Life and Encouragment from God!!!

Hey Everyone,

Our life has been such a roller coaster since getting back from picking up the mini-bus. We hit the ground running as soon as we got back asking grocery stores for their non-sellable products. Or in lame terms for food that consumers will not buy because of the expiration date or it has a little mold on it and so grocery stores throw it away even though it is perfectly good.

Well I had assumed this would be the easy part. I thought I would just walk into two or three or four grocery stores and wah-la they would give and think it was the greatest idea in the world. WRONG. God is sure funny. I am learning a lot about God and how He matures his children or people who are called to do things for Him. So far Joel and I have been to over 40 grocery stores and we haven't received one solid yes yet. Mostly no's, a few I will call you back, and others who just don't answer. It has been frustrating to say the least. Because there are a hand full of stores that are giving and but most are throwing away and refuse to give you the food they are throwing away!! Every day I make the choice to either throw a crying tantrum or trust God. (I tend to choose differently each day, depending on my mood {Hey I am just being honest})

It has been discouraging to say the least. But with each day God either sends a person to encourage us or a scripture. The most amazing part about this is they all say the same thing. I am blown away. And it is not like they talk to each other or they read the scriptures I have put on our walls that the Lord has given to me. But they all tell Joel and I a few things

1) God's timing is perfect. God will do what He wants when He wants and I need to wait patiently for Him to act. (Psalms 37 talks about Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait PATIENCLY for Him to act)

2) That He is maturing JOel and I through these trials and frustrations. That it is testing our faith in God which leads to endurance and endurance leads to character and hope and maturity and all that good stuff that goes with being tested. WOW who knew, NOT IT!!!

3) We need to not give up. BAD IDEA (though I have to admit I have thought about it or at least trying a new vocation) But it says in Galatians: Do not grow weary in doing good. For at JUST THE RIGHT TIME (there is that time thing again) we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

There are other leasons but one of the most encouraging talks I had was with Ray (my old boss at Friend Ships) Ray and I have this understanding about the food ministry that he or I don't really have with anyone else. There have been a few (VERY FEW) people in his life Ray shared the same passion with but Ray and I can talk for hours about the food minstry. I called him up and told him my frustrations. And he said that the EXACT same thing happened to him in LA. He was mad and frustrated wanted to blame it on people or God or who ever. Wanted to go back to Seattle where the food ministry was flowing like milk and honey. But He believes looking back that God was doing someting and Ray said he believes now God is doing something and purposely stopping us from getting a yes. He doesn't know what and I don't know what but God is doing it on purpose for a reason. Ray said that if he were I that he would doubt God. But then he said quickly "BUT WE DO NOT DOUBT GOD, and WE DO NOT QUESTION GOD." (which has snapped me out of doubting God) Then Ray went on to say that after the food started to flow in Los Angeles Friend Ships had the biggest food ministry in the history of Friend SHips. ON a weekly basis Friend Ships was picking up 150,000 pounds of food a week on average. And that I shouldn't give up.

So what are we doing now: NOt giving up. What are we doing now: Waiting (patiently and impatiently at times. Trying harder for patience) What are we doing now: Still knocking on doors.

So that is where we are at now. God is good whether I see his Hand move today or not. That it will come and that I just need to do what Joel and I were called to do. Start a ministry for HIM.

Love all ya'll. Be blessed in JESUS whether you see God move or not.

Dess Butler
God's Property