tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27512727131311035642024-03-05T01:12:26.467-08:00Goin to Carolina in my mind...We would like to invite you in on our adventure and pray you are edified and encouraged by this great yet seemingly small life of ours we lead. Much love-Scott,Tab,Selah, and Declan.Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-2710380802301950802013-08-08T12:59:00.000-07:002013-08-08T12:59:38.460-07:00We are HERE we are HERE we are HERE!These words have been playing over and over in my heart and head since we moved back to Fort Mill this past January. The text comes from Dr. Seuss' <i>Horton Hears a Who. </i>The tiny whos living on the small flower are shouting at the top of their lungs in complete abandonment WE ARE HERE WE ARE HERE WE ARE HERE! We exist! We are small but we are ALIVE.<br />
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I feel like it has been a bit of a whirlwind since moving back. And this strange mixture of fitting in and yet having to start all over again. Whatever it is its lovely. And we are grateful.<br />
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And now onto the next step in our journey. Our home.<br />
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Many do not think it such a great feat to live in their own space. For us it was not easy to get here. We had no idea years ago that we would spend the first 4 years of our marriage living under anyones roof but our own, but God had a dream too.<br />
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God had a dream and we dreamt along with Him.<br />
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We said "whatever it takes God!" We want to be more like you. We don't care what it looks like. We don't care if its painful. We just want to change. We want to be refined. Purge us in the fires God until all of us is burned away and we only look like your son.<br />
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You know everyone walks through the fire. It doesn't matter if <i>you</i> think they have or have not or if you think they are or are not. If there is ONE thing Scott and I have taken from all of this it is that what God sees and what God thinks and what God knows, is all that matters.<br />
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So we got into our own place. With the prayers and support of many great and beautiful people (Y-O-U) and the help and security of our house mates who have partnered with God to get us to this point.<br />
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I want to say so many things about being here. My own home. And no we don't own it, but its still ours for now:) So Lord please help me to sum up my reflections from the moving adventure.<br />
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Living with people: Living with people was hard for us. Mostly because of our pride, but also just longing to have our own space and more space and not live out of boxes anymore! And let me tell you, it NEVER seemed hard for the people we were staying with. And that really changed us. To see each family take us in to their space and almost completely relinquish possession of their <i>stuff</i> for the sake of our comfort...it was I think one of the least of these kinds of moments. You know when Jesus says "Whatever you have done unto the least of these, you have done unto me?" It was beautiful. It still is. They don't know just how great they are the Smith's, the Swires', and the Kost's but I cannot wait for them to meet with Jesus face to face and recount this process. Jesus is so pleased. And we are so changed and so humbled.<br />
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Finances: Something has really happened to Scott and I since returning to Fort Mill. Money has been so ridiculously tight for us. And many of you have graciously shared your own testimonies that have really strengthened us and helped us through the crazy times where buying just a gallon of milk alone felt like it would break the whole worlds piggy bank. But we are so changed. God has really challenged us to sow when we think we can't and then to sow some more. He has also really matured our mindset and we are really starting to believe that everything is Gods. Everything. He just lets us use it:) Taking possession off of our money has really given us a renewed mindset to how we spend it and to whats important.<br />
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Our own home: Sigh...we LOVE people. We really do. We are so in love with the community God has given us not just at MorningStar and in the Fort Mill area but all around the world. God has set up some remarkable friendships and we long to have time and space to just be with all of those people. However being able to come home, to something that is just for us at the end of the day. It just brings a deep sigh of rest and relief to my heart. I feel like I can completely unwind. It feels like its been a long time since I could do that. Whether it was all in my head or just my stubbornness saying I couldn't completely relax and be me in someone else' space, I'm not totally sure. But I know this feels different.<br />
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Our own space yet another side: I feel for me personally that I put a lot on hold because I didn't have my own home. And I am excited to pick those things up, but also feeling convicted. I feel like God has been showing me that you can always make something out of nothing. Not that we had nothing, but Gods creativity in me is unmeasurable. I could have done a lot more. And what I did do was Good enough. These are two things God is revealing to me hindsight. I could have used those homes more like they were my own, the way I was being invited to. However, even if I didn't do a bunch of projects, paint more, make more messes with the kids etc...I'm still a good Mom. I'm still a fun Mom. And I'm still the best Mom for my kids. Wow, what a relief.<br />
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I hope Scott comes to share some of his reflections. We really have grown so much and we are just so thankful to the Lord. It was all worth it. Every bit of the struggle. If it all meant we could be here as we are today WHO we are today, it was worth it. And I bet in our heart of hearts we would boldly ask for more...<br />
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This season is going to be jam packed of Gods awesomeness. I have taken teaching positions at both MorningStar Dance and Masterpiece Dance studios (a Christian Arts studio in the area) as well as leading an adult Dance Ministry team at my church (MorningStar). Scott will be finishing his Masters degree in Theology next summer and he will continue his work at MorningStar in the IT department. We live just a 15 minute walk from our church/workplace in a sweet sweet neighborhood surrounded by beautiful people that we cannot WAIT to get to know more and do life with.<br />
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My heart is so full. You are all amazing courageous wonderful hope filled creative God made dreamers and we love who you are. Please continue to walk with us and thank you for all you have given time words home space love tears hugs money prayers etc... I've been thinking all day about this quote from Mother Teresa and I feel it very much applies to all of you<br />
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"If we have no peace its because we've forgotten that we belong to each other"<br />
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The body of Christ is unbelievable. I am so grateful to be apart of it. Deep favor and blessings to all of you. We love love love you all.<br />
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<br />Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-91388656699594594682013-02-21T11:11:00.001-08:002013-02-21T11:11:59.457-08:00Guess what? We're different.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Hello beautiful friends and family and welcome to a new blog post. Thanks again for all of you who read this blog and really keep up with our family, stand with us, laugh and cry with us, and most importantly PRAY for and BELIEVE in us. You are a treasure to our journey and we love you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every time I go to update this blog I think, why should I write an update? There is nothing special going on, I don't have time, I don't have anything exciting to say, I don't have energy for witty speech or eloquent phrases, and I definitely have not come up with any life altering revelations to share with the rest of the world weather its from my own mouth or from this little e-blogger page. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, alas, those are all lies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The truth is, I have a lot to say. I have awesome things to share because I live for an awesome God. I DO have life altering revelations because God my Father alters my life and my heart and my character on a regular basis. And about the witty and eloquent lines, well the Bible says I don't need those because God uses the foolish things to confound the wise, and love is better than any greatness I could speak or show off anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's whats happening with us...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are living in Indian Land South Carolina. I guess Indian Land would be considered a township of Fort Mill? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have moved in with an awesome family called the Kost's (pronounced coast) and they have a sweet little one year old girlie named Olivia and another little girl on the way! The Kost's offered to share their home with us months before we knew we were moving back here for sure. And we are SO grateful. We are learning a lot more about community living. And I feel we are more mature at this point in our life so we can allow the experience to give to us and us give to it as much as possible and enjoy it while its happening. You see our past experiences of living with people we didn't take full advantage of the insta-community. We were bitter towards God for not giving us our own space and our own little private world behind the walls of our home. Now we are finally beginning to see that its not about us. Whatever God gives us is good. We should always take what we can from it, and give what we can to it. We should search high and low for a way to be a blessing and receive the blessing. So today, this is where we find ourselves. Our house mates (Lyn,Katie,Olivia, and bean) are wonderful. They are fun, FUNNY, outgoing, laid back, and SO so generous. We are already learning so much from them and looking forward to all God will show us through this time however long or short it may be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">^^ See how different I was in that paragraph up there!? And the best part is, its real! I'm not just saying this stuff to make us feel or look better, we really believe it. God has changed us so much. THANKS GOD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scott is working in the IT department for MorningStar ministries and he is learning a TON of really useful knowledge/skills. He's being trained in stuff that he has always wondered about and felt like it would be fun to know about. And he loves all of his co-workers. Its so refreshing to see him being challenged and just loving going to work everyday. Along with working at MorningStar he is still studying for his Masters of Theology in their ministry school as well and really being awakened in his studies. Scott loves God so much:) its so beautiful. He loves knowledge, he loves growth, he loves theology, and he loves LOVES reading and studying. Some days it seems like somewhere in heaven there was a box full of Scotts heart cries just waiting to be opened up and poured out over his days here on earth and we are witnessing a lot of his dreams and prayers coming forth in this season. God is so faithful. He knows, He sees, He is. Don't give up! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been spending my days doing some growing and learning myself at home with the kiddos. God has really changed me in my ideals of what a stay at home mom has to look like and I feel like I have been given a renewed sense of purpose for not just being a Mom but also for being Tabitha. I'm grateful for a husband that always encourages me to remain myself while learning to take on new roles as a wife and mother, he never asks me to leave Tabitha behind and step into a new identity, he only encourages me to learn how ALL of me fits together and lives and breathes in harmony with each part:) I've got a long way to go, but I'm feeling a lot more freedom in my work place. Freedom to just let my days happen and trust that God is with me leading me and guiding me and to not fear who I am or if I am enough in any way but to just walk and live. I'm also getting really inspired to dance again and vigorously looking for work in the dance arena. I spend lots of time day dreaming of choreographing and dancing more and I'm really longing and aching for that part of my life to blossom again. Its coming, I really know that, opportunities are coming, doors are flinging open, and I just hope I am prepared for all that God is about to release. Its like I can see future Tabitha in all her glory, literally "dancing through life" watching God release one great dream after another. But today is great too and not necessarily better or worse than tomorrow or yesterday, today has its own place in my history. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many people ask us how it feels to be back? And all we can say is, "It feels normal" it kind of feels like we never left! It also feels very right. We have no idea how long God has called us to this place, but in this moment in time, it feels so right. It feels like our spirits could reach outside of us into every area of our life and surroundings right now and just say YES this is it. We are grateful. We prayed so hard to be here and it seemed just as God released us, and our hearts were free to be anywhere He would take us, he brought us back to where we wanted to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Its an amazing existence to exist with God. Its a journey like no other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our kids are doing really well too:) Selah is so happy to be back with her buddies, she often refers to her "best friend Judah" or her "best friend Mary Ella" some days I wonder if she remembers everyone because she became so comfortable with everyone so quickly. She asks to go to our friends houses on a regular basis and has even been planning her Birthday party and talking about how excited she is that all of her friends will be there. It makes my heart SO happy to be in a thriving community again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are so different.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are so grateful for who we are today. We have grown so much. It seems like many times just this week Scott has said to me in regards to how we handle a certain situation "we handled that SO WELL, so much better than we used to!" The best part is we will continue to do it! We will continue to change and grow and only get better:) There is so much we want to learn so many ways we want to grow in God and in our roles/careers/talents/character etc...And its happening. All the time. In God, we are always getting better stronger faster smarter more beautiful than the day before. He refines us and makes us more like Him. This life is glorious. Can you imagine how much better when we will be with Him face to face!? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks again for reading. As usual. We need your support, your words of encouragement, your prayers, your counsel. Its all encouraged us and helped bring us up to where we are today. We LOVE YOU. Be blessed! no really, BE BLESSED. Experience, the blessings in today! </span>Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-56787666674121049532012-12-15T05:24:00.000-08:002012-12-15T05:24:40.321-08:00Nothing could be finerGood Morning. Its a new day.<br />
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Have you ever experienced breakthrough?<br />
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Breakthrough: A military movement or advance all the way through and beyond and enemy's front line defense.<br />
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We feel like we've hit a breakthrough. HALLELUJAH!<br />
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For the past few years, Scott and I, and many of you, have been pressing in and pushing for what we feel God has called us to, and crying out, and just plain crying, and waiting, and fighting. And this week God truly turned everything around. But to tell the story the right way I will start at the beginning.<br />
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When we moved to Florida, we were sure, we will be here for months maybe a year, just so we can have Declan and have a secure home to be able to bring a new baby in to. Months went by, we both found jobs, we were trying to remain "unsettled" but slowly we started settling in. And our goal of getting back to South Carolina, became a hope deferred.<br />
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"Hope deferred makes the heart sick..." Proverbs 13:12<br />
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We started getting pretty defeated. Losing hope. In some ways forgetting everything we had prayed for, and felt God had told us. And began to try and make a life for ourselves here, even though we didn't feel God's presence on that idea, we thought maybe we were wrong the whole time and this is the opportunity God has given us now so we might as well make the most of it.<br />
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But just before Declan was born, Holy Spirit moved again. Scott took a long walk, to smoke his pipe and pray for a bit and when he came back from his walk he felt like the Lord said to put in to become full time at Disney, to apply for Grad School at MorningStar AND that we would be moving back to SC in January. Even though we'd practically given up on that dream, we began to hope again. The Lord really encouraged us that day. Shortly after, Scott applied for and was accepted to grad school, and he got put on full time at Disney.<br />
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Full time at Disney has been a huge blessing on us financially. Not to mention the way we have been able to bless so many with free tickets into the parks! And discounts on merchandise. Wow. Never would Scott and I imagine that the Lord would use US to give our families such an awesome gift. My Mom NEVER in her wildest dreams believed that she would see Disney World. Bringing her their with her husband, and grand daughter was such a fun day. She became a child for a day and it was truly a beautiful memory none of us will ever forget.<br />
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There were also so many little things that we've not been able to do, because financially we just never had the wiggle room. It has felt nice to freely buy things that our children need, in the time that they need them! instead of holding off for months! And Christmas shopping, has been a blessing as well. We will be able to give each other and our children and really nice Christmas this year which always brings such great joy to any parent to be able to give great gifts to your children freely in celebration of our awesome King!<br />
