Many people have asked the question, how do you know where to go and what to do? Our answer may sound simple, but many times, it's not: We listen to God and do what He says.

Many people also get skeptical when they hear that response. Listen, it's not like we have one of those red phones that goes directly to God's desk... well, that's arguable (Holy Spirit access??). God loves to walk and talk with His people! Because of Jesus, we have direct access to our Father.

​If He told me (Josh) exactly everything to do with His audible voice, where would there be room for faith? Are we 100% sure we're suppose to go to Sacramento (we got here 10 minutes ago), or Tennessee or Madagascar, for that matter? No, but that leaves room for faith. We ask, we pray and then we do what the Bible says, which many times is a specific part of scripture God is highlighting for the place we are in.

We can know the whole Bible, but if we don't know when to apply certain parts of the Word, we are much less effective. That's where the Holy Spirit comes in. He is one part of three and He is really important to our journey!

We are headed back to South Dakota in October, not because we planned it months in advance, but because He is calling us there. It's exciting and I want to share a recent story with you that might better explain how He sometimes speaks.

We had a rough day coming out of the Redwoods and the mountains in Northern California. The bus had issues and we lost all 4 of our bikes! That's a story we'll write soon, but the next morning we had more mountains to go through to get to church on Sunday. 

As we came over more mountains and around more and more curves, I saw something amazing. The road we took through the mountains had these dug out rectangles all along where they put the yellow and white lane lines. These are so you have a loud thumping noise that reminds you that you are one foot from a cliff or hitting oncoming cars. Down in those rectangles are little yellow reflectors.

Picture this: We come around a corner, and as the rising sun hits those reflectors at the perfect angle, the path we are taking lights up like a glissando on a keyboard in sequential order... the direction we're driving. Then in my heart, I hear, "Follow the yellow brick road."

Now, before you think about doctrine, think about this: God knows you better than you do. He can speak things to you that affect you in a certain way, and maybe not anyone else. In this instance, I immediately felt like the Lord was saying, "You're on the right track, keep walking in it."

It was so comforting! That may affect you the opposite, but then the Holy Spirit probably would be speaking something unique to you. You see, God wants a relationship. He wants to be part of our lives everyday. It was Him encouraging us, much like He did for Joshua when God said, "Be strong and courageous."

I also got the added bonus of getting a smile on my face as I thought of the joyous send off Dorothy gets in the Wizard of Oz. It's probably one of my favorite songs in many musicals that I've seen... and the Holy Spirit knows that.

I'm not sure if that at all helps you understand what we do, but in the end, I guess all that matters is that we follow His leading. When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, a rabbi, about being born again, he said, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." That doesn't mean we never know where we're going, but the Holy Spirit does like to keep us on our toes!

We make our best effort to be led by the Holy Spirit. As we finish our time praying over California, Sacramento, Salt Lake City and elsewhere, He continually is leading us. We rarely know what the day will bring, but that's part of the adventure of being a disciple of Jesus.

Pray with us for Sacramento and California. This is a special place that God is doing some amazing things. For more information on The Keystone Project, visit https://keystoneproject.org/

If you follow any modern day prophets, you've probably heard that many believe there's a third great awakening coming to America that will surpass all other revivals in scope and reach. 

Whether you believe that or not, let me tell you some things we've seen and experienced. Let me start with a story. Many people remember the Folgers commercial jingles (that never leave your head) singing, "The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup." Or, Juan Valdez confidently stating that his coffee is "Good to the last drop".

These companies and many more brought coffee to the masses in airtight, pre-ground cans of coffee roasted in huge facilities. In the coffee industry, this is commonly referred to the "first wave" of coffee.

If there's a first, there has to be a second, right?! The "second wave" consisted of artisan coffee and roasts being brought to every street corner in America. Although not all encompassing, Starbucks is the best picture of the second wave of coffee. There is much more to this history, but I'm quickly describing it all for a parallel, an illustration if you will, of what's happening in America now.

