Saturday, September 22, 2007

Divine Connections

We went to a friend’s surprise birthday party and were happy to see some other good friends there. As we sat and talked, they mentioned that they had gone to our home group the night before, expecting us to be there. They felt like they needed to talk to us about something but weren’t sure what it was.

As we talked about what God is doing in our lives, I mentioned that we felt called to start a house church. Our friend immediately asked, “Who are you doing it with?” I wasn’t sure what she meant, so I just said, “God?” (lol).

She then shared that they had also wanted to start a house church and had even tried a couple of years ago with another couple, but it hadn’t worked out. We were all so excited as we talked about what we envisioned it could look like. I also recommended a book that Tom recently got called Jesus Has Left the Building—I highly encouraged them to read it.

I can totally see how God is putting this all together! It’s so exciting and incredible to witness His hand at work.

Monday, December 10, 2007

 A Lesson in Compassion

We had a busy weekend—watching the kids on Saturday and then attending K and S’s Sunday house church gathering after church. We had another opportunity to talk with B and K, and they invited us to their meeting next Sunday. They are going through the book of Acts and said there is a lot of prayer and movement of the Holy Spirit… That sounds good to me!

On Friday, while working out on the treadmill, the Lord revealed a little more to me about where His power comes from. Tom was trying yoga for the first time in the other room, and I was a little concerned he might hurt himself. As my thoughts wandered—like they often do—I imagined him getting injured and calling for help. In that moment, I saw myself running to him, laying hands on him, and praying. My concern and compassion for him were so strong that the Holy Spirit came through, and he was healed!

Then, God reminded me: Jesus had compassion on the people. It was that deep, internal, gut-wrenching love for them—a true desire to see them free from pain. And suddenly, I realized something painful… I don’t really feel that kind of compassion in my gut for people. What I desire most is to see the power of God work through me.

Lord, forgive me for my selfishness! I am so focused on myself—on wanting to experience Your power—that I have missed the true reason for it.

Father, show me how to have true compassion for Your people. Help me focus on their eternal souls rather than myself. Teach me to desire their salvation and healing, not recognition for myself.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Front Row Seats to His Work 

We had yet another awesome weekend!!

I’m still cooking for G and F during the week. G is getting ready to travel to Atlanta to visit her family next week, and she is especially excited in anticipation of her adventure. She is so cute! F’s 80th birthday is also coming up, so I’m planning a small gathering to celebrate with her.

Friday night we were invited to a friend’s birthday party, and I struggled with whether to go to the party or attend the prophetic class. It has been so good lately, and I felt like I didn’t want to miss anything. But one day while I was in the shower and praying about it, the Lord reminded me that He would be wherever I was—that I wouldn’t be missing anything—and that I needed to be at the party. He also showed me that my desire to go to class was selfish, because I was looking for something for me, and that He needed me to be available for others. DOH!! So, you can probably guess where I went Friday night. And of course, God placed people around me who were hungry to hear about what He was doing in our lives and in His body. It was so cool, and we had a great time!

I also sense that the Lord is preparing us to stop going to the Friday night group. It feels like He has something else for us to step into—or maybe our time at that group has simply come to an end, and we need to move on before we turn it into an idol (if we haven’t already).

Saturday, the NC group from SimpleChurch.com gathered at R and M’s house church, and wow—what an amazing time! A and CB’s Kingdom Growth Guide group came and stayed through the meal and introductions but had to leave around 9:00 because of their kids’ bedtimes. It was unfortunate, because the worship and ministry afterward were truly incredible! We came in as strangers, but we left feeling like family. The gifts of the Spirit flowed through worship, prayer, words from the Lord, and praise. God continues to bring more hungry people into our lives and keeps amazing us with how big He is!

Sunday morning Tom and I met the new couple for breakfast, and it was such a blessing to get to know them better. Part of me already feels sad that we’ll build this friendship only to have them leave for China soon. I shared with a friend that it feels like God is placing such awesome, powerful, gifted people in my life—and that we have the privilege of “front row seats” as we watch Him do amazing things through them. I know this couple will have a powerful ministry in China, and I can’t wait to see and hear what God will do!

After breakfast, we picked up the kids from E’s house and took them to K and SW’s Sunday Supper House Church for another wonderful day at the farmhouse. The weather was perfect again, and the kids had a great time running around with new friends, getting fresh air, and eating good food.

Today’s Oswald reading was really good:

October 27 – The Method of Missions

Matthew 28:19 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus Christ did not say, “Go and save souls” (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God). He said, “Go . . . make disciples of all nations.” Yet we cannot make disciples unless we ourselves are disciples. When the disciples returned from their first mission, they rejoiced because even demons were subject to them. But Jesus reminded them that the great secret of joy is not successful service—it is having the right relationship with Him (Luke 10:17–20).

