Finish Strong

Things are going good. Got to go home this past weekend it was a much needed break before we start 6-7 12 hr days a week through the end of the project. The project is winding down and things are coming together nicely. I didn't tell Tara or the girls I was coming home so it was very exciting to see there reactions. I was able to be there to witness Abbey getting baptized she was so excited and had a smile from ear to ear. I know God has some great plans for her and I see a change in her and she so wants to please Him.
I've been reading alot still and studying Gods word and learning to do things that please Him not others. I really feel God showing me Life is to short to just go through the motions and go about your day with business as usual I feel Him directing us towards a life of service to Him and those in need. My passion for those in need grows each day and I'm becoming more sure that the next step in this journey is to serve Him and His heart which all through His word is those in need. Tara and I are just seeking His will and are open to whatever He has for us. I really want to lead us down the path that most honors Him. We don't know all the details but we know He probably won't show us everything at once or we probably would be overwhelmed.
We need you all to pray for a few things. If His will is Ransom Cafe to be started that a location will be verified we do have this location in mind but want to be sure it is part of the plan. Pray that We can raise the funding as well as the monthly support we will need but most of all prayer warriors to pray with us. Pray that we will know the sacrifices we will need to make and make sure this all will be for His glory not ours. Pray for details involved in launching this ministry and that He will raise up others that will catch His vision for this. Most important pray that we will not get ahead of Him and let Him work out the details. I also know that some people even those close to us won't understand this calling but we pray they will have an open mind and just trust that God will work out all the concerns We don't know all that will be required and we are scared at times but I guess that's why they call it faith.
We know this Gods word is full of promises that we can stand on and we also know that if this is His will we have two choices ignore the call and go on as usual or say here we are use us however you see fit. I just can't help but believe saying no would be horrible. Some might call all this crazy but Tara and I feel it would be more crazy not to follow Gods leading we have seen what that does to many times Thank you to all for ur support our goal right now is to just finish this part of our journey strong! Keep praying and know Tara and I are seeking Him like never before so I know He will be faithful .

What's next?

Sorry I Havent posted in a while. Things are going good things at work are getting really busy. The project is winding down it it always gets crazy. We should be done by labor day I'm hoping to get home in august for Mary Paiges first day of school and also I hope to get the chance to baptize Abbey praise God for her decision to commit to Him.
God has been teaching me alot about His spirit. I've read alot of books and have been able to study alot and seek His will for us after this. We need a that will to pray for our next step in this journey. God is up to something and we just want to do what his will is for us.
I'm ready to do whatever He has for us and to lead our family down the path that is best for us. Thank you to all who have been lifting us up and I just ask u continue

Learning to Love More

Sorry I have not written in some time it has been crazy busy here. I have been really just reading alot and trying to make sense of this all and have had some days of throwing a pity party. I did get to go home two weeks ago that was great Tara and i spent the night in New Orleans and it was good just to spend time together. We did have some tough times both of us when we are upset about a situation take it out on each other. It was really hard to know I didnt get to stay and I really wanted too. We did have fun with the girls and with friends. I was able to see the girls dance recital and they did so great and looked like little princesses. It just wasnt long enough. It looks like I will be here till sometime in August tara and I said I would probably not come back again until this job is over but I dont know if I can make it that long I would love for her to come out her for a weekend. We have talked about Tara trying to come out when the job is finished and drive back with me that would be awesome I would love for her to see this country.
I have been reading alot of books I am now reading Crazy love and it is great I learned that we should not even call following God a sacrifice because He paid the sacrifice for us and it is a benifit to follow Him. Also following Him may look crazy to others but there is something wrong if our life doesnt look crazy to non believers. I know this I want to please Him but its so hard because I usually want to please myself first. Its all about loving Him with our whole heart. I would do anything for Tara even give my life and I would give up anything to make her happy and show my love. If my love for a person is so great why cant my love be more for the one who created that person I dont know but I am trying to figure it out and trying to learn how to love God more.
Tara and I were able to talk alot about Ransom Cafe (Ransom Ministries) and what our next steps should be. We feel we are going to have to raise some funds to do this and also we are going to need to raise Monthly support(At first I had a problem with this but the more I read in the bible it is biblical to put the need out there and allow others to be part of it so I am getting over it) but most importantly we are going to have to raise up prayer warriors to pray through this and for us to make sure we follow Gods plan and what He wants us to do. Please pray with us that God will open doors that need to be opened, close the ones that dont and raise up people who want to be a part of this. We do feel that the calling God has given us is strong but at the same time we are scared and just want to know the whole picture. But sometimes Faith is doing what God wants even when we dont see the whole picture. I am learning that life is too short to just worry about ourselves but God calls us to love others more then ourselves and that is how I want to live and I want my children to live that way. I know I am a long way from that but I am pressing on.
We do know that some of you will not understand this calling and I understand that I dont understand it most of the time but I will ask you to pray and seek before making any decisions to its crazyness. We love you all and respect your input and we know you want what is best for us but we also know God loves us and He wants what is best for us also. He created us so He must have some idea of what will make our lives happy and fullfilled.
Loving Him
Matt

