GEOFF + JILL LUDLOW
FULL SAIL MINISTRIES c/o Tulare County Outreach, Inc. PO Box 1772 Visalia, CA 93279-1772
DISPLAYING GOD’S HEART THROUGH THE ARTS S P R I N G
GIVING WITH RESONANCE Resonance — “to evoke a feeling of shared emotion or belief; to correspond closely or harmoniously.” The heartbeat of Full Sail Ministries is to create safe space and un-rushed time for people to make real and intimate connection with God. We have poured our hearts and souls into creating that opportunity for people – knowing how life changing it is. But we’re becoming more convinced than ever that what we give to others is an overflow of what we’re experiencing in our own lives. We are committed to allowing Him to give to us what we long to give to others. Intimacy precedes fruitfulness. If this resonates with you, we want to invite you to join us by supporting this work. Your financial support and focused prayer, we believe, causes miraculous things to unfold for God’s Kingdom. It’s like our individual notes, when joined together, build a chord, which, when joined in the Spirit with others, play a song of Love to the world. Thank you for taking up your instrument and playing His song of grace with us. If you would like to give a Gift in Kind (instrument, vehicle, etc.) please email Geoff at geoff@fullsail.org or call us at 559-627-8202. ITINERARY May 4-11: Fatherheart Conference (San Luis Obispo, CA) September/October: Possible Paraguay Scouting Trip June 7-8: “The Gathering” Women’s Retreat (Archbold, OH) November 1-3: Bellevue Heights Church Women’s Retreat (Sun City, AZ) July 19-August 16: SE Asia Outreach
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A B R E AT H O F F R E S H A I R We moved the last load off the Ranch on January 15 of this year and closed the gates, and that chapter of our lives and ministry, for the last time. There was sadness for sure and we felt God’s encouragement to grieve it. But along with the sadness of change was a deep and growing sense of hope and destiny – that God still has a plan for us that will surpass our imagination and we can trust Him to unfold it. Our FSM Board graciously and wisely gifted us a 3-month sabbatical from January–March—a time away for rest, refreshment and re-envisioning. From the beginning of it, we sensed God emphasizing the disciplines of silence and solitude and so, once the Ranch move was complete, we literally stopped. Other than connecting with our kids and parents, we “went dark”—stopping coffee dates, social gatherings, ministry meetings and even church. We felt deep in our hearts Jesus calling, “Come, let’s take
a break and find a secluded place where you can rest a while.” (Mark 6:31) And we did. We slept. Long and hard. Peacefully and deeply. We ate good food and exercised and read and journaled. We worked in the yard and laughed a lot. We connected with each other—had long, sometimes really hard but really good talks. We listened to each other. And we found ourselves sinking back into the beauty of trust—that deep down knowing that the other person loves you, is for you, has your back. And we sat in the quiet and listened for our Father—for hours. For days. It was an unprecedented time of stillness—gradually, gradually quieting our busy hearts to perceive His still small Voice. Not for ministry purposes or for new teaching material. But listening for what He wanted to say to us just for us.
H OW YO U C A N H E L P...
If you want to be a part of what God is doing through Full Sail Ministries, please use the enclosed envelope or visit www.fullsail.org/give to make a monthly or one-time financial gift. We are grateful for your support!
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A N U P DAT E F R O M J I L L This time away for me was truly a gift beyond words - to have no other agenda than to receive was profound. I woke morning after morning to His call to come away! I couldn’t grab my coffee, throw open the blinds and get to my chair fast enough! I read the Word voraciously and delighted in following the hunger of my heart like breadcrumbs. I spent time reviving my elementary piano skills and sang my heart out. I filled a journal and a half with His loving words and promises to me. I’m only just beginning to absorb and assimilate the countless seeds He planted in me. I felt at times like I could hardly keep up with Him!!! It was like drinking to bulging every day and yet waking up each morning, thirsty again! He spoke into new depths of my soul that I can trust Him, that my identity is in the unshakable truth that I am His beloved daughter and His favor rests on me – not because of one thing I’ve done or will do. Or not do. But because, before the foundations of the world, He chose me, set His love on me and adopted me as His very own. I am not an orphan, and I don’t have to live like one anymore because I
This season away was one of the most profound experiences we’ve ever had. It wasn’t just the stuff we were “learning”. It began to dawn on us that He was after something much bigger, much deeper. He was actually going after the health and vitality of our hearts for the long haul. His goal wasn’t just to make us better “ministers of the Gospel”. He truly wants to set US free and cause US to thrive. Several key themes emerged. We’re becoming convinced that He wants us to:
have a Very Good and Faithful Father. I found myself weeping and exclaiming again and again, “Oh God, I didn’t know You could be soooo good?!!”
