how impossible.. how glorious!

windig, originally uploaded by israelboyce.

we are sooooo blessed. my feet hurt a little, but now i am sitting. i had a pretty good hunch that i would be on my way to seeing my dad, in nebraska this evening... but it didn't go like that. i am, however, not complaining. i'll see them down south in His timing.

today was spent on my feet. some would say lounging, but it was no less work than those i spent it with. for several hours, i was with the people at sam's club, visiting, laughing and filling the gaps of where He has taken me and what's next.
it was a blessed day though, not because of anything that sets it apart, but because i was reminded of God. i wish i.. we could be reminded of Him more often. Father, please help our eyes not be on us.. not be on schedule.. but be on You. on the things that You are doing. on who You are! it's not bad being busy, but how much better will it be when we are consumed by Your love or glory while we are?! i want to bring You praise always... especially when things are going going going. help me, and all who want this, to slow down several times a day to just focus on You! danke Vater für heute. und dass wir mit dich sein können. Macht deine Wille bei uns.
Jesus,
thank You for bringing us back to God!
to You!

the past couple days are just a build up to the glory that is due His name! with things being stressful, my mind over thinking, and the desire to just hide in the woods, today, just by reading a chapter in exodus, i am filled with Him.. the remembrance that He brings water from rocks.... not trickling water, but gushed!

how impossible.. how glorious!

may we be reminded of who this God... this Saviour is.. and really examine what we believe.... can He do the impossible... is He the same God we read about... is He the same Father who will stop at nothing to bring us back to Him...?

i say YES!

i am at the moment visiting friends and family.. on top of preparing for this next season.

Lord willing i'll be headed back to germany early this next year with a little detour on the way. oh my brothers and sister in germany, i miss you!

as for funds, i don't have enough for plane tickets, but that's ok. i am thirsty, but not for water!

thank you all... so much... for the prayers and words spoken into my life. my cup is running over with blessings. i look forward to more visiting with people here in s.dakota, as well as those after i leave here. one more note, i have ended my texting.. just as a heads up!

Oh Lord, You are soooooo good. thank You for today. thank You for my family, and my family that go beyond blood... i love you all... and pray our paths cross again! keep in mind what really matters in this world (phil.). thank you again for reading this blog.. for caring, and for all the prayers. right back at you!

viel liebe, israel

not pretending!

my feet are starting to be numb. with them on a hard wooden chair, as well as sitting on one of these same chairs, i am just so ready to be with God.

opposition is evident and possibly a way of proofing desires.

as i have been pursuing this opportunity with purpose, i have already been hit with things left and right. but during all this garbage coming at me, it don't feel that i am suppose to abandon all and flee.

yesterday was a big day for pursuing the possible next step, and maybe it shouldn't be a surprise when i felt the joy stripped from me. many many good things happened yesterday, but in the midst of it all, i was left feeling... alone... or at least wanting to be left alone.

today was a different kind of blow...

i had a very good day. i will not fail to recognize that! i was even blessed in a couple unexpected ways.. but later in the evening, i was informed that i have been summoned to jury duty.

WHAT?!

jury duty, for pennington county... i don't even live there. it is where i grew up, but i have since then moved many places and hold a drivers license in Oregon.

it is dated for the month of feb. i do understand that i am suppose to uphold this right and privilege.. if i at least lived in that county. however, i don't. and if it weren't for visiting my family right now, i wouldn't even be in s.dakota.

please forgive any hint of complaining.. i do, however, desire to keep you updated, and muchly require pray and continual guidance over all this.

Father, may Your hand continue to lead us. help me take the necessary steps of faith, but stop when i am not longer sensing Your hand. i know that You will make the path clear for where You do desire me to go... and that You will never forsake. please make us part of Your plan! it is indeed the best! i love You, and truly thank You for sending Jesus in my spot. thank You for bringing me back to You!

in His victory we pray, so be it! let it be!

i am stoked to say i sent in my app. for a visa, and got some support letters out.

i believe truly the next step is to continue seek Him and lift this all to His hands. Vater, Ich vertraue auf Dich! please give me a heart for Your people!

thank you all so much for the prayers.. the continual support... for reading my blog.. and allowing God's love to flow through you to my heart as encouragement.

this may be true for some of you... you know that thing that you've pushed back in priorities because things just kept piling on...

is anything impossible for God?

steps of faith!

viel liebe, israel

opportunities with purpose

yesterday basically the whole base left. parting their own ways for thanksgiving, i know i will miss them. this base has become a part of me and i have faith that we will be again together in the near future.

i expect very great things to be happening with them over the time they are home.

