All posts tagged God’s timing

On Mission for God, Part 7 ~ Review & Gratitude

I am struggling! It’s not like last year’s return from Spain. But I am at a loss on what to write about my trip and how to re-engage in my writing discipline since my return two weeks ago.

I’m not sure what’s up with that. Writer’s block? Writing fatigue from the mission? Spiritual attack? Or just plain brain drain from the last eight months of intense planning and preparations?

The one thing I am reminded of is to have an attitude of gratitude. So I cannot help but write a post about how grateful I am to have experienced another trip of a lifetime.

My Week in France

I am grateful for…

The Air France strike. My flight from Paris to Lyon was cancelled so I took the high speed train to Grenoble instead. That provided me with more time to explore Paris. I attended mass at Notre Dame, stopped by the Eiffel Tower for a quick photo opp, and bought some souvenirs.
The invitation from my American missionary friends to come to France to share my testimony at their church. My hosts showered me with their generous hospitality and acclimated me to life in the French Alps. We explored nearby villages by foot and scoped out some old cemeteries. They literally took me to new heights (on a perch thousands of feet above the valley and on mountaintops). God took me to new heights spiritually.
The opportunity to share my testimony at the Celebrate Recovery meeting In Grenoble. I met women who resonated with my story and shared my desire for spiritual revival in France.

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My Week in Rivas

I am grateful for…

The invitation from Pastor Josh Fajardo to come to his church in Rivas and teach about Celebrate Recovery. I hadn’t even met Josh at this time last year. God beautifully orchestrated all of these steps.
The opportunity to share my testimony in front of a Spanish audience. This also provided the opportunity for Rosa and Pedro to attend and hear me speak in their native language. It was an amazing blessing!
The connections that I made with people in the Rivas church, old and new friends, committed to life transformation through Christ.
The privilege to announce that the Spanish version of “Walking My Mother Home” was published as a gift to the church in Rivas.
The hope of continued partnership with the Fajardo’s, the church in Rivas, and that CR will take root in Spain.

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My Week in Madrid

I am grateful for…

The generous hospitality showered on me by my Spanish family, Rafa, Rosa and Pedro.
The hours of walking around Madrid and being able to physically keep up with it all. Some of my walks took me to sights I saw last year, but this time around I was able to appreciate them more fully and explore more leisurely.
The opportunity to visit and pray in several local churches. I treasured each one and especially being able to attend mass multiple times.
The comfort and safety I felt with my family and in Madrid. I was able to explore one day on my own, taking the subway, meeting new people, walking to new places, and dining out by myself. It gave me great freedom to experience Madrid in a new way.
The short visit with Pedro’s extended family allowing me to reconnect with a niece who stole my heart last summer and Pedro’s grandfather. We enjoyed the giving and receiving of gifts.
The ability to give signed copies of my Spanish story to Pedro’s family and that it can now be shared electronically with other friends and family.
The closure and peace I had leaving my Spanish family. I have no idea when I will see them again, but I am trusting the Lord to bring us together in His timing.

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Most of All

I am grateful…

To the Lord for allowing me to be His Hands and Feet on the ground in France and Spain, and for perfectly putting all of the pieces into place for me to go on this mission of hope. I am grateful that He stretched me outside of my comfort zone and has grown my faith in new life-giving ways.
To everyone who prayed for the mission (before, during or after) and for all of the generous donations that allowed me to follow God’s call to Spain.
To Timberlake Church for donating $1500 to cover the cost of CR launch materials for Free Methodist churches in Spain.
To the CR leader team at Pine Lake Covenant Church for sponsoring and supporting this mission across the globe.
And, to my family for taking care of the household for three weeks and supporting my call to Spain.

Yes, today is Halloween, but let’s not forget to be thankful for the blessings in our lives. Don’t wait for Thanksgiving. Let’s start a season of thanks-living. What are you thankful for?

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Looking for updates on the CR mission to Spain, check out the blog post series on the ministry site where I serve, celebraterecoveryontheplateau.org or re-blogged here.

1 Comment

by ardisanelson on October 31, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Faith & Hope, Healing & Recovery, My Mission to Spain, Travel Adventures

Tagged Celebrate Recovery, faithful, family, France, friendship, gifts, God, God's timing, gratitude, hope, living abroad, Mission to Spain, relationships, saying goodbye, Spain, writing

Posted by ardisanelson on October 31, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/10/31/celebrate-recovery-mission-review-gratitude/

English Additions to “Walking My Mother Home” Available

As I mentioned in my announcement about the E-book of “Walking My Mother Home,” it was a writing dream come true for me to publish my story in Spanish. I wanted it to be a complete book, with Preface, Foreword, etc. So I had to write those additional English pieces in order to have them translated into Spanish.

