Going Home

I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never fully understood when people say that they long for Jesus to return. I do want to see Him return and I’m excited about Heaven but to actually long for it? I never fully understood that until today. For some reason, today I’m getting it….I’m starting to understand.

I see the news about the deadly school shooting in the US, I am reminded on facebook that the organization IJM exists because there are sick and evil people out there who stop at nothing to inflict horrendous atrocities on men, women and children. I watch helplessly as people I love and care about battle through the pain of their own disease or the cancer of a loved one. I hear from a friend about a family breaking apart and I read in the church bulletin about the persecuted church and people suffering extreme torture, even death, simply because they have asked Jesus to be their Saviour. I read about the number of children who are aborted in our country each year and I hear on the radio about the debate to set a policy in place that will allow a Doctor to end the life of another human being.

O Lord, how long will this go on? How much more havoc will pain be allowed to make? How much more can people survive? How much more can our world withstand?

“O Lord, the God to whom vengeance belongs, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice be seen! Arise, O Judge of the earth. Sentence the proud to the penalties they deserve. How long, O Lord? How long…?” Psalm 94:1-3a

I’ve seen and heard these things before….but today….today I feel them. My heart is breaking for individuals I know and love and care about, but it’s also breaking for our fallen world which is in desperate need and terrible pain. Today I’m understanding that longing, for Jesus to return. The whole earth is groaning for it and today my heart is joining in, the longing for Him to remove us from this place of woe and pain is rising within me and pushing aside indifference, busyness, apathy and shouting out from the depths “Come Lord Jesus!!! Come, for it cannot be too soon.”

I’m reminded of a song that used to play, many times on the old record player in our house when I was growing up.

“Maybe one more hour, 

Maybe one more day, 

Until Jesus shall come to catch His bride away. 

No one knows the hour 

But the time is near 

When the trumpet of God shall sound His coming here.

And I’ll be leaving, I’ll be leaving,

No more sorrow or grieving.

I’ll be leaving, I’ll be leaving,

Going on home,

I’ll be going home.”

Going home…….Oh that today could be the day…no more sorrow…no more grieving…

We know what is to come...it’s the pain in the waiting that makes the waiting so incredibly hard.

Until Jesus comes to catch us all away...in these days of waiting, may we cling to these words…

“The Lord hears his people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18

Come Lord Jesus, Come!

The Thiessen Talk’O - Christmas Report - Dec. 2012

Merry Christmas From The Thiessens 

May Freedom & Exuberant, Spontaneous Joy Be Yours This Christmas!

For us, the picture above captures the beauty of freedom when expressing the joy within one’s heart! Freedom should give birth to joy! When our sins have been forgiven and we’ve been made new and given right standing with God, we have reason to rejoice! Our freedom in Christ enables us to live in relationship with God Himself! For there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ! And God made this freedom possible by sending His only Son to be our Saviour.  “For God so loved the world, though He knew what love would cost, He made a way in a manger, to make a way to the cross.” This love, which made freedom from sin possible, should birth within us an exuberant, spontaneous, uninhibited, overflowing Joy! 

May this kind of joy be yours as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ this Christmas season! We are thankful to be spending Christmas with loved ones, friends & our church family. We thought we wouldn’t be here, so it’s truly a surprise blessing!

Although we do not have much time or space to decorate or set up a tree, we are praying that God puts time and space in our hearts and lives to focus on Him. The Saviour of the World came so that we might live in joy and peace, with hope for eternity. It is this hope for eternity, the good news for all people, that spurs us forward and onward to Mexico.

Going, Going….Gone!

The title for our October Newsletter was “Going, going...not quite yet.” As you can see it’s now changed to “Going, Going...Gone!” That’s because God has proven Himself faithful & in control! We just heard back from our church conference (EMC) & the new budget for next year does have space for us to be supported as Associate Missionaries! We are praising God for answering our prayer in this way & for His continued provision! With this support we are only a few % points away from being fully supported on a monthly basis & we now find ourselves preparing to leave for Mexico! 