God continues to answer prayers showing His real care and concern for us.

if He will answer a prayer asking for headphones because mine were lost, how could He keep a silent ear to the things that have real meaning? why would He ignore the things that shape our lives?

i encourage you to keep praying and keep believing. for God, nothing is impossible!

well, yesterday a real unexpected invite came but i believe with a reason. it fits well with my heart and if it is suppose to happen, it will!

it reminds me of the time i was hitchin last year and a friend and i stopped at the base in nashville. they invited me to help pioneer the berlin base coming not even two month from then. i had said that if He provides, i will go.

at the time being, i will only say this much, it's going to be wild! please keep it in your prayers!

it does include going back to germany this january. i believe i am suppose to continue to work towards this. i am so excited to see Him lead and provide!

one other thing on my heart...

last night my mother told me that there are a three hikers imprisoned in iran right now. it hits deep in my heart. what if we knew them, or was one of us.. you or me...? would we not pray day and night for them?

even if it is only for the next 30 sec, please pray for them....

Father, please do the impossible. bring them home safely that it could be a witness to You. what a perfect opportunity for Your glory to me shown. i pray because i believe! thank You for Your guardian angels around them and Your constant protection.

2 Cor. 1.8-11

and many people will thank You that You heard our prayers for them!

thank You thank You thank You! we also lift up those who are in hostile areas spreading Your truth and love! we pray for them.. for protection, for Your hand of intervention. may it be Your words spoken! make us part of Your plan! please! Bitte!

i praise You! Du bist sehr gut!

danke für Jesus!

in His name, amen! so be it!

thank you!

those in s.dakota, Lord willing we'll see each other soon.

those in ywam idaho, i love you, and look forward to how He crosses our paths in the near future!

those i haven't seen yet, or may not for sometime, thank you for your continue dedication of prayer for me. honestly, you are right here with me!

those in germany, bis bald und ich vermisse euch sehr! Gott ist gut, weiter bete, weiter preise, und weiter glaube!

those living for Him, don't fear! He has a plan... may we continue to be part of it! you are not alone!

Lord willing, headed to boise today, then s.dakota tomorrow!

with the comfort He freely gives us, freely give!

viel liebe, israel

paare Fotos und mehr!

bario berlin, originally uploaded by israelboyce.

the other day... i was able to get a couple rolls of film developed from YWAM. you can check out more at my flickr address.

enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/translatelove/


on other notes, i am at the base in idaho. it is so good to be here with everyone. i should be leaving here on sunday towards the dakota!

it's been really difficult lately. prayers would be muchly appreciated. i'll be headed back to the family, which will be really good. and i feel that i may be headed back to berlin soon... and am praying about january. but.. if this be the case, if this is from God, i think we can all expect seeing Him do some really good things.
direction and faith is really needed.

as of now, i will be working towards going in january, but if things change, be sure you will know about it!

may you and i come to know... in our hearts.. that God loves us. no more of that silly mind stuff. but good genuine truth!

i pray that we will be aware of the things going on around us.. that our actions and thoughts would be of selflessness and our actions prove it.

God, i can't imagine how much You must love us. please make us part of Your plan. help us represent You will.
i love You so much... thoughts of You.. of Your love... of Jesus.. overwhelm me to tears. please please help me represent You well. You are all that matters. i trust You.... thank You Jesus...

viel liebe, israel

blindfolded by reason but leaping with Hope!

tomorrow... Lord willing i will be headed towards idaho. i am so looking forward to seeing sam and all the people at the idaho YWAM base. it's been a month, but too long. :)

but at the same time, i feel as if i just got to spokane. sometimes its as if i can't spend enough time here. on top of that, God keeps bringing new people into my life.

of all the places i have been, all the people i have met, all the introductions that have been made, it still breaks my heart when i have to say goodbye, or until our paths cross again.

i would say this is by far more of a blessing than a curse.

i remember about a year ago.. i was getting ready to go on the hitchin trip to tennessee and the southeast area. the real question that keep coming to my mind was: why am i going there? of all the places... there?

then during some time just asking God... i felt the answer so clear.

of course i had never wanted to go because it had the opposite of what i wanted to see... in land features. i wanted mountains.. snow... volcanoes... elevation changes... and it had... the boondocks?

i had never wanted to go, because traveling was more about the sights.. the smells.. the new adventures i was craving. but when His answer came, it changed the whole meaning behind traveling and has shaped my motives for being on the road.

the people.

it was for the people.

to share His love with them,

to share His sorrows with them,

to share life with them.

