Month: September 2015

Moving to Chincoteague Island,VA Part II

Good morning, and Happy Friday to all that are reading it. We are now down to 12 days until we take the road trip to Chincoteague Island, and our new home, and new chapter in our lives. I am finding this to be an exciting time and also a time of trepidation.

Let me explain, we are excited to be following God’s call and stepping out in faith, that He will provide for us. We are excited about starting a new chapter in our lives, and seeing where He is taking us. We are excited about meeting and getting to know new people, and places. It is one thing to go and visit a place, and meet people, but it is totally different to up and move to a new place and meet new people.

In the same token, it is scary to move to a new place and meet new people. You start thinking: “What if they do not like me?” During my meeting this past Wednesday with Pastor Marty, he had a great answer to that question. He said, (and I am paraphrasing him) do not worry about what other people think of you, be yourself! He has gone through what we are going through, when he moved to New Jersey from Texas. He really stepped out in faith and started Fellowship Alliance Chapel, and by doing this God has blessed him and his family abundantly. My one prayer that has been constant during this time is that Father will bless Stacey and I abundantly. His love will never fail!!

We ask of all of you to keep us in prayer during the next week, as a lot of last are coming up for both Stacey and I, here is a brief list of what is going on. I have included dates, so that you can pray specifically on those days for those things. We greatly appreciate it!

9/23/15: My last breakfast with the men of Fellowship Alliance Chapel, Band of Brothers, and also my last evening of Alpha, also at Fellowship Alliance Chapel.

9/25/15: Stacey’s last day at work. i will be taking her so, this day please pray for her and I. For her to get through the day and for me for safe travels to and from her job.

9/26/15: Our last worship service at Fellowship Alliance Chapel. We will be back up when the new sanctuary is open, and also in January for the Men’s conference, as I will be pinned for completing the Timothy Project.

I am keeping this short today, but know there will be more coming. We are not saying good-bye, we are saying cya, as we will be seeing everyone again, maybe not as often as now. Know that you all are in our hearts, our prayers and our thoughts.

His great loves endures forever!!!

p.s. we will be posting pictures of our new place and the beautiful scenery of the island once we get settled!!

Moving to Chincoteageue Island, and following God’s call

As most of you reading this already know, Stacey and I are moving on October 1,2015 to Chincoteague Island, VA. We heard Father’s call to us to go there. There are so many thoughts going on in my mind about doing this, that at times it is very noisy and at times very quiet and calm. I will try and explain what I am thinking, and feeling.

The first thing going through my mind is that I am leaving New Jersey. This is the only state that I have ever lived in, unless you want to consider the year and a half that I lived in Philadelphia, when I was first born? I have lived the majority of my life in Cherry Hill, but have lived in other towns, Pine Hill, Swedesboro, Delran,and Wrightstown, just to name a few places. I even lived with my sister in Erial for a short period of time. So basically I have lived in NJ for 50 years. That is a very long time. There are good and bad memories during this time. I will miss all of my friends that I have known for many years, and even those that I have know for a short period of time.

The one sad thing, among many sad things is that we are leaving Fellowship Alliance Chapel. Father brought us to this place through my mother-in-law and father-in-law. For that I am eternally grateful for. I have mentioned before the story of us going there. Stacey and I have spent 9 years going to this wonderful church, learning from some pretty great people. They have been there to support us spiritually, and emotionally. I have served God with so many wonderful people, that I simply can not mention them all. The one person that I really will miss is Jeff German, we have had so many great conversations. I will always remember, taking my Entertainment Law class and we would discuss the topics that I would have to do papers on, he was a great help in listening and giving his advice, even though it was not his specialty. I always loved his answer to me, when I would say that when I get home, I would ask God…. and he would reply “At that point what does it matter?” I will miss our time together on Wednesday night at Alpha, and our once a month on Wednesday for Band of Brothers!  I also need to thank Nick Simpson, for allowing me to do what I love to do once a month and sometimes more, in serving our Heavenly Father.

Another challenge at not a bad one is adjusting to Island Life. It is so much slower there, then here. I have to remember that I am NOT  a tourist, but I live there. I pray that Father will help me and Stacey get use to this small fact, and that the adjustment will come quickly and easily.

We will be starting a new chapter in our life, we will be starting at a new church, and meeting new people. There will be challenges to this, but the one thing that I know that will not change is that fact that God loves us and will protect us in our new place. I will try and explain all that I am feeling and going through, please bear with me as this is a work in progress, just as I am a work in progress. If I did not mention your name or what you have added to my life specifically I am so sorry, but know that you are in my heart.

For His great love endures,

Joe