Just a glimpse into our lives following JESUS as He leads us to serve Him in the nations. Thanks for stopping by!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
April 2013 Prayer Letter
Exciting news for our family! Please read this months prayer letter in its entirity!
Praise Jesus for His amazing plan for our lives!
We love hearing from you! Please leave us a comment, question, or encouragement!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Happy 11th Birthday, Isabelle!
Yesterday we celebrated 11 years of the life of our precious Isabelle.
Born three weeks early, you were a tiny, bundle of joy wrapped up in pink and delivered just in time for my 24th birthday. You were adored by everyone who met you, especially your big brother, Ethan. He would sing to you, talk to you, bring you toys to play with, and was constantly touching your head, hands, or feet.
Born three weeks early, you were a tiny, bundle of joy wrapped up in pink and delivered just in time for my 24th birthday. You were adored by everyone who met you, especially your big brother, Ethan. He would sing to you, talk to you, bring you toys to play with, and was constantly touching your head, hands, or feet.
Here you are precious girl, just a few weeks old. This is the outfit your brother came home from the hospital in. You are swimming in it, but you still look cute as a button!
Here you are with your Great Grandpa McClain, Ponca. He loved you so much, Isabelle.
And here you are at two months old with your big brother. This is how we often found him...curled up next to you. You were the best of friends.
As you grew, we realized that you were fiercly independant, determined, and tough enough to hold your own. 
You still loved your big brother and he loved you...
You love spending time with all of your family,
Trip to Nicaragua with Mimi
Carving pumpkins with Pappy and Mimi
Fifth birthday party with Samantha
Early Thanksgiving get together 2009 with McCarty family and Uncle Sam and Samantha
You love riding the tractor with Pappy,
and doing things with your hands like playing Legos with Ethan or doing crafts...
Once your little sister came along, you loved her right away...
there were some tough times for you trying to figure out who your best buddy was...
It seems to have all worked out and you all three love each other to pieces...
You are a friend to all, wherever you go...
from Costa Rica...
to Montana...
Jesus in you shines through...
We love you so much, Izzy. There is no one else like you and you are perfect for our family...
We hope and pray your day was super special...because you are super special to us. We love you and are so thankful God gave you to us. You are still very determined, strong-willed, and independant. And we see God growing you and using those characteristics to bring Him glory. We see your kind heart, your compassion, and your love for others, and it spurs us on to be more like that. We see that you are often the peacemaker amongst your friends. We see that you often sacrifice your desires to please the group. We see that and we know that all off that is because you have Jesus living inside of you and HE guides your actions. we love you for that. You struggle with different things, you get overwhelmed, and sometimes you act out in anger or break down in tears...and don't know why. We understand that, because it happens to us too. We are all learning together how to be more like Jesus, but you, Isabelle Adair, bring great joy to us and keep us pressing on.
We love you so much!
Happy birthday!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
March 2013 Prayer Letter
The following is from an email sent to ministry supporters and loved ones and below as well you'll find our March prayer letter.
We joyfully write to you this month, rejoicing in the fact that our names are written in the Book of Life and have eternal life with Christ! We rejoice because we serve a risen Savior, Jesus Christ! He loves us and He loves each of you, as well.We know that some of you have not ever quite understood why we live the life we live. We offer you the hope today that resides in our hearts and shapes our lives. It is the hope we have in Jesus.He gave His life for each one of us, including each of you! God, the Father, the Creator of all things, sent His Son Jesus to this earth, to die for every person every born, every person living today and every person who ever will be born. That means that Jesus died for each of YOU! Every person has a void in their life that only Jesus can fill. You see, we were each created to love God, although each one of us must make the choice to love Him more than we love ourselves or anything else. He chose you when He went to the cross...and today we ask, will You chose Him?If you've never given your life to Jesus and made Him your LORD, we urge you to meet with Him today. It is as simple as having a conversation over coffee with your best friend or your spouse. Jesus is God, our Creator, our Savior, and yet, our friend.
If you have questions about all of this and want to know more about Jesus, please PLEASE do not hesitate to contact us by leaving a comment or emailing us.
Friday, February 15, 2013
At once...
In some ways, our testimony is rare and unusual, and leaves people often scratching their heads wondering how exactly we made it to the mission field and how did we ever survive five years there?
Haha...well, we wonder that EVERY DAY! :)
I read Mark 1:1-28 today in the One Year Bible and was so incredibly encouraged by four guys whose story is quite similar to ours...their names are Andrew, Simon, James and John. Jesus was walking along, saw them, called them to follow him...and what did they do?
They did not wait years while studying in seminary to prepare themselves for service to the Lord.
(although there is nothing wrong with that)
They did not spend years raising over and beyond enough financial support.
They didn't even spend any time consulting the elders in their church or ministry leaders.
(although their is wisdom in this, as well)
They did not even tie up loose ends in their business or families.
