The last few weeks have been busy....

Since I last updated I went to Dan and Sara's to watch the boys for a few days. Sara was able to travel to her brother's graduation and enjoyed seeing her extended family. I have also been with Jim to a couple of meetings in Iowa and Indiana.

Last week, Bob and Janelle were told of some possible problems with her pregnancy so Jim and I wanted to be here in Ohio to help if possible. It may be that the problems have resolved themselves and Janelle will continue with a healthy pregnancy. I am still in Ohio. Jim is traveling this weekend to Virginia to be present at Dan's ordination examination.

Jim and I also made a trek to Chicago several days ago. We had stacks of paperwork, passports, money, and prayers for being able to submit all the required items necessary for visas. As it turns out we came very close to having everything. We are now waiting on two more pieces of paperwork from Brazil. We will go into Chicago again very soon to try another submission.

I am tempted to feel discouraged because I do not understand the details and timing of things. We are grateful for prayer.

Getting close ...

We have received the documents from Brazil (in Portuguese) that will be needed to apply for the missionary visas. We are still waiting on some paperwork from Alabama and some paperwork from Bob Jones University. We will be going to Chicago within a week or two with all of the papers to see if we meet their requirements for formal application. We hope to have everything in the correct order and with the correct legalizations.

Psalm 107:9 "For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good."

Unshakable Hope

Jim bought some roses for me on Tuesday. He was happy to have me come home.

While in Virginia Dan gave me an extra copy of the book, This Momentary Marriage by John Piper. We are to remember how an earthly marriage is a mere shadow of the glorious marriage between Christ and the church. I thought one statement (p. 99) in the chapter called The Beautiful Faith of Fearless Submission, caused me to think about praying for what I need.

A Biblical portrait of a woman: "Unshakable hope in God. Courage and fearlessness in the face of the future. Quiet tranquility of soul. Humble submission to her husband's leadership."

And we are not to faint in our praying, even when we don't always see the results we expected to see.

Jim and I will be in central Indiana for a meeting next week.

visa prayers

I have been in Virginia for a couple of weeks trying to help Dan and Sara with the boys, doing some cooking, etc. Hopefully Sara got some extra rest. I am happy to see them and sad that we will be gone from them for the time we go to language school in Porto Alegre.

We are deep into the paperwork processing of missionary visas. Please pray specifically that we will be able to dot all the i's and cross all the t's with the correct legalization submitted. The consulate in Houston legalized everything we sent them, so that is one part of the paperwork. We still need to get papers through the consulate in Miami, and then finally the entire stack of papers from all the consulates goes in all at once to the consulate in Chicago.

The language barrier adds a challenge, but we are confident we can do this with the Lord's help. Also please pray for more support to come in and for us as we take care of the house and household items. Thanks for those prayers.

A helpful book

Depression: A Stubborn Darkness by Edward T. Welch

I recently saw this book recommended on no less than three blog sites. I was not particularly looking for a book on depression, but the three bloggers recommending it are pastors and the author of the book is a man. I have read some good and helpful books by women, and I was interested in reading from a different viewpoint. I know this author has written other good books and he is not new to writing.

Anyway, I would say this book is hands down one of the best books I have read on the topic of walking with God and how we form relationships with others. It will be a good book to read again, and I will keep it for a very helpful reference; (i.e. it's probably going to make the cut for books I will be taking to Brazil!)

Please pray for upcoming meetings in February and for our visas to be approved soon.

Prayer for our political days

From a Life Action Revival Ministries prayer guide:

"Pray that Christians will seek the face of God versus the hand of God. That our chief concern would be His approval versus His blessing."

Material things don't seem to last or to continually satisfy. I would like to be approved by God more than I would like to be blessed by stuff.

"As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake."
Psalm 17:15

We are continually helped by your prayers. Thank you.

Miracle of Grace

I have just finished reading The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges. The author reminds me as a Christian that I am now a miracle of God's grace. All saved people are miracles of grace no matter how good or bad their actions have been. It's easy to say, "Yes, I have heard that so many times, and what's new about that idea?"

For me the reminder is that there is liberty and freedom in loving and serving God. I have righteousness in Christ already, and I am constrained to serve Christ with grace towards others...every day.

"But may it never be that I would boast,
except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Galatians 6:14

Thank you for remembering to pray for us.