He was Walking How far!!

Well I have had a interesting weekend. Friday was my birthday and I had an alright time thanks to all you that facebooked me. I worked all day and then went out to eat it was nice. Then Saturday I got up early and headed to Yakima. Tara's Cousin Chris and his wife Mary are missionaries on an Indian Reservation called White swan. It was awesome to hang out with Chris and pick his brain about ministry and the ups and downs of stepping out in faith. We drove around and he should me some homes they had roofed and painted and cleaned up. He told me stories that just broke my heart and then we saw Steve walking down the road with three large bags. Chris said lets give him a ride to his house. We stopped and he jumped in the back of the truck Chris said he would be more comfortable in the back since he didnt know me well. We drove and drove and drove through dirt and gravel roads until we finally reached his home. WOW I said he was walking this far!!Steve said he had walked to town to do laundry. I thought to myself man he must of left very early this morning in order to get there. Chris said last summer they had dug him a new hole for his outhouse he doesnt have running water and he doesnt talk to other people much. We left him and he walked to his home. We then went back into town and then went back to the house. There Mary and the lady interns were prepping food for the coming week. They had 50 youth coming in for the week to do some work and do bible clubs. I helped them mostly I just watched in awe at the organization and the joy that Mary seemed to have for her work. I made them some bbq sauce and just kind of soaked it all in. We then played some volleyball and then I headed home. The whole ride home was a time for me to reflect on my experience. I could not get Steve out of my mind I listened to some cd's that Chris gave me. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt God wants his people to care for the poor and needy and I know that the calling on me is to do that. God himself set the example of this For us to follow He said what you do for the least of these you do for me. They are all around us at work, school, church , the store, our neighbor even family members I hope everyone has a great week I know I will heading home Thursday
Serving Him
Matt

Falling in love with Him

Sorry I haven't wrote for some time work has been busy but good I think I'm doing a good job. God has been amazing in the way He is helping me understand what I need to do at work. I have been able to do a little sightseeing it's so beautiful up here. I've met some really nice people and the church I've been going to seems to really love Jesus. I'm going home next weekend and I am so excited I can't wait to see my beautiful wife and girls it should be fun and much needed.
God has been teaching me alot and I have been trying to use the down time to read and try to learn all He has in store for us. I went to the library and two books almost jumped off the shelf at me. The first one is called The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkerson. It spoke right to me i went through it in a day. It talks about God has give us all a dream a desire to do something and the key to finding it is to get over our fear and just go after it. The key is understanding how your dream ties in with what God wants to do through you. Many times our plans fail because we do them for ourselves not for God. (been there done that) The second one is Passion for Jesus by Mike Bickle. It talks about falling in love with Jesus and how if we truly love Someone we will seve them no matter the cost. It talks about how most of us get bored with christianity because we don't truly Love God and understand His love for us. I know this if I could get to the point that I love god as much as my wife and understand His love for me is so far more then that it would be so easy to serve others with compassion and love.
I'm so thankful for this time and I believe God want to and is going to do mighty things through Tara and I He is just trying to get us to see things through His eyes and that is up to us. Continue to pray for Gods direction and will
Serving Him
Matt