The drawbacks about Disney, were the hours and the work conditions. Without going in to too much detail, Scott has been working 6 days a week, for a month he worked all night every night, slept all day, and had one day off.<br />
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Towards the beginning of this month we started to feel desperate again. We are missing Scott and he is missing having a life outside of Disney. The family is a unit. If just one of you are not around, we can't function. And we have really been struggling these past couple of months.<br />
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And finally something happened. Scott got a message, someone at Morningstar was pursuing him about applying for a job. We were so encouraged. Scott applied for a position in the IT department with MorningStar a ministry in Fort Mill that we LOVE. Scott went through two interviews and things were going really well, and so we began to wait. And hope.<br />
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We decided to spend a week fasting a praying specifically for this job situation.<br />
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A couple days into our praying, things got even worse with Disney and Scott's scheduling and we thought , wow, is the Lord trying to PUSH us out of this job?<br />
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We prayed more, and felt pretty confident, that if we were feeling God had told us we would go back to SC in January, and then we had this job offer, that we better put our faith in God that he WILL get the job and we will be moving a in a few weeks.<br />
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So we decided Scott should put in his two weeks notice. Bold yes. But their is risk in faith. Faith without risk shouldn't really be considered faith at all.<br />
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Scott went in to work on Thursday, the last day of our fast, and put in his two weeks notice. Just hours later, he received a phone call about the job. And not only did he get the job, but he will receive more money than we were told! Thanks Lord:)<br />
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<div class="first-line-none" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="text Matt-7-7"><sup class="versenum" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span class="text Matt-7-8" id="en-NLT-23301"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">8 </sup><span class="woj">For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Matt-7-9" id="en-NLT-23302"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">9 </sup><span class="woj">“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?</span></span> <span class="text Matt-7-10" id="en-NLT-23303"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup><span class="woj">Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!</span></span> <span class="text Matt-7-11" id="en-NLT-23304"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup><span class="woj">So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-7-11"><span class="woj">Matthew 7</span></span></div>
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WE ARE GOING HOME! PRAISE YOU GOD!!!<br />
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Scott is so encouraged. After years of job searching, he finally has an awesome door to walk through. One that we have been praying for specifically since we first decided to move to South Carolina. And we even prayed specifically that someone would approach Scott and offer him a job at MorningStar.<br />
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"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life" Proverbs 13:12<br />
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The day after we received this news, we also received news that our friends loan was approved on their new home, they would be moving in December 21st and would love for us to join them when we get up there. THANK YOU LORD.<br />
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And thank you all. Some of you have journeyed with us in your hearts for years. And you have contended in prayer and we pray that you will surely reap what you have sown.<br />
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There are some logistics to work out of course. But Scotts start date is January 7th. How fun is God? And his classes start back up January 8th:) He will be able to join his class IN PERSON and no longer through Skype!<br />
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We are so grateful. So relieved. So excited. For years we've been waiting, and believing, and trusting. And the day has come where it has all opened up. And we can't even imagine what God will do once we get there. We are excited to share more testimonies with you of His faithfulness once we get there so keep reading:)<br />
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And here we go. Back to Fort Mill. I guess Carolina was not only in our minds after all. God shared that secret with us long ago. I love how he leads us. We thought we were crazy for all the things we believe God showed us. Well maybe we were crazy for believing, but its so encouraging to have confirmation. To know that not only did you hear God, but he heard you.<br />
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He loves us...dreams come true...here we go!<br />
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<br />Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-40787082054524879942012-11-17T19:57:00.000-08:002012-11-17T19:57:39.410-08:00Its been a whileI haven't written on here since June. In some ways I wonder why, but in other ways I know exactly why.<br />
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Sometimes its hard to be known.<br />
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Sometimes is hard to let people in when you feel like there is nothing special to see, or when you feel like what you see is not only un-special, but its also perhaps un-eventful, un-adventurous, and down right pitiful.<br />
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Not much has changed in our situation. But so much has changed.<br />
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We have a new family member. His name is Declan:) Declan Brady Swires was born on August 22nd in the Celebration Hospital at 3:17pm. He weighed 8lbs10oz!? And came into the world red-headed and healthy. Theres much to be told about my crazy encounter with God during my birth experience. I was intending once again on a natural birth, and ended up once again with an epidural, actually this time I had pain meds AND THEN an epidural, so I guess I had every drug I could have. HA. I heard in a teaching once about child birth, not to be a martyr. You're not there to be a martyr she said. And that line played over and over in my head as I was being induced hooked up to a butt load of machines and working hard to not have drugs. And then it hit me. I'm not enjoying this. Why can't I enjoy giving birth? Like have fun, be happy during labor, celebrate and feel like myself. I wanted to be Tabitha while in labor. And apparently at the time, that meant get the drugs! God showed me how to let go of control once again, and make a choice. A choice that might not be pleasing to a mid wife or doula, but a choice that was pleasing to me. A choice that granola moms across America might look down on, heck a choice that I would usually look down on (sad to say) but the choice that I made and don't regret. The Lord really spoke to me before having Declan and said "how dare you tell anyone their birth experience is wrong or not as beautiful because they do it a certain way" I was really convicted of that. Thinking that if birth wasn't natural it wasn't as good. I'm not proud of that thought process. But it was there. New life is always beautiful. No matter how it happens. No matter how something is birthed, its perfect, its precious, and holy, and God wanted it which makes it good.<br />
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Declan means full of goodness. Scott and I spent the majority of my labor in tears of laughter. Gods joy and goodness were definitely present. And even today as he is almost 3 months old, we've heard him laughing in his sleep on multiple occasions and he wakes up every morning around 5 am with a huge grin on his face. He smiles at us first thing in the morning. He is such a happy full of goodness boy and we cannot wait to get to know him more and fall more in love with this gift of Declan God has given us:)<br />
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In other news we are still in Florida:) But since September we've not been alone! Scotts parents moved in just in time for Scott to be working 6 nights a week leaving two very emotionally and physically EXHAUSTED parents in need of some parents of their own to love on them and help them when they need. I feel like we will never be able to repay Scotts parents for the love and generosity they have shown in not only opening up their home to us, their place of retirement none the less! but also for always being available to us in many ways and showing great selflessness and support in this crazy season. We know that great is their reward in heaven:) and we are immensely grateful that God placed us in their home and in some ways in their care in this season. They always talked about their ministry when they retire. Knowing ministry never ends and day dreaming about what kind of ministry God would give to them when they no longer ran a Salvation Army rehabilitation center. Well I truly believe that Scott and I and our kids, are a major part of their ministry right now. God is so smart. And as my husband always likes to say "He's the kindest person I know"<br />
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So we are still here, in the sunshine state. We had planned to move in January back to Fort Mill so Scott could attend Grad School at Morningstar and we could get back to where we feel called. But alas, that door has not opened yet. Scott is however taking online classes with MStar for his masters in Theology:) So theres that. Thanks God! We have no clue when and if we will move back to South Carolina. Well honestly, we are quite sure we will. But the when is the ify part. Could be next month, could be next year.<br />
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We should really officially stop trying to make plans with our life(but we won't). Things never turn out the way we plan. So we just are. We just exist, and breathe and try and love God and live in Him. Its not the easiest when finding yourself in a season where He doesn't seem to say much. But as we grow and mature, and our love grows and matures we can rest in Him in our unclear path more than ever before, and we can also rest in each other and lean on the deep strength produced in our marriage.<br />
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I think the hardest thing we face lately is not feeling called to anything.<br />
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Do you know what I mean?<br />
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Its like everyday I hear from people that LOVE what they are doing. LOVE their job. LOVE their vocation, their community, their days, their moments. They are exactly where they are supposed to be and doing exactly what they are meant to be doing.<br />
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Unfortunately we are not particularly in love with anything happening in our life right now, at least not in a vocational sense or a locational sense for that matter. But we know God has called us to more. And greater. And we will never loose hope. Everyone can tell us that this might be it. But we refuse to believe it. We know we were made for great things. And until we see them we will continue to press on and pursue God with all we possibly have in us. Its not much today, but He sees us anyway and He knew us before the foundation of the earth so surely, His plans and ways are higher and they will come to pass sooner or later:)<br />
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We are grateful.<br />
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We may not admit it to you most days. Don't hold that against us.<br />
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We are smart enough by now to be able to see and believe that God is producing something great in us in these years of struggling. Like I said, most days its hard to admit. But somewhere deep down inside of us, we can see ourselves on the other side of all of this. Operating fully in what we were created for. "Its gonna be wild, its gonna be great, its gonna be full of Him" Scott and I have massive dreams. And we will keep right on dreaming them until we see them all.<br />
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We have no fear in dreaming. Only fear in our dreams not coming true. Which is probably why God moved us to Florida and gave us a way to go to Disney whenever we want. He wanted us to hear those three magic words "DREAMS COME TRUE" shouted by the characters and of course our two year old daughter wherever we venture. God has a great sense of humor. Bringing us to the happiest place on earth where dreams come true in one of the lowest seasons of our life. We love you Father. We love who you are. Thank you for the dream.<br />
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Things you can say a quick prayer for, for us, right now:)<br />
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*A new job for Scott<br />
*Better pay<br />
*More time as a family<br />
*A way for Tabitha to dance<br />
*More time to invest and sow into community and fellowship at our church--sidenote:we love our church by the way Gods House Orlando. Unfortunately Scott can never join us because of his hours:(... and we do not love that.<br />
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We love you. Let us know how we can be praying for or helping you.<br />
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--the four of us :)<br />
<br />Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-84497865177153160692012-06-07T11:35:00.000-07:002012-06-07T11:35:12.522-07:00We are "those people"I've decided I can't change the name of this blog. We love South Carolina. We loved being at MorningStar, we loved our community there, we loved our neighborhood. And weather or not we are to give up on it, we still don't know. So for now, think of Carolina as a state of mind or being rather than a state in a Country. Whatever it means to live content, wherever you are, and to love where you are at when you are there. That is what we want. <i>Carolina. </i>Maybe it will become a new catch phrase? "Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina!" --I didn't make that one up:) its from a musical. Can't remember which one...sorry baby.<br />
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So Scott and I try to attend church regularly. And we have been trying to attend the same one lately:)<br />
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We were hopping around for a couple of months and finally went back to the second church we had visited called "God's House". On their website they claimed they were the most loving church in Orlando. I have to admit I thought it a little pretentious to say "<i>We</i> are the <i>most </i>loving church in Orlando" but we gave them a chance anyway.<br />
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Side note on websites: they are great. Please invest in one if you have a company or organization that uses one. Please make it a good one. Its worth spending the extra bucks on. We have found every church we have attended through their websites, and some churches don't have websites, so it makes us not want to go to them because we can't see anything or learn anything about who they are and what they are about. You would hope they are just lovers of God and about Jesus:) but alas, we are all flawed aye?<br />
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Anyway, we attended this church and it was like the first time we had been seen in weeks. It feels so good to be seen doesn't it? Wow there is nothing like sitting in a room full of strangers, in such a vulnerable place in your life, living in a new place, having no friends...but being seen by someone. After the service we were kindly bombarded by the pastor, and some of the church members. Welcoming us and loving on us and asking if we needed help getting settled etc...<br />
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When we went back a few weeks later, they remembered us, even our names. The pastor came up to us before the service and gave Scott and I a big hug, called us by name and said he was glad we came back and that he had been looking for us each week.<br />
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So as far as our experience goes. This is the MOST loving church in Orlando:)<br />
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So the title of this post. We are those people.<br />
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Last week we were sitting in church, and there was a lot going on. They were getting ready to have a picnic after the second service so everyone was running around doing there jobs and greeting one another as they moved from task to task. And there we were, sitting in our chairs, no where to go, kind of just waiting for the service to begin so we didn't have to feel so alone anymore.<br />
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Someone came up to us finally to take us our of our awkwardness and said Hi, made some small talk, and asked if we were coming to the picnic today. And there we were, those people.<br />
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I can't even believe the words rolled off my tongue with such ease when I said "no we aren't going, Scott has to go to work"<br />
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Can I admit something to you?<br />
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For years I have judged people that work on Sunday. No not people that work at church like Salvation Army officers or pastors and band leaders and sunday school teachers...just people that work outside of the church. It was a major revelation to me. I sat there thinking what these people might be thinking about us. Like that we are not serious enough about God because we work on Sundays, and we don't really want to be committed to the body because we don't take that same day of rest, or we are not willing to come to their events in order to get plugged in. I've never been this person before. On the other side. I'm humbled, and grateful. Its easy to judge. Is it not? I hate it. And then this whole thing with good judgement and bad judgement. Like how you have to be honest, with where people are at, you must use good judgement before assuming you or anymore can do or be something. But you also aren't supposed to judge because God is the only judge. And people who say that anytime you judge someone are usually the most judgmental people anyway (finger pointing at myself).<br />
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Scott laughed at me.<br />
