This journey we are on now, 28 May 2012, started before time began in the plan of the Maker of all things. We also know that because the Word says that. We also know it, because He has been directing every step of the past two years to get us to this place.
Sitting in the airport in San Francisco, I am amazed at the journey of our life and ministry that started 8 April of 2010. God began to set somethings in motion that would redirect our lives. With the redirection come refocus and with refocus comes a clearer picture of what He wants for us.
With the tool set that God has given us and the team that is backing us, we are launching out in a new ministry and journey that will land us in Wiesbaden, Germany. There, Team Shackelford, you included, will begin to build relationships with the military, their family and their students. We will serve there and provide for them an opportunity to become acquainted with our Lord and Savior. We will also work towards building relationships where we can disciple them in their walk with God.
What a joy and opportunity it is! We are blessed to know that the Lord wants to do some great things that has been two years in the making. A lifetime vision to see the lives of students introduced to Jesus that Julie had 31 years ago is now about to happen!
Holding on to His hands and committed to Him, we are excited to see what He is and will do!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Building Crates For the King
This morning four men, "Friends" came and built 3 wooden crates for us to ship our household items to our new home in Germany! They were building crates for the King. Not me...the King!! In less than two hours, Mark Kost, Steve Banister, Bill King and Jeff Dickey took a trailer full of wood and made some amazing crates that are now filling up with household items.
One is completely full and the second one is 1/2 full. In the next few days, the house will be emptied, painted and the containers will be at a warehouse awaiting our arrival and new house being found.
WOW!! It is simply amazing to see what these men did as well as what the Lord is doing! We are truly blessed by each and every member of our team as well as what He is doing in and through us!
You are all amazing those that pray, play and pay as part of TEAM SHACKELFORD! Thanks for following His leading in your lives for His sake and His people.
As Melanie, Julie and I prepare to leave on the 28th, we want you to know how much we value each of you and all you do for us!
Thanks men for your help as well as being available to be used by Him. Thanks to all of you for all you do as well!
Shack
One is completely full and the second one is 1/2 full. In the next few days, the house will be emptied, painted and the containers will be at a warehouse awaiting our arrival and new house being found.
WOW!! It is simply amazing to see what these men did as well as what the Lord is doing! We are truly blessed by each and every member of our team as well as what He is doing in and through us!
You are all amazing those that pray, play and pay as part of TEAM SHACKELFORD! Thanks for following His leading in your lives for His sake and His people.
As Melanie, Julie and I prepare to leave on the 28th, we want you to know how much we value each of you and all you do for us!
Thanks men for your help as well as being available to be used by Him. Thanks to all of you for all you do as well!
Shack
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
What a life!!
I recently attended the 90th birthday for a special and dear friend! She is one of those people that when you are with her, you not only feel like you are the most important person, you feel her love and acceptance.
It is because of nothing that I have done, it is because of who she is! She is a Child of the King!
The King has made her so special and she radiates that to those that come in contact with her. Her demeanor and her personality is so attractive and her attitude is one of making sure you know her King and that you are of value.
When you look at Margaret Hovey, you see not only the beauty of a love for Jesus, you see the beauty of a life transformed and of real value. Her beauty is rooted deep inside and it is there for all to see. When you talk with her over a cup of tea, she always communicates her love for the King and her desire for you to know Him and love Him too.
It is infectious and it is so real! How do you get there? Ask her and she will tell you, "He finds me of value and worth and that means, so are you!" WOW!! That is a life lived out in all ways.
It was an honor to be there with my friend and also was an honor to pray a blessing over her from the King, our King on His special daughter! What a life! Oh, that I would have a life that would do the same. Is your life radiating the King?
It is because of nothing that I have done, it is because of who she is! She is a Child of the King!
The King has made her so special and she radiates that to those that come in contact with her. Her demeanor and her personality is so attractive and her attitude is one of making sure you know her King and that you are of value.
When you look at Margaret Hovey, you see not only the beauty of a love for Jesus, you see the beauty of a life transformed and of real value. Her beauty is rooted deep inside and it is there for all to see. When you talk with her over a cup of tea, she always communicates her love for the King and her desire for you to know Him and love Him too.