Writing the Additions

In my quest to determine how best to compile a more complete E-book, I researched the parts of a book, and reviewed books by some of my favorite authors and published friends. My writing plopped me right back into the throes of my story—the grief, the joy, and the miraculous way that God has been tying this season of my life all together. And it was all beautifully orchestrated in time to share on my mission in Spain (and the church in Rivas).

Printing Spanish copies of Walking My Mother Home.

It was also especially poignant for me to share it with my Spanish family while there. Last year, I left them with a signed copy of Journeys to Mother Love. It was more a symbolic and sentimental gesture than anything else because most of the family couldn’t read it. However, while I was in Spain last week, I had copies of the Spanish book printed and bound. I personalized and signed each one for family members. My only disappointment was that I couldn’t give the books to them personally.

‘Foreword’ Thinking

When it came to determining who would write the Foreword that was an easy decision. It had to be Pedro. We had that discussion a few years ago. I was getting ready to work on my memoir in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).

In doing other writing research, I came across references to the movie “Finding Forrester” as a good writer’s story. It is about a writing relationship between Forrester, a Pulitzer Prize author (played by Sean Connery), and his unlikely protégé, Jamal. The ending scene of the movie spoke volumes to me. Watch the first two minutes of the scene to see why, Letter to Jamal.

“Jamal: Opens the letter.
Forrester: Dear Jamal, Someone I once knew wrote that we walk away from our dreams afraid that we may fail or worse yet, afraid we may succeed. You need to know that while I knew so very early that you would realize your dreams, I never imagined I would once again realize my own. Seasons change young man, and while I may have waited until the winter of my life, to see the things I’ve seen this past year, there is no doubt I would have waited too long, had it not been for you.”

Role reversal, Pedro signing the Foreword of my personal copy of the book.

I found Ardis in the process of coming alongside my mother as she prepared to leave this earth, and in my relationship with my Spanish family. Pedro was a big catalyst in my following my writing dreams back then. Like Forrester’s posthumous request to Jamal, I knew that someday Pedro would write my Foreword. I told him then of my desire, not knowing how or when the right time or context would present itself. Now was God’s perfect timing. (Muchas gracias, Pedro!)

I’d Like to Thank…

The other part of these additional writing pieces that I am excited about publishing are my acknowledgments to those who made publishing my story possible. The list of names was too long to detail and translate on the page, but if you were a close part of my life during the writing process, you know you have my gratitude for your prayers and encouragement. (You know who you are.) Below is an excerpt of my acknowledgements:

First and foremost, I thank God for prompting me to write and submit this story for publishing. He healed me, and He gets the credit. He is using my pain for His glory and I am eternally grateful for that.

Second, I am indebted to the bi-lingual expertise and selfless donation of time and energy by Oscar Farfan (Saddleback Church, CA) for the Spanish version. I am grateful for his making this story available to a new audience of readers, and for having it ready in time for release while on my Celebrate Recovery mission in the fall of 2014.

I am also grateful to:

Cathy Lawton, publisher at Cladach Publishing, for seeing the value in this story, accepting it and granting me permission to translate it into other languages.
My Celebrate Recovery community at Pine Lake Covenant Church, for their steadfast support throughout the writing process and for approval of the CR mission to Europe.
My prayer partners, mentors and pastors who encouraged and supported my healing and writing journey.
My Spanish family, especially Rosa, Rafa, and Pedro, for extending their friendship and love across cultural, language, and religious differences, and for being such an integral part of my healing process.
My husband and sons, for their patience, understanding, and love as I pursued my writing dreams and the call into missions.

Book Dedication

Finally, I dedicated my story to someone who without their acceptance of me and my friendship would not have put the healing steps into motion. It is to Rosa, Pedro’s mother.

The Complete Story

So today, it is with great pleasure that I am sharing those additional pieces to “Walking My Mother Home” in English. If you’ve already read the story, I encourage you to sit back and read it again with the bookends of the Preface, Foreword by Pedro, (then “Walking My Mother Home” from Journeys to Mother Love published by Cladach Publishing) and the Epilogue. You’ll be glad you did. I’ll be including these pieces with each book that I sell from now on.

PREFACE to Walking My Mother Home

FOREWORD to Walking My Mother Home

EPILOGUE to Walking My Mother Home

May this story inspire you on your journey and turn your healing into hope.

3 Comments

by ardisanelson on October 22, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Identity, My Spanish Connection, My Writing Journey, Relationships & Family

Tagged following your dreams, friendship, gifts, God's timing, hope, identity, memoir writing, My Spanish Connection, publishing, relationships, Spain, writing

Posted by ardisanelson on October 22, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/10/22/additions-walking-my-mother-home/

CR Mission Update 4 – Additional Meetings in Rivas

I’ve been back from Spain a few days, still dealing with the effects of jet lag and trying to re-integrate into life in America. I’m feeling very blessed that the Lord would use me to be His Hands and Feet on the ground in Spain. There is so much I’d love to write about all of this, but for now am passing on the latest in the series from the ministry where I serve at Pine Lake Covenant Church. Muchas gracias for your support and prayers while I was on this mission of faith.

