It's Time

For the last 2+ years we've talked and planned for the ministry to which God has called us.

Two years.

We've studied, prepared, sold, and grown. But in the background, there was always the comfort of knowing Ruel had a job that provided a paycheck and insurance. We knew money would come in for food by conventional means. It was our security blanket. It made sense and was very reasonable and acceptable. 

I heard a little toddler ask his mom for his binky (pacifier) last week. She reminded him that together they had thrown it away last week because he was a big boy now. Well, today is the day we throw our "binky" away: Today is Ruel's last day at the bakery. 

We know it is the right time, but that doesn't make it easy. We'll have no income until we reach 50% of our monthly needs. Not pledges for it - It has to be coming in. Our family is trusting in God to literally provide everything for us now. It's so terrifying and thrilling at the same time!

I discovered something interesting today about this. As the kids and did some grocery shopping, all I could think of was "Should I buy this? Will we be able to afford that?", but after just a little while I had a peace about it. God will take care of it. As long as we honor Him with our spending, He will provide. Grocery shopping then became something more: I was so in love with Him over each item we chose! It was as if He were personally handing me each thing. Grocery shopping has never been more beautiful.

Things have been changing so drastically in the last two weeks we are having to revise our budget. It was something I was dreading on Sunday, but now I can't wait. Seriously. Before I was looking at it with a bit of fear. Now I know it will be a time of worship.

Please pray for us this week. 

There will be so many things going on and we are still recovering from sickness and surgery. If you would like more frequent updates things about Ireland, please join our Facebook group 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Can't wait to share what God does next!

God Moments

I can not tell you how terrified, encouraged, excited, doubtful, hopeful, adrenaline rushed, and any other extreme high/low emotion you can think of we have been in the last few weeks.

It's a RIDE!

Something I read - or someone said - recently has really stuck with me: It's the moments we are the lowest that Hope shines the brightest. How true this is! I believe in the power of Christ and His resurrection,   His ability to heal, comfort, provide, encourage, and just love. I truly do. But it never ceases to amaze me when those pinpointed moments come. It's just so beautiful.

This week has had several of those moments already. We've had cards mailed, calls made, connections given, Scripture supplied, prayers lifted, and those special #'s or verses brought up at just the perfect time. We are humbled and blessed.

I know I say this over and over, but this is truly our ministry: Yours and ours. We can't do it without you. That is the way God has told us to go. We are to rely on the provision of our brothers and sisters - our fellow workers for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

• You support us financially already? Then, what connections do you have for us?
• You're not sure about financial support and are a bit leery to ask? Please don't be. We'd love to answer your questions! Without pressure ;-)
• Know a place we might live for a short time?? CLICK HERE ;-)
• Want to know our latest news & needs? Read our Newsletter & Sign up to receive it monthly.

OK, I know that was a lot of clicking options. But I hope you picked one!

Thank you dear ones.

National Day of Prayer: What I am NOT Praying For

1. America.
Though we gather in prayer, as Americans, we are not to pray only for America. I will be praying for "...a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." Revelation 7:9
Christians are also not the only ones praying. Don't mistake this as a "Christian Day of Prayer". (1) (2)

2. That our government starts acting like Christians.
I'm praying that we will.
God never promised us a "Christian" nation. At least until Jesus reigns as king! We need to stop expecting non-Christians to act like they are. Even if they do, it gives nothing but false hope in their "goodness". We need to be the ones acting like Christians. That doesn't mean fussing and fighting about political stance - though we should stand up for our values. You want them to start passing laws you believe in? Then share the Gospel and disciple them.
With whom have you shared the love of Christ without condemnation and judgement?
Whom are you discipling right now?

3. That people start coming to church.
Sorry, pastors, but too many people in our society think it's enough to sit in church. Too many Christians refuse to share Christ because they can just "invite them" and let the pastors do it since it's "their job". Too many never mature beyond a Sunday service where they were "fed by the pastor".

I'm praying they come to Jesus.

Church is the natural step after true salvation. We want to be together in love and encouragement. I'm not saying it's not a good idea to invite people to church or that salvation can't occur there. We just need to stop acting like that's the only place it can occur in order to wimp out of our own obligation to Christ.


There is great power in prayer. Have faith, and know God will do great things for His Name. He desires all to come to Him, so just ask.... in prayer.

