Just don't Feel like it...

In the midst of my discouragement over the struggle to find a full time job, God has been faithful. Since I moved to Idaho I have struggled to understand God's plan for "my" life. I have often asked, "what is my purpose in life?" or "why am I waisting my life on these silly part time jobs?" Little did I realize that God was taking me through a long process of breaking me down and humbling me in order to teach me a very important lesson.


Lesson: Your purpose in life is to love whole heartily and to serve others no matter how they treat you, what your social status is, or how "important" you think you are. Serve others and when you are tired of serving others, get up and continue to serve because your service might be the only representation of Jesus that they will ever come in contact with.


Yes, I know, what a simple lesson that can be read over and over in the Bible...but honestly, coming from a girl whose "service" radar reads very low, this lesson has been beyond difficult to implement! It is easy to serve others that think the world of you or who are in desperate physical need of help. It is even easy to do a little thing here and there to make you feel extra generous, but what about the days when you just don't FEEl like it. All you want to do is go to Starbucks, read your book while listening to your iPod to block out the needs around you, and then you walk out the door putting on your sunglasses to cover your eyes from anything you don't want to see. ...and God is asking, "Did you serve the frazzled waitress in Starbucks? Or what about the mother that was sitting in the corner drinking her coffee and wondering how she was going to find the energy to deal with her 5 children while her husband is gone on another business trip?" Yet, so often we continue to walk out that door, turn on our car radio and drowned out the soft whispers that prompt us to go back in.


Unfortunately, so often that is exactly what I do; I ignore all the service opportunities around me because I just don't feel like serving. I think I deserve a day just for me...what a lie that Satan has infiltrated into our culture; "a day just for me".


The way Jesus has called us to serve others is continual, fluid, never ceasing...even when we just don't feel like it.

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." ~Matt. 5:46-48

Scout

Welcoming a new addition to the family:

Scout is a Mini Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix.

Mike and I recently decided that another puppy would be a great addition to the Sharpmack family. Play time for Bear; snuggle time with Mike; and a more lively home for me. So far Scout is adjusting nicely and already becoming good friends with us all.

As we start this new year with a new friend, we are excited to see what else will come about in 2011. We pray that FULL support and a full time job for me would be included in the new year! In it all, we trust in God's direction for the new year and wait on His guidance and timing for whatever 2011 may bring.

Thanksgiving rest

This year Thanksgiving looked a little different for the Sharpmack family; the theme of our thanksgiving could have been something like, 'rest in our thankfulness'. While I am sure we could have gone to a friends house or even crunched numbers to figure out how we could travel to be with family, instead, we chose to rest.


It is interesting how the hustle and bustle of the holidays; the excited emotions and the focus on tasks, such as who is cooking what, keeps us from focusing on the simple. Instead of all those distractions we chose to focus on a simple day of rest and thanksgiving. It is because of my opportunity to rest (literally laying on the couch, looking out the window with no distractions insight) that I was able to truly reflect on all that the Lord has done; health, love, friends, family, memories, future goals, and security. Of course, things are far from perfect and so often my mind is overwhelmed with the distractions of situations I cannot control...but on this unique Thanksgiving, I realized why the Lord emphasized the importance of rest so much that he encouraged an entire day to be filled of it. It is with the resting of our mind, our body, and our spirit that we are truly able to focus in on the beauty of our saviour and the blessings only He can provide.


So why might God have encouraged a day of rest? Perhaps it was to encourage us to leave our worries behind, to leave our self centered thoughts behind and to truly acknowledge Him and to encourage a thankful spirit.




Exodus 31:15 "For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord."

Family

Family has been the theme for Sharpmacks these last few weeks. My mom and sister came to visit at the end of October. How awesome it was to be able to show them around a once familiar town. Memories came flooding back as we drove by our childhood home, school, and church. And to think, my sister and I are now grown with "adult" lives; so much time has come and gone- lessons learned, friendships made, marriages legalized. I am so thankful that the Lord's hand has been on us as we have taken over the driver's seat and followed the signs into adulthood.

