8.23.2010

today and a winner

bounty from my flower garden

I feel like the vase in my picture.  Brimming with promises.  Overflowing with life.  Precariously holding it all together.  


God is bringing dreams to my doorstep, all neatly packaged and smelling like heaven.  Like a child, I'm eager for it all.  And He smiles into my giddy face, my excitment only mirroring His own.

"Do you trust my love for you?", again He asks and I remember the first time I heard this question from my Father.  When the dreams felt so distant...   He had asked me then to trust Him.  How God must burst  with the secrets He longs to tell us!

It was only a few weeks ago I felt my future was in limbo.  I was clinging to the promises of God.  I knew what my husband and I were called to do, but I didn't see it happening any time soon.  I found a treasure of wisdom in this quote,
"Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person's seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next." ~ Elisabeth Elliot
My prayer has become, "God, show me what you desire for me to do this day.  However small, however big, give me the grace to do it."

And He is.  And He will!  He gives grace!  His dreams prevail.

Our family is on a new journey.  God has opened a door for us to do what we love.  We have been given an opportunity to serve the youth in our city as youth pastors at our church.  And we're beyond excited!  Our hearts have always been in youth ministry, ever since we served as youth pastors several years ago and we feel so blessed to be doing it again!  God is burdening us for this city, for the teens, for the hurting, for the needy.  We want to follow the footsteps of Jesus!  He's giving us big visions and big dreams and we know only He can accomplish them.    We're just trying to find that perfect place of balance that God wants us to live in, cherishing our family time, while working part-time with the church and in our business.  God is leading the way!

I hope that explains why I've been a little absent lately.  That and the fact that my little boy just started kindergarten this week.  Which is a whole post in itself!  It's one my heart is still trying to work through.  I promise I'll post it soon!


AND....
It's finally time to announce the winner of the tukula giveaway!  Thank you for your patience with me, sweet friends!  And can I also thank you for sending love and prayers to this wonderful ministry!
Keep them in your hearts!







And the lovely lady that I will be sending a tukula bag to...





"Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."  {1 John 3: 18}


19 comments:

Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top said...

How exciting that you get to become youth pastors. My 7 year old son asked me tonight, "What does it mean to be blessed to be a blessing?" I think this is a perfect example.

Kristin said...

I was just thinking about you earlier, Joye, wondering if your oldest was starting Kindergarten :) I am SO happy for you in your ministry....it is wonderful to see what God is doing in your life! Love you!!

PaisleyJade said...

So excited for you both - my husband and I are youth pastors (have been for the last 13 years) and it is such a rewarding ministry (with it's challenges as you would know!). I have really struggled myself to keep the right ministry/family balance in our lives - such a crucial decision with little ones of our own.

Bless you guys!!!

Mommara said...

I am so excited for you guys and will keep you in my prayers. You two will be such a blessing to the kids for sure.

Jill said...

My husband and I have been blessed with the opportunity to become Teen leaders at our chuch as well!! WOW!! We are a lot like Peter right now...we have asked to be called out of the boat in Faith, but I must admit it's kinda scary. I have promised God that "I WILL NOT BE PETER" i will not sink. I trust our Father with all my heart and we feel so blessed to know that He sees our heart for the youth. May God bless you all on your journey of Faith!!

Andrea said...

Blessings and prayers,
andrea

Lara said...

How exciting, Joye! My husband and I are small group leaders for our church youth group and it is a blast.

Maria Trochelman said...

Thats so exciting!! I will be praying for you both!

Laura said...

Congrats!!! What an awesome journey this will be for your family! Can't wait to hear all of the amazing stories.

{darlene} said...

what fantastic news! I look forward to your future posts... and that Kindergarten post!

Heatherly said...

Congratulations on your new journey! Hopefully the youth in your community will be blessed by your passion for them :)

Lauren said...

Joye I am so excited for you!! What an awesome and wonderful calling! As you already know, it's hard work but oh so worth it! We'll have to keep in touch and give each other tips and encouragement! It's been a tough year for us as we've adjusted to youth rather than college students and I would love your wisdom of past experience! Please keep us updated on how things are going with the ministry! :)I will definitely be praying for you!!

Oh - and YAY for Thad starting Kindergarten! Such a milestone! :)

Holly said...

What a great opportunity for you guys!

Fiona said...

So exciting!!

I wanna meet you Joye - I love hearing about how other people are actually living out their callings. Not just writing about them!
Lotsa love.
xx

Rachel~Wildflower Photography Studio and Wildflower Creative said...

I was just wondering about you. :) So excited you and your hubs! What a blessing! I know God will use you to bless and help grow others!

Smiles,
rachel

Anonymous said...

yay! how exciting! i pray that God blesses y'all's work for Him. :)

by the way, i absolutely love that Elisabeth Elliot quote! :)

Unknown said...

God is going to use you all in some awesome ways! How exciting!! Can't wait to hear more about your new journey!

BARBIE said...

This is so exciting. God is going to use you both mightily in the lives of the young people He has entrusted to you.

Joyeful said...

Thank you for all the encouragement!! Big Hugs!

♥Joye

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