Provision

I have been completely humbled and overwhelmed by the ways that God has been working to get us to Fort Collins. First, in March, He opened doors for David and I to rent a little house in the perfect neighborhood. Even though we didn't have jobs yet and couldn't prove that we would make our rent, the landlords decided we would be good for their house and took a chance by letting us rent from them!

Then, in May, I started getting my resume ready for job openings. I knew they would be posted soon and that most principals would want to hire before the end of school. So, I checked the website daily for specific positions that I could apply for. One Wednesday I checked and there was nothing. Then, all of a sudden, the next day there were 12 positions at 8 schools that I was qualified for! I was excited and worked late that night to prepare cover letters and my resume to send to those schools. I had my sights set on one position at Bennett Elementary, though, and emailed the principal at 8pm. At 8:23, he called me! He said he was only calling because I went to Texas Tech and he was FROM WEST TEXAS! I was amazed and was so thankful for that connection. I have also already taught at a school with their same, and very unique curriculum. Another connection!

The next week, on Friday, I interviewed for a Kindergarten job at Bennett over the phone and found out the following Monday that I did not get that. The principal said they were still interested in me and that the Kinder team was pushing for me for the 1st grade job, which was the one I really wanted in the first place. Well, long story, short- I did get to interview for it on Thursday and on Friday, I was offered the job!!!! I was (and still am) in complete shock! I mean, I hadn't even met them! For all they knew, I could have been a complete crazy person!!! :)

On Monday the 24th, the principal called and told me I needed to go to training June 3-4, so David and I packed a little and went to our new home! And, that's where we began to feel the full impact of how God provides! As if we weren't already in awe, God continues to show us that he has been preparing us for "such a time as this" for many years.

It's midnight and we are driving back to Tyler. I've written enough for now. It's all so amazing! I'll write more tomorrow about God's provision that I didn't even know was going on!

Mark Your Calendars

There are some exciting events coming up that we would like you to know about. We would love for you to join us if you are in the Tyler area. Your support is SO important to us!

June 6:
David is preaching at Calvary Baptist Church in Tyler at 10:15am

June 6:
Pancake Dinner and Silent Art Auction
6pm, The Diner in Tyler
$5 per person (all proceeds benefit the Fort Collins church plant)

June 13:
8:30 and 11am -
David and Chris are leading both services at Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Tyler

June 13:
6pm -
David and Chris are being ordained at Colonial Hills

Thank you to our friends and family for making these events possible! We are blessed beyond measure to have such enormous support as we embark on this new adventure.

Please join us for one or all of these events, especially if you're in Tyler!

Finally finished a book!

I finished a great book today! This is quite an accomplishment for me since I can't remember the last book I actually read all the way through. That is really sad... Especially since I am a teacher and encourage my students to be lifelong readers! I guess I actually do read all the time. I read tons of childrens' books and books about education. And I did read a potty training book! Those count! I guess the difference is that this is the first book I read that I picked just for me! And I'm sure glad I did!

I read Elisabeth Elliot's book, "Through Gates of Splendor". It was recommended to us as we began planning to follow through with a new life that God has called us to. It was actually the book that was recommended for our parents to read. We bought them each a copy... And they have a ten-page report due by next Friday! :) Not really, but I do hope they, and everyone else, finds the time to read this very moving story.

This story of courage, commitment, and callings follows the lives of five young men and their wives (and some children) as they lived and ministered among native people groups in Ecuador in the 1950's. The amazing element woven throughout their stories is their dedication to doing whatever it took to tell everyone of God's Good News. The author's husband, Jim Elliot, wrote in his journal, "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." That sums up their calling then, and our calling now. I just love how Elisabeth Elliot ends the book. This statement was not only true for them, but is a reminder for all Christians that nothing is about US, but is ALL about God!

"It's not the level of our spirituality that we can depend on. It is God and nothing less than God, for the work is God's and the call is God's and everything is summoned by him and to his purposes, the whole scene, the whole mess, the whole package- our bravery and our cowardace, our love and our selfishness, our strengths and our weaknesses."

What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up...

