mantels and wills

for most times, the thought of a fire and something warm to drink brings a smile and thoughts of time with loved ones to mind. it is, more than not, a pleasurable thought.

haha.. at the moment though, a fire burning to the right of me, and a warm computer keeping my legs at a uncomfortable temperature is making it just a bit of a challenge to concentrate and get this much desired blog typed. plus it seems that some words i just cannot find the keys for.. and every other letter goes into place except the one that i have always put there.

however, i believe God has been bringing me to a place with Him that, no matter how hot things may get, and how uncomfortable i am, what's suppose to happen will happen.

and i am thankful for this.

i thought that i would be headed to spokane at this very hour.. in fact, i even had a ride and am still currently packed. but, for whatever reasons, God has me here... and i couldn't ask for anything better than for this.

i am still in rapid, and i can't say completely by choice.

i do, believe, that i need to be in spokane soon, but for whatever reason i am here, i get to trust in Him!

as for funds, thank you all so much for the support that you have been blessing me with.

i am still believing for more and am still down about half of what is needed.

i think i am at around $550 (almost enough for one flight). the total amount for both flights is about double, then with insurance and living expenses while being in india, the total comes to around $1300. (i plan on living cheap).

*please note that i consistently write about the funds because it is a real need, and i feel it is only appropriate to keep you updated with progress so that you know how to pray about it.

thank you, by the way, so much for the prayers about this and to all who have supported me thus far!

i do believe that i will be headed to spokane soon, and i am excited to see everyone i can there.

i will keep you updated about it as i know what's up.

here are some prayer points...

continual trust in Him and direction and to be made part of His plan.

a ride to spokane.

continual support, financially and spiritually. (about $700 in all)

for wisdom about working and paying back school loans.

and to represent Him well!

about two weeks ago, i had a dream. i was in india trying to talk to some kids. i was saying, "Jesus loves you!" but they couldn't understand. i couldn't communicate with them...

after i woke up, i felt so strongly God speaking to me, "you need to learn hindi."

"you need to learn hindi."

it has been through things such as this that i am more than confident that God is calling me there to share His love... and it will have to be by His grace.

thank you again for the prayers.

Father, You have more than blessed me with endless good. thank You so much!

as for all my needs, You state that You will provide my needs as i seek Your kingdom.

so i trust You. i will wait for You!

please bless all who have been praying and encouraging me. thank You that You are with me.

thank You for Your love! us me for Your will.

one more thing...

over the time of being back in the states, i have had the desire to get these school loans paid off.. but it seems that God has been taking me on a journey of visiting people through which i have been greatly blessed with. as time had gone on, i had felt more and more in my heart that i would be headed back to germany sooner than i expected. recently, and more and more germany has been on my heart. i will meet people that speak german.. people from germany. and it seems more and more i am encouraged to pursue working in germany, paying toward school loans, and doing ministry among the people of boxi and the nation the i love!

but more than anything.. i want to be part of His will. please keep this in your prayers.

i look forward to all He has because i believe that all He does is done in the deepest of love!

Dein Wille geschehe.

viel Liebe,

israel

GO israel!

sometimes when i go to write one of these blogs.. it just won't come out...

maybe it is because i don't have anything to say..

or because nothing i say seems to be new.. or interesting...

or if i write something that i don't even wanna read.. i guess i can't expect anyone else to want to...

things have been happening.

being Christmas and all.. i suppose it makes perfect sense. but besides that, each day passes with new activities that may never be remembered, or repeated.

haha, it looks that way sometimes, but i know that God uses everything for good!

not only that, but He blesses me with some random unpredictable things. in times of need.. not just financial or possessional (i hope we all know by now that those are petty and quite temporary "needs") but when life is taking a toll, or when things seem tainted with blood, and the scars are only reminders of failures.. it makes me so peaceful and runs warm joy through my blood when i recall things, ways He has reached me.. just to tell me that He is still there.. that He never left, and that He loves me regardless of how much of a failure i may feel like.

thank you all for your prayers. to say i am blessed would skim surface truth of how much grace has been shown me over the past years.. every sense my life was turned over to Him.

Christmas, though good time with my mom, was difficult. that wednesday evening, i got super sick. i am pretty sure any and all food that i had eaten in the past seven years was returned to porcelain and i was filled with so much pain that my sleeping was disturbed frequently. over the following days i hardly ate, and though we had fish on Christmas, i will gladly do without until next year.

today, however, was good. i body is finally returning to normal. and for some reason, beyond what i may ever understand, i think that getting sick when i did may have been more of a blessing than a cursing.

through the time of resting and recovering, i didn't read much.. or spend lots of time in prayer. and i think it is evident that i need that valuable time with Him. by no means was He far from me... in fact, sometimes after i got sick in the middle of the night, upon returning to my room, i would get on my knees and just feel Him.. His love.. and His peace.. then i would sleep. (and it would repeat again). but that fact that i wouldn't be reading His love letters to us, or concentrate on His words, i would be left with...... space.

but last night and today was filled with little reminders that He keeps whispering His love into my ears.

so...

