God's up to BIG things

Dear friends,
We greet you in the strong name of the KING of Kings, Jesus Christ the Lord. Grace and peace and mercy to you!

We apologize for not staying more current with you and as more changes take place, we’ll be sure and keep you in the loop. We’ve been sitting low, so to speak, for the last few months but enjoying it all the same. Zach has been working regular office hours doing research online for commercial real estate sites and then follows up by driving out to meet the current owners. His territory had been the state of Georgia up until recently. I’ve been working the Hopeline for Dawson McAllister’s ministry a couple nights a week and also working at their office two times a week writing their volunteer newsletter and serving wherever there is a need. We have felt productive and content knowing that this is a temporary season.

We are currently living in a large home about a half hour from Spring Hill. It's a wonderful place to live; it's in the country and in a nice neighborhood. Our friends that own it are in Africa for the summer so we have the whole house to ourselves! We've lived here since March and it's been a big blessing. We've lived alone very little since being married so we have been thankful for the time and pleasure of our own space.

In other news, Zach and I are celebrating our one year anniversary on August 11th and we will be heading to Cancun, Mexico on the 8th for a 7 night, all-inclusive resort! We are really excited and so thankful for God providing something like this for us. He blessed us through some friends of ours so all we are paying for is air fare. Isn't that incredible? It gave me new perspective on just how generous God is because these folks are the most generous people I know, and that is just a reflection of the heart of God. So awesome!

This season of life has been really good for me. I'm learning servant hood in a whole new dimension. God is teaching me about giving of myself, the gifts and talents He has given me as well as my time. He is taking care of our needs financially so I don't have to work a 'regular' job which frees me up to bless other people. And what is so cool about it is that I am so glad to do it. I get as much enjoyment out of it as the people who are being blessed. The bible says that it is more blessed to give than to receive and I'm seeing that first hand. (Acts 20:35)

The hubby and I are doing a marital workbook with our friends, the Coles, the couple that took us through premarital counseling. It's a Gary Chapman book titled A Couple's Guide to a Growing Marriage. We are currently on chapter three and are enjoying the points of communication and quality time that it encourages. We've had a wonderful first year together but thought it would be fun and helpful to do a couples book again. Beyond a shadow of a doubt we know a good marriage won't happen on its' own, we have to be intentional.The assignment we feel called to has been a high school assembly ministry that utilizes state-of-the-art 3-D technology. And we feel like that is closer to becoming a reality all the time. Our friends and partners recently had a meeting in Hollywood, and they said it could not have gone better. We have been shown so much favor and are extremely thankful. They are doing our project at a fraction of the cost, and some of the very best movie makers have already volunteered to help. The promo will be shot mid August (which we will go to see) and it should be finished mid November. At that point we will be setting meetings to show the promo and garner support. We are pumped!

Please, please, please pray for us. We know this isn't going to be easy, and what awaits us in Vegas is the devil's back yard. The spiritual forces of wickedness in that place are so thick you could cut it with a knife. We know we must be prepared, for we are 'storming the beaches of Normandy ' in a sense. We know it will be bloody, and the victims of ' Sin City ' are a mighty throng. A pastor there told us; the only way you make it in Vegas is with a passionate, intimate relationship with the Father. Intimacy with Jesus. He said that with the memory of his best friend who came to start the church with him falling hard; and many others like him.
None the less, we go. In His name, in His strength, with all humility and preparation.

Glory to GOD, and GOD bless you with passion for His Son,
Zach and Natasha