Celebrate Recovery on the Plateau

In my (Ardis Nelson, member of the CR leader team at PLCC) last post about the Celebrate Recovery (CR) mission to Spain, we had just completed the seminar portion of our time at the host church in Rivas, Comunidad Cristiana Luz y Vida (Light and Life Christian Community). The following day was Sunday, October 5. We were given the Sunday school time slot to present more CR information to the overall church.

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by ardisanelson on October 21, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Healing & Recovery, My Mission to Spain

Tagged 12 step, Celebrate Recovery, Christianity, following your dreams, God's timing, Mission to Spain, Pedro Gonzalez Arbona, publishing, serving others, Spain, transformation, trusting God

Posted by ardisanelson on October 21, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/10/21/cr-mission-update-4-additional-meetings-in-rivas/

Announcement: E-Book for “Walking My Mother Home” Available

I have a big announcement to make that I’ve been keeping a secret for a while–until just the right time! In preparing for my mission to Spain, I was also working in the background on a special writing project. I announced it at the church in Rivas last week and am now officially announcing it here on my site.

Announcing the release of the Spanish version of “Walking My Mother Home.”

A Writing Dream Fulfilled

It is the completion of the Spanish translation of my story “Walking my Mother Home,” from the compilation Journeys to Mother Love, published by Cladach Publishing in 2012. There is a long story as to how this all came to be. As usual it includes surrendering the outcome to the Lord and waiting on His timing. It is the fulfillment of a writing dream come true for me.

When my manuscript was accepted by my publisher in January 2012, I knew in my heart that the Lord wanted me to share this story beyond an American audience. It only seemed natural that Spanish audiences would resonate with the story as much as Americans have. So I negotiated the inclusion of the foreign translation rights as part of my contract.

Unforeseen Obstacles to Translating the Story

Later that same year, Pedro, the Spanish exchange student who is a part of this story, agreed to translate it for me. He completed his translation of the story, written out by hand while on holiday in Mallorca. While he translated the story, he also shared it in Spanish with his family. They, of course, already knew the story as retold by Pedro and Rosa, but this was my turn to share it with them from my perspective.

It was truly a gift to hear Pedro recount to me how interested his grandfather was in the story, hanging on every word. (The story recounts the intersection of his wife’s passing with my mother’s death.) Unfortunately, that version of the translation was forever lost when Pedro’s computer crashed. Soon after, Pedro’s music career took off; and I knew he’d never be able to translate the story.

I didn’t have any budget for a professional translator. I wasn’t seeking the Spanish version to sell it online or make any money from the E-book. My desire was to give the E-book to the church in Rivas and other people in Spain as a gift. In light of that, I was hoping to get the story translated by someone as a way to support the mission to Spain.

I let go of the how’s and when’s of a Spanish translation ever being done. I kept praying. I kept asking for help. God was continuing to stretch me and to build my trust in Him.

A New Spanish Connection

Then it happened. It happened in such an unexpected way, and it will be used in ways that I never dreamed possible.

Oscar, my Spanish contact at Saddleback Resources, where the Celebrate Recovery materials (Celebremos la Recuperación) are sold and the Spanish version was translated, donated his time to the cause for the mission. Much to my surprise the Spanish version of “Walking My Mother Home” will also be used as a resource for Spanish testimony requests. I was blown away by Oscar’s generous gift to translate this story, to know that it would be used beyond the mission, and also that it would be ready in time for the mission to Spain (where I am still on location).

This all happened the few weeks prior to my departure on the mission. I added the customary additional pieces to the story, like a Preface, so it would be a more complete book. Those pieces are part of the Spanish version of the E-book. (Those pieces are published on the post, English Additions to “Walking My Mother Home” Available.)

Encaminando a Mi Madre a Casa

So it is with great delight and gratitude that I am officially announcing and publishing the Spanish E-book of “Walking My Mother Home.” The Spanish title is Encaminando a Mi Madre a Casa. It is free for online reading or you can download the PDF. The link is on my new Spanish page, here.

Walking My Mother Home Spanish version released October 2014.

If you know any people who speak Spanish, please direct them to my new free Spanish E-book, Encaminando a mi Madre a Casa.

Please note: The English version of “Walking My Mother Home” is only available in the compilation, Journeys to Mother Love. Paperback or e-book versions are available for purchase through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Cladach Publishing. Autographed copies are available through my site by clicking here.

