It seems like every time I come to write here the same thing happens...I want to write..."Sorry haven't been here in a while but been busy". Life just gets that way at times. For a few weeks now it has been my intention to update the blog but everything else ends up happening and by the time I go to sit and write I am too tired!!
A few weeks ago, Jim went to Hungary. Our car is registered there and all the dues and inspections were due the end of October so he had to make a trip there. It was a good trip for him. God miraculously provided everything we needed to pay for the trip and the car costs. It was truly amazing! he also got to spend time with Chicco who is the new pastor in Baja now and people from the congregation.
While he was gone, I started listening to a series in Revelation by Damian Kyle. (CC Modesto). It was great-I just finished it the other day. With no car and no money I wasn't going anywhere so it was a neat time of being alone with the Lord and being reminded that Jesus is coming, this world is going to pass away and we are going to be forever with our King! I was challenged in the areas of being lukewarm in my walk and also remembering my first love! Wow, I do encourage you to listen to those messages if you can. They do what the Holy Spirit intends them to do...search our hearts!

It was interesting because while Jim was gone, we didn't know which day he would return. He was thinking maybe Wed, maybe Thurs. He had to be back in Padova because he teaches on Friday afternoons. There were some things I needed to accomplish while he was gone. Stuff like cleaning and organizing a couple of the rooms. A couple of the students were coming on Friday so that is always a great motivation to clean :) Anyway, I found myself waiting til the last possible minute to do anything productive in the area of housework!! Please tell me you understand lol!! I texted Jim and asked him "when is it you are coming home" Early in the am I asked him and when I found out he couldn't leave til the afternoon, I was thinking, oh cool, I don't have to do anything just yet because it will be atleast 6 hours before he gets home! Procrastination!! It is something I am gifted in (only in certain things that seem boring) lol!

During this time, the Lord began to show me about His return! Anticipating when He is going to come back. Wow, it's not like we can text the Lord and say "When do you think you will be back" and then, put off certain things because we know we still have time left. Hit me kind of like bricks.
What are the things I am putting off, waiting til the last possible moment that the Lord wants me to do? Who are the people I am to go to, to minister to, to evangelize, before Jesus comes back? What a word of encouragement and one such a reminder to be about His business! Being ready! Jesus said to 'be occupied until I come'. Occupied with the things of Him! I don't want to think I have all the time left in the world to do the things He has called me to do. I want to be found faithful! Be found about my Father's business.
Take a look around...JESUS IS COMING SOON!!!!!

One of my projects is the garage. O please help me!!!!!!! This is a project that to look at, it seems impossible. To look at my wallet, seems even more impossible! It needs an overhaul. Right now, we have our washer upstairs in Jim's bathroom. This is very common in Europe so it's not a big deal. I don't want it there though. I want it down in the garage. We have the water lines or whatever you call it down there so it can be hooked up. Unfortunately, there are piles and piles of boxes and papers and this and that all over so you can't even see the faucets where we would hook it up. Part of the problem is that we don't have a church building that we rent for everyday so we have no place to store all the church related things. The other thing is my husband is a pack rat. He collects receipts, he has receipts that date back longer than any of us have been alive...ok, a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point! He ran his own business for years so he is accustomed to receipts. IT is a constant battle between us...I go to the market...Margie....do you have the receipt from a couple weeks ago when you got that head of lettuce...um, no Jim, I don't. Every once in a while, I clean out my purse and in there I find a treasure chest for him. A whole bunch of receipts with gum pieces stuck on them, corners ripped and a few undecipherable items stained on them. You can barely read the name, date or amount, but he is thrilled none the less to add these to his collection! So, needless to say, there are boxes and boxes and more boxes of receipts in my garage!
Organization!! I look at it this way. Tell me if I am wrong (well don't really) LOL but if you have a pretty place to work in the work load can't be that bad right! I need a pretty laundry area. Laundry and ironing are major things over here in Italy. How can I possibly fit in if I don't have the proper set up!!!! They don't iron with irons we are used to here. They use those only for touch up! Touch up is what I call, "well it looks good to me, why touch it!" They use these professional steam irons!
I have one of these on my wish list. If it makes ironing easier, then I am all for it!
We have an accumulation of wood pieces that would work nicely as a laundry station once put together. It is just the 'putting together' part that I await. I looked online for some ideas. Wow, who would have known you could get so excited about doing laundry with all there is out there on the internet! After all the searching, I came up with something simple that looks pretty and would work in my garage. I am asking for this are for Christmas...which Christmas,,,well, being that Jim is Italian, we just don't know the answer to that yet. I shudder to think what would happen if I become impatient and put an electrical screwgun and all those other power tools in my hand to do it myself. Oh, that might be an idea. I do that sometimes. I get the things out and act like I am going to do it and then Jim gets a look at me, gives me one of those looks and goes about doing it himself!!!
Here are some pretty setups I found:



