#6

Before we left Illinois we were overwhelmed by the gifts and well-wishes of our friends. It was truly a mercy to us that God is reminding us of everyday! I know the scriptures say that His mercies are new every morning, and that is certainly true, but past mercies are also active and reasons for thanksgiving. And what reminded me of this most was song #6.

A good friend gave me a CD before I left for Minneapolis. It was by some of my favorite artists and the general theme was "the perseverance of the saints in tough times." As I listened to it for the first time I ask the Lord, "are these songs intended to meet me now or sometime in the future?" And then we moved. For the first few weeks as we were learning our way around the city, the CD sat in our car and was unheard. But this week, as we wait eagerly for the Lord to provide a job for Rachel, it came out and this is what I heard...

You have ordained every breath we take
I pleasure or pain there is no mistake
Gladness and grief, both are in your hand
And sufferings brief carry out Your plan
And our fleeting sorrows will yield an endless prize
When some bright tomorrow we see you with our eyes, and

Grace upon grace flows down, flows down
Through the precious blood of Christ!

What do you do in the middle of a situation that is entirely out of your hands? Well, basically we either curse God or bless Him. And what a mercy this song has been in helping me bless the Lord. These "fleeting sorrows" are for some bigger purpose in our lives. This "pain" and "grief" are grace, grace flowing down from Jesus Himself! Oh, how we must bless the Lord for all His gracious purposes for soon they will yield an "endless prize" that will far outweigh all their pain.

Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. As we wait patiently for the Lord we know that He will incline his ear and hear our cry, he will lift us out at just the right time. So, as you pray for his provision and his soverign work in our lives, thank him for his mercies - past and present!

If you want to hear the song - it's #6 http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/albums/category/sovereign_grace_music/come_weary_saints

P.S.-Rachel just got an email about a job interview! Thank You Father!

Our New Home

So, many of your are probably wondering what our new place in Minneapolis looks like. Well, here is a batch of photos to introduce you to our new world. We hope to put up some pics with people we know sooner-or-later we are just not very good at remembering to take a camera everywhere. Enjoy!

ABOVE :: Our new living room with our few Turkish accents prominently displayed. And here is our desk where I'll be spending multiple hours a day starting next week!

LEFT :: Rachel's new pride and joy - a kitchen with countertops, dishwasher and a garbage disposal :-) The first few weeks the disposal sounded like a hungry bear underneath the counter, since then we've had a new one installed!

LEFT :: Our place of rest, and all the furniture fits this time! The only air-conditioner is in our bedroom but it drowns out the noise of traffic at night when we're sleeping.

BELOW :: The view from our bay window - The MPLS skyline and the Metrodome. The tallest building in the picture -Capella Tower (with the fan on top - is next to where my Starbucks is located in the downtown.

LEFT :: Our new church home, Bethlehem Baptist Downtown Campus. There are three campuses, one in the northern and one in the southern suburbs. You can see the sanctuary on the left and the building connected to it is offices, educations space, and the home of my seminary! This is just around the corner from our apartment and we're already beginning to wear a path between the two.

Memorize the Bible!!

Can I put in a little plug here, "memorize the bible!" After I left the library yesterday I was feeling rather downcast. Maybe it was because we had spent hours looking for jobs added to the heat & humidity on my bike ride home but when I got home I had no resolve left.

Since we've been tracking with this move to MPLS (Minneapolis) and Bethlehem Baptist we've been doing the church-wide scripture memory program. Every week we end the announcement time/begin the service with a recitation of that week's verses. Our first week at BBC we began memorizing Psalm 139 (and will continue through October memorizing the whole psalm!!). So, by now we're up to verse 5...

Anyways, when I got home last night we prepared dinner and ate it thankfully. After dinner we recite that weeks verses to each other and think about it in prayer. Let me show you how it lifted my gloom: (the mercy of the Lord)

• LAST WEEK -"O Lord, you have search me and known me; you know when I sit down and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are aquainted with all my ways." What a crazy week that was: moving to MPLS, starting a new job, find our way around the city - and he searched out every path beforehand! We have give thanks over this truth many times a day!


• THIS WEEK-"Even before a word is on my tounge, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me." What a declaration and what a promise, he is always with us, he will always provide. It's a little unsettling to know that every doubtful thought and every hopeless sigh is seen by our Father before it even escapes our heart. Fearful even! Yet should we not fear him, fear him more than that which cause the doubt and the sigh. O Lord, search us and help us know ourselves that we might be more conformed to this image of your son Jesus Christ! Let your hand rest powerfully upon us that we might feel your strength and be kept believing always. O Lord, we truly are yours. AMEN

So, friends, this is what took place as we were memorizing the bible and this word has been with me all day. Won't you join us in this quest? May His word abide in you!

A Wild Goose Chase

The busy sound of clicking is in my ears as I type this at the Minneapolis Central Library. We've been here for many hours now posting application after application all over the Web. While we are so thankful that I have a job at Starbucks, we're about ready to see if Rachel should don the green apron too! She's worked tirelessly over the past few days getting her name out there on the web, calling places to follow up applications, and searching out new possibilities while I'm steaming milk for someone's $4 triple grande 3 pump vanilla nonfat no-foam extra-hot latte.

When we moved here it was with the understanding that the Nanny Agency she had applied to would have interviews ready (like they said). Since we've arrived all her calls have been greeted rather casually and no interviews have surfaced. Obviously this was an episode of mis-communications but one that is unfortunately very detrimental!

So, please pray for us as we continue this search. It feels like a wild goose chase because in a big city like this the application process seems very impersonal. It was only today that we found a few applications for a swim instructor and the website invited us to return the application in person! WOW!! So, here's our first list of requests for those of you supporting us through prayer.

• For perseverance and patience in this process, it can be very discouraging.
• For a job to surface soon, especially before Marcus begins school in 2 weeks.
• For us to make the best use of time otherwise in acclimating to this new city.
• For joyful and deep connections among our new faith family, Bethlehem Baptist.

Thank you for your prayers!

Donning the Green Apron (Again)


I'm quite sure that as you read this at least a few of you are sitting there with a cup of coffee in your hand. And it is not unlikely that your coffee was blended and sold by the world-renown purveyor of fine coffee found on most city street corners. It's that happy third place where you go to hang out with friends or be by yourself or just dart in and out for a mid-morning "pick me up". Ah, yes, Starbucks!


Rachel and I have been in Minneapolis for 10 days now and I've spent four of those in a green apron. It felt good to make my first latte again and hand it to a customer with a smile. But right now after an eight hour shift...I'm just tired! But I'm also very thankful that in such a short time the Lord provided my with employment. So, I'm the one wearing a smile most days at Starbucks!