5 Comments

by ardisanelson on October 10, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in My Mission to Spain, My Spanish Connection, My Writing Journey

Tagged Celebrate Recovery, Cladach Publishing, following your dreams, God's timing, gratitude, Journeys to Mother Love, letting go, My Spanish Connection, publishing, Spain, writing

Posted by ardisanelson on October 10, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/10/10/ebook-walking-my-mother-home-available/

On Mission for God, Part 4 ~ The Birth of the Call

At a recent Mission presentation at a local recovery meeting, I spoke about how my call was birthed while praying in Spain last summer. But the seeds for Celebrate Recovery (CR) in Spain were planted two years prior. I was flooded with emotions as I prepared for the presentation and pieced together all of the events and circumstances that led me to this time in my life.

The First Meeting

Friday, October 7, 2011—I sat in a Starbucks coffee shop meeting Marvin and Lisa Klein.* They were missionaries from my church who were serving in France. We had never met before, although my children had donated to their mission years ago when they were in Sunday school. The Klein’s were on sabbatical for one year in the States. They were forming a leadership team to launch Celebrate Recovery at my church, heard about me and my experience with CR, and asked to meet.

I knew going into this meeting that the ultimate intent for the Klein’s was to get experience so they could launch CR in Grenoble, France, their new home. I told the Klein’s about my Spanish connection with Pedro, the exchange student who stayed with us the previous two summers. I told them about my desire to visit Spain one day to meet Pedro’s mother Rosa, and their family. I told him a bit about our family’s story, which at that time in my life God was calling me to write and have published.

Marvin told me that I would one day share my testimony in France. I was flattered, and excited about the prospect, but only took him half seriously. I was more interested in sharing the story in Spain. However, with a Protestant population of only 1%, it seemed that would never happen..

An Education in Religious History

It was after that meeting that I started to get an understanding of the spiritual climate in Spain. I didn’t realize that the Protestant Reformation had never made it to Spain. I heard from some that any church outside of the Roman Catholic Church was considered a cult. Those were shocking words to me. I had a wonderful relationship with my Spanish family. We had a mutual acceptance of each other’s faith—Catholic and Protestant. And in fact, it was our faith that bonded our families with the painful passing of Rosa’s and my mothers, who were both practicing Catholics.

After those conversations I never really considered that CR would ever launch in Spain. I just knew that I would someday visit Spain and meet Rosa. Marvin and I went on to serve together on the team that launched CR the following year. The Kleins’ returned to France in preparation to launch CR at their home church in Grenoble.

Since that time I’ve studied more about the Protestant Reformation and the history of the Church in Spain. I also experienced the difference in the spiritual environment firsthand while traveling there for six weeks last summer. All of this eventually (and quite unexpectedly) led to the mission in the fall and the partnership with Marvin to teach CR in Rivas, a suburb of Madrid.

Expanding the Call to France

I had originally hoped to visit France last summer and give my testimony in Grenoble. When that didn’t work out, I gave up the thought of ever going to France. One year later, the Lord has made provision for me to speak in Grenoble. And I don’t know any French—now that is scary!

As further confirmation of my call, Marvin is working on the French translation of my published story, “Walking my Mother Home.” I will be providing complimentary copies of the novella to members of the Kleins’ church when I speak there later this month. That is very exciting news indeed!

The view from the Klein’s home in Grenoble, France.

The seed for planting CR in Spain (and my speaking in France) was planted when I met the Kleins’ at that Starbucks in Redmond, WA, three years ago. It had to lie dormant before it could germinate and see the light of day. On October 7, 2014, exactly three years later, Marvin, Lisa, and me will all be in Madrid, and have plans to celebrate at a Starbucks there.

It just goes to show that you never know what door God is going to open next or how He will use you or your story. I’m learning to never say never, and to dream BIG, because God is always bigger than my never.

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20, NIV)

Only 3 more weeks until I leave on my mission!

Mission Update

I’m so grateful for the continued receipt of donations for this mission, including an offering when I spoke at the local CR meeting. I’m sharing the call again later today at the PLCC Mission Board meeting.

I’ll be stepping on Spanish soil with my French missionary partners one month from today, so it’s not too late to support this mission. In fact, now IS the time to help put me over the top in my fund raising goal of $3,000.

To donate to the Celebrate Recovery mission and plant new seeds of hope into France and Spain, click here. To be added to the list for prayer updates, fill out the contact form on my site. Thank you so much! Every little bit helps.

*For more information about the Klein’s and their ministry in France, check out their latest missionary newsletter.

1 Comment

by ardisanelson on September 2, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Faith & Hope, My Mission to Spain

Tagged Catholic, Celebrate Recovery, following your dreams, France, God's timing, healing, Journeys to Mother Love, My Spanish Connection, Spain

Posted by ardisanelson on September 2, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/09/02/on-mission-for-god-part-4-the-birth-of-the-call/

Tempting Fate in Houston, Part 1 ~ On the Red Carpet

When I last wrote about Pedro’s Tempting Fate* premiere in Houston, we were en route to the theater. No limousine treatment for Mr. Pedro González Arbona. That was reserved for the cast arrival later. I was Pedro’s chauffeur for the night, and he was stuck with me. No chauffeur’s cap like he suggested, but I bet I was the best dressed chauffeur at the event. (His real limousine ride will happen in due time.)

