Congratulations to Hayley!

We want to share this exciting news with you... Hayley Ann has been accepted to the University of Alaska Fairbanks!! Although she is waiting to confirm until she has been presented with a financial aid package, we are so excited and are looking forward to what the Lord has for her. Please join us in praying for her, her financial needs, the students she will meet, housing, a church to call home in Fairbanks, and the list goes on. And as we plan and prepare for August 2012 - let's all say.... Go Nanooks! Wait a minute... what is a nanook??? How about Go UAF!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas - from our family to yours!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6&7

The Coming King

Last Sunday night I had the privilege of participating in a Christmas sing along. We sang Christmas songs out of hymnals, read about the birth of our Saviour and talked about the Scriptures. Something that was said has been rattling around in my head. It went something like this...
The foretelling of the coming King is sprinkled throughout the Old Testament - and yet, the people were not prepared. The foretelling of the coming King (His second coming) is sprinkled throughout the New Testament - and yet people are not prepared. More specifically, we are not ready, not living as if He is coming soon. It is easy for us to look back and wonder why the people were not prepared when they knew He was coming - but now I am wondering why we are not prepared when we know He is coming back!!
May we take time this Christmas to not only look back to His birth but to also look ahead to His return. May it all be about Him!

Happy Birthday, Riley!

Happy Birthday, Riley! Can't believe you are already 17! It seems like just yesterday my tailbone snapped... Where did the time go?? You are an incredibly gifted young man and we are proud of you. Continue to put Christ first in your life, in all you do, and you will be truly blessed. Remember to always be a man of honor, courage, integrity, purity, kindness - a man of God. Happy Birthday - we love you!

Be a Snail

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark." C.H. Spurgeon

Bones

When a family member enjoys studying biological anthropology a household can accumulate quite a few skeletons - as seen in the sampling above. Yes, the photo is of but a sampling of the many, many skeletons, skulls and bone photos that reside in our home. Hayley's fascination with bones has not only brought about the skeleton collection but it has also helped the rest of us remember the scientific names of lots of bones - mandible, clavicle, radius, ulna, humerus, carpals, patella, femur, tibia, fibula, metatarsals and phalanges to name but a few. However, even seeing her passion for this field of science, I don't think I will ever remember the difference between Australopithecus aetheopicus and Australopithecus afarensis.
Some people are a tad freaked out by bones. (But just imagine what we would be like without them - freaky.) I wonder what Ezekiel thought when the Spirit of the LORD set him in a valley full of bones. (Ezekiel 37) The "great many bones" were dried up, lifeless, hopeless - just like Israel at that time and like some of us right now. According to Riley, hope is the most powerful force on earth. And I must agree with him. For without hope we are depressed, lifeless, empty, dry - just like those bones. Daily living is a struggle and the potholes on life's road can be paralyzing. But with hope we can endure anything - potholes and sinkholes alike. And God knows it. That is why we are continually reminded throughout scripture to put our hope in Him. And that is why He brought Ezekiel into the valley of dry bones - to remind Israel (and us) that the LORD gives hope, restores lives and can be trusted to do what He says. The LORD caused tendons and skin to grow over the bones. And when breath entered the bodies they came to life. What was once a valley full of dry bones was now a valley full of living, breathing people - a vast army. Awesome!!
So if you find your hope is drying up, put it in God and watch Him give life to your bones!

More Malawi

We recently heard from the Burns' family in Malawi and we are happy to report their vehicles are working again! They had two vehicles that had broken down and no way to fix them. A couple of men from Western Washington heard about the problem and headed over with the sole purpose of getting the cars back on the road. And they did! This is a great example of how God can use all of us for His good. All skills are needed and much appreciated! I hate to think what would have happened if those men would not have made the trip.


