Talk about poetic convergence!
We are committed to Jesus Christ, the author of life!
This chapter has had a few twists.
Baby Fraser was pressing in two nights ago and has decided to coast a bit. So far, the Fraser boys have all been 'late sleepers' and waited for induced labour. Our prayer for baby 3 has been for an orderly and timely birth. Today is the last day for that.
Then today we realized the convergence of different reasons this day is significant to different people, or in our case each reason is significant.
The memorial of the birth of the church in Acts Chapter 2 is the due date for our child, when Liz would enter into a new chapter of motherhood; on Mothers' Day!
Pretty poetic, pretty cool.
Yet as of the writing of this note, no labour.
If you are reading today do pray!
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Fruit
As spring happens in Scotland, there are sure signs of Life!
The fields are dotted with new lambs
The Frasers are watching for the arrival of our new lamb
And the family is watching for God's direction to keep on track!
Please pray for us!
There is alot of pressure to worry and frett about how to serve God and keep balance in our lives. We want to 'hate' our lives unto life eternal like John chapter 12 teaches, but we also know that the family life is a witness to the community around us. We are not seeking our comfort, but we are not convinced that masochistic austerity is the evidence of godliness, either.
This week is the last of Easter Holidays for the boys so we have taken them away to the north.
I actually experienced unreasonable reluctance to go away from the church, but I know that this is a responsible act to care for the family and rest my head and heart from the daily grind.
Its not like the prayer/devotional life takes a break and the sermon still get written for Sunday, but we are sleeping late and taking day trips.
Here are photos of the boys at Ballindalloch Castle near Elizabeth's grandmother's home in Banfshire.
Its not like all our time away from LA is one great vacation. In fact, God is teaching me what is an LA effect, and what is 'me, affected'! A sinner, swooped up and cleaned up and put to good use.
We are grateful for a place to stay for free and for things to do as a family. And this is really a place to reflect and seek the Lord for our growing family and His growing work in Alva.
We are waking up to the nuances of spiritual warfare in our new environment how the enemy of our souls uses influencable areas of our lives. The cultural differences, the social milieu of church, our own unaddressed stuff, new stuff arising, economics & politics, any area where we are challenged to take every thought captive to obedience to Christ.
Please remember us in your prayers!
The fields are dotted with new lambs
The Frasers are watching for the arrival of our new lamb
And the family is watching for God's direction to keep on track!
Please pray for us!
There is alot of pressure to worry and frett about how to serve God and keep balance in our lives. We want to 'hate' our lives unto life eternal like John chapter 12 teaches, but we also know that the family life is a witness to the community around us. We are not seeking our comfort, but we are not convinced that masochistic austerity is the evidence of godliness, either.
This week is the last of Easter Holidays for the boys so we have taken them away to the north.
I actually experienced unreasonable reluctance to go away from the church, but I know that this is a responsible act to care for the family and rest my head and heart from the daily grind.
Its not like the prayer/devotional life takes a break and the sermon still get written for Sunday, but we are sleeping late and taking day trips.
Here are photos of the boys at Ballindalloch Castle near Elizabeth's grandmother's home in Banfshire.
Its not like all our time away from LA is one great vacation. In fact, God is teaching me what is an LA effect, and what is 'me, affected'! A sinner, swooped up and cleaned up and put to good use.
We are grateful for a place to stay for free and for things to do as a family. And this is really a place to reflect and seek the Lord for our growing family and His growing work in Alva.
We are waking up to the nuances of spiritual warfare in our new environment how the enemy of our souls uses influencable areas of our lives. The cultural differences, the social milieu of church, our own unaddressed stuff, new stuff arising, economics & politics, any area where we are challenged to take every thought captive to obedience to Christ.
Please remember us in your prayers!
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Prayer Requests
1. Relationship with God
Committing to consistent disciplined prayer is
THE most difficult thing I have ever done!
I am a failure at it.
Please pray for me so I can come to the river
and not be slowly killed by the stress and worry of carnal ministry!
2. Alva
We are weighing priorities for spring.
Outreach, evening services, midnight service?, Mid-week Bible study/prayer meeting, youth club, etc. Join us in praying as Paul did
for abounding love, real knowledge and all discernment.
3. Frasers
Baby Fraser due in Mid-may.
Still looking for a house to purchase.
We are still renting and that is OK,
but the rented house has this unidentifiable odour.
It’s like mice mixed with sewer but it only wafts through from time to time
and nobody else smells it.
Landlord, Building & Safety, Environmental services, Prayer team…
but it is definitely there.
My pregnant wife is disgusted by it. (me too)
We still have the money from our home sale
in LA waiting, to flip it into a property here.
but one year later:
the renewed investment interest rate is no longer covering the loan interest.
So as of April 1 we are paying rent and some interest on the loan.
(may seem foolish to hold the money, but the deal is so good that we may not be able to borrow again at this rate)
We are asking God for a 4 br house
(Three beds and a study) with a yard.
