Give and It Shall Be Given. . .

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:32-34

At the beginning of the week Chad and I felt blessed. We didn’t have any outstanding bills and the fridge was stocked with groceries. Chad worked Monday and Tuesday at a church in Norman resealing a concrete floor, earning us enough money to keep gas in the car.

Last night at dinner we had our nightly dinner guest. The little boy from across the way came in and took his place at the table. After dinner the boys went out to play. They came right back in with friends and said, “the kids were wondering if you were going to make cookies tonight?”

We had cooked all the cookie dough, but still had a case of applesauce from Sam’s which we handed out until it was all gone. Finally at around 8:00, we had to lock our door to slow what had been a constant stream of children all evening.

This morning the weatherman was calling for storms about the time we would be teaching this afternoon. Even if we wanted to brave the storm we had no food or anything else for the kids. I was doing good to make lunches for the boys to take to school.

Needless to say we were generally discouraged. It would be nice to wake up and have everything in order to do all the “great” things we want to do. It would certainly be easier to give food away if we knew how it was going to be replaced, and to spend time in preparation instead of worrying.

I took the boys to school and prayed all the way home. Chad had a meeting with a pastor in town and I stayed home with Ruby to get our house in order. We waited until around 11:00 then called our volunteers to cancel the Bible Club.

The pastor Chad met with said he would call Chad later with some news. On our way to pick up the boys from school he called and said their church wanted to pay our rent for the month of May. This was a huge encouragement and burden lifted off of both of us! Our apartment has become a place of ministry and we’re thankful for it!

We came home from school and I went straight to the kitchen to make brownies. I thought, even though we weren’t able to have Bible Club across the street we could have afterschool snacks for the kids in our complex.

Just then my phone rang. It was a friend from Amarillo who moved to Oklahoma City not long before we did. She asked how we were doing and said, “I’ve been blessed with some extra money and the Lord laid you on my heart.” She followed it up by saying, “You’re not discouraged are you?”

I told her we had cancelled tonight, but were going to do what we could. She said, “Why don’t you come over here and visit with me for a while. I want to give you something.”

SO. . .I did. I got back in the car and noticed we had just enough time to make it to Sam’s, buy some food and candy and get to the apartments on time.

So . . . that’s what we did. Chad went to our apartment and loaded up our equipment. I went to Sam’s. We had great food for the kids and still had enough money left over to fill up the tank in our car and buy groceries for ourselves.

Chad and I pray everyday for God to bless in abundance so we can be a blessing. We know God can and is making a way to do great and mighty things through us. Right now we’re learning to trust.

To follow the Lord’s principle of giving in Luke 6:38 takes courage! “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Obeying God’s principle of giving is the only way to realize His eternal rewards. While we work towards to "big picture" for Truth Baptist Church we realize it requires a daily dependence of our Heavenly Father. We have committed to working as hard as we can and using the resources God provides each day as far as they go. To be faithful with as much or as little as He sees fit to bless us with.

Tonight with the sun shining through the clouds and with thanksgiving in our hearts we praised Jesus for His provision, for His grace and for another week to tell The Good News.

His Workmanship

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

There is a book I came across in our church library at age fourteen. It’s a biography of Amy Carmichael written by Elisabeth Elliot called A Chance To Die. The first time I read it was on youth mission trip to Wyoming. Again I referenced it in college. Now it sits on my nightstand with my Bible. Both Amy Carmichael and Elisabeth Elliot are heroines of mine. Their stories inspire and challenge me to live the calling God has put in my heart.

Recently, reading a chapter from A Chance To Die helped settle an issue in my heart about raising money for the mission work Chad and I are doing in Oklahoma City. The work of our new church plant has recently demanded our full attentions. By faith, we are planning a summer of outreach and church growth. God provided miraculously during spring break and we expect more great things!

In 1889, Amy Carmichael was walking by faith. She had a growing Bible Study of mill girls who met weekly called the “Shawlies”. The group had grown so large they needed a facility. Amy had seen an advertisement for an iron building. She knew even if she could afford the building she would need a piece of land in close proximity to the mill to put the building on.

As she prayed about what to do she remembered having walked with her mother as a young girl to raise money for charity. They went to the porch of a man who was living in a brand new home. Elisabeth Elliot writes “He refused to give anything. Stunned, the little girl (Amy) pondered the wisdom of asking money from people who don’t really love God. ‘Why not’ she thought ‘ask God to make people who love Him want to give?’ so Amy and the Shawlies did exactly that.”

