Our Family in California

Our Family in California

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Crunch Time!


    Well, here it is!  The time has finally come!  It is officially crunch time.  We leave for the airport in 23 hours and there is lots to be done!  

     Suitcases have been packed, weighed, repacked, lived out of, and packed again.  Family and friends have been hugged, incoming mail has been minimized, insurance policies have been changed, belongings have been sold, other friends and family have been hugged, (As many as possible.  Some of you are just too far away.) places have been found for the things we did not sell and vehicles that we will still need, prescriptions have been filled, jobs have been left, a water filter has been purchased, doctor appointments have been attended, passports have been renewed, housing has been found, a shuttle from the airport has been paid for, and a hundred other little things have been done to get ready.  Other than that important item that we will inevitably forget to bring, we will be ready to go tomorrow morning right after we hug some more friends and family.

     Life has been busy to say the least but, up until a larger than expected credit card bill arrived, we had a joy and a peace that surpassed our understanding.  In the midst of the chaos we have had a stillness deep down that only He can supply.  Then the credit card bill came and, a little like Peter sinking into the sea, I felt that I was starting to loose faith.  

     For those of you that are self-employed or are not on a fixed salary, you probably know what it is like to have to go through a month or two with less coming in while the expenses seem to be much higher than normal?  We have been in this situation in the past but there was always hope that the next job was right around the corner.  This current experience however is a whole different animal!  Every dollar we spend comes out of our savings with no “next job” around the corner.  I guess I knew what we were signing up for, but that bill took me to a dark place.

     And then God tapped me on the shoulder and I felt Him asking why I had been so worried, and why it was that I thought I was in control.  This “tap” came in the form of a gift.  The gift was generous and unexpected, but more than that, God used the gift and the giver to show me yet again that He can be trusted.   

     This gift along with a couple others has been enough to pay for our one way tickets to Costa Rica.  God said go and then He used His followers to buy the tickets.  Our God is faithful and He pays for what He orders!  What more could we ask for?

     The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?”.  One might think that the answer to this must be to live a live of service for God, or to focus on living a life free from sin.  However, the answer to this question is that, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”  That’s what we are to do?  We are to enjoy Him, and look for opportunities to glorify God with our lives?  What a way to live!  What if those looking at our lives saw us doing the things we are called to do with joy?  What if we woke up each morning and asked that God use us to glorify Himself?  Sign me up for that!

     Since the “tap on the shoulder” there have been new issues come to the surface and plenty of opportunities to worry (if we were into that sort of thing), but I keep coming back to how He pulled me out of that dark place.  I find that when I have my eyes fixed on God my worries slip away and I get to enjoy what He is doing and where He is leading, and I pray that my life and the lives of my family bring glory to our God! 

     Now we have 22 hours until we leave for the airport, and we would like to again ask for your prayers!  Please pray that we are able to bring God glory while attempting to get our 14 suitcases on the plane, that we have safe and uneventful travel, that the  arrangements in Costa Rica work out, and that God shows us what we are to be doing in His time.
 

                                                                In the Pursuit of His Glory 
                                                       (and enjoying every minute of it),
  The Ridderings

P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, he easiest way to do it is via www.WorldOutreach.org/donationsand select Aaron and Faith Riddering from the list under the donate tab. The system can process USA & International cards.  You can also set up automatic monthly Gifts with your credit card if you choose the "Monthly" option.  Or simply mail your check to:  World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Aaron & Faith Riddering #239.

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing! What an encouragement y'all are. We love you and we are praying for you!

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  2. I woke up this morning to this wonderful blog. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us to help us take this journey with you. We feel like we are reliving our own adventure of leaving everything that we knew and going to a foreign place to serve the Lord. But you guys are taking 4 young children, have no income, etc. etc. Which complicate your situation much more than ours. We had a 16 year old son and a small pension to support our adventure.
    Anyway, I wanted to share my prayer lately for you guys. I have been praying that God would give you a "Peace that surpasses all understanding". I thought it was an answer to prayer to hear you say in your blog........."Life has been busy to say the least but, up until a larger than expected credit card bill arrived, we had a joy and a peace that surpassed our understanding." Our God is a God who hears our every prayer and when He sends us out He provides for our every need. We praise the Lord for you guys and pray now for a safe and uneventful trip. We love you guys so.....much and can't wait to hear the story of your travels to Costa Rica. May God bless you all.
    Love you Mom, Dad and Abe

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  4. Praying for safe travels. Miss you guys! Let us know when you are ready for visitors (seriously!).

    Y'all need some pictures on this blog! I think you have a few. :)

    The Grahams

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