Mystery Trip: Finally There

Hey guys!

Well, we know where we are moving! And actually we are already there. All of our things aren’t…but will be hopefully later this week.

We didn’t move to Kentucky but to a state very near by. We are now in Marion, Illinois which is about 5-6 hours from Chicago and about 2 hours from Saint Louis.

My dad is pastoring a church here in Marion called All Nations Church of God. Everyone has been so nice to us and very, very welcoming. It has been amazing to watch God work all of this out. We know that this is what we have been waiting on.

Thank you all for your prayers. I really appreciate it a whole lot!

Update: Return to USA

Wow…I’m actually blogging! It’s been a long time since I posted last!

Well, I will give you guys a short update on what’s happening with us.

We are still waiting on God to see where He is going to place us. My dad feels like it is God’s will that he pastors a church but at this point we don’t know which church or where it is. So we wait. Which is very hard after being here almost 6 months but we’re hanging in there by His grace!

I’d really appreciate it if you would keep us in your prayers that God would give us patience to wait upon Him, and that He would show us where He wants us to go…that He would open up the right door and close all others.

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us! We really need your prayers. It has been a period of growing and learning. Learning some of the lessons that we as humans seem to have a hard time learning, patience, trust, obedience, and submission to God.

But God has been faithful and has provided completely (and exceedingly above) for our needs. He has been good.

Thanks again for your prayers!

Until next time,

Hannah-Liz

Mystery Trip: Unveiled

Hey everybody!

Sorry for the extremely late unveiling of the “Mystery Trip”. And no, we are not back from the “trip” yet. And actually…we aren’t going back. The following is not a typo: we are not going back to Belgium (To live anyway. Maybe we will go back for a visit sometime.). We have permanently moved back to the USA.

It was time for us to come home and we are happy to be back. We didn’t make the decision to leave nor did the church we are with bring us back. God brought us back.

Right now we are living in Tennessee, unsure of where we are going next. As you can imagine, we are very anxious to get to where we are going and get back to normal life. But all of it will fall into place eventually.

We would really appreciate it if you guys would pray that God would show us where He wants us to go, what ministry He has for my dad, and also that He would help us adjust to living in the USA again. It has been approximately 11 years since we have actually lived in the States. We have come back for visits and two furloughs but we haven’t lived here permanently since the beginning of 1996.

Just to let you know, I don’t think I’ll be updating my blog much, if at all, for awhile (exactly what I’ve been doing for some time now… :-)). I don’t know if I’ll continue blogging…I’ll just have to wait and see how it goes when we get where we are moving.

Thank you all (nope, not y’all….yet. :-)) for your prayers in advance! We really appreciate it.

All4now,

Hannah-Liz

Mystery Trip

We are going on a trip. . .but I can’t tell you where. (hehehehe) And I won’t tell you where until after we get there! Have I made you curious yet?

Some people already know where we are going and if you are one of them, please don’t tell!

Quote: Abraham Lincoln

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.

~Abraham Lincoln

Hmmm…good advice!

Christmas or CHRISTmas?

I don’t know. There’s something about this time of year that makes people want to pull out their Christmas CD’s, dust them off, and pop them in the CD player. There’s something about this time of year that calls for hot chocolate, a blanket, and a good (clean) Christmas movie. There is something about this time of year that demands lights, Christmas ornaments, and a tree.

Also this time of year…Stores are overcrowded. Slushy snow is on the streets (depending on where you live). Houses are being cleaned and prepared for uncles, aunts, grandmas, grandpas, and cousins to arrive for the holidays. Presents are being wrapped. Cookies are being baked and decorated. Menus are being planned.

I don’t know…maybe it’s the weather. The ugly gray skies and trees with bare limbs make us feel so depressed we just have to do something to liven up our surroundings.

But is all of this stuff really Christmas? I mean, is this what Christmas is? No, it isn’t.

It’s easy in all of this hustle and bustle to forget the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

Christmas celebrates the birth of a baby that was born over 2,000 years ago. A baby that was no ordinary baby. A baby who was fully human…but at the same time fully God. Someone that would later grow up and become the Savior of the world. One whose name is Jesus Christ.

Christmas is His birthday.

But in all the hurrying and rushing around this time of year…it’s easy to forget it.

Let’s remember not to forget Him this year. Yeah, we’re busy…but so is Jesus. If He had a calendar think of how full it would be. But yet He doesn’t forget us…let’s not forget Him either.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Music Video: "America"

I love this song! It has a beautiful melody and great lyrics with a desperately needed message. Hope you enjoy! (“America” is sung by Rebecca St. James.)

America

This land is built on freedom
Life and liberty for all
We’ve declared our independence
So we will depend on the One who made it all

(chorus)
Honor God, America
The land of the free
Honor God, America
O land of liberty
Honor God

So let justice flow like water
And let mercy fall like rain
Those who honor Him, He’ll honor
Together let’s raise up the One who has made us

(chorus)
Honor God, America
The land of the free
Honor God, America
O land of liberty
Honor God

(bridge)
From the mountains to the prairies
From the desert to the cities
From the heartland to the coastland
Let our hearts turn to the Lord’s hand
From the mountains to the prairies
From the desert to the cities
From the heartland to the coastland
Let our hearts turn to the Lord

(chorus)
Honor God, America
The land of the free
Honor God, America
O land of liberty
Honor God

(repeat bridge)

Words and Music by Phil Laeger, Rebecca St. James and Tedd T.
Copyright 2006 Doxology Music. All rights reserved.

Poetry: Letting You Take Command

My poem was featured on Real Teen Faith two different times (The last time was a mistake though. She forgot that she had already posted it.). And I’ve decided to finally post it over here. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Letting You Take Command

Sometimes, Lord, in You it seems
Hard to put my trust,
But to my heart You whisper that
I must.
You tell me that my life I have to
Place in Your hands,
To step down from the rank of captain
And let You take command.

For me to move over to the passenger
Seat and let You steer,
But for some reason I can’t seem to
Trust, for some reason I fear.
I seem to have forgotten all You’ve done
For me in the past,
You’ve helped me before when I put
My trust in You at last.

So why is it so hard for me to have
Faith in You now?
I want to trust You but I need You to
Help me remember how.
In You, God, help me to place my
Trust and hope,
Trusting You’ll help me with the problems
That I can’t cope.

Help me to trust You as captain
Over me,
Help me to trust You to guide me
Through the stormy seas.
And I pray that next time my trust
Won’t begin to fade,
But that I’ll trust You that You’ll
Come to my aid.

By Hannah-Liz

Bible Verse: Philippians 4:19