Reading Out Loud

When you were a kid, did your parents read to you out loud?  I know that when I was growing up, I loved it when my mom would sit in the hall at night and read to us.  (The only problem was that I tended to fall asleep quickly and missed most of the reading.  I had to catch up on my own the next day.)  The Chronicles of Narnia and Caddie Woodlawn were just a couple of my favorites.

Just because I'm an adult now, doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading books out loud anymore.  I love it!  Fortunately, Jeremy feels the same way.  Whether we are in the car on a road trip, sipping a cup of tea in the evening, or are sitting in the car dealership waiting for one of the recall parts on my car to be checked (like yesterday), we love reading out loud together.  The latest book we read was The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  If you haven't read it and enjoy fun, exciting mysteries, we would recommend that you read it.  Hmmm....now we just have to decide what's next. 

A Lesson In Forgiveness

As many of you know, my backpack was stolen out of my brother-in-law's car when we were traveling near Christmas time. Though not fun, it was a good reminder not to hold things too closely. Well, last night Jeremy was going to grill hamburgers for dinner. When he went outside to start up the grill, he noticed that the propane take was not only stolen, but the thief cut the propane line. The grill sits right up next to our house, so this kind of worried me. Then I realized that it could have been much worse. Our spare key was kept partially underneath that propane tank. The thief could have easily found the key and gotten into our house and taken much more. (Needless to say, we are no longer keeping a key outside. Why we have a spare key outside is a long story in and of itself. Let's just say I don't want Jeremy to have to come home from work again during the middle of the day to rescue his wife who locked herself out.)

Through this whole process, the Lord had yet another lesson for me to learn. Lately, I have been struck by the fact that I pray, but that I don't pray without ceasing like it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. He has been teaching me to talk to Him all day about everything- praising Him for a beautiful day, thanking Him for a warm house when it is snowing outside, lifting up a friend who pops into my thoughts, telling Him about the needs and requests of family and friends, praising Him for who He is, asking Him for wisdom and help, and talking together about life...you get the point. One thing I have noticed is that it is often hard for me to pray for situations or people that frustrate me or have hurt me. When I do pray for those circumstances and people, the Lord loving changes my frustration to compassion as well as changes my perspective to His. A propane tank can be replaced, but there is someone out there in Spokane who is hurting and in need of a Savior.

Lord, draw this thief, whom you love dearly, to yourself. May he/she come to know the richness of your love and your precious gift of salvation.

Is there something or someone who frustrates you or who has hurt you? Instead of holding on to it, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Prayer for the Unsaved

Over the last couple of months, Jeremy and I have joined a small home fellowship at our church. It is a wonderful group of people from around our neighborhood, whom we enjoy a wonderful Bible study and prayer time together as well as fellowship. 

Before Christmas, one of our leader's neighbors (Sheena), who had been attending for quite some time, gave her life to the Lord! Because we were meeting every other Tuesday night, Sheena's husband wasn't able to come because his work had him scheduled every Tuesday night. After our leaders prayed about it, they felt led to change our group to Friday nights in order to open up the opportunity for Brandon to attend. Last Friday was our first time meeting together on a Friday, and Brandon came with their kids, even though Sheena was sick and had to stay home. 

2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow about his promises, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance." 

Would you join with us in praying for Brandon's salvation?

Jeremy's Culinary Masterpiece

For my birthday last week, Jeremy made me this beautiful chocolate marble cheesecake.  It tasted really good!!  (I had no doubt that it would.)  I just had to take a minute and brag about my husband.  He is quite skilled in the kitchen, and I was very blessed by his thoughtfulness to make this for me.   

Here is the link to the recipe: Chocolate Marble Cheesecake

Kodiak Checkout: DONE!

As many of you know, Jeremy has quite a bit of experience with the Quest Kodiak, whether it be working on the assembly line up at Quest Aircraft Company in Sandpoint, Idaho during his training at Moody or teaching at Spokane Turbine Center (Garmin G1000 course, simulator lessons, run-up stand lessons, etc). Over the last few years that he has been instructing at STC, Jeremy has been slowly but surely building flight time in Kodiak. Just recently he was able to build enough hours to do his Kodiak checkout ride. On Friday, Jeremy passed his checkout ride and is now able to fly STC's Kodiak solo! This is not only another great personal accomplishment, but it will open new doors for ways in which he can serve at STC.

STC's Kodiak

Thank you for all your prayers, support, and encouragement over the years! It is amazing to see all that the Lord has done in Jeremy's life during his different levels of training as well as his instructing at STC! The Lord's hand has clearly led him each step of the way and has blessed him as he desires to glorify God through his passion for aviation.

Snow!

The glistening white snow reminds me of Isaiah 1:18.

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool."

I'm thankful for this beautiful snow and a warm house. But more importantly, I'm thankful that the Lord died and rose again for me, that His blood cleansed my life and made me clean, white like snow.

First 2012 Training Cycle

2012 training is in full swing at Spokane Turbine Center!

Last week, the first training cycle of the year began. There are three pilots here in Spokane taking the pilot's course. Isaac Rogers (MAF Indonesia) will be here for a two-week course, and Bill Burr and Mark King (both with Flying Under the Son Aviation Ministries in Ojai, CA) will be here for three weeks of training.

Please be praying...

~Isaac, Bill and Mark: understanding and retention of course information and simulator practice, their families back at home, and the ministries in which they are involved.

~Jeremy and Ken: instruct clearly and be an encouragement to these pilots.

If you'd like to know more about the mission organizations with whom the pilots serve, here are the links to their ministry websites:

1. Mission Aviation Fellowship: http://www.maf.org/

2. Flying Under the Son Aviation Ministries: http://flyingundertheson.com/

Thank you for partnering with us in prayer!