This means that during December we will be trying to balance Christmas celebrations & gatherings with last minute sorting, packing, paperwork, passport & visa stuff, school concerts, last gymnastics & hockey practices & good-byes. It’s going to be a whirlwind with mixed emotions & we will be in the middle of it! Therefore, we request & appreciate your prayers for us in this busy, stressful season of transition & change. We trust God will give us the strength & wisdom to get everything done & to finish well. 

We also ask that you join us in prayer for safety as we travel to Mexico. The plan is that Anthony, Josiah & Karlene’s Dad will drive our Toyota down, starting from La Crete on Dec. 28^th or 29^th & hopefully arriving in Guadalajara, January 5^th-7^th. Karlene, Keyana & Karlene’s mom will then fly down sometime January 5^th-7^th, once the boys have arrived & are able to pick them up at the airport.

We praise God that just yesterday a contract was signed on a rental house for us in Guadalajara! This means that we get to skip house hunting & can move straight into our home. This will give us time to settle & acquaint ourselves with the city before we start language school on January 15^th! 

We are excited & incredibly blessed! We are also humbled by those who have faithfully encouraged us & helped us on our way. Getting to Mexico & serving there would not be possible without the countless people who are standing with us in prayer, encouragement & support! Thank-you so much! We praise God for His faithfulness & for creating His church to be a network that interacts in various ways, using God given abilities and spiritual gifts, to expand His Kingdom. In whatever role God has given you, in The Body of Christ, know that you are needed & play a vital part in His Kingdom Work!

We trust that your Christmas will be full of exuberant & spontaneous joy as you celebrate the greatest Gift of all time - Jesus Christ! Praise His Name!

We Wish You A Very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year….until our next Talk’O together ....be blessed!

                         In Christ, Anthony, Karlene, Josiah & Keyana

Pray

Pray that we will continue to experience God’s peace, direction and guidance as we prepare, pack and say goodbyes.

(esp. for Josiah & Keyana)

Pray for continued spiritual growth as God uses this time of transition to refine our faith and build our trust in Him.

Pray for safety as we travel to & through mexico. Pray that entrance into the country will go smoothly.

Praise

We Praise God for Provision through His people that has enabled us to reach the support Goal needed for departure at the End of December! Things Have come together according to God’s timing & we know this will continue B/C He is in Control!

we praise God For the extra time He’s given us to better prepare for our departure and to spend Christmas with Family.

We praise God for providing a house for us in Guadalajara!

Give

If you would like to partner with us financially, 

EMAIL: giving@teamcanada.org 

                                                    ONLINE: http://www.teamcanada.org/index.php/give

CALL TEAM Canada: 1-800-295-4160

OUR COUNTRY CODE IS 2400 AND PERSONAL ACCOUNT #110689. 

THANK-YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS IMPORTANT ROLE.

Stay Connected

To receive our email newsletters (in color and with pictures) contact us at: anthonythiessen7@gmail.com

To read our blog “The Thiessen Times” visit: www.akthiessen.blogspot.com

Find us on facebook:…...coming soon :)

SOME EXCITING NEWS…

TEAM has just launched a new logo & website!!! You can check out the main site at the link below:

http://www.team.org/

You can also visit specific sites for the various countries where TEAM is serving. Check out TEAM Mexico’s page at the link below:

http://mexico.team.org/

An All Day Pass And Two Granola Bars

by Karlene Thiessen 

(written after my weekend at Mending The Soul Training in Portland Oregon - September 21^st -24^th, 2012)

I think I discovered this weekend why I don’t like living in a city. It’s not just the congested traffic, the smog or the continual busyness. It’s because…..it breaks my heart.

