Refueled and Ready for what lies ahead...most of the time

So much has gone on in our world since I last wrote. 

QUICK RECAP:  We have been living in the Philippines for just over 5 years now. 3 of our children are now in high school. We have adopted a fourth child who is almost 10! The work of the Lord is moving forward. My mother found out that she had breast cancer. They caught it at the early stages and today she is cancer free!  My dad was also diagnosed with cancer. They found it late. He is a fighter and he is fighting. I hate cancer!!!

It had been 3.5 years since our family had been back to the USA. It was time, given all the different circumstances we had just walked through. Our adoption is still not final after MORE THAN 2.5 YEARS in the process. We are in it for the long haul & she is worth it :) We arranged for little Liberty to stay with dear friends as her new school year began and we headed off for the USA. Trent stayed behind to be with Liberty and joined us for just over a month later on. 

While stateside we were so blessed with many coming alongside the vision the Lord has given us. For a decade now we knew the Lord has given us a ministry base and now we are able to begin this leg of our journey with the provision to get things started. This will enable us to take in more kids who have been broken, abused and/or abandoned. We are so thankful to God for all He has done!!!

We also were able to catch up with many different loved ones and supporters.  Trent and I both were able to see his grandfather and my grandmother - both 94 years old! We got to love on and spend time with my (Amys) parents & brothers families. Precious time with Trents family side of the family too. We were not able to see  everyone though 😕

Cancer kinda takes center stage like that.  You don't want to miss a minute away from your loved ones. You want to treasure your time together. You become selfish with your time. But I think it is a good selfish. One most understand.

 During our trip home Dad went critical, or so we thought. We were given the advise to go to hospice. We were also given the counsel to fight as long as you can.  We had more up and down days. I battled my fears and fought for faith through each one. 

This whole trip the Lord has been speaking to me. He has been encouraging me to live for Him more than ever. 

This life is yet a vapor!

We aren't living for our vision. We aren't living for ourselves. We are living for Jesus, whatever the cost. 

We want to expand the Kingdom for Christ by doing our part. I am so excited to be a part of equipping these kids to walk in their God given destiny!!!

The future is exciting!!!

And my Dad has cancer. This breaks my heart into a million pieces! I live on the other side of the world and my Dad has cancer. 

"Remember Amy, this world is yet a vapor!!! Remember Amy, you have eternity with your Daddy!!!"  These are the things I have to remind myself. 

"What about my Mom!?!?!? She is exhausted and how can I not be here and help her?!?!?" I ask the Lord.

"I am with her. My grace is sufficient for you. My grace is sufficient for her. She will grow in me in ways she couldn't otherwise. Your mom is my daughter. You will be together for eternity". I hear spoken into my heart. 

Peace comes flooding in.

So while I have the peace of God most of the time, I am still a girl that loves her dad beyond words. I battle between knowing the "right things" to say and walk in that. The truth is freeing, but pain and heart ache still are felt. I believe in miracles and I still hold out hope for one for my dad. There is no instruction book for dealing with cancer. The only right way I can work out is on my knees. Trusting the Lord in ways I can't control or even understand. He is faithful. He is a good Father. 

So bring on the next leg of this journey! I am excited and refueled to return to the mission field. And Lord, steady my heart for the part that aches with leaving my loved ones back in the USA. Comfort and strengthen their hearts too ❤️

 

Just finished updating our newsletters here on the blog from the beginning of 2016!!!

Heat

Well it is SUMMER TIME!  I have ALWAYS LOVED SUMMER TIME!!!  As an adult it doesn’t have the same “feel” as it did as a child of lazy days & suntans - but I still love to welcome Summer!  Funny thing is that we LIVE in the summer temperatures all year long, and yet I still welcome the summer.  If I could live at a cool 70 something degree climate - that would be great, but I enjoy the HEAT!  

Heat has a way of  bringing out the little things, doesn’t it?  I find it harder to do tasks and the energy level is sometimes decreased when I am not acclimated to the climate.  But, once acclimated to the climate - it is not so hard!  (ie. running outside in humidity and heat)

That makes me think about the other “HEAT” the Lord brings to our lives.  HEAT like emotions, feelings, a mountain of “TO-Do’s”, making all meals, laundry, cleaning, homeschooling, ministry and let’s not forget the biggy::: relationships!  

My brother in law once told me that LIFE IS THE SCHOOL OF THE SPIRIT.  I gotta Amen that right now!! Ha!  

There are things we walk through in life that we can never get in a book.  Yes, the answers to life are in the Bible, but there is a whole lot of flesh, mind, emotions & will that you have to deal with to get through it!

James puts our trials this way: 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.                       James 1:2-3

So whatever your “HEAT” is - welcome it!  God is at work!  He often uses others too!  Yes, their bad attitude, hi-lo emotions, self centeredness is an opportunity for YOU to be like Jesus.  Trust me, this is a personal message, God has been at work here!   :) 

It’s also important to reminded, we have plenty of our own flaws - even though others are much easier to see 

So no matter what comes your way, you are being called up into who He has called you to be!  As a Child of God: You are Royalty.  Your Father is a King. (Ephesians 4:1-3 Look it up) I will leave you with a couple quotes to ponder on as I have been:

There is ALWAYS something to be THANKFUL for.