As a kid I was a dreamer. I was going to be Spider-Man, I was also going to be the Dread Pirate Roberts (that's the character from The Princess Bride, in case you missed it). Really, I would have been happy to grow up having any occupation in which I could have worn a mask or uniform. I think all kids are to a certain extent. It’s just their nature. I can’t speak for girls, but for most boys, we dream of being heroes, firefighters, cops, cowboys, super heroes... Something larger than life. I have no shame in admitting that when I was in the third grade, my best friend and I decided our calling in life was to start a Beach Boys tribute band. We were going to be called “The All Americans”.

We literally knew all of their songs and would stand out on my driveway and give concerts to all the other neighborhood kids. And the only thing better than a real guitar was the sound of a guitar made with my mouth. It was pretty sweet. And we were going to be huge.

Kids never aspire to be ordinary and never ever wrestle with what they are going to do with their lives. They just know. And while later in life most of us are told that we should stop being dreamers and join reality, I think that our dreams and passions serve a purpose. A Los Angeles pastor, Erwin McManus, posed this question to his church -- “What if our lives are meant to be the fulfillment of God’s dreams for us?”

Let this sink in for a moment.

God has created each of us with a purpose for our lives.

How sweet is that? Maybe there is a rhyme and a reason for why we have these specific dreams and passions. I absolutely believe that before we were even a thought in our parents minds, God had already dreamed big dreams for our lives and given each one of us a purpose. A grand plan for every person that is born, and when we enter into this life, we begin the journey of fulfilling that purpose.

And while God’s dreams for each one of us might take on different shapes and appearances, I think there is an overarching theme in his purpose. I think God created us to be pictures of His truth and grace to the people around us. At the end of Matthew, right before Jesus swoops up to Heaven in a flash, he gives us what we now call the Great Commission and he says, “Go and make disciples.” I hear David (Sutton) remind people all the time that the word GO in that verse is not implying something that will happen, but something that is happening. In other words, Jesus was not telling the disciples to go tomorrow, or next year or whenever they could fit it on their calendar for a mission trip. Instead, it’s something that is happening right now. AS you go. AS you are living your life, let it be a life that paints a portrait of God’s love.

When we choose evangelism as a lifestyle, something that is ongoing, we suddenly find new purpose in our lives. For the four of us, it has changed the way we view our relationships and interactions with others. Paul wrote in his letter to the Thessalonians, “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News, but our own lives, too.” (1 Thes 2:8) What more purpose do we need than to know that we were placed on this earth to exist in such a way that by just living life with others, we can be living testimonies of God’s grace?

We are always running into people who ask, “How did you know God was calling you to be church planters?”, or, “How did you know God wanted you to move to Colorado?”. But we can’t really give them the answer they are looking for. We don’t have some sort of secret formula that helps determine God’s will for our lives. Unfortunately, God doesn’t usually write out his will for us on the sidewalk with a lightening bolt. Understanding God’s will comes in understanding who He is and who we are in Him. Instead of asking, “What does God want me to do?” perhaps we should be asking, “What does God want to do through me?” The answer comes simply in understanding our identity in Christ and the mission He has given us. Live a life in which you love God and love others.

In our case, it just so happens that we relate very well to the type of people that we will meet in Fort Collins. God has placed a very specific passion in our hearts for that city, but the overarching purpose for our lives is the same as anyone else’s.
We recognize that God has called us to live life with the people around us and in doing so, be a picture of God’s grace and truth. That purpose exists for every believer whether you are in Tyler, or Fort Collins, or across the world or wherever you might be. We have discovered that God’s dream for our lives is to play a part in bringing the rest of the world into the reality of God’s truth. I’ll take that over my dream of being in a Beach Boys cover band.

Our Guide

Our daughter Hannah is transforming before our very eyes from a baby to a little girl, toddling around the living room, choosing between carrots and more macaroni and cheese, and patting her stuffed puppy dog's back to "give him loves". My favorite thing to do with her right now is practice walking. I walk beside her, her finger wrapped tightly around my index finger, though she has excellent balance and is really ready to walk by herself. But when she does trip, I'm often able to soften the impact a little or completely when she has a hold of my hand. This process has been a great reminder to me of how God guides our steps.