Not one of them did any of these things.
They simply dropped what they were doing and, at once, followed Jesus!
James and John even left their father Zebedee in the fishing boat and just took off after Jesus.
(Imagine being Zebedee in the boat watching your two sons walk away from you and the family business as if it were nothing. Might our children have that same level of devotion to Jesus, oh Lord I pray!)
When the Lord called us into full time service to him, we were still baby Christians, un-trained, had not been discipled, still spiritually immature...yet, He clearly called, and so we followed. We sold everything, left family and friends and comfort behind, and just followed where He lead. We were so unaware of where we were going and of what lay ahead. Many times, we've felt completely lost, in over our heads, and utterly alone. But we've never lost sight or forgotten that it was Jesus that called to us and it is Him that we follow still today.
Our story probably still looks crazy and unconventional...and that's ok...because it IS! Hahaha...but it is OUR story! And God designed it! He ordained our days long before we came to be and we are here in Montana today because He planned it long ago. Last night was such a beautiful picture of that truth in our lives as we sat down yet again to discuss the Lord's will for our future.
He is finally uncovering important pieces of the puzzle and long-time separated pieces are now suddenly right next to each other on the table. He is fitting things together and we are just so amazed at the way the Lord does what only He can do!
Lord, today I am thankful for Your Word, which clearly is a light unto my path. Thank You Lord for Potter's Field, so much more than a ministry, Lord. You've given us a family, a team of believers united in the common goal of making much of You! Lord, our life is in Your hands. Your will is the absolute best for us and we surrender all of our desires unto You! Thank You for Your fingerprints all over our lives and that You have not let that slip by us, but have made it totally obvious to us. Thank You Lord, for the opportunity to die to self and serve You today!
Haha...well, we wonder that EVERY DAY! :)
I read Mark 1:1-28 today in the One Year Bible and was so incredibly encouraged by four guys whose story is quite similar to ours...their names are Andrew, Simon, James and John. Jesus was walking along, saw them, called them to follow him...and what did they do?
They did not wait years while studying in seminary to prepare themselves for service to the Lord.
(although there is nothing wrong with that)
They did not spend years raising over and beyond enough financial support.
They didn't even spend any time consulting the elders in their church or ministry leaders.
(although their is wisdom in this, as well)
They did not even tie up loose ends in their business or families.
Not one of them did any of these things.
They simply dropped what they were doing and, at once, followed Jesus!
James and John even left their father Zebedee in the fishing boat and just took off after Jesus.
(Imagine being Zebedee in the boat watching your two sons walk away from you and the family business as if it were nothing. Might our children have that same level of devotion to Jesus, oh Lord I pray!)
When the Lord called us into full time service to him, we were still baby Christians, un-trained, had not been discipled, still spiritually immature...yet, He clearly called, and so we followed. We sold everything, left family and friends and comfort behind, and just followed where He lead. We were so unaware of where we were going and of what lay ahead. Many times, we've felt completely lost, in over our heads, and utterly alone. But we've never lost sight or forgotten that it was Jesus that called to us and it is Him that we follow still today.
Our story probably still looks crazy and unconventional...and that's ok...because it IS! Hahaha...but it is OUR story! And God designed it! He ordained our days long before we came to be and we are here in Montana today because He planned it long ago. Last night was such a beautiful picture of that truth in our lives as we sat down yet again to discuss the Lord's will for our future.
He is finally uncovering important pieces of the puzzle and long-time separated pieces are now suddenly right next to each other on the table. He is fitting things together and we are just so amazed at the way the Lord does what only He can do!
Lord, today I am thankful for Your Word, which clearly is a light unto my path. Thank You Lord for Potter's Field, so much more than a ministry, Lord. You've given us a family, a team of believers united in the common goal of making much of You! Lord, our life is in Your hands. Your will is the absolute best for us and we surrender all of our desires unto You! Thank You for Your fingerprints all over our lives and that You have not let that slip by us, but have made it totally obvious to us. Thank You Lord, for the opportunity to die to self and serve You today!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
John 8:33 Inductive Bible Study (IBS)
IBS John 8:31-35 Feb 11-15
John 8:33
They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, "You will become free'?"
We read in previous verses in this chapter that Jesus is speaking with Jews here, and that some believed in Him. Jesus offers those whose interest has been perked, true freedom. But they still do not understand. Jesus has taken much time sharing TRUTH with these Jews. But sadly, they still do not get it.
I immediately think of two things when I read this verse.
The first is how for so long I was blind to my own sin. Before I met Jesus, I thought I was going to heaven because I was a good person. Then someone took the time to share TRUTH with me, just like Jesus did here with these Jews. Only by His grace, was my heart open and I recognized my sin...and that Jesus was the way to freedom! Even now sometimes, I do not recognize sin in my life. But I know that abiding in Him and His word reveals my sin and repentance and obedience to His word lead to freedom, even still today!
