Don't waste a day!

Well have had a Good weekend. Went exploring in a town called Leavenworth it was a neat town slot of shops (Tara would of been in heaven). And lots of candy ( the girls would of been on overload) I walked around and then went up in the mountains and looked around saw some beautiful sights. I joined a health club because it was getting to hard to do p90x in the house the other guys probably wonder what I'm doing or the guys below might think I'm going to come through the floor.
Yesterday God convicted me of wasting time it's so easy to just wish this was over and I could go home and missthe real purpose for this. I started praying for God to show me what I could do to volunteer and serve so I found this ministry online called serve Mose lake. It's a organization of local churches that help those in need with many different things. I read up on it and thought that could be something that I could do and it would also be good experience for the vision God has given Tara and I for a ministry. Well I went to church and was looking for a Sunday school class to go to and a man I met the other day suggested I go to a class so I met the leader and we talked and I shared with him somethings God was showing me and he said he was on the board of a ministry that might interest me. I probably don't have to tell you what ministry it was yes it was serve Moses lake (God is so good). I'm actually having dinner with him and the director tomorrow night.
God continues to confirm Tara and I are right were we are suppose to be even if we don't know all the details. I've learned that God is not looking for people to work for Him but he wants people who will let Him work in and through them and also Gods work done Gods way will never lack Gods supply. I pray I can be that person.
Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement. Like Tara said we don't know His plan but He does and that is what gives us peace. I know this it must be good!!
Matt

Who Knows?!

So today I went to a Mother's Day brunch at WMBC with my mom. Several friends asked about Matt and how things were going. We really appreciate all of the prayers, support, and encouragement. Don't remember who, may have been more than one person, asked when Matt would be home and my response was, "I don't know." While in some ways saying that seems scary, I'm not afraid. God showed my recently that when I am faced with a "who knows?!" situation that God knows. Again this morning at brunch the speaker referenced one of my favorite scripture verses. Jeremiah 29:11 For I KNOW the plans I have for you...to give you a hope and a future. Even though I don't know, I rest in the fact that He knows and He is working all things together for our good and His glory. ~Tara

Good mid week

Have had a good week so far. It looks like we are goingto be off Friday. Which I don't like because that's just one more day I don't get paid. I was invited to a bible study Friday morning so I probably will go. I went to church last night and met some really nice people. I went to a small group called sportsmen it was cool about 5 guys having a bible study and prayer then talking about hunting and fishing (loved that). Good week and hoping I can start the garden this weekend and also do some exploring. Pray that Tara can come out soon we are hoping in the next few weeks. I miss her a bunch
Matt

It's not the destination but the transformation

Well had a good weekend. It was very quit really too quit. I worked in the yard with the owner of the house hauling leaves an limbs and helped him plan out a garden. I then went to church and it was really good the message was titled "But God.... That's not what I had in mind". It was about doing things you know God wants u to do even when you don't want to. The preacher said faith is doing what God wants even when it's not what I want. Go figure I am right in the middle of that. Tara and I are really learning to value each other and our family. We are learning that the journey is not about the destination, it's about the transformation. We are usually so concerned with the end result that we fail to realize what God wants to do each and every day to transform our hearts.
The place I'm staying is nice and the owners are commuted to making this a home away from home. Today was hard because I wanted to be home to celebrate Mary Paiges birthday thanks to technology I was able to watch her open her presents and sing happy birthday. She looked so beautiful and Tara made her birthday special just like she always does. Keep praying I'm hoping to come home for the girls dance recital the first weekend in June and I hope Tara can come out one weekend we just want to do Gods will. I miss everyone very much. The job is good I'm settling in and learning everything I need to do the job right. Thanks to everyone for ur prayers a continued support
Matt

Purpose 1

So glad week 2 is almost over! This week my air conditioner has not been working, we've had our turn with the stomach virus, and now my washing machine is acting up! I really missed Matt this week!! Even though he's thousands of miles away, he is still taking care of things for me. I tend to get overwhelmed and I'm a major procrastinator! Through all of the exciting events of week 2, God really encouraged us and showed us this week that He loves us and when we are weak,He is strong! A couple of months ago, I started a Beth Moore study on Esther. I got about half way through it when Matt and I started a study together- "If You Want to Walk On Water, You've Got to get Out Of the Boat!" (In case you don't know that's what W.O.W. stands for - Walking On Water.)We didn't realize God was going to call us out of our boat so soon! Anyway I felt this week like I needed to finish my Beth Moore study. I had tried to read some in my Bible and even some things Matt gave me to read but I wasn't hearing it. So I decided to review the first few weeks. As I was flipping through the pages I saw where I had underlined, "I believe one of God's purposes in this journey is to help us recapture both our identity and identification as His children- not so we can be obnoxious but so we can be influential." Slapped me right in the face. I felt like God Himself was speaking that to me. In an attempt to not be the judgmental Pharisees, sometimes we become the luke warm that makes God want to vomit. We turn into hidden Christians. We are so much like the world that we are almost indistinguishable from it. I shared with Matt and he asked me to share with you, our first insight at God's purpose for our journey. Please keep praying for us! While I'm glad to see week 2 be over, I have mixed emotions about week 3. Monday is Mary Paige's 5th Birthday.
~Tara