The missionary’s essential is remaining true to the call of God, realizing that our purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus—not to make converts to our own point of view. The challenge isn’t that people are difficult or indifferent. The challenge is always the missionary’s personal relationship with Jesus. Do I know my risen Lord? Do I know the power of His Spirit? Am I willing to abandon worldly wisdom and live in limitless confidence in Christ alone?

Lord, I pray You continue to pound it into my head that it’s not about what I do for You or my service for You, but about my relationship with You and abiding in Your presence. I know that through our relationship, You will do in me what needs to be done to “disciple” those You bring my way.

We’re still at M and L’s, and honestly, I’m not sure why. It feels like they’re ministering to us more than we are to them. They’ve been so accommodating, making sure every need is met. We haven’t even had to buy groceries since we’ve been here! Their schedules are busy, so we don’t see much of them. I’ve had a couple of “OCD episodes” and organized their pantry, refrigerator, and freezer, but other than that, we haven’t done much.

Lord, I pray You’ll give us more opportunities to minister to this family and household. In Jesus’ name.

Conclusion — 2025

Here we are, back in the here and now, at the end of 2025. I’ve decided to conclude this memoir with the final journal entry from November 9, 2009. It has taken quite some time to gather, revisit, and shape these entries, but I’ve truly enjoyed reading them again and again—remembering, reflecting, and reliving the countless ways God showed Himself faithful.

As I look back, I’m overwhelmed by the miracles God performed and by the people He placed in our lives—those who supported us, prayed for us, and walked with us through the ups, downs, struggles, and victories… even during moments when it likely looked as though we had completely lost our minds. There is so much more to the story, of course, but this particular chapter of the journey came to a close when God moved us into the Bed & Breakfast. And then—just like that—a new adventure began.

Tom and I are no longer at the Inn. In October 2024, we would have celebrated fifteen years there, but in June of that year the owners felt it was time to close the B&B. Our years at the Inn were deeply transformative. God brought tremendous healing to our hearts and our marriage, and He continued to reshape and deepen our relationship with Him. We were also incredibly privileged to coach, encourage, and walk alongside many others along the way.

In many ways, we experienced transformation twice—like caterpillars becoming butterflies. The first transformation happened during the fifteen months we lived nomadically, clinging to God as we learned to trust Him no matter what things looked like, even as it seemed we were losing everything. The second transformation unfolded during our nearly fifteen years at the B&B. I can say with complete honesty that I am not the same person I was when this journey began.

Regarding the house church, the Inn became a place of countless “God appointments.” Guests would ask how we ended up in North Carolina from California, or how we became Inn Keepers—completely unaware of how loaded those questions were. When hearts were open and the Holy Spirit led, God would open doors for ministry that were truly remarkable, sometimes even miraculous. Many guests became dear friends, and some we now consider family.

Early on, during one of those God appointments, I was sitting in the breakfast sunroom, watching God move in the lives of our guests. In my heart I said, “God, this is incredible. What a privilege it is to be used by You and to have front-row seats to watch You work.” And then I heard Him say, “This is your house church.” I remember thinking, Oh. My. Goodness.

From that point on, we truly believed that every person who walked through the doors of the Inn was brought there by God—whether we ever spoke about Him or not—to be loved, served, prayed for, and ministered to as He directed. Only God could orchestrate something like that. It also reminded me of a prophecy spoken over us on 07/07/07: “You won’t need to go get people; people will come to you.” That word has continued to unfold, even through the life-coaching ministry that followed. Only God.

As for the marriage retreat, that vision has not yet come to pass. At one point, we believed God might be opening a door to host it at the Inn, but it became clear that the timing was ours—not His. We fell flat, released it, and chose to trust that if it was truly meant to happen, God would bring it about in His way and in His time.

There are a few additional personal journal entries from late 2009, but in January 2010 I began a blog titled “Journey to Know God.” That blog continues our story from the B&B and eventually expands into reflections on what God showed me through His Word—insights that were both inspiring and life-changing. While working long hours in the Inn’s kitchen, I listened to the Bible on CD, and God began to reveal truth, gently helping me unlearn some things I had misunderstood and teaching me things that deeply transformed my faith. Those reflections are documented there, and I hope you’ll take time to explore them if you’re able.

As we close this chapter, our hope is not simply that you enjoyed the journey—but that you were encouraged by God’s faithfulness when we chose to trust Him, regardless of how things appeared. He is faithful. He is trustworthy. And He loves you far more than you can possibly imagine.