The second thing that comes to mind as I read this verse is my unsaved family members. As I read through the entire chapter of John 8, I see that Jesus takes the time to explain to the Jews who He is, the light of the world. He countered their claims of his false testimony by presenting their own law stating that the testimony of two people is true and that His own testimony is true because His Father's testimony bears witness to His own. He then offers them hope in who His Father is- one who does not abandon those who love Him to please Him. At this point some have a glimpse of understanding, but unfortunately, they are like the seed thrown on the path. Instantly it seems, whatever glimmer of belief existed has been snatched away.
Jesus is patient with the Jews as He explains to them the Truth of His word and how they will find freedom if they live out what He is teaching them and remain close to them. How often I've had conversations like this one between Jesus and the Jews with my unsaved family members. Sometimes there is no glimmer of hope and the conversation dies before it even starts. Often, there seems to be a ray of hope, even belief, but yet there is no living out of what was heard, no fruit of being a disciple.
I'm encouraged today by Jesus's example to us to be persistent in sharing Truth with the lost, especially my unsaved family members.
Application: Today I will share this passage with an unsaved family member and ask her again if she understands the gift Jesus is offering her of freedom and eternal life.
Friday, February 1, 2013
IBS (first attempt)
One of the many things Matt is doing here at Potter's Field Ranch is sitting in on classes with the interns. I rarely am able to sit in on classes simply because I am homeschooling our children or preparing for Spanish classes, or working on other things. This week however, I was able to catch my first IBS class with Pastor G. It was such a blessing and quite possibly one of the best hours I have spent while on the Ranch. What a simple, yet profound way to study the scriptures! And what and incredible blessing these 12 young people have in this community of beleivers with which they have the privilege of studying God's Word.
One of the students asked me to come back to class...so I took down the rest of the week's assigned scriptures.
Here is my first attempt at IBS.
1 Corinthians 12:11
"All of these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." ESV
Often, I limit God and put him in a box. My only conclusion for why I do this is because I recognize that I myself am limited and therefore my inclination is to follow the logic that my gift is only as useful as I am capable.
This scripture clearly states that it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that gifts are given and demonstrated in the life of a believer. Therefore it is not dependent on MY ability, MY strength, MY determination or even MY will, what gift I have or how I should use that gift.
"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." NKJV
The gifts that have been given to me come directly from God himself and are chosen specifically for me because God has a unique purpose for my life and the use of those very gifts are an intricate part of His perfect plan and purpose for me. He alone has decided the perfect gift for me.
Could it be that this is completely and utterly overwhelming to me? Could the truth really be that He loves me so much that He put so much thought into creating me, that from before time He picked out a special gift for me and created an intricate, detailed plan for my life that revolves around me using that gift and that by doing so I will not only be serving Him, but serving ALL my brothers and sisters in Christ?
Could His wisdom be so infinite that this is true not only just for me, but for each and every child of the Living God?
Romans 12:4-6 (NKJV)
"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..."
YES! again and again -YES! Each one of us has the exact same measure of love poured out upon us. We each have the same blessing given to us. Which means that not one is greater than another. We each have a gift unique to the plan the Father has for us, and that gift is intricately connected to the well being of other believers, therefore is woven into the lives of other believers in the body of Christ.
When we look at the human body, there are individual parts that function on their own. Which is to say that the heart functions to pump blood throughout the entire body. That is it's function. Yet, that specific function is intricately connected to the every other part of the body. If it were to stop working, it would shut down the entire body. If we were to look into all the parts of the body, we would surely discover parts that we could seemingly live without. The human body can survive without the spleen. The spleen is a small organ that helps our bodies fight infection by warding off antibodies and removing bacteria from the blood. When the spleen is removed due to injury or for a transplant, other body parts, such as the liver or lymph nodes, begin to play a bigger role in your immune system. As a result of not having a spleen, your body is more susceptible to illness. Without a spleen, infections can be deadly if not treated right away.
Isn't that just what Paul is saying to us through this illustration about the body and the way each member of the body functions? I may feel inadequate in my gifting. Or I may feel pretty self-righteous in my gifting. Neither is ok because it is by the WILL of the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD that I have the gift that I have, not due to any merit on my part. It's not about me! It's about HIM!
In a body without a spleen, other organs work harder to make up for the lack of the spleen. It is possible for the body to survive and function and get the daily job of keeping the human alive done, but it will never be the same as having the spleen itself in the body. Likewise in the body of Christ. If I am not working and functioning fully in the Spirit, my gift will not be manifested in the way God intended, nor will I demonstrate fully the power of the Holy Spirit if I chose to rely on my own strength or understanding. Other members of the body of Christ will have to work harder in my absence or due to my lack of fully using my gift. The Body of Christ will still manage to function without me, but it will not be the same as if I were fulfilling the task for which I was uniquely created.