Week 2

Hey everyone it's been a long week. Work is going good learning the INS and outs of the plant and all the work that is ahead of me. It is challenging but very rewarding. I moved into the boarding house it's nice and feels more like a home then the hotel. The house is located in the country about a mile from the plant. All the other guys left Thursday to go home so I have the whole house to myself.
I went to a church with a guy from work wednesday there were only 4 people there but it was an awesome prayer time and the message was great it was on Solomon and how God wants to bless us but many times we choose our own way and miss those blessings. I know God has a plan for each of us but it's up to us to be obiediant and receive the blessing. Gods plan is perfect but our choices make it seem like it isn't. I pray each of us will listen to the spirit and follow it wherever it leads
I have missed Tara and the girls and struggle at times but I then turn to His word and it gives me strength Thank you for all the prayers it has been very humbling
I hope each of you have a great weekend and I will check in later
Serving Him
Matt

Better days

Well I haven't wrote in a couple days I've been trying to find a more perminant residence. Well work has been good but very challenging I have never seen so much paperwork and meetings but it is all good. I have been getting to spend good time with the lord and learning some great things about God centered leadership,friendship and service I'll share more about that later. I also started P90x and that has been kicking my butt I couldn't hardly brush my teeth because my arms hurt so bad. I'm also finally getting over a sore throat Ive had for about 10 days
Well Tara and I have had some great talks on the phone God has shown her somethings that have really helped me to understand somethings. She is such an awesome Godly wife to me I'll let her share those things if she likes herself.
The girls are doing good Abbey seems to be enjoying the YMCA fir spring break and Mary Paige can't wait to start big girl school.
Well I mentioned that I was looking for a more permanent place to stay then this hotel. Well it looks like I found a room at a local boarding house about 1 mile from the plant. There are 7 or 8 other guys that share a house you get your own room with tv and cable the owner cleans once a week and buys pizza for everyone on Tuesday. It is about half The cost I'm paying now. The room I will be in has it's own bath. It was also a blessing because $ was running low and she will wait till I get paid to be paid. I also feel this is God putting me here for some reason only He knows. The owners have scriptures up in the house and and she said she does this to serve others and give them a safe place to live she has rules and if u don't follow them ur out.
Please pray Gods will in everthing we do or say.

This is the Day that the Lord has made

Well I woke up and didn't really know were I was going to go to church. I got in the truck and drove He led me to a church called grace harvest church. The people there were friendly and the praise and worship was good and very contemporary A young couple gave their lives to Christ it was very inspiring and they were very humble I learned that obeying God is an act of love.
After the service was over I felt God had something else for me so I drove around and I felt God lead me to another church that was meeting in a middle school the church was called Lake Valley Baptist. I met some really nice people who I could tell loved the Lord. The praise and worship was the exact opposite they sang from song books it was traditional and very real. The pastor had a very humble heart and the message he brought was very good. It spoke to me it was on exhorting those around you and to do the ministry God has given you He said exhorting is calling or pulling others close to you. I needed that. Also two young people gave their lives to Christ praise God.
I then had a good time studying Him word and just spending time with Him. I realize this is the only way I'm going to get through this time away. I miss Tara and the girls so much if I didn't have The Lord I would not make it.
I went back to Lake Valley tonight and the message was right on target. It was on 1 Tim 4: 1-16. Godliness is profitable for all things Dont neglect the gifts God has given you because of situations or any thing else. I know at times I neglect the gifts because I feel sorry for myself or things don't go my way. There are people all around us that that are deflated by the things in their lives our job as Christians is to let our lives help them inflate we do this by being real and walking in Gods spirit. I hope I haven't rambled to much I ask you continue to pray for Tara and I that we can focus on the good and not what we don't have.
This is much harder then either of us could of imagined and the only way to learn what we need to learn is to stay focused on Gods plan. This week let your life inflate someones balloon that is deflated
thanks
Matt

Long day

Well this was the first weekend here i did laundry walked around town and checked things out. I went to a Mexican bakery and picked out some good pastries. Then I went back to the room and it was only 11:00am. What to do now well I started feeling sorry for myself and decided to take a nap then a guy I met staying in the hotel knocked on my door and asked if I wanted y
to go get something to eat and I said no thanks (missed opportunity)
After my nap God started to convict me of wasting my time here. He showed me our attitude is the single most important decision we make each day and I had chose to complain. He also showed me I needed to capture the moments of today with a mission and intentionality. I had a great evening spending time with Him and studying His word. I then talked with Tara for about an hour that was awesome she is such an awesome wife and friend. I'm looking forward to church in tha am I don't know were I'm going yet but God will lead me were I need to go. Please continue to pray for us and Gods will also I'm trying to find a better place to stay if possible. I also would like u to pray for our military I can't imagine being away for that long.
Thanks Matt

"You won't even believe it!"

