One Step at a Time!

Anja, the Boys, and I, have now been in Cali since June. It has been a roller coaster ride with high moments and low moments, and plenty of culture shock! I knew that the culture shock would be there, we have not been in the United States to live for 6 years, and though not much has changed a lot has, and will take some time to adjust. Thanks for the Prayers!

Many wonder How things are going for us, So I write today to let all know this is where God has us right now. One Step at a Time. The Lord has not shown Anja and I the big picture yet all we see right now is the next step our foot needs to go. Listen to this verse we got the other day.
Psalm 86:13  Righteousness goes before him  and prepares the way for his steps.
What an amazing verse, Yes it speaks of our Lord, how righteousness is going before Him and it prepares the way for his steps. But as a Pastor friend of mine shared how the Lord used this verse in His life in a time of change, it sunk deep into my heart and I knew this is exactly what God is doing in our life. This is where He has us.
We all know what is right and wrong, the question is are we doing what is right? It is amazing as you read through the Bible and see the Men God used, there was wickedness all around them yet those who did what was right, God always prospered, God always showed them the way in which they were to go. It is said of Noah that He was found a just man in His generation, in a generation that wanted nothing to do with God, they were only interested in their own things, and they were wicked. This was all around Him, Yet He did not give in to the temptation but kept his focus upon God and in doing what was right. What took place then, was that it  prepared the way for his steps and GOD led him and his family through difficult days. This is what God is calling us the four harts to do. To Trust in Him who is the author and finisher of our faith, who has promised never to leave us nor to forsake us, Who said to us as we were leaving Germany to Fear not He is with Us and When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Let me tell you we are having our shares of passing through waters that are High and through the rivers, But we are not being swept away. He is sustaining us, and helping us take the next step.
We Rest upon Him, and His promises knowing that it is impossible for Him to lie. He is always and will always be True to His Word. When He says He has a plan for our lives and His thoughts toward us are of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope that is exactly then what it is, regardless of the now situation. I am right now barely able to move, I have really bad back spasms, I broke my big toe just before Halloween, Yes I could sit here and ask Why, God don't you see I don't need this right now, well that is what I think. But He knows what I need.
 And He is directing my steps. His word tells me in Proverbs That though my heart plans my ways He directs my steps.
 He is calling Anja, the Boys and I to walk right now One step at a Time, Doing what we know to be right, staying focused upon Him and that will prepare the path in front of us.
So for you in whatever situation you find yourself in, You know what is right! Don't follow those around you who are seeking the things of this world, Seek the Kingdom first and all these things will be added unto you. Seek righteousness and that will prepare the path you are to be taking.
We don't know the big picture, but we do know, He has called us to take it One Step at Time, doing those things we know to be right, and watching that Prepare the path in front of us.
God is Good! Keep your eyes upon Him, your ear's open to His voice and when He speaks Obey.
As my pastor in Germany always said  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen

Update

Wow, I am sorry that it has taken me this long to finally write. America, I must say I do enjoy being back, and yes I miss Germany too :) There are always pro's and con's to living there and living here, but having my wife and two boys on my side, we could live anywhere and it would always be HOME!
God continues to teach me to wait upon Him, that I must admit is the hardest thing, but He has given us those promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that though it get's hard He is there, and that knowledge alone should bring my life peace and it does.

Since the last blog, somethings have changed, Anja has a part time job, I am working at Calvary Chapel South Bay helping out in their maintenance department, and in the process of trying to get hired on with the LAPD. Levi and Luca are doing great here, and God is protecting them. Just today Levi was on His bike coming home with a friend, Levi looked right,was getting ready to go, His friend goes on before him, Levi looks left as His friend is already in front of him on the street, when Levi sees a car, yells at his friend to stop but it was too late the car hits his friend. This friend of Levi's was ok, was not  taken by the ambulance but I am sure that he is sore. God had his hand upon my boy and my prayers go out to this friend of Levi's
Luca is also doing very well, He got an A+ in school and was so excited and kept saying an "A+ my first one in my whole entire life"
We also have found a little house to rent on the same street as my parents, God is so good we were praying for a place to find in the same area as the boys school as to prevent too many changes. God hooked us up and Anja has done a wonderful job making it home.
Thank you so much for all your prayers as things change and God opens doors I will write,
Until then Redeem the Time, For His return is soon :)
Josiah, Anja, Levi and Luca

A New Season in Our Life

Here we are, back now in the United States. Sunny California :)

Now I was hoping by now to be able to say that we have a place to live, a new job, and that we are settling in just fine. Well we are settling in just fine but I still do not have a job nor do we have a place of our own yet. We find ourselves in a place right now where God has us waiting and trusting. I know that He will come through He always has and just in the perfect timing.
There are job opportunities lined up just waiting back to hear from them. Anja and the boys are doing well, and we are all looking forward to Yosemite this coming Sunday for one whole week. I will make sure to post some pictures. We have been spending a lot of time with each other and catching up on old friendships, this has been such a blessing.
The boys will be starting school here soon, so that is what we will also be concentrating on, making sure that the adjustment for them is as smooth as it can be.