A N U P DAT E F R O M G E O F F From the moment I stepped off the Ranch in January and moved to our rental house in town, it was as though my Father was taking my heart in His hands and leading me away, to a new country, a new promised land. The front yard has been well maintained by the landlord, but the back was just dry, barren, hard dirt with a few old fruit tress, an abandoned vegetable garden and one lone walnut tree in the middle. For weeks I tended this neglected ground and spent hours sitting under my tree, listening in silence.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING
youth, when worship was full of trust and passion. He reminded of the oh so many times I was not sure which road to take, when fear stared me down, or when trust was lost… and He stepped up, saying He loved me still and always. Never, ever, ever, to leave me. Of all the things or people I could lose in my life, that He would never be one of them.
He reminded me of how secure in relationship I am with Him. That His love for me is unshakable and as sure as His Word to me. A total commitment based solely on His Love for me and not on my work or “Some things you just can’t hear until you’re still.” accomplishments for Him. And not dampened by my failures in any —Amanda Lindsey Cook way. I heard this through His Word every day. As seeds began to germinate and the ground greened up with life, God slowly reminded me of His faithful love for me… for my little world. “How could I ever forget the miracles of kindness You’ve done for me? You He reminded me of times we enjoyed each other’s company in my kissed my heart with forgiveness, in spite of all I’ve done. You’ve healed me inside and out from every disease. You’ve rescued me from hell and saved my life. You’ve crowned me with love and mercy.” (Psalm 103:2-4) I’ve been asking for, and slowly receiving, Life in the deepest parts of my soul. It’s tangible because I am watching my heart change. I’m beginning to have renewed hope that in the final half of my life, I just might live, not as an orphan, but as a son. As one who believes he has a Home. And then brings Home everywhere He goes. Kinda doesn’t matter so much what the details are. The where’s, how’s and who’s. Just that I do what I see my Father doing and say what I hear Him saying.
1. LIVE OUT OF REST The rest He’s talking about doesn’t just happen on vacation or during sabbatical. It’s not working ourselves to the bone until we drop exhausted in a heap and then try to recharge our dead batteries. The soul-rest He’s talking about comes from truly abiding in His love and favor. Knowing we’re enough before we do one thing and then living from that security. 2 . B E CO M E R E A L L Y G OO D AT R E C E I V I N G “If a Christian has to become competent at anything, they need to become a good receiver. The better a receiver you are, the more effective your experience of Christianity will be. Christianity, in its essence, is the life and love of God… The basic stance of the Christian in sonship is to become a receiver.” (Primal Hope by Stephen Hill) Everything we need is found in Him. We cannot give what we don’t have. Ministry is simply to be an overflow of what we have received.
3. BE HONEST Oh man! This is a real toughy. We are REALLY used to putting a neat and tidy spin on everything. We’ve lived under the self-induced expectation that we need to know what we’re doing and have it all together. That, even when He hasn’t given us a 10-year plan, we have to come up with one. But these days, we hear the Father calling us to a new habit of being gentle with ourselves first and then speaking truthfully, honestly, authentically about what’s going on. Not to be afraid to say it like it is. 4. FOLLOW THE FLOW We feel Him inviting us into the childlike delight of watching what He’s doing and following His lead. To wait before assuming the logical, to pause before planning, to lay down agendas in order to join Him on adventures! Eyes wide open and ears tuned to see where He’s working and join Him.
We’ve become convinced that what He started during sabbatical was just the tip of the iceberg. It’s not about moving on from sabbatical and just going back to the way we’ve always done things. He is inviting us to live “from” this place of rest and receiving and honesty and flow for the rest of our lives. This is just the beginning of a new way of living.
W H E R E DO W E G O FROM HERE? In light of what He’s been teaching us, we’ve spent time praying together and intentionally listening for His direction. Our hearts were inexplicably drawn again to Southeast Asia. So we’ve scheduled a trip, July 19–August 16. We’ll begin our time on the ground by checking in with our missionary friends in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We simply want to be available to help, encourage, assist, and bless in any way that presents itself. Then, using Chiang Mai as a hub, we’ll branch out to other places: ChonBuri, Thailand; Penang, Malaysia; and maybe beyond to Cambodia and the Philippines. We don’t want to just assume that we will do the familiar or what we’ve done in the past. Our hearts are wide open to join Him in whatever new and unique ways that He may lead. We feel God stirring, so we’re going for it!
“Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
MATTHEW 11:28-30
The support amount for this month-long trip is $6000 and includes flights, meals, housing, and transportation for the two of us, as well as a little “nest egg” set aside for blessing the missionaries in ways we trust God to show us along the way. To give towards this SE Asia Outreach, please use the enclosed envelope or give online at www.fullsail.org/give. As always, all gifts are tax-deductible.