Mary Paige told her teacher and friends at school that they "won't even believe it" but her Daddy has gone to stay in a hotel in Washington for 9 days! I told her teachers that actually it's 90 days. At almost 5 years old she doesn't really understand why Daddy has gone away. And I must confess, at 32 years old there are moments when it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either. Abbey, however, continues to be our little spiritual rock. She has told her teacher and friends what an awesome Daddy she has to do this for us and how proud of him she is. I wish you could have heard the prayer she said for Matt last Sunday night as he was getting ready to leave. At 8 years old she can see and recognize the power of God in her Daddy's life and in our family. Even though we don't really know WHY God wants Matt to spend this 90 days in the desert, we are certain that he is suppose to be there. I just wish we could be there too. It is hard to be here and try to continue in our normal routines without him. We miss him so much! Yet we know that God has big plans for Matt and for our family and I know that it will eventually all make perfect sense. God gave us both this scripture today from Hosea 1:5 Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Thank you for your prayers!
~Tara

Made it

Well after 40 hrs of driving I made it to Moses lake I only thought Kansas was flat. I got here at 8:30 am and was out at the plant working at 9:00 am. I met the crew and the supervisors. We had a wind storm which caused a major dust storm that was interesting. The job is a little overwhelming but I know God will give me wisdom and knowledge.
I had a good talk with the constuction manager about walking in the spirit And not in the flesh And what the scripture says about that and what was cool is he brought it up he is a strong Christian and that is encouraging.
I checked into the hotel and let's just say it is not the Marriot but it's not a cardboard box either so I'm blessed. I really miss Tara and the girls so much it hurts I asked God why did He call me here and I felt in my spirit He said just wait and be patient. So my faith is in Him I'm just expecting to learn in due time the purpose of all this I know in my heart I'm here for a purpose and I'm trying to remain sensitive to His leadership. Gods grace is sufficient for any challenge we face. I'm so thankful for an awesome wife who is willing to sacrifice to please God and friends and family who will pray that His will be done. Well off to bed I'm sorry for my rambling and bad punctuation. I'm writing this on my phone
May God bless all that read this and know I'm praying for you

On the Road

Well Im in Missoula Montana 300 miles from Moses Lake. I had a great visit with mom and dad in Kansas saw a few people. I drove to Denveryesterday through rain, sleet, snow and wind I then spent some good time with my sister, bro inlaw, niece, and nephew it was really nice seeing them. Woke up to snow and started towards Wyoming the roads were slick up to about Larimie and then it cleared. Eveything was covered in snow it was beautiful and as I drove I wondered how anyone could not believe in God. This trip has been so good to just spend time with God talk with Him and mainly just listen to Him, praise Him and listen to His word. I have enjoyed it but I sure wish Tara was with me she would love this country. We know though we are were God wants us so that helps. Thanks to everyone for your prayers for Tara and I

Day 1

Well started the day at 2am and I really was wishing God would say just joking. Well He didn't so I headed out Tara and the girls were asleep and I was glad because I cried like a baby and I'm suppose to be strong lol I started out feeling sorry for myself and wining to God asking why me and it's not fair kinda of like my kids do when they don't want to do something but Chuck met me and reminded me why we were doing this thanks Chuck for your obedience So I left Daphne and was driving along and remembered Pauls message on speeding and how 1 mile over is still breaking the law thus sin so o started another debate with God and u can guess who won thank God for cruise control. To be honest it was very enjoyable people were usually way out in front or way behind so I was always by myself. I had some great worship in the car just me and the Lord it was nice even though some of the people passing me probably thought I was crazy I listened to about 15 sermons on the radio or cd look out when I get back I have some good things to teach on. Went through 6 states and ended the day with a beautiful Kansas sunset and spending time with my parents looking forward to what tomorrow will bring I really miss my best friend and my two biggest fans. But I know this is were God has us right now and we are here to serve Him. Thank you all for your prayers it means so much to us.
Keep walking on water

Here We Go

Well neither Tara or I have ever blogged before but we thought we would give it a try. If everyone doesnt know we are preparing for a time in our life that is very uncomfortable but comfortable at the same time. I will be leaving 4/5 Monday for 12 weeks to Moses Lake Washington. We feel this is all part of Gods Plan for something much bigger in our lives and we are just following His leading. I will be going to my parents house in Kansas on Monday and hopefully get to watch the national championship with my Dad. I will keep you posted on our progress and all the things that God is doing in our lives. We really feel this is God leading us and we just want to please Him even if it is hard we know the sacrifice will be well worth it. Please pray for my awesome wife and children and also for me to continue to focus on what God wants for us and to let us always see His plan before our own.