the crowing rooster

Mark 14:72

...And he broke down an wept.

I have always enjoyed reading through the life of the apostle Peter. I find a lot of comfort in watching how he walked with Jesus. He seems to have made as many mistakes as he had successes... and though some of his successes where amazing and dramatic so much of his life seems filled with "good intentions" gone awry. This ordinary fisherman seemed to have a heart to do the right thing but often found himself running in the wrong direction. He would open his mouth when he shouldn't AND he would remain silent when he shouldn't. He would run in swords raised when he shouldn't AND run away when he shouldn't. Though seemingly not a very "religious" man he would often make religious mistakes (even late in life). He would show tremendous courage (at the wrong time) and tremendous fear mere moments later. He would confuse the spoken word of Christ and even be called "satan" by Jesus himself. And, in an ultimate act of fear, he would deny Jesus publicly 3 times in a row... just as Jesus had predicted.

Yet...

He walk on water.

He spoke the first confession of Christ.

He was called a rock on which the Church would be built.

He open the gospel to the gentile world... through the courageous word of his testimony.

And though he would deny Jesus on one day he would eventually deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus unto death.

There have been so many times in my life when I have represented everything that Jesus is NOT. Times where I have trudged ahead and found myself walking down a different path than Jesus with a foot in my mouth... and usually more than a bit confused. You see, like Peter, I have all these good intentions and (I think) a heart to do what Jesus wants me to do BUT, also like Peter, I find a battle between courage and fear within me. There have been times when I have spoken courageously only to find out that I am missing the bigger picture... and there have been times when I should have spoken but was too afraid.

And I have wept.

all things new...

Revelation 21:4-6

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."... And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

So... we have finally landed! After what has been a marathon furlough (almost 10 weeks) we have finally begun the process of settling in. The top pic is of our temporary rental home until we find something more permanent (keep praying for our house search). The second pic is of our street... only a short hop to the center of San Diego! (we've already met most of our next-door-neighbors)

You know those times when you are really in need of some hope... when things feel so far beyond your control... so far out of control... Britany the kids and I are in that place right now. Tired. Overwhelmed by change. Missing our friends in Glasgow like crazy. Missing our church. Missing our neighborhood. Missing "normal". We need some reminding of Who it is that IS in control. It can seem almost cliche in these times to draw on some picture of heaven that feels so far removed and so far beyond where we are...

YET

Right now we are mourning. Right now we are crying. Right now we are feeling pain. And the best way I can describe my heart is as thirsty... I need living water that doesn't cost anything (California is VERY expensive). It's ironic because right now everything IS new and all we can think about is what was... we need to be made new on the inside... re"new"ed I guess.

SO

For any of you who have kept up with us this summer and are still reading this BLOG we could sure use your prayers.

Lord, move in my heart (move in our hearts) make us new inside so that we can be the lights you have called us to. Quench our thirst Lord with Your living water. Revive our focus and our purpose... help us to fix our eyes on You in the midst of our circumstances.

Amen.

Goodbye our friends...

How do you say goodbye to 5 years of ministry, friendship, love and life?

Words fail me.

As we pulled away from the curb of our house at 70 Lauderdale Gardens in Glasgow for the last time AND said goodbye to some of our closest friends and family the lump in my throat and stomach felt like led weights. I found myself thinking... maybe it isn't too late... maybe this is all wrong... maybe we can undo everything... but then a still (but firm) small (but large) voice in my heart and mind said, "no... follow Me." What else can we do. As God leads SO we follow.

If a picture is worth a thousand words maybe these pictures (all taken within a couple weeks of our move) will say it better than I can write...




































We love you all and will miss you... a part of our heart is now with you.

Grace and peace our Scottish friends.

Lead on Lord.

big move a big deal...

Here is our most recent email to our prayer team... BTW, we shipped everything out yesterday... whew!

Dear prayer team,

We need your prayers now more than ever as we shut down life here at home. I took a few minutes to stop from packing our things to bring back to America (which leaves in the morning) and I was flooded with so many different emotions. For those of you who have been praying... thank you so much. Our family is truly doing amazing, I know this is only through the prayers of His people!

We could sure use some prayers in these areas:

1. For our shipping day tomorrow - that it would go as planned and that the cost would not go up from what we were quoted. We truly don't have much but what we are bring back is our most treasured possessions. It does feel weird to put all you have on a boat and hope to see it on the other side!

2. For the kids (especially Duncan) as they say good bye in their own ways to the only home they have known in their little life. This might be the hardest part, watching them wade through the emotions of how to understand the why.

3. For our furlough - in the midst of leaving Scotland we are trying to do a proper furlough. With so many details on our minds and on paper it has been all to much on our brains. Pray that GOD would help us focus as we fund raise, meet with people, host Open Houses, BBQ's and chatting with people about the direction of the McDonald Clan.

The emotions are running high in our house today and I'm sure tomorrow, so thank you for all your prayers they are felt!!!

Much love, McDonald clan

mourning...

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Today a little baby boy died in India... he was only 12 days old. He died of a rare birth defect. I know that he probably wasn't the only baby who died in India today but the difference was I know his parents. They are servants of God who have committed their lives to reaching their nation with the love of Jesus Christ. Active evangelisticly, in training, teaching, discipling and most recently with a vision of a home for abandoned baby girls... the are hero's of the faith. Living simple lives, doing a difficult work with significant opposition... they press on.

And in the midst of all of this... today they lost their little one.

Tonight as I was praying with my boys, Duncan turned and looked at me and obviously perplexed said, "babies aren't supposed to die." Hmm. It's true. They aren't supposed to. As we prayed together for this family I was struck by Duncans words. This isn't the way it's supposed to be. It isn't the way it is supposed to be for all the thousands upon thousands of children that die every day, week, month, and year. Babies aren't supposed to die.

Would you join me as I pray for this grieving family? Intercede on behalf of their hearts and their minds. Praying for faith and hope. Asking for the right people to be surrounding them in the right moments with the right expressions of love. Pray for their only son. Pray for their marriage. Groan with them in their mourning.

My prayer for you Sam, Suzannah and Johannah is that you would know God's strength and love and in the dark places you would experience His light.