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He knows how high my standards are, and I think he gets a kick out of watching God gently tear them down one sticky situation like this at a time. He enjoyes seeing me being remade, and growing and maturing. Conviction is beautiful, And it feels good. Every time I feel confused between conviction or condemnation I try to go into my spirit and say ultimately, does this feel good? and prosperous? or do I just feel horrible? and gross?<br />
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I felt good being awakened to how I had so harshly judged the church and people in general. Another standard I had given her that she would never fully attain. You must go to church every Sunday, and if you don't you are not a good Christian. You must not work on Sunday, because people who work on Sunday's don't really care about God. You must attend church events and get involved and get your name on some lists, because that shows that you are closer to God than the others who "don't have time".<br />
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Yuck.<br />
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I'm sorry church. I love you. Forgive me?<br />
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The truth is, its hard to know. Its hard to really judge anyone's relationship with God. Even those who claim to have none. There are these verses in scripture we use when talking about these kind of things here's one of them<br />
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"How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless?" James 2:20<br />
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But here is another one<br />
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"But Samuel replied,<br />
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What is more pleasing to the Lord:<br />
your burnt offerings or sacrifices<br />
or your obedience to His voice?<br />
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,<br />
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams"<br />
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1 Samuel 15:22<br />
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How do you know if someone is living and doing what they are doing, out of obedience? How can we judge so quickly that if it looks different then it is not God? Or if it doesn't fit our standards then they have probably gone astray?<br />
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Scott has to remind me that we are following God, everyday. I've been so molded by church standards and mans standards that even when I am walking in obedience, I question everything I'm doing the minute someone holds it up against the norm.<br />
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Well this is all I have to say about our current Floridian status. Don't judge us. Haha no just kidding...but really...aren't you judging us? We are. And we are the people that we have judged in the past. We live with our parents, we only have part time jobs, we are on government assistance, we have another baby coming. Shouldn't we be more responsible? And if we really follow God shouldn't we be doing better than we are?<br />
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The truth is, we can't even judge us. We don't even know how "good" or "bad" we are doing. Sure we could look at our circumstances and draw conclusions, but from what standards? from whose ideals will we be drawing our conclusions? I want to harshly judge myself and tell myself I am doing something wrong everyday because of how things are going for us. But then there is that voice of truth. And he comforts me. He speaks to me, He sees me and calls me by name and tells me its good. He leads us one way and we follow and whatever happens or whatever the outcome we choose to say there must be a plan. There has to be a purpose in this. And our love for Him has only grown, and only matured in this season.<br />
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We might not be doing anything right we might be doing everything right. But either way we are doing our best. And there are so many out there doing their best. Trying so hard to obey, and to do what is right.And yet if they don't look like the rest of society we quickly say they must not be doing their best or trying very hard. Its so sad. So unloving. And so ugly to live this way. And I would know, because I do it.<br />
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Father please change me. Change my standards. Let me really see people. Let me really SEE like you. Give me grater discernment and help me to love despite anything and everything. And when I feel like someone deserves no more love, help me stand up and love them more. And on another note, help me to love myself the same. To give myself a chance.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"Love bears up under anything </span><i style="background-color: white;">and</i><span style="background-color: white;"> everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">1 Corinthians 13:7</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Help me to first believe the best in people. Even myself. </span></span><br />
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<br />Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-67199561114808475872012-03-14T07:36:00.000-07:002012-03-14T07:36:54.399-07:00I officially don't know what to call this blog anymore<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Yesterday I went and got my Florida license. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>I am officially a Florida resident. And I gotta be honest, I feel quite confused about it.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Its hard to live life the way Scott and I do. I guess it should be easy when you have this awesome God living both in Heaven and inside of us, giving us Holy Spirit the guide and counselor directing us and guiding us into and onto each path of life. But sometimes, it doesn't <i>feel</i> spiritual. And thats difficult for me. Some people struggle with things feeling spiritual, they don't like going places or doing things because it feels right in their hearts and spirits. They like going places and doing things because its logical and makes sense and looks like the best way.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Well I'm experiencing the opposite. Its like everything in our recent transition is yes and amen, but for some reason I'm not completely on board. I can see clearly all the goodness and favor of God pouring out on us because of this move. But something hasn't clicked yet. I'm still waiting for the <i>feelings</i> and the spiritual experiences to help me understand that this is where God has called us. Its like there are signs all around us saying this is the way, this is good, keep going, this is what I want for you! -love God. And I'm still like "eh...I'm not convinced"</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>I think its just as dangerous to live the way I do waiting always to feel a certain way as it is to do nothing based on how it feels but only based on how it appears or what it gives you or accomplishes for you. I hate living for accomplishments. I hate living for a good job, benefits, money in the bank account, good food on the table. If you would ask my husband he would tell you straight up, I would rather have no money, no valuable possessions and just live in a hut somewhere on the other side of the world. I want a simple life, and I don't want to give into society. Working, paying bills, making money and more money and more money and going higher climbing that corporate ladder to reach some sort of all time satisfaction that will earn you your job and purpose in life. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>BUT</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Right now. This is whats happening, we both have jobs that we LOVE. I'm teaching ballet at a local dance studio and gaining favor with my director as the days go by. My classes will double by the summer and maybe even increase in the fall. Scott is loving his job at Disney, he's only worked a few days and is already highly respected by his colleagues and managers. They are already amazed at his intelligence and hard work and we feel so strongly Scott will be working his way up the Disney corporate ladder in no time. Not to mention Scott has already had an awesome ministry experience while on the job. We are both happy to go to work every time we go. We are excited to be there, and excited to go back. We are talking about things like two bank accounts in order to spread out our assets. We are talking about the housing market and how smart it would be if we invested in it now. All good things. And its like no matter how much gets better I'm still a little sad that I got a Florida license yesterday.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Maybe its just pride. Could I just be sad that I was wrong? Is it OK to make mistakes? Does anyone else have this idea that if you follow the voice of God you should never mess up? What if coming here is wrong? Or what if moving to South Carolina was wrong? </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>However, can anything really be wrong with God if He lives in us and we trust that He guides us?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Can we ever fail if He works out all things for the good of those who love Him and live according to His purposes?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>I guess my point is, simply this. Sometimes things are not what you thought, or dreamed, or imagined. And even though you never received a prophetic word about them or feel a tingling sensation in your heart when you go into them. They could still be right. And good. Its hard to always KNOW that you are doing whats right. And I've lived a good portion of my life not moving forward unless I felt something. Or unless I felt certain that God said to do it. I don't know if God told us to move to Florida. Does that freak you out? I have no idea. I don't know if we are supposed to stay here either. But we are. We are trying a new thing out, its called trusting. Oh didn't I say we already tried that out? Well this is different, this kind of trust is trusting when you have no clue what you're doing. Trusting that your God is faithful to guide you and to not lead you to destruction. Do you believe He can do it? We are on this path, without even a "word from the Lord" no "thus saith" we are just living. And trusting that our Father sees us. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>So many of you wonder, are you staying in Florida? </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>There are so many verses in the bible that talk about how we can't even plan for tomorrow because we don't know what tomorrow will bring. Or that many are the plans in a mans heart but the word of God prevails. So yea today, we live in Florida. We have jobs, we have Florida license' we are planning a future here. Is it the end, maybe, maybe not. But we are just deciding to be here until something happens. Or nothing happens. Maybe we'll stay here just because we like it. Maybe it won't be this massive spiritual experience. Maybe God will say "what do you want?" and we'll say "we want to live by Mickey forever Jesus!" </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>We really don't know. So bare with us. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>We love you. We appreciate your love for us, despite our craziness:) And we appreciate those of you who have supported our every move. Some of you have trusted God for us with every decision we've made. You've never questioned where we are headed you've just trusted God to lead us. And that is so extremely valuable to us when we feel so uncertain. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Thanks for following. Any ideas for a new blog name?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>This blog was really healing for me to write. Thanks for reading. love you all. God is good.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>Tab, Scott, Selah & baby #2</b></span></span>Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-31049291839110062572012-01-15T07:25:00.000-08:002012-01-15T07:30:23.987-08:00movement, passage, or change from one state, stage, position to another.It's time for a change. I know, you're probably thinking "haven't you guys had enough change this year?"<br />
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We always want to go higher. We won't be satisfied until we feel like we are fulfilling the purpose and calling on our lives from God for this time. And we don't feel that we are. We feel like we are just floating by. Letting days pass. Afraid to make a move, afraid we won't be able to move.<br />
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We've begun feeling like slaves to our circumstances again. Just like we did in NY. Have you ever felt like that before? Like there is nothing you can do? I NEED THIS JOB, I NEED this house, I NEED these friends, I NEED this church...its all I have. Its all that I can see. One thing Scott and I feel strongly about is the concept of settling.<br />
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To settle= to appoint, fix, or resolve definitely and conclusively...<br />
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We won't settle in a place where our hearts aren't alive. One of my favorite verses in the word is from John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."<br />
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If you feel like things have been stolen, your dreams are dying, your hope and joy destroyed. You can seek change. You don't have to settle there.<br />
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We haven't been doing well here. We won't say the Lord has not blessed us and we won't say this was a waste of time. Nothing can be wasted. He will always make things good if we love Him and live according to His purposes. And we fully believe this time and what we've learned is all GOOD.<br />
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However, we've really been struggling. Struggling is OK. Sometimes God sent. But we feel personally that we've come to a place in the tension and in our struggling that God is not calling us into. We feel like maybe we're putting ourselves in this position. Sometimes we think its the Christian way to be unhappy. Like we must live in a state of suffering for the sake of the cross. Scott and I feel like we are beginning to loose hope and focus.<br />
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We also need our own space. We've said many times how gracious the Smith's have been. Its so true. We don't think we would have made it here without them. God knew that we really needed them to transition down here. And we can't express enough, our gratitude to them. But we are ready, we've really been ready for months now, to have our own space. We can't move any of our stuff from NY into this house without feeling like we have to get rid of more than half of it! And also just the way Scott and I function as a family unit, time together, to be alone as a family is really important to us. Really, its something personal to our family that we feel like we've not been honoring and we are really aching for it again.<br />
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So we are finally saying yes to the cry on our hearts. We feel the tension in our family of not being able to be alone. We feel the tension of our belongings living in NY. And also just the tension of not being able to take control of our space in the spirit. We are ready to take our own land somewhere! And be in authority over our home. Not to mention, our family is growing:) and come this August we'll need space for a new baby as well.<br />
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All these things, plus just leading from Holy Spirit are leading us to leave this home at the end of the month. We really feel great peace about this decision. The only difficulty is we don't have the funds to move into our own home. Which is why we've been so fearful about making this decision for these past few months. We've felt like money is holding us down, and holding us back. And we don't want to be a slave to money. We will NOT be slaves.<br />
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We are really praying for a miracle. That the Lord would provide financially for us to be able to move into our own home. We've been praying for more work for Scott that would provide in a way that would give us enough to live on our own and also enough to sow into others through our home. I've been looking for jobs to do in order to bring in extra income, still really feeling that God has asked me to be in the home, but always willing to change if He tells me otherwise! We feel confident that the Lord will keep us in Fort Mill. We feel like He is not finished with us here! So the final decision is that if we don't have a new place to live by the end of the month, we will move down to Scott's parents retirement home in Florida. There is no one currently living in the home, so it could be a blessing for us to be able to look after it and keep it full of Gods presence:) Also we get the privacy of our own place for a bit while we continue to press in for our home in Fort Mill and just seek the Lord, pray, and spend some quality time with Him as a family. We feel excited about that possibility. There are still so many logistics, like having enough money to get down there, having a place for our stuff here if we can't fit it all in our car, specifically Selah's crib!! We will also need support while we are there. Scott has some work that he can do while he is there, but we are hoping for more to open up in web design, and freelance writing.<br />
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We feel awakened again. And its been a while. We feel like we've been getting into a routine, and settling into something that we don't even feel alive in. And we are starting to feel alive again, so its a good thing! It will be hard to go, especially wondering if we will get to come back, or really where we will end up. But we know God has us. And we are just walking with Him. We love Him so much. We can't live unless we know we are following His voice.<br />
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Thanks for all of your prayers. We are so overwhelmed with how many of you really follow these blogs, and call us, text us, email us your prayers and encouragement. You have really served the Lord by loving on us, and we continue to pray you will reap for what you have sown into our family. We love you all so much. If you feel lead to pray for us more consistently here are some specifics for this time:<br />
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<ul><li>Pray that we would stand firm in what we hear God speaking</li>
<li>Pray for finances to come in so we can walk in the way God is leading us, either a home here before the end of the month or a way for us to get down to Florida and stay there for a bit</li>
<li>Pray for continued health for our pregnancy as I won't be able to see a Dr. if we go down to Florida</li>
<li>Pray that we walk in wisdom</li>
<li>Pray for work to open up for Scott (Scott is amazing, I don't know how anyone could NOT want him to work for them. He is such a hard worker, so honorable, and incredibly intelligent) please pray especially for work that he LOVES and that will provide a way for us to have good insurance</li>
<li>Please pray that we would stay united in pursuit and not focused on our own security, but on the Lord</li>
