The Waiting Place

"The Waiting Place...for people just waiting.  Waiting for the train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come or the rain to go or the phone to ring...waiting around for a Yes or No." 

We are waiting. We anticipate a change...soon.

Anticipation seems to carry a "pleasurable expectation."  It's the months before our children are born. It's those eager days before that long-planned vacation.  It's a promise kept, a trust coming to fruition, and a feeling of excitement.  Everyone on earth has experienced anticipation, regardless of race or nationality.  We believe this because we saw anticipation in Ecuador when a child lifted an empty bowl to meet a full ladle. Or, when a tribe met a missionary pilot's plane that had landed in the Amazon jungle.  We have seen eager students who stood at the door of  education in Romania and villagers who met their pastor's canoe on the banks of the Amazon in Peru.  We have seen families push past big, wooden church doors and spill onto benches in Albania to hear God's word.  We have seen women gather in Australia for home Bible studies.  We have seen the Jesus Film projected onto bed sheets suspended from poles in Belize.  We have seen the gospel proclaimed through drama in a Warsaw city square.  We have seen churches being built where languages will proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you are a follower of our blog , then you already know that Mission Corps is our second career.
Each year, we have the opportunity to stand beside and serve missionaries who have been called and who are actively involved in sharing Christ with many language groups. And, they have seen, too!  We are presently waiting for our next Mission Corps assignment.
       We never know
           the Places We'll Go

We are waiting, but we call "it mending our nets." We have been fishing in many parts of the world, and now we wait because we know we will cast off soon. By the way, all believers have nets.

"He (Jesus) saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets."
(Luke 5:2) NIV
"He (Jesus) noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets."
(Luke 5:2)  The Message


Keep Looking Up!  And, we will keep you posted!
J:m and L:inda

The Roundabout and Other Musings on the Interstate

"A roundabout is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic flows almost continuously in one direction around a central island. The single greatest benefit of roundabouts is that they eliminate perpendicular/T-bone crashes. The modern form was standardized in the United Kingdom." (Wikipedia)

My Maps App had accurately delivered me to my last appointment with my foot doctor, who had been highly recommended by fellow runners but whose office was located 30 miles from our home in an unfamiliar part of Phoenix.  My iPhone GPS faithfully guided me through nine directional steps without any disruptions or suspense.  However, the trip back home was going to be much more fun. It all started when the familiar GPS voice became disorderly and disoriented. Even for one who has openly stated that I, Linda, am directionally impaired, I knew something was wrong.  Once "the voice" had sanely completed the twisted maze from the doctor's office, I merged onto US-60 West homeward bound.  It was then that the guiding genius began to expel everything she knew.  She jabbered and ranted all past directional records, naming streets, avenues, and exits, suggesting that I take them all.  Strangely, though, she intermittently offered correct directions inside her rattling nonsense.   Instead of shutting her off, I let her show-off all she knew.

When she advised me to take the next roundabout on the interstate, I knew that she was feeding me unsound satellite advice, but I journeyed on because she was just plain fun now. Besides, for the first time EVER, I felt that I knew more than a GPS. The exit I wanted was the AZ-101 Loop North and her  false information, despite being delivered with authority, was not going to persuade me to "take the next roundabout on the interstate."  I laughed aloud when she directed me to make a U-Turn on the busy highway.  And, she repeated that direction!   Now, she was amusing and entertaining.  Who was she?  Where was she?  Why was she trying to deceive me?  If I had not known the general direction, I would have listened to her voice and become lost.  Finally, near my home exit, I felt for my iPhone and clicked off the free entertainment. 

You are just like the world, I mused: a voice with authority. Which way do I go?  To whom do I give ear?  Indeed, the correct directions were imbedded inside her clutter and chatter, but I had to be still in order to sort them out.  There is a lot of chatter out there trying to guide and influence us.  But the correct directions are imbedded within, but we can't hear His voice if we don't know Him. 

Isaiah 30:21  "If you wander off the road to the right or the left, you will hear His voice behind you saying, "Here is the road.  Follow it."
For us, that road starts with a church home.  Don't get lost!

Keep Looking Up!  And, thanks for following our Blog
J:m and L:nda