When we first made the decision to plant a church in Fort Collins, I clung to this scripture (found in Psalm 37) because it reminded me that even though we were stepping into the unknown, God our Father would not leave us. In fact, He promises to care for and provide for His people, which includes our families and our future Church family.

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.

You may not be planting a church, but God's promise is for all of His people. And you may not describe yourself as godly as the scripture above says, but if you are His child, he describes you as holy and as righteous as Christ. And you may not call yourself His child, but He welcomes anyone into His family.

I have loved God for 12 years and He has never abandoned me or left me in a time of need, and I don't foresee Him doing so now. Praise God that He keeps His promises.

Our Charming Children

Well, we just thought it would be fun to write about the best part of our families - our children, Hannah Riley and Josiah David. Hannah is 1 year old and Josiah is 1 and a half. They are great friends and light up every time we just mention the other. They are quite the charmers. Everywhere we go they talk to anyone and, in our opinions, are already showing God's love through their beautiful eyes and smiles!

They are such blessings! Everyday as we watch them grow, we are even more amazed at the miracles that only God can do! Our children are our greatest joy and we thank God for them everyday.

We will sometimes post pictures on this blog, but we update our family blogs more often. Check those out for the latest and greatest about our charming children.

Freeman's: randi-lynn.blogspot.com
Sutton's: houseofsutton.blogspot.com

Home Is Where The Heart Is

During this last trip to Fort Collins we looked for job opportunities and searched for a home. 35 houses later... the saying, "Home is where the heart is", lost its meaning. Turns out, clean carpet, caulked showers, and a somewhat odor-free environment help to make a house a home. Our house search was both exciting and sobering. Since it is a college town, there were lots of renting options, but many of those options would not be suitable for our families. After looking at several houses in deplorable condition, we drove by one in a great location close to Old Town and CSU. We met the very nice owner and found the house to be in great condition and perfect for one of our families. We decided it would fit Laura and I the best, so we submitted an application. When we submitted it, however, the owner let us know that they are hesitant to rent to us because we don't have jobs yet. I am sure they think we are a little crazy... but we know that God is in control.

On the job front, Randi and Laura both had unexpected moments of hope. The week before going, Randi saw an opening for a marketing position at a high-end stroller company. She debated whether or not to drop in and, when we couldn't find their office, assumed she wouldn't be able to. While we were in a local toy store, Randi thought it wouldn't hurt to ask them where the stroller company office was. Upon asking, the ladies behind the counter got really excited and insisted on taking Randi to meet them right away. Turns out, their offices were right upstairs. Randi was greeted by a little dog in a laid back atmosphere and was able to make contact with an energetic company and meet more of the great people of Fort Collins. Upon returning to Texas, she emailed her resume, but has already heard that they filled the position. She made a great contact, though, and experienced a wonderful example of how God works in ways that we don't always expect!

Laura had a similar experience. Before going, she had researched schools and found several that seem like a good fit for her. One of these is Dunn Elementary, which happens to be across the street from the last house - and best house - we saw. While visiting with the owner, Laura mentioned that she was interested in working there and, as it turns out, the owner's children went there, her relative works in the office, and she knew many of the teachers. She excitedly offered to take Laura over there right away and show her around. Yet another unexpected moment of hope!

Our trip was both exciting and sobering. We are not sure exactly how everything with housing and jobs will work out - we continue to trust God. To the world and even some close to us, we seem crazy... we even feel that way ourselves sometimes. The amazing part of this journey, though, is the overwhelming peace that we have even when we don't have all the answers. We acknowledge that this peace is supernatural and only comes from God! We praise His name for the destination and the path that gets us there!

Isaiah 42:16

"But I'll take the hand of those who don't know the way,

who can't see where they're going.

I'll be a personal guide to them,

directing them through unknown country.

I'll be right there to show them what roads to take,

make sure they don't fall into the ditch.

These are the things I'll be doing for them -

sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute."