miracle after miracle

Nathan and I seriously cannot believe just how many miracles God has performed in our lives - just in the past 3 1/2 years of being together. It's really such a short little time, but of course God can do anything. I believe that God really takes us at our words. You see, Nate and I, from the beginning of our relationship just wanted our lives to be a big "yes" to God. Whatever He asked, big or small, we would trust Him - knowing that when we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness that He would take care of us, that all these things would be given to us, as well.

I can't even begin to name you all of the miracles since Nate and I have been together, but I'll list as much as I can just from the time that the Lord started to put planting a church on our hearts:

-meeting Sarah Kelly & visiting CA the 1st time (this is when God began to burden our hearts for West LA/Santa Monica)

-Steve Preston, SoCal Church Planting Director, actually taking us seriously when we called saying we wanted to plant a church in West LA

-Josh & Allison being on-board with us even before we were sure

-Finding out we were pregnant with Novi!!!

-SoCal Bootcamp and the connections we made there (JR Mahon, Norb Kohler, Trinity Jordan, Mike Hinojosa, Coast Christian Church, Steve & Becky Preston, Rich Guerra, Steve Pike....and soooo many more)

-singing again with Sarah Kelly in SoCal (cool opportunity, always!)

-meeting with Clay and Angie Stevenson...and Clay offering Nathan the opportunity to teach afterschool music lessons @ Village School!!!

-our parents just wanting us to do what God had called us to do - and being okay that that meant taking their 1st grandbaby 3000 miles away

-our siblings and family excited for what God wanted to do with us in our lives!

-a family actually renting our house

-PennDel District council and the connections we made there (Ridgeway Church, Gary Kipe, and sooo many others)

-beginning a new awesome friendship with JR & Diane Mahon, visiting with them (such a breath of freshness into our lives and outlooks)

-God totally setting it up for Keith & Matt to step into Nathan's roles at Lighthouse...it's an understatement to say that it went smoothly!

-Nathan acquiring music students so we could have income while he wasn't on staff at a church

-THE CLARITY TEAM...beginning to meet and see God form our leadership team

-Our relationship with Gary Spell and His ability to just pour freshness into our walks with the Lord

-Churches actually wanting Nathan and I to come and share the Clarity vision, lead them in worship, letting Nate minister, and then paying us for it and blessing us like crazy with support and prayers!

-People beginning to support us through prayer and finances - and some of them monthly....wayyyy awesome!

-Having a baby! November Loren Kollar 8/4/09 @ 8:01pm 7lbs 14.6oz 19.5in

-Clarity Dev: Take 1 with JR Mahon

-Having an excellent traveling baby!

-SoCal minister's retreat where Nathan was able to share the Clarity vision! We gave out over 80 packs in 2 days and already began to book services in SoCal!

-Another opportunity to sing with Sarah Kelly - met with The Fish radio, made sweet connection, as well with the Pregnancy Resource Center (Hello, Baby!)

-Clarity Dev: Take 2 w/ Gary Spell

-Awesome times with family over the holidays

-Setting up a sweet website (www.claritylife.org) with asoundstrategy.com, paying a good deal for it and then a church calling us the next day and telling us they are going to give us almost double what we payed for for the website!

-Packing up all of our stuff - it was crazy!

Since the new year....

-Traveled across the country witha 5 month old baby

-Had a place to stay in Santa Monica while we looked for an apartment, thanks Barry & Susie @ Hope Christian Santa Monica

-Clarity Dev: Take 3 w/ Steve Preston

-Found tons of apartments, but really needed income and the ability to show that we had it coming in every month - God let us meet Nancy and Susan, who worked with us, and Susan pulled every string because she believes in the Clarity vision - and bam! We get an apartment after being in Santa Monica for 1 week! It was truly a miracle!

-Meeting Josh and Steph Galbincea (sp?), an awesome couple who have been blessing the team's socks off! They want to be a part, supporting us with whatever - including a Costco membership and tons of food! So excited for them to be a part of the Clarity team through their awesome talents in graphic design/film. God is bringing such sweet people our way!

-More music students @ Village School for Nathan. Meeting their families - and their families wanting to know about Clarity and Jesus

Seriously, miracles are happening here every day. There are so many more...I just don't have the time (in my lifetime!) to write them all down. But I hope to do better from now on...

Get ready to see God do so much more!

When we say "yes" and trust Him - and give our lives freely - He is faithful!

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

failed attempt

My intentions for this blog were to write in it everyday and record the journey that we were beginning...Fail. Ha, little did I know that actually doing the journey would suck every ounce of energy out of me, not to mention - I have a 5 1/2 month old while doing it too...and one who doesn't know what to do with a binky or bottle. So I have been unsuccessful at updated this everyday like I had hoped. At least I realized it at my second blog post... :)

Right now, I'm trying to entertain Novmeber with a multi-colored ladybug and somehow trick her into going to sleep (as she just attacked my lap top). It's not that she's not sleepy - it's just that she doesn't quite fully believe that she is.

But anyway, I just wanted to admit - I'm a failure at writing daily. So no more feeling guilty about it. I've come to terms with it. But I do hope to update about what's been going on the past 2 1/2 weeks as soon as I can get my little sleepy head to shut her eyes and try to take a decent morning nap. Wish me luck. :)

the.journey.begins.

Nathan and I discussed during dinner tonight that it's hard to wrap our minds around the fact that in a few days we won't be making the trip back "home" to the Poconos - that we're actually moving to Santa Monica...today (and well, for the majority of the week). What in the world are we thinking?!?!? Well - we're thinking about obedience. Obedience to his word to "go and make disciples" just like He has instructed all of us. We're thinking about the lost and the fact that the whole reason Jesus came was to seek and to save them. So okay - here we go.

Our trip began pretty smoothly - actually everything had gone as planned all weekend. But quickly, (30 mins into our 11 hour-drive day) we realized that we forgot to leave an important paper for the U-Pack truck company. The smoothness ended quickly. We traveled back home, dropped off the paper and added 1.5 hours to our already super long trip. Nathan was pretty frustrated but through this frustration, God's ever-faithful word spoke to Nathan's heart. He was encouraged and empowered - ready to take on whatever else may come our way.

So after crossing 4 state lines (PA to MD, to WV, to VA, to TN) and numerous feeding stops, we made it (almost) to Knoxville, TN. Thanks to the awesome invention called "gift cards," we enjoyed a $3 meal from Cracker Barrel and now have crashed - ready for a good night's sleep. Oh, and I have to say - our baby is the best traveling baby ever. I'm so proud of her.

And one more thing I'm proud of - our families. I can't say thank you enough to our parents, siblings and other family members for their support, prayers, and love. We are so blessed to have a family who's only desire is for us to be obedient to whatever God has placed on upon our hearts. And like I've said before...

It's better to be obedient and far away than disobedient and nearby.

Thank you family and friends - you are such a blessing to our lives!