A Teeny Update (longer one to come)!

Hey Loves,

Two quick things;

We celebrated our 2nd anniversary yesterday. It's hard to believe it's already been 2 years. If you want to read a bit of our story, I posted a condensed version http://suchprettyrain.blogspot.com/

Also, our baby is due to arrive in 14 days or "any day now"! Exciting! Please pray for us as we are about to embark on another journey, becoming new parents!

I will hopefully write an update as soon as Ted and I talk! It's exciting news coming your way!

Love,

Jami

"Detours of a dream".

I've shared below, some of the things God is stirring up in us and leading us in, but we aren't really seeing any movement forward. We are still waiting to hear from leadership here about the school we've proposed and the steps we need to take to get this started and we are even waiting to see if we will be apart of this in any way. It's really difficult to not get worried or not to doubt that we heard God speaking.

During our staff meeting this week, a man came and spoke on the "Detours of a dream". He spoke about how God had given Joseph a dream and how Joseph walked through many trials and detours before this dream was actually fulfilled. It was encouraging to remember this and to see God fulfill His promise. Now, I do not know if we are hitting a detour or just trials, but we definitely need your prayers.

Please pray for Ted and I to continue to seek after God's heart in this dream and pursue what He is asking of us, even if it requires a lot of stepping out.

One last prayer request is for Ted. He has such a desire to work in the communication department and with every new quarter that rolls around he serves faithfully and whole heartily but never yet has been put in the communications department. In fact, if we are not leading an outreach or working a school, he has been in automotive or maintenance the entire time on staff. Somedays I ache so much for him to be where I am, because it's not only his desire, but I know he would make the most out of the time. He would learn so much in video, photography, photoshop, web, etc. And he would help better things here at the base. I know this, because he is my husband and I really want others to see his heart and desire.

The thing about Ted is that he will serve wherever he is put and he does a great job. He is an excellent leader but sometimes his desires and true talents get over looked. Please pray for this opportunity to arise! He would be ecstatic!!

Stepping into the Unknown Part 2.

Stepping into the Unknown Cont'd
(Please read the Part 1 blog below before reading this blog!)

We have had our ups and our downs in the past year, but we can honestly say that God has really grown us. He has shown us even more of who we are when we walk in Him and what walking in Him looks like. It is not a formula and that is exciting, somewhat scary yet extremely intriguing and beautiful.

One more 2008 moment and we will move forward into 2009!

Ted woke one December morning and told me to listen to his dream. Let me just say that the last time he told me to listen to a dream he had, it was in Decemeber of 2007 the night before the shootings at YWAM Denver occurred. He actually woke me to tell me that dream and had me take notes in his journal. I was incredibly morbid and confusing and once the shooting happened, it hit us so suddenly that the dream had to do with that very thing. So I was worried when he told me about another dream he needed to share.

He then went on to tell me he dreamt that we had poineered a photography school here in YWAM Denver. We both took it lightly and continued on with what we felt for our future. Pushing this dream to the back burner and honestly thinking nothing more of it. Well, that was until February 09.

In February Ted headed to New Orleans for a Mardi Gras Outreach with the winter WISE school he was working with. He took our Canon and began documenting the things he saw on the streets. He ran into a man that the team had told him about, a man who prophisied over a few of them. When he prophisied to Ted, he told him that he felt like Ted was coming to a Y in the road and then he said it might have something to do with a camera. He said he saw polariod pictures and he told Ted, like someone flipping through the photos and stopping to realize he saw a photo that caught his eye, then flipped back to it. He said he felt that Ted needed to go back to something that God showed him. Kind of vague and actually I feel like I am leaving some things out. I will ask him and update more specifically later. Ted called me from New Orleans to tell me this and was excited about it, even though we both had no idea where this was going.

When Ted returned we spent time talking, praying and taking notes about what this could mean. We talked about the possibility of heading out in 2010, spending the summer working and with relatives, then moving to South Africa for a 4 month long photo school and heading to Tyler, Tx to do a TESOL, etc. We looked up the cost to live in Thailand and we were floored to think with the amount of support we have now, we would be able to live in Thailand! We kept searching, seeking and dreaming.

And then came our week long staff conference in March. We spent most mornings in worship and I remember clearly this one morning while in worship, God asked me to release my dreams and plans for our future. I was 6 months prego at this point and the thought of releasing our dreams and plans meant that we don't have a plan. This scared me, but after batteling within for a while, I let them go and cried.