Moving Forward

I have to admit that most of the updates I could give you right now would be:


"We need partners!" 

"Hey! Did you know that partnership is needed?" 

"Have you considered your call in partnership?"

"Partner with us pleeeeeeeeeease!"

I feel like that's all we can say to you, because it's the truth!

Please check out the newsletter, or better still - sign up! Below is the essence of this latest one:


Because we are truly partners in bringing the Gospel to Ireland, we wanted you to be one of the first to hear the direction God has recently call us to in this goal:
At the end of July we will be out of the mission house, and at that time Ruel will quit his job for our family to focus full time on raising partnerships for Ireland.
THE SCARY PART?? If we are not at 50% of our monthly needs by the end of June, we will be living on faith alone!
THE AWESOME PART?? We have a God who provides!
No matter how He times it, the Spirit has confirmed to us over and over that this is His will – so we can’t go wrong.

Prayer Requests:

•  Temporary places to live around the US as we raise support.

•  For the people God has called to help send to respond quickly!

• Connections. The people you know will listen to you. Who can to call/talk to on our behalf? Then pass them along to us – We’d love to share with them!

We can’t do this alone and neither can you. But we can reach Ireland together through the power of the God. We know He provides and we know He wants the Good News spread.
All we need to do is ask it in His Name.
In the Name of our precious Saviour Jesus, Ruel and Tiffany

Fair Questions

Someone I dearly love asked me some fair questions today, "How do you know for sure God has called you to Ireland?" and, "Why so you need so much money? Isn't that too much to raise?"

I'll admit that for a second my mind screamed, "Yes! That is too much money- we'll never be able to raise that! Perhaps we are suppose to just stay here..."

But only for a second.

I then explained all the times God has proven to us again and again (because we needed the comforting reminder) that we are to go to Dublin. How for years, He has been grooming us to trust our finances and needs to Him. He has proven over and over that this is His economy, He knows our needs, He is our provider, and we are to follow His leading.

Then I got off the phone and ran straight to my Bible.

I've been reading through John lately, so decided to just pick up where I left off. It was John 6:4-14: The feeding of the 5000. It never ceases to amaze me how God uses His Word to speak to us and how the Spirit highlights so vibrantly our lessons, comfort and confirmation.

"...He asked Philip, 'Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?' He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do." vs. 5b-6

I firmly believe God had this person ask me these difficult questions to remind us we know what we know. God knows what He has called us to do and how He will provide. But He hasn't fully yet. Those disciples had a few loaves and fish, but "what are they for so many?" v. 9. We have 18%, but what is that when you need 100%?

"Then Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.'"

The stepping out in faith comes in right there - Telling 5000 men, plus women and children, to sit down so they could be fed. With what? They didn't know till they started passing it out.
And they had a lot of leftovers.

I promise we will be faithful to God with our leftovers.

Why is all this so important? Verse 14
"When the people saw the sign He has done, they said, "This really is the Prophet who has come into the world!'"

So we can give all the glory to Him and peoples will recognize He is the One who has come into the world for them!

So go ahead. Ask the hard questions. We will be honored to step out on faith, explain what we can, and show you.

Why is Dublin Strategic?

Timothy Keller makes a fantastic case for the urgency and importance of reaching global cities for Christ.

 Ask us about the amazing diversity, opportunities, and challenges we will have in Dublin!
 


What is God’s Global Urban Mission? from Redeemer City to City on Vimeo.

GO

Have you ever really thought about what Abram must of felt when he heard the Lord say, "Go"? (Genesis 12:1-3) God promised to take care of him, and listed the blessings he would receive  but never told him how to go. Or where to go. He just said, Go.

That's kind of how we feel right now. We are blessed to know where we are going, but the how seems to be evading us. Even though it becomes difficult to see how God will work all this out, we know He has called people to "send" just as He called us to "go". We're just in the process of finding each other right now. ;-) It's times like these that I cling to and love the worship song, "All I have is Christ".

The last few months have had many ups and downs. Ruel and I have great confidence that God has called us to go, and thus will provide. We also have had many opportunities to share with people and have schedule times in the next few months to meet with potential partners. Please continue to pray for this.

The Irish are ever near and dear to our hearts. We pray for them, read about them, look at pictures, read the Irish Times, and in general, look for all things Irish. Our hearts are moving.
We're just waiting for the rest of us to follow.