</ul><div>We bless you all in the name of Jesus. We love who you are. We love the body. You've all shown so much love and we are praying for your families to prosper in God as well!</div><div><br />
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</div>Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-45279041234451175652011-12-24T04:30:00.000-08:002011-12-24T04:30:10.904-08:00It turned out exactly the way they'd been told<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!” <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=MSG&search=Luke%202:16-20" title="Luke 2:16-20">Luke 2:16-20</a> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=65" title="The Message">MSG</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Lord gave me a good kick in the butt yesterday. And as I get older, the further along in my walk with Him I go, I realize more and more just how refreshing His correction and rebuke are. Condemnation and guilt bring on the dark heavy feeling of "wow I'm just not doing anything right" but when the Father speaks conviction and correction into your heart its freedom. Its like an invitation to change and become more like Him and it feels GOOD. Its crazy to say it feels good to be rebuked, but when it comes from Him it really does. It feels like love. It sets you free, it brings you home. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scott and I have not had the easiest of transitions down to South Carolina. And we often feel crazy for coming down here, especially when we seem to have no fantastic news in the natural to share with all of our friends and family about us moving down here. Ya know, last February when we came it was like wow Hey everybody, we have a word from God! We need to move down to Fort Mill South Carolina! God told us to go be a part of MorningStar ministry and that we need to be in that area for what He is about to bring us in to! Scott is leaving his job, we have no money saved up, no car, we will move into a small house with another family...at the time we had Selah and another baby on the way. But God said it! So nothing mattered, and we were full of expectation. And God really did show up. Not in the ways we expected, but He did. He provided for us for months when Scott had no work. People were extremely kind and generous to us, we got a free car, checks in the mail almost weekly to support us...It still wasn't exactly what we had seen or felt like God said, but He was providing. And we lived in hope, just knowing soon this will all turn into exactly what God showed us. And a few months turned into almost a year:) And still. Things have changed, but we are pretty much in the same situation. Not feeling anywhere near walking in the promises of God. Our own house to minister out of, and money that will provide more than enough to support ourselves,but also support others which is what we feel we've been shown. We haven't seen anything CLOSE. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So the past couple of weeks I've been grumbling. I've been asking all of our close friends to pray for us. I've been crying out to God. Wondering why He has forgotten us. Wondering where we went wrong. Explaining to the Lord, we've done everything we can! We've obeyed you, we've given away money, we've joined in ministry, we've sowed in faithfully and more than we can even afford to our church. We've prayed and worshiped and cried out. I mean, really. I've been giving Him an ear full. I've told Him I'm mad at Him for bringing us here just so we could continue to fail. We've contemplated packing up our bags and moving back in with our parents and giving up on South Carolina all together. And finally yesterday, I got a good slap in the face.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was complaining to my husband once again. About finances, how we can't buy people Christmas presents blah blah blah and why is God letting this happen and why isn't He fixing anything and maybe we are doing something wrong... And Scott firmly started rebuking me using these words</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Its NOT about US! Its not about us. Its not about us. Its not about us. It is NOT ABOUT US. Its not about US. Its not about us. ITS NOT ABOUT US. IT IS NOT ABOUT US. ITS NOT ABOUT US!!!!!!"</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I just laid on the bed in my pitiful state crying and laughing as that correction flowed into my heart and broke off that spirit of selfishness I've been carrying around for weeks. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">ITS NOT ABOUT US! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We came here for God. We came because He said to. And we won't leave unless He says to! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He brought us here. It doesn't matter whats happening. None of it matters. It doesn't matter what we can see. All that matters is Him. And WHATEVER He wants to accomplish. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now I know full well. We will receive these promises. The word of God is truth, and His truth will always be fulfilled, if He speaks it, its WILL manifest. Just look at this whole creation. He spoke light and we still have it! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But its not about us. We have what we need. We have food. We have a home. We have housemates that have welcomed us in and really shared everything they have with us. Its not ours, but they are being given a chance to minister to us. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have no clue, what the Lord is doing right now. Really we don't. But we know what He has called us to, and we know He called us down here. And we won't budge until He says otherwise. Because we live for Him. Its what we really want anyway. We want our hearts to be so totally sold out to Him. Because He is worthy. His love makes everything worth it. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please forgive me if you have caught a glimpse of my selfish spirit in the past few weeks or months for that matter. I'm young. God has a lot to do with me. But He is changing me:) </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grace and peace to your hearts friends. We love you. And we bless you in this awesome, crazy, journey with God. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div>Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-67353078969466274182011-10-06T06:32:00.000-07:002011-10-06T06:32:40.230-07:00Just A Dent in the Universe, But What A Dent!I can't say how crazy it feels that I am so impacted by the passing of Steve Jobs. It really is crazy to me. He's from a completely different generation. I used to think that the Apple was more of a cult than a demographic being reached. I also felt that their products were mainly hype and over priced. Even from an early start, I remember how my Fourth Grade computer class was filled with Commodore 64's and one lone Apple IIGS in the corner, specially reserved for those that excelled in skill and behavior. Both of which I was lacking. Besides, we used an Amiga at home.<br />
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Steve Jobs started slipping into my life with the advent of the ipod. I'm sure many begin their story that way. I remember thinking,"1,000 songs? Whose ever going to listen to that many songs." Little did past-Scott know he would now have double digit gigs worth of music and love the variety and accessibility. I finally succumbed to getting an ipod, didn't have to loose my self-built PC, an acceptable compromise. Steve creeped in further when I began getting more interested in Web and Graphic Design. I was forced to ask why so many in the field preferred Mac over PC. After much thought, fiscal research, customer reviews, and prayer I told Tabitha, I think we should invest in a home computer and it should be a Macbook. Shortly after I was following the delivery truck online to see when our 15" Macbook Pro would arrive at my door. The speed, user friendly nature, and lack of constant updates and viruses quickly sold me. I drank the cool-aid and joined the Mac groopies. <br />
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I hadn't realized how much one man had began to effect my life. Tabitha had to point out how I had started to edge new buyers toward Mac. He was showing up in events great and small. Steve's influence was at my wedding via our reception playlist. He was there helping me create a more relaxed presence during the birth of Selah. And he was superhero during recent long car rides, as Selah was soothed by streaming Little Einsteins on Tab's iphone. <br />
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And one of the most awesome things Steve has done is happening today, by helping me grieve the loss of our son. As many of you know, Tabitha and I were expecting again when we moved to Fort Mill. A few months after our arrival we learned that we lost the pregnancy. To us, a person is a person, no matter how small, so he become part of our family as soon as we saw the plus sign. True to form, the Lord had told me early on that it was a boy. As a Father, I was very excited and have taken the loss pretty hard. We don't agree with what happened and don't take our optimism as ignoring our right to grieve. But see, we believe that even something that is devastating can become quite amazing if placed into God's hands. <br />
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See, it wasn't Steve Jobs that actually impacted my universe necessarily, as much as it was how I used the products he helped to create. It was also that I let him make a dent in my universe. I like how Steve said,“We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?” I believed him when he said the iPad was a magical product. I don't think he said that because of what the iPad was, an incredible machine, but I think he said it because he could see how everyday people would use it and how everyday people using that machine could impact the world for the better. I think it's rare to see that kind of optimism and hope for humanity these days.<br />
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Though our son was only here for a moment, he has created a huge dent in our universe. We are learning it more everyday and we are learning how to allow him to be an impact on our lives everyday until we see him again, face to face. Just one more element of the "here but not yet" paradox of Christianity. Our son was scheduled to arrive this week. Which probably has a lot to do with why Steve's passing is impacting me so much. There are still lots of tears to be shed, maybe for Steve too, but there is so much hope in us for what our experience can mean for the future. And I just want to honor him, as our son, by recognizing that dent he's made on us, openly and honestly.<br />
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We feel closer to God than ever before. We are becoming more open to the reality of Heaven. We are growing in love for Selah and are becoming excited for the opportunity to love the children we will have in the future. It really is amazing just what can impact us if we let Him do His thing.Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-24535149189399393202011-09-10T14:36:00.000-07:002011-09-10T14:36:14.000-07:00His goodnessHave you ever tried to see everything in your life as God's goodness?<br />
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Like literally, every day, no matter what the season, step outside of the situation and hold firm on the word that says "He works out all things for the GOOD of those who love God and live according to His purposes" (Romans 8:28). Don't be confused with my statements, the scripture doesn't say all things that happen to you are good if you love God and live according to His purposes, it says He works them out for good.<br />
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Scott and I have really been trying to live by the truth of this verse for the past two years. We've hit some dark times, that are not good by any means. There was nothing good about losing our first son in May. Nothing good or Godly about giving birth to a baby that is not living. And we were really challenged by this concept of stepping out of the situation, and calling out our Father as good. And repeating this verse over and over, reminding our hearts and minds that somehow some way God WILL work this out for good. And that is just one out of many "not good" (in our perspective of what is good at least) circumstances we've had in our family this season. Can we ever fully know how it will work out for good? Sure, why not. God is our friend:) Will we ever know? Maybe not, but we've chosen Him therefore we've chosen to focus on Him no matter what comes our way. Our family motto is to focus on God's goodness. If we focus on His goodness, we don't always NEED answers. Its great to have them, its awesome to have revelation on the whys. But when our focus is Him, we can face pain with our eyes up knowing that His love will cover us. We don't have to find answers to soothe us and comfort us for our distress. We only need to come to the Father. His burden really is light. <br />
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I love the scripture in Habakkuk 3 that says "though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines...though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are not cattle in the stalls, YET I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the victorious God of my Salvation!"<br />
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David wrote many Psalms on the reality of His suffering and crying out to His God, wondering if God was there or if He heard Him. And here in Habakkuk the prophet is saying, these things happen. Even to people that serve God. There is nothing wrong with you if you face hardship. Suffering does not mean He has lifted His grace from you. The bible is filled with songs of suffering, from people of GREAT MIRACULOUS faith.<br />
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We've no formula for how to face difficulty. The only thing we know is God and His justice and love shining over us as banners. Won't you join us in glorifying Him? More than your circumstances? More than your fears and worries and pains?<br />
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Those are just a few insights into our every day conversations. I really have the best husband possible for me. He leads me to God. He encourages me to find Him in all things. And not to focus on what is temporary or fleeting. But what is eternal. And WHO is my King. I love learning with Scott and growing in this area of just loving Jesus more. Getting our focus off of ourselves and onto the everlasting one. I'm proud to have such a faithful leader as my husband, and such a faithful lover of the King.<br />
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As far as testimonies go, how about I begin to share an awesome one? :) Hopefully Scott can fill in more in another post.<br />
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Scott has been studying web design and since moving to Fort Mill really felt Holy Spirit leading him more and more into times of study and discussion with other W.D.'s in our area. Well sure enough, God opened up an opportunity for Scott to have FULL TIME work in the area of web-design. No applications, no job hunts, no daily interviews or postings of resumes on job websites each day. None of which are bad things by any means! The Lord gave Scott some excellent teaching through one of his best friends and founder of a web design company called Dreamstar. And Brian Feister (Director and manager) has given Scott a wonderful opportunity to be taken on full time as kind of a paid internship. He has such confidence in Scott's ability to grow quickly in this field and has really given our family and awesome opportunity and blessing. Thanks Brian and Liz! You guys have sown into us so much and we pray God will use us to give back to you for all you've done!<br />
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Its hard to believe some days, that we've been here for 7 months with no income. And now within a matter of weeks God has opened up this full time work in something Scott really feels called to and something he fully enjoys. He is currently working days and studying nights so that he can learn really quickly and get more work. Please pray for my husband and encourage him when you get the chance. He is really making huge sacrifices for our family an he continues to spend a couple nights out of the week alone with Selah while I am off at dance or teaching dance. Also wakes up and takes care of her on his own some morning while I am out training for the half. And then stays up late hours to study. He has handled this transition with such grace and strength and my respect and adoration for him has grown tremendously. Please love on Scott and bless him. He is such a great man of God.<br />
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As always thanks for following. We love Jesus! And we love sharing His goodness with you all.<br />
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Blessings and favor from aboveSwires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-87954107349313751972011-08-03T08:42:00.000-07:002011-08-03T08:42:14.867-07:00the peace of God, which transcends all understandingMy heart is full of gladness and passion in anticipation of the words I am about to share with you here in our blog. We have truly been on a beautiful journey. I've heard many in the faith who have gone before Scott and I look back on their life and say "we've had some turmoil, we have had great distress, but we don't ever regret those days and the way we followed God in that time" Its TRUE! My friends, Scott and I have said many times to you, we have days where we can only take one step and then breathe and thank God we could take just that one step and then have to stop and pray in order to make it to the next. However, despite the grief and anxiety of these times, we bless the Lord. We wouldn't take any of it back. We have no regrets with our choices, because we have chosen Jesus.<br />
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This morning I feel like I could weep with sympathy over one of Paul's letters in Philippians. Philippians 4 Paul...oh by the way, if you're reading this and have no idea who Paul is, no worries. He is an awesome follower of Jesus in the bible and I will gladly share his story with you some time if you want:) Anywho, Paul is writing a letter to the body of Christ the "church" in a town called Philippi. He is thanking them for their prayers for him as he travels and extends himself greatly in order that the gospel of Christ the good news will be spread throughout the land so that all can know and fall in love with this awesome son of God who came that we might have life and have it MORE abundantly!<br />
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In the 4th chapter of Philippians Paul says these words<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29447">4</sup> Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29448">5</sup> Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29449">6</sup> Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29450">7</sup> And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.<br />
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Ahhh these words are like poetry to my ears right now. Rejoice in the Lord always! The Lord is near! and he goes on to explain that by living in this rejoicing, spinning your thoughts into prayers and anxieties into petitions you will obtain this great peace its a peace that TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING.<br />
