My son, Cameron, is currently in the hospital. He has been vomitting and can't keep anything down. The doctor has told Cheri his kidneys are not working properly, so he has been throwing up. Please pray for healing and for wisdom for the doctors. I don't know what else to say. If you have questions, post them here. Please just pray. Thank you.
-Jared
Friday, September 20, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
A Walk Through the Cemetary
Our family has been living in Katherine for 9 months now. It is beginning to feel like home, and since it's not a HUGE town, we are getting to know people around town. Working at the motel for 6 months helped with that, and working at Mission Australia now is helping me get to know more people yet. :) Each person has their own story, and each person has a dream of some sort. They have goals they want to accomplish, things they want to see happen in their lives. It's been neat to cross paths with many of them.
I've also really enjoyed taking bike rides with my children. For the first time in this Mullet family history, we all have bikes! Going on a family bike ride is relaxing (usually...) and the kids love it. Any time I say, "I'm going on a bike ride!" the kids all yell, "Can I come too?" :) It makes my heart happy. It's neat to spend time with them, and it also gives opportunities to teach things like, "Watch for cars. Look out for the person in front of you and behind you--if they fall, help them up. We help each other."
One evening we took a bike ride over to the hospital about 2 km from our house because there's a bike path there. They also have the cemetery 1/2 km from the hospital. I've always been interested in going into grave yards and reading people's headstones. I think about what they might have been like, look at how long they have lived, and read what their family had as their epitaph.
There are so many different messages on the headstones, and each tells a bit of a story: "Beloved Husband and Father" "Beloved Wife and Mother,Dearly Missed" --"Reunited at last."
Some of the graves had Bible verses on the headstones, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
Some of the grave markers were so worn out with age over the years that it was hard to make out the name on the stone. Some were impossible to make out. Those were the gravestones that made me think the most, and those ones allowed me to teach a lesson to my kids.
Psalm 103 tells us "As for man his days are like grass. He flourishes like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone. And its place remembers it no more." The truth of that passage became very clear to me. This life is short, before we know it, we'll be just a faded memory. Perhaps no one will remember us in the future. However, there is One who will never forget us. There is One who has everything we will ever do written down in His books. He knows how long we'll be here on this earth, and He loves us. He also gave us a promise:
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
1 Corinthians 15:58
No matter how short my life is, if I am living it for the Lord, I have NOT wasted it. If I am keeping in step with the Spirit, God is glorified and my life is not wasted. Even if everything seems like it's crazy and a bit upside-down, if I'm truly giving my life to Christ, it will all work out. Nothing a believer does by the power of the Holy Spirit is ever wasted. Even if no one remembers or even knows AT ALL, our Father in Heaven does not forget, and He is honored and glorified through our acts of love and kindness. Even the "little" things, which really aren't as little as we think. May God be glorified in us, His children, as we seek to serve and be a blessing and light in this world.
I've also really enjoyed taking bike rides with my children. For the first time in this Mullet family history, we all have bikes! Going on a family bike ride is relaxing (usually...) and the kids love it. Any time I say, "I'm going on a bike ride!" the kids all yell, "Can I come too?" :) It makes my heart happy. It's neat to spend time with them, and it also gives opportunities to teach things like, "Watch for cars. Look out for the person in front of you and behind you--if they fall, help them up. We help each other."
One evening we took a bike ride over to the hospital about 2 km from our house because there's a bike path there. They also have the cemetery 1/2 km from the hospital. I've always been interested in going into grave yards and reading people's headstones. I think about what they might have been like, look at how long they have lived, and read what their family had as their epitaph.
There are so many different messages on the headstones, and each tells a bit of a story: "Beloved Husband and Father" "Beloved Wife and Mother,Dearly Missed" --"Reunited at last."
Some of the graves had Bible verses on the headstones, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
Some of the grave markers were so worn out with age over the years that it was hard to make out the name on the stone. Some were impossible to make out. Those were the gravestones that made me think the most, and those ones allowed me to teach a lesson to my kids.
Psalm 103 tells us "As for man his days are like grass. He flourishes like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone. And its place remembers it no more." The truth of that passage became very clear to me. This life is short, before we know it, we'll be just a faded memory. Perhaps no one will remember us in the future. However, there is One who will never forget us. There is One who has everything we will ever do written down in His books. He knows how long we'll be here on this earth, and He loves us. He also gave us a promise:
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
1 Corinthians 15:58
No matter how short my life is, if I am living it for the Lord, I have NOT wasted it. If I am keeping in step with the Spirit, God is glorified and my life is not wasted. Even if everything seems like it's crazy and a bit upside-down, if I'm truly giving my life to Christ, it will all work out. Nothing a believer does by the power of the Holy Spirit is ever wasted. Even if no one remembers or even knows AT ALL, our Father in Heaven does not forget, and He is honored and glorified through our acts of love and kindness. Even the "little" things, which really aren't as little as we think. May God be glorified in us, His children, as we seek to serve and be a blessing and light in this world.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Prayers from a tired Daddy...
As I was praying with my daughter I had a thought. How often do I simply pray, "Lord, please bless _______'s sleep. In Jesus name, amen." How often do I pray about things that really matter, in the hearing of my children?
There are a lot of excuses I use when praying with the kids, "I'm tired." "They don't need to hear me pray a long prayer..." "I'm tired." "If I get it done quick, then the kids can just go to sleep." And at various times, these excuses are valid.
But the question I ask myself is, "What am I modelling for my children?" If the only time they see me pray is at dinner or before bed, what kind of example am I setting? And when I pray, why not pray with them about things that are relevant to their lives, and Biblical?
The reason we should be praying is because of our love for the One we are praying to: our Father God. I understand that God is different from our earthly fathers, but let's just think about something for a moment. In "real life" if I just talked to my dad 2 times a day, and all I said was "Thanks for the food, and help me to sleep." How strong would our relationship be? And imagine if I never listened to him when he tried to tell me something. I never listened when he told me he loved me; or I ignored his warnings to avoid trouble...and then I taught my children to be the same way (of course not on purpose, but by default.).
How is the best way for me to model a loving prayer life to my children? I know the answer, but it means work. LOVE God. Just like every relationship that's worth anything didn't just happen overnight, there is a daily struggle to spend time with Him, talk to Him, read His own letter to me(you know, THE BIBLE). It seems to me the best way to model prayer, and model love for God is to actually love him and let the kids see it. They will be able to tell by my life, and my love for God should overflow into my prayers. It's easy to talk with someone you love, and it's not awkward.
I hope yumob will pray for me in this regard. Pray that I will be a faithful son who truly loves God, and searches for time to spend with Him--and that I teach my children to do the same.
There are a lot of excuses I use when praying with the kids, "I'm tired." "They don't need to hear me pray a long prayer..." "I'm tired." "If I get it done quick, then the kids can just go to sleep." And at various times, these excuses are valid.
But the question I ask myself is, "What am I modelling for my children?" If the only time they see me pray is at dinner or before bed, what kind of example am I setting? And when I pray, why not pray with them about things that are relevant to their lives, and Biblical?
The reason we should be praying is because of our love for the One we are praying to: our Father God. I understand that God is different from our earthly fathers, but let's just think about something for a moment. In "real life" if I just talked to my dad 2 times a day, and all I said was "Thanks for the food, and help me to sleep." How strong would our relationship be? And imagine if I never listened to him when he tried to tell me something. I never listened when he told me he loved me; or I ignored his warnings to avoid trouble...and then I taught my children to be the same way (of course not on purpose, but by default.).
How is the best way for me to model a loving prayer life to my children? I know the answer, but it means work. LOVE God. Just like every relationship that's worth anything didn't just happen overnight, there is a daily struggle to spend time with Him, talk to Him, read His own letter to me(you know, THE BIBLE). It seems to me the best way to model prayer, and model love for God is to actually love him and let the kids see it. They will be able to tell by my life, and my love for God should overflow into my prayers. It's easy to talk with someone you love, and it's not awkward.
