Road Trips!!

Last week we started our week with a road trip...

On the first Sunday in February, we headed up to Maryville, Tennessee to worship with our friends at Smoky Mountain Presbyterian church and were blessed to share with them during Sunday School about our testimony and the work that we are being called to do in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada with the Blackfoot people there. 

Thanks for the great food and fellowship!

...and ended our week with a road trip.

Sandy went up to Covenant College on Saturday morning and had a great time praying for missions and sharing our ministry with the girls in the 4th floor of Carter Hall.

It was a blessing to pray for missions all over the world and to see the next generation of christians who are excited about going into all the world and sharing the good news! 

   Thanks for the invitation Brittany!

This week we head out on Friday the 13th for a new Road Trip. 

We will visit friends and relatives in Jacksonville and share at Ortega PCA church on Sunday, February 15th .

We will then spend the week driving leisurely over to Bradenton/Palmetto with stops in Orlando, Lakeland and Brandon. 

Sandy could see the Skyway bridge from her backyard when she was growing up.

We may "have to go" to the beach when we are there!

If you are available during the week of February 16th to 20th and would like a visit - let us know!! 

 Give us a call!!! Send us an Email!! Text us!!  

(423-435-4120 - sandyjvg@gmail.com)

On Sunday February 22nd we will be sharing at Grace PCA in Lake Suzy, Florida.

We will then head back to Tennessee on either Monday or Tuesday of the next week, hopefully with a couple of other stops as we connect with people during our travels.

We ask for prayers for safe travel and open hearts as we ask for prayer and financial support.

My encouraging scripture for you and for us today is from the book of Ezra.  

The remnant of Israel is returning from captivity to Jerusalem.  Ezra's words of Praise:

Praise be to the Lord, the God of our Fathers, 

who has put it into the king's heart

to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way

and who has extended his good favor to me before the king 

and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. 

Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and 

gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. Ezra 7:27-28

God was with Ezra during a great time of change and renewal - God will be with me during a great time of change and renewal.

I Praise the Lord, I Take Courage!

God is with us as we travel - through life and on the road.

We have returned home to Tennessee after our most recent trip to raise prayer and financial partners.  It was a great time to be in Florida - October is always beautiful.

It is also a great time to be in Chattanooga - the end of fall and looking ahead to winter.

We had good times of fellowship with friends and family while in Florida - who do you recognize

We also had our first bit of car trouble - thankful that only a nail in the tire was the problem.  Even though we had to get a new tire instead of just a patch we were reminded of God's care and provision for us.

This support raising trip was a bit of a challenge for us and as we struggle with the work of asking for partners in our mission and at the same time dealing with living life in a fallen world. I was encouraged and challenged today by a good read that I found on Facebook post by a fellow church choir member.

A pastor from a church in Jacksonville challenged the saying

                   God won’t give you more than you can handle

 Howard and I would like to amend what he wrote. We agree with this pastor when he said the passage was about temptation not troubles.

  “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

 But we should amend the popular saying to what is really going on in our minds:

                  God won’t give me anymore than I think I can handle. 

 That changes the dynamics a bit and really makes the statement false. Then I moved on to the verse used by the pastor that really brings it home. Paul was speaking to his fellow Christians:

   For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 2 Cor 1:8,9

  The hard things that I don't think I can handle (afflictions) are the things that God is using to draw me closer to Himself (relying on God not myself).  He doesn't tempt us but He does grow us - with His goal for my life in mind, not what I have in mind. 

  So we will continue to move forward in our work of raising support, living life, and becoming more like His Son - Jesus. 

 All with the work of sharing the gospel in mind and the promise of eternal restoration with Him! 

  The Spring that will come after the long Winter.

Florida

Morning walk

  We are on the road visiting friends and family in Lakeland, Brandon, and Bradenton, Florida.  We are blessed to be able to share with so many our calling to work with the Blackfoot people in Lethbridge alongside the Amazing Grace Community Church.

  As we travel, I enjoy so much seeing the beauty of the state that we grew up in - just want to share some of that with you this morning.

Hibiscus

Lake Morton - with swans!

Palm fronds - cleaned up many of these while we were growing up!

Bromiliads

Can't say I have ever seen this type of cactus before - information would be appreciated!

The peacefulness of moss hanging from oak trees.
I remember as a child when my parents first moved to Florida when I was 6 years old.
Seeing the moss on the trees as we traveled I-75 heading down to Valrico, Florida "Valley of Gold".
 The moss in the trees always reminds me of our Florida home.


What memories of your childhood home come to you when and if you return for visits?
And what about your forever home?  What do you envision it to be like?



20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
(Philippians 3:20 ESV)