Ask for the Nations with Leah Ramirez

Today's Reading: Jan. 4 - Genesis 28-29; Matthew 4; Psalm 100

Hey! Consider asking someone to join you in your Bible reading this year. You may be surprised by their "yes"! You can take the reading plan and connect with them one on one, or you can invite them to join us here. There are lots of people seeking. Let's introduce them to the One who loves them best and most.

Day 2 - January 2: Genesis 3,25, Matthew 2, Psalm 98

What's speaking to your heart today? I'd love to hear your reflections and what you're discovering.

*** I'll post my devo in the comments below. ***

We're doing this! Reading through the Bible in One Year!! Whether you've been reading the scriptures for many years, or going through the Bible for the very first time, I'm so glad we are doing this together.

Here’s the link to download the reading plan: https://static.showit.co/file/sYpzsvcuSw2dp3kf0uMwNQ/201391/journal_spring_reading_plan.pdf

And you can always find it here on my website, where I am sharing the reading plan from our new family at Revolution Church: https://leahramirez.com/bible-in-one-year

If you have questions about what you’re reading, please reach out here or send me a message. We can look into it together.

We have a wonderful promise: Jesus says that when we seek God with all of our heart, we can be certain to find Him. This is certainly the year of God’s favor!

For those of you interested in jumping into our book club, I'm so thrilled to be announcing my January pick: The Greatest Story Ever Told. I wanted us to start the year off right with our hearts centered on the life of Jesus. Click the link below to learn more about the book - with links to purchase the book and connect with our private book club FB group.

https://leahramirez.com/2023/12/14/greatest-story-ever-told-2024/

I've some questions for you and would love your input. What does a healthy church community look like to you? What characteristics are non-negotiable?

This is good!

It looks like we made it just in time!

We made it! Thank you SO much for praying for us as we traveled over the last three days. We arrived safely, and got all settled in last night. When we arrived, the temperature was already below freezing, so we didn’t connect our water until later this morning. The good news is that even though our pipes had frozen in Wisconsin, we did not incur any damage to our lines, which is wonderful! We’ve got water today, and we’re all showered and clean. What a journey!

The driving days were long, but Larry did such an amazing job. Over the years, he’s become an amazing driver. It’s a lot of pressure driving your house from place to place. I know this, I couldn’t do it. At least not with a rig this size. He was amazing!

Wyatt, who we never thought would be a travel dog, did wonderful too. He’s quite a trooper. As you can see, the drives and stress wore him plumb out. Don’t worry, we’ve taken him on several long walks already, and there’s even a dog park on the property which he has claimed as his own.

So, if you missed it, we have officially landed in Colorado Springs! The banner pic is of Pikes Peak, also called America’s Mountain, which fills up the Colorado Springs skyline. It’s absolutely beautiful here!

We spent several months here after our event on the South Texas border. As a family we all felt even then that this is where we would like to land. We have lots of dear friends here, who we have done ministry with for over 16 years. We’ve done many ministry assignments together over the years, and so being here with them seemed like a natural fit. However, when we tried to land here a few years ago, we sensed the door was not quite open for us.

The last several years have been a wilderness for us in more ways than one. It’s been lonely. It’s been hard. It’s been, at times, confusing. And it’s also been good. We’ve been faithful in it, although I don’t think anyone has ever come out of a wilderness season strutting. God has been faithful to us. He’s carried us through. It’s not been about ministry, although we have served and even led in every area God has sent us. This past season has been about Jesus. It’s not really about ministry, it’s about Christ, the life of Christ being formed in us — the hope of glory!

Jesus has been our Good Shepherd, always leading us beside still waters. Healing us. Restoring us. Enabling us. And now, he’s leading us out! I pray that just like His own testimony when He walked the earth, we would be led out in the power of the Holy Spirit, just as He was.

I have more to share about the door that has opened for me, for us. We’re very excited about what God has done in all of this. We’re grateful. And while I can’t share more just at the moment, I am so beyond excited to share with you in the following weeks. We have a lot to transition in these next several weeks.

If you have the grace to continue to pray us through, here are some prayer points to cover our family. Please pray for Larry to do well in new territory. He had just been given renewal territory in Wisconsin, which was a huge blessing. He layed that down to get me and our family into position here in Colorado Springs. Please pray for him to have favor here in what he’s doing. He will be pioneering, and that can go a lot of ways. We are praying for him to be able to keep going. We have also been praying for creative ways for him to make an income, so he can be freed up and we can run together in ministry, which is our desire.