Give Grace! “If you believe in grace, then let it change you.  Don’t use it as an excuse to stay where you are.” Joyce Meyer

The more you loose yourself in Christ, the less you loose yourself in your flesh :) 

Sometimes those things we don’t like “in” others is often what is actually “in” us. - Beth Moore

Compassion will always go farther than criticism.  Maybe they are having a bad day? 

Lastly, a question worth pondering: How can I bless (with words, a gift, prayer) this person in my life?

Dear Edgar

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

I am overjoyed in my heart about an awesome testimony we have to share!!!!

Recently our kids befriended a neighbor. Edgar (pictured above) is a cute kid! After the first day of playing Jackson, Braden and Trinity began to tell him about all that Jesus has done because of His love for us. The cool part was that the kids really liked Edgar, but really had a burden for him to come to know the Lord.

The kids began sharing with Edgar about heaven and hell, about the difference between knowing about Jesus & having a relationship with Jesus!

Edgar's heart began to be moved! Edgar's reply was, "I want Jesus to be my Savior too!" Then they helped Edgar pray to the Lord. Later that day the kids shared with us what had happened. Thank You Jesus for your love!

We have really enjoyed getting to know him & see the friendship with him grow. Braden has given Edgar his first Bible & now the kids are reading a chapter or 2 of Luke & then talking about it together. Please keep Edgar in your prayers that he would continue to grow in relationship with the Lord.

Preparing for our departure to Davao City, Philippines!

We are so excited about preparing for our move to Davao City, Philippines in early July of 2011. We are excited about co laboring with other FIRE International missionaries that have labored for nearly a decade in the Philippines. We have great respect for these families & are honored to join the Philippines team in whatever way the Lord directs.

We are also encouraged because jour children Jackson, Braden & Trinity already know several of the other missionary kids on the team!!! Instant friendships & a community of homeschoolers. We couldn’t ask for more!

Our hearts are burning with passion to share the love of Jesus! Our desire is not only to reach the unreached, but we have been given a burden to see healing and restoration to the lives of those who are in spiritual darkness and have been imprisoned by the enemy. Specifically, we hope is to be a part of the end of modern day slavery in the area of human trafficking.

We are almost where we need to be! We still need to raise $700 in monthly support. It sounds like a lot, but when the body comes together – it really isn’t!!! We are all called to missions, whether you are called to literally go, support those who are called to go and/or pray.

Would you consider joining us in the Great Commission?
No dollar amount is too small!
You can give monthly or annually – either way is needed!

All donations made through FIRE International are tax deductible. Checks can be mailed to:
FIRE INTERNATIONAL
PO BOX 5306
Concord, NC 28027
Make checks payable to FIRE International and in the memo line write "Trent and Amy Pruett"

Or you can donate online by clicking our blog title "Preparing for our departure to Davao City, Philippines!" at the top of this page.
Be sure to put Trent and Amy Pruett in the missionary to be designated to.

If you feel provoked by the Holy Spirit to sow into this ministry, please let us know if you can stand with us. Different than our time in Thailand we are a part of a missions sending agency. FIRE International is requesting that we have our amount “pledged” prior to our departure. So, let us know if you can and are able to partner with us by replying to this blog. Thanks so much!

Love,
Trent, Amy, Jackson, Braden & Trinity Pruett

Returning to the blog world!

My heart is free to sing! For some time now I have not quite known what exactly to blog about. The past 2.5 years has been one of seeking God for clarity & direction. We have felt the Lord showing us many smaller pictures, but not quite sure how it was all going to come together. Well, the picture is clear! We look forward to sharing with you the details soon! We have a few more details to finalize - hopefully this week - and we will be posting as soon as we are able!!!

Good Devotional :)

Give Out The Blessing
taken by Streams in the Desert, by Mrs. Charles Cowman

"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his inner being shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).

Some of us are shivering and wondering why the Holy Spirit does not fill us. We have plenty coming in, but we do not give it out. Give out the blessing that you have, start larger plans for service and blessing, and you will soon find that the Holy Ghost is before you, and He will present you with blessings for service, and give you all that He can trust you to give away to others.
There is a beautiful fact in nature which has its spiritual parallels. There is no music so heavenly as an Aeolian harp, and the Aeolian harp is nothing but a set of musical chords arranged in harmony, and then left to be touched by the unseen fingers of the wandering winds. And as the breath of heaven floats over the chords, it is said that notes almost Divine float out upon the air, as if a choir of angels were wandering around and touching the strings.

And so it is possible to keep our hearts so open to the touch of the Holy Spirit that He can play upon them at will, as we quietly wait in the pathway of His service.--Days of Heaven upon Earth
When the apostles received the baptism with the Holy Ghost they did not rent the upper room and stay there to hold holiness meetings, but went everywhere preaching the gospel. --Will Huff

"If I have eaten my morsel alone,"
The patriarch spoke with scorn;
What would he think of the Church were he shown
Heathendom-huge, forlorn,
Godless, Christless, with soul unfed,
While the Church's ailment is fullness of bread,
Eating her morsel alone?
"Freely ye have received, so give,"
He bade, who hath given us all.
How shall the soul in us longer live
Deaf to their starving call,
For whom the blood of the Lord was shed,
And His body broken to give them. bread,
If we eat our morsel alone!"
--Archbishop Alexander "Where is Abel thy brother?" (Gen. 4:9).

