Dess' Thoughts

Hello Everyone,

It has been forever since I have blogged. Things are going great. God is working in both Joel's and mine life for the plan He has for us. Everyday is so hard because people really bring out your weaknesses. It is funny because you start praying that God will take those people away but then you realize that the weakness would still be there so you might as well get it over with and have Victory and be praising Him while you are at it.

I just had an amazing talk with one of my friends on the ship, Danette. She was one of the dancing girls at Joel's and mine wedding. We were talking about the old testament, talking about Jesus, and then discussing how and what Jesus changed from the old testament to now. I have realized He has changed a lot less than I thought He did. Just as He said "I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law" So I was discussing with Danette how Amazed I was that even in the Old Testament God would tell His people "If you turn from your wicked ways then I will forgive you" When I first heard about Jesus and all He did for me I thought He did this. Meaning: I thought that God would never forgive in the old Testament and that because of Jesus we are for sure Forgiven today. But if you look in Ezekiel the 18th chapter at the very end it says. "Why will you die, O House of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!" I love
it. No one can argue and say I have gone too far, I have sinned so much that not even God can forgive me! LIAR. God can forgive even the wickest person. You have to read Ezekiel all the 18th Chapter. God is soooooooooooooo good and forgives us when we turn back to Him.

So God has been changing both Joel and I. How can I tell well you see God has put people in our lives that drive us crazy and if I was a brand new Christain I would think, "These people, They are driving me Crazy I wish God would just show them their faults so we can all live in Peace." But learning from my past I realize that God has put certain people in my path to help form me to the way He desires. For instance if God wants me to increase my patience He puts me with someone that gets on my nerves all the time. Or if God wants to show me that I am self righteous in some areas then God will put me with a self righteous person. Now I am not saying this is a pat answer for all the people that annoy me in life. But I have finally come to a point that I start praying for those people instead of talking about them. And I have also come to a point where I am praising and thanking God that He has put such people in my path. My biggest prayer as of now is that I will actually learn from these experiences and not let my flesh get in the way. Joel is going through similar circumstances. He has some people that are under him that are trying him in many ways. I see this and praise God that He has such a plan for Joel that he is willing to put people that are not easy to work with under Joel. I am not saying all of them are difficult, but there are those that are difficult but I know it is growing Joel.

Prayer Requests: Joel hurt his back today. He went to bed around 6:30. He went to pick up a piece of metal that was in the ground but when he went to grab and lift, it wouldn't budge and in the process pulled a nerve or muscle in his back.
Also pray that since the Haiti mission is coming up there is more spiritual warfare than usual. Before every mission and during every mission there is more spiritual warfare than usual because the enemy does not like what we are doing.

Last, just wanted to brag on Joel. He has been so awesome to me. Things can get rough when you are trying to learn more about one another. But on Sunday we were at the picnic for our church and I was playing Volleyball I asked Joel to get me some water. He left without complaints and when he came back he had water for the whole team. Then left and came back a second time with water for the other team. He is so wonderful. I know I take him for granted at times and I know I don't always see what God wants me to see in him BUT I am blessed. He treats me like a Queen. He treats me the way God would want me to be treated and there is nothing more I could ask for.

Two things to think about from this email. God can and will forgive you no matter how far you have gone or how bad you have sinned (But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is righ, he will save his life. Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. Ezekiel 18:27-28) and Second praise God for that Person that is driving you crazy this week or last week or for the last month or for the last year. Because He is doing a work in you that He will complete so don't get in the way.

Love you all in agape,
Dess