That afternoon Peter, the director of our base here, spoke about having a communications school here in Denver. He was saying he stepped out in faith and told the founder of YWAM that our base would be running all four "core courses" by 2010 and we at the time were only running 3 of the 4. Kind of confusing, but I'm trying to condense this blog. Ted turned to me a few minutes later and said, "I feel like we are supposed to propose a school of photography here." Without even hesitating, I agreed. This is not typical for me. You see, Ted is the visionary, the one with the big dreams. At the moment I didn't freak out, but later my mind was trying to understand what this could mean and the logistics of it all. That was when I freaked out!

Ted and I went to a local coffee shop and prayed for a while then felt we were to begin writing a very detailed proposal for this school. Our vision with it came out as soon as we began to write.

You might be wondering, why photography? Was it just because of Ted's dream in December? Isn't this a little too visionary and lofty?

I would normally answer with YES to the final question, but I can honestly say we know this is where God is leading us. Does this mean we know what this might look like, or if we will be leading, or if we will even be running this school here? No! How crazy I must sound. We are really stepping out here and we are trusting God as He leads. I think the most exciting part is the fact the He is leading, not us, not me!

Random bits of information:

*Ted and I feel strongly about raising awareness of what is happening around the world. One way to do this is through media. In the new testament it talks about Jesus seeing the crowds and being moved with compassion. The importance of seeing is actually quite incredible. We would love to travel and document the lives of people around the world through photography, video and journalism and bring awarness into churches, youth groups, highschool, etc. Letting people see and be moved in compassion. Causing people to say, "I want to do something about this".

*Ted is truly gifted. I know I am his wife and a bit bias, but God has gifted him with being able to read something once and remember it almost word for word. In the past year Ted has researched the use of our camera, lighting and exposure, etc. He now has this incredible knowledge. I don't know very much about our camera and he always seems to amaze me and those around us. His photography from New Orleans brought me to tears! Not only does he have the knowlegdge but he also has such a heart for people. Combine our camera with his heart for people and the outcome is phenominal. (I will post some of his photos soon).

*We both love finding beauty in all things. I have a more creative point of view but not the knowledge of the camera and Ted vis versa. We are learning on working together in this and encouraging and challenging each other to grow in areas that we need growth.

*We would aslo like to add a journalism track to the photography school and I am hoping to be involved in this somehow.

We have proposed the school and had our first officially meeting to see if the school would fit into the criteria to run as a communications school and it does. We are still waiting to hear of anything more and can only hope for the best at this point. God's got our back and we are trusting Him. Please pray for us as we are walking into the unknown!

Thank you and we love you!
Any questions? Colourherhope@gmail.com or comment on here. =)

Stepping into the Unknown Part 1.

Ted and I have shared with many of you about where God is leading us and I realize that unless we spoke to you in person, than you are totally unaware of what on earth I am talking about. Hopefully this blog update will fill you in a bit!

I'm going to rewind back to March of 2008 and begin there...

In March of 2008 our commitment with YWAM Denver was up and we had the choice to recommit for another year or move on. We prayed and felt led to recommit and as we did we were asked by leadership to join a leadership team called the Timothy Team. We needed time to pray about this because we knew it was a two year commitment. We spent the next week praying and calling our friends outside of YWAM and our families and asking them to pray as well. God was speaking to us but nothing specific about whether to stay or to go, and He did this all the way up to the "11th hour". The night before our deadline to give our answer, God finally spoke and clearly.

Then the LORD answered me and said:
“ Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. "
Habakuk 2:2-4

When we read this together we knew God was asking us to stay and commit. We also knew that this was a step of faith for us both because our flesh was telling us that two years was a very long time! This is what we felt was right for us, and that He is faithful and would not let our vision tarry! AMEN!

God totally rocked this last year, challenged us in our faith in Him and in trusting Him. He brought us through a valley where everything seemed to be crashing in on us. Almost from the very moment we commited to the Timothy Team our financial support began to drop. Not long after that, a situation arose which had the potential to ruin our names in this ministry, specifically my name. We were shocked speechless, "What was happening?". Both of these situation had us questioning God's intention for us staying on staff another two years. We wondered, "Is this what the next two years will hold?". It was such an intense time of attack.

Our Faithful Father helped us walk through these difficult times in such a miraculous way. Both situations caused us to trust Him and walk by faith rather than by sight. On paper, financially we should just be able to pay our rent and have gas money for our car, but with each month, God always provides us with enough for all of our expenses!! He blesses us beyond what we could ask for!

With the other situation, God challenged us to not get on the defensive side but that in the end He will show our true character and the truth of who we are. This was so hard for me personally because I am very black and white. I've been a victim of injustices before and when something great or small arises now, I want justice and it is extremely hard for me to be merciful. Ted is the opposite. He is usually more merciful and understanding naturally.

