The Journey

A Reason For Hope

There is always hope when you serve the Lord. He is able to do anything He wills to do. Every spring we are surrounded by beautiful reminders that winter always gives way to spring. Even though things seem hopeless at times, God brings life!

I've spent a few weeks bouncing from Kaiser to Kaiser visiting family and friends. This tree caught my attention while leaving the hospital one morning. It just screamed out, "There is always hope!".

"How Did You Forgive Him?"

I love blogging! Here is one of the many reasons. Denise read my most recent post and felt compelled to share. Marriage can be difficult, but it is so worth it! Hang in there everyone! You will be glad that you did!

I was prompted by your facebook message to read this and write about same. Mike...my husband and I have been married for 24 years, since 1985, in 1999 we seperated and went our seperate ways, 4 young children tore different directions each weekend and it ripped my heart out. For a moment I decided to date, have some fun and enjoy life...as I thought the grass would be greener on the other side, all the while my children hurt deeply and deep inside so did both Robert and I.  

He met someone, moved in with her and I even got engaged to someone else. Then one day I was praying and singing and worshiping the Lord and he said LOUDLY, sit still....I thought sit still...what does that mean? So I decided to read the bible, pray feverishly and see what the Lord meant! I decided the Lord wanted me to stop what I was doing, call upon him and wait for him to answer! So I did just that, I stopped going out, I stopped dating and I stood still praying and asking the Lord for his answers! We were going through a bitter divorce, child custody battles, you name it, it was brutal to say the least! As I sat home on the weekends cooking and cleaning for the childrens return I would just pray and sing and wait on the Lord.  

Then the night before our divorce was to be final I had a dream...in my dream a man dressed in a suit who I knew was from the church (but I had never seen before) seemed like an elder came to me and said the Lord wants you not to worry, your marriage will be restored, in June...do not worry about what happens tomorrow as today the Lord says your marriage will be restored. You see we really had nothing nice to say about each other at all...I said ok...i am listening lord. When I woke up I just prayed that this was all in his hands.  

So I get to court and we had a child custody evaluation, scarey to say the least...and then proceeded to court...the judge kept custody the same and said today you will be granted your divorce (3 years later) she asked me just like you would ask if you were getting married, Denise is it your desire to be divorced as you are the petitioner today? And out of now where and from deep within my in one breathe I said, NO! The court room went silent...she start ruffling through the paperwork and said did you file this? And I said Yes and she said, hum..ok Mr. Mitchell is it your desire to be divorced this day, and he said YES! Then she ruffled through the paperwork some more and said you know I am going to hold this off until June...then we will meet again, thats all for today! We left and went our seperate ways...I was laughing the whole way home saying God sometimes you make me laugh...it struck something funny in me...

Three days later I came home from work and Robert was parked in front of my home...he walked up and hugged me and said Denise I still love you can we get back together...its amazing what God can do when you wait silently for his answers...people tell me, "I cant do that, I could never forgive her/him"....you know its amazing that after all we went through, even adultery, that we both have forgiven and forgotten...there is so much more to tell...but if anyone reads this I have to say the one question I am asked all the time is HOW DID YOU FORGIVE HIM...well its easy...when you look at the cross and what Jesus did for us...you can honestly do it for someone in return...the Lord can make wonderful things happen when you ask...and sit still and wait on him! 

Denise Mitchell

I love to hear stories like that! I think couples need to share this stuff for the benefit of other couples.

Until Death Do Us Part

I'm spending a crazy busy week helping Kathy deal with her mother being sick and in the hospital with pneumonia. Even though it has been taxing and emotional I've enjoyed every moment of every day just being there with Kathy. I can't imagine experiencing any of life's ups or downs without my wonderful wife. Its hard to believe we have been on this incredible journey together for 24 years now. I've been a little too busy to blog this week but hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things next week.

Jonathan Yandell, my pastor during my high school years, blogged Until Death Do Us Part on his site, Transitory Psychosis. Very worthwhile read! In fact, you should just subscribe to his blog and expect to be blessed almost daily.

Today, I was thinking about Robert McQuilken's resignation speech from Columbia Bible College and Seminary. I first heard this several years ago and my mind replays it often. Too many couples call it quits when difficulties come their way! Marriage is about commitment and trials are the perfect opportunity to show commitment. Grab a Kleenex and list to McQuilken talk about his wife.

Splashed With Purple

Splashed With Purple, originally uploaded by CalPastor.

"She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple." Proverbs 31:22

Kayla's Baby

Kayla's Baby, originally uploaded by CalPastor.

Those of you who know me, know that I live with a bunch of women. Wife, 3 daughters, cat, dog, and two birds. It's just me and my Toy Fox Terrier, Munchie, in a house full of women. To make matters worse Kayla has a new baby and HER name is Molly.

Please pray for me and Munchie!

Fields Of Gold

I decided to take the back way to the office today. This beautiful field is just a mile or so behind my place. It's too bad that we get in such a hurry to jump on the freeway that we miss stuff like this. Light, color, shape, texture, scent, sound, and so much more are the artist's tools that God uses to paint this canvas we all live upon. Photographers, painters, poets, and musicians all do there very best to merely copy His greatest work.

OK! Enough artsy talk for the day! Enjoy! Fields of Gold

Encouragement For The Battles We Face

 "When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.' Deuteronomy 20:1-4

We all face battles every week. This passage has really challenged me to be more of an encourager to people I come in contact with regularly. In the Old Testament it was customary for the priests to speak to the troops before they went out to battle. In a sense that's what I do as a pastor each Sunday at Harvest. In the above text the priests were to remind the soldiers of three very comforting things.

They were to remind the people of GOD'S PRESENCE, "...for the LORD your God is he who goes with you...". God is omnipresent! He is all places. He never leaves our side. God is with us at all times. This week, no matter what you are dealing with or going through, don't forget that God is with you. He said, "I will never leave you, or forsake you", "I am with you always, even to the end of the world". God is there.

The next thing the people were to be reminded of was GOD'S POWER, "...to fight for you against your enemies...". As you fight the good fight this week, remember you are not fighting alone. God is fighting with you! It may seem like we are outnumbered, outgunned, and overpowered at times but remember, "If God be for us who can be against us?", "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world". God is not only with us, he is fighting for us!

Finally, the priests were to remind the people of GOD'S PLAN, "...to give you the victory". Facing the battle is so much easier when we really understand that God's plan is to give us victory. He did not bring his people out of Egypt only to let them be destroyed by the enemy. He did not save us just to allow to be defeated later. "We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us". Remember God has a plan for you this week, and every week, and His plans are for good. Don't forget Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Have a GREAT week!

Remember The Time

Remember The Time, originally uploaded by CalPastor.

Greater Things

My Sunday morning routine at the office includes kneeling in prayer at the couch, listening to some upbeat music, and of course... strong coffee. This morning "Greater Things" was the song I listened to and sang while waiting for church to start. I'm finding this time alone right before church starts makes a huge difference.

Listen and enjoy! Mars Hill is pretty generous with their media... lots of free downloads.

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Time Changes Tonight

Don't forget! We spring forward tonight! See you all in Church