The first one is the one I would probably go for. It is simple and yet functional. Something very doable for our garage. I like the one with all the cupboards but it is so narrow. Actually, now that I look at all three, a combo of them would be good. A laundry sink would be nice, a place to put the dryer, even though we don't use it (too costly) but it would be nice to use it to take away the scratchy towel feeling.
Did I really write up this whole post on laundry...oh well, I don't get to Lowe's or Home Depot so you have to bear with me.!!
...surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!! Revelation 22:20

Woe is me

Sounds like a title ready to include a bunch of pity party chit chat huh! Don't worry, it's not, well, atleast I don't think it is :) Sometimes it is hard to put down in words what is going on. There are those things the Lord takes you on as part of our journey with Him and it's not always the route we thought we were taking. I have been reflecting on some things of the past and I found myself starting to play judge and jury. I think it's something I am too good at and the Lord has chosen this time to bring it to the surface and deal with it. Although the journey continues, the Lord is so faithful to bring me through each step of the way. It's very easy for me to get caught up in things and people and allow it to get me down. It's not even like you have to go looking for the problems. My heart gets so heavy at times and I all too often found myself in conversation with the Lord telling Him how He needs to fix it, fix them, fix it all to my liking. For the past year, the Lord allowed me to speak freely like that to Him, replaying my hurts, my pain, my frustration, etc. I wanted closure on some things and it didn't seem like it was ever going to happen. Lately, He has decided enough is enough. Don't you just love when that happens?!! Slowly and ever so gently, He started to put my focus on me and my life. I started listening to some great worship music about seeing Jesus face to face one day and of course would weep at the thought. (one of the songs is the one listed below in my last post) That's how it all began. Seeing Him, seeing me. He kept reminding me of Isaiah and chapter 5 where Isaiah is speaking out the 'woes' to those around him. He was right, he was speaking truth. But, we all know in chapter 6 what happens, Isaiah sees a vision of the Lord on the throne with the angels singing out. Isaiah quickly realizes who he is v5 'Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips For my eyes have seen the King The Lord of Hosts' Isaiah's seeing this vision in the midst of all the woes he is crying out to others and suddenly sees himself. We all know this, we have heard teachings on it, but it really became real to me, it continues to become real to me. God is not allowing me to have the usual talks with Him right now about this one or that one. He is quickly, and I am ever so thankful for that quickly, returning my thoughts to me and Him. Me standing before Him, me seeing Him face to face. Realizing how great a salvation I have and what have I ever done to deserve such a gift-nothing. I am undone! He sees the pains we go through, the hurts, even unfairnesses. That's for Him to deal with, not me. My eyes need to be refocused. My heart needs to be refocused. I am so thankful that the Lord is patient and kind. He always answers our prayer to draw nearer to Him. Often that pray is answered in the way we wouldn't choose at first, but when we see Him, when we see who our God really is, then we welcome His correction, His mercy, His love all the more. He doesn't want us to stay where we are-He desire that we grow continuously. I pray that all of us will always hear His still small voice-whatever it is that He has decided it's time for in your life-let Him. Our God doesn't just barge in, He knocks and waits for us to invite Him in to talk. You know how when you have teen daughters and they are going through what they go through at that age. You let them talk and say what they say for a time, they usually proceed to their room, closing the door behind them and lay on the bed sobbing about how unfair life is. I think that can be me at times. A Christian teenager. But you know how also, we moms will knock on their bedroom door and (hopefully) they will answer and let us in. (that's the difference between us and the Lord-sometimes I would just barge lol) We gently start to redirect their thinking, bringing them back to what is real, what is important, what matters.
"O praise the One who paid my debt And raised this life up from the dead"

Must listen

Ha ha, I know, I know, I sound like a Mom....listen to me child! No, but seriously, you have to listen to this song. It is awesome. I LOVE the words. So filled with hope and truth! How can we not be filled with anticipation of seeing our Jesus after listening to this!

