Going after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention

So stepping out in faith is supposed to be this BIG WOW right?
Then how come Amanda, the girls & I are so homesick right now?
Getting emails & comments on the blog are very welcome at this point in time. (hint hint)

Worry:
Isn't it funny that even when things don't work out the way we planned they ALWAYS work out the way God planned?
I know that that sounds like a cliche but it's really where we're @ right now.

So far the Blog's basically covered what we've been doing and not really how we've been feeling.
We realize that most of you reading this blog have been on this journey with us before we even considered going to Colorado, and that just telling you what we're doing and not sharing with you what we are feeling too could rob you of the joy of coming along side us on this faith journey.

Our travels have not all been smooth sailing. Yes, it could be A LOT worse, but that is no comfort when dreams, fears and emotions are concerned.
Some of the fears that we have had to work through are "What if we don't get the students we need to make this work?". "What if life falls apart at home while we're away and we have a lot of legalities to deal with when we get back?" "What if we dont have the finances to finish this trip?"... " What if we fail?" alot of "what ifs" ... Yes, we've been worried, (that's a confession not a brag) and Jesus has gently reminded us of who He is... That's enough to stop anybody in their tracks look up to the hills and say "my help comes from the Lord". (Psalm 121:1-3)

Did you know that the word "worry" in the Greek is "merimneo" which means to "divide the mind". In James we're told: "a double minded man gets.... Nothing" - Worrying is being double minded. We say we trust Jesus... yet we worry?
Worry is the opposite of faith in that it elevates our human strength and ingenuity above God's strength and His purpose. We're double minded when we worry or fear.

Worry causes health issues, makes us fat and has many other negative effects on our body and it NEVER helps in achieving or averting ANYTHING in our lives.

Ps 118:24-26 says the following:
"24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you."

Some thoughts:
1) This day is ALL God has given us - not tomorrow or next week. God made it so let's choose to rejoice while we're in it and maximize it to His glory.
2) What we have today is what God's led us into - if we messed up yesterday He will save us from past mistakes, hurts and disappointments. Not only will he save you, He will not leave you there, He will PROSPER you - grant you success.
3) We come in the name of the Lord. We are His ambassadors we are his children, therefore we are Blessed. And being blessed in God's house, we will be a blessing to both God and man.

And when all hell breaks loose against us we can stand and say with Paul that we are "pursuaded" that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

WHY?

Because "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (see Rom 8:31-39)

What prevents us from following God-sized dreams?
Are we worried that we will fail, that God will not come through?

At church last Sunday this quote was given to us and we'd like to share it with you...

"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God.
Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking some risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. And remember, If God is for us, who can be against us?"