Amy wrote about her decision to trust God in a newsletter she and her siblings wrote called, “Scraps”

“We must have money. We can’t build spires ninety feet high without it, we can’t decorate our churches with elegant windows without it, we can’t issue costly programmes for our social meetings without it . . . How are we to get it? You may touchingly plead for the heathen abroad. You may paint a picture terrible and true of the state of the home heathen at our doors. You may work yourself into hysterics over these and other intensely real realities but you won’t get the money. So another plan must be devised. We shall get up a fancy fair.”

Amy went on the write, “Oh yes! WE shall get the money for our poor dear little church, and everybody will have the pleasing consciousness of having devoted themselves to the noble cause of screwing, wheedling and extorting money out of a selfish, thoughtless public --- for the cause of God!”

We can then compare this picture to Moses and Aaron building the Tabernacle, a dwelling for The Spirit of God. In Exodus 35 verse 4 we read, “And Moses spoke to the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, ‘This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying: Take from among you an offering to The Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to The Lord : gold, silver and bronze.”

In verse 29 we see God’s people respond. “The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to The Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had commanded done.”

I read this chapter several times. It is a beautiful picture of God stirring among the hearts of His people to do His will. Exodus 35:26 describes “women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn. . .” Exodus 35:33-31 “And Moses said to the children of Israel, ‘See the Lord has called by name Bezalel. . . and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works. . .”

When we, as God’s people, allow Him to express His Love, charity, creativity, wisdom and workmanship through us it is a miraculous work.

“Three things we may notice:” Writes Amy Carmichael about those who gave to build the Tabernacle “1^st as many as were willing hearted, 2^nd brought their own possessions, 3^rd unto The Lord.”

Chad and I spent this morning responding to messages from people who desire to give to help our church get off the ground. One mission committee is praying about supporting us financially in whatever way they can, another group had some food and it met the need of us feeding at our outreach tomorrow. Another lady emailed who works full time and wants to see how she might get involved. A friend of ours in Amarillo made index cards with Scripture verses on them for the children we teach. Mom and our newest members at Truth Baptist prepared breakfast for our fellowship Sunday morning. I taught Sunday School using a complete set of Bible study materials mailed to our apartment by a woman I’ve never met.

I have no doubt as we contemplate the “bigger needs” of Truth Baptist Church such as buildings, vans and support, God will be faithful to stir the hearts of His people to respond.

It is a beautiful and miraculous thing to witness God’s people follow His leading. As we step out in faith to plant a church among these thousands of residents here, please prayerfully consider how you might help. We are deeply thankful for your prayers and encouragement!

Truth Baptist Church

12701 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Apt. 173

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

www.truthbaptist.me

Referenced: A Chance To Die By Elisabeth Elliot, Exodus Chapter 35

I Will Bless the Lord At All Times, Continually

Saturday was my only day off after working the early shift for a lady who was on vacation all week. I woke up tired and was not looking forward tohaving to work on Sunday. To add to to the issues we were completely broke.

We rested most of the day. In the afternoon, Chad and I combined the cash in our wallets. I bought groceries for the week and put the last of our money in gas. Even though it took the last of what we had, I was thanking God we had enough. We certainly didn't two months ago.

I went to work Sunday. Chad called me on our break to announce that all the food for the first three days of lunches was in pantry and ready for us to make lunches. In one week the people at Quail Springs Baptist Church had donated all of this food. We also had emails from different Sunday School Classes who said they were planning to volunteer.

Monday morning we walked into the church kitchen at QSBC with our two volunteers from Truth Baptist Church and started unwrapping corn dogs. Other helped showed up and the lunches were made. Now it was time to deliver.

We started out at the Artisan Ridge apartments. Our first stop was to see the manager. We've learned in a short time that having a working relationship with the apartment manager is an important thing. She was very welcoming, we took her a lunch which she refused to take and instructed us to give it to a child. "We'll be working hand in hand.", she said so we asked her for the use of her empty tennis court for our end of the week outreach which she allowed us to use.

Everyday we had a new group of volunteers. It was great to see our families from Truth Baptist getting to know the folks from Quail Springs. Today the Executive pastor and his kids came out to help make and deliver lunches. They even did the tough work of helping us work a new complex which can mean knocking on five doors to find the one apartment with three children.

In the middle of our deliveries today, Chad got a call. The manager at Artisan Ridge was relaying a message to Chad to call the owner of her complex which he did immediately. The owner had heard great things about our ministry to his residents this week. He said they have plans to build a new playground on the property and wanted to know if we could make use of a new community room. He asked Chad to make a list of amenities we would need as well as the size of space we could use. They want us to help them create a better environment for the "section 8" families living in the complex. Chad hung up the phone and said, "You're gonna laugh!" "At what?" I asked. We both could not believe the door had been not only opened, but we're handed a key.

After delivering lunches I came home and took a nap with our children. Chad went to pick up the snow cone machine. He called me again and said, "You're gonna laugh!" "At what?" I asked. One of the ladies we delivered lunches to today called him. She said she had been praying for a month for God to send someone to her door to invite her to church. She explained she wanted to bring an offering to help with the kids lunches tomorrow and wants to worship with us Sunday. We praised the Lord together. . . again.

About an hour later Chad called me and said, "You're really gonna laugh this time!" We've been hyping up our party on the tennis courts all week. Chad said, "I went to pick up the sno cone machine and they let me take the whole CART!" The CART is the association's resource trailer. It has a moon bounce, sound system, sno cone machine, popcorn popper and cotton candy maker. We're also ready with an exciting Bible lesson, fun Scripture songs and a take-home craft.

Two of the girls who prayed to receive Jesus Sunday helped us all week. On Monday while we walked though the complex, Autumn said, "Miss Anna. I remember our Bible verse from Sunday!" "You DO?" She pulled out this little shred of paper. She had gone home and written it down. "Can you say it without looking?" I asked. "YES!" she said (with a little bit of attitude)

Then she quoted from memory without missing and beat, "I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1"

And so shall I! We serve a great God who seeks and saves those who are lost. Once again we see God has filled the empty vessel we offered Him to overflowing. We will bless Him and praise Him again and again. Daily. moment by moment. Continually.

Pray for us as we lift up the name of Jesus tomorrow morning. Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers.

His Spirit At Work In Us

Last Tuesday, Chad and I received a letter from our apartment complex. They had enclosed the fee we had paid to use the leasing office and explained in a less than polite way that we would no longer be allowed to meet in the leasing office for "church purposes". The letter was signed by the lawyers of the complex.

This was difficult to take. We were so excited to have a place to meet and had already invited the families back. We had permission but apparently not from the right person. We hadn't decided what we were going to do about meeting Sunday until Saturday.

I went out to go to the store and kept running in to people we'd invited. Finally the young man from Mississippi stopped me and asked where we would be meeting. They were excited to come.

I came inside and said, "Chad, there are people all over the world lifting up the name of Jesus from living rooms. We need to open up our home to these folks and have church. So. . .that's what we did! We worshipped together and were blessed by the young man's testimony of finding a job.

That night we had a great worship service with Quail Springs Baptist Church. They prayed for us. We shared with them how we want to minister to the children over spring break through delivering lunches. We were overwhelmed with people who wanted to buy groceries and volunteer.

Today Chad was planning to coordinate with the staff of QSBC. He was invited to share in their staff meeting about what God is leading us to do and find ways to facilitate ministry among the congregation.

He called me on his way to the meeting. We both felt the same way. It's awesome to watch God bring all these resources together, but we also feel like it's all for nothing if there is not an open door to talk to the residents of the complex.

Earlier this week, Chad put in a call to the section 8 complex behind us, but wasn't expecting much. He left a message with a the secretary who told him, "we don't want to have anything to do with churches!"

On my lunch break I sat in the car and prayed. If you haven't noticed my now, I do a lot of praying in my car. Apparently the antennae helps. :)

I was walking from the break room when Chad texted me. The manager of the Artesian Ridge Apartments called. ( we jokingly named it Venetian Village) She WELCOMED us to come and deliver lunches next week. She offered us the use of the kitchen in the leasing office and said we could have Bible Club in the common area.

Another way we want to minister to the residents is to make welcome baskets to new comers. She said she would email us when they have new people move in so we can visit them and welcome them. She even suggested we put a card with our churches name on it so they can find us.

Last night I was feeling down. I was really mourning the life we used to have. There is a reason why it's called "being in your comfort zone" IT'S COMFORTABLE THERE! It's hard to be in a new place, doing a new thing and working with new people.

On the inside of Chad's wedding band I had engraved "His Spirit at work in us." Our prayer is wherever we are, comfortable or not, The Holy Spirit at work in us will keep us together and move us forward.

Romans 5:5 says, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us - they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

When Crazy Is All You Got

The last few days off from WalMart have been very blessed and productive.

On Monday, Chad and I met with Pastor Hance Dilbeck at Quail Springs Baptist Church. Since we’ve been in Oklahoma we have visited a few services. On the Sunday we attended Quail Springs for the first time Chad pretty much made me go. I was one bad experience away from being church residue.

Chad and I both felt the Holy Spirit move as we worshipped and the sermon was just what we needed to hear. The next Wednesday we got a call from the pastor inviting us to come back.

When we joined, Pastor Hance asked to meet us. In passing, we had told him of God leading us to start a church to reach the thousands of families living in our apartment complexes. When we finally had the opportunity to share our vision with him we weren’t sure what to expect.

It wasn’t long into the conversation Chad and I both knew this was a pastor with a heart for evangelism. More than that, he had already been prayerfully leading his congregation to have a heart for local missions. We look forward to seeing how God uses QSBC and us together to do great things for The Kingdom of God.

After our meeting we came home and got more cookies to deliver to our neighbors. It was a little awkward going door to door with cookies. We’re used to our reputation preceding us at Citychurch. When a deep voice yells from the back, “Who is it?!” all we had to say was, “We’re from Citychurch!” and we’d get the open door.

What we’re doing now is more like setting the blades of the plow to some untouched ground. One man came to the door. Chad told him we were with Truth Baptist Church, invited him to come Sunday and asked if he already has a church home. The man smiled and said, “We don’t. . .really . . . go to church.” Then a female voice from the kitchen hollered, “But WE NEED TO! Tell him we’ll be there Sunday!”

At the next apartment a woman opened the door. We handed her some cookies and she explained she would not be getting involved. “I will probably be moving soon.” She tearfully explained, “If my son and daughter-in-law choose to keep the baby she’s carrying they will need my help.”

I asked if we could pray for her family. She told me it was too late and the decision was theirs to make. I asked if I could pray for her. She refused and said she had to get to work. We prayed as we walked away for all involved especially for the fragile little life hanging in the balance.

House after house, we saw familiar little faces locking their eyes on the cookies and running to thank us. They’d say “. . .make sure you knock on our door Sunday to remind my parents. We want to come to church!”

This morning Chad and I walked though a 9 acre tract of land located in the flow of foot traffic. There is a beaten path from the apartments to the mall where many people, who live here, work. It is perfect for building the church, because kids and youth can walk or ride bikes from the apartments on a sidewalk.

We sat in the middle of this field with the sea of apartments in view and prayed for a miracle. We prayed for God to do a great work in the lives of those who attend Sunday, for a boldness in our own walk that only comes by The Holy Spirit. We asked God for the land we were standing on. We know Our Heavenly Father can and will provide as our hearts come in line with His heart and His plan. So we continue to trust, listen and obey.

find out more www.truthbaptist.me

Trading Places

This past month has meant a lot of changes for the Clement family. Our house goes on the market tomorrow. In preparation for the showing of the house we moved out of the closets and did some rearranging.

Ever since the boys have moved to the front room two years ago, Sean has said he was scared. He and David would end up sleeping like puppies in the top bunk.

Sean has expressed to me some specific fears. He's complained about noises and lights, bumps, a mouse and a cat named "Carlos" who comes to their window.

Most of the time I tried to minimize his fears. It was easy to explain the cars driving past and road noise. I refused to believe there was a mouse in his room, but "Carlos" would get it if there was.

One of the moves we made this week was to move our bed in the boys room because it is the biggest room with it's own bathroom. This put the boys in our old room tucked away safely in the back corner of the house.

Tuesday Chad went to Oklahoma because he had to be in town early Wednesday. So I spent the night by myself in the front bedroom. I didn't have a problem falling asleep but about an hour later I was jolted awakes by a loud noise coming from the attic.

What Sean didn't know was that just above the room is the heater and when it came on in made a "roar". Surely to an imaginative boy like Sean this sounded like a wild animal!

To go back to sleep I had to fight the noise of basing hot rods and motorcycle engines. Even closing my eyes did not help block the constant stream of headlights through the side window.

I was pretty restless but felt better after checking on the kids who were snoozing away, fast asleep on their end of the house.

It turns out we do actually have a cat who prowls around our garage at night and he can still help himself to the mice.

Unable to go back to sleep, I turned the lights on low and laid in the bed. I thought about how much more compassionate I am to Sean's fears now that I've taken his place.

Philippians 2:4-10 says "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

God knew that in order to relate to us He would have to be one of us. While Jesus walked the earth He experienced, grief, loss, temptation and betrayal. He even took the punishment we deserved, the beating we had coming and the death we earned.

Jesus did all of this so we could know Him as Lord and Savior ; So we could feel his compassion when our heart breaks and win the wrestling match with fear.

It gives me great reassurance to know my God is not cold and uncaring to my anxieties. He knows, He understands and He is the way to overcome.

The next morning, after my adventure in the front room, Sean and I had a funny talk about the lights, sounds and wild animals. He said he likes it better in his new room, so he's going to stay there forever. :)

As It Turns Out. . .

“And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.’ Naomi said to her, ‘Go ahead, my daughter.’ 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.” Ruth 2:2-3

A month and a half ago I was working at the school when my husband called. He told me to come home. He needed to talk to me. When we talked he explained to me why he had resigned from his work at Citychurch. We read the scripture from Matthew together.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

It is compelling to remember our Savior who is “gentle and humble in heart.” He sees our struggles and pain. He wants us to bring our weary selves to Him and trade in our heavy burden for the task He created for us and designed us for.

The next morning I woke up and out of obedience and dedication I went back to work at the school. When I sat down at my desk I wanted to cry. I missed working with my husband and for the first time in my life at Citychurch I felt like I didn’t belong there.

I fully intended to stay at The King’s Academy. I prayed for God bring healing to our hearts and give us joy again. In my mind I can see the vision for the school. I have plans in my head for starting the middle school and high school; however I am apparently not the person to see those plans through. After all it is THE KING’S ACADEMY. I have watched God provide in miraculous ways over the last three years and am confident in His ability to continue to provide leadership

I would like to stop here and say how thankful I am for the teachers God sent to the school. What a joy to share in our trials, joys, and ministry to the students together. They have been my dearest friends and I thank God for them. Each have a deep and real relationship with Jesus and they faithfully demonstrate that love to their students who are desperately in need of it.

I have not left without a fight. The decision was made for me. While I have tried to practice restraint I have experienced a full spectrum of emotions and am sorry if I have said or done anything hurtful during this time.

The truth is when I get alone with God the only clear instructions I have received is His voice telling me to yield. Yield to His will to His plan and to His healing.

I have much to be thankful for. I have had the rare experience of living a dream. Serving with my father in the ministry was a indescribable blessing. He never held me back and he saw potential in me to do more than I ever thought I could. At the same time he never cared if I accomplished a thing. He just loved me because I was his daughter. I have missed him everyday since he went to be with Jesus and always will.

Over the years my mother has rocked my babies so I could come downtown and make myself useful. She’s listened to me complain, apologize for complaining, then complain some more over the pressures of life as a mother and wife. Nana has won the hearts of my children by allowing them to do who-knows-what when Chad and I aren’t looking. She’s invested her life in me and I try to honor her always.

Still Chad and I have had to deal with a lot of difficult realities lately. Life as we have known it is no more. We have sought God daily with all humility and prayed desperately for His guidance through this storm. We’ve prayed for protection so our hearts do not grow cold.

The one encouragement we have is to look back at how God took our little ill prepared, no talent selves and has used us in the past. So once again we will offer up our “less than nothing” to The Creator. Our desire is that He will make use of our lives again in a way that brings glory to His name.

Next week we will begin the process of putting our house on the market. We plan to move to Oklahoma City this month to be close to Chad’s family. Our first goal will be to make a living for our family then find a way to minister to others.

I love the word of God. It has been said that for a child of God the storms of life serve only to cast them upon the rock of His promises. I always return to the life of Ruth.

She was widowed but made a covenant to her mother-in-law Naomi to be a companion. Together, Naomi who had lost her sons and husband and Ruth set out to return to the land of Judah. I love how the story tells of Ruth asking Naomi’s permission to go out in the field and pick up grain that was dropped. Ruth wasn’t going to spend the day pouting, feeling sorry for herself or blaming others. Ruth was obedient to do what she could do.

The rest of the verse describes in a few short words a world of God’s faithfulness. “...As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.” Those words keep ringing in my ears “As it turns out.” We know now that it was no accident Ruth ended up in the field of the one man in the whole universe who could redeem her destitution.

As it turns out, God showed His good favor to Ruth that day and caused Boaz to notice her. Through Boaz Ruth and Naomi were redeemed and through Obed, the house of David. Through the house of David our Redeemer Jesus. God promises to bless faith and obedience. It is the only way we will ever see fruit of His Holy Spirit at work in us.

I will ask you to pray for us during this transition time. I will try to share as I can what we’re up to. I can’t promise it will be very pretty, but it will be honest. Thank you to each of you who have offered your friendship and encouragement. You will never know how you’ve blessed Chad and me.

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” I Timothy 2:12