Application: I will seek The Lord, asking him to confirm my gifting, and praising him for fearfully and wonderfully making me . I will thank him for the gifts he has given me and thank him for the ways I have seen him use my gift in my life. I will thank him for his perfect will in my life. I will actively look for ways to use my gift today.
What Happens to Your Body Without a Spleen? Read more: | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_
One of the students asked me to come back to class...so I took down the rest of the week's assigned scriptures.
Here is my first attempt at IBS.
1 Corinthians 12:11
"All of these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." ESV
Often, I limit God and put him in a box. My only conclusion for why I do this is because I recognize that I myself am limited and therefore my inclination is to follow the logic that my gift is only as useful as I am capable.
This scripture clearly states that it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that gifts are given and demonstrated in the life of a believer. Therefore it is not dependent on MY ability, MY strength, MY determination or even MY will, what gift I have or how I should use that gift.
"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." NKJV
The gifts that have been given to me come directly from God himself and are chosen specifically for me because God has a unique purpose for my life and the use of those very gifts are an intricate part of His perfect plan and purpose for me. He alone has decided the perfect gift for me.
Could it be that this is completely and utterly overwhelming to me? Could the truth really be that He loves me so much that He put so much thought into creating me, that from before time He picked out a special gift for me and created an intricate, detailed plan for my life that revolves around me using that gift and that by doing so I will not only be serving Him, but serving ALL my brothers and sisters in Christ?
Could His wisdom be so infinite that this is true not only just for me, but for each and every child of the Living God?
Romans 12:4-6 (NKJV)
"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..."
YES! again and again -YES! Each one of us has the exact same measure of love poured out upon us. We each have the same blessing given to us. Which means that not one is greater than another. We each have a gift unique to the plan the Father has for us, and that gift is intricately connected to the well being of other believers, therefore is woven into the lives of other believers in the body of Christ.
When we look at the human body, there are individual parts that function on their own. Which is to say that the heart functions to pump blood throughout the entire body. That is it's function. Yet, that specific function is intricately connected to the every other part of the body. If it were to stop working, it would shut down the entire body. If we were to look into all the parts of the body, we would surely discover parts that we could seemingly live without. The human body can survive without the spleen. The spleen is a small organ that helps our bodies fight infection by warding off antibodies and removing bacteria from the blood. When the spleen is removed due to injury or for a transplant, other body parts, such as the liver or lymph nodes, begin to play a bigger role in your immune system. As a result of not having a spleen, your body is more susceptible to illness. Without a spleen, infections can be deadly if not treated right away.
Isn't that just what Paul is saying to us through this illustration about the body and the way each member of the body functions? I may feel inadequate in my gifting. Or I may feel pretty self-righteous in my gifting. Neither is ok because it is by the WILL of the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD that I have the gift that I have, not due to any merit on my part. It's not about me! It's about HIM!
In a body without a spleen, other organs work harder to make up for the lack of the spleen. It is possible for the body to survive and function and get the daily job of keeping the human alive done, but it will never be the same as having the spleen itself in the body. Likewise in the body of Christ. If I am not working and functioning fully in the Spirit, my gift will not be manifested in the way God intended, nor will I demonstrate fully the power of the Holy Spirit if I chose to rely on my own strength or understanding. Other members of the body of Christ will have to work harder in my absence or due to my lack of fully using my gift. The Body of Christ will still manage to function without me, but it will not be the same as if I were fulfilling the task for which I was uniquely created.
Application: I will seek The Lord, asking him to confirm my gifting, and praising him for fearfully and wonderfully making me . I will thank him for the gifts he has given me and thank him for the ways I have seen him use my gift in my life. I will thank him for his perfect will in my life. I will actively look for ways to use my gift today.
What Happens to Your Body Without a Spleen? Read more: | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Insightful article on sexual abuse
Completely encouraged and thankful for this post here today.
May you be educated, encouraged and thankful as well.
(Disclaimer: My re-posting of this article does not in any way mean that our children have been sexually abused. I am not re-posting it for that reason. However, I find this article extremely valuable and insightful, and it encourages me, as I learn and heal from wounds in my own past and for that reason I share it).
May you be educated, encouraged and thankful as well.
(Disclaimer: My re-posting of this article does not in any way mean that our children have been sexually abused. I am not re-posting it for that reason. However, I find this article extremely valuable and insightful, and it encourages me, as I learn and heal from wounds in my own past and for that reason I share it).
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Living, Loving, and Learning
There is so much the Lord is teaching us in our time living here on the mountain in Montana. I wrote in the last post about how no one comes to this place without a direct call from God. That truth has been re-playing itself over and over in my hear this past week. We've been here a little over a month now, living life day by day. We are finding our way, carving out our place, and fitting into the routine. We feel like we 'fit' despite the days when it is hard to make sense of it all. We've been assured that we fit and welcomed in as part of the family here. That makes a world of difference.
