Templeton 5

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Would you allow me a moment to be raw and vulnerable?

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DISAPPOINTMENT

"We must process our disappointments through the filter of God's Love
NOT

through the tangled places of our heart"

As 2019 starts, people are searching for just the right word to claim as their own throughout the year. The idea is focused around having a central word or theme to guide your actions in the coming year. I see most words for the year encompass positive points in life such as
JOY, FAITH, GRACE, INTENTIONAL, ADVENTURE, THRIVE, BALANCE
just to name a few.

I don't normally pick a word, but as the new year started, I also began reading a book called,"It's not supposed to be this way" by: Lysa Terkeurst. Below you will find a link to this book on the Proverbs31 website.
https://www.proverbs31.org/study/online-bible-studies/its-not-supposed-to-be-this-way
Since I have started reading this book, I have been challenged to think of disappointments as opportunities to see God at work in my life and in the lives of those around me. I am drawn to these verses in I Peter...

I Peter 1:5-7

"God's power protects you through your faith until salvation is shown to you at the end of time. This makes you very happy, even though now for a short time different kinds of troubles may make you sad. These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold, which can be proved to be pure by fire but will ruin. But the purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is shown to you."
New Century Version "the everyday bible"

Would you allow me a moment to be raw and vulnerable?
It is the one thing that most of us are not good at. We want to stay guarded and protected from judgment and hurt. We may be afraid of what people will think of us. Probably most missionary newsletters you read are uplifting and highlight the positive things about their work, or the culture around them. They may describe blessings they have received and request prayer for those they minister to. Not to often are we sharing the real hurt and heart ache that encompasses our personal lives. Those moments don't shout...
"HEY JOIN OUR TEAM AND PARTNER WITH US!"
So, they are usually not shared openly, but shared behind closed doors with a few close friends or family.
I am finding that this move back to the USA has been a really hard one for our family. When we first started the transition to move back, we knew without a doubt that God was leading us this way. He opened doors and paved the way. The move was probably one of the smoothest we have ever had.
However, when we arrived and started to settle in things started to change. I kept hearing these words in my head over and over again,

"Don't doubt in the dark what was revealed to you in the Light"

I have explained to others that it felt as if our family was traveling down a road and got off at a rest stop, but Andy and I were the only ones who got back in the car to continue on. We were faced with the choice of getting back on the road and continuing on without our boys. I never knew what missions would look like or feel like when it was just Andy and I. Missions was something that we did as a family, traveling around the globe together. I wasn't prepared for this and felt so completely alone in what I was going through. Not only were we going through a major transition, but we were also dealing with some major health issues and life decisions made by our boys that affected the whole family. We are extremely blessed that NO MATTER what, our boys ALWAYS know that our home offers refuge and safety. We have a very close relationship with them no matter what. So, we bear each others burdens as if they are our own. We don't normally share about our boys lives because we respect their privacy. And because of this I won't go into a lot of details.
During these hard struggles we were and still are blessed with a wonderful support team here at Ethnos360 Bible Institute. They have worked with our ever changing schedules and health struggles. We are also blessed to be close to our home church and family. We have felt the hand of God move in our lives and in the lives of our boys.
This verse in Proverbs has helped keep our eyes on the source of our Joy, not on temporary troubles. When we place our hope in the wrong thing, we are crushed and devastated.
Proverbs 13:12
"When hope is crushed, the heart is crushed, BUT a wish come true fills you with joy"
Good News Translation
So, for this year, I will pick a word, and that word is
"DISAPPOINTMENT"
I have begun to think of disappointment, not as a heart crushing feeling, but as a potential for joy and hope knowing that these moments in life are moments to meet God and see Him work. Disappointment can be a divine appointment set by My Maker to help me grow closer to Him.
- Gina -

Thank you
for your friendship over the years, for your prayers for our family and for partnering with us in ministry.
You are an encouragement and a blessing to us.

Gina has started a new little side business to help raise funds for a new "to her" car. Click on the picture if you are interested in placing an order. Books are made to order, or choose from several designs already done.
I have recently moved my books over to a store in downtown Waukesha, called Burlap and Lace. How fun to have a place to put my designs. Crafting and creating is a huge outlet for me!

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937 Perkins Ave.
Waukesha, WI 53186

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