I hope yumob will pray for me in this regard. Pray that I will be a faithful son who truly loves God, and searches for time to spend with Him--and that I teach my children to do the same.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
"...But the LORD directs his steps."
As I walk through life, I find myself asking questions. And then thinking of scenarios. For example, "What if there was a pool full of Jell-o and I was allowed to swim in it?" My kids and I ask each other "Would you rather..." questions. For example, "Would you rather eat chicken, or pizza?" Or, "Would you rather skydive, or cliff dive?" Then the kids get in on the action... Cam cracks me up with, "Dad! Would you rather jump off a cliff of Jell-o into eyeballs, or jump off of water into water?"(Yes, he has seriously said that.)
We think of a lot of scenarios in our lives. We think about the "what-ifs" that we can't control but we think about what we'd do if we could. "If I had a million dollars..."(I could buy bananas in Australia! lol)
I was thinking the other day about the sovereignty of God. He has a plan for our lives, even when we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. "For I know the plans I have for you..." I imagine God up in heaven saying, "Now, little does he know it, but you'll like the part that comes next...." Or, "Look at what happens next!"
God has a plan for our lives. I'm thankful we can trust him with our futures, no matter what may happen. I've had so many plans and scenarios in my life, and God has used some of those scenarios while leaving others undone(or perhaps yet to happen?)... I take comfort in knowing that my God is in control of everything. Nothing surprises him, and in his infinite wisdom, he uses everything to shape us into the men/women He had planned. No matter what the circumstances are, He will complete the work He began in us.
"The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
We think of a lot of scenarios in our lives. We think about the "what-ifs" that we can't control but we think about what we'd do if we could. "If I had a million dollars..."(I could buy bananas in Australia! lol)
I was thinking the other day about the sovereignty of God. He has a plan for our lives, even when we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. "For I know the plans I have for you..." I imagine God up in heaven saying, "Now, little does he know it, but you'll like the part that comes next...." Or, "Look at what happens next!"
God has a plan for our lives. I'm thankful we can trust him with our futures, no matter what may happen. I've had so many plans and scenarios in my life, and God has used some of those scenarios while leaving others undone(or perhaps yet to happen?)... I take comfort in knowing that my God is in control of everything. Nothing surprises him, and in his infinite wisdom, he uses everything to shape us into the men/women He had planned. No matter what the circumstances are, He will complete the work He began in us.
"The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
He is Faithful.
Triumphant blogs are hard to write when you're not feeling triumphant. Putting your best face forward doesn't always require a mask. I don't necessarily thrive on uncertainty. I feel down, useless, and unwanted. I feel weak, stupid, and pathetic. But the thing is, MY HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL ELSE.
I've been tempted to believe the lies that say, "You're not supposed to be in Australia, Jared. You're not with Wycliffe anymore. What's the point? Your family is all in the US, and they miss you. Don't waste your time here. Go home. Go home."
I've been tempted to believe the lies in my own spirit that I am worthless, can't do much, and I'm not needed for anything anyway. The lies press in on every side so much so that I almost want to just quit. Who needs this anyway? But there is always one quiet, gentle voice, saying, "I brought you here. I am not looking for what YOU can do for ME. I'm interested in the man you are becoming, and I am shaping you. Don't give up."
Sometimes that really angers me! I wish I could just simply go through life being "religious"--doing all the "right" things, and not worry about the inner man. I wish it was all how I looked on the outside, because I can play the game pretty well. I've been a Christian for years. I know how to act. But is the Holy Spirit truly the one in control, or is it just my fear of what people might say? The thing is, God IS interested in making me truly sanctified starting from the very core of my being outward.
This is such a struggle because every single day I am faced with my sin, my deceitful heart, and my deep sadness and nagging doubts. I know I'm unworthy. I know I have no hope to become what God wants me to be... APART from Him.
I serve a loving, understanding, patient and kind God. Even when my deceitful heart is raging within my chest and I'm trying to crawl into the coffin next to my old man(the one who was crucified with Christ--Gal. 2:20), and completely stop doing anything the Lord has called me to do---God has defeated my deceitful heart. I don't need to listen anymore to the lies that try to sway me and draw me into despair... away from the God who loves me.
