The Count down is on....

Well you could say that we are in the short rows to begin our journey. We have six days left in the great state of N.C. As we pack up our lives here, I begin to think back on my past. I have found pictures from when I was in elementary school and it is nice to see some of those faces on facebook and see the lives that they now lead. I also think back to the day that I trusted Jesus as my Savior, thank you Lord for saving me.... a person so unworthy of your mercy and grace. I then think of the wonderful day that Mark and I were married fourteen years ago. Wow, the Lord is good. He blessed us with three healthy children and three more that he took on to Heaven. Now, he has chosen us to carry out his will in the country of Honduras and reach out to the children there. It is still hard to grasp that our days here are numbered. Mark and I have never lived more than a short driving distance between family and friends. Now as we pack up the life we have built here we know that God has something special for us. It feels good to be in God's Will. For one thing you can never go wrong by doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord. We have made many friends along the way and you all will go with us in our hearts. We are looking forward to an awesome adventure and being able to share it with all of you. Please keep us all in your prayers and let us know what you think. Just like when Paul wrote letters to the churches may our words reach out and touch and encourage the life of one of the followers of our blog. We love you all and will keep you posted.

Weathering the Storm

Well I know what you are thinking the storms are just beginning now. Well we had some of our own storms at the Coats’ house last night. Josiah was up all night crying and tossing and turning. He had no fever, no real signs of illness other than a slight cough and a very mild runny nose, nothing really out of the ordinary. However, from 2 this morning until about 7:00 am he cried and tossed. We could not sleep, so we would pray for him and others that came into our mind during the night. As the morning grew closer I decided that since I was already awake I would get the kids dressed and we would head to the doctor. Mark left for work and we were going to leave shortly after him. Then I noticed that my hands began to hurt and itch. I looked down and my fingers had swollen and I had white whelps on my hands and arms. I continued to get everyone ready and we got in the car and headed to the doctor. By this time it was 7:30 or so. We had not been away from the house 5 minutes and Josiah began to throw up in the car. So of coarse, we had to turn around and go back home to clean him and the car up. By this time the rash on my hands and arms had moved to my feet and legs. I looked like 100 bees had stung me. I itched and scratched all the way there and by this time it was down my legs and on my feet. We make it to the doctor and they saw us right away without an appointment praise the Lord. The doctor discovered that I had an allergic reaction to some soap that I was using and Josiah well bless his heart had a sinus infection and Strep throat. Yet, through all of this I could only think that there is someone else out there that has it worse than me. There are children out there that have signs and symptoms of illness but no momma or daddy to console them in the middle of the night. There are kids out there that have the hardest time weathering their storm and yet they do it all alone. I could not imagine not having God and my husband in my life to console me when I was hurt or sad. Yet there are so many people not just children that are alone left to weather the storm for themselves. Maybe you know someone who is hurting that needs comfort. We as Christians are suppose to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” Do we show kindness to others, is there someone that you know that could use a prayer or a card of encouragement? You could be a comfort to someone in his or her time of need. God is always in control and God is our greatest source of comfort. However, we are human and we long for human interaction. So next time you have a problem or a storm brewing in your life think of those who may be weathering the storm either as a lost soul dieing and going to hell or just a fellow Christian who needs some comfort until the sun shines down on them again. Someone once said that a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. So share your light with someone today. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Many times in our everyday life we are forced to wait. We wait at the checkout counter at the grocery store. We wait in a drive-thru line for a meal that we really don't need. We wait patiently to cook dinner as the pot of water begins to boil. We wait in the examination room of a doctors office even wearing a paper gown. How come it is so easy for us to wait on everything around us but we can not seem to wait on God or "HIS" timing.

To be honest this is something that I struggle with myself. We are about to leave everything we have ever known and move three times in the next two years. We have sold almost all of our possessions that we have acquired over the last 14 years with the exception of clothes, photo albums and a few sentimental things; like the kids first art projects or school papers and trophies. But I find myself worrying about things that I know that God will take care of . I know that God has sparked the journey that we are about to embark on and I believe that we are in fact following after "HIS WILL". Therefore, I know that in "His" time he will answer our prayers. We just have to be patient and wait. While doing my devotion this morning my key verse was Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say, on the Lord. WOW! What a clear verse that needs no interpretation. Wait on the Lord, don't lose hope, wait on the Lord I say. Then it really hit me just be patient and wait. God does everything in "His" time. Some may think that we are something special because we have chosen to follow Gods directed path and become missionaries. Well we are here to say that we are no different than anyone else. We are just choosing to follow Gods will. Brother Travis Moots said in service Wednesday night "that we are all equal". God has given us all gifts that we need to use to bring God glory and honor. We are choosing to use our gifts to help open Hope of Honduras. So, I challenge you just like I am taking the challenge myself that no matter what is your path on the journey that you are making, be sure to wait upon the Lord. Don't make a move without making sure that it was one "HE" wanted you to make. Sometimes the wait may be long and other times it may be short don't lose heart God will give you strength if you wait on Him, HIS way is always right.

"All comes at the proper time to him who knows how to wait."