God, i give it all to You. worry, concern, immediate safety... i know that it is all in Your hands.. and it's wonderful!

what a majestic yet thoughtful Shepherd we have.

Der HERR ist mein Hirte. Ich habe alles, was ich brauche.

The LORD is my shepherd. I have all I need.

... and even more than that!

so today was filled with fun times and i thank God for Him being with me.

*YWAM

i would like to thank everyone again for the prayers and encouragement to pursue the dreams God placed on my heart. thank you all who have supported me financially and who continually do. and for all those who have spent time speaking truth into my life, even if it's a memo that reads, GO israel!

these things have kept me going when i was willing to settle. they are like refreshing eye drops that make things clear again. thank you!

i am so excited for the things that God is doing. i may not fully understand them, but i know it's good, and huge and AWESOME! alles was Er tut, ist gewaltig!

it brings me such joy when i hear about things that He is doing through people.. people just like you and me... people with a fire that is shaking their bones.. people who wanna do what really matters. sharing His love in real ways!

-i got an update on the time in india recently. it sounds that their Christmas was amazing and spend with those they love.. complete strangers who are hungry.. hungry for more than food.. but for the very thing they were created for... His love!

i look forward to joining them soon if the Lord permits it.

i am still a large chunk off from even affording the plane tickets... :)

i have about $400, and need $1100-1300. haha.. He is soooo good!

and so i say once again, please don't stop praying. He hears our prayers.

Father... please send Your support in Your timing and in Your way. please make me part of Your plan. thank You Papa!

oh, and the Lord opened up a door for me to get back to spokane. possibly leaving around the 2nd of january.

upon returning there, i will seek more support (friend raising) and fly to india between

18th-22nd. then, february 12th, fly back to germany and Lord willing stay there and work for awhile.

i have around 3 weeks to raise the remainder funds. if you would like to support me, please send it to my moms address below. thank you.

bei Gott ist nichts unmöglich.

i am, again, excited to see what He does next. unknown, but not unexpected.

thank you all for keeping up with me, and fighting along side of me for the Kingdom to reach the ends of the world.

well, i think enough is said for now...

may He bless you with His highest good!

Moms address (where support goes to..)

israel boyce

c/o Kim Boyce

3741 canyon lake dr. 2-307

rapid city, S.D. 57702

USA

to all those in rapid and nebraska, i hope our time together has blessed you as it has blessed me. sorry if we didn't get to connect...(i'm hear til the end of the week... call me. 541-731-9468)

to all those in spokane... i look forward to seeing you soon.. and may our time together be sweet and represent Him well. (you call me too!)

to all those germany... Gottes Willes, bis bald!

tschüssie!

israel

bleeding thoughts

hope...

sometimes... maybe more often than i realize at the moment... i get caught up in things that just don't matter in the long run.

it is soooo good how paul puts it in philippians.. 'i want you to know what really matters...'

what really matters.

what really matters?

does it matter if the internet is slow or doesn't connect as we wish all the time...

does it matter if the dryer worked...

does it matter if we need to walk some distance to help someone else...

gosh, really... what about our comfort?

is our comfort now.. in these worldly ways really matter compared to the eternal...

does that really register in our minds.. our hearts?

is our keeping quiet, rather than striking up a conversation centered around Christ really worth someones eternity?

are we on this earth for any other reason than to spread the love of Christ?

and if not, how do we effectively share this love without just coming out and speaking it?

why is it so hard to just speak up and say, "hey... Christ died for you.. whether you believe it or not... and, He loves you with an eternal love with no conditions, no strings, no catches... just real love."

i want so badly for everyone i come in contact with... it doesn't matter where, to know this great love that i can hardly even explain... this love that saves us from ourselves.. from the mess that we got ourselves in. but how do you feed those who are not hungry?

how do we share the one true thing we need... with those who have everything they could ever want?

how can heal those who don't believe they are sick?

oh God.. what a world You love...

i want these others to share in Your salvation.. but what do we do when they could care less about what we have to offer... how do we reach this dying world that thinks it has never been more alive?

i want to represent You well... but how can i when i can't even say straight forward that You love them! i mean.. i can, when i know them.. but those who i have never met.... i want the world to know.. that You love them! that every knee would bow and every heart raised to You in praise!

please.. show me... make me part of Your plan... break through my heart.. my discomfort.. my walls and attitudes. without You, we are not living, we are just existing. i don't wanna exist if it is any less than 'ON FIRE' for You!

i need You. this world needs You. we need You.

but i will forever praise Your name! You are the hope of this cutthroat world.

raise the dead! wake up you dead.. rise up, for Your bones have been given life once again for evermore! rise up and take a stand for what is true! for the truth that is higher than our wisdom, that is more righteous than our justice... take a stand and claim the strength. claim the strength.

it is truly not about me, or you, or any of us.

when it really comes down to it, what really matters?

please show us what really matters....

thank You for bringing us back to You.. for wanting to be with us despite what we have done.

ich liebe dich sehr.. und ohne Dich will nicht zuleben. benütze uns... benütze mich.

so sei es.

