You Are Not Ready for the Rocking Chair Yet

We were all so young once, all of life out before us…idealistic, with the guts to forge a new path and walk it. We did not anticipate the challenges, the mountain range that lay hidden around the hairpin curve.

All of life was wonder and excitement…achieving our dreams was the aim. When every attempt at those dreams turned into yet another challenge, we remained positive, upbeat and optimistic.
As the years fled by, wonderful children, meaningful relationships. Fullness of life in ways we had not imagined. And still…that same nagging original “dream” that set us on our course to begin with, though faded, it was.

Now it carries not the same fervor and persistence. It is a distant memory, a crumbled piece of paper, a story that once held our attention. But have we failed somewhere along the way to be true to ourselves and our dreams? No…a thousand times NO!

We are living in the dream! The beauties of life that could never be anticipated in our youth. The depth of tears, joy, struggle and mountaintop. The path that the Lord had for us and His plan within the plan. The Plan within the plan…that is what it was always about!

And, we are not done yet!

Oh yes, things are different now, many years have passed and life has altered us both within and without. But the richness of what lies within after all we have seen, done, failed at and triumphed at, is in the soil of our being.

It is like a rich garden that has seen great care and production through the years. Each season’s bounty has left leaves, stems and fruit that have not quite made it into harvest. However, they have been turned over into the soil of the heart and the character.  Now this soil is prepared for a harvest that is greater than we have ever experienced.

If you think you are done; think again!

Life lies out before you even now. You are not coming to the end, but you have come to a pinnacle. Let your past be a memorial to the faithfulness of God. Let your future be built upon the past He has given you and…walk! It is the story within the story. The plan within the plan.

You have not written the final chapter yet! Your richest times lay ahead….
 
*I wrote this four years ago. It is as valid as ever. I encourage you to move into the life within you, that you may run your race well; that you may finish this earthly pursuit with persistence.

Welcome to Riverstones

Life is demanding at least, challenging at best, and joyfully satisfying when a plan goes well. In the seasons of life we all run into unexpected barriers and slowdowns to what appeared to once be an easy path. But what we have found is there can be purpose in the delay, and often the Father is more interested in our willingness to be pliable and move freely with His guidance.

Riverstones International was founded out of the desire to provide what cannot easily be experienced in the normal life of most western churches. With all the agendas and schedules of Sunday services, there is often no time for extended ministry, times of worship and resting in the presence of God.  You get a Sunday morning sermon, and now what are you supposed to do with it?  That's where we also come in.

We are here to encourage you in your daily walk and prod you on to believe God just as the patriarchs of old did. We also believe it is vital to enhance the corporate experience of gathering in His presence in an atmosphere where time constraints are not so rigid.

We will be hosting a quarterly public gathering, where those who are hungry to grow deeper in their faith walk with Jesus  are invited to spend time at the altar in His Presence, and where there will be time taken for individual prayer. In our gatherings together, we will experience extended worship with the purpose of seeking the Lord and letting Him direct our time. As we follow the prompting of His Spirit, we move with Him as He leads a weaving of His Word in Scripture with the dynamic flow of worship and the ministry of the prophetic.  We'd love to have you come join us as we encounter Him.

In addition to our times of meeting together, many things are beginning to unfold in powerful ways.  I will be sharing worship times from the studio, words and songs of encouragement as the Lord leads and look forward to connecting with you wherever you may joining us from. In these times we need to be encouraged by each other.

Charles and I have found much of what is being done and taught these days in many ministry circles to be slanted in some form or fashion and it is our desire to bring focus back to the simple truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

To that end, I will be writing and sharing on subjects that pertain to the Body of Christ, and the beauty and challenges we face on this journey deeper with Christ.  Our blog, In Every Season, is about offering words fitly-spoken and wisdom for the season in which you walk. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter... each season produces a harvest of its own kind, and we want to encourage and equip you to glean all the harvest you can from the season you are in.

The mystery of the seed and the process of maturing to the point of producing fruit and flower will be an underlying theme in many of our messages. Charles and I have been leading in ministry for several decades and it is truly our heart to see you succeed in your walk and come to know Christ and His ways more fully. If we can be even a small part of that journey, we will be grateful for the chance to serve you.  You are welcome here.  And we look forward to getting to know you.  Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns or ways we can lift you up in prayer.