Last night I kept waking up thinking about a bride walking down the aisle waiting to be joined to her bridegroom. I don't see it so much nowadays, but in the past the bride wore a veil and when her father presented her to her groom the veil was lifted. There is a line in the song from 2 Cor 3:18..But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,...ok...can you just imagine the veil being lifted and our eyes open and we just see Jesus face to face...I can't imagine us not falling down...worshipping Him..(Yes, someone wrote a song about it...) but anyway, it is just too much to think about this happening.
We always talk about seeing Him one day but wow, to be able to actually look into His eyes. You know how at a wedding when the dad takes his daughter by the arm and gives her to the groom...is Jesus going to take us by our hand and then present us ...I wonder how it will be. I can't wait to see Him!
I have tons of pictures...was in vineyard country for 5 days in France...they were harvesting..I have a retreat in my heart from all this :)

Ok-I am off to Venice with my Mom. It's been fun and I have been blessed with her paying for me to travel about with her to see where her grandparents came from. Pictures and stories to follow.
Soon and very soon!

Getting Ready

It's almost like I am preparing to go back to school. Sometimes it feels like though the new year begins in January, for many of us we talk about September as being our new year. Women's bible studies usually start again, along with many other ministries, kids go back to school, etc.
For me, our summer missions conference is a perfect time of the year. It is a place to go and be refreshed in the Word, be reminded Who we are serving, taking time out to pray and ask the Lord for direction, fresh vision and even just take the year we had and bring it all before the Lord...sort of like bringing the dross to the surface. It's great also because we meet up with friends who are serving in different countries and we haven't seen them since the last conference. It's great to catch up and hear what the Lord's been doing in their lives, their churches, etc. It's also good because as people bare their hearts and share their struggles we are reminded that we are not alone in the battle. It's also great to meet new friends. I was so blessed this year to meet some really neat ladies and get to know some even better! It really was a blast!
The teachings we had were great! I love how the Lord just puts it altogether. He knows what we need to hear and what is going to encourage us in the coming year. I love what was shared in one of the women's sessions by Inga-Lil...For every situation, every struggle, every everything, He needs to be enough! How I wept when I first heard that song by Chris Tomlin. "Enough" It's good to have the quiet time with the Lord and see that He really is enough. No matter what is going on in my life, struggles, challenges, finances, other's opinions...whatever...is my Lord enough? Is Jesus my everything!
We start language school next month. I am pretty excited and yet a bit nervous. I have these thoughts about being the best student. Haha...I really do though. I am so praying for a supernatural gift for Jim and I to grasp the language and speak fluently to people! Pray with me for this gift!!! There is an older lady on my street who always say hi to me when I am walking to the store. She is so sweet and today she invited me for something to eat. We were having friends over for lunch so I couldn't go today but hopefully soon. This is why I want so much to learn to speak Italian. I don't want to speak it broken...how much better it will be to speak to this lady in her language! Well, the ole arm is about ready to give out on me. It's my right hand and wrist so I can't write/type too much. Guess I have to talk more LOL. Have a blessed day in the Lord! He is our refuge and strength! Our very present help in times of trouble!

*You can click on this to see it larger if you want *
oops I noticed I have one too many "the"s but I don't feel like fixing it :)

It's gonna have to wait

Well the ole blog (not me) is being a little rough around the edges tonight and therefore all the wonderful stuff I was gonna bring you will just have to wait til tomorrow.
Oh and is it sort of pathetic that I tried so hard to take a picture of my swollen and bruised arm/wrist/hand for you? What good is it if your friends can't pity you and ooh and ahh in harmony!!! It must be that it's my right hand and I can't hold the camera steady with the left and I dare not ask Jim to take a picture of it lest he think I have completely lost my mind....I think he's already wondering after the fall!
Oh well, I am sure to write tomorrow...or so I have the best intentions on doing so.
Conference was wonderful...still soaking it all in and seeing how it all fits into my life.