since i have been back from Berlin, i have found myself on the road again. my main goal while being back was to work. to pay of debt. and to return. what i have found myself doing has been visiting friends. making new friends. and feeling more and more a tug on my heart for those i have been sharing life with.

i want so badly to get those loans paid off... to be released from financial debt. to be able to pick up and go when He says, and not have those questions of... oh, well how will i make payments if i don't have a form of income?...

i feel the calling right now to be back with my family in south dakota (rapid city) for the holidays. i don't know if that means God will hook up a job while i am there... but i can only trust His love is real.. He is faithful.. and He provides where He calls.

on top of that, i have felt a peace in my heart about going back to Berlin soon. my heart cries for the people there. and i have no idea how this will work out. :)

but that's the suspense of putting your trust in something higher than logic and reason.

when i was with sams family in salem over the last few weeks, i got to spend much time with his younger brother and sisters. we would enjoy creative conversations about the board game 'candy land' and how we would defeat the evil mrs nut.. and jack peppermint. but more than that, i can look back and enjoy how they would do what their parents told them to do and never worry about there needs.

sam has a family that i haven't seen too much of. one that really shows a relationship much in likeness to how ours with God should look. acting when told to, and resting in assurance that things are under control...

children of God.

having faith like children... of God.

there are many of you who are in the same place as myself. but we are not just putting our faith into things we can see, smell.. or touch. we are taking steps of obedience under the grace of the Creator of life, and our Daddy whom loves us soooo much!

people of spokane, i will truly miss you. but we will again meet in His timing!

viel liebe, israel

Spokane und viel Segen

alrighty.... well.. as the title reveals, i am in spokane, and the story it quite proof of God's blessings!

over the past weeks, i have been in oregon.. mostly salem staying with sams (the best roommate ever) parents. there was a couple trips made to eugene.. and much waiting and seeking God on where and what to do next.

there have been two things on my heart since i got back from eugene the second time.. and very important things to say the least!

family...

and

Berlin.

i had the recent desire to be back with my family for the holidays. however, being in oregon and not having a job made it look pretty week on seeing it happen.

here is where it gets better...

ready?

i have been praying and looking online for possible ways of getting back.. or at least spokane...

rideshare, greyhound, flights, hitchin... finding not so good deals... and my heart unrestful forced me to continue to pray and ask what's next...?

then yesterday i felt Him tell me to pack my stuff. it was one of those moments of...

what? why? i don't have a ride anywhere....

but i did pack. then after questioning Him, i felt an assurance that I would be leaving, and it won't be how i expect..

thus.. i started looking online for more tickets and rideshares...

of course nothing was working... in fact, the prices had gone up.

but sure enough, that night something happened. and the next morning i am driving up to spokane in sams sisters car.

so, all Lord willing, i will be leaving here mid next week for cascade Idaho again to visit sam and the dts. there i will drop of the car, which sam and some others will use to get home for thanksgiving, and i will meet up with a rideshare in boise at the end of next week for a ride straight to rapid city!

please keep in mind, life plans are subject to change!

i can't explain logistically to you how God blows my mind.... how He continually blows my mind!

it's like reading a book you can't put down.... it ends, but then another sequel comes out.. and it's even better! this keeps happening, until one day when it is all wrapped up and the memories fade into the sun with the events making the stars.

God has been so good to me.. to us! we screw up, and He comes running to us.. not away. He grabs our hand firmly, looking us straight into the eyes, tears matching ours, and we feel His warm embrace.

i can honestly say that He has never once abandoned me! and i pray that His truth will reign deeper and deeper in my heart!

less of us...

more of Him.

i pray this for you! i pray that you could see and be reminded of all He has done in your lives.

may this thanksgiving be about honest thanks... but also about real hope too!

Wir haben Hoffnung!

We have hope!

thank you all for your prayers and blessings! for reading as i chew on my thoughts...

i hope you all know that you are a part of me. if we have met by accident.. then my heart had an accidental spot just waiting for you!

i am not sure what the next weeks are to look like, but i know they will be good, because He is good, and that is where my hope will be!

i am still seeking support as i prepare to go back to Berlin.. and also seeking about work to pay towards school loans.

i feel something good is coming up... that same feeling before i knew what was going on yesterday... that same feeling when He took me on that hitchin trip last year...

thank You God for making me part of Your plans...

thank You God for the hugs!

viel viel liebe, and may His blessing wipe away sorrow and remind you of who He has been and will always be!

tschüssie, israel

eugene again....?

eugene, eugene...

as i left eugene the first time last week, realization sunk in that i didn't visit a couple people i wanted to. so a couple days ago, i felt the need to come back again. it was one of those, ok God, will You hook it up if this is Your will?...

of course He did!

i was graciously lent an auto to come down with. Lord willing i will be leaving back up to salem this afternoon, but already last night was a blessings.

i love you seth and pappas! i know that God loves you so much more and that He has good stuff in store for you!

i think we will see soon if i am headed north, or how far north i am headed...

but over all of it, i completely know that He has a plan. He loves us!

the way things are looking, spontaneous and unpredictable, to those who are reading this, i may be seeing you soon. but know that i love you and thank you for your prayers.