I just wanted to write shortly to give an update, and to thank you all for your prayers, and words of encouragment. May God Bless you all.
As soon as I hear more about a job, and a place of our own I will let you all know.

Staying focussed on His Plan, and His Will

Harts4

Jesus in the center

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where the crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.

Luke 19:17-18

Is Jesus Christ in the center of your life? Is Jesus Christ in the center of your marrige? Is Jesus Christ the center of your family? Is Jesus Christ in the center of your job? Is He? that is exactly where He needs to be the center of everything you do. He has called us to the narrow road to follow Him and the only way to remain on that road is to have Him in the center of our sight, To stay strong and encouraged when it get's difficult on that road we need to have Him the center of our sight. To Find the way we need to have Him center in our sight. I am so thankful that on that Day Jesus was in the center. And I am so thankful that He is in the center of my life today! Is He in Yours?

 He is the way, the truth, the life no one comes to the Father but through Him!
John 14:6

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.!
John 3:16-17

Choose Him to be the center of your life and Live!

GOING BACK TO CALI

 Anja, the Boys, and I will be calling California  Home once agian! For many of you this is new news for some you old news.
     With most change in life there comes with this move joy and sadness. I mean picking up the tent pegs once again after six years being in Germany and saying Good Bye is not easy, on the other hand we are as a family very excited to see what God has in store for us in Cali. Many of you might be asking 'what is it that you will be doing?' That is a very good question and one that I can not at this moment answer. The Lord has placed some things on my heart that at the moment I would like to keep there as we prayerfully follow His lead. Some of you reading this know the direction we are going and as the doors keep opening up we will let you know. It is with the Words that the Lord spoke to the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah in Chapter 43 that we move out " But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, For I have redeemed you; I have called you y your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire,you shall not e burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Isreal, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honred, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you;..." These verses have brought us so much comfort as we step out in Faith to follow what we feel the Lord has placed on our heart to know that He is with us and has commanded us not to Fear. Levi and Luca are very excited to be going to Cali and they are sad to have to say goodbye to Anja's family as well we all are. Please keep this part of the move in your prayers as I am sure many of you know how it is. I am in my last week of work and that is bittersweet, serving here for the last 3 years has been wonderful and God has used it in so many ways in my life City Chapel has been home and will always be home for us in Germany, We are very excited to see what God is going to do here and is doing as we move on, New people stepping up to fill in the gaps, New direction for certain ministries Praise God! Roland and City Chapel Thank you for allowing me to serve the King with you it has been an honor.
Just two minutes ago someone came by my office and gave me a peice of Chocalte with a verse attached to it just another WOW moment withGod! I will close with the verse I recieved and will blog again soon! Thank you for your prayers

 " Fear Not, For I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

a poem

on Nov. 15th at 7:15 am, the day of my heart surgery, the Lord woke me up early (it was actually through a nurse giving me my pre-meds) and laid a poem on my heart. It was inspired through a good friend who told me that "The One above will watch out for me", so it's titled "The ONE above":

The ONE above
The ONE above, He is my shepherd.
The One above, I shall not want.
The One above, He goes before me.
The One above, He calms my heart.

The One above, He knows the valleys.
The One above, He leads me through.
The One above, He lifts my burdens.
The One above, He calms my heart.

The One above now holds and heals me.
The One above now fills me up:
with peace that passes understanding.
The One above, He calms my heart.

The One above, He answers prayers,
The One above, He is my rock.
The One above, a mighty fortress,
The One above, He calms my heart.

So Lord please take this day now,
please guide my every breath.
Please fill me with your joy now.
My Lord and Saviour, my One above, YOU calm my heart.

back home

Hello Hello,

i've been home since Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so nice getting picked up from my men, getting home and being welcomed by the family and good friends, enjoying GOOD food and the wonderful feeling of "arriving home". You guys are the best and i love you all so much. I don't have words to describe what I found at home, a million of Christmas cookies, gifts, cards, mails... only tears (happy tears) can describe that.
The rehab time was very good, i would say i'm at 80% health right now. My blood pressure is still too low, so i get dizzy quite a bit. I try to go on walks to stabilize that, but i have to say that it's getting better already. Today i helped a bit in the house, i'm allowed to lift 10lbs, not more. 2 weeks ago i still had some liquid in the heart sac but it's all gone now. My mitral valve is tight, there is no more insufficiency. God also helped me to process the last 4 weeks, i wrote down everything in my journal so it's out of my mind. When i feel a little better i will try to watch my surgery on DVD, ... interested???
Tomorrow morning i go to the doctors to keep working on my blood count, hopefully i'm done with giving myself the tummy shots (there is no more room on my belly), but we need a better INR (that's the blood thinning rate i have to be on for 3-6 months)
My cardiologist wants to see me too this week to take a look at my "new look". after that i should only have to go once or twice a year. I'm kind of done with doctors and needles. Trust me.

Thank you again for everything!!!! God is so good, He helped us through.

Merry Christmas to all of you. "Jesus is the season for the season"

Love, Anja & 3 very happy boys