It is infectious and it is so real! How do you get there? Ask her and she will tell you, "He finds me of value and worth and that means, so are you!" WOW!! That is a life lived out in all ways.
It was an honor to be there with my friend and also was an honor to pray a blessing over her from the King, our King on His special daughter! What a life! Oh, that I would have a life that would do the same. Is your life radiating the King?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
How to hear from God
Last Sunday I had the privilege of teaching at our home church in our Sunday School class. The Prime Mover class is such a great class and they are a real blessing to us and so many.
As I sought the Lord for what He wanted me to share it became apparent that the lessons of the week were for me to work through and live out His topic for me. So as I prayed and prepped, I found myself searching the scriptures for those who had either learned the lesson or didn't learn how to hear from God.
Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Elijah, Jonah, David and Paul just to name drop as well as to know, that everyone that follows God, has to learn how to hear from Him. The key two ingredients to this I found was that we have to first be clean before Him.
Secondly, we have to stop, be still and get low before Him. When our lives, circumstances and chaos is always going on, we are distracted and then, we don't always hear. When we put the advise and counsel of the world and others, that can and does distort the way we hear and listen to the Lord.
I also found that His desire is for me to Be Still! One way I found that was through the scripture as well as a song by the group Selah titled, Be Still. It moved me to tears all week long as I reflected on the Word and the lyrics to the song. You can find it on YouTube and I would encourage you to take a moment and listen to it. If you are friends with me on Facebook, you can find it linked on my wall too.
So, in the middle of life, chaos, heartache, disaster and even in the calm, we all need to practice a bit of being still so we can hear from God.
Thanks to the body in Prime Movers that let me share and allowed me to just be me and teach His Word from my own life experience. If you would like to hear it, here is the link to the download. http://goodshepherdcc.org/content.cfm?id=213 once there, scroll down to January 29th and you should see my name.
May the Lord bless you as you hear from Him!
As I sought the Lord for what He wanted me to share it became apparent that the lessons of the week were for me to work through and live out His topic for me. So as I prayed and prepped, I found myself searching the scriptures for those who had either learned the lesson or didn't learn how to hear from God.
Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Elijah, Jonah, David and Paul just to name drop as well as to know, that everyone that follows God, has to learn how to hear from Him. The key two ingredients to this I found was that we have to first be clean before Him.
Secondly, we have to stop, be still and get low before Him. When our lives, circumstances and chaos is always going on, we are distracted and then, we don't always hear. When we put the advise and counsel of the world and others, that can and does distort the way we hear and listen to the Lord.
I also found that His desire is for me to Be Still! One way I found that was through the scripture as well as a song by the group Selah titled, Be Still. It moved me to tears all week long as I reflected on the Word and the lyrics to the song. You can find it on YouTube and I would encourage you to take a moment and listen to it. If you are friends with me on Facebook, you can find it linked on my wall too.
So, in the middle of life, chaos, heartache, disaster and even in the calm, we all need to practice a bit of being still so we can hear from God.
Thanks to the body in Prime Movers that let me share and allowed me to just be me and teach His Word from my own life experience. If you would like to hear it, here is the link to the download. http://goodshepherdcc.org/content.cfm?id=213 once there, scroll down to January 29th and you should see my name.
May the Lord bless you as you hear from Him!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Another Year!!!
Well, we made it some may say. Others start out the new year with a new resolution. And then there are others, like me, that make no resolution but desire to see a new and different year. Either way you do it, we are in a new year!
Just looking back over the year, we are so thankful for all that the Lord did. Provisions in so many ways, direction in life and ministry, opportunities to share and teach His Word, mentorship opportunities for both of us as well as time just to see His beauty.
As I write this, I am so thankful for the beauty of His creation outside my office window. His creation sings of the newness and freshness of His hand. His power and might shown in so many ways, The trees, the lawn, the flowers, the sunset and the list goes on! Thanks Lord for all you have done!!!
I am also grateful for the time that we have had with our family! The Lord has provided many opportunities to be together with them. The holidays were all special this past two months and the joy of being together was so fun! Meals, movies, games and even just sitting around the living room. What a great thing.