He tells me, "Call me Abba, Father." He takes my hand, and leads me on, He speaks Truth to my heart. As I read the Bible, God speaks to my heart and tells me the truth about Himself, about me, and about the world I'm living in.
So, I think again about the desire to be "religious" instead of "sanctified"... If simply having an outward show of religiosity does nothing to bring me closer to the Father God who loves me, nothing to truly bring about an inner sanctification, I need to spend more time focusing on Him. I need to turn my deceitful heart over to God and allow Him to cleanse and purify it. Though I fail every single day, I trust that God's Word is true.
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Psalm 103 (NIV) Scripture Song.
This is a Scripture I put to music to help myself and my kids to memorize the Bible more. I hope it's a blessing to you all as well. Just copy and paste the link below to the web address browser. God bless, yumob! :)
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/97689563/Scripture%20Songs/Psalm%20103.m4a
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/97689563/Scripture%20Songs/Psalm%20103.m4a
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Mullets, Motels, and Ministry
It has been far too long, and life has changed quite a bit. There have been many things going through my mind that I wanted to share with you all. God has opened doors for ministry even when I feel like I'm not doing enough of it!
Jared(I) has been working at the motel and we are getting into a routine...Though it is not "professional ministry", God(in His grace) brings people to me. There has been more than one occasion where people have said, "Are you a Christian? Will you pray for me?"
One evening Bethany and I rode my bike(she sat on the seat and I pedalled) to the grocery store (Woolies). After picking up our items and hopping back on the bike, an indigenous lady started waving in our direction. I didn't know her, so I looked behind to see if there was someone else who was standing there...but it was just me. She came over and introduced herself as the sister of another lady we knew from Barunga. She said, "You're with the Christian mob, aye?" and then she asked me to pray for her. Immediately after I finished praying for her, another olgamen(old woman) took my hand and said, "Pray for me too." So, with Bethany on the back of the bike, we prayed.
The motel is going through renovations right now, and we've had several different men come to work with us. I was helping one of the men and he said, "So, how long do you think you'll be in Katherine?" I simply said, "As long as the Lord allows." And then he shared that he was a Christian, too, but didn't go to church. He asked me if I thought God was more pleased with the Christians who go to church than with those who don't. It reminded me of Jesus' parable about the tax collector and the Pharisee praying side by side. Which one went away justified in God's sight? I told him that going to church doesn't make us more holy in God's sight, or save us. The only thing that saves us is Jesus Christ's death on the cross and resurrection. If we believe in him, confess our sins, and confess Jesus Christ is Lord, that's when we're saved. However, church is good to give us encouragement from other believers and help us to grow in our walk with the Lord.
There have been random times when people just say, "Are you a Christian?" and then I get to share my faith with them! :) This doesn't happen every single day, but I'm thankful when it does. Please pray for me as I work and adjust to the motel...there have been times when I say, "This isn't what God built me for!"...and yet, that is where he has put me for now. I want to serve well and be an excellent employee/boss--which is challenging at times.
Cheri has been doing well and is building strong friendships with a couple of different ladies in Katherine. It has been very encouraging for her. She is such a blessing to me. She's learning how to sew as well, which has been fun for her. One of her new friends in Katherine came over today and taught her. :) I know Cheri is a blessing to the ladies she is getting to know, as well as to the ladies she has known for a long time.
The kids are doing well and the adjustment to Katherine has been pretty easy for them. :) School is fun for them, and they are learning to swim--in school! These past two weeks, Bethany and Cam are having swimming class every day, and in the next couple of weeks, Alice will go with her class. Cam LOVES IT. He comes home and tells me all about it. Bethany does as well. She told me last night, "Dad we played [name of game] at the pool and GUESS WHO WON? EUGENE!" She is such a vibrant passionate little girl.
Alice is looking forward to her turn. They are all making new friends, and Alice told me today, "I know all the kids in the classes 1 and 2." Knowing that they are doing well is encouraging to me and Cheri.