There are so many homes, in every neighbouring town
that fit us and we can afford.
Liz would enjoy retreat away from folks,
but commitment and loyalty matters strongly to folks here.
I am convinced that we need to live in Alva.
I also want to live in the heart of town among our people.
We are trying to balance stewardship with contentment.
There is one house lately on the edge of town in Alva,
but it is just wonky and a poor layout.
We are not even depending on expectations from USA,
it’s about the investment opportunities in Alva.
and whether this is good enough
or if we need to be shrewd and patient.
Major discernment issue!
Liz is a bit desperate and a bit depressed with our current state.
She has the strong ‘nesting’ urge and is trying to be a good soldier of the Lord,
But neither of us is convinced that God has ordained this situation.
We are willing to move in any direction, granted confirmation.
Some days we want to just give in
and move 3 miles away to a lovely home.
It’s not like we are suffering in Darfur!!!
I feel like a real wuss even speaking up about it.
But it is a constant stress.
God knows what He is doing.
We want to know what He’s doing.
1. Prayer
2. Ministry
3. Family
Please pray with us!
JehovahJireh,
~David
Committing to consistent disciplined prayer is
THE most difficult thing I have ever done!
I am a failure at it.
Please pray for me so I can come to the river
and not be slowly killed by the stress and worry of carnal ministry!
2. Alva
We are weighing priorities for spring.
Outreach, evening services, midnight service?, Mid-week Bible study/prayer meeting, youth club, etc. Join us in praying as Paul did
for abounding love, real knowledge and all discernment.
3. Frasers
Baby Fraser due in Mid-may.
Still looking for a house to purchase.
We are still renting and that is OK,
but the rented house has this unidentifiable odour.
It’s like mice mixed with sewer but it only wafts through from time to time
and nobody else smells it.
Landlord, Building & Safety, Environmental services, Prayer team…
but it is definitely there.
My pregnant wife is disgusted by it. (me too)
We still have the money from our home sale
in LA waiting, to flip it into a property here.
but one year later:
the renewed investment interest rate is no longer covering the loan interest.
So as of April 1 we are paying rent and some interest on the loan.
(may seem foolish to hold the money, but the deal is so good that we may not be able to borrow again at this rate)
We are asking God for a 4 br house
(Three beds and a study) with a yard.
There are so many homes, in every neighbouring town
that fit us and we can afford.
Liz would enjoy retreat away from folks,
but commitment and loyalty matters strongly to folks here.
I am convinced that we need to live in Alva.
I also want to live in the heart of town among our people.
We are trying to balance stewardship with contentment.
There is one house lately on the edge of town in Alva,
but it is just wonky and a poor layout.
We are not even depending on expectations from USA,
it’s about the investment opportunities in Alva.
and whether this is good enough
or if we need to be shrewd and patient.
Major discernment issue!
Liz is a bit desperate and a bit depressed with our current state.
She has the strong ‘nesting’ urge and is trying to be a good soldier of the Lord,
But neither of us is convinced that God has ordained this situation.
We are willing to move in any direction, granted confirmation.
Some days we want to just give in
and move 3 miles away to a lovely home.
It’s not like we are suffering in Darfur!!!
I feel like a real wuss even speaking up about it.
But it is a constant stress.
God knows what He is doing.
We want to know what He’s doing.
1. Prayer
2. Ministry
3. Family
Please pray with us!
JehovahJireh,
~David
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Youth Club
We had this amazing night with two sports stars who visited from America.
Mike McCoy of the Green Bay Packers/Oakland Raiders/NY Giants and
Keith Davis of the NY Giants came out as representatives of
the Christian ministry Champions For Today.
They showed up played with kids and told them about God.
Picture a small child trying to stop 6 feet and 275 pounds of Footballer from getting to the goal across the room and then he said:
'Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God"
They put a HUGE RoseBowl jersey on another child
and told a bit of the story of the prodigal son.
This child disappeared in the shirt of this giant man!
They heard about being clothed in righteousness of Christ.
The invitation was: Who wants to be on God's team?
The response across the room was unanimous.
The gospel was preached: The love of God, sin & forgiveness, Life to the full.
Kids get this stuff!
It sounds simple, but I was walking home from dropping off Josiah at school today and the parents of one of Daniel's friends told me that their son came home saying "I'm on God's team!"
We need to get this stuff like kids do.
Be different today.
You're on God's team.
Mike McCoy of the Green Bay Packers/Oakland Raiders/NY Giants and
Keith Davis of the NY Giants came out as representatives of
the Christian ministry Champions For Today.
They showed up played with kids and told them about God.
Picture a small child trying to stop 6 feet and 275 pounds of Footballer from getting to the goal across the room and then he said:
'Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God"
They put a HUGE RoseBowl jersey on another child
and told a bit of the story of the prodigal son.
This child disappeared in the shirt of this giant man!
They heard about being clothed in righteousness of Christ.
The invitation was: Who wants to be on God's team?