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Scott and I know all about transcending all understanding. We are doing things and saying things, that are transcending any formula of life or Christianity that we have ever known. And we are dwelling in peace.<br />
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The voice of the Lord is beautiful. I wrote in my journal this morning in my dialogue with God<br />
"we are learning more and more that while your voice may be still and small it is also deep and fulfilling. Your voice brings joy and hope and confidence and when we follow it, there is rest and deep peace beyond all human understanding"<br />
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To bring you up to speed on where we are at now in our journey, Scott has received part time work writing! WOW! He is helping someone whom our family considers one of the greatest spiritual leaders in our area to write his first book on finance and business in the Kingdom. This is a big deal. Scott has really felt the Lord calling him to writing for the past year or so, but has never "studied" or worked in this area. Just goes to show, you CAN have your dreams and eat them too:) Although Scott has put in some personal time to studying the art of writing and reading a TON of books. We know the favor of the Lord is what brought him this job and beyond being grateful for the small income we now have, we are grateful to the Lord for hearing the silent cries of Scotts heart and bringing him this part time job.<br />
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I was offered an opportunity to "nanny" for our housemates daughter Mary Ella in June in exchange for paying rent. So I've found a little job of my own:) The month that they asked us if it was something I was interested in we had less than $100 in our bank account and just took it as a sign from the Lord that this was how he would be paying our rent from then on! I've so enjoyed being with Selah AND Mary Ella each day, its an awesome gift and its one of those gifts that gets better as the days go by. Being with these two girls everyday is an awesome way I think for us and our housemates to bond, and really become more of a family than just people who live together.<br />
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I've also been asked to teach some dance classes at MorningStar's dance school which I will begin doing in the fall.<br />
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We are still living month by month. Really day by day. Asking the Lord for what we need each day. And really living in strong confidence that if we NEED something, our God is faithful to provide it. Today I don't have money to buy groceries next week, but when next week comes and we need groceries, the Lord will give us groceries! Its not a way that I desire to live for the rest of my life, but its changing us and deepening our love and understanding of our awesome Father and his love for us. <br />
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29454">11</sup> I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29455">12</sup> I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29456">13</sup> I can do all this through him who gives me strength.<br />
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Thanks for following along in our journey. There are always ways you can partner with us through your prayers. If you would like to know specifically what you can pray for us, then just ask God and I KNOW He will reveal it to you if we have need. We love each of you so much, no matter what our relationship status may be, you are a child of the King and therefore we have great love for you. And we are truly grateful that you would read this blog and follow us in your heart. May our awesome God give unto you everything you given to us by way of your love and concern for us.<br />
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Peace PeaceSwires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-22697894635960901352011-06-14T12:08:00.000-07:002011-06-14T12:08:19.470-07:00more than we can handle?Just wanted to write you all a quick update on what's been happening in the past couple of months down here in Fort Mill!<br />
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Scott and I have been going through pain and difficulty at a level we've never been at before. Which can only mean one thing to us, we must be going higher! and going deeper! Think about it, the stronger you get, the more battles you win, the harder your enemies must fight to persuade you to quit. We had a couple of weeks where it seemed like it would not end. Around every corner was another curve ball that we had to simply allow ourselves to get whacked with and call out to God as our literally only ONLY source of strength. Bigger battles, bigger giants, and in the end we will also be bigger, stronger, faster, and smarter than ever before. We have become so sure of the high calling on our life and we are willing to continue to trust God and lean not on our own understanding.<br />
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We are still living with The Smith's and we are still enjoying being their house mates. God is really starting to cause our friendship with them to grow deeper and they are really wonderful people. We are so grateful to not just share their home with them, but to share in fun conversations late at night and early in the morning. Its good fellowship and they have been so gracious to share their entire home with us:)<br />
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In May the Smith's offered to give us free rent if in exchanged we watched their daughter Mary Ella for the month of June instead of them sending her to day care. What they didn't know was that when they asked us if we would watch her, we had about $19 in our bank account and no idea how we were going to pay next months rent. YAY God!<br />
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I've been spending my days these past couple of weeks with Selah and Mary Ella and it has been so much fun. It was just the right amount of change and challenge that I needed to add to my days, not to mention Selah has a play date ALL day everyday without us even leaving the house! Its fun to watch them interact together and giggle and squeal with one another like little girls!<br />
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Scott is really pursuing his passion for web design. He kind of feels like and can see the way God has been slowly drawing him into this as a possible career for quite some time. And he really enjoys it. He is mostly self taught, with the exception of the few conversations he gets into with other web guys on occasion. And he is doing so well:) I'm really proud of how he has taken this time where it seems like no doors have opened for him to have work, and really used it to bear fruit and bring prosperity. Way to go baby! I'm so proud of you for not giving up and continuing to pursue learning and growth from home each day! There are so many other ways you could have chosen to spend your time, but you are walking with Holy Spirit and choosing to obey each day.<br />
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The Lord has put us into contact with some other people in the area that are kind of in the same place as us right now. Little to no income spending their days praying and following the voice of the Lord wherever it might lead that day... Its nice when we can all get together and encourage one another with awesome testimonies about receiving huge checks in the mail, cash underneath the doors of apartments, divine appointments where people buy groceries or take us out to dinner or coffee etc...its awesome to see how we really don't need anything but God. And other people are finding that out too:)<br />
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We are doing really well. Along with all of the difficulties and honest turmoil of this season, there has been so much fruit so much joy and so much of God's goodness knocking on our door each day.<br />
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He is faithful. And we are continuing to walk with Him, seeing a path, but not knowing exactly where or when it will turn. We love Him:)<br />
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Oh yea! In other news...I'm starting to train with my housemate to run a half marathon AND Selah can finally wear pigtails in her hair:) YAYSwires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-46340756263392457342011-05-05T13:14:00.000-07:002011-05-05T13:14:30.755-07:00He writes the best storiesWe are living a really awesome life. You know how people always say "I don't want to brag..." but then they do brag? Well I want to brag. I want to brag about my awesome Father God. He is so amazing. I want to brag about the story He has written for my family. I want to brag about how good He is and that He LOVES me and KNOWS me and sees my needs each day and meets them. I want to brag about knowing God. And being a child of God because my life is so completely incredible and He is worth bragging about because He is my life and He has made my story and my families story into what it is today.<br />
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"I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless your name forever and ever- with grateful, affectionate praise. Every day with its new reasons will I bless You- affectionately and gratefully praise You; yes I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and highly to be praised , and His greatness is so vast and deep as to be unsearchable"<br />
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God is just so good. We really don't have any new news here except just to tell you to get to know Him. Trust your lives to Him. Let Him take you wherever He wants to take you. Get off your butts and give yourselves over! Its the BEST thing you could EVER EVER EVER say Yes to!<br />
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We love Him. His peace and His love are covering us and changing us and growing us and making us into the best possible versions of ourselves.<br />
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So all I wanted to write here were praises to our Father. We praise you God! You're so worth it! You're so worth all of our honor and praise and worship to you. You are beautiful and perfect in all of you ways and we love the way you do everything. We love your decrees we love your commands, we love your law and we love your character all of who you are is good and we bless you.<br />
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As for updates: our family is doing so well. We are walking in the delight and peace of the Lord. We are so rich. And so full. We are still unemployed and living on top of our friends townhouse. And we are still reaping the fruit of knowing Jesus:) Isn't that all that matters? We're rich. We don't have much, but we have it all. We've found contentment in this place. We're practicing not worrying because its stupid and pointless and gets us no where. Instead of worrying we pray. And guess what? it WORKS. Philippians 4:6 says don't worry about anything, instead pray. We are so free and so excited about this adventure. There are so many pieces of the puzzle missing, but we are growing in God which is far more valuable to us than our possessions ( which are all still in NY:) then security in our bank accounts, far better then knowing our future or having a plan for tomorrow. He has a plan, and we walk with Him!<br />
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We love you all and are grateful for you and your prayers over our family. You are apart of our story, your prayers are being lifted up and you are partnering with the Father to write the greatest adventure for us! Thank you!<br />
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Trust God, today. Stop waiting until you have what you need to trust Him. If you have Him, you have what you need. Just give up on waiting to be ready, or rich, or perfect, have a job, more this or that. And just give yourself to Him for whatever He wants. Its so much better!<br />
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We love you and bless you and your families as well.<br />
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God is AWESOME.<br />
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--Scott,Tab,Selah,Baby:)Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-90155469835457935572011-04-10T06:57:00.000-07:002011-04-10T07:33:53.986-07:00On April 2nd I turned ONE on April 3rd they gave me cake! Just wanted to update you with some photos from Selah's 1st birthday party! We celebrated on Sunday the day after her birthday with a small group of great friends and their kids. I made some awesome rainbow cupcakes with cream cheese frosting...which later sent Selah into an unfortunate sugar crash:( But! it was a great day had by all:) with eating sweets and praying some blessings over Selah and her many awesome years to follow.<br />
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Having a one year old is so much fun! Selah has always been active since the womb, but watching her walk around everywhere in the house, get out onto the floor with all the grown ups at church and dance and worship, and explore climbing under and over everything that gets in her way is such a joy. We really love who she is, she is so full of life and fun. We are so grateful for her and could not possibly ask for a better first year for Selah.<br />
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As for other news, we are learning so much about our awesome God its hard to even contain it all. Good thing he instructs us in our spirits as well as our minds so that in some way we will remember and retain it all. We've had so much time to just sit and listen to God, we feel more connected to Him then we have in a long time and it was really necessary for us. We are coming to find more and more that we don't really care what happens while we are here, we just want to love Him and trust Him more, He is so worth it. He continues to provide for us in fun ways like random checks from friends and family, a car that we paid $1.00 for that is in excellent condition, and the roof over our head that we should not be able to afford right now:) We really want to bless and honor all of you who have been standing with us and contending for us. You know who you are! So to YOU, we bless you, and we ask God that He would pour out blessings over you and your family, that you would reap greatly from what you have been sowing into us and that you would receive favor just like we have in these past two months. We especially want to thank our parents and our siblings who have continued to believe in the vision that we have, never once have they told us that we were foolish, or that we should not go through with what we feel God saying. We are sure they have been worried for us, like any family would be, but they have not projected any of their fears or worries on us and we believe that is a major part of why we have been able to stay so strong and so confident in this season. THANK YOU:)<br />
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We've had days where we don't understand how we are going to make it, why we don't have a job yet, will we ever have a job!? etc...but then God shows up, and fills us with confidence in Him and makes us realize once again that we could do everything in our power to succeed,but being connected to Him and following His words has been our greatest success yet! This time is so precious to our family, and although it is totally hard and scary to watch the money in your bank account decrease weekly with no clue of how it will be replaced, we wouldn't trade this time/process/growth/trial for anything literally anything else in the world.<br />
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So blessings to you friends and family that have stuck by us and believed in us and continued to encourage us even when to mans eye it looks like nothing is happening. So MUCH is happening! Please carry these testimonies in your heart, and consider trusting Him in ways you never have before.<br />
We love you so much!<br />
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And thanks for all the birthday wishes and blessings for Selah too! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNmeZhNSDbxeOcEz7MVDiGmni986G3P62APuUjJv6xTwT25RKwW4kpPBFaneWjczQyamqPTC5OTJ_IcW8Di3w2nsXSERDDZmjtlCgiRUd0w1hRQa6UsY6WFRXISgS4msYCYgArlbbhgWR/s1600/IMG_0430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNmeZhNSDbxeOcEz7MVDiGmni986G3P62APuUjJv6xTwT25RKwW4kpPBFaneWjczQyamqPTC5OTJ_IcW8Di3w2nsXSERDDZmjtlCgiRUd0w1hRQa6UsY6WFRXISgS4msYCYgArlbbhgWR/s200/IMG_0430.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selah's banner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzq2tIg5g53aPLdOkp85lPJVJ6AiD-qAwpKmu2HcTcF1zeB_7EABTjEFcT3hIQf_griXsj7XY5LQJCu5k-euYTzXOiGyQt8GxUrRMhbyMZBbpNDoxIRiCXtUGCUF1OIjaiBvnFDRtV7CF/s1600/IMG_0445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzq2tIg5g53aPLdOkp85lPJVJ6AiD-qAwpKmu2HcTcF1zeB_7EABTjEFcT3hIQf_griXsj7XY5LQJCu5k-euYTzXOiGyQt8GxUrRMhbyMZBbpNDoxIRiCXtUGCUF1OIjaiBvnFDRtV7CF/s200/IMG_0445.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade birthday hat:)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEJMSIssu26PyUaNRxq8qmhyphenhyphenpR3dJnzoTl1WStjcdz0s3L1ZToqJfXiPrzlMLbZJ673wTyfSQ_FpbcQvj4AXcYDnnQLUKXzSes3V90HHIolV_O4wvZw8G_cHK42p6_A8kKdv6aceTo4d2/s1600/IMG_0440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade cupcakes and cupcake stand!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside of her rainbow cupcakes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar crash:)</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-64680981776463920082011-04-05T11:36:00.000-07:002011-04-05T11:36:10.978-07:00Goodbye March, Hello AprilGod has continued to move forward, even when Tabitha and I are not aware of it. We end March and enter April with deeper fellowship, a car, a first Morningstar conference, and a first birthday. Though to the world, we may seem to be sitting still, so much is going on. I think the beginning of Joshua reflects many key shifts that we are experiencing.<br />
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<b><u>"Moses, my servant, is dead." Joshua 1:2</u></b><br />
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I think we are learning more and more that the things we used to do in the past won't work. The old way of praying just doesn't work. The old logic is now faulty. The old standards now fall short of revealed dreams and expectations. The old signs are no longer useful, pointing toward things that have already been fulfilled. We are in a season where we have had to admit to ourselves that what once was, no longer is. I was once in prayer about John G. Lake, yearning for those healings to happen again. And I desperately wanted the days of John Lake to return, when I heard the Lord say," Scott, Lake is dead." It has been a difficult experience. We always want to "re-live" the "Golden Era", but that is not scriptural. The Lord says that the latter will be greater than the former, therefore the Golden Era is not something in the past, but something yet to be entered into. This is the truth that we are forced to believe in. What once was was good, but it is nothing like what will be experienced if we would simply let the past pass. The past to present was awesome, but the present to future will be legendary. That maybe why it is so difficult to believe it. I do like a good fairytale.<br />