That thought struck me this early morning. How being assured we 'fit' helped ease our anxieties about being in this new place...when all along our heavenly Father has assured us that this is where we 'fit' best. We have always felt the Lord's unmistakable peace about coming to Montana to the ranch. We have always felt that this was His perfect plan. We have always felt that He was divinely directing our paths, even though we could not even begin to understand why,
So, why, I ask myself this morning, did I need the reassurance of those here once we got here?
In my flesh, I wanted to hear it...and, in His grace, the Lord responded.
But, He also has continued to speak. Over and over since we have arrived, we have heard the phrase "for such a time as this." You may recognize this as the very words Mordecai spoke to Queen Esther, encouraging her to use her position and power as Queen to fight for her people. We truly believe that we are here in this place for such a time as this. The Lord continues to confirm this in our hearts. We have no position or power, but we are part of a tight knit group of believers who are sold out for Jesus. They are followers of Jesus who count the cost daily and follow Him wherever He leads. We can see the hand of God in bringing us here for such a time as this. He is revealing His plan to us little by little and it is undeniable that we are here at this time for a very specific purpose.
We are confident that even before time began, the God of heaven, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, knew and PLANNED that we would be here in this very place at this very time.
Stop and reflect on that for a moment..do you truly believe in God's sovereignty in your life?
This has become more real to me than ever before in my life. Hearing the stories of how people came to arrive here at PFM, reveals this truth more and more to me. Each week, listening to the teaching of Pastor Bob Coy from Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale, pieces begin to seemingly fit together and we become more and more aware of how chance or accident or happenstance just cannot be the answer to the way life works out like it does.
The TRUTH is that God has know from the beginning of time and He works out His plan in our lives day by day. He is sovereign and He is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. We believe that more than ever in these days. We still find ourselves wondering "Why me, Lord?" yet we trust in Him and believe His ways are perfect and so we press on.
We know God is preparing us in our time here on the mountain. We are beginning to understand the details. But in these days, He has given both of us the clear message to wait on Him as He works. That is often the hardest thing. Yet, I am reminded of the song we sang often at Capilla del Calvario in Villarreal, and now sing often here, that reminds us that there is strength when we wait upon the Lord. I'm reminded that we as humans often grow weak and weary as we wait, but the Lord never does. I'm reminded that we are a people who are weak, fail, are without hope and eventually all die. But our God never fails, is strong and mighty, He alone is our hope, our Strong Deliverer and he reigns forever!
I am so thankful today for the Lord's grace and mercy and hand upon my life. We are learning to love in these days. We are learning to die to ourselves and to our desires and to our wants. We are learning to be servants, and to die to the desire to be served. We are learning more and more about just how much our Great God loves us and cares for us, and in turn we are learning how to love more freely, more openly, and more lavishly.
Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. We thank each one of you who continues to support our family through love and prayers and giving!
May the Lord bless each and every one of you today!
That thought struck me this early morning. How being assured we 'fit' helped ease our anxieties about being in this new place...when all along our heavenly Father has assured us that this is where we 'fit' best. We have always felt the Lord's unmistakable peace about coming to Montana to the ranch. We have always felt that this was His perfect plan. We have always felt that He was divinely directing our paths, even though we could not even begin to understand why,
So, why, I ask myself this morning, did I need the reassurance of those here once we got here?
In my flesh, I wanted to hear it...and, in His grace, the Lord responded.
But, He also has continued to speak. Over and over since we have arrived, we have heard the phrase "for such a time as this." You may recognize this as the very words Mordecai spoke to Queen Esther, encouraging her to use her position and power as Queen to fight for her people. We truly believe that we are here in this place for such a time as this. The Lord continues to confirm this in our hearts. We have no position or power, but we are part of a tight knit group of believers who are sold out for Jesus. They are followers of Jesus who count the cost daily and follow Him wherever He leads. We can see the hand of God in bringing us here for such a time as this. He is revealing His plan to us little by little and it is undeniable that we are here at this time for a very specific purpose.
We are confident that even before time began, the God of heaven, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, knew and PLANNED that we would be here in this very place at this very time.
Stop and reflect on that for a moment..do you truly believe in God's sovereignty in your life?
This has become more real to me than ever before in my life. Hearing the stories of how people came to arrive here at PFM, reveals this truth more and more to me. Each week, listening to the teaching of Pastor Bob Coy from Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale, pieces begin to seemingly fit together and we become more and more aware of how chance or accident or happenstance just cannot be the answer to the way life works out like it does.
The TRUTH is that God has know from the beginning of time and He works out His plan in our lives day by day. He is sovereign and He is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. We believe that more than ever in these days. We still find ourselves wondering "Why me, Lord?" yet we trust in Him and believe His ways are perfect and so we press on.