With the help of God and Ted I am able to release the desire to see "justice served" and let it go. And that was/is completely freeing for me! I still occasionally struggle with questions of why and I have to deal immediately with unforgiveness when it arises. I spent too many years in unforgiveness for things that happened in my past, that dealing with this was incredibly draining. Causing me to walk back into some of those sickening feelings of bitterness. God's been faithful to us through this all and is slowly but surely healing and mending areas internally. Maybe this is one reason of why these things came about, not that I believe God causes these, but He most definitely creates something beautiful out of something difficult.

He has promised to "restore the years the locusts have eaten" (Joel 2:25) and He is doing what He promised me. Slowly but surely I am seeing this!

This is getting very long, but honestly this is the beginning to where God has been leading us. I'm also a detail kinda girl and writing a small blog update is actually really hard for me =) Please bear with me. I will continue to write the rest on our "Part 2" after my lunch break.

Specific Prayer Requests.

Prayer requests

Working with YWAM Denver:

• Our passion and our purpose. Ted and I are passionate about discipleship, relationships and especially people finding Christ and who they are in Him. We want to keep our center in Jesus and our main focus the very things which He puts on our hearts.
• Remaining broken before God. Living in a christian community is such a blessing. We have realized lately how important it is to maintain our times with God and remaining broken and humble before Him. Not allowing this lifestyle to become habit instead of relationship with God. We need prayer for us to find new meaning and purpose in Him and to not become stagnant.
• Our 'everyday' jobs and our focus. Sometimes the very thing which we are passionate about gets placed on the back burner to the everyday jobs we do around here. We need prayer for our focus and passion to remain as we serve the base. And that we serve with everything in us! Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4
• Opportunity. Ted and I long to head back overseas with a team to disciple. We are hoping to lead an outreach off the fall DTS. Please pray that God makes a way for this to happen. With a new baby (well, 5 month old) the leaders might be more hesitant, which makes sense in the natural. Please pray that they see our hearts and support our desire to take a team overseas.
• Currently. We are dreaming big and going with something that God has spoken to us. We've submitted a new school to the leadership here in Denver and might be running this in the near future. Please pray for us in this and to trust God completely in how this will work out!

Our relationships with others:

• Loving as Christ. I always feel like this is an area in which God is constantly growing Ted and I. Situations arise with every new day and we have a choice to make. Will be love as Christ and view others as He would or will be see people through our own eyes. God is challenging us in our relationships with others and we need prayer to love as Christ. Follow God’s example in everything you do just as much loved child imitates his father. Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ’s love for you was like sweet perfume to him. Ephesians 5: 1-2
• Against Bitterness. I (Jami) struggle with this a lot. I have seen (even in our christian community) many kinds of injustices and I have personally experienced the brunt of a few here. I had a situation that wasn't dealt with in the right way and I am the one left wondering if anything was every made right on their side. It really, really hurts me inside. I do not want to be bitter! I feel like for years I dealt with unforgiveness and bitterness and I don't want to get back into that again! Please pray for me! God has been speaking to me about letting go and not defending myself because in the end He's got my back and He will make my character known, but this too is so hard for me, honestly! Romans 6:4 -We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
• Justice and mercy, hand in hand. (This kind of ties together with the above prayer request) A few blogs back I wrote about the struggle that I have with this. I struggle with seeing an injustice and wanting it to be made right that I cannot move forward in being merciful. It's very hard for me. Please pray for me in this. James 3:17-18-The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Colossians 3:12- As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
• Friendships. Being "newly" married and with a baby on the way, our friendships sometimes take the back burner. We don't want this! We want to remain in good, deep, godly relationship with our friends. God has really blessed us each with a few deep friendships that challenge, encourage and inspire us to be better people. Please pray for these to continue in an even greater way as we become a family.
• Marriage. Ted and I will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary on June 24 and that is hard to believe. 2 years already?! We are also expecting our first baby and this will make us not only husband and wife, but mommy and daddy. Please pray for us as we make this huge transtition!
• Family. We are about to add a sweet baby to our family! Please pray for us as we enter this new journey. We are so excited but we know that we are about to have the most responsibility of our life!

Supporters and Finances:

• Supporters. Please pray for more supporters to stand with us. In the past year we have lost 4 supporters and recently friends of ours joined in supporting us. God is always providing miraculously and we are always okay, but with a baby on the way we will definitely need people standing beside us!
• Updates. Please pray for Ted and I as we are figuring out how to let everyone know what it is that we are doing here. Please pray for us to affectively share what is happening in our lives. There are SO many things Ted and I have dreamed about doing for supporters, family and friends but financially it is impossible. We began this blog almost 2 years ago now, to let everyone know what we are doing, but we always feel like there is more we want to do. The cost of doing things like printing and mailing newsletters, making a family magnet, or sending mail to supporters is kind of high. We want to be able to bless those who always bless us. If you have any creative ideas, please let us know!