Til tomorrow my friends..............

Heading out...

We are heading out to the Missions Conf in Austria today. It's my favorite time-a week filled with amazing bible studies, great fellowship, great food, worshiping the Lord!!!
I don't know who the speakers are this year. Usually we find out ahead of time, but I just can't remember who they are. I am sure it will be a blessing whoever ends up teaching.
A few weeks ago I was reading John 4. What is it that you usually think of when you read John 4? We know it is about the Samaritan woman-the woman at the well with different husbands and even a guy she's not married to at the moment. The great teaching by Jesus on living water...how could we not be encouraged through His teaching!
Once again, I found myself amazed at His Word! Amazed that each time we read it, the Holy Spirit ministers to us in a place we hadn't thought of before. This time it was v4 that had me journaling away.It's a verse all to itself. One little verse, one small sentence amongst some incredible dialogue. A little snippet at the begining of a chapter where Jesus would teach us the importance of how we are to worship Him.
He needed to go through Samaria. What was it that was so important? Why would He choose Samaria...a place that was off limits to the Jewish people. Who was He to meet? Perhaps if we didn't know the rest of the chapter we might think there were some pretty important people waiting to see Him. Perhaps there was a huge crowd of people awaiting His presence and they didn't even know it. Some big hoopla going on in the town and Jesus could go and preach and reach a whole bunch of people at one time.
Once we are familiar with the story, we realize there were no important people, no big crowd, none of that. There was only ONE woman at the well. She was just doing business as usual. To her it was just another day. But this day, Jesus Christ had need to be there.
This ministers to my heart so much. Being in Baja for 7 years in a small city, one that wasn't among the places people were standing in line to come to, makes me appreciate my Savior so much more. We often hear of so many wonderful events, churches that are doing this and that, having this guest and that guest, putting on concerts, plays, you name it, they are able to do it. One outreach team after another is just waiting to be invited to go and minister in these fun places. People want to go where it is exciting, where there already is a lot of action so they can be a part of it. There's nothing wrong with that at all. It is difficult to be on the other side. In the small place where maybe things aren't so exciting, the budget is whatever you have in your pocket at the moment and your email inbox isn't flooded with curious people wanting to know when they can come and help out in your church or when they can bring a team to your city.
But, Jesus had need! I love that it doesn't say that "and on the way to where He was going, He stopped off at Samaria for a drink of water". He begins the chapter with the fact that He had need to go to Samaria. Jesus is God! He knew there would only be one woman at the well and yet He had need to go meet her. He had need to meet and minister to this one person. He could have spoken those same words to a crowd of people but He chose to first say them to her. This really is awesome!
What do we think about ministering just to the one? If we have a bible study and only one shows up, do we cancel? I remember in Baja that exact thing happened. I was doing a summer study with the teen girls-A Young Woman After God's Heart- and this particular evening none of the girls showed up except Marla. After waiting a bit to see if the others would show up we came to the conclusion it was just us. Marla was ready to go home since "noone" was there. But, the Lord showed me that Marla was there-she was one and she was important. Yes, we had the bible study. Of course at the time, she probably wasn't thrilled since all my attention was on her :) But, I think it was important that she knew she was important. This type of thing happened many times in the 7 years I was in Baja. Women's study and maybe only one other girl and I would be there and we were both so wanting to just cancel and go home because we were tired but it always ended up that we were so blessed by the time we had to spend together.
Many times people wanted to start some home group or venture off into a neighboring village or city and would talk to Jim about it. It's one of the main things he shared with them-if you start it you must stay with it. Too many people quit because it didn't meet their expectation. I remember Jim always saying that you have to be willing to show up faithfully even if one person is there. Too many aren't willing to do that. They want great results. After all, in the book of Acts, God added to the church daily and so many people got saved....doesn't happen like that all the time.
We may never know until Heaven what impact ministering to the one had. Remember this woman went back to her neighborhood and told them all!
A crowd is wonderful, but it's not the only way. Having the pews filled in the church only mean something if the people in them are taking what they hear and learn and apply it and faithfully walk in the things they are being taught. Face it, there are all kinds of churches filled to overflowing with people. Does that mean they are more successful or better than the church that has more seats than people? Absolutely not!
What refreshment God's Word brings to us. I love how we are encouraged by it. I love how Jesus makes sure that we see different types of ministry-we see the crowds-crowds to the point He wants to get away so He can have some quiet time....but He allows us to see the one. He shows us that both are good and both are so important to Him.
Do you have need to go to the one today?

