The "Extra Stash"

I finally got to do something I’ve wanted for a long time.  For so long, I’ve wanted to have an “extra” bible in my car, just in case I am talking with someone and they need one.   I never got one though, because they were always more than I could afford easily.

While I was still in Canada, several people blessed me with some US cash and I had made assumptions on what that could be used for (boy was I wrong), but I didn’t have any clear directions on for what.  While I was at Hobby Lobby this week, I was walking around just as time filler while I was asking God for clarity on something completely different when I was walking and looking through the Clarence section and I noticed a bunch of Spanish Bibles on sale.  As I was looking through them I noticed a couple of English ones too.  Later I found a huge section of them and they were all more than half off!   I wanted to get one and as I was asking God about that He allowed me to use the whole $100 to “stock up” on a handful of them.  I heard Him say, “as many as you buy I will use.”   I only had $110ish cash so I bought 8 different bibles (2 turquoise, 1 purple, 1 pink, 2 brown, 1 black, and 1 dark blue), they are all ESV, NIV or NKJV.   As I was buying them I had lots of peace and excitement, but God also then gave me a bit more clarity and peace on the original question I had asked Him before I “stumbled” upon the bibles.  

God is so good!    I love serving Him and for Him!  

The Big Switch

Well, I decided to make the Big Switch.    I will be going from a flip phone to an iPhone.    I am currently in Illinois without a working phone and the carrier can't put my flip phone on their system.    I am expecting to get my iPhone in the mail tomorrow, and I can then set it up with a new number.   I have not made this decision lightly (my last 4 or 5 phones were flip phones - I LOVE them).  I have taken my decision to a handful of close friends and, of course, God, and I have felt peace about proceeding down this path.    I have had some wise counsel from some friends who have made the switch to an iPhone and I think it's something that I should do as well.   Previously, and currently, my hesitation with getting a "Smartphone" is that it brings with it a huge open door for new temptations that I don't want.  It also would make it easier for me to become addicted to my phone and spend unnecessary time on it.  It also brings with it a list of new expenses that I don't want and that I can't afford, such as a case, screen protector and any costs if something breaks - my flip phone is nearly indestructible.  However on the other hand it will be easier to stay connected with friends up in Canada and will be a convenience in a handful of areas.  I also won't have to take my laptop everywhere I want to listen to music (my iPod Touch is too out of date).    So, with much prayer and talking with other friends, I have decided to make the switch.   Once I get my phone and set it up, I will text all my contacts my new number.    If you don't get a text from me, let me know and I can give you my number.

Locked Out

Tuesday June 27^th 2017

10:31 pm  -  I am “trapped” out of my current living location, David’s house.   The code I was told to use to get into the house is incorrect.   Mom told me to write it down when she told it to me, but I thought I didn’t have to since I could easily remember that it was our countries birthday.   However either it is incorrect (which is true) or I have a bad memory.    Either way I cannot get in and I don’t have a phone (that has service) and I don’t have internet.   So I will be spending the night in my car with God.   I am praying that I don’t have to go to the bathroom and that someone (David or mom) will come and open the door so I can get in to eat breakfast in the morning.   I think mom said we need to leave around 9…. Or was it 9:30.    Either way I plan to be up by then.     I am very thankful that I left my jacket in the car and that I had pulled my super soft blanket out of the tub of blankets.   The tub of blankets was sent down here with Jonathan and he’s in Texas.   However I still have this blanket and I also have the big black sit-up pillow.  So I am all set.  Thank you God, Praise your name, you continue to provide in more ways than I can even imagine.  Thank you so much.  

Going Away Party

Sunday night, June 25^th 2017.

Sunday night was my Going away parting at the Kuepfers.  Though a lot of people couldn’t make it, a good amount of people still showed up.  We played games and talked and ate food. It was a lot of fun.  I got to go out and have some good, needed conversations with a good friend and I was really blessed to be able to have those conversations with him.   It was such a blessing to have that time that I did.  After a while we all went downstairs and sat on the couch and played on Jackbox.tv for a while.  I joined with my laptop.  I was hesitant to get my laptop as I didn’t want to be on electronics for the rest of the night.   I don’t feel like that is really, good quality time.  After a few rounds I was kind of done and didn’t want to continue, but I didn’t want to break anyone else’s fun.  I just went upstairs and sat alone with God.  I also was caught with the conflict that I wanted to host a hike Monday morning and I had told a lot of people about it – but I didn’t feel that was what God wanted me to do.   I was really conflicted with that.   While I was sitting in their dark dining room alone Janette, Brooke, and Dana came up and talked with me.  They sensed that something wasn’t sitting well with me and they wanted to know what and why and how they can help.  That alone really blessed me - that really made me feel more loved.   Then they sad down too and tuned on the lights and we talked for a while.  Inside I melted and I really felt God’s love and peace.   I was so blessed.  They blessed me more than I can say.  

Then after a while everyone that was downstairs came up to pray over me.  That was also really a blessing and encouraging.   I was so honoured by it and God really blessed me.   They prayed great encouragements and challenges over me (I loved it) and many blessings, it really meant a lot to me.  One of the cool things was Matt gave me the word of “a chicken with rocket boots”.   Strange, yet I’ve heard stranger words.  At first that was all that he had, but later God revealed to him, and then he told me, that “a chicken with rocket boots is like a boat with wings.” (a word Matt had given me a while back that God had unpacked for me: )

{the boat with wings word:  It has 2 parts, Part 1: “A boad with wings and a jet engine can fly.”   Part 2: “When a plane flies it’s still a boat.”   A man with relationships on the word of God can do many great miracles.  The boat is Man.   The wings are Relationships.  The jet engine is the Word of God.    When a man uses the Word of God as the power to relationships and the power for movement, many great miracles can happen. –The man can do great miracles.  He may have the relationships and the Word of God, but if he doesn’t use them or let the Word of God have power to move, he will still float.   – Am I letting the Word of God have power to move? – As a man, will I bob in the water or soar in the air?   (Part 2) When I soar with God, His power, relationships and miracles, I am still a man.}

Also, another friend “gave” me his watch.  He felt God prompting him to give it to me – he said for the past few weeks he hasn’t felt peace when he has put on his watch.  So now he’s letting me barrow his watch until I return.   My first thoughts were along the lines of, “Though time ticks on, God’s love and faithfulness never fail.”  I am so honoured by this.  When I look at this watch now, I am reminded of God’s love and faithfulness that is unfailing. 

Then next day, at the Embassy, yet another friend also gave me a necklace of a cross with the Lord’s prayer on it.   He has the matching ring.   When I look at this necklace I am reminded of God’s love through all my friends up in Canada, and how He has blessed me so.   Again, I was honoured that he would give me this.