Listening and learning

It has been a interesting 7 days since I've been back from my visit home. Being home made me realize how important it is to listen and follow the plan God has for us and seek His will for us. This week I've just been spending time digging into the word and talking with God. It has been a special time I've seen were He is growing me and showing me how to lead and listen. I've been learning how to read the sciptures and ask Him to teach me what it is I need to learn. I know Tara and the girls are counting onme to follow God and lead the
down the path He has for us no matter how it seems through our earthly eyes. I know there are many who are praying for us and for that I'm thankful. I see I don't only have to talk to Him but also listen. My goal needs to be a deeper relationship with by savior.
I hope you all understand this and I know I ramble at times but it's all about the transformation and not the destination. In other words I need to transform into the man of God He intends me to be. I so miss Tara and the girls but I know through all this I will be a better husband and father to them. My heart aches to know more and more of who God is and my heart to be His heart
thanks again for all your prayers.

Family Time

We had a great weekend and first part of the week. I was able to go home last Friday and stay until Tuesday evening. It was so nice to see Tara and the girls. We didnt tell the girls so when I walked up at the airport they just looked at me like is that really you and then jumped in my arms. That was the neatest thing!! We then spent some good days just hanging out with each other. Then Mothers day we went to Church at Jubilee and also West Mobile. We then went and had lunch at Oliver's All I can say is WOW the Shrimp and grits was awesome.Tara and I actually put the Shrimp sauce on our potatoes it was so good. We then went home and spent some time by the pool. Then Abbey learned to ride her bike without training wheels and Mary Paige with training wheels. (I think I have created a monster and now Tara has to deal with it) It was a really nice Weekend

Tara and I had a lot of time to talk about what we thought the reason for this journey and we came up with some pretty good ones. We know that it is for us to be better stewards of what God has given us. I know this God spoke to me and said until we could get more disciplined in the area of health, finances, service He could not use us like He wants too. I know that who much is given much is required. I just want to serve God and do His will. Tara and I really are trying to do Gods will and at times it is hard but we know it will be worth it. They are saying the job might go long but we are in it as long as God sees fit to keep me here. Please Pray for Strength

We both feel like The Ransom Cafe is becoming a passion of ours and as we were told unless something is a passion dont do it because when things get tough you will quit if its only a vision or a burden. Some of you might not know what The Ransom Cafe is so I have added the vision that God has given us to the bottom of this blog. We dont know the time or place or even the exact details As I am learning This walk of faith is a day by day thing we have to keep our eye on the Caller not the Calling!!

See the vision God has given us and pray for God's Will

Ransom Café
Reaching A Need Serving Our Master
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28

God has given us a vision of a place where people can come and find nourishment, physical and spiritual. Ransom Café will be a place where people will be able to have one of life’s basic necessities met.
Ransom will operate with an ever changing menu. Our menu will depend on donations and foods that are able to be purchased at little to no cost. We will not have set prices on any of our menu items. We believe that some can pay more and some may not be able to pay at all, but the ones who can will pay for the ones who can’t. Jesus paid a debt for us that we could not pay ourselves when He gave his life on the cross for our sins. He paid our RANSOM and in order to be more like Him, we want to serve others.
If someone can’t pay anything, they can volunteer 1 hour of labor and they will be given a voucher good for 1adult’s meal + 1 child’s meal. This is based on 2 Thessalonians 3:10. If a man will not work, he shall not eat. We do realize that there may be some special circumstances and we will work with every individual to try to meet their needs. We will offer frozen entrees for guests to take home for evening meals. Also, we would like to be able to send meals to those confined to their homes because of age or illness in the model of Meals on Wheels.
It is our desire that Ransom Café will be able to give back to the community and not only provide a basic need, but also offer a mentoring program to help people learn valuable skills in the Hospitality industry, knowledge to help them with daily life and a sense of community. We hope to have a garden to grow our own vegetables which could also be used to teach individuals while providing them another volunteer opportunity. This will help in keeping our cost down and provide fresh healthy vegetables.
Just as Jesus paid our Ransom, our motto will be those that can pay will pay for those who can’t. God has given us a passion for people and a culinary gift and we want to use it to help others!! Please pray Gods will in this vision as well as the resources to see this come to pass. Our Goal is to provide a service to meet the needs of all people and share the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Serving those in need,

Matt and Tara Armbruster