Today, I met Gary. He got on the subway a stop or two after I did and sat across the isle from me. I smiled at him and he held out his hand which displayed a few coins. He followed his action with the words, “I was going to buy a ticket but the train pulled up at that moment and I didn’t want to miss it.”

I noticed the suitcase bag on wheels that he had pulled in behind him and without thinking asked, “are you headed to the airport?” He looked at me a bit strangely and then said, “No….but I wish I was. I’d like to get on a plane and get out of here. 12 years is to long to visit a place.” 

And before his next words were spoken, I wondered……..and I was right.

“I’m homeless,” he said. I realized that there had been some tell tale signs like the mismatching clothes, the worn shoes and the pieces of dried grass still clinging to his jacket.

My smile was enough welcome for him to launch into his sad story.

“I had an apartment but I left ‘cause I got a job offer. See, I’m a personal care attendant and this person offered me a job to take care of him. I was suppose to move into his house. But when I got there, he had changed his mind. So I went back to my landlord but because I had told him I had a job offer that would require me to leave, he thought I was gone for good and wouldn’t give me back my apartment. So, now I’m homeless.” 

My heart broke for this man. I felt like I should say something, but I found myself at a loss for words. Nothing I could say would help. My words wouldn’t miraculously remove him from the streets of Portland. But oh, how I wished they would. Feeling like I had nothing to give, I gave him eye contact and a smile. If felt so insignificant. 

However, it must have been invitation enough because he continued by saying, “I don’t do homeless very good.” He pointed to his face and arms, “see this soft tissue damage? That’s ‘cause someone came and ground my face into the sidewalk when I was sleeping. They stole my phone too. I’ve been going a couple days, trying to keep awake so it doesn’t happen again but last night I actually slept. I have a blanket from the shelter and I put it on a piece of cardboard. That’s my bed. And I stick my head in my bag.” “To stay warm” I asked? He nodded. “Ya, it gets really cold at night.”

I sat there feeling helpless to help. Sure I tried to be a warm and empathetic listener, but it didn’t seem like enough. I wanted to do so much more. 

For me, my stop came all too soon and as I got up to leave, I noticed the look of disappointment etched across his face. “You’re getting off already” he asked? “Yes” I replied. I reached my hand towards him. It was holding my ticket and 2 granola bars. “Would you like my all day pass?” His eyes lit up, “Sure! That would be great. Thanks.” He held out his hand and said, “I’m Gary.” I shook his hand firmly, the way my Dad always taught me to shake hands, and said, “Take care Gary.” 

We smiled at each other and I stepped off the train. The doors closed behind me and as the train sped away I caught one last sight of Gary. He smiled and waved and I did too.

Tears slid down my cheeks as I walked the hill back to my hotel. I felt guilty for holding bags in my hands from my morning of early Christmas shopping. It wasn’t right that I was getting to go home with gifts for my family while Gary would get to sleep on the cold, hard ground again...and again...and again.

As I sat alone with God in my hotel room later that morning, praying and reading His Word, I asked Him to reveal to me what He wanted to impress upon me. After some time of being silent in His presence the Holy Spirit settled these words upon my heart. 

“Do not be distracted by the cares of this world and love people like Gary.”

As the tears fell, I committed myself to this task, desiring to walk daily in obedience and the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that the only way I can serve God is to be totally reliant on Him. 

I’ll be praying for Gary but I wish I could have done more. An all day pass and 2 granola bars just doesn’t seem like enough. 

That’s because it wasn’t.

My prayer is that I can do more for the people God has called us to serve in Mexico, then I was able to do for Gary. I feel so inadequate, so unworthy and so unprepared to go and yet my heart’s cry is to be used of God. To be broken and molded by His loving potter hands, into a vessel He can fill and pour out in blessing to others.

An all day pass and 2 granola bars will help for a day but the love of Christ will change hearts and lives for eternity! 

So Lord...

make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

O Lord,

To give more than an all day pass and 2 granola bars…

This is my Prayer.

Amen