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<u><b>"As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." Joshua 1:5b</b></u><br />
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We have heard so many testimonies here about people who have done the same thing we have done. We have met several families, many from NYC, that left home with nothing but the word of the Lord to guide them. No home, no car, no jobs. Tabitha recently met one woman that has been here for 8 years with no job and the Lord continues to provide for her needs. There is something about promises, especially really good ones, that we are tempted to disqualify ourselves from. Part of us has been tempted to think that God will not be as good to us and that we are trapped in struggle. Yet, we find ourselves with a very nice car that was given to us by an amazing family from Kansas City. Just as Moses knew the goodness/fullness of God (Ex 33) we are now seeing God's goodness go before us and feel like we can inherit what He has called us to. What a sign (a car) that God is getting ready to move us into something! The prophetic speaks of cars as dealing with the family/personal identity and a movement of God. This car comes to us from the International House of Prayer. A car that came literally from intercession. Oh yeah!<br />
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<b><u>"When we heart it, our hearts melted, neither did spirit or courage remain any more in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." Joshua 2:11</u></b><br />
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We are learning that God has truly prepared this place for us. We came here with a lot of fear and mistrust, but that is breaking. No one likes being wrong, especially after taking such a big leap. More and more we are realizing how perfect this place if for us. God has placed some awesome things here for us. Tabitha has found out that she has opportunity to dance, we both have opportunity to pursue the prophetic (Tabitha just finished the Advanced Prophetic Conference and is putting her knew knowledge to immediate use), and I am finding new outlets for writing and developing ties to people I would have never dreamed of pursuing God with. It is quite awesome. We are gaining boldness, not because we feel like we have so much to offer, but <i>because of what God has done.</i> We really do feel like our destiny lies in this place. We are beginning to contend for a home and roots for our children. We dream of Selah, Baby-on-the-way, and siblings to follow would have roots here and be a part of this place. More and more we are seeing with all 6 senses that He is Lord.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>"Yet a space must be kept between you and it, about 2,000 cubits by measure; come not near it, that you may [be able to see the ark and] know the way you must go, for you have not passed this way before." Joshua 3:4</u></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even now, I'm writing from our Solemn Assembly that we attend at Morningstar the first Tuesday of every month. We are learning how to approach God, how to follow Him, and stay in relation with Him in a completely new way. We believe that we are entering into something completely new, something never seen before. So many people ask me if I'm looking for a job and I say," Nope." They often think I'm shirking back from responsibility and don't understand. If you believe that, then try what I'm doing and see how it goes, lol. I don't get upset, because I don't understand it myself. We are walking in something that we have never encountered before. We do feel led to ask for a house though. It makes no earthly sense to seek a house when you don't feel like seeking a job is necessary, but that's what we feel like we're supposed to do. Some ask how I know that those are words from the Lord. All I can reply is what the Lord told Jeremiah when he asked, we'll know it was Him when it happens.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know that all this must seems strange to most people. To some it is an exciting adventure. It doesn't always feel so exciting to us, lol. We believe that we have left a season of being constrained and are now on a journey to find the fulfillment of our destinies in God. And we know it looks to some like we are asking for a house that we haven't earned, and are asking for resources that we haven't earned, and are asking to be a part of a move of God that we did not lay the foundation of... (Deut 6:10.11, Joshua 24:13). We know. But the Lord is just that good. And yet it truly comes down to one thing and just one thing. The moss important thing being developed is "...<b><u>as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,</u></b>" Joshua 24:15</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Blessings on you, faithful readers. May the eternally happy God demonstrate His justice and righteousness to you. May you see Him clear mountains that you stopped asking Him to clear and bring you into lands you once believe in, but have chalked up to fairytales. </span></span>Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-11427917783856547202011-03-08T18:30:00.000-08:002011-03-08T18:30:54.834-08:00A new address:)If you have ever seen or read Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a who you will remember that great moment when the whos shout from the tiny speck "WE ARE HERE, WE ARE HERE, WE ARE HERE!"<br />
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That's been our anthem for the passed 2 and a half weeks. We are here. We feel this overwhelming sense like we have to shout it from the rooftops to make sure that God and anyone that God may involve in our journey may be made aware of the fact that we are here and we are ready and willing for the next step.<br />
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Why does there have to be a next step though?<br />
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I think this is what we've been pondering since we've been here. Why can't we just be here? Isn't that enough. We just obeyed God and flew our 11 month old 3 suitcases a couple carry on's and...baby Swires # 2:) ...that's right, thought I'd just sneak that in there to make sure people are really reading. Anyway, we just flew all of these things to a whole different part of the Country, and did we do that in order to find out the next step? Or did we just do it as a step. A step that is good enough, with no next step in mind. <br />
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I guess it was both. But we are really learning that doing nothing is OK. Maybe not doing nothing, but rather not doing what we haven't heard God tell us to do. Which is what we usually do don't we?<br />
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OK all the dos and do nots are probably sounding confusing. Let me simplify.<br />
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Since moving to Fort Mill we have spent our days like this:<br />
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We slowly get up in the morning and bring Selah into our bed.<br />
We watch Selah crawl around on the blankets and pillows and giggle and roll while crawling all over us sort of as a morning cuddle time and wake up ritual lately.<br />
Then, we make breakfast.<br />
I go for a run.<br />
I return from my run, and we hang out with Selah.<br />
Scott goes for a walk to MorningStar and smokes his pipe, and reads some books and studies his bible.<br />
Scott returns from MorningStar.<br />
We eat dinner.<br />
We take a family walk.<br />
We may watch a movie or spend time with our house mates.<br />
We frequent the local grocery store and coffee shop for our "needs" :)<br />
We sleep.<br />
We repeat.<br />
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And while man may tell us there is a flaw in our schedule because we've not left ample time for job searching and looking for the next step. We feel intense peace. Peace like a river. That we are officially lost in. We are floating. Feeling weightless. Feeling like God has given us the greatest gift in this time and we don't want to mess it up. We don't want to over look this precious time together and assume that this time of rest is not in fact "the next step". We don't want to assume the position of the world and stick ourselves in quickly in order to find security and comfort in money and our own living space. Which is not a bad thing, we don't think its wrong to want or seek those things, but if you seek Him first, and He hasn't told you to seek those things yet, then we definitely think that's wrong. We don't live according to the ways of the world, but to the ways of the Kingdom. What affects and burdens the world, does not have power over us. Though the world may fear the state of the economy, our economy lies in Heaven, where there is never any lack.<br />
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Read Romans 8:5-8 below <br />
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28122">5</sup> Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28123">6</sup> The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28124">7</sup> The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28125">8</sup> Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.<br />
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The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. We are truly in the midst of life and peace here. Not just saying it so we can believe it, but feeling it and seeing it and being it in a more true form than I feel I've ever experienced in my life. <br />
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We've received many prophetic words since being here. One of which was given to us by a woman in the grocery store while we were looking for some burger paraphernalia. I was carrying Selah in the Ergo carrier (meaning she was in a baby carrier snuggled up against my chest) and the woman stopped me and asked if I was nursing. I told her not anymore, but that I did for 7 months (I'm proud of my 7 months!)...the woman just lit up and got so excited, and started speaking to Selah telling her that Mommy gave her such a healthy and wonderful start and that because I gave her that start she will have a healthy life. She then proceeded to tell Scott how I trusted him as a husband and how I looked up to him and loved him deeply, She then told us to continue to love one another and honor each other, and she ended the time with getting quite close to Scotts face making eye contact with him and blessing him and telling him that we must hold on to the word the Lord has given us and we are not to let go of it because it is good and it is true and it will come to prosper.<br />
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She said a lot of other wonderful things, really blessing Selah and blessing us as a family and giving some cool words of knowledge about how she could already see us working together as a family unit. Saying intimate things to us about the way we treat each other in our marriage that are really only seen in private so we knew she was speaking straight from God.<br />
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Another occurrence was at church last Sunday. As I've mentioned we are attending MorningStar for church and it has been an awesome experience both Sundays we've been here:) There is a great sense of freedom over the church, people spend time in worship painting, dancing, sitting, standing, kneeling. There is so much expression and our time there is so deep. We are really grateful to be challenged by the word each week, given a chance to connect with God and also a chance to receive ministry afterward. This week we had an awesome time getting some words from a small team of prophetic ministers in the church. They gave us a few words about our transition here, and how we will fall into place quickly, God has THE timing and THE place for our family and it is coming soon.<br />
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We've been encouraged, to say the least. We are dwelling amongst a lot of people who have had the same type of experience where God kind of asked them to just leave everything and move down here with no certainties except His word. <br />
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We have a lot of time to dialogue about what we see and feel like God is saying. We have time to connect as husband and wife, to open up to each other and work through things that we might have been stepping over in lieu of our transition and sort of stressful weeks leading up to moving. <br />
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So I guess what we want you all to know, is we are doing well. We are enjoying the sunshine, reconnecting as a family, resting, and re-aligning. We feel God's presence, and we know He has called us here for something greater than we can imagine or dare to dream of.<br />
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We spent some time at the Solemn Assembly last Tuesday that MorningStar does once a month. It is a day of prayer, worship, and fasting from 8AM-8PM. While I was there this time I started to talk to God and heard Him so quickly and so sharply. I feel like you can hear Him and interact with Him so much easier in places where people are very open and willing to hear from God and where there have been generations and generations coming and worshiping Him and listening to Him (such as the campus at MorningStar). Anyway, I heard Him clearly say to me that what we are experiencing now is not even the tip of the ice burg.<br />
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Most people say, "this is just the tip of the ice burg!"<br />
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And the Lord said to me, this is not even the tip. This is barely even a sliver of the amazing destiny that I am bringing you and your family into in the years to come.<br />
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Our hearts are filled with excitement to serve a God that brings us on a journey that literally lasts a life time. And is always growing with us. We will never out grow our callings, we will constantly grow into them.<br />
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And one day, we will be giants:)<br />
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p.s.<br />
I am almost 3 months along in my pregnancy and feeling great. I'm experiencing little to no symptoms, which is really amazing. I had a really good pregnancy with Selah and although we prayed for it I didn't imagine that this one would be even better and it already has been! glory to glory:) Baby Swires #2 will be born this fall, sometime late September or early October. Keep mine and babies health in your prayers!Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-64943723930328525032011-02-26T13:14:00.000-08:002011-02-26T13:14:30.397-08:00Believing in FairytalesOne can only imagine the kind of responses one gets as an adult that believes in fairytales. We are a dying breed. I am not received well by others when they find out I have never denied the existence of Santa Clause. I don't see why I should when there is no proof he doesn't exist. I believe the burden of proof is on them, as they try to prove a negative. Good luck. <br />
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It's ironic to me that adults, who are consumed with discussions of freedom during these colossal upheavals in the Middle East, are actually in an extreme bondage. There is a major lack of freedom in our world and it is the freedom to believe in something. The irony is that one must not believe in anything, because to believe in something is to exclude something else, and excluding is considered hate crime in Today's public mind. To think and reason is fine, as long as one does not draw a conclusion. What a hopeless state to never be allowed to come to the end of a journey of discovery. One can believe in reason itself, but one cannot actually have an outcome. And Heaven help the one that comes to an outcome that isn't logical to the world around us. Which is what Tabitha and I have done. We have come to believe that the world we see is less and less real than what the world tried to get us to believe. <br />
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I remember once as a kid someone showed me a hologram toy. Put a penny in a slot and it would appear in the middle of a bowl. Grab for the penny in the bowl and it wasn't there. I believe that sums up how people try to grasp at the things of this world. Tabitha and I are foolish enough to believe in another world, another reality. We even dare say this reality is merely a hologram of the real, and we desire to find the real which God has hidden for us (Prov 25:2). <br />
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We are finding more and more the truth of reality. That Jesus Himself is the substance (Colossians 1:17) of Heaven and Heaven is what we desire. At some point as Christians, we must say that scripture is the defining point of our thought/belief process. The inspired, with out error word of God is either correct or wrong. CS Lewis once said that we truly know what we believe when the belief becomes an issue of life or death. Or G.K. Chesterton commented on people's habit of making absolutes out of correlations by saing we don't count on it as much as bet on it. We have seen so often that first one must do this before this can happen, drawing a direct link, and do admit in reality there is no solid connection, merely a correlation. We are on a search to discover what our hearts know to be true, that God is the only real thing. <br />
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Scripture says this in lots of ways. Mathew 6:33," Seek first the Kingdom of God...". We all love that verse, but rarely practice it as an absolute. Just a few verses earlier, Jesus warns to build up our stores in Heaven where moth, rust, and thieves cannot touch them. Hebrews describes the physical Tabernacle as only a shadow of what was real. It was something that could be touched and experienced, but it was far from the real thing. The Song of Solomon tells us that when the day comes the shadows will flee. Tabitha and are doing our best, Holy Spirit in us is doing most of the work, to recognize the real, so that when the day comes, what we have devoted ourselves to won't be merely a shadow that disappears when the light of day comes, but something of substance that will be revealed in dimensions and beauty that we could never have guessed at. So we believe more in what we can't see, as if NOT seeing it is better proof that it is real than the circumstances we are physically living out. After all, faith is the substance of things hoped for and <u>not seen</u>. The reality of all these things are found in Christ (Col 2:17). <br />