As I reflect on these few thoughts, I am mindful that the Lord is so much in control of all things and it requires me to know that, accept that and rejoice in that. He knows all things and He is in control of all things. My response, thanks for the new year to service Him! Thanks for the time I have that He gives so that I can make a difference.
May the Lord bless you as we serve Him together! What will you do for Him this new year?
Just looking back over the year, we are so thankful for all that the Lord did. Provisions in so many ways, direction in life and ministry, opportunities to share and teach His Word, mentorship opportunities for both of us as well as time just to see His beauty.
As I write this, I am so thankful for the beauty of His creation outside my office window. His creation sings of the newness and freshness of His hand. His power and might shown in so many ways, The trees, the lawn, the flowers, the sunset and the list goes on! Thanks Lord for all you have done!!!
I am also grateful for the time that we have had with our family! The Lord has provided many opportunities to be together with them. The holidays were all special this past two months and the joy of being together was so fun! Meals, movies, games and even just sitting around the living room. What a great thing.
As I reflect on these few thoughts, I am mindful that the Lord is so much in control of all things and it requires me to know that, accept that and rejoice in that. He knows all things and He is in control of all things. My response, thanks for the new year to service Him! Thanks for the time I have that He gives so that I can make a difference.
May the Lord bless you as we serve Him together! What will you do for Him this new year?
Monday, December 26, 2011
Thoughts about Holidays from a veteran
I was recently talking with a veteran from the war in Iraq. As we talked about what it was like to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas away from family and friends. It was a tender and tough conversation with the seasoned soldier.
As he shared what it was like, we talked about the marginal quality of the food. "It didn't taste anything like my moms dinner." Of course, it wasn't an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) but it wasn't that great. "I really missed the meal with the family." He also talked about the time around the table where they shared memories about their family, tradition and things that they would normally be doing. You see, our military serve so that we can enjoy our freedoms. Freedoms, we take for granted way to often.
Before we finished, he described what it was like to leave the DFAC (Dining Facility) after their Thanksgiving Dinner.
"We left the DFAC and we were hit with incoming mortars that the enemy was shooting in on us. We ran for cover and saw that the area we were sitting near was destroyed." "Not only that one mortar came in, we were hit with 5 other rounds." "Not a great way to spend Thanksgiving!"
The conversation we shared opened my eyes to the way that our military spend their holidays. You know, I may complain at times about the food, weather or other things when celebrating a holiday, and yet now, I am rethinking my responses. I have not spent a major holiday in a foreign land nor in a war zone, but, I now really appreciate what I have.
It is very possible that I will be spending next Thanksgiving and Christmas away from my family so I have treasured this years time in a real deep and special way. Thank you Lord for allowing me to enjoy a great time with my family this season and seasons past.
Praying for each of our military and thankful for their service and sacrifice so we can enjoy our celebrations in safety and comfortably.
May the Lord bless each of our military and their family during this holiday season.
As he shared what it was like, we talked about the marginal quality of the food. "It didn't taste anything like my moms dinner." Of course, it wasn't an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) but it wasn't that great. "I really missed the meal with the family." He also talked about the time around the table where they shared memories about their family, tradition and things that they would normally be doing. You see, our military serve so that we can enjoy our freedoms. Freedoms, we take for granted way to often.
Before we finished, he described what it was like to leave the DFAC (Dining Facility) after their Thanksgiving Dinner.
"We left the DFAC and we were hit with incoming mortars that the enemy was shooting in on us. We ran for cover and saw that the area we were sitting near was destroyed." "Not only that one mortar came in, we were hit with 5 other rounds." "Not a great way to spend Thanksgiving!"
The conversation we shared opened my eyes to the way that our military spend their holidays. You know, I may complain at times about the food, weather or other things when celebrating a holiday, and yet now, I am rethinking my responses. I have not spent a major holiday in a foreign land nor in a war zone, but, I now really appreciate what I have.
It is very possible that I will be spending next Thanksgiving and Christmas away from my family so I have treasured this years time in a real deep and special way. Thank you Lord for allowing me to enjoy a great time with my family this season and seasons past.
Praying for each of our military and thankful for their service and sacrifice so we can enjoy our celebrations in safety and comfortably.
May the Lord bless each of our military and their family during this holiday season.
