It has always been therapeutic for me to write, and this morning I need to write. In the midst of boxes and piled up furniture, the dramas of life are ongoing. One such drama for us is the sadness of being grandparents positionally but not being able to be grandparents experientially. We received some sad news last night that we will not be able to see our new little Easton and our continually evolving little Ella later this month as we had planned. At first, we were very stoic about it, but in the wee hours of the night, the stoicism dissolved into tears. First, I realized I was going through the stages of grief--shock, denial, anger...
I read the Spirit's own words back to Him, "I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted..." "Oh that I had wings...I would fly away and be at rest."
But after listening patiently to me, the Lover of my soul whispered back to me, "Those tears are being stored in the bottle. Nestle under the shadow of My wing where peace and lovingkindness is rich and free."
"Because of You, my heart will not be shaken. Because You give me the strength to do it, I will sing of that strength to do so (Ps. 59). Even joyfully! You are my stronghold and I am getting to know the depths of your love by stepping behind it. You are incredibly personal and are showing me the sheer essence of Your love."
Yes, there are late night and early morning cries of a little boy in New York and I wish I was there to console him, but there is joy in the gift you've given me to pray that, as he grows, his tears will dissolve into joy in You. Love truly does bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
A New "E"
Meet Easton Andrew Sewall, the newest addition to Evan and Emily's family in New York. Ella has a brother and we're all ECSTATIC and EVER so EXCITED. You can check out their blog at esewalls.blogspot.com.
Plan your trip and take it!
We have been getting e-mails from an adventurous friend of ours and her other adventurous friend. They have been on a sweeping camping trip of the great northwest and will soon be making a loop into Canada and re-entering at Glacier National Park and have been sending back descriptions of the wonders they are observing, while we are leaning on one elbow staring at the computer screen, trying to escape the de-energizing heat. What one of us would not want to stand on the ridge and look out on the ocean and the sunset? Was it difficult to plan their itinerary, collect the gear, make arrangements for the cats and dogs left behind, pay bills ahead of time, stop the mail, etc. etc.? Of course! Is it worth it? Of course!!!
Hasn't God told us to count the cost? I think we all want to stand on the mountain but we can't stand the thought of getting out of town. In my wandering thoughts, I was thinking how we are "trying to get out of town". Is it hard sorting and packing 22 years of accumulation from the five of us, plus various inherited worldly goods and yard sale treasures. Finding renters. Filling out home loan applications and gathering papers. Saying goodbye and getting closure with tried and true friends. Presenting our vision to encourage others to "go" with us with their time, energy, and money. Close John's office and finish up work. Yes, it's a challenge. Will it be worth it? We are trusting that it will be and that the God we serve will honor our willingness to "go for it" for His good pleasure. We are asking Him to allow us to stand on the mountain vistas and be invigorated by the mountain air, really knowing HE is the air we are breathing, to be made willing and ready for the challenge of allowing Him to take us even higher. Yes, we "hike" by faith and not by sight and we KNOW it will be worth it.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
What's up with John and Gloria?
We're making a SPIRITUAL move! God is transforming our thinking about the rest of our days.
We're making an EMOTIONAL move! Sewall Architecture is drawing to a conclusion. We're leaving the comfort of the familiar.
We're making a PHYSICAL move! God has surprised us by leading us to a new home in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the growing missions community there. They are passionate about being strategic in seeing that every tongue, tribe and nation will be able to make the choice to worship their creator and their great Savior Jesus in spirit and in truth just as we are.
_______________________________________________________
OK, but what are the specifics? Here's the long story short: In 1998, we watched a series of videos by Bob Sjogren and Steve Hawthorne that we got so excited about, we had to do something about it! In fact, the fire is still burning in our hearts more brightly than ever, having been through several years of the class, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement . Many of you have crossed to the other side of the street when you saw us coming, knowing we were going to block the sidewalk and give you another set of persuasive arguments about why you should take the Perspectives class. God used it in a mighty way with us to see clearly His missionary heart, and we are ruined for the ordinary.
After several years of being caretakers for my mother until her great homecoming in December, 2004, we knew we were entering a new season, which--interestingly enough--coincided with the move of the Mobilization Division of the U S Center for World Missions (the originator of the Perspectives class) from Pasadena, California, to Fayetteville, Arkansas. A friend from the days of the video excitement of 1998 invited us to consider the possibility of joining the Fayetteville team. I remember the exact place and time several days later--driving down Kanis Road on a Saturday afternoon--when the mutual thought balloon formed in the car between us--"This is of God! Take it to heart and consider what I might have for you there!"
