1 Year Down, 2 to Go

The first year of this project sure did fly by 

Things have been a little hectic lately with school and some other personal issues I've been dealing with. Lately, I've had a lot of time to think about my current trade and have been wondering why it's not trading.

Apart from this project, God has me in a time of fully trusting him and being okay with not having full control of what the future holds. As I've said in the past, this project isn't solely about getting out of debt through trading up stuff, it is about figuring out who I am in Christ, building relationships in Christ, and sharing how God has changed my life.

Trust has really been a main theme lately. Our lives are in his timing, not ours.

So, about this project...What is its fate? Who knows? When do you decide to hang up your boots and call it good?

All I know, is that I didn't paint my van with huge "Trade Me Out of Debt" and "Trade Mobile" letters for nothing. I will be honest, there are days that I ask myself, "What the heck am I doing driving around a multi-colored van that gets horrible gas millage and has the website painted all over it?"

Sometimes I don't know. Maybe it's to humble me, or to just understand that what we have does not define who we are on the inside?

One of these days I will have to share with everyone my story of having everything you could ever want, all the way to losing it all within a short amount of time.

What we have, own, rent, or whatever, does not define who we are in Christ. What we drive or wear, does not define who we are in Christ. How well our grammar is, or how good our spelling is, or wether we can read or write, does not define who we are in Christ.

God see's us as his perfect creation, even if we see ourselves as worthless. Trust me, I've been there and seen the lowest of lows. God loves each and everyone of us the way we are. We don't have to be at a certain place in our lives to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. He takes us as we are.

Anyway, I don't know where I was going with all this. Sometimes I just type out whatever is on my heart.

So,  Trade Me Out of Debt or not, van or no van, house or no house, debt or no debt, job or not, wether you have everything or nothing, God loves you the way you are, no matter the circumstances.

:::An update to my whereabouts:::

This past month has been a bit challenging with my daughter being sick and then some other personal issues to work through. Amy and I are doing well, it's more so that I needed to face some obstacles that I had been avoiding and refocus my thoughts, as well as re-evaluate some current situations.

Believe it or not, I've not gotten any real offers on my current trade. I did have some offers, but they ended up being scams. I'm not sure how this project is going to end up, but what I do know is that I will continue to do what Matthew 17:20 says; "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Lately, our obstacles have felt like big mountains, making us want to ask God, "where are you?". Over this past month, I've learned that faith and perseverance don't always come easy.

God wants us to rely on him no matter the situation. He never promised life would be easy. The point I am getting at is: Many times we give up when the end is just around the corner. 

I've faced many challenges over the last several years, and have learned "that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...(Romans 8:28)" 

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance,    perseverance, character,   and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:1-5)

I am still here

Things have been kind of crazy on the home front. I'm still working on trading the photo booth deal. It may take a little while for this one because it's a bit unique. School has kept me on my toes, as well as trying to keep up with our little AC.

It feels like a tornado has gone through our house every night. We are just warn out. I guess that is part of the joys of having a 2 1/2 year old. Anyway, life has just got in the way and kept us busy. I just wanted to drop a line to let you know that I am still alive and kicking it. Well, not really kicking it too much because my back has been aching pretty good, but that is another story. This project is still alive and well, but currently slow sailing.

Have a great week!