead others into community in the future. So my opportunities are coming in what I know and what I am good at. But along with that is a new found focus on deliverance. The Lord has been showing me what spiritual strongholds are present here and preparing in me the knowledge and approach to battling them. So I will focus on three main components in my ministry here: breaking spiritual strongholds, healing prayer and strategies for living out our deliverance and healing. Stay tuned for more information, and thanks for your support and prayers.

The Front Line

It has been brought to my attention recently that Tucson is a demonic gateway to the United States. What this means is that there is a greater openness to the supernatural. And it also means that there are several demonic influences allowed to have influence here. It is basically like there is a battle going on over the border. Satan has always had control of the border, allowing certain things to flow into the United States through Tucson. But God is sending people to Tucson who are equipped to do spiritual battle and take back the border. In other words, God is going to do something in the United States, but it will not come until the borders have been taken back from the enemy.

This information fills in the blank for me about why we are here. While I was preparing to come on this move, I had several times of worship and prayer. Often during these times God would show me visions and things that were pieces of a puzzle, but not the whole thing. Many of them had to do with spiritual warfare, secrets of the enemy and what strongholds are prevalent today. He told me during one of these times that He was going to send me somewhere to make preparations; to begin to prepare for a move of God. During one vision, I saw myself doing demonic deliverance in a large church service setting, and saw training centers where people were trained to help people walk out their deliverance.

This information also makes sense when I see all the spiritual opposition that we have faced since we have been down here. The enemy has tried to put wedges between Jean and I, turning little things into giant things that make us question each other and not want to work together as a team. We can't seem to get too settled because our minds are bombarded with worries and doubts and fears. We see so many reasons why us moving here makes no sense. We gave up great schools in Minneapolis and great jobs and ministries to have to start all over again. We are having difficulty finding employment and are in need of another vehicle. But we don't have the resources to buy one right now. We believe God and His promise to provide for us, I just point these things out as the types of things the enemy is telling us.

When we moved into our apartment complex the Lord told me He was giving it to me. He had me walk around the complex for six days and on the seventh day to do it seven times. What the Lord showed me was amazing. On the last time around I saw a vision of demons that were allowed to reign in this place. They were bound by the wrist and their mouths were covered so they could not speak. Then He told me they were bound for ninety days and I was free to minister without opposition for that period of time. It has been awesome to see the opportunities I have had to share with some of my neighbors. They are open to the good news and several have expressed interest in studying the Bible further.

We have also seen God perform miracles right before our eyes. Every week people are getting miraculously healed of diseases, including cancer. Doctors continue to be baffled by what they are seeing. Demons are being forced to release their grips on people's lives and people are walking in freedom from depression, and fear, and other physical manifestations.

The greatest thing we have experienced do far, however has been God invading us with His love. We have been participating in an intensive discipleship program for the past three weeks. The teachings, the devotions, the journaling has opened Jean and I up to see God completely differently and ourselves differently as well. Just today I was floored by the idea that God created me in order to show me His love and His blessings, that Jesus willingly went to the cross to win me back and that He is preparing a place for me so that we can be together forever. I am motivated more than ever to participate with Him in what He is doing in Tucson.

Will you pray for us? Will you allow God to use you to fight this battle or souls, for families, for freedom, for an invading of the world with His love?

Bound By the Spirit

"And now behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me." Acts 20:22-23

These were Paul's words to the men that he had discipled. They were afraid for him, because the Holy Spirit had warned them that Paul would be bound. Yet Paul's response was that he was already bound by the Spirit. His future was secure because he knew who was leading him. There are three reflections based on what Paul was saying that I want to share with you, and then let you know how this affects Jean and I as well.

First, none of who are followers of Jesus Christ is in charge of our future. When we make Jesus our Lord and master, we give Him control over our decisions, our actions, even our thoughts and beliefs. We recognize that God is sovereign and His knowledge and power are far greater than anything we can come up with on our own. Paul said that when he referred to being bound by the Spirit. He had to go to Jerusalem, there was something inside of him that made any alternative uncomfortable.

Second, we have no control over the outcome of our obedience. Paul knew that every town he went to he would face opposition, some more severe than others. But he did not let the possible outcomes stop him from fulfilling his mission. He was driven by a force that was more powerful than human reason and intellect. He constantly went into a hostile environment because he was sold out to his mission. We too, need to live our lives the same way.

