The LORD Reigns

Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

Psalm 93:1,2

I cannot help but feel anxiety in the air these days. Markets are plummeting, pension funds are shrinking, governments seem helpless to stabilize an "out of control" world economy. Massive companies like GM are on the verge of bankruptcy. I find it interesting that we are so shaken by economic "shaking". It seems like God knows that we are most attached to our security and material things and that the way to get our attention is to put a hole in the bag of silver we find such security in.

I am reminded this morning of the sovereignty of God. "The nations mock" but He is still God. It is good to be reminded during times like this that our help comes from the Lord, who's throne is established from of old. God has seen economic downturns, shifts in the way the nations of the world relate to each other, and superpowers come and go. But, HE is not wringing his hands.

In a microcosmic kind of way, the world of Gary and Kim Lidstone is also changing. The "only" secure thing in our lives for the last three years has been that whenever we came home from wherever, our shelter was at 21 Villa Court, Chatham. As the Lord has brought us on the journey of the last three years, he has given us assurance that only He is our shelter and that we can uproot from Chatham and wait upon Him for further instructions.

I will say to the LORD,

"My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Ps 91:2

The Keys to our New Place

Last night the conditions were removed from the offer on our home and so we began packing and emptying our house at 21 Villa Court. This morning we rented our new house. It has two doors, both garage doors, one at the back and the other at the front. It is thirty feet long and 10 feet wide. That is bigger than some of the houses in Los Heroes, Puebla. Today we pretty much emptied the garage and tomorrow we will keep going with storage room stuff. Pastor Miguel and his daughter Melissa will help us tomorrow. Melissa stores some of her things with us and we have plenty of room in our new casa for her things.

We are becoming excited about getting back to Mexico. God is opening doors for us already. This will be an interesting sojourn without a house to think about in Canada. In essence, when we return from Mexico, we will not know where home is. We trust the Lord to make that clear to us.

Partnering with Financial Support

Dear Friends,

As the Lord leads you, you can partner with us in Mexico by sending gifts to CrossWorld at the following addresses.

We are leaving after the 31st of October and will be there at least until the end of January.

CrossWorld - Canada 1020 Matheson Blvd. E. #11Mississauga, ON L4W 4J9 Phone: 905-238-0904info.canada@crossworld.orgCrossWorld

CrossWorld USA 306 Bala AvenueP.O. Box 306Bala-Cynwyd, PA 19004 Phone: 610-667-7660info@crossworld.org

The House is Sold

Quite a 12 month period. Last September we began a four month interim ministry at West Highland Baptist Church in Hamilton. January and February (08) we did some preaching elsewhere but capitalized on a quieter schedule by finishing the lower level of our house. This was to 1. enjoy the entire house and 2. to prepare the house to sell. We finished the room just in time to list the house and leave for Mexico in March. We had a lot of interest in the house and accepted a conditional offer that later fell through. After returning from Mexico we took the house off the market but continued to dialogue with our Realtor and good friend Dale Groombridge.

In April we began six months of interim ministry in Woodstock at Oxford Baptist Church and decided to put our house back on the market later in the summer. We hoped it would sell before October so we could go to Mexico with the house sold. Finishing at Oxford at the end of September, we had three Sundays committed in October to ministry and travel, and then we were leaving for Mexico sometime during the week of October 20. Then an offer came, a really bad offer, but a purchaser that could close at the end of October. As we left for Chicago last Thursday, we dismissed another lame attempt to purchase the house by the same buyer. This week we gave her 24 - 48 hours to meet our price or we were going to leave next week for Mexico and she would not get the house. I had my doubts she would come through.

Unknown to us, a small group from Emmanuel, filled with dear friends, began to pray in earnest Wednesday night for our house to sell. Thursday the call came and after a bit of back and forth, we learned at 5 pm yesterday (Friday) that the buyer had accepted our terms. We rejoice at the wisdom and faithfulness of God. We now have two weeks to pack up and store our stuff and then leave for Mexico.

It is time to move on! The cloud is moving. Where it will lead ultimately is not our concern. That is the Lord's. And he will direct our steps. The fact is, we are more flexible now than we have ever been in our lives. Our home will be wherever the Lord has us. He will be our refuge, as He has always been. Our plan is to buy again as soon as the cloud settles. The prayer and encouragement of our friends and family are of such importance to us. We are grateful.

Gary

No Sale

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for praying and then asking, "Did it sell?" The answer is no.

We left Friday morning for Chicago to see Sarah and the African Children's Choir at Wheaton Academy that evening and returned Thanksgiving Monday night around 2 am. During the weekend we spent one night with Sarah in a hotel and enjoyed Giordano's Pizza for supper. Daniel and Grace joined us for the concert Friday night as well as a number of Sarah's friends from her Chicago/Moody days.

Saturday night, Daniel led worship with Andy Rozier at Harvest Bible Chapel, Rowling Meadows and sang "Song of Hope" as the special music. At the end of his song, James MacDonald got up and asked for them to sing part of it again. It was powerful. We returned Sunday morning for the second service to worship again with our favorite worship leader.

We are back home in Chatham, deciding on which day to travel to Mexico next week. This Sunday, October 19th, we will visit a church that may play a role in our future. Will you pray for this weekend.

Also, our house will remain on the market while we go to Mexico. We would love for some reliable couple or single to rent it until the end of January. We have heard from our pastor in Mexico and they want to put us to for work. Excited!

Thanks for all who prayed about our house. Your emails and contacts mean so much to us. Let's stay in touch!

Grateful for you,

Gary and Kim

Sale of House

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Dear Friends,

This morning we received an offer on our house in Chatham. It was a good offer in so much as the buyer wants to close at the end of October and does not have a house to sell. But it was 14,000 below our asking price. We have countered with what would be fair and are awaiting news. Perhaps Thursday we will know how serious this purchaser is. Please pray for us.

We have a few commitments before heading for Mexico and would covet your prayers in these days. They are days of waiting and yet of seriously considering what the Lord is directing us to do. We do not lack opportunities. Just wisdom from God. We would love to hear from you as to how you are doing. We want to stay connected with your lives!

Warmly,

Gary and Kim

No Sale

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for praying and then asking,

"Did it sell?" The answer is no.

We left Friday morning for Chicago to see Sarah and the African Children's Choir at Wheaton Academy that evening and returned Thanksgiving Monday night around 2 am. During the weekend we spent one night with Sarah in a hotel and enjoyed Giordano's Pizza for supper. Daniel and Grace joined us for the concert Friday night as well as a number of Sarah's friends from her Chicago/Moody days.

Saturday night, Daniel led worship with Andy Rozier at Harvest Bible Chapel, Rowling Meadows and sang "Song of Hope" as the special music. At the end of his song, James MacDonald got up and asked for them to sing part of it again. It was powerful. We returned Sunday morning for the second service to worship again with our favorite worship leader.

We are back home in Chatham, deciding on which day to travel to Mexico next week. This Sunday, October 19th, we will visit a church that may play a role in our future. Will you pray for this weekend.

Also, our house will remain on the market while we go to Mexico. We would love for some reliable couple or single to rent it until the end of January. We have heard from our pastor in Mexico and they want to put us to work. Excited!

Thanks for all who prayed about our house. Your emails and contacts mean so much to us.

Let's stay in touch!

Grateful for you,

Gary and Kim