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It may seem like we have begun some sort of risky venture, but it's not actually risky to us. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot. The job, the apartment, and other tangibles, weren't actually real. They were merely holograms of the deeper truth; God is provision. We are so grateful that so many of you are traveling with us deeper into this Kingdom. This fairytale where it doesn't matter how many dragons there are, the Prince will always slay them in the end. Where maid doesn't remain in bondage to familial or societal tradition, and will one day become the Bride. Where the poor will eventually inherit the Kingdom when the King arrives and sits upon the Throne. We're so grateful that you believe in fairytales with us and we hope you will continue reading about ours. Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-53319757363592562692011-02-18T07:35:00.000-08:002011-02-18T07:35:31.052-08:00Back to Brooklyn"There is a spiritual principle that anything which comes too easily or too quickly is usually insignificant. If you want to be a part of something truly significant, you will have to pay the price." --Rick Joyner <i>A Prophetic History Part 1</i><br />
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Scott and I used to always pray that God would take us through such intense times such as the one we are in right now. I can recall many nights at college where I would stay up late in the night in prayer and worship, sometimes with friends, sometimes alone with God. Hours would pass and I feel like all I would say was more,more,more Lord. I would cry, and pray, and beg the Lord to let me know Him more, to let me experience Him in ways that would radically change my life. See I knew from experience, and from reading stories in the scripture, that to KNOW something usually literally translates into, to experience something. I knew full well that to love God, and know God, and pursue God the way that I desired would take more than reading the bible and going to church every Sunday and having some Christian friends. It had to be deeper, and it had to shake me and rearrange me and my thoughts and my perspective or else real physical life time change would not occur.<br />
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I really wanted to need God. Scott and I always said when we were married, that we wanted to live in a way that we were completely dependent on God. Not just that we would sometimes have to utter a prayer to get us out of jam, but that we could literally walk through our whole life pointing to anything and everything and saying that's from God, this is from God, God did that, and this...EVERYTHING. We didn't want to be able to say anything came from the work of our own hands. Its a nice idea. Makes you feel courageous and really bold when you pray it. But when it actually begins to happen, you feel completely helpless. We are at a point in our lives where we can't do anything to better our situation. We don't have the resources to make things better, we don't have the status in the world to just quickly climb up to some sort of good standing. All we have is Him. And we can feel it. And its good, but it costs a lot.<br />
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We got a word from a friend a few months ago in prayer. She said she really felt like the longer we stayed in NY the more chance for us to get hurt.<br />
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What I might have failed to tell you is that Scott and I have felt God calling us out of Brooklyn for almost 2 years now. I think we were just too afraid to step out into anything. We wanted to have all our ducks in a row. Things just kept coming up, at first it was that we were newly married and had no money, then we were pregnant, then we had a good church, then we had a new born, then our whole family lived close by, we had security in our apartment. Things just kept coming up. And guess what, they always will. For the rest of your life, something will happen, something will come up, its un-ending. Life never stops moving. Even if you sit completely still and hold your breath and close your eyes, it still keep moving.<br />
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So we were back in Brooklyn with two pieces of information. One was that we could stay at the conference center at morning star for a small monthly fee. And the other was that we could stay with a family from MorningStar whom we had met on our trip to Charlotte. They often rent out rooms in their home for students at the MSU (morning star university) and offered a room in their home to us for an even smaller fee than at the conference center. Although the money side of it was enticing, we wanted to make sure we went where God wanted us to go. So we waited and prayed and eventually really felt like staying with this family would be the best option for our family according to Holy Spirit:)<br />
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We are quite private people. I know you might find that hard to believe, but we have established a lot of boundaries when it comes to our family time and our home time. Not that we keep people out or never invite anyone in, but we are very intentional about having days when its just us in our home with no distractions and no plans. So we really feel like God will grow us a lot by living with another family and we are a little scared but since we are facing so many challenges right now, we are at a point where welcoming one more really doesn't matter! Plus we feel that there will be more of a blessing in store by spending time with this family than we can see right now!<br />
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Once we felt like we finally knew where we would go, which was last week sometime, we sat down to pray and discuss what date we would leave.<br />
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Keeping that word from our friend in mind, we really felt like we needed to make the date sooner rather than later. We also felt it needed to be sooner because, something would come up that would prevent us from leaving soon and we felt like we needed to just put our foot down and claim a date. So we literally sat in our living room and said "OK God we need a date to move" the date I kept having in my mind for the past couple of weeks was February 23rd, but when I said that out loud (by the way this decision was made on the 12th) Scott quickly said, "sooner!". But eventually we both agreed that February 23rd felt good. It gave some time to be with people and pack up, but not too much time to allow things to keep coming up and pushing our date further away. The date wasn't the best date to our family, but we felt like it was God so we are sticking to it.<br />
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We have been facing so much opposition about this move. In ways that are seen and ways that are unseen. There as been a lot of anger between our families since we picked that date, Selah has been sick, then Scott and I got sick. We have no car, and renting a vehicle one way to get our stuff down there looks pretty much impossible right now and really expensive. Things keep coming up. <br />
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Which is why I wrote that quote at the beginning. We are confident that we have to fight for this word. We are stressed out, overwhelmed, literally sick and tired, but we have intense peace that it is all for God. So we won't give up. We are encouraged by the many that call us, text us, and write us messages every day telling us they are excited for us and that they really believe this is God. We are being held up by His word and by your prayers for us. And it is working!<br />
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We don't know how we will pack our stuff, let alone how we want it to be packed. We are in such a weary state right now, and yet we feel so victorious. We just want to encourage you to keep going. In whatever you are fighting for right now. Even if you literally have no strength to fight. Please just put your confidence and trust in God. We promise He always wins!Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-28740311900115633002011-02-15T12:22:00.000-08:002011-02-15T12:22:44.901-08:0010 days to accomplish something"In my mind I'm going to Carolina...can't you see the sunshine can't you just feel the moonshine, aint it just like a friend of mine, it hit me from behind. Yes I'm going to Carolina in my mind"--James Taylor<br />
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Scott and I spent many a day playing this song on repeat over the passed few months. Amping each other up for our big move, and trying to encourage one another and help us keep our focus on what we felt like God's vision, our vision was for this next season. So when we pulled into Charlotte a couple weeks ago for out mini vacation/scouting out the land trip, it came as no surprise to us to hear James Taylor singing this song on the radio the moment we crossed into Charlotte. We turned it up really loud, sang the parts of the song we actually know, and could not wipe these ridiculously cheesy grins off our faces. God is so fun. He does such awesome things for us to comfort us, especially in times when you have no idea if you're actually following His voice or not.<br />
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Well, we had no idea, until we spent 10 days in Fort Mill South Carolina just outside of Charlotte. God was pretty clear with us on this trip. He gave us confidence to go back home and tell everyone whole heartedly that we know we are supposed to move there.<br />
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When we got into town we grabbed some coffee, found a hotel, and then took a ride to our friends home for some fellowship and much needed encouragement. The Norbergs moved to Fort Mill about 3 years ago from the D.C. area with a journey/story similar to ours. Without wanting to share the details of their lives to publicly, they just felt God telling them to move there, and so they did! They didn't have jobs, but they had a home and they had a word from God and just followed it. We got to spend a lot of time with then while we were down there. And we are just so grateful for them! We really feel like we are getting an awesome taste of the fullness of God's love through these people. They don't reach out to us or encourage us out of obligation, but out of the sincerity of Christ working on and in their hearts. They hardly know us, but they love us, and that is Jesus:) We also met another couple that same evening, whom we soon came to find that we would actually be moving in with! But I'll get there later:)<br />
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The next day we went to MorningStar for church, I was expecting to have this overwhelming feeling when I stepped onto the grounds of the MorningStar campus. Feelings like: this place is famous, or these people are so different, or God is so present here! ...and I guess in a sense I did, but without all the glam only because I just felt like... it was normal. People dancing in the isles, and people up at the front of the church painting during worship, the thickness of God's presence on everyone I encountered. It just felt like, our niche, like we belonged there.<br />
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The days after were not so comfortable. There was a lot of frustration, a lot of toil, I woke up every morning with the need to have an agenda, and Scott had a need to just rest and listen to God. We just kept fighting each other on this for a couple days, trying to make things happen and go a certain way. Maybe there is a place for this in Christ, and maybe not. I've heard many debates. Some say, well you can't literally just sit back and do nothing because that's irresponsible, however I feel like Scott and I often argue the point that what if you don't hear God tell you to do anything? Does that mean you should just do whatever you come up with? Or what if you feel at peace with what you are doing, and it just doesn't look like a good idea to the outside world around you? Should you start producing works that please your human flesh or please man, just to feel valuable, or responsible?<br />
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"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14<br />
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"Lord I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God." Psalm 38:15<br />
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"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command, Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about." Acts 1:4<br />
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"And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Hebrews 6:15<br />
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I guess something we came into contact with once again while we were in Charlotte was the concept of waiting. And when we shared this with mature people of the faith that we looked up to, they seemed to have this intense assurance, as they would just sit there and say to us "just wait" "just wait on God, He'll show you" , "seek God and wait on Him for the answers" why do we justify the not waiting? instead of the waiting which we find so evident written throughout the scriptures which we call our bible...our law.<br />
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So while we were in Charlotte/Fort Mill, we waited. We enjoyed ourselves, God put a lot of people in our path to confirm our moving down there. And He put confidence in us. We thought we would come home with jobs and a place to live, but we came home with more confidence in God and His design than we had when we left.<br />
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We prayed to God to give us a sign, to give us one physical thing we could bring home with us to show. Something we could have and say look, this is good, there is harvest and fruit in what we are doing!<br />
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On our way home from Charlotte we stopped in D.C. to visit our best friends Mitch and Katie where they presented to us a beautiful blooming yellow lily. Katie told us that while she was grocery shopping she felt Holy Spirit prompt her to purchase this plant for us, and she heard Him say "New life". She felt like God was saying we are going into a season of New Life, a life we had never experienced before. A life completely different from the ways of life than we have ever lived before.<br />
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That statement held much more weight than we knew of. We had faced so much opposition the first couple of days in Charlotte. It seemed like everywhere we turned people were steaming at us "THE ECONOMY THE ECONOMY!" constantly letting us know and wishing us luck on finding jobs...or belittling us because we didn't already have jobs, but we were planning to move there soon.<br />
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Yes this definitely is a new life. It should be normal, but it hasn't been to us. This intense faith. We want it to be normal. We don't want to say "having your ducks in a row=godliness" just because that is what makes us comfortable. We want to be blown like the wind, and by the wind of the spirit. And this is the new life, we have finally submitted to.<br />
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"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit." John 3:8<br />
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We did get to look at some apartments, dream about owning a house someday, visit a couple dance studios, and I got to take a ballet class:) We had fun, we enjoyed each other while Selah stayed back in NY with her grandparents. We sought God and we rested, and it seemed as though that was all we needed to do in order for things to start looking like we had some sort of a plan.Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-69981274551511977172011-02-11T07:27:00.000-08:002011-02-11T07:27:31.639-08:00An even better offer we would not turn down!"He's gonna turn it all around, just wait and see, He's gonna make everything beautiful, just in time"--Misty Edwards<br />
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In October some time, we were in church here in Brooklyn, and our pastor was talking about prayer and talking to God. We had a short little time after the teaching to just sit quietly and talk to God, and listen. It seemed as though the second I closed my eyes God began to speak. I heard His so clearly, in that kind of voice that fills your whole entire body, and you almost wonder if anyone else can hear it outside of your head and heart. I heard Him say 3 things. January 28th, Your move will be fast and surprising, Pack the two closets in your living room now because they will take the most effort.<br />
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I got really confident and encouraged from these words:) And Scott and I went home from church and began packing our closest. God was right, they did take a lot of effort;)<br />
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The January 28th kind of stuck in the back of my mind. But I never really believe God speaks that specifically until I see the thing He spoke happened. And then I always get really surprised ha.<br />
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A few days before January 28th we had a couple that really loves us make us an offer. They offered to pay for our way down to Charlotte for a week or so in order for us to scout out the land. Their idea behind it was, if we get there and find out we actually don't think we should be there, we would save ourselves a lot of hassle. Also they had hopes that we could have some time to rest, pray, get to know the area, maybe find work and housing before moving to the Relocation Center. We were so thrilled with this offer, and excited that we would actually be driving down there in just days!!<br />
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We couldn't stop thanking God for His awesome provision through these friends of ours. Once again He had written a better story! And we were so grateful. We had no idea what we would do once we got there. We had some people we wanted to spend time with, we wanted to spend time at MorningStar, and spend time with our friends Christopher and Katy, an awesome couple that had really prayed for us getting there, and even opened up there home if we ever wanted to stay with them! We had lots of ideas, but no plans, and on January 28th...we started to drive:)Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-39203765490038291832011-02-11T07:17:00.000-08:002011-02-11T07:17:15.755-08:00An offer we could not turn downRemember that verse I wrote a few posts ago from Psalm 138?<br />
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"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me..." vs. 8<br />
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Guess what...its TRUE!<br />
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Somehow I came across a relocation center at this church MorningStar down in the Charlotte area. The one Scott has been following for years. And now our family had started to follow and support together. Anyway, I had gone on their website almost EVERY day for months and months. Reading about all they have at their church, reading about their leaders and their schools. They have a university, a day care, AND a k-12 program! ...that's a side note:)<br />
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So after looking at this website daily, I finally noticed they had an extended stay program/ a relocation center. See, the campus that MorningStar is on used to be where PTL was. PTL was a huge ministry back in the day, maybe the 60's and 70's...run by Tammy Fae and Jim Bakker. They had a dream of having a Christian resort, for people to come to from all over the world and stay at their conference center/hotel and attend conferences with well known speakers/pastors. Anyway, their dream came true! And eventually they had to leave that property, but Rick Joyner and his wife Julie took over the property when God had them start MorningStar.<br />