Pedro arrives at the theater for his American composing film debut.

I had many roles for Pedro that weekend. I was his image consultant, his photographer, his personal biographer, his publicist and his manager. Best of all, I was his friend. At any given moment it was hard to separate which role I was playing. As his benefactor and producer of his first CD, I was grateful to be there for his American movie debut. It was all in God’s timing, for sure.

At the Keyboard

We arrived at the venue for the sound check, before all of the festivities started, and in advance of the other cast and crew. Our first introductions were to Doyin Fashakin, the event planner (Events By Doyin). It was her smooth talking and quick maneuvering that got the keyboard at the event on such short notice. (Muchas gracias, Doyin!)

Pedro turned on the keyboard and started to practice, but there was no sound coming out of the auxiliary sound system! I prayed silently—no more problems in Houston. He fiddled with the cable connections a bit and music soon wafted through the theater reception area. (Answered prayer, thank you, God!)

A musical temptation straight from Madrid, Spain.

What a delight it was to watch him play some of the soundtrack songs I’d been listening to for the last several months. At one point, he threw in a sentimental favorite, Seattle, from his first CD. No one was the wiser except me. I proceeded to take plenty of photos and some video of Pedro performing.

On the Red Carpet

I didn’t know what to expect at this event. I’d seen Hollywood premieres and red carpet events publicized on TV in the past. It always looked so glamorous. It seemed to be reserved for the biggest stars, and the beautiful people in Hollywood. But here we were.

This was Pedro’s opportunity to bask in the limelight and to be acknowledged for his fantastic movie soundtrack. I wanted to make sure that I fit in with the crowd as well. Like most Hollywood actresses, I spent hours shopping for just the right dress, jewelry, shoes and so on. After all, it was my fairy tale moment too.

On the red carpet with Pedro at the premiere of “Tempting Fate”.

At the first break in Pedro’s music, we were asked by some fans to have our picture taken with them. Those were posted on Facebook within minutes; and that was the start of the social media frenzy that ensued for the movie. I was too busy with my digital camera to post online that night. However, I did get some photos back to Pedro’s family in Spain. I was also proud to be handing out Pedro’s business cards and pointing people to his Facebook page. Like, like, like.

Then we strolled over to the red carpet area. The red carpet was laid down on an area between a row of life-sized movie posters to the left and a row of photographers and videographers on the right. As you exited the second floor elevators into the event reception area you would walk right onto the red carpet and right into the line of paparazzi. There are photos all over Facebook at Tempting Fate and Simon’s Aperture.

Pedro's interview with Unsenika Usoro from Afro Centric Television Network.

Pedro’s interview with Usenika Usoro from Afro Centric Television Network.

Media Interviews

We plunged into the fun and had our photos taken together. Sky Houston, from Majic 102.1 radio station in Houston was on the red carpet interviewing people. She asked Pedro how he heard of the event. When he said he was the soundtrack composer, she interviewed him on the spot. I introduced myself as well, but let Pedro do all of the talking. He later said he was nervous, but it didn’t show.

Pedro’s second interview was with Usenika Usoro from Afro Centric Television Network in Houston. Again Pedro did all of the talking, as I graciously walked off camera after our initial introductions. That gave me the opportunity to get photos of Pedro during his interview.

Cast Arrival at the Meet & Greet

Pedro performed on and off during the ‘meet and greet’ portion of the event. People mingled and munched on fine appetizers and drinks in advance of the movie screening. The Houston sky turned dark and a deluge of rain, thunder and lightning swept across the region just as the limousine carrying the actors arrived at the theater. We watched from the balcony above as they did some publicity photos in the main theater lobby.

Watching overhead as the cast and crew arrive.

As luck would have it, the storm caused the power to go out to some of the theaters, but it did not affect our reception area. It was also at this opportune time that the elevator lost its power and some of the actors were stuck between floors. “Satan really doesn’t want this movie to get out,” I thought to myself as I sent another prayer up above.

Pedro meets John J Vogel, who plays Detective Travis in the movie.

When the power was restored and cast members started to have their turn at the red carpet treatment, the atmosphere turned more energetic and full of anticipation for the movie screening. The cast had spent two weeks together filming the movie ten months earlier and now they were reunited. They had formed a bond over the project. They were like family, and the celebration certainly had that sort of feel to it.

Pedro on the other hand had watched the movie many times as he synchronized his music to the scenes. He intimately knew the lines and the characters, but he never met the actors. He was like an invisible collaborator, working remotely from Madrid. He was very excited to meet everyone.

Kevin Nwankwor, the producer/director of Tempting Fate, is interviewed by Sky Houston, Majic 102.1 radio station.

