This is the second month of Chartrand adventures transition since we stepped out June 16, 2022 from our home town in Kewaskum, Wisconsin. At the beginning of the year we knew we would be transitioning we just didn’t know when or how. We are grateful for the season with our home Church Huttes Davids Westbend in Westbend, Wisconsin with Pastors Dennis and Susan Bigley. In this new season they have transitioned as well and have shut down the house Church sensing God doing something new. We bless and love them as well as all those connected. God has something so amazing in store for all!
We learned alot from their leadership and example. They taught on the heart and coming into the pure truth of God in every area of our lives especially the family. They taught about being real and loving others from a pure heart with no hidden motives. We were mightily touched by the practical love they shared opening their home to us and providing a safe place to worship during this pandemic. We went through a really hard time of refining fires in our marriage learning how to be supernaturally practical. We are still learning and realized the heart posture to have is that of the Lamb of God who emptied Himself and became nothing. When we become nothing His life is formed in us. He does it all through us as we surrender our lives to Him. I was overwhelmed by the humility of Christ they demonstrated as they obeyed God to close the house Church. I was really sad at first thinking some how we missed it not totally understanding but then realized God is in control. It all will be ok. We were also very blessed by the overseeres of Huttes Davids Westbend who are based in Germany- Pastors Greg and Marie and their leaders Paul and Jeannie who came to share with us about being one in marriage, submission and having hearts free from masagony and hatred toward weaknesses.
I will be forever touched by what they imparted into us. It is a deep revelation of perfect love within the family dealing with hardness or hatred in the heart. I realized that it is only by the grace and love of God that I stand. I could fall just like that but praise and Glory to God who sustains me.
Philippians 2:7
New International Version
7″ rather, he made himself nothing(A)
by taking the very nature[a] of a servant,(B)
being made in human likeness.(C”
We stepped out for the first time in March for a much needed break and had a lovely time visiting family and friends in Maryland. So grateful for all my family who really loved us and helped us during this time. We saw our home Church Cornerstone in Frederick, MD with Pastors Paul and Cheryl who married us as well as lots of friends and family. We were able to work through some stressful things in our marriage and go on a much needed date while Papa and Gaga watched the kids as well as Uncle Dave and our niece Emma! It was good to join the family for St. Patrick’s day on March 17. Olivia Kate Joy met everyone for the first time. Especially fun to meet our new niece Ashley Weaver for the first time!
We were very touched by Cornerstone reaching out to us in this time. A big thank you to all the leadership their who prayed, welcomed us and blessed us during this time of transition. We were looking for a home close to family in Maryland and the pause button was pushed when Anthony heard be in Ottawa, Canada July 13. I was not expecting to be in Canada so soon. My heart was to get more established in the USA. I had to do a quick gear shift in my heart. I then heard “It’s never a convient time to birth a baby.” The Holy Spirit was then speaking to me about ministry to Canada and that it will all be OK. That He is working in everything that He is in control to trust in His perfect love for us.
We went on family vacation to North Carolina with the whole family! This was such a blessing to be with my parents, all my brothers and sisters along with their spouses and children!
This has been a wild season of dying to flesh, tests, trials and victories! This past season I learned that in my flesh dwells no good thing (Romans 7:18) In order to walk in truth there is an upheaval of every kingdom that opposes the Kingdom of God.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Matthew 10:34-39 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.10.34-39.NKJV
This verse is a hard verse to recieve because it is dealing with death to self and our selfish ways. He wants to bring us to Himself which is true peace and joy. In order for this to happen the peace that is a worldly peace has to be uprooted because it is a false peace. When we choose to obey it will cause chaos to this false kingdom. This morning my Devotion from Oswald Chambers was sharing this. Below is a copy of my Devotional for your reading pleasure.
“The coming of Jesus Christ is not a peaceful thing, it is a disturbing, an overwhelming thing. Am I willing to be born into the realm Jesus Christ is in? If so, I must be prepared for chaos straight off in the realm I am in. The rule which has come in between God and man has to be eclipsed, and Jesus Christ’s entering in means absolute chaos concerning the way I have been looking at things, a turning of everything upside down. The old order and the old peace must go, and we cannot get back peace on the old level.
When Satan rules the hearts of natural men under the inspiration of the devil, they are not troubled, they are at peace, entrenched in clean worldliness (cf. Psalm 73), and before God can rule a man’s kingdom He must first overthrow this false rule.
Reflection Questions: What chaos must I pass through to reach peace? What disturbance is required to overcome the old order? What false rule must be overthrown?”
Quotations taken from Servant as His Lord, © Discovery House Publishers
This Devotional speaks right to the season that I have been walking through. I feel as I lost my voice and now I am finding it again in His love, truth and reality. This is the place of freedom and true Life in Christ. It’s the place where true love grows in family for husband and wife, sons and daughters. It’s the place of overcoming and allowing Christ Jesus to live in us!