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Because so many people move down to the Charlotte area, I guess MorningStar thought it profitable to rent out rooms in their conference center for people who are in transition. People like us:) We found out all the information quickly, we would rent a room at this hotel for extended stay $500 a month. And with the awesome provision God had JUST given us of about $7,000 this was possible! We crunched some numbers ;) and found that we would easily be able to afford to stay there, continue to pay off whatever bills we currently have (school loans YUCK!), and still have enough to buy groceries and have extra! We figured we could stay there for about 3-4 months before our money would completely run out:) But we were confident God would give us a job and a place to live before that time was up.<br />
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So we applied and got a room reserved for us for February 1st. We were scared, but everything seemed to be falling into place so quickly and so smoothly! And all we had to figure out now was how we would actually get there! So...we started to pray.Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-76616570559499016912011-02-11T07:04:00.000-08:002011-02-11T07:04:32.041-08:00OK, now what?"I believe there is a writer outside ourselves, plotting a better story for us, interacting with us, even, whispering a better story into our consciousness" --Donald Miller <i>Searching For God Knows What</i><br />
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Searching for God knows what. That's exactly how Scott and I have felt these past few months. I'm sure Selah at her young age could even feel it too. The uncertainty, the stress of trying to muscle together some sort of plan. Even though there already is one. And its better than any we could come up with. Why do we do that?<br />
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Our small group talked this week about Jacob and the details of how God's plan worked out for him. God promised the birthright to Jacob even from birth. The moment he was born God said that the older which was Esau, would serve the younger which was Jacob. And for some reason, Jacob's Mom got worried that this wouldn't really happen. I guess she freaked out thinking God wouldn't actually do what He said He would do, she still thought that Esau would receive the blessing. Even though God clearly said Jacob. So she created this manipulative plan, covered her son Jacob in fur because Esau was a furry man. And tricked their sick and practically blind father into blessing Jacob whom Isaac (the father) thought was Esau. This then made a huge ruckus in the household, causing Esau to burn anger toward Jacob to the point that he was ready to kill his own brother. Jacob had to run away from his family, and faced all the crazy consequences in his life. All to cheat his way to the promise God had already given Him.<br />
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The craziest part is. God STILL kept His promise. Even after this kid tried to steal and deceive in order to get what her wanted.<br />
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Find this story in Genesis 25-33<br />
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We all sat there confessing to trying to mess with God's plans for us. We hear/feel/see/think/dream about some sort of story for us. Everyone does it. We feel like there is a big story that we are apart of just like Donald Miller writes about in his book that I referenced above. And I have been proven over and over again, when I allow the writer to write my story, its better. And I'm better. I'm a better character in God's story than in my own. I don't know how to write myself as well as the writer does, of course not, He's the Author! and perfecter! <br />
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Anyway, all that goes to say. We got really tense in our house. Where are we going to live? Where will we work? How will we get there? BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH noise noise noise planning toiling toiling...worrying and worrying which gets you know where. I once had a friend that said worrying is like sitting on a rocking chair. All you do is rock, but you get no where.<br />
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When we finally settled down, and committed once and for all to go about this in the way we felt most peace about. Doors started to open. We stopped toiling. We stopped applying places, sending out our resume's, trying to basically sell ourselves in order to get down there. We just gave up. And gave in. And it seems as though, that was exactly the story the writer wanted to write. Because the story started to get good, instead of hopeless.Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-90276307297805983412011-02-09T07:10:00.000-08:002011-02-09T07:46:35.777-08:00Wait=to remain in readiness for some purposeOur little apartment has been in the slow process of being packed up in anticipation for God's word to manifest. Some days Scott would say where is my...I felt like my answer was always "its packed!". We've not had to rip open many boxes, but it has happened more than once:)<br />
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To many of you North Carolina still doesn't make much sense. So I think I should share a bit what has happened inside our lives which has brought a connection to the Charlotte area. However, I want you to keep in mind, you don't need a job,person,or place to bring you somewhere. You just need a word. One word from God, and we will go. If we had nothing in North Carolina and God told us to go we would. It may sound foolish to some. People wonder, do you have family or friends or ANY support down there? And my thought is always...who cares?<br />
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We've come to a place in our lives where disobedience is not really an option. We don't really have the choice for God to ask us to do something and to just say no and give the reason why we can't or shouldn't or won't do it. We've seen his faithfulness so many times in our lives by saying yes. And even if it looks foolish to man, its wisdom to God. The one who is wisdom itself. So no offense, but we've stopped caring what you all think:) I hope you agree that, that is a good idea, rather than a bad one. But if you still think its a bad idea to live this way, we don't blame you, especially if you haven't given it a chance. How can you believe what you have not experienced? We can only let you follow our story and see how it works out for good. And invite you to take the same kind of journey. But we can't MAKE you believe that how we live is a good idea. And that's OK with us:)<br />
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MorningStar.<br />
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What is MorningStar?<br />
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<span id="ctlContentModules"><span id="_ctl7_ctlDocumentContents">MorningStar Publications and Ministries is a diverse and expanding international ministry founded by Rick and Julie Joyner in 1985. It began with the biblical mandate of Matthew 24:45-46:<br />
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<div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.</span></div><br />
To comply with this mandate, we seek to always serve the Master's household, not be served by it. Our ministry motto is:<br />
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“We will not use people to build our ministry, but we use our ministry to build people.” <br />
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One of the primary ways that we are called to do this is to provide the household of faith with the highest quality spiritual food that is timely, or “meat in due season.” Our goal is to help strengthen the church by helping believers become the strongest Christians possible, and therefore true light and salt in the earth. This is the focus around which every aspect of the ministry revolves. </span></span><br />
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This is copied straight from their website www.morningstarministries.org<br />
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Which we could encourage you to look into!<br />
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Scott will come and write more about what's behind MorningStar for him and his family. But simply put, Scott has been following the ministry, their pastors, teachings, and writings for over a decade. He went to a conference there years ago called Harvest Fest and heard Rick Joyner the lead pastor say something along the lines of "if you don't have a home, we invite you to come make us your home"<br />
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Scott has been interested in, and extremely passionate about prophecy and prophetic ministry since he was young. He loves the idea of receiving words straight from the mouth of God to deliver to a person, or a church in order to bring them guidance, direction, and encouragement! He has sought after mentors, books to read, teachings to listen to on the gift of prophecy. And has found that its just either not very acceptable in most churches (not all, but most) or its just not at the level that he longs to see it at. MorningStar is based on prophecy. The whole church and ministry started all from words from God. It wasn't a man made idea or plan. It was all given to the pastor and other leaders around the world through visions, dreams, and prayers. They love prophecy there. And we do to! We really feel like becoming a part of this community will grow us and challenge us in ways we've been crying out for. And we want to move down to that area and invest in that fellowship because of how much they have invested in us through the years.<br />
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But like I said. We feel like MorningStar is a huge reason why God is calling us there. But not necessarily the ONLY reason we are going. The only reason we are going is because God said to:) As of now we think its for MorningStar, but with our experience in the past, its always so much more than the thing you think it is. We are so limited in our thinking, dreaming, and perceiving. Which is why we follow God. His ways are ALWAYS better.Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-4793053964307837862011-02-09T06:47:00.000-08:002011-02-09T07:45:19.327-08:00Knowing the what and the howHere's an entry from my journal on November 10th 2010<br />
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"I'm feeling overwhelmed about moving. We know you have called us to North Carolina. It is just in us, and we know its true. But we have no idea how it is supposed to happen. Are we supposed to look for jobs? Are we supposed to just move? We really have no place to go, and we definitely don't have the fund in our bank account:) but we don't doubt that you will and can do anything. So I just, we just, need to pray. Please God, how we are supposed to get to North Carolina. Open doors for us. Show us the peopled and the places that we can get in touch with...We trust you, and we surrender this situation into your hands trusting that you are guiding us. Speak Lord!"<br />
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The months between October and February were a shock to us. We've been living from paycheck to paycheck in Brooklyn. Partly because of our low income, but mostly because we felt God leading me to stay at home with Selah and not work. So it was mostly a choice that we would live very simple, frugal lives in order to have me stay at home with Selah. Its been a sacrifice, but one that we feel is obedient and that really pays off every moment:)<br />
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We always feel its best to be honest. If we are not honest with where we are at and where we were at in this season, then people don't have all the details and tools to be encouraged with. So in all honesty, we had some things come up where we had to use our savings, I had to have a lot of dental work, we are still in the process of paying baby bills from having Selah 10 months ago! Our savings account as of a few weeks ago had about $10 in it, and our checking account was hardly ever above $200. And we continued to pay all of our bills ON TIME, and to spend money for fun things as well. Like I said we've been frugal, but God still stretches every dollar so that we don't feel suffocated by finance issues.<br />
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In the natural it looked impossible to move the three of us down South. With our eyes we could see the facts, no money, no jobs, no job openings, no place to live, and no car to get there!<br />
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North Carolina, although we felt strongly we could be there by January, was looking further and further away with our eyes, but feeling close and closer in our hearts. It was a strange time to look and see nothing, but to feel such abundance and harvest and clarity in your spirit that you are supposed to go through with it.<br />
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Here is a verse I held onto in this time, sent to me by an awesome friend of ours called BJ:)<br />
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"The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving kindness, O Lord, endure forever; forsake not the works of Your own hands" Psalm 138:8<br />
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Everything looked like it was sitting still. People were questioning us left and right "any word about North Carolina?" "any jobs lined up? " "got a moving date?"<br />
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Our answer to all of the above: "Nope. Just a word from God."Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751272713131103564.post-52649998558514224382011-02-08T07:08:00.000-08:002011-02-08T07:08:14.275-08:00October: We went into a season change just like the world outside"For I know the thoughts <i>and </i>plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts <i>and</i> plans for welfare <i>and </i>peace, and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." Jeremiah 29:11 Amplified<br />
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Our family has been feeling the tension of a need for change ever since Scott and I got married and I moved in with him in Brooklyn. We really love Brooklyn. Let me re-phrase, I really love Brooklyn. Scott wants to be out in the woods!, but we really have enjoyed what God has brought us to here. Especially our awesome church community at North Brooklyn Vineyard. Scott and I both agree, we've never been to a church that is so full of fellowship and friendship! Its amazing!! I think in the second week we were attending this church we were invited to dinner at our pastors house along with some other new couples in the church. We were plugged in and connected to people so quickly, and not just "church" people, but people that were real and genuinely wanted to know us and pursue a relationship with us, while we all continued to pursue a relationship with God. Its been a really healthy atmosphere for us. We've had so much support, especially with the birth of our first daughter 10 months ago:)<br />
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So although we didn't see ourselves planting roots here, we really love the community here. We are by no means running away from something we dislike, but we are just trying to run into obedience to God. Which even if its hard, its always the BEST way to live.<br />
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In October we went to visit with our best friends Mitch and Katie. Every time we visit with the Luse family we leave more fired up about following God than we were when we came. We receive intense encouragement and God always shows up and ministers to the needs of both of our families when we are together. We are so grateful for our friendship with them! And especially for their honesty with us for what they feel like God is saying about our situation.<br />
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We could barely finish our first meal together before Mitch and Katie jumped on the opportunity to pray over us and ask God what He was saying for our next move.<br />
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The presence of God came in an unmistakable way as we sat around the dinner table. We could feel Him and hear Him so clearly, a time that we will always remember.<br />
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God was speaking to Scott and I about leaving New York. Telling us clearly and bringing the four of us (6 of us if you count our babies:) into agreement that it was time for us to pack up and transition to a new beginning. However, there was a very serious spirit of poverty that Scott and I needed to be delivered of before God could continue to show us where we were to go.<br />
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I will write out here a few characteristics of a spirit of poverty, if you identify with any of these feelings, don't hesitate to ask God to come into your heart and remove these lies! He has come to give us a life and give it MORE abundantly! (John 10:10)<br />
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<ul><li>Feeling that there is never enough</li>
<li>Feelings of constant lack</li>
<li>hoarding--not just with stuff, but with money as well because you feel like if you let go of anything you will not get it back</li>
<li>fear of giving </li>
</ul>I think the biggest thing that Scott and I struggled with was a fear that there wasn't enough. This could be a spirit that we picked up on our own, or something that we've carried through generations. Whatever it was, we were set free from it! Praise God!!! Since being freed from this poverty spirit, we've been able to give more away than ever before. Because we are really confident that "The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not lack" Psalm 23<br />
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We were feeling like if we left Brooklyn we would not be provided for like we have been here. We were scared to step out because we weren't sure of the outcome. We've built up a certain security in Brooklyn, that wasn't based on God, but that was based on our finances and our home and our things.<br />
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Now don't get me wrong, Scott and I don't feel like its wrong to have things. We believe having money, a house, a car, nice stuff like my new iphone:) and our sweet Macbook pro are all GREAT! We don't think that following God means you have to HAVE to have NOTHING and content. We just think that in putting your contentment and confidence in God, that no matter what you have how much or how little, you still believe in Him and you still believe He is good! He is good because that is who God is. Not because of what He does. Although what He does is amazing also:)<br />
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Anyway, we left DC feeling a new sense of freedom in God and ready to seek Him on where we were to go! And when:)Swires Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03303571381335396496noreply@blogger.com0