My thought summary: So freely you have beeen given, freely you shall give....The more you give, the more you will have to give!!!!! Very motivating!!!

Prayer

So, I wrote this in my journal the other day. Then, later that day I realized I hadn't blogged and how I had hoped to be better about blogging. Which is why I figured I would put this prayer up and open up! I know I am not a poet....but this is how I was praying and it just ended up like this....



I can’t deny this stirring in my heart…..
The stirring for so much more than I have to give.
A calling, at times, I have tried to run from,
Tried to deny and tried to just live.

From the depths of something so much greater than I am
I pray that You Lord will be glorified with this vessel.
A stirring to follow the Lamb
O’ the precious Lamb!

Fill me Lord
Use me Lord
Mold me Lord
And Guide me Lord.

Pour Your Spirit out of me.
Let my hands be your hands.
Let my feet be led by you.
Give me the strength to stand.

I want my eyes see as you do
And let me continue to have an ear to hear you
O my beautiful God!
Let Your words of Life flow from me too.

I cannot give into the pressures surrounding me.
Pressure to live my life for something other than what you have destined it for.
I will live for you and you alone my Lord….
My strength in whom I adore!

For You, my Lord, are perfect and Love and all that I need is in You!
Thank you for the cross,
Thank you for the Resurrection
& thank You for all that I have no idea that you are…

For You are unimaginable & I’m incapable of capturing the vastness of which You are….yet….You are my Father, You are my Savior…………..Selah

Blogging world....

Well, I have just returned from an intense season in which I was stretched to the extreme with my schedule. In the midst of that, there was no way to maintain my obligations & home and keep up the blog. It looks as though I may be able to return to the blog world and share my heart more frequently...

I felt that it would be important to post this as it is near and dear to our families heart. As Christians we need to be praying for the lost. I am adding a wiget to target unreached people. Pray as led.....Well....if you are reading this - PRAY ANYWAY! lol




Live for Him!
Amy

Concord & FIRE School/International

Well, we have moved and are settled in our little home here in Concord North Carolina :) We are really enjoying this season of being a part of a community of people that are after the heart of God!

Why FIRE? Well, in short, we were praying and felt that in returning to the mission field we were needing a "sending body". Our original body of people has sadly been a bit scattered. Now God is doing awesome things in the lives of those in which we were involved with, but it was not what we felt we were needing in line with Scripture of a covering, acountability and Pastorial care. Also, our official sending church is not in operation either today. So! We prayed and felt led that FIRE was our next destination.

So here we are in Concord, North Carolina attending the FIRE School of Ministry - so that after we complete the ministry school we can be sent out by their FIRE International agency. Actually, I am attending FIRE School of Ministry while Trent is working to pay the bills :) God has blessed him with an amazing job that could possibly lead to "tent making" and support or partially support our ministry!!! Please be praying for this!

We are seeking the Lord about direction upon completion here. We know the Lord has already placed in our hearts missions. It may not be want our fleshly desires would have - but deep in our hearts (sometimes real deep - LOL) it is what God has given us a heart for. So! Join us in prayer during this season of filling up & soaking in because we are here to be sent out WHERE EVER that may be!

God Bless You!
Amy
you can read more about FIRE INTERNATIONAL here:
http://www.fire-international.org/aboutFI.aspx

Nehemiah - Trents Sermon June 14, 2009

Today Trent got a chance to share with Liberty Lighthouse Church of Sherman Texas, thanks to our dear friends John and Stephanie Blake!! I am uploading for one of our friends and maybe you too will enjoy.

I missed the first 2 minutes, but Trent has just begun introducing the topic of Nehemiah and how Jerusalem came to be in such a state or peril the story begins. (Nehemiah 1:2-3)

(click title of this blog entry to hear sermon - it will automatically start)

Family update:

Trent and I are moving to North Carolina to attend a ministy and missions college. We believe God will be sharing His heart for us and directing us in the call upon our lives. From there we hope to be firmly planted in the place in which we feel the Lord is leading us. It is not the plan to relocate quite so often :) But! Not our will, but His will. Please keep us in your prayers during this preparation season.


Trent and the boys checking out the clues they found around the backyard....Those guys are always up to something!


Ahh! Fun in the sand at the local "beach club"....not quite the waters of Thailand, but very fun none the less!


Just a quick snapshot while at a birthday party at the club :) Aren't they cute!??!?

God of This City

Let's come together as a unified body of Believers in the North Dallas Metroplex for an evening of worship and prayer, asking God to pour out revival on our city and on His people!

God of the City
May 5, 2009
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Pizza Hut Park, Frisco
Ticket Information: http://www.godofthecity.com/

Greater is He

Greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

enough said...