We have the curriculum for the children's ministry now, and are looking forward to meeting with the other church leaders to hammer out the details. Please pray for all of us, and for the kids in our church as well as throughout Katherine and the Northern Territory. We are in a hurting place. Also, please lift up our pastor and his family as they wait for their visas to be approved. The sooner they can get to Australia, the better.
Thank you all so much for all your prayers and support of our family in the direction God has led us. We really cherish you and praise the Lord for each of you. Please feel free to drop us an e-mail, or comment on this post, too. It really means a lot when we hear from you. May God bless you as you continue to serve Him where He has put you. Pray we would serve well in whatever circumstance God places us in.
Jared(I) has been working at the motel and we are getting into a routine...Though it is not "professional ministry", God(in His grace) brings people to me. There has been more than one occasion where people have said, "Are you a Christian? Will you pray for me?"
One evening Bethany and I rode my bike(she sat on the seat and I pedalled) to the grocery store (Woolies). After picking up our items and hopping back on the bike, an indigenous lady started waving in our direction. I didn't know her, so I looked behind to see if there was someone else who was standing there...but it was just me. She came over and introduced herself as the sister of another lady we knew from Barunga. She said, "You're with the Christian mob, aye?" and then she asked me to pray for her. Immediately after I finished praying for her, another olgamen(old woman) took my hand and said, "Pray for me too." So, with Bethany on the back of the bike, we prayed.
The motel is going through renovations right now, and we've had several different men come to work with us. I was helping one of the men and he said, "So, how long do you think you'll be in Katherine?" I simply said, "As long as the Lord allows." And then he shared that he was a Christian, too, but didn't go to church. He asked me if I thought God was more pleased with the Christians who go to church than with those who don't. It reminded me of Jesus' parable about the tax collector and the Pharisee praying side by side. Which one went away justified in God's sight? I told him that going to church doesn't make us more holy in God's sight, or save us. The only thing that saves us is Jesus Christ's death on the cross and resurrection. If we believe in him, confess our sins, and confess Jesus Christ is Lord, that's when we're saved. However, church is good to give us encouragement from other believers and help us to grow in our walk with the Lord.
There have been random times when people just say, "Are you a Christian?" and then I get to share my faith with them! :) This doesn't happen every single day, but I'm thankful when it does. Please pray for me as I work and adjust to the motel...there have been times when I say, "This isn't what God built me for!"...and yet, that is where he has put me for now. I want to serve well and be an excellent employee/boss--which is challenging at times.
Cheri has been doing well and is building strong friendships with a couple of different ladies in Katherine. It has been very encouraging for her. She is such a blessing to me. She's learning how to sew as well, which has been fun for her. One of her new friends in Katherine came over today and taught her. :) I know Cheri is a blessing to the ladies she is getting to know, as well as to the ladies she has known for a long time.
The kids are doing well and the adjustment to Katherine has been pretty easy for them. :) School is fun for them, and they are learning to swim--in school! These past two weeks, Bethany and Cam are having swimming class every day, and in the next couple of weeks, Alice will go with her class. Cam LOVES IT. He comes home and tells me all about it. Bethany does as well. She told me last night, "Dad we played [name of game] at the pool and GUESS WHO WON? EUGENE!" She is such a vibrant passionate little girl.
Alice is looking forward to her turn. They are all making new friends, and Alice told me today, "I know all the kids in the classes 1 and 2." Knowing that they are doing well is encouraging to me and Cheri.
We have the curriculum for the children's ministry now, and are looking forward to meeting with the other church leaders to hammer out the details. Please pray for all of us, and for the kids in our church as well as throughout Katherine and the Northern Territory. We are in a hurting place. Also, please lift up our pastor and his family as they wait for their visas to be approved. The sooner they can get to Australia, the better.
Thank you all so much for all your prayers and support of our family in the direction God has led us. We really cherish you and praise the Lord for each of you. Please feel free to drop us an e-mail, or comment on this post, too. It really means a lot when we hear from you. May God bless you as you continue to serve Him where He has put you. Pray we would serve well in whatever circumstance God places us in.
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