Spring Travels & Future Plans

I thought I might as well take a few minutes to post a few thoughts and photos on our 3 weeks of traveling this last month... What a delightful family trip we had!! The first 'real' vacation we've had as an entire family in a couple years!!! I sure hope it isn't the last!!

At the Gaylord Hotel in Tennessee

We started on May 27th, at 4am for Nashville, Tennessee for the ATI Conference, where we went to our various sessions (specifically created for building each age group up in the challenges they may be facing. Rachel and I were the only odd ones out, as we led 2 Pre-Embassy groups of 6 girls each, ages 8-11.

Mama and my 2 "COMMIT" sisters

Student Sessions Choir (Esther is near the right middle, 3 lines up)

Rachel was blessed with an assistant, and I was blessed with a pretty precious group of mostly 8-year olds!! What a special time we had!! Pre-Embassy this year focused in on the lies we believe as women, and the fears we face, and how to overcome them through Jesus Christ. We also created identity statements for each girl.

5 of my 6 Pre-Embassy girls, playing with their newly made pets. :)

Out of the 80+ girls we leaders had (of which most were saved), 3 chose to put their trust in Jesus Christ...what a thrill!!  It was a little shocking and saddening to see how many lies and fears these girls have at such a young age, and gave us such a desperate passion to help these girls in the 3 days we had them (from 8am-5pm), to find the Truth to repel such lies.

One of my precious girls

It was our deepest cry and prayer that these girls would find freedom in Jesus Christ now before they get to our ages.... Imagine if they were able to walk in the freedom of the Truth NOW...what an impact they could have even earlier on, knowing Who they belong to, and how to recognize and renounce the lies of the enemy!!

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God...Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

~ 1 John 4:1-2, 4 ~

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

~ 2 Timothy 1:7 ~

Saturday morning, we flew from TN to Guadalajara, Mexico to spend 2 weeks with the Phariss family. Mr. Reese (writer of the Reese Chronological Bible) happened to be there with his wife and daughter, which was quite delightful! It was an honor to meet him, especially so, as we have very much enjoyed his Chronological Bible (the first one ever put out)... I love especially how it starts out with John 1:1 ("In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."). I would highly recommend going through it sometime during the years, as it will give a new perspective on the timeline, and how the Prophetical books went together with the Kings in the OT... (likewise for the NT).

With Mr. and Mrs. Reese, and their daughter Becky

As I briefly mentioned in my last post, it was a time of rejuvenation, relaxation, healing, and for me, a renewed vision for the future... Originally, I was very hesitant to take time away from my work here at home to go to Mexico, but I am so glad I did, as God did so much in my life there!!

One way to climb a tree...

Didn't know I had 3 monkeys for brothers! ;)

And a very creative descent...oh Tarzan..

Since my Single Service Commitment expired in March, as did my 4-year vision, I have been asking God what He wants me to be doing in this new phase of life. During my time at the IBLP Headquarters, God prompted me to ask Him to give me the impossible number of 10,000 disciples.  After my return home, in my focus of trying to get the ranch reorganized, etc. I kind of shoved all that to the side...however, in Mexico, God brought that back to me, and showed me that that was what He wanted my purpose/passion/vision/aim/goal to be.

Ministering at a boys' orphanage

Seeing their facilities/building expansion projects

With that in mind, that made things of lesser value (as in the things of this world) seem to fade away...to dwell in light of eternity!! Wow! It was as if, the Heavens opened up to me, and I saw another glimpse of my King.

A crane on Lake Chapala 

You might ask, 10,000 disciples? How can that be? God wants us to ask Him for the impossible!

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

~ Ephesians 3:14-21 ~

But Jesus...said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

~ Matthew 19:26 ~

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

~ Mark 9:23 ~

Did you know that behind every great person, is another great person, and behind that great person, is another great person?? Each of us have everything we are or accomplished to someone else. The same goes for discipling. Thought I might not personally disciple 10,000 people, if I were to disciple 10 people, and they were to disciple 10 people, and they were to do the same, and so on...see how it goes??

The underside of that gecko...isn't God's handiwork incredible?!
(Thanks to my little siblings for catching these the whole time, and to David who took most of those pictures.. ;P)

We serve a powerful God!! However, I know that when God gives a vision, Satan is quick to attack, and do everything in His power to thwart the vision. If you think of it, please pray that I would keep my eyes on Christ, and not get distracted by the things of this world, as it is so easy to do (usually starting with our quiet time). I know this is only possible with my Saviour by my side, and the first place to start is on my knees, and at the feet of my Jesus.

The precious Phariss family and us

I am excited to see what opportunities God has in store for me in the next few years, and my biggest prayer is: "Father, increase my faith!!!"

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

~ Matthew 17:20 ~