Jasmine Carter - Our precious friend.
Bible Study in Bedford
Brad and Steve May in Bedford
Just the cutest best buddies ever!
Saturday was the last day of our moving sale... praise the Lord! A lot of sweat, lifting, shifting, and moving went on this past week! Every morning and evening was a lot of work but well worth it. The Lord truly blessed this moving sale. We asked Him that if we were not supposed to be doing this that He would not allow anything to be sold. Well almost everything was sold and the rest of everything we feel we are going to keep or give away. So praise the Lord there was success!
I'm sure as you're reading this you may be asking why we have sold a lot our possessions. That answer is very simple: We prayed to Jesus and asked Him what we needed to be doing to get ready for our move to Bedford, IN. He said that we needed to sell, give away, and pack our possessions. We prayed about which possessions we were to keep or do otherwise with them.
A prized possession: Love
For me personally I became closer with good friends of ours: Jessica Morris and Jasmine Carter. It was so wonderful to see Jessica's son, Samuel and Elisha play together. They have been each others sidekicks. It will be a bitter sweet goodbye to my spiritual family here at the apartments but I know God has bigger things for all of us in store. My heart rejoices that I have had this kind of fellowship in the midst our transition.
Elisha and Samuel sliding!
Samuel
Elisha in the tunnel!
Most of this time during our "moving sale" I've learned a lot about humility and surrendering my worldly desires to the Lord. I didn't think I was worldly until I realized how much I didn't want to sell some of the things I knew we were supposed to. Amazingly I found so much freedom as I packed things up for the sale or to give away.
Let me explain: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. " 1 John 2:15-17
---If I love the world or the things in the world... the love of my heavenly Father is not in me. The bible also says that if we are friend of the world we are an enemy of God. Jesus prayed: "O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name and will declare it that the love with which You loved Me may be in them and I in them." John 17:25-26
I also think about the rich ruler Jesus loved and spoke to. The rich ruler said he had obeyed all the commandments and has followed the law all his life. Jesus loved him and told him there is one thing more you must do: go and sell all your possessions and give your money away to the poor. And come follow me. The rich ruler was very sad because he had so much great wealth.
The latest update is that we will be moving to Bedford, Indiana sometime this weekend. Praise the Lord! (PTL) Here is what has happened in the past week:
-Brad and Steve May (a very good friend of ours) went to check out a van about 70 miles south on hwy 71 (we live right off the hwy). There was an ad on craigslist for the van and when they got there to meet the man they found him to be a spirit filled pastor! (This kind of thing is becoming a regular occurrence.) Brad and Steve spent a few hours with pastor Carl Covey and his son-in-law Andy (who was selling the van). Brad said the whole time God was just reconfirming to him that everything he was doing and about to do was in God's perfect will. AMEN!
-We went to Pastor Covey's church this past Sunday by the leading of the Holy Spirit. The day before Brad and Cody Morris were praying about the possible purchase of the van. Cody said... "Do you have the money to purchase it?" Brad replied, "No not right now." Then Brad prayed, "Lord if it's your will please bring in the finances today to purchase the van tomorrow." A few hours later a friend of Brad's came by to purchase something and that gave us the money to purchase the van! This man had a broken spirit and God totally broke in and healed him on the spot! PTL We went to Sweetwater Church (P. Covey's) on Sunday and God totally blessed us with this sweet humble people! The love they had for us made us want to stay. It was hard leaving such a loving people. Sweetwater's Link http://sweetwaternews.webs.com/
-During the moving sale a lady (Sue) came by after church and saw my old wedding decorations. She said she decorates her church so I thought wow the decorations will be such a blessing for them! So Brad got to talking to her and found out she is spirit filled Christian who loves Jesus. She gave Brad a card and told him that a man who leads the ministry she's apart of could possibly have a van for him to look at. So Brad makes the call to a man in Belton who runs an auto/used cars lot. At first it was all business but then the man said: "Even if you do or don't purchase a van from me, I feel led to tell you the Lord wants me to pray for you and any who are going with you to bless you and anoint you on your way out!" :-)
Last Friday Brad, Elisha, myself, Jasmine, Jessica, Cody, and Samuel Morris all went to Don Ware's auto shop. The moment I stepped out into the parking lot the fear of the Lord fell on me. When we walked in it got stronger. We sat down in a little office where the presence of the Lord was even stronger you could cut it with a butter knife. I began to weep at His presence. Don came in and began to encourage and strengthen us with scripture and testimony to his life and the 2,000 plus lives that have been healed, delivered, and saved in his office over the past 12 years. He prayed over us and each one of us, just like the apostles in the book of acts, received an refilling of the Holy Spirit. We've not been the same since. Don does travelling ministry and has agreed to come to Bedford when we're more settled! :-)
-There have been breakthroughs after breakthroughs in our hearts, minds, and spirits, as well as our relationship and unity as a part of the body of Christ... every single night! The Lord has shown us His goodness and mercy and we are ever thankful that He has asked us to be a part of something very special in Bedford.
So What's In Bedford, Indiana anyways?
Glad you asked. About a year or so ago Brad was on a road trip ministry with a bunch of men of God. They stopped in Bedford, In and met Nancy who runs a ministry to kids from her home. She and a few other adults run bible studies at the park pavilion to all any kids who want to come and here the Gospel. Most of the kids don't have the greatest home life, drugs, alcohol, and trouble with the law are a common thing for most of them. There are some who are very hungry and some who are interested but not to a place to commit to listening and asking questions about Jesus, yet. There is also bold and blatant witchcraft like I've never seen before. Literally the enemy is recruiting... but it won't last very long! AMEN! When Brad has gone to Bedford before he has led worship, taught, ministered, prayed for, and baptized some of the kids. The last time he was there it was Elisha's and my first time. I was floored. There is such an attraction by all the kids who hang out at the park of God's presence. There were about 80 kids in the beginning and about half stayed to hear the message. One of the sweetest teenage boys asked me, "Are you guys moving here yet?" I told him that we weren't right yet and were praying out when we were supposed to come. He had this look of disappointment that broke my heart.
The Lord has called us to disciple the ones who've made a decision for Christ and are struggling to keep their full commitment for the temptations of the world lure them. They are very excited. Nancy has been so faithful in her obedience to the Lord and is very excited as well about us coming as the Lord has big things for this little town. AMEN!
We will continue to update you with everything that happens as much as we can.
The Lord bless you and keep you!
Isaiah 54 (The Lord is expanding the tents! Hallelujah!)
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE BY E-MAIL AT THE BOTTOM SO YOU CAN GET AUTOMATIC UPDATES! :-)