In addition to my mom and sister visiting Boise, we also had the rare opportunity to travel to Washington where we were able to surprise my Grandma for her 80th birthday. What a special time of reflecting. We looked back on where our family came from and why we are the way we are based off of many generations of decisions made before us. What a testament to generational faith.

One day after I left my family at the airport to fly home, Mike and I returned to pick up Mike's mom. Mike's mom had never been to the midwest so, needless to say, we had so much fun showing her Boise, taking her to the foothills, and finally exploring the beautiful mountains of Idaho. Showing her our new life felt so fulfilling and she was gracious to hear and learn all she could about our new home.

As Mike and I grow older and as we live further away, we cherish our family all the more. While 'family' may show signs of craziness, be difficult to live with [at times], or not always see eye to eye, we do know that family will always love each, offer grace and mercy inlight of each other short comings and will always stand by each other.

So go hug some family!

2 trips, 1 month

In the last month of us living in Idaho we have had the opportunity to go on two trips with the Idaho YD staff. Our first trip was to City of Rocks, a national reserve in southern Idaho. There we had a special time of meeting the staff, debriefing from the summer, and brainstorming for this next year as we have more staff to utilize. Currently, there are two other couples besides us and one single man who are in the process of raising support; God is certainly building up our team to accomplish great things for His glory!

Our second trip with the YD staff was just this last weekend. We all crammed into the van and traveled 10 hours up to Anacortes, WA for the 40th anniversary of Youth Dynamics. It was in Anacortes in 1970 that YD was founded by Paul and Connie Evans. Since then countless numbers of students have been challenged, pushed and encouraged to trust Jesus with everything.

It was at the celebration dinner that we all dressed up in 70's garb and told stories of students who have been changed because of God's work in using YD. What a blessing it was for us to hear those stories, to meet current staff, past staff, volunteers and alumni. It was through this weekend that God challenged Mike and I to push forward, to seek the Lord for our financial support, and to trust that it will come in His timing. No matter how long it takes for us to raise our full support, we do know that we are so excited and thankful to be used by God to help transform youth's lives in the Northwest!

Oh Sweet Idaho

After two years of praying, waiting, and trusting the Lord, we have finally made it to Idaho! Even in the midst of our doubting, worrying, and at times, unfocused faith, God has been faithful to take us to a place where we can serve with full devotion.

We have meet the YD Adventure team which includes 3 other couples, two of which are still raising support like us. We are excited to see how this team that God has brought together will gel and serve together as one. We have already had many great conversations and laughs!

Two other important pieces of God's plan have come together for us. First, we are thrilled to have found a home of our own. We are renting a 2 bedroom duplex in Boise. It doesn't feel like home yet, but after everything gets moved in our home will begin to feel lived in! Also, I (Sheila) have been offered a part time position with Huntington Learning Center. I will be a lead tutor! Overall, I will be overseeing the tutoring program at two schools in the community and I will also have the opportunity to tutor students of all ages. I am sure it will be an adventurous school year!

We are thankful for your prayers and would humbly ask for you to continue to pray for us as we continue to raise the rest of our support. We are currently at 64% and looking to wrap up the rest of the support in God's timing. In it all, we thank the Lord for His continued provision. It is only because of His faithfulness that we are here and ready to serve.

Blessings and well wishes from Idaho.

Idaho!

After a year of waiting and trusting, the Sharpmack's are moving to Idaho! Our POD is being delivered next Friday and we begin our 3 day drive on August 31. While we are excited for this new adventure, we must admit that there is apart of us that is quite nervous. We have yet to secure permanent living arrangements, jobs, or 100% support...yet we know this is God's direction for our lives. We trust that as we trust Him, He will be faithful to provide.


We are currently at 55% of our support, so Mike will get to take a half salary and work 'part time' for Youth Dynamics Adventures until we reach that 100% mark. I will be looking for teaching opportunities or anything else God chooses to bring my way. To sum it up, we are pumped for this next phase of ministry and we are so thankful to have family and friends who pray for us and encourage us often. While we are so nervous, we know we would much rather be exactly where God wants us...and right now, that is Idaho.



We will keep you posted on this crazy journey called life!