I love and appreciate the fact that I know many of you read our blog (here) or email update (which is the same thing only sent thru email). I also love that you will be praying or thinking about us and each situation that arises. You truly care and we know that! Thank you for writing me emails of encouragement and of what is going on in your life as well. Those messages always mean the world to me!

Thank you for reading this and praying for us. Please let us know how we can be praying for you!

Love,

A Little Distracted but Here We Are!

Oh my, I've been a little distracted lately from updating our blog! My (Jami's) last post was in February! I'm so sorry! I updated our baby blog on a regular basis, but that doesn't explain anything about what Ted and I are up to these days.

You are probably wondering just that. What are we doing this quarter?

Ted:

Ted is running the maintenance department (like he did in the fall) and this time things seem to be running a bit more smooth than before. He is still busy as ever, sometimes even on weekends and with his phone ringing off the hook usually. That part is kind of a bummer, especially right now as we prepare for our baby! But God gives you the grace you need in these situations. Nothing is too hard or impossible to handle when you walk in Him. Ted is also leading worship here and there, which is a blessing! He is passionate about that and always enjoys it. Ted recently started a photography group here at YWAM Denver, which basically anyone with a Digital SLR can come and learn about the camera and lighting and how to take a good photo, etc. This saturday will be our first outing, so that should be fun. We will basically meet once a week with some kind of teaching and everyone can bring things to the table. During that week, we will go out and put everything to practice and each new week we will bring something back to share.

Jami:

Well other than being super prego right now (30 weeks with only 10 weeks to go)... I am currently working in the web department, updating the website and trying to learn graphics as well. I am also receptionist one day a week. At times things can get hectic, but really I am blessed to be able to relax and really enjoy the work I am doing. You would probably never take me as a web kinda girl... but I actually really love it! I get a maternity leave starting in June, but I am feeling really good right now and I will continue to come into work until basically the baby comes. I want to remain in community as much as possible and when you are gone for even a week, here it feels like a month and it sometimes takes a while to get caught up.

Prayer requests:

• Future- God is doing something seriously incredible right now. We will share in more detail, well when He shares with us! It's exciting!
• Relationships- balance between work and our relationship as a married couple soon going to be parents, our friendships and relationships with co workers.
• Finances- we are slowly but surely preparing for our baby but this is one area we are still worried about sometimes! It will no longer be just us and that can be frightening.
• Trusting God with ALL things.

I have really been struggling with loneliness lately. I think most of it is my pregnancy and emotions right now, also with Ted being busy all of the time with little time for us (he tries so hard to make it happen though). I haven't struggled with feeling alone for a long time now so this all makes me wonder what is going on. I even have backed away a bit from the community in my insecurities which haven't been with me for a while. I don't know what is bringing everything back up but I want it to go away and especially before our baby comes. I am writing because this is seriously something I want prayer for.

I know you all care and will be praying and that means the world to me.

We love you all and appreciate your prayers and love to us!

Jami, Ted and Baby E/C

p.s. for everyone who lives close by... we are having a Share Dish at my parents new home in Timnath on May 17th at 5 PM. Ted and I will be sharing some exciting possibilities for our future and we can all fellowship and eat some good food too! Come by! RSVP to Jami @ Colourherhope@gmail.com

Mardi Gras Reflections

Hello Everyone sorry it has been so long since our last post! I wanted to write up a though I had on my trip to Mardi Gras. (Ted)

The streets of New Orleans were just as everyone described; Rich architecture, Good food, and Beautiful music. As I wandered around I found myself people watching. Not the tourist who come to drink the nights away in a crowded street with chaotic music bumping away. but of the locals who call this unique place home.

There was this man who was set up on a bench. He had a cheap little amp and a fairly cheap classical guitar. You could here him playing at the back part of Jackson Square in front of the church. As I walked up to spectate his show I found myself some what lost in the music. He played many well known Classical hits, but he played them with a conviction that was mesmerizing. It seemed as though the music brought stimulation to all 5 senses. 

After a time he put the guitar down. Grabbed for a bottle of whiskey and drank. I was shocked to find that he was drunk. I felt sad as i realized how I had forgotten that humanity has the finger print of God on it. This man was not a shallow drunken hobo with no soul, No he was a human who has an understanding that there is beauty. Now I don't know What he believes, but I do know that he was expressing something beautiful to the world. I believe that God is Beautiful, and as we show beautiful things we bring a greater understanding to the Beauty that he is. Just as we love one another we bring greater understanding of how He is Love.

I wonder how many times do I keep the beautiful things that I see inside.......When there is a hurting world that desires to see beauty, because it brings hope. I want to express the beauty inside of me because I want to express God. 

Let's take time to express the beauty we see around us!