Stress...

I have been walking around in a daze lately. I feel like one of those old silent movie characters tied to the railroad tracks. They try to get free but with no success. And just as the train is about to slam into the helpless victim, the brave hero comes and saves the day.

Well, the train is coming (baby due August 31st, moving to Uganda mid-December, need to raise more support) and I am struggling as hard as I can, but I feel powerless to do anything to help the situations.


The train is almost here and now I'm just waiting for my hero to come scoop me up off the tracks.

I know God hears our prayers. Please remember Aimee & me in yours.

God is good!

Refuge

Sometimes, when life is crazy, I just want to crawl under a rock somewhere so I can just get away from it all. The weight of life has been particularly heavy lately with all the changes and uncertainty surrounding me. It is times like these when God reveals himself to me in small ways.

Yesterday, I came home from church and pulled into the driveway. My Grandma was out front, weeding the yard. I was pretty worn out from the day and my stress and I asked my Grandma how she is doing and she said with a smile "You aren't supposed to ask me that. You are supposed to say 'Good to see you'."

You see, my Grandpa has advanced Alzheimer’s disease and struggles to remember his name sometimes. It is hard for me to see him in that state knowing how he use to be. My Grandparents live next door and it is difficult to drop in and say "hi" when you know you have to introduce yourself to him every time. I've stopped introducing myself, and now I just say "hello".

Its hard for me when I visit, but my Grandma lives there. She takes care of him everyday. He is not able to do the things he used to and he doesn't always remember to say "thank you". But my Grandma serves him nonetheless. She is steadfast in her commitment to love him. She is patient with him when his body won't allow him to move any faster. She thinks of him before she thinks of herself. My grandma is a strong woman of God and serves as an example for me.

After she told me how she was doing, my grandma asked me how I was doing. I told her that I have been stressed and anxious about the baby, our move to Africa, finances, etc. She then gave me a big hug and said "God knows. Don't be anxious about anything, but pray about it. He listens." (Philippians 4:6-7)

When I think of the stress in my grandma's life and the choice she has to make everyday to continue to love and serve, it humbles me and causes me to reflect on my own life. God provides the strength and patient my grandma needs to get her through each day. She takes comfort in the fact that He hears her and knows her pain. And its in these little reminders that I can find peace in my stressful life. God is big enough to handle my stuff.



Psalm 62:5-8
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Politics

I've been reading a lot of blogs about politics lately. I appreciate that the democratic system allows for everyone to have a voice and I have enjoyed the much of the commentary I've read on the political happenings.

But if I'm really honest, I have to say that I am sick and tired of politics in general right now. The political system (or those who represent it in the media) has lost me. I'm not the type to say that I think everyone has a personal agenda or is on a "power trip", but I feel that those running for office are so concerned with gaining positions of authority or prominence that I think somewhere along the way, they lose what they used to be... or used to stand for.

I've heard people say "If I were President ___________________!" (insert your complaint). But I have to say that I have no desire to be President. I think if people were genuinely concerned about the world they would stop complaining and do something to affect a positive change. What it ultimately comes down to is people are more than willing to critisise and critique as long as it doesn't require them to get off the couch.

Presidents have some effect on the world... but imagine the impact if the voters actually saw their role as more than just marking the name they recognize on their ballot.

Am I jaded? Probably. Is our political system a joke? I don't think so. My concern is that people seem to spend more energy trying to make sure some one else does what I feel Christ calls us all to do. Maybe I've just seen one to many campaign adds :)

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
-Mahatma Gandhi said it as well as anyone has.

Wild Kingdom!

Check out this cool video.

Okay okay okay....

I thought about it for a while and decided that 2 years without posting is probably a little excessive so I decided to get things going again now before the 2 anniversary.

I don't know what it is about posting... it was just not something that I felt I had time for (which was not really the case). But now that I have virtually no time at all, I have decided to give it a whirl again... go figure.

Anyway, my life is pretty crazy right now. Aimee Jo & I are having a baby really soon. For all those who prayed for us, thank you and God bless you for it. Also, we are preparing to move to Fort Portal, Uganda to serve as missionaries. We are planning to leave in early-mid December. Its is sneaking up on us already. The Vancouver Church of Christ has committed to be our "sending church", and Keizer & Caldwell Churches of Christ have also pledged to partner with us. We are in the process of securing the rest of our funding (which is very stressful at times) and we are blessed to be walking this path with some very faithful and loving people.

I am going to try to keep this "new" blog updated more frequently than the last. Which shouldn't be too hard considering :p

Also, please check out our new family blog at The Martin Family.