Where Do We Go From Here?

When we actually stop and think about it for a minute, it is hard to believe we have been here in Orizaba for 15 months. Most of the time, it seems like we just got here! To be completely honest, a lot of this past year did not go as we planned or expected but I'm not sure why that is surprising to us. We actually have a magnet on our fridge that says, "We plan, God laughs."

When we moved to Orizaba, we planned on being here forever, but we have felt God leading us in a different direction over the last several months. Sensing a need for us to move, we began praying about other locations. We've been to the city of Veracruz several times so we naturally began talking about it as a possibility. Recently we've met a few other missionaries in the Orizaba area and shared our thoughts about moving to Veracruz. A few contacts we made expressed great excitement over the possibility of a new ministry in Veracruz and told us there is a great need there.

Now we are taking the next step. Today we will be heading to Veracruz to begin scouting the area for possible lodging, existing ministries and the Lord's leading. We would like to ask you, our faithful friends and supporters, to pray for us during the next few days as we seek God's will for our family and ministry. To help you know how to pray for us, here are three things we are asking God for over the next few days:

1. Vision: we are asking God to open our eyes to the needs and possibilities in Veracruz. As we look around the city, we are asking Him to show us where He wants us to be and where we will be most effective. We want to accomplish something that only He could take credit for.

2. Wisdom: we are asking God to help us clearly understand where He is leading us and what He is calling us to do and to give us the wisdom to make the right decisions.

3. Assurance: we are asking God to give us assurance that this is the direction He is leading. If this is not the place where we should go, then we are asking that He would make that clear to us and begin leading us in another direction.

We are very excited about the changes that God is bringing about in our ministry and can't wait to see what He has planned for us. Please join us in praying over the next few days and we look forward to sharing with you all that God does in our hearts, our family and our ministry!

Looking for Dad

This morning, like most mornings, I was up much earlier than the rest of my family. After about 1 hour, I actually snuck downstairs for breakfast before even the dog stirred. While I was down there, I heard a noise that suggested someone else was finally joining me for the day. I went to the bottom of the stairs to see if I could get a peek at who might be accompanying me.

At the top of the stairs, I could see Tyler coming out of his room. He sleepily walked into my bedroom where he usually finds me when he wakes up in the middle of the night. After just a few seconds, I see him walk out of my bedroom and into my office, where he normally finds me in the morning. It was at this point that I realized: "He's looking for me."

This may sound strange, but I love to see my kids looking for me. I don't know what it is. Maybe it brings a sense of value...they're looking for me because they need me. Maybe it is a sense of love...they're looking for me because they want me.

I like to think it is a specific design of God. He created us to enjoy seeing our kids looking for us, well, because He enjoys seeing us looking for Him.

Almost every morning, one of the first things Tyler does is look for me. Honestly, it never gets old. This morning, after checking every room upstairs, he caught a glimpse of me at the bottom of the stairs and his face lit up! I met him at the top of stairs, wrapped my arms around him and carried him downstairs to spend some time with me.

The feeling I get watching Tyler look for me serves as a reminder of how special it is for me to look for my Heavenly Father each morning. I like to think He enjoys watching me looking for Him just as much I enjoy watching Tyler. And when I see Him, and my face lights up, He meets me where I am, wraps His arms around me and carries me away to spend some time with Him.

My 2010 Readings and Books for 2011

Since today is the last day of 2010, and I just finished reading another book, I decided to make a list of all the books I read throughout this year. Some of them were a complete waste of time but many of them were spectacular reads and challenged me in many different ways. This is nothing more than a list for you to look over and perhaps find some books to read in 2011. This is not a promotion of any particular books or authors. If you're like me, you're always looking for more suggestions of books to read so here you go:

1. Second Guessing God - Brian Jones

2. The Screwtape Letters - CS Lewis

3. Primal - Mark Batterson

4. Thou Fool - DL Moody

5. The Gospel According to LOST - Chris Seay

6. The Blue Parakeet - Scot McKnight

7. From Eternity to Here - Frank Viola

8. Respectable Sins - Jerry Bridges

*9. Pagan Christianity - Viola/Barna

10. Dear Pastor - John Cionca

11. The Principle of the Path - Andy Stanley

12. IT - Craig Groeschel

13. A Gospel Primer - Milton Vincent

14. Stuff Christians Like - Jonathan Acuff

15. What is God Really Like? - Craig Groeschel and Various Authors

16. Why We Love the Church - Kevin DeYoung/Ted Kluck

17. The Radical Disciple - John Stott

18. The Cure for the Common Life - Max Lucado

19. Radical Reformission - Mark Driscoll

20. Outlive Your Life - Max Lucado

21. Gripped by the Greatness of God - John MacDonald

*I did not finish this book because I found many of the views expressed very upsetting. I may eventually keep reading just to see what the authors have to say but I must state that I do not recommend this book*

How about you? What books did you read in 2010?

Looking ahead, here are the books I'm looking forward to reading in 2011:

1. Imaginary Jesus - Matt Mikalatos

2. Radical - David Platt

3. Sun Stand Still - Steven Furtick

4. How The Mighty Fall - Jim Collins

5. Linchpin - Seth Godin

6. Everyone Communicates, Few Connect - John Maxwell

7. Eats With Sinners - Aaron Chambers

8. Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters - Meg Meeker

9. Transformational Church - Ed Stetzer

10. The Christian Atheist - Craig Groeschel

11. The Reason for Sports - Ted Kluck

12. Switch - Chip & Dan Heath

13. Hurt Healer - Tony Nolan

14. The Grace of God - Andy Stanley

I'm still looking for more. Any suggestions?

Happy New Year!