Long time!

It's been a while since I've blogged here. You are past due for some updates. It's the first of November and I'm feeling pretty on top of things. TKD calendar and newsletter ready to copy and distribute. (check!) NEW and IMPROVED TKD schedule ready to copy and distribute. (check!)

We're adding a sparring class to our schedule. This will be for intermediate and advanced students only (green belt and above.) I noticed when I was making my final adjustments that my dear husband has added a white belt orientation class on Monday nights. At this exact moment that is exciting and exhausting all at the same time. Exciting because my husband made changes on a computer document without any help or coaching from me! (I think I hear angels singing.) Exhausting because we'll be getting home an hour later on both Mondays and Tuesdays now. That's okay, because that means increase! I receive, Lord!

We graduated our 2nd black belt from the Rhema Martial Arts program! Emily Blevins is an outstanding student and is continuing to train toward her 2nd Degree with us. We also have two brand new white belts that began this week. Looking forward to more new growth in that area as well.

We finally have internet in our home! (More angel singing.) In the process, we changed our web browser and I discovered a fun learning website: duolingo.com. I have been making steady progress through the levels in German. In fact, the first few days I had to force myself to stop doing lessons because it is so fun! Occasionally I disagree with their "correct" translation, but for the most part it has been a great tool to expand my vocabulary and refresh my German tenses.

That's it for now. God bless you!
dcp

Updates after exiting the Editing Cave

I finally finished the latest editing project! (YES! Another one!) I'm still learning how to estimate the amount of manhours it will take to complete a project and also the amount of man hours I can fit into one day. Plowing through 10 hours a day sounds all well and good until you try to do it. There's Karate, Mary Kay, volunteering...sleep. Oh, and my own writing. Five manhours of editing is a full day. 9.5 manhours is a 13 hour workday. The brain and the eyeballs need occassional breaks.

Dave started his first day of classes today in the third year pastor's group!! He was very excited during orientation, but this morning even more so.

Our August trip to visit family was outstanding! We got to spend a few good days with mom and grandma in Kansas. Also met/ reacquainted with mom's "spiritual support group". Great cooking and great fellowship that night! We were sent on our way to St. Louis with an overflow of love and provision.

We drove straight to a gathering at a friends home that evening in St. Louis. Eight hours of driving, followed by several hours of visiting and eating. The night culminated in ministry, of course! That's what we expected and wanted. A young man was encouraged that he was made a new person, he has a new name and his past is not who he is anymore, once he was born again. He was filled with the Holy Ghost that night!!

We had a great time with Dave's family in the following days. I was in the transcription cave part of the time. (Boy, howdy! That was another learning experience.) Fortunately I was working on a book that was encouraging me in my Christian walk. God is good!

Wish I had pictures to post. We're working on that. If anyone would like to donate a device that will get pictures from my camera onto my laptop, let me know. It will take the blogs to a whole new level.

Love to everyone!
D&D

RBTC Praise Report

September 5, 2012

Yesterday I volunteered at RBTC registration handing out textbooks to incoming students. Amanda G. hung by me much of the morning. When David picked me up he felt prompted to pray with Amanda concerning her neighbors – a chemically dependent couple (alcohol among other things) with two children. We encouraged one another in the similar ministry God had us in – her with the neighbors, us with a friend. She shared what was happening with her, then we prayed with and for one another.

Our time together was winding down when a young woman named Brianna came into the admissions lobby carrying her brown bag of Rhema books. I initially mistook her for a 2^nd year student. Some of them were changing groups and needed to exchange books. We let her know the windows were closed until 2:00, but she could come back then to exchange her books.

She said almost imperceptibly, “I'm here to pull out my tuition.” She looked confused and sad. “I just talked to someone in admissions on the phone. She said I could come over.” She glanced at the closed windows.

Dave asked her, “Did you say you were pulling out your tuition?”

“Yes.” Her emotions were close to the surface. “I had a hard time finding a job when I first moved here. I just got kicked out of my apartment. My parents want me to come home.”

Dave looked at her directly. “Why did you come to Rhema? What brought you here?”

Without hesitation she answered. “God.”

“If God brought you here, this is where you need to be.”

Dave shared some of the faith triumphs we had during our first two years at Rhema and also the current hurdle we were facing.

Amanda did the same. She shared her family's response to her when she told them she was moving away to go to Bible school. “My family said, 'You're just running away from your problems. You're just looking for emotional healing.' And I was needing emotional healing. But I also knew what God said to do. Sometimes you have to do what God told you, even when your family doesn't understand. If you will obey God, He'll take care of you and it will be so good. If you don't, well....it's not good.”

During Amanda's testimony, tears flowed down Brianna's cheeks. David asked if she had checked in to student housing as a place to stay. She had. She needed something less expensive. Amanda asked if she had checked the student resource room for “roommate wanted” postings. She had done that yesterday and hadn't found anything.

Finally Dave asked, “Do you need a place to stay tonight?”

“No. I'm staying with my aunt. They go to Rhema Church and work here at the ministry.” She mentioned their names. She said her cousin sang in the choir. I knew who she was.

“I bet if you ask your aunt they would let you stay with them through orientation week,” I said. “I really feel like it's important for you to get through orientation. See what God can do over the next week or two.”

We talked for a few more minutes, then had to leave. When we got home Amanda texted to let us know that Brianna had spoken with her aunt and uncle, who were on vacation with her parents. All of them were fine with her staying, and she has three job interviews today.

Praise God! Meeting Brianna was no accident. Sometimes people just need a boost. It helps to know you're not alone and that other people have made it through the tough spot you are currently facing.

Little steps of obedience lead to great opportunities in ministry. I was extremely tired that afternoon. If I had become impatient, we would have missed the appointment God had set up for us. Doing things our way because it's easier or more convenient may seem like a small thing, but it can numb you to the gentle leadings of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, obeying the Holy Spirit can become so natural you're hardly aware it's happening. He'll put you in the right place at the right time if you practice listening and obeying His leadings.

Be available and obedient. See what God will do.

Love to you all!

Dave & Della

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” -Romans 8:14

I was recently encouraged to complete the editing work on Haiku Devotion which will be my first published work. I'm printing one season at a time. Below is a sneak peek at the weekend format.

If any of you have been reading the original posts at Gut Level Christianity thank you! I didn't realize how much editing I had not done on some of the posts. I have a tendency to edit as I write which can lead to never completing anything so, God gave me a daily writing assignment. Some of the posts are a little rough editorially, but I pray the Holy Spirit anoints His message from His heart through this clay vessel.

We are God's building

land He has cultivated

God's fellow workers

1 Corinthians 3:9

God! humility...

applying to my own life

the things You show me

no more comparing

“they've done this...why haven't I?”

in God's time, not yours

God makes us fruitful

Don't stress about, “How can I?”

He's working in you

Venerate: Psalm 104

Consecrate: Psalm 86