'i pray to You because i know that You hear listen. bend down and hear my prayer. show me Your grace in wonderful ways. You rescue with power those who seek shelter from their enemies. protect me like the apple of Your eye and give me safety under the shadow of Your wing!' Die Psalm 17.6-8 translated from german (excuse all horrible mistakes )

viel liebe!!!

israel

grüße von eugene....

ich freue mich...

last tuesday i met a guy named kory. he was headed to eugene, as was i, thus he picked me up from the on ramp. immediatly i took a liking to him. he has been on the road since june and was headed to eugene to find some open mics to jam at to finance more living on the road. things were perfect in confirming timing for visiting eugene. we were both leaving back north on friday, so as things arranged, we enjoyed another ride together to salem friday.
-kory, you are a blessing and i am stoked to have met you. may God continue to provide for you and care for you in the variety He has been. you are loved and needed in this world!
until we meet again! :)

it was confirmed last sunday that i needed to visit eugene. so i left tuesday with no real plans. after some texts, things feel into place with grace.
-aj and rachel, you two have a blessed marriage and future. God has visibly shown you both His favor in your marriage and lives! please never forget how much you are both loved. may His voice be clearly in your hearts and minds and His passion burning from a depth so great, the roots define who you both are! and thank you for the time you spend with me. listening, encouraging, and blessing. you are truly a brother and sister in Christ to me! Vielen Dank!
-galassini, it was so good to see you again. i am so happy for you with your new family and joy that He has given you. in everything that you have gone through, give Him the glory for the new hope that is always there! don't neglect the things you know need to be done, but know that you are not alone. He is with you and will shower you in grace as you take steps! i pray that our friendship is not allowed to be snuffed out but that it will burn with love and truth! amanda, it was a pleasure to meet you and thank you so much for your hospitality. chris, thank you for your quick acceptance. i pray that you sink in His love! it is wonderful!
-poets, you are always such an encouragement to be with. i am so thankful for all of you. thank you for the birthday blessings and time spend listening and pouring into my life. i hope we can see each other again soon. i am praying for all of you, and sooooo glad that you are still standing firm in His truth, strength and loving grace! kaley, thank you for the card!
-redneck, dude, i hope you read this! :) i love you man. you have been such a joy in my life. it was so good to see you again and i know that God will hook it all up for you. He has never left you thus far... every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, who doesn't change like shifting shadows! passion comes and goes, but He will always be there for you!

-everyone in berlin, you can't imagine how much i love and miss you all! i look forward to the day that we can be together again. until then, i know that God has me here for a reason, and that the hardships are totally worth it.
~zu alle in Berlin! ihr wisst nicht wie viel liebt ich fuer euch habe. ich vermisse euch sehr! ich freue mich euch wiederzusehen. bis dann, ich bin hier weil Gott ein sehr gut Plan hat. es ist sich lohnen!

i am now back in salem waiting for some mail about the school loans i need to repay. the last weeks have been soooo good. heres a short list...
jumped on a trampoline with a billion leaves.
went through a corn maze.
went on a bike ride.
found a hazelnut grove.
ate some hazelnuts.
played soccer.
sanded a car.
drove a car without a windshield.
the list goes on..
Lord willing, soon i should be headed up to seattle to work and pay toward the loans as i continue to prepare for returning to berlin. i am not sure the date, but i have some hunches and peace in my heart. just waiting for confirmation.

i have made a picture card about going back to berlin, and just finished a support letter...(hot off the press)!
i, however, left all my addresses in south dakota... it will work out! :)

soon, i will post the letter with the card for all of you to see. so, you may get one in your mail too! lucky you! :)

thank you all so much for reading these blogs and keeping up with my life. i pray that you love others despite whether or not they deserve it. that you take time to just soak in Him. and that you are all blessed with God's highest! He loves you all sooooo much. a death was paid that you could be with Him. that you could enjoy His presence!
All praise and honor to Your name Lord! thank You for Jesus!
by His blood, AMEN!!!

viel liebe, israel

thank You Daddy for today!