Along with the praise of working vehicles comes a prayer request - also having to do with transportation. Malawi is having a gasoline crisis. The government buys and sells the gas but because Malawi is so far in debt countries are no longer selling gas to it. This is causing great distress. The Burns are close enough to the border that they are able to cross over into Mozambique and buy gas in gallon containers on the side of the road. But hold on to your seats - the gas is selling for the equivalent of over $11 per gallon!! Yikes - that four dollars per gallon is not looking so astronomical anymore. The huge costs are not only felt 'at the pump' - but the gas crisis is raising prices of everything. Many Malawians are suffering. Please join us and say a prayer for the Burns' family and their Malawian friends... and don't forget to thank God for His provision of working vehicles.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No matter what is going on in our lives, may we remember we all have so much to be thankful for! "...let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe," Hebrews 12:28b

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Beki Rohan Update

Beki Rohan has been in Niger for about nine months now and I have been trying to periodically keep you updated on her ministry. She has a praise to share - the recent purchase of a new moto! She has pictures of it on her website and - what a ride! I can't even imagine riding one of those - let alone having one break down constantly while I was out and about. She gives God glory for His timing and provision - let's join her!

Beki has also admittedly recognized that change is a real part of her life. A change on the horizon is leaving Niger to attend an intensive language school in France. She plans to go for a few months in 2012 - hopefully February - June. Although Beki does speak French, this school will be extremely beneficial to her continued work in Niger.

For more information and to see photos - check out her website: http://web.me.com/bekilynn

I Won!

Wow! Sometimes it is crazy the way things happen. I mean, in the midst of a difficult few weeks something amazing happened - I won a sewing machine! Can you believe it? Putting my name in drawings stopped a long time ago because I never won. Sometimes I even wondered if anyone actually won those drawings. But a few weeks ago we were out and Rob dropped my name in and.... I won! I was thrilled! We had just been talking about being in desperate need of some encouragement, of something good. And low and behold God gave me a sewing machine! Some might believe in chance or luck but I know it was the hand of God giving me a glimpse of sunshine in the midst of a storm. And I am ever so thankful!!

One With Them

As I sit here in church my heart is sinking and tears are falling - yes, that's right, I am writing this (on paper) during church. My mind is swirling - I hear the sermon but God has my heart and I am crumbling. Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church - a day, one day, set aside for believers in Christ to come together to support and pray for those being persecuted for their faith - for our brothers and sisters in Christ, for our family - and the church I attend has chosen, deliberately chosen, not to partner with the persecuted church. I am shocked, angry, sad and utterly broken. Now, I understand that there are a lot of 'causes' that we each hold as dear and important - but the cause of Christ is not negotiable.
Part of the pain I am feeling is because a lot of other things are happening here today, announcements, events, video clips - and yet, the leadership was approached a month ago, resources were loaned and volunteers were made available to do whatever was needed in order to help the church unite with our family around the globe - to join believers around the world in praying for the same thing on the same day at the same time. (Just imagine the power ...)
There were several follow-ups but nothing was said, and now church is going on as normal.
My tears are still flowing. Did you know that nearly 70% of the world's population live in countries without religious freedom - with severe consequences to following Christ - suffering - alone? A couple of ministries we are involved with are Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs. Each has a website and I encourage you to check them out. My family and I are currently wearing 'barbed wire' bracelets that say One With Them - put out by Open Doors. And we will continue to be ONE WITH THEM.

*on a side note - I was just told that next week someone will publicly pray for the persecuted church during the service. And to be honest, that leaves me with mixed emotions. It is wonderful that an acknowledgement of the suffering of our brothers and sisters will be made. It is also very disheartening that nothing was done today, on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. I mean, it might be just me but today was the day. If my husband did not acknowledge my birthday on my birthday I would be terribly upset. (Good thing I have a wonderful husband who always makes me feel special on my birthday - even when he is away!) So, for me it isn't exactly 'too little too late' because any prayer for those suffering is great - but I am still deeply saddened because the church I attend chose not to join with others but to try