We know God is preparing us in our time here on the mountain. We are beginning to understand the details. But in these days, He has given both of us the clear message to wait on Him as He works. That is often the hardest thing. Yet, I am reminded of the song we sang often at Capilla del Calvario in Villarreal, and now sing often here, that reminds us that there is strength when we wait upon the Lord. I'm reminded that we as humans often grow weak and weary as we wait, but the Lord never does. I'm reminded that we are a people who are weak, fail, are without hope and eventually all die. But our God never fails, is strong and mighty, He alone is our hope, our Strong Deliverer and he reigns forever!
I am so thankful today for the Lord's grace and mercy and hand upon my life. We are learning to love in these days. We are learning to die to ourselves and to our desires and to our wants. We are learning to be servants, and to die to the desire to be served. We are learning more and more about just how much our Great God loves us and cares for us, and in turn we are learning how to love more freely, more openly, and more lavishly.
Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. We thank each one of you who continues to support our family through love and prayers and giving!
May the Lord bless each and every one of you today!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Olney, Montana...Only God!
Olney, Montana...That's the name of our new home...Where is that? you ask. Well, follow Highway 93 North almost to Canada and you'll find it...go on to Mile Marker 148 and make a left and you'll find the Potter's Field ranch nestled into the Montana mountains, the thick green evergreens, and lots and lots of powdery white snow...
See, the thing is...nobody really comes to Olney, Montana...unless directed here by God. One former Potter's Field Intern named his blog 'Olney, Montana...Only God' for that very reason. No one makes their way to Mile Marker 148 and 0.7 miles unless they are being lead by Jesus himself.
We are exactly 24 miles from the nearest town- Whitefish, Montana. So, if you think about that statement- we are 48 miles round trip from the nearest grocery store, gas station, civilization!!! Have you ever heard stories about grizzly mountain men...only coming into town every so often for supplies...and when they do they have this wide-eyed, stir-crazy look about them?
Yeah...that is SO true! And so our life now! Hahahaha...
I'm painting you a picture of real Montana life...but it isn't really our life :) But we do only go into 'town' about once a week for shopping purposes. We have chapel services once a week and church once a week. Other than that, we live at the ranch, surrounded by twelve Ignite program interns and a handful of on-site staff. When we all do get into town, we all do probably have that wide-eyed look about us, though...hahaha...
We moved from Costa Rica back to the United States about 3 months ago. WOW! It has gone by so fast! We lived in Indiana for about a month visiting with family and ministry partners. then we began a three-week road trip across the United States, visiting family and ministry partners along the way! It was an amazing three-weeks! We have memories that none of us will ever forget! We saw parts of the United States and God's creation that are absolutely amazing!
We arrived in Montana on December 20th, 2012. Just in time for Christmas! Our first White Christmas in about 6 years! Our first Christmas spent with family in about that long! Our parents were able to be with us this year in Montana to celebrate! It was wonderful!
And, now we are happy to say that we are settled in here at the Ranch and enjoying the abundant joyful life the Lord has blessed us with. We have so much to be thankful for. The Lord has given us so many amazing blessings. I thought I'd highlight a few with you today...
~We have the amazing privilege of serving with Potter's Field Ministries. If you've never looked into this ministry that the Lord is using to transform lives, please do so right now! Click here to go to there website and read more about them...Because we serve with PFM, we serve under a leadership team who are grace-filled, passionate about Jesus, lovers of the TRUTH, and dedicated to sharing the gospel with the lost, wherever and with whomever the Lord leads them, and also dedicated to making disciples of the nations...all of this with the purpose of transforming lives forever. They are the real deal. WE ARE BLESSED!
~We have the amazing opportunity of learning the stateside process of the ministry we've served with for the past two and half years. This has proven to be an incredible blessing! We could never have imagined the blessing this was going to be. We see more and more of God's providential plan in bringing us here each day!
~We have the amazing blessing of doing life with young adults who have chosen to deny themselves of their desires, who have chosen to take up their cross, and who have chosen God's way over their own. These kids are amazing!! We call them around here 'IGNITE 1.0-ers.'They have chosen that for the next year- their everything belongs to Jesus! They are on a crazy journey that is just beginning. We are thrilled beyond belief to have the opportunity to invest in them at a stage that is so so key to their futures. Right now, many of them are just lumps of clay. Some are hard and dry and brittle. Some have been washed with water and come ready to be placed on the Potter's wheel. Some find themselves already on the wheel, clay in the Potter's hands, waiting for the Lord to being molding and shaping them into a masterpiece. Then there are a very few who find themselves a beautiful vessel, knowing they need to be broken by the master Potter, in order that their true beauty and potential and the Potter's Master plan might be unfolded over the course of the next year of their lives.
~We have the amazing blessing of serving with a handful of former interns, all of whom have returned from the field and have chosen to dedicate more of their lives to serving Jesus. We call them '2.0-ers.' They are here at Potter's Field ranch because they are being refined...they've been the lump of clay, been washed with the water, sat on the Potter's wheel, been broken and chipped, and have been made new again, re-formed and re-worked...and now they find themselves ready for the fire of the kiln. Ready to be refined. They seek the Lord's will and are willing to live radically different lives in order to live fully for Christ!