So...how can I "GO" with you? We are looking for a few good men and women. God has a vast number of avenues through which He wants to bless us, and we are confident that God is already at work stirring the hearts of those He has in mind to be blessed through teaming up with us. We're praying it will be clear to you. Is that thought balloon forming in your mind? Can we talk?
_________________________________________________________
What will this mean for me if I "GO" with you?
1. Yes--FAQ--we are looking for those who want to be part of our team with their financial resources, but we hope you can see our heart to build a team of worshippers who are making the SPIRITUAL move with us and want to be more strategic themselves.
2. We will be equipping you with some tools to do this along the way.
3. We hope you will consider getting involved with the Perspectives class--
If you've taken it already, join the team to make it happen next year for others. If you haven't taken it yet, plan now to take it in the spring of 2008. (We will provide our financial team with the textbook to get you started.)
4. When God grips your heart with His passion to bring all people everywhere to Himself through the class or in an infinite number of other ways, we can join with you to provide the atmosphere to nurture this same passion in your own church, campus, and community.
5. We have many other ideas to share with you but more about that later...
________________________________________________________
God's life-giving plan for all of us is to understand that He has blessed us to be a blessing. We'd love to hear from you and visit at your home or ours or at your favorite coffee shop.
Write us at glomom@aristotle.net.
We're making an EMOTIONAL move! Sewall Architecture is drawing to a conclusion. We're leaving the comfort of the familiar.
We're making a PHYSICAL move! God has surprised us by leading us to a new home in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the growing missions community there. They are passionate about being strategic in seeing that every tongue, tribe and nation will be able to make the choice to worship their creator and their great Savior Jesus in spirit and in truth just as we are.
_______________________________________________________
OK, but what are the specifics? Here's the long story short: In 1998, we watched a series of videos by Bob Sjogren and Steve Hawthorne that we got so excited about, we had to do something about it! In fact, the fire is still burning in our hearts more brightly than ever, having been through several years of the class, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement . Many of you have crossed to the other side of the street when you saw us coming, knowing we were going to block the sidewalk and give you another set of persuasive arguments about why you should take the Perspectives class. God used it in a mighty way with us to see clearly His missionary heart, and we are ruined for the ordinary.
After several years of being caretakers for my mother until her great homecoming in December, 2004, we knew we were entering a new season, which--interestingly enough--coincided with the move of the Mobilization Division of the U S Center for World Missions (the originator of the Perspectives class) from Pasadena, California, to Fayetteville, Arkansas. A friend from the days of the video excitement of 1998 invited us to consider the possibility of joining the Fayetteville team. I remember the exact place and time several days later--driving down Kanis Road on a Saturday afternoon--when the mutual thought balloon formed in the car between us--"This is of God! Take it to heart and consider what I might have for you there!"
So...how can I "GO" with you? We are looking for a few good men and women. God has a vast number of avenues through which He wants to bless us, and we are confident that God is already at work stirring the hearts of those He has in mind to be blessed through teaming up with us. We're praying it will be clear to you. Is that thought balloon forming in your mind? Can we talk?
_________________________________________________________
What will this mean for me if I "GO" with you?
1. Yes--FAQ--we are looking for those who want to be part of our team with their financial resources, but we hope you can see our heart to build a team of worshippers who are making the SPIRITUAL move with us and want to be more strategic themselves.
2. We will be equipping you with some tools to do this along the way.
3. We hope you will consider getting involved with the Perspectives class--
If you've taken it already, join the team to make it happen next year for others. If you haven't taken it yet, plan now to take it in the spring of 2008. (We will provide our financial team with the textbook to get you started.)
4. When God grips your heart with His passion to bring all people everywhere to Himself through the class or in an infinite number of other ways, we can join with you to provide the atmosphere to nurture this same passion in your own church, campus, and community.
5. We have many other ideas to share with you but more about that later...
________________________________________________________
God's life-giving plan for all of us is to understand that He has blessed us to be a blessing. We'd love to hear from you and visit at your home or ours or at your favorite coffee shop.
Write us at glomom@aristotle.net.
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