Friday, November 25, 2011

Thankful

      • For His grace
      • For His guidance
      • For His constant presence
      • For His promises
      • For His faithfulness
      • For His love
      • For His character
      • For His provision
      • For His hope
      • For His truth
      • For His forgiveness
      • For His patience
      • For His plan
      • For His greatness
      • For His goodness
      • For the gifts that He's created in me
      • For the friends always by my side
      • For family that becomes dearer every year
      • For a warm bed to sleep in
      • That I never have to worry where my next meal will come from
      • For all that He is teaching me
      • For His creativity
      • For my jobs
      • For my crazy kiddos
      • For music
      • For art
      • For health
      • For the ability to run
      • For a God who never gives up on me
      • For Africa
      • For opportunities to travel
      • For opportunities to serve
      • For using me
      • For coffee on cold days
      • For a warm house to come home to
      • For snow
      • For the colors of fall
      • For work
      • For discipline
      • For sunny days
      • For sound sleep
      • For humor
      • For laughter
      • For cozy sweaters
      • For blaring fires
      • For trees to climb
      • For little ones who steal your heart
      • For the kindness of a stranger
      • For the ability to read and write
      • For skype that allows me to talk with loved ones around the world
      • For loved ones around the world =)
      • For time to play
      • For dance
      • For each breath
      • For homemade baked goodies
      • For Christmas lights
      • For memories that make me grin
      • For my Savior
      • For my LORD
      • For blankets
      • For goals
      • For healing
      • For medical care
      • For encouragement
      • For friends who hear what I'm not saying
      • For a straggly cat to greet me when I come home
      • For crazy traditions
      • For second chances
      • and third...
      • For the opportunity to learn
      • For the opportunity to know my God
      • For courage
      • For strength
      • For the Holy Spirit
      • For candles
      • For electricity
      • For a God who never fails me
      • For a computer
      •  For crazy nicknames
      • For big red twisty slides
      • For a bit of sass now and then
      • For inside jokes and belly laughs
      • For late night conversations
      • For perspective
      • For airplanes
      • For mentors to lead the way
      • For dandelions to wish upon
      • For crazy camp games and crazier camp songs
      • For jungles to explore
      • For silly hats
      • For cozy carpet
      • For books
      • For celebrations
      • For a God who redeems
      • For opportunities to explore
      • For epic improv games
      • For purpose
      • For the moon and stars
      • For life and life eternal
      • For a God who provides all of my needs according to His riches and glory
      Yeah, this kid has a lot to be thankful for.  =)  And that's only the beginning  =D
        Where You lead me, Papa...
        And for all You've provided
        Thank You!

      Sunday, November 20, 2011

      Sunday, November 6, 2011

      A Life for a Life

      He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.  He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.


      But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked peter.  "Get behind me, Satan!" he said.  "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."


      Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."


      Mark 8:31-38


      A few weeks ago my Bible study was studying this passage.  One of the questions in the study asked, "What is the cost of following Jesus?  The reward?"  As I reread the passage, I realized that the answer to both of these questions was the same: life.  Following Jesus requires your life.  More so, in following Jesus you gain life, life incomparable to anything in this world.

      At first glance, this thought excited me.  I envisioned adventures consisting of caring for my babies in Africa. I translated "life" to mean obedience, to following God's direction, to going where He leads.  As I read through updates on missionaries around the world, I was humbled.  As I read about father and daughter being shot and miraculously surviving (http://issuu.com/worldvisionmagazine/docs/autumn-11-wvus), I realized that my scope of life was much too small.  It isn't just surrendering my dreams to God.  It isn't just giving up the comforts of the American dream.  It isn't just leaving behind family, friends, and the familiar to share the gospel.  It requires your life.  It requires wanting nothing more than the life that Jesus Christ offers, not even your physical life.  It requires abandoning all for Christ, realizing that this world has nothing for me.  It requires my life.  And in exchange for my life, I gain life greater than I can even comprehend.  A life for a life.


      LORD, lead me.  Where You lead, even if it leads me to lose my life, I will follow.

      James 1:27



      Orphan Sunday 2011 from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

      I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  John 14:18

      LORD, send us with fire to go love the world.  Break our hearts for the orphan, the widow, the fatherless.  Move us into action.  Send us out.

      Wednesday, November 2, 2011

      Three Little Words

      No, not the three little words that you're probably thinking.  The three little words "Get it, girl!"


      This are the three little words that I heard from a friendly stranger during my morning run, three little words that made my run and my morning.  To be honest, I've slowly been losing my motivation to run.  Though I usually feel great after a run, I struggle to find the energy to start amid the busyness of life. As I made my way down the stretch of the first full street, those three little words were exactly what I needed to hear.  Encouraged by a complete stranger; I'm sure he has no idea how deeply his words affected me.
      And like most good things, his kind deed had a ripple effect; I found myself smiling and encouraging other bypassers on the street and other people throughout my day.


      Never underestimate the power of three little words. =)


      May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17


      But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.  Hebrews 3:13-14


      And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:24-25

      Our God truly is amazing!

      Another Isaac update:  This little one continues to grow and thrive.  Praise God for that!  Here's another update in Amber's words:


      Before I go any further, let me say a big THANK YOU to all of you who prayed for Baby Isaac.  He returned back to the orphanage last week and is doing amazingly well, gaining weight and looking like a whole new baby.  In fact, the housemother's even joke that he is drinking too much now : ) We were overwhelmed with messages of support and prayers from all over the world for him and I have no doubt that that played a role in the miracle that God provided to save his life.  Only God knows the plans that He has for this little one but we do know that at such a young age, God has already used him to display His love, grace, and healing power to many in this community.  To God, the true author and finisher of life, be the glory forever and ever AMEN.


      To God be the glory, now and forever!  Praise God for His evident provision in this little one's life.  Praise Him for the plans that He has for this child.  Praise Him for His mercies and abundant favor.


      Please keep praying for this little guy.  =)