Getting our Christmas Tree as a family, what a great day!
Thanksgiving dinner as a family where are thoughts turned to Tyler's battle buddies.
Christmas Eve Celebration with family! What a great time!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Joining Team Shackelford!!
In my last blog, I wrote about a young six year old that had join our team! Well, a few weeks later a four year old boy joined our team. Incredible!! I love how God works in building His team!!!
You see, we have always believed in ministry there are are three parts to our team, but only one team...now I am not going to use the Trinity to describe it nor am I going to use the clover or egg to explain it...just One team and three parts to it!
The first is PRAY! Those who pray for our ministry as the Lord directs! Daily, weekly or special times! His leading and prompting is when some pray! We love that! Those our pray team members.
The second is PLAY! Those that are physically involved in ministry with us! Baking cookies for a Bible study, making meals at camp with us, hosting a function at their home, preaching at a church with our former ministry, working on our vehicles, making curtains for our home as a gift and the list goes on! Those our play team members.
Then there are those that PAY! Those who are led by the Spirit to financially give to our ministry so that we can do the work call has for us! They give sacrificially and with their whole heart! They give so that we can go! Some give monthly, quarterly, yearly and at special times with special gifts! Each to their own ability and to the leading of the Spirit. We are so blessed by them. Those are the pay team.
One Team, One Focus, One Lord and One Purpose...to see people know Jesus!!!
You may be on one or more parts to the team but wherever the Lord has you, we are so thankful!!
This past month, the newest member on the play was at my house helping me to put stamps on the envelopes we used to mail out our ministry DVD. What a big job and he was willing to help me out for just about two hours. He was attentive to detail and did an amazing job. He was so excited to help and did so with a grateful heart! While we were stamping them, I shared with him about Jesus and talked about what Julie and I are going to do! He got so excited! My little buddy "G" was excited to know that he was a part of our team!!
You see, know matter how small or big you think you part is, you are a part!! God uses every gift, talent and resource to His Glory if we will let Him lead and use us!
Thanks for being a part!
Are you a part of our team? Where is the Lord leading you to serve His people and His plan today?
www.cadence.org/shackelford is where you can go to join our pay team. Contact us at shack.shackelford@cadence.org for information about our pray, play and pay teams! We would love to share with you our needs and the opportunities for you to be a part!
You see, we have always believed in ministry there are are three parts to our team, but only one team...now I am not going to use the Trinity to describe it nor am I going to use the clover or egg to explain it...just One team and three parts to it!
The first is PRAY! Those who pray for our ministry as the Lord directs! Daily, weekly or special times! His leading and prompting is when some pray! We love that! Those our pray team members.
The second is PLAY! Those that are physically involved in ministry with us! Baking cookies for a Bible study, making meals at camp with us, hosting a function at their home, preaching at a church with our former ministry, working on our vehicles, making curtains for our home as a gift and the list goes on! Those our play team members.
Then there are those that PAY! Those who are led by the Spirit to financially give to our ministry so that we can do the work call has for us! They give sacrificially and with their whole heart! They give so that we can go! Some give monthly, quarterly, yearly and at special times with special gifts! Each to their own ability and to the leading of the Spirit. We are so blessed by them. Those are the pay team.
One Team, One Focus, One Lord and One Purpose...to see people know Jesus!!!
You may be on one or more parts to the team but wherever the Lord has you, we are so thankful!!
This past month, the newest member on the play was at my house helping me to put stamps on the envelopes we used to mail out our ministry DVD. What a big job and he was willing to help me out for just about two hours. He was attentive to detail and did an amazing job. He was so excited to help and did so with a grateful heart! While we were stamping them, I shared with him about Jesus and talked about what Julie and I are going to do! He got so excited! My little buddy "G" was excited to know that he was a part of our team!!
You see, know matter how small or big you think you part is, you are a part!! God uses every gift, talent and resource to His Glory if we will let Him lead and use us!
Thanks for being a part!
Are you a part of our team? Where is the Lord leading you to serve His people and His plan today?
www.cadence.org/shackelford is where you can go to join our pay team. Contact us at shack.shackelford@cadence.org for information about our pray, play and pay teams! We would love to share with you our needs and the opportunities for you to be a part!
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