*use us!

gesegnet, israel

hi i am israel... too

the day has come... well, one of them.

i am at the moment at my dads.
through a series of events, God confirmed that today was the day to head here.

a quick update of how good He is!...

i had no idea how i was to get down here... even as i awoke.. it didn't seem that i was going to be headed out..
i had asked my mom to drop me off at the edge of town.. but instead, she insisted on taking me half the way, which was a huge unexpected blessing.
we enjoyed a fun little road trip to nebraska, and she dropped me off south of chadron. as i was walking, i felt encouraged to just asked for what i needed by the verses in matthew 7.. where it states something along this... if you sinners know how to give your children good gifts, how much more does Your heavenly Father know how to give to those who ask..
so i asked.
God, may i please have a ride straight to my dads place...
it was a pretty day, and temperatures were around the 40s, so i enjoyed a walk while i waited for Daddy to hook it up.
well, a van pulled over, he said that he didn't have any seats (literally) but i was welcome to ride along. so i asked where he was headed as i climbed in, and he said alliance.. then scottsbluff. i mentioned that i was headed to gering/scottsbluff, so we agreed to a destination.
there was the answer! ha! danke Vater!
then.. as if that wasn't enough.. i introduced myself... my name is israel...
and he replied.. mine too!
i laughed and we chatted for a couple hours.

"have a good day israel.."
"haha, yeah, you too, israel!"

thank You Papa that You care! may i represent You well!
and may this time here be huge for the things that You want to do.
i believe You are doing something so much bigger. may Your will be done!
and most of all, thank You for reconciling sinner with Yourself! HEHEHE.. how loved and blessed we are!

i have much more to say, with no more time to do it...
many blessings to all of you.

should be here until monday, then back in rapid til the end of dec.
then.. spokane... and the ends of the earth!

thank you all for your prayers.
still seeking support.. but believing it's gonna snow!

praise the Lord my soul..
lobe den Herrn meine Seele!

viel liebe, israel

shoe heads and hidden snow banks

i was called a movie star today by a little girl...

another little boy called me many names, all with "head" at the end...

...including "farthead" and "shoehead."

but i think what i like the most about today is the snow...

*all snow haters can skip to the end from here.

it's beautiful, the way it falls from the sky... no one could stop it if they wanted...

then it covers everything...

trees...

roads...

people, if they're out long enough.

sometimes it falls so thick, i can't see past the houses across the street... everything else...

is white.

i'm thankful for this weather.

the cold crisp air as i breath in, and the ice that gathers on my mustache from breathing out.

yeah, i'm thankful for this weather...

the extra precaution needed to transport... even if it's just down the road....

or unexpected slick spots that leave me either hitting the ground of feeling clever for escaping the impact...

though sometimes i like to fall.

it may hurt.. but it gets me in the snow.

it leaves marks as evidence that i fell...

that i had a run-in with a miracle...

that i got back up to brave the unknown slick spots that await me.

yeah, i like this weather...

reminding me of both days, young and old...

about the last time i hiked a mountain with my brother.

how we almost froze at the top as we huddled together eating the only food we had with numb hands.

or how my friend and i use to ride our bikes in the snow until it was too deep...

so we got off and walked...

and how we would build hidden caves in the snow banks of jackson boulevard.

it reminds me of time spend with 'ol loved ones..

and the possibility of future times spend with new ones.

oh yeah... i enjoy this weather...

...and i think... ...He must have known that...