Third, Whatever happens, just roll with it. Paul would go into a town and didn't know if it would be a quick passing through or if he would have to set up shop and stay there a few years. But he had no where else to be. His primary focus in ministry was the task that laid before him. That is how we need to live our lives as well.

As I reflected on this passage this week, I was struck by this thought. If we had known the obstacles we would have faced in Tucson thus far beforehand, could we have gone with such confidence? I knew we would face difficulty, but I thought things would be easier than this. Faced with this realization, I have come to the conclusion that I too am bound by the Spirit. I do not know what the future holds, nor do I know what the outcome will be of our move. All I can do is roll with it and whatever happens, its His will. I pray that you will come to a similar place in your life as well.

A Quick Update

I wanted to post a quick update for those of you who are following our blog posts. We are staying in an apartment complex that is rich with opportunity. The weather here causes people to want to be outside, which suits our family perfectly. We have met a lot of the children in the complex and I have had some great conversations in the laundry room getting to know others, hearing their stories and looking for points of connection. We have been richly blessed by our new church family in Tucson. They have been quick to offer us encouragement, invitations for dinner and even physical blessings. We moved into our apartment with nothing, and now it is mostly furnished thanks to others who have blessed us with their extras. God is faithful to provide when we walk in obedience to him.

Jean and I have found a school that we believe will be the best fit for the boys. We are excited to get them into school and allow them to begin to make new friends and gain new experiences through that. Nothing is without its challenges though. Many of the things we were able to do for Joseph's education will be a challenge down here. But God has assured us that He is advocating for Joseph. He would not call us here without providing for the needs of our family. So we just have to trust Him with things thsat we have no control over and pray for favor as we begin to affect educators in Tucson.

I will begin building a Tucson chapter of Community of Men next week. It is difficult when I am an outsider and unknown here. I have nothing to go on except God's promise to me seven years ago when I first started the ministry. He told me to share my story, He will open doors that I cannot, and He will provide for my family. That has been the case the last seven years, and I trust it will be moving forward as well. God Bless!

Hurry Up and Wait!

The title of this post really fits well with how I have been feeling the last few days. I want to give you an update of what has happened and explain myeelings about it as well. I spent a lot of time the last several months preparing for this move. We gave all our stuff away, we said all our goodbyes. We rented out our house, and quit all our jobs. We went round and round trying to figure out wha God was doing, and waiting to see what would happen. When He told me to head to Arizona I was feeling nothing but excitement. I couldn-'t wait to see what God had for us to do whatever it was I was ready for it. Whenever I come blindly into anew city I usually start with looking up a church in my denomination because it gives me some instant credibility and there is shared values and beliefs. So we prayed about it and went to a church that we've.t God was directing us to. It turned out to beexactlywhat wehad hoped. An awesome church, with a heart for discipleship and building community, am emphasis on accountability and training up leaders. That fits with what God has been showing me for a while. Th pastor and his wife have a child with autism and that caused us to relate to one another on a whole other level as well. So things were lining up and it seemed like God had laid things out.

Then I began to realize that I have entered into a whole new world. This culture is very different from the one I was raised in and even from theone I have lived and ministered I for the last fifteen years. I realized that it would not be a quick transition but that I had some learning to do, and that I have to put in the time to build relationships and earn people's trust, because I am very clearly an outsider. Jean and I are up for the challenge. Butwerealizedthat we had to be committed for the long haul if we are to see God's purpose for us here come to fruition. So we are looking for housing and facing the realization that we need to find work, find furniture, and find some sort of school for the boys to attend.

How am I feeling about all this? Mixed emotions would describe it pretty good. I was not thinking Iq would hurry up and wait. But God told me that this pastor has something to deposit into me while I am here. It is something that I will need for my future ministry. He also told me that Wewill be a blessing to this church as well. I have to trust God in everything, and He continues to ask more anymore of me. I have no where else to go, and noting else to do but to trust the Lord and to wait for Him to make our paths straight as we acknowledge Him in all our ways.