The response across the room was unanimous.
The gospel was preached: The love of God, sin & forgiveness, Life to the full.
Kids get this stuff!
It sounds simple, but I was walking home from dropping off Josiah at school today and the parents of one of Daniel's friends told me that their son came home saying "I'm on God's team!"
We need to get this stuff like kids do.
Be different today.
You're on God's team.
Monday, 31 March 2008
A new season
Hello All
Lizi here. The sun is coming out and flowers are beginning to blossom (despite snow last week!). It's a good time of year to be nesting, and we're praying for a house and/or how to make this one work when our new arrival comes. The baby is due the middle of May and I can't believe how fast 2008 is going by. It's a big focus for me right now, and we're really excited by the imminent arrival. I've even enrolled in pre-natal classes just to learn more about what it's like to give birth here in Scotland, and meet other families in the neighbourhood. We are very much seeking to be a part of this town. Please pray for us to integrate into this community and portray the gospel message we try and live by, in a gentle and effective way.
We are desiring that God give us wisdom in which areas to focus our energy as we build friendships and demonstrate our loyalty to Alva. Just because a cause seems like a good investment of time, doesn't mean it's what God wants specifically from us... trying to be sensible.......After all, I could easily go to all events and gatherings, from church to school meetings, playgroup to bible study, but I would burn out quick. Still want to be available and movable in God's plan. It is great to be part of such a close knit community.
Off to make some supper for boys and be ready for my midwifery class. Thank you so much for your updates, support, prayers and messages. We need to stay connected. Hoping that you are moved to visit and perhaps help out with the work here... you never know!
Elizabeth
Lizi here. The sun is coming out and flowers are beginning to blossom (despite snow last week!). It's a good time of year to be nesting, and we're praying for a house and/or how to make this one work when our new arrival comes. The baby is due the middle of May and I can't believe how fast 2008 is going by. It's a big focus for me right now, and we're really excited by the imminent arrival. I've even enrolled in pre-natal classes just to learn more about what it's like to give birth here in Scotland, and meet other families in the neighbourhood. We are very much seeking to be a part of this town. Please pray for us to integrate into this community and portray the gospel message we try and live by, in a gentle and effective way.
We are desiring that God give us wisdom in which areas to focus our energy as we build friendships and demonstrate our loyalty to Alva. Just because a cause seems like a good investment of time, doesn't mean it's what God wants specifically from us... trying to be sensible.......After all, I could easily go to all events and gatherings, from church to school meetings, playgroup to bible study, but I would burn out quick. Still want to be available and movable in God's plan. It is great to be part of such a close knit community.
Off to make some supper for boys and be ready for my midwifery class. Thank you so much for your updates, support, prayers and messages. We need to stay connected. Hoping that you are moved to visit and perhaps help out with the work here... you never know!
Elizabeth
Easter
We had the most glorious Easter!
Due to our need for a worship leader, David called around for some help. God provided immeasurably more than we could have ever asked or imagined! A local non-denominational church Ochil Hills Community Church agreed that the entire church would come over for a joint service. We had a full band AND a full church.
It felt like God was graciously offering a picture of what the church can be with diligent, loving care.
The best part: There were so many people that we ran out of little communion cups! (we have about 40 little glass cups) So we served people from the back to front and when we ran out, David invited the rest of us up to the table at the front and we stood around the Lord's table and drank from the same cup. It was a perfect picture of communion and unity! Praise God!!! He commands a blessing where brothers dwell together in unity and we saw it at the alter of God.
One of the visiting ladies hugged me! (British strangers HUGGING!) There were many tails wagging in both fellowships. Alva church folk are inspired by it.
How good and how pleasant it is!
Due to our need for a worship leader, David called around for some help. God provided immeasurably more than we could have ever asked or imagined! A local non-denominational church Ochil Hills Community Church agreed that the entire church would come over for a joint service. We had a full band AND a full church.
It felt like God was graciously offering a picture of what the church can be with diligent, loving care.
The best part: There were so many people that we ran out of little communion cups! (we have about 40 little glass cups) So we served people from the back to front and when we ran out, David invited the rest of us up to the table at the front and we stood around the Lord's table and drank from the same cup. It was a perfect picture of communion and unity! Praise God!!! He commands a blessing where brothers dwell together in unity and we saw it at the alter of God.
One of the visiting ladies hugged me! (British strangers HUGGING!) There were many tails wagging in both fellowships. Alva church folk are inspired by it.
How good and how pleasant it is!
Springtime!
Well folks, today is one year since David's last day on staff at Metro.
(a tear falls)
We have been serving in Alva for 9 months since July 1.
So much has happened, so much to seek and hope for still.
Please pray for God to break up hard ground in the hearts of folks here in Alva.
(a tear falls)
We have been serving in Alva for 9 months since July 1.
So much has happened, so much to seek and hope for still.
Please pray for God to break up hard ground in the hearts of folks here in Alva.
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