~We are clinging to 1 Corinthians 2:9 in these days...We are believing great things from God! We are expecting Him to do things in our lives that no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has conceived. We believe Him to do these things because we believe His Word to be true. We believe it to be the authority in our lives. We believe in this vision. We believe in the leaders. We believe.
We love you all. We thank you for hanging with us over the years. We ask you to believe with us. We ask you to keep praying with us!
And...watch out for those moose!
Hahaha...
See, the thing is...nobody really comes to Olney, Montana...unless directed here by God. One former Potter's Field Intern named his blog 'Olney, Montana...Only God' for that very reason. No one makes their way to Mile Marker 148 and 0.7 miles unless they are being lead by Jesus himself.
We are exactly 24 miles from the nearest town- Whitefish, Montana. So, if you think about that statement- we are 48 miles round trip from the nearest grocery store, gas station, civilization!!! Have you ever heard stories about grizzly mountain men...only coming into town every so often for supplies...and when they do they have this wide-eyed, stir-crazy look about them?
Yeah...that is SO true! And so our life now! Hahahaha...
I'm painting you a picture of real Montana life...but it isn't really our life :) But we do only go into 'town' about once a week for shopping purposes. We have chapel services once a week and church once a week. Other than that, we live at the ranch, surrounded by twelve Ignite program interns and a handful of on-site staff. When we all do get into town, we all do probably have that wide-eyed look about us, though...hahaha...
We moved from Costa Rica back to the United States about 3 months ago. WOW! It has gone by so fast! We lived in Indiana for about a month visiting with family and ministry partners. then we began a three-week road trip across the United States, visiting family and ministry partners along the way! It was an amazing three-weeks! We have memories that none of us will ever forget! We saw parts of the United States and God's creation that are absolutely amazing!
We arrived in Montana on December 20th, 2012. Just in time for Christmas! Our first White Christmas in about 6 years! Our first Christmas spent with family in about that long! Our parents were able to be with us this year in Montana to celebrate! It was wonderful!
And, now we are happy to say that we are settled in here at the Ranch and enjoying the abundant joyful life the Lord has blessed us with. We have so much to be thankful for. The Lord has given us so many amazing blessings. I thought I'd highlight a few with you today...
~We have the amazing privilege of serving with Potter's Field Ministries. If you've never looked into this ministry that the Lord is using to transform lives, please do so right now! Click here to go to there website and read more about them...Because we serve with PFM, we serve under a leadership team who are grace-filled, passionate about Jesus, lovers of the TRUTH, and dedicated to sharing the gospel with the lost, wherever and with whomever the Lord leads them, and also dedicated to making disciples of the nations...all of this with the purpose of transforming lives forever. They are the real deal. WE ARE BLESSED!
~We have the amazing opportunity of learning the stateside process of the ministry we've served with for the past two and half years. This has proven to be an incredible blessing! We could never have imagined the blessing this was going to be. We see more and more of God's providential plan in bringing us here each day!
~We have the amazing blessing of doing life with young adults who have chosen to deny themselves of their desires, who have chosen to take up their cross, and who have chosen God's way over their own. These kids are amazing!! We call them around here 'IGNITE 1.0-ers.'They have chosen that for the next year- their everything belongs to Jesus! They are on a crazy journey that is just beginning. We are thrilled beyond belief to have the opportunity to invest in them at a stage that is so so key to their futures. Right now, many of them are just lumps of clay. Some are hard and dry and brittle. Some have been washed with water and come ready to be placed on the Potter's wheel. Some find themselves already on the wheel, clay in the Potter's hands, waiting for the Lord to being molding and shaping them into a masterpiece. Then there are a very few who find themselves a beautiful vessel, knowing they need to be broken by the master Potter, in order that their true beauty and potential and the Potter's Master plan might be unfolded over the course of the next year of their lives.
~We have the amazing blessing of serving with a handful of former interns, all of whom have returned from the field and have chosen to dedicate more of their lives to serving Jesus. We call them '2.0-ers.' They are here at Potter's Field ranch because they are being refined...they've been the lump of clay, been washed with the water, sat on the Potter's wheel, been broken and chipped, and have been made new again, re-formed and re-worked...and now they find themselves ready for the fire of the kiln. Ready to be refined. They seek the Lord's will and are willing to live radically different lives in order to live fully for Christ!
~We are clinging to 1 Corinthians 2:9 in these days...We are believing great things from God! We are expecting Him to do things in our lives that no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has conceived. We believe Him to do these things because we believe His Word to be true. We believe it to be the authority in our lives. We believe in this vision. We believe in the leaders. We believe.