I am currently typing this from my iPad which makes editing documents more difficult. I ologize for the gram

A week of rest, learning, and preparation

It has been a week now since we packed up our stuff and moved, and what a week it has been. We spent some time visiting friends and family in Nebraska and Colorado. We have been figuring out this homeschooling thing and it has not been easy. We made it through the first week. I have anew appreciation for teachers. I can't hardly teach two at a time let alone a whole classroom at once. We visited three national parks, the Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde in Colorado and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We also spent a lot of time driving through mountains and experiencing Indian reservations and extreme poverty that goes unnoticed by so many, myself included. I never knew that poeple lived in such poverty stricken situations right here in the richest nation in the world.

Today, we will finish our journey to Tucson. We do not know if this is our final destination or just a first stop among many. But we are anxious to find out. I was up early again this morning, spending time in God's presence so as to receive the assurance and confidence I need to lead my family on to our next phase of ministry. I appreciate your prayers. It has been difficult living out of a suitcase and staying with other people. We take for granted the comforts we have of doing things on our own terms, even being able to cook our own food and sit for a moment and watch some t.v. But more than that, I am having to lead my family completely on faith, be ause I can only plan with the limited information that I have been given. So I hope to update you all soon when we know more. All I know for sure is God wants me in Tucson today and we are planning to attend a church tomorrow, one which I believe the Lord is directing us too. And there are hurting people there. That's a given no matter where we go. And one more thing, God is already there, and I am anxious to meet up with His plans in Tucson. Stay tuned and God bless!

No pressure!

I was feeling it for the last few days. All these people were following my family and waiting to see what God was going to do. I was feeling this heavy weight, this desire to have people see something amazing. My thoughts went to a place of doubt. What if nothing happens? What if I get in the car and nothing happens? What will I tell people if this happens.

Sensing how I was feeling, the Lord began to minister to me this morning. He told me that I couldn't fail. This was a win win situation because it was His plan for my family and anywhere we ends up would be a part of His plan. Talk about freeing. I just have to stick to what I do. Everywhere I go there are hurting individuals praying for someone to help them.

As Iwas praying this morning, I heard the Lord tell me to go to Arizona. That is just like God, to send us to a place that we have never been and have no contacts. It creates a greater dependence on Him. We don't know how long we are to be there or what we will be doing, but we are heading I that direction. The Lord spoke to me as we were driving and said to be there by next weekend. So we will be making a few stops along the way. Stay tuned for further updates. And remember, it's God's plan, so no pressure.

Thanks for your prayers and support! Feel free to call, email, or skype us.

The Battle is Waging

Here we are, just a few days away from beginning the next phase of our journey. I want to take a moment to update you on the latest and then let you know how you can be praying for us. Last week our van, the one we use to pull our trailer. The one we were set to use to go wherever the Lord led us, the engine went out on it. This was a tough blow. The Lord wanted to get us to a point where our dependence was completely on Him. But He provided us with a newer vehicle, one that is a little more durable and will have no problem towing anything we need it to anywhere in the United States. Two days after purchasing this vehicle, He also provided us with a renter, who will cover our house expenses for at least a year. Now, our focus can be on what lies ahead and not on unfinished business in Minneapolis. We also gave away all of our furniture. We have about a dozen bins in the rafters of the garage left to come back for later. Other than that, we have a trunk and trailer full of stuff and our trust in God. So we are about ready to go.

One of the things Jean and I both agreed upon was to approach this last week not just as a week to prepare to leave, but as a week to prepare for something else. I do not have the luxury of just going and resting somewhere, because I need to be focused and alert to how the Holy Spirit is leading my family. Will you say a prayer for us? We are finding it difficult to transition. Moving is a lot more work than we realized and given we don't know where we are going, what we will need, or how long we will be on the road, it is tough to decide what to keep, what to store and what to give away. Also, the spiritual opposition we are facing has been intensified. I am used to the warfare given the type of ministry I do, but it has been turned up a few notches the last couple of weeks. We are dealing with poor nights of sleep, extra cranky and defiant children, as well as temptations.

So as we spend the next few days finishing up preparing, will you commit to praying for us? I have prayed everyday that every member of my family would be covered in the blood of Jesus. I have prayed for faith to increase and for the peace of God to overtake any worry and doubt. And I have prayed for the courage to keep moving forward when the temptations come to retreat and go back. Will you join me in this journey of prayer? And come back in a few days to find out how God is answewring your prayers and ours. God Bless!