He did know!

i am loved!

viel liebe, israel

thank you for your prayers!

a lil ol lady

it's humorous how encouragement comes...

yesterday it came from two sources.

first, it came from God providing for a friend of mine in ywam. she and a couple others needed a total of $2800 in about 12 hours. i was broken because i wanted to give all i had to see it happen for them. i prayed for them, as i am sure many were.. and later i was informed that God had done it! He provided it all, and now they will be going on outreach with there team. Halleluja!

it makes me think of my situation... i am in need of only about $1200 for the flights and some travel insurance.. i still have about a month, but it is ticking down. however, i have a peace that this is so small to be done. where He calls, He provides. if we are willing, He will and does do amazing things through us for people everywhere!

the next one came from a little ol lady named Leona. i have been spending most of my free time at a nursing home here in rapid. i had just gotten there yesterday and was chatting with her. she was explaining about here asthma. it was heart breaking not being able to do something right there to help her..

but out of no where... so it seemed.. she said,

"it really means a lot to me that you are here."

i may never realize how much it means... but i am so blessed.. blessed to spend time with such amazing people as them.. so blessed to know that He loves me... and so blessed to know that He cares!

thank You Father for blessing me.. and for being with them at the nursing home. they are so sweet and i can only imagine how much You must love them! thank You for Your heart for them.. may i represent You well!

at the moment, i am again at a café just typing away... probably could til my fingers are numb...

i still very much want to visit my father and my brothers and sister in Christ down in Neb. i am unclear of when or how just now.. but am convinced that it is soon.

i am still seeking supporters for going to india and back to germany. a monthly cost of living there is about $1200, 700€, and the flights also come to a total of $1200, 700€.

if you are interested, no matter how big or small.. please let me know.

this.is.a.real.fake.email@gmail.com

i leave back for washington after Christmas.. then fly out of spokane around the 18 of January.

it is yet another opportunity to see Him blow my mind from any boxes i attempt to keep Him in.

may they all be shattered and unable to be rebuilt!

the itinerary is not in stone for what is happening in india.. but if you would like to know more, i'll gladly tell you... and the time in germany will consist of visiting ywam bases and being in berlin again to continue love the people of boxi in practical ways.. as well as hanging out with the tragwerk kinder whom i love so much!

other than all the official stuff.. haha... i look forward to spending this Christmas again with family.

how great is His love for us!?

psalm 23

one verse at a time...

think about it!

viel liebe, israel

india

it was about two weeks ago that the opportunity was first spoken of.

i was with the school director from the YWAM base in idaho. the dts team was headed to India in a little more than a week away, and he planned on meeting up with them later in January.

the invite came at a refreshing thought, but more of a thought than a possibility. i was invited to join him in visiting the team in india and taking part in ministry there.

even now when i think about joining him to visit the team and help with ministry, encouraging the Church there, and being the hands and feet of Christ to the Indian people, it still feels more of a joyful thought that something that can ever be.. but when confronted about whether or not this is right, the argument in my mind is always won over by peace from my heart.

so i pray, God, You have a plan. please make me part of that. if You don't go with me, then take me not from this place. and wherever You take me.. at anytime, my i represent You well! ich liebe dich sehr.. hilf mir deine Liebe zu verstehen.

please help us understand more of Your love!.. we need it!

and more than anything, thank You for bringing us back to You! oh the Joy!

danke Papa!

so, Lord willing i will be headed out of rapid towards spokane after Christmas. around the 20th of January, i will head to india to meet up with the others and be His hands and feet.

that will go until february 12th, and i will fly to germany. there, Lord willing, and full of anticipation (because with God, nothing is impossible) i will continue with ministry there.

as for working with YWAM there at first, i am not sure. it may come to finding a job and diving into the culture, then on free time (days off) doing ministry at the beautiful boxi (if you haven't heard about boxi yet, please ask me).

please keep in mind, this is all Lord willing.

things to keep in prayer:

i think most of all, please pray that we (me, and the other workers around the world) will represent Him well! "oh that my life would consistently reflect Your decrees" psalm 119.5

(this includes those in india right now, those in berlin, and the others around the world suffering for Christ love, and your salvation!)

please pray also for the time here, that it would be spent well.. that the time with the family would not be taken lightly, but that we would enjoy every moment of this blessing of being together again! i have a strong desire to visit my father along with my dear brothers and sisters (in the Lord) in nebraska.. i am not sure just yet of how or when i will get there.. but that's ok!

then, please remember me with finances. i have felt a peace about pursuing His will in this, so, if it is His will, i know He will provide. monthly cost of living in berlin will be around €700/$1200. for monthly, it would start in january, but please let me know if you are interested in giving any amount. it will all help. as for me, i will live as a bird, a bird with purpose!

my email: this.is.a.real.fake.email@gmail.com

number: 541-731-9468 or 605-341-3214

address: (moms address)

israel boyce

3741 canyon lake dr. 2-307

rapid city, SD 57702

take everyday as it comes, and know that He has you in His hands! crap happens, but it is how we respond that determines who's victory it is!

may we with God have all the victory, for we are loved!

thank you all so much for the prayers and thoughts. and thank you all for reading this blog...

it means a lot to know that we are all in this together, with one purpose and keeping in focus what really matters!

He loves us, whoa how He loves us, whoa how He loves us, whoa how He loves.......!

Father, please help us see...