this is hope

what a blessing this last week was!
there was a lot of opportunity for growth and for His love to be shared with others who have a broken heart for the nations...

at the time being, i am in salem, oregon, and am not completely sure about which way to go.
i am, however, growing more sure of God's heart for germany. i had the opportunity to meet with someone from the berlin base on my first day here in salem. it was super good and encouraging. i cannot understand or comprehend when or how i will be getting back there. i do have a confirming peace in my heart that it is soon.

i am stoked for the people of ywam idaho! i instantly gained a heart for them and cannot imagine how much more our God must love them. i pray that He would continue to bring them closer in unity and love. that differences would bring them together. that hopelessness would show them His hope and grace. oh what a wonderful God we have. i love you ywam idaho and look forward to the day that our hearts can be full of joy together again!

today is my fathers birthday. i love him so much. i am so blessed with the family that God surrounded me with. they have been a huge part of joy and encouragement in my life over the past year.
my father was in a car accident last friday which left him with stitches and no auto. please keep him in prayer. God must love him soooo much! thank You Daddy for my dad! i know that You have blessings at his doorstep!

i am not sure if i will headed south or north in the next couple days. the thing that fills my mind the most is getting ready for heading back to berlin. within the next fews days i will be writing a support letter seeking monthly support for the time i will be stationed there long term, and also seeking support for the trip back. i am so excited about His heart for germany. may my life be an offering for His love to reach their hearts!
i may be headed up north for work soon. there are a couple places that i may end up visiting first. nothing is official yet. open for changes. wir werden sehen was passiert. Er ist gut und ich moechte seinen Weg zusehen.

i am not sure if most of you really know what the title of this blog is... Fortschritt und Vertrauen.
it means progress and trust. progress for His kingdom.. and trust that He is enough. i am far from fully understanding His amazing plans, His awesome deeds, and His endless love. but i am laying all my eggs in His basket. He is trustworthy. He is faithful.
i know that He has called me to germany for this time, maybe forever. and as i continue to seek Him with my whole heart, i am seeing more and more His broken heart for the whole world! thank you all so much for your time and prayers you offer so freeingly. please don't believe any lies that your prayers are not important or unnecessary. He hears and He answers.. even before we ask! He knows what we need and how to truly care for us.
thank you for praying for me, and for praying for the germans. i look forward to the day when we all see the Lord sending people out from germany in the numberless, spreading His word, His truth and light over the whole earth.

may you be left with this verse...

Gott, der euch berufen hat, ist treu; Er wird halten, was er versprochen hat.
God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful.
1 thes. 5.24

Das ist Hoffnung.
this is hope!

Father, You have given us hope freely. may is radiate from You in us. thank You for hearing our prayers and being true to Your promises. may my life be Yours for the making. make me part of Your plan. we pray this for all who read this blog and for those whom You love! for the U.S., for Germany.. for eastern Europe.. for those You have called Your own! through Jesus, we are all Yours!
in His name, Amen!

i hope that you know how important you are. you are not alone.

much love, israel