We love you all. We thank you for hanging with us over the years. We ask you to believe with us. We ask you to keep praying with us!
And...watch out for those moose!
Hahaha...
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
December Prayer Letter and Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! We wish you all a blessed day today celebrating the birth of our King, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amidst the dinners and gifts, our prayer is that you take the time to stop and remember Jesus and the precious gift of eternal life He offers each and every one of us. We pray that each one of you accepts that gift this Christmas! We are thankful for you all!
May God bless you all!
Matt, Brooke, Ethan, Isabelle, and Audrey McClain
PS: We are thouroughly enjoying our first Christmas in 6 years with family...and the first white Christmas as well! :)
Friday, November 2, 2012
8 days in the USA
Well, we've been in the USA eight days...only eight days? It seems like much longer than that...but we arrived last Thursday at JFK International airport, tired, emotional, and
After an unfortunate mishap with our flight to from JFK to Buffalo, this was our welcome to the US:
We missed our connecting flight due to the lack of airport transport to our connecting gate...we walked about a mile outside the airport with two carts loaded with our ten 50 lb. bags to our next terminal...and arrived about ten minutes too late! :(
BOOOOO!!
Good thing I had packed a blanket in our carry on and the kids had brought their pillows! We were very thankful for the 24-hour Dunkin Donuts in the airport!
We finally made it to Buffalo:
We made it just in time to enjoy the fall leaves...
After an unfortunate mishap with our flight to from JFK to Buffalo, this was our welcome to the US:
BOOOOO!!
Good thing I had packed a blanket in our carry on and the kids had brought their pillows! We were very thankful for the 24-hour Dunkin Donuts in the airport!
We finally made it to Buffalo:
We made it just in time to enjoy the fall leaves...
We've also enjoyed seeing the grandparents, although haven't taken any pictures with them yet...
But rest assured, more to come later!
Eight days have flown by.
The Lord has blessed us beyond belief. While our hearts are full of love for our Costa Rican family, we are truly enjoying being with family and friends here and are thankful to Jesus for His perfect plan for our life...
Thank you for your continued prayers for our family during this transition time...
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
8 more days...
beautiful red beard on this guy
cute little puffy guy
fighting over this spot
swarming the feeder
brilliant green guy
Eight more days of these beautiful visitors...
I wonder if Montana has a hummingbird population?
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
9 days...
Only nine more days of these beautiful sunrises...Never fails that each day brings a new sunrise with its own beautiful colors and clouds and special way of waking up the day.
Only nine more days of hearing the congos (howler monkeys) and the roosters shout back and forth as the day just begins to wake up. The louder the monkeys get, the louder the roosters get.
Only nine more days of the sweet morning song of the birds that live around us and visit each morning. Only nine more days of watching Matt fill the hummingbird feeder each morning and watching as the tiny little hummingbirds buzz him and greet him in the mornings.
Only nine more days of brilliant sunsets like these two...Never fails that each day the sky's canvas closes the day in a new, different and brilliant way.
Only nine more days of PlayaTama, bathing suits, and days on the beach we'll never forget...Never fails that a day at the beach brings rest, fun, and unforgettable memories.
We have only nine more days in Costa Rica. I see today's date. I see the calendar and realize the number of days from today until next Thursday...but my mind will not accept the fact that there are only nine days left. I go about the day making preparations, packing, setting aside this or that for this person or that person...all part of having only nine days left...but not stopping to consider how few the days are.
We've enjoyed this:
...and this:
Only nine more days of these faces...
(sorry this one is sideways...)
Only nine more days of these precious little ones...
Amidst many good-bye dinners with friends from the community and our church and seeing all of 'our kids' one last time...it never fails to remind us of God's perfect plan for our lives. No matter how much pain I feel right now as I say good-bye to true friends, I would never trade opening my heart to them and sharing life with them.
I have taken much time remembering...and many things are still to be kept between the Lord and I. I'm making the switch this next week. I've remembered. God has blessed me beyond what I can share right now. He has used this tiny little barrio and its dirt roads and its bugs and its strange idiosyncrasies and its culture and its drunks and its drugs and its children and its birds and its beaches and its people...to change me. So now I'm rejoicing. I will rejoice in the Lord. Always. I will rejoice. He is good. He is good. All the time. He is good!
We have nine days left.
Then a new chapter begins.
I have a lifetime of rejoicing.
I have a lifetime of witnessing time after time God continue in His faithfulness. HE never fails. I have seen day after day the sun rise- each day is different. I have seen day after day the sun set- each evening different. I have grown closer and closer to the people here- each one different. I've been on countless beaches- each one different. The same God has allowed me all of these things. When everything else id different, He is not different. When everything else changes, He never changes. When everything else fails me, He is Faithful. When everything around me is bad, He is Good. When everyone around me is hurtful, He is Loving. When I am weak, He is Mighty.
He is GOD!
Rejoice in HIM!
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