Next, came the "third wave" of coffee. The third wave was far more encompassing then either of the previous waves. People got extremely 'nerdy' about coffee, all the way down to the chemical reactions that take place. They decided, coffee in its purest form was best. They created different ways of making coffee to give a person the best experience possible. Independent coffee shops popped up everywhere breaking all the rules of what had been known before. They didn't do the status quo. They changed it!

These creative unknowns turned the world upside down to the point that my 4 yr old girl asks for coffee on a regular basis. If this doesn't resonate with you, bear with me!

Some believe the third great awakening in America has already happened... including Wikipedia. I won't go all into that, but FINALLY, let me tell you the illustration if you haven't caught it yet.

God is telling some regular people some crazy things; people that aren't full-time ministers, pastors or evangelists. They aren't on their church board but they are listening to what the Holy Spirit is doing in America. They are having dreams about things that sound, well, crazy.

I have met several of these people, and after this last one, I have to write about it! We know one pilot organizing other pilots to intercede over whole cities regularly on their routes. We just met one businessman who is building RV spots on 30 acres next to his house because our Lord has given him dreams about it, and we've met multiple people with the same experience!

I had pretty much given up on meeting my future wife. I had heard so many stories, including how my parents met, and how people found their significant others in college. I unknowingly grew up believing I would meet my wife in college. 

Well, college came and went and no wife… not even a girlfriend. However, God was calling me, and I was trying to answer. I threw myself into serving the Lord at my local church. It was 2001, and although I had been raised going to church, I had no idea what serving at a local church meant. I made $14,400/year and I was happy!

I loved college and worship ministry. My dream was to get paid to lead worship. In fact, if any church would have paid me to lead worship, I would have jumped at the chance (an interesting side note is that over 10 years later a church did offer and I turned it down… I had learned the gospel is never about money, among other things. That’s a story for another time!).

In the fall of 2002, everything changed. The first week in October, I took a dozen or so students to a college ministry retreat. It’s funny, well… not at the time, how God show’s up when you’ve given up. I had really given up on meeting a woman to share my life with. I didn’t think about it that much anymore and I didn’t date.

On October 4, 2002, I walked in a room filled with college students. I saw Mary for the first time from across the room and literally said, “Wow!”, out loud. I was awestruck. She was beautiful… and I was too shy to even approach her.

I remember that first night. She was worshiping the Lord with passion, and I it was all over for me!

Let me tell you all something really important. You want to be "ready" when you meet your future spouse. I don't mean you have to be perfect, but if you have a glaring sin issue like pornography or masturbation in your life, get help. You never know when it'll happen, and looking back, I wish I had been more ready. 

There are significant things that need to be worked through when you are newlyweds or even engaged. Pornography shouldn't be one of them. It was in my life, and now I was dragging someone else into it.

This journey of ours brings us into places where we are in constant reliance of God. We never know what we are going to do or who we are going to meet. We simply move forward in continual communion with God and He faithfully directs our path. We are amazed how He always puts is right where we need to be…

with love,
Mary

ps: the power steering is completely fixed and the bus is running smoothly once again...

So, now as we walk (or drive 😏) off into the sunset, we feel ready. All of us feel that the timing of our departure is just perfect. We arrived at our first Walmart to shop and sleep last night. When we were walking around by the milk and eggs and day old bread stand, Judah exclaimed, "oh! I remember this!" We feel as though we have finally returned to our normal.

It's funny, but it's true. This nomadic life we live with Holy Spirit leading us is our normal. This traveling life is when we feel at home. Home has become a feeling in our spirits and not actually a physical place. Home is when we are walking in step with our Father God. In fact, home is, simply put, being with Him.

"From Peter, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed One, to the chosen ones who have been scattered abroad like “seed” into the nations living as refugees,... You are not forgotten , for you have been chosen and destined by Father God. The Holy Spirit has set you apart to be God’s holy ones, obedient followers of Jesus Christ who have been gloriously sprinkled with his blood. May God’s delightful grace and peace cascade over you many times over! Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us his extravagant mercy. For his fountain of mercy has given us a new life—we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
1 Peter 1:1‭-‬3 TPT

with love,
​Mary