Good morning,
If you have been reading in WFM you will remember that at the end of April we started a series called "God Is On the Move." It was about the journey of Scott and Shelly Keith to the northwest to attend churches along the way and share the things that happened to them on a trip that had a goal to talk to people and share Jesus with them. They were also attending a different church along the way as they traveled. It was very enlightening to hear how churches presented worship and God. After about six months they started back, heading for Washington State to possibly find a home and set us a new light. Shelly shared much along the way which we posted in this blog.
When this topic seemed to be finish we moved on and started a theme, "Your Story is Important ...Tell It." with the hope that people would share their story to bless others with things that God has bee telling them along the way as He spoke into their lives.
Yesterday I received an email from Shelly Keith that shared the story of what has happened to her and her husband along the way as they traveled back to Washington State. The post that I will be posting Monday and Tuesday written by Shelly. This writing bridges the gap between seeing "God on the move" and "Telling her important story."
The writing today is Part 1 of her returning story.
God bless
Shelly and Corinne
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Today's Writing...Part 1
Written by
Shelly Keith
"Your Story is Important, Tell it."
My last post was that
we were back in WA and now it was time to look for jobs and a place to
live. We have traveled over 4,000 miles, through 7 states, multiple
stops at campgrounds and rest stops- I remember my first post that we were
going on an adventure to see where the Lord wanted us to live, where we could
share our story and testimony and be the salt and light to
others.
Thinking that we were supposed to settle in Washington we
looked for jobs, put in applications, looked for housing and since we could not
find any houses we decided to just live in our RV but could not find a monthly
site to park our trailer. Scotty did find a little work, Tony from
the park said to call his painter friend that he needed help and so Scott
called John, am old Irish painter dude.
John did not know Scott nor did he know
what the quality of his work was. Scott shared a little about
himself and tried to sneak in a little about Jesus. They struck up a good
working relationship, but John did say “I don’t care about your Jesus, just do
an honest day’s work.” Scott played his Jesus music every day for a
week and half. When the job was over and he got paid they met at a
coffee shop and Scott asked John “what is your story?” And John
opened up about his feelings towards the s religion which was how he was
raised. Oh BTW he was a recovering alcoholic 22 years sober.
All
this yuck came bubbling up and so Scott was able to share with him what the
Lord had done for him. They exchanged info and promised to stay in touch. Scott
told John to call him anytime he wanted to talk and that he should get a bible
and read it every day and pray to God just like he was your best friend. And
more importantly put all that stuff in the past.
All thru out our
adventure we missed our kids and our friends, we kept in touch via text, phone
conversations and face-time but it was just not the same. We needed
to make a decision soon what we were going to do- stay here or go back to
California. We were getting a bit concerned… doors were not opening
here! Why? Maybe we weren’t knocking hard enough.
We went to another
church just around the corner from the RV park called Christ the King, the
pastor was Cliff Tadema. The message? “How do we know the will of
God?” Yep, God he sure has a sense of humor. We read
2 Kings chapters 22-23 and 1 Kings chapter 13. The pastor said we
will never find out God’s will unless we are obedient. And if we
discover that we are off track then we MUST repent. Knowing the
will of God, will be the highest possible fulfillment in our lives.
Also God
does not contradict Himself, there is NEVER any confusion on what He has
planned for us. We will be attacked when we follow God’s plan but
stay faithful. After the message I went forward for prayer. I
met Mary Jo and told her our situation our story of leaving our home traveling
and missing our friends and family. As she prayed she encouraged us
to look at what we left behind not for us but for others; they need you back
there, she said. Never take for granted your relationships, yes you
can make new friends but that is for younger folks. You have a
history there and your kids are there. God has a plan for you
there. Amen I said.
OK so we are going to
go back…But Lord…How are we going to do this? We gave away all our
stuff. It is expensive back there. We decided to call our old
landlord and see if he has any rentals. And of course he did, we
worked out all the details over the phone and email and well we move in 7/27.
Amazing? Yes No—rather God’s will.
From our very first
campground in Washington the Riverbend in Mt Vernon, we met the managers and
staff of the park; Sharon, Shane, Rita, and friends and family Leon, Tony and
Sheila and also the many folks who came to camp like Mike and
Naureen from British Columbia, Canada and their cat Kevin… she was sitting out
on her lawn chair knitting. What are you making? She said
“dish cloths, me and my friend make them to sell at the holidays” We
talked over the few days they stayed, and learned that she was a retired school
teacher and had 2 sons, and grand- children.
We shared our
story and what our plans were. It was the day before they planned to
leave, and she said “I found a crochet hook in the bottom of my bag and here is
some yarn; let’s make a dish cloth together.“ That was the beginning of my
dish cloth ministry. I went over to Walmart and bought a big bunch
of cotton yarn in lots of colors and started making dish cloths. I think I made over 20 dish cloths. I gave one to Roxanne at the Wenatchee Park Remember? She was the lady who found us a place when our truck broke down. Every
campground we stayed at and anytime we made a connection and talked about the
Lord or prayed I gave my new friend a dish cloth. Actually, I think you have to be over 40
to get excited over a dish cloth!
( to be continued on Tuesday)
Brandon Heath
singing
"GIVE ME YOUR EYES"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is an uplifting graphic
for you to think about.
Reach out to others!
Here is an uplifting graphic
for you to think about.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayers are lifted up daily for you
by the Staff Writers of
Women's Focus Ministry
Jan Andersen, Cathy Friberg, Sandy Billingham, Beverley Napier, Shelly Keith,
Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward, Karen Bennett,
Carol Steficek, Amie Spruiell, and Corinne Mustafa
Occasional Contributors
Kathy Bireley, Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,
Kathy Bireley, Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,
Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns
Glenna Williamson, Lisabeth Lipp, Nandita Bhatnagar.
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