When’s the last time you had your eyes checked? Personally, I’ve tried to be diligent about a yearly eye exam, even though that’s meant I’ve had to reluctantly accept the inevitable. First it was reading glasses. Now it’s glasses fulltime. Every year the prescription seems to get a little bit stronger. Though I would prefer to turn back the clock and return to my pre-glasses days, I am honestly grateful to have decent vision. Every morning I put on my silver-framed lenses (which coincidentally now also match my hair color) and suddenly the world around me becomes much more clear and focused. 
How I wish there were lenses that allowed me to see God’s plan as clearly as I can now read the instructions on my bottle of multivitamins!
Since returning to the United States in June 2013, Len and I have continually sought to discern God’s vision for our ministry. We had perceived His hand leading Len to study for a Masters of Education (with an emphasis in Administration) and we sensed that these years were a season to stay in the United States. God led us clearly to a new ministry serving as resources in educational ministries, on Special Assignment through World Gospel Mission to serve with the Global Resource Team of The Mission Society, now TMS-Global (see note below). We’ve been eyewitnesses to how faithfully God opened doors for ministry here and internationally and to how faithfully He has continued to provide through a team of many who pray and give sacrificially that we may serve.
Now we are again in a period of seeking; seeking God’s vision for what is next. In consultation with both our mission agencies, we are actively exploring opportunities for a return to international cross-cultural ministry. As we do so, we pray for clear vision. We pray not only for clarity to see the path God would have us take but also for a growing vision for all He has in store for us.
Won’t you pray with us? Pray that the Lord makes our way clear. Pray that we will discern His guidance. Pray that we will walk by faith, trusting for His provision as we take these next steps. It’s clear to us that your partnership makes a difference in our lives and ministry!
ent of the understory, where plants grow larger leaves in hopes of catching some of the precious little sunlight that penetrates the canopy. As we drifted through, I kept my eyes focused on what was directly beside or beneath our gondola. There was so much to see! But, as we almost imperceptibly ascended, I was suddenly bathed in sunlight as our gondola rose above the dense green canopy. The panoramic view from hig
h above the treetops was stunning! I lifted my eyes to see the distant mountains, the brilliant blue sky, the scattered clouds, and the glorious sun, the light that those broad-leafed plants so far below aspired to find.
My Aunt Lurline loves to tell stories. It’s absolutely amazing the details she can remember about people and events from fifty, sixty, or seventy years ago. But, bless her heart, she cannot tell a story in a straight line to save her life! She might begin to tell me about the time I visited her at work in downtown Atlanta, then digress to mention her daily commute, or take a detour to remember how my parents were part of a bowling league when we were little. Sometimes her “parentheses” in the middle of a story seem to have little to no relevance to the story she’s telling!
My prayer for 2016 is that I can truly believe that, as Paul told the Athenians, “…in Him we live and move and have our being…” (Acts 17:28) I want to pay attention to God’s activity around me at each moment, to become more aware of His presence in each, even seemingly insignificant, parentheses. I want to walk through this year, the story of 2016 He is unveiling in my life, awake to each detail. Then next January, I want to be able to look back and tell the story of another year like my Aunt Lurline, remembering that each parentheses makes the story that much better!
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