Please pray for Juniah and Judah to get rooted in community during this new season. Traveling has been good, but it’s not easy keeping friendships on the road. I know this is something they both desire. Juniah has some interviews already, and we are praying for that door to open for her. I’ll keep you posted! And Judah, who loves to write, is wanting to find a job. My prayer is that it is the right job for him. He’s got a one-of-a-kind mind, and I’m praying for the Lord’s purpose in His life to open up.

On a practical note, please pray for us to be able to get through the winter in our rig. It’s going to take some time for us to get established again. Several years ago, we sold everything we had to get on the road. It’s almost like we’re starting all over again. We have lots to figure out over the next couple weeks.

We have some large expenses coming up to make this transition. Immediately, we need a second vehicle. Larry leaves in the early morning to get to his new territory and returns in the evening. We’re going to need a second car to do what comes next. Please pray for favor, more finances, and even miraculous provision over these next weeks. Certainly God will come through. He always does.

We have so much more to share, and as soon as we can, we will. Thank you again for praying for us. The relief we feel to finally be here, to have a real hope for what comes next, almost brings me to tears. Thank you for loving us in and through the last season. Walking with people when they are in the “valley” is no small thing. Thank you for walking with us in the shadowlands during these last years. We’re grateful. We’re humbled. And we’re hopeful.

We love you very much,
Leah, Larry, Juniah, Judah & Wyatt

Please prayerfully consider partnering with our family financially. We can only do what we do because of supporters just like you. https://leahramirez.com/give

Last day of long driving! please keep us in your prayers. Later start than we would have liked, but that’s ok! Please keep us in your prayers as we travel.

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We made it! Thank you for all who prayed us through the journey to get here. We will be getting settled and soon we will have a BIG announcement. We’re so grateful for your love and prayers to get us here. Out of all our travels, these three days were among the very best.

A dear friend sent me this article. For those who have found themselves hurting over all that has and is unfolding about ihop, this may shed light on how to hold your heart as it recovers. Praying for so many of my friends. Praying for all of us. I want the church to be a safe place again. A place that provokes, convicts and a place of refuge.

*Article is not about IHOP or Mike Bickle, but touches on the themes of betrayal.

When Our Heroes Fail Us - The Reformed Journal Blog Listen To Article Years ago, I heard Henri Nouwen on an old recording tell the story of his path from...

Day 2: We got a good night’s sleep! We had no damage from our frozen lines and we were all able to get showered last night after we got all set up. Headed out for another long drive today! Thank you for all of your prayers! We have felt such peace as we’ve traveled. Thank you again!

*Wyatt even got a chance to play before we set out! Can you see him smiling? Check the comments for video.

Today is the day! We’re headed out. The weather has cleared. Ice is gone and we have sun predicted for the next three days. We’ve got some long drives ahead of us, and we’re taking a route we’ve never taken, seeing what we’ve never seen. Thank you for all of your prayers over these last several days. Our first stop tonight we have full hook ups, and we will have running water again! Please cover us as head into our next season. God is so, so good! Can’t wait to spill all the details. Soon!!

I finished this a few weeks ago and just love it! Link for purchase will be in the comments. If you are looking for a digital devotional through the Word, this one is focused on the book of Genesis. If you don't have an ipad or tablet, you can also download and put all the pages in a notebook. This instant digital download includes 53 pages of rich content and interactive features for personal or group study.

Features Include:
Devotional Content: Immerse yourself in the timeless stories and teachings of Genesis through our thoughtfully crafted devotional sections.

Journal Questions: Engage in meaningful reflection with carefully curated journal questions that encourage introspection and personal growth.

Genesis Reading Tracker: Keep track of your progress as you explore the chapters of Genesis, marking each one as you delve deeper into this powerful book.

Bible Reading Plan: Enhance your study experience with a Bible reading plan specifically tailored to guide you through the book of Genesis.

Blank Notes: Capture your insights, observations, and inspirations as you journey through Genesis, making this journal a personalized keepsake.

Whether you prefer digital note-taking with apps like GoodNotes or enjoy the tactile experience of printed materials, my versatile devotional and journal can be utilized in either format. It's perfect for individual study, small group discussions, or as a valuable resource for Bible study groups.

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