This and that

Today my house is going through a weird experience....there is noone here except Jim and I! Wow....it's the strangest feeling. We have had company pretty much since the end of April give or take a couple of days-enough time to wash the sheets, hang them out to dry and remake the beds! It's great though-we do enjoy sharing the joy of Italy and the work the Lord is doing with those we know and love!
I am still praying for a B&B although I think it would probably be a BL&D :)
Jim has been busy the past couple weeks. The Castle in Austria needed help in the kitchen so he is helping there a few days a week. It's great for him because he loves to cook! Hopefully by the time he gets finished he will want a little break from the kitchen and I can have mine back. It's great having a husband who loves to cook and serve, but I do miss planning my meals. Every now and then I have to give him the "Hey, I want to have my kitchen back" Oh the trials I must endure!!!
Speaking of trials, I went through a tough one this past month. Ok, well, comparatively speaking it's not a trial. In all honesty, it's not even close to a trial....but please sympathize with me...just a little ok. Well, here it is....I never thought in a gazillion years I would have had to do this but I did. I put it off for months, but the pain and the suffering was too much and I finally succumbed to my husband's request to put my pride aside and just take the plunge. I went, dragging myself behind him, afraid to open the door, but finally went in. At first I was ok, but then I had a few tears in my eyes as I handed my precious possession over to the lady because I............................deep breath now................................................................
Yep, after 21 years of marriage I had to do what I never dreamed I would have to do...but after not being able to wear my ring in the summer because my fingers swell up so badly I had to take drastic steps and go for it. And yes, I actually did cry. I know, I am such a baby but it was sort of psychological for me...anyway, I should be able to pick it up this week. Had to wait til pay day and it has arrived so I will get my re-sized ring back on my re-sized finger in a matter of days.

Another accomplishment has been made by me in the past couple weeks. Yes, dear friends, I am just mastering all types of things now that I am in Italy. Well, this one is a fun one....one that had me laughing even though noone was around to join in. As you know, Rob and Denise bought a bike for me. I am determined to ride it as often as possible-skipping the walks to the store in favor of a bike ride. Riding along, waving to passerbyers, shouting a "ciao" here and there, a "buon giornio" or two, perhaps even a "buona sera" in the late afternoon. The other day I needed to go to the supermarket and rather than getting changed I decided to venture out and be as the Italians. Perhaps you have seen the movies where the Italian beauties ride along so elegantly on their bicycles....well what was I wearing you ask.......don't freak...........

It was quite the accomplishment if I may say so myself! I was cracking up as I tried to steer, keep the packages in my twisted basket, and hold my skirt down at the same time. Quite the picture!

August is a pretty slow month in Italy. The Italians go on holiday during the month and it is like a ghost town here. The beaches are crowded but the rest of the places are pretty mild! It is so strange not to hear a lot of noise around me! I kind of miss it!We start school in Sept. The town near us is offering Italian classes from Sept to June for only 24 euros. You can't beat that price! We may have to miss a couple classes here and there, but I am so excited to go back to school. We can't find much out until Sept 1 (they are all on vacation now) but the sooner the better!Well, I think that's all for tonight-my hands are tired, hubby is cooking some Mexican food and it's just about finished, so I will leave you for now.Praise the Lord for His goodness. He is our refuge and strength! Oh how I love Jesus, because He first loved me! Don't you just want to go on and on and shout out all His goodness!!!!