We watched from the sidelines as the actors and producers were interviewed by the media. We had some brief opportunities to meet some of the cast. They all knew who Pedro was and heard rave reviews of his music. Pedro also finally met Kevin Nwankwor, his producer, face to face after almost exclusively communicating via email over the last ten months.

We were all here for the same reason. We were eager and excited to see the VIP screening of Tempting Fate. Stay tuned for the next post on Pedro’s musical pursuits to hear about the Tempting Fate movie.

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*Wondering where you can see this movie for yourself? Tempting Fate was produced by KevStel Group, an independent production company based in Atlanta. They are seeking distributors for release in 2015.

UPDATE 07/05/2016: Tempting Fate premiered in Lagos, Nigeria, during an all-star red carpet event in July 2015. It ended up being one of the top 10 Nollywood movies of 2015. (Nollywood is the Nigerian movie industry, based in Lagos.) The movie is one of the top 25 movies of all time in the Nollywood film industry. The movie is available to rent or purchase on Amazon or other streaming movie site. Pedro’s music and other beautiful music from the movie is also available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and other music sites.

7 Comments

by ardisanelson on July 31, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Pedro's Musical Pursuits

Tagged Christian movie, following your dreams, God's timing, KevStel Group, movie composing, music, Pedro Gonzalez Arbona, piano compositions, prayer, Seattle, Tempting Fate

Posted by ardisanelson on July 31, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/07/31/tempting-fate-in-houston-part-1-on-the-red-carpet/

On Mission for God, Part 2 ~ Surprise Me, God

In Part 1 of this series on my mission trip to Spain in the fall, I wrote how I was taking a leap of faith with my public announcement and asking for donations. I’m happy to report that my prayers were answered; I am walking on solid ground.

Actually I will be flying through the air nine weeks from today, on Wednesday, September 24, 2014. (I’m starting my countdown calendar on the right sidebar of my site.) However, I won’t be flying to Spain, not directly anyway…

Counting down–9 weeks until I leave on mission.

Praying for the Mission

My prayer all along has been to align my will with God’s will for this mission, for spiritual revival in Spain, and for the timing of the mission to align with His timing. As a person who used to earn my pay as a project manager, it is often hard for me to let go of control when working in ministry settings.

In early June, I sent out an appeal letter to friends and family to support my mission, as well as emails, and the public announcement on my blog. Then I was inundated with family commitments and travel that pushed all of my preparations for Spain on the backburner.

I know that was God’s way of building my trust muscle. Not only that, I chose to take myself out of the reporting of any updates on who was contributing to the mission and how much. I didn’t want my attention on any mission planning or obligations. I released it all to Him and began to pray a new prayer: “Surprise me, God!”

I wanted and NEEDED God to surprise me. Surprise me He did…in multiple ways.

God’s Amazing Surprises

My first surprise was how God has already provided a large portion of the financial provision needed for the mission. So far, donations are $2,125 including the $1,000 match by Celebrate Recovery at Pine Lake Covenant Church, who is sponsoring the mission. That was truly welcome news—allowing me to purchase my airfare last week!

I also received word that the 10-day organized prayer journey segment of my mission was postponed until 2015. As a prayer warrior for Spain, that came as a bit of a disappointment to me. However, when God closed that door, He opened another—a really BIG surprise.

I was able to accept a long-standing invitation to speak at a church in Grenoble, France, where my mission partner (and American missionary), Marvin Klein, lives. I will arrive in France one week before the CR conference in Spain, giving us time to prepare for the conference and to travel together with him and his wife to Madrid.

Revised Mission

While the second surprise dramatically changed the physical itinerary of the mission, it did not change the timing or focus for the CR conference in Spain. In fact, it supplements it and builds on that in new ways. Not only am I and PLCC CR investing in a partnership with Spain, we are also building on our relationship with Marvin, in France, and possibly other areas where he has global connections.

The revised itinerary also provides more dedicated time at the church in Rivas, with leaders and at prayer meetings. While I prayed globally for unity in God’s Church in Spain last summer, and for spiritual revival in their country, I didn’t have opportunities to pray one on one with people. I know the Lord is answering that desire of my heart through this new avenue—His surprise for my time in Spain.

Next Mission Steps

In preparation for the mission I am attending the annual Celebrate Recovery Summit at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. I will also be speaking at the CR meeting at Pine Lake Covenant Church on Monday, August 18 at 7 PM. I will share more information about my Call to Spain, provide a mission update, and share new training information from the Summit.

Click on above image to donate to the mission.

This mission is still not fully funded. With the revised itinerary, the new donation goal now stands at $3,000 (a reduction of 25% of the original estimates) to cover travel, meals, and materials to hold the conference. Won’t you please consider giving to this mission of hope and healing—not just for Spain, but to share the message in France as well?

Please Join God’s Work Abroad

The easiest way to donate is to use the secured giving link that directs all monies to the church for the mission. All donations through this link or mailed directly to the church (information here) are tax deductible.

This mission is also in need of prayer support. To pray for the mission now and while we are traveling and teaching, fill out my contact form on this site. My on-going prayer request is for the remaining financial provision to be secured in advance of the trip, for protection and safety for our travels, and for receptivity to the CR materials and spiritual revival in Spain and France.

Surprise me, God! Surprise us all!

I invite you join God in what He is doing in Spain and France by supporting and praying for this mission, and you too can plant seeds of change across the world.

Now the Lord had said to Abram, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1, NIV)

1 Comment

by ardisanelson on July 23, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Faith & Hope, My Mission to Spain

Tagged 12 step, adapting to change, Celebrate Recovery, conference, faithful, France, God's timing, healing, hope, Mission to Spain, prayer, public speaking, Spain, spiritual journey, trusting God

Posted by ardisanelson on July 23, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/07/23/on-mission-for-god-part-2-surprise-me-god/

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

I borrowed the title for this post from the 1969 song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Not that the Rolling Stones are a source of spiritual wisdom or Godly counsel, but these words are in line with scripture. The song goes on to say “but if you try sometimes, you might find, you’ll get what you need.”

Click above image to view concert performance of this song by the Rolling Stones.

I have one simple example that has been running through my mind a lot these days as we transitioned our son Evan from college graduate to gainful employment 500 miles and two states away from home. It started when he was a senior in high school going through the daunting college admission process.

Playing the College Game

Evan had taken a very challenging schedule of AP classes throughout high school. Before that he attended the full-time gifted program offered in our school district. It was a place ripe with talk and preparations for students to attend the top colleges in the nation.

We, and my son, bought into that dream until just before the first colleges started to send out their admission decisions. We knew the odds were not necessarily in his favor, but we also knew how bright he was. After much prayer, I started to have an inner sense that he may not get accepted.

God’s Ways are Higher

The morning before the first decisions were to be posted online, my devotional reading was based on Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

I knew God was preparing me for the rejection, which in turn helped me to provide guidance and encouragement to my son. The rejections and waitlist letters came one after the other. It was a difficult time for him, and for us. There was much disappointment.

Four years later, with the clarity of time and perspective, we can see how God turned that heartache into a huge blessing for my son. It started with an award of a scholarship and direct admittance into the department that he ended up majoring in earlier this month. That major was not something he had previously considered as a career. Yet this week he started a full-time position in his chosen field at one of the top companies in the computer chip industry.

A Lesson in Trusting God

Shortly after these events happened and while still in high school, Evan submitted an essay for a scholarship with the writing prompt of ‘trust.’ His essay quoted Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” While he wasn’t awarded that scholarship, his essay did reflect a humbling posture and ability to move on with a new sense of purpose.

I thank God that Evan didn’t get what ‘we’ wanted for him. Instead our son got the educational opportunities he needed to succeed. He (we) also got a valuable lesson in seeking God’s will and trusting Him. He learned firsthand that the Lord provides us with what we need, and not necessarily what we want (from Matthew 6:25-34, not the Rolling Stones). I hope and pray he carries that lesson with him as he launches into this new season of adulthood.

Congratulations Evan and to the Class of 2014!

This post is listed on Christian Mommy Blogger/Fellowship Fridays and Missional Women/Faith Filled Friday.

1 Comment

by ardisanelson on June 27, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Faith & Hope, Relationships & Family

Tagged adapting to change, college, dealing with disappointment, goals, God's timing, gratitude, letting go, life's challenges, milestones, parenting, perseverance, relationships, success, trusting God

Posted by ardisanelson on June 27, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/06/27/you-cant-always-get-what-you-want/

On Mission for God, Part 1 ~ The Leap of Faith

I’ve got a big announcement to make! And since today marks the 10-year anniversary of my first Celebrate Recovery meeting, the timing seems very anointed to me. Drum roll please…

…I’m returning to Spain! However, this trip is not for personal or business purposes like last summer. This trip is at the invitation of a Spanish missionary whose Protestant church I attended last year.

On Mission for God

My return trip to Spain is a charitable mission sponsored in part by Celebrate Recovery (CR) at Pine Lake Covenant Church in Sammamish, WA, where I serve. A small team of CR leaders and I will hold a recovery conference in Rivas, a suburb of Madrid, in October.

There is a long story behind how all of this came to be—one I’ll be sure to share in time. Today’s post is Part 1 of a series of updates I plan to do about this mission of healing. I have briefly blogged about it here and on the Celebrate Recovery ministry site. With today’s announcement, I’m directing my readers’ attention to the pages on my site with more background, how to support the mission, and with detailed mission information.

A Leap of Faith

Today’s announcement marks another BIG leap of faith for me. Although I’ve seen the Lord’s hand all over this mission, and I’ve had some time to accept this new Call on my life, I am still hesitant and a bit nervous.

This all comes at a time when my life is incredibly full. My son is graduating from college and moving out of state this month. Next month Pedro is launching his American movie composing career. My mind, my time, and my heart are all divided.

A few days ago I heard the CR testimony of a French missionary who will meet me in Spain this fall for the mission. Part of his testimony described the early stages of his call to France many years ago. It so resonated with where I am at today, and my greatest fears. (I am learning a lot from him.)

It is asking for donations to support this cause—risking the rejection, being at the mercy of others’ generosity, and trusting God to provide the funds. ($3,000 is a lot of money by my standards, but not God’s.) I’m incredibly grateful that the CR ministry is matching up to $1,000, making donations go twice as far.

I know people serve abroad and go on short term mission trips all the time. I’ve always admired them—their passion and their faith. I never thought I would be called on mission. However, I cannot deny what I experienced last summer in Spain. And even more, I cannot deny that the Voice of the Lord has been speaking to me and preparing me for this Call. I’m learning more and more how to listen and how to respond in faith.

Facing my Fears

That means I have to face my fears, commit to this mission, and walk in blind faith. It reminds me of a famous scene in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Indiana, played by Harrison Ford, takes a step off a cavern ledge into the air. Death surely awaits him. But instead a narrow bridge mysteriously appears preventing his fall and allowing him to cross to the other side (video below).

I am stepping off that ledge today by publically seeking financial and prayer support for this charitable mission.

To subscribe to prayer and mission updates, fill out my contact form on this site.
If you decide to donate, please know that every gift to this mission, large or small, is helping to bring healing and revival in a country that is one of the least evangelized in the world.

Click above image to donate online.

So I invite you to partner with me to plant seeds of change across the world. Will you help bring that bridge across the cavern into view so my steps are on solid ground? Here I go…

Click the links below for information about the mission, to pray for the team, or to donate:

Celebrate Recovery Mission to Spain

How to Donate & Pray for the Mission

Detailed Mission Information

This post is listed on Christian Mommy Blogger/Fellowship Fridays and Missional Women/Faith Filled Friday.

5 Comments

by ardisanelson on June 11, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Faith & Hope, Healing & Recovery, My Mission to Spain, Spiritual Growth

Tagged adapting to change, Celebrate Recovery, Christianity, fear, France, God, God's timing, letting go, prayer, Spain, trusting God

Posted by ardisanelson on June 11, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/06/11/on-mission-for-god-part-1-the-leap-of-faith/

A Journey to Stepmother Love

Mother Love comes in many ways, shapes and sizes: birth moms, adopted moms, foster moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and girlfriends. For me, it unexpectedly came from a stepmother that I didn’t openly embrace from the start. Here’s a bit of that story on my publisher’s blog, journeystomotherlove.com. Happy Mother’s Day!

Journeys To Mother Love

I was nine years old when my parents divorced. I’ll never forget that day. After hearing the news, I ran into the woods behind our house and cried my eyes out. “Why? Why? Why?” I cried to God.

Those repressed memories surfaced a while back in a therapy session as I got in touch with the little Ardis who was hurting from the trauma of this event. I’ve processed this before, but this time I remembered something new. I remembered that I told my father I hated him. It became one of those pivotal moments in my life when I decided I had to be a BIG girl and stuff my emotions.

I surfaced from those woods, calm and collected. I WAS a big girl. But try as I might, that anger at what was going on between my parents was still there. Both of my parents soon remarried. I lived…

View original post 535 more words

Making Me Bold

All posts tagged God’s timing

On Mission for God, Part 7 ~ Review & Gratitude

English Additions to “Walking My Mother Home” Available

CR Mission Update 4 – Additional Meetings in Rivas

Announcement: E-Book for “Walking My Mother Home” Available

On Mission for God, Part 4 ~ The Birth of the Call

Tempting Fate in Houston, Part 1 ~ On the Red Carpet

On Mission for God, Part 2 ~ Surprise Me, God

The easiest way to donate is to use the secured giving link that directs all monies to the church for the mission. All donations through this link or mailed directly to the church (information here) are tax deductible.

I invite you join God in what He is doing in Spain and France by supporting and praying for this mission, and you too can plant seeds of change across the world.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

On Mission for God, Part 1 ~ The Leap of Faith

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Ardis A Nelson ~ Writer ~ Speaker

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The easiest way to donate is to use the secured giving link that directs all monies to the church for the mission. All donations through this link or mailed directly to the church (information here) are tax deductible.

I invite you join God in what He is doing in Spain and France by supporting and praying for this mission, and you too can plant seeds of change across the world.

Spread the word:

Spread the word:

Spread the word:

Spread the word:

WELCOME to my site!

Follow Blog via Email

Recent Posts

Most Popular Topics

What I Write About

Songs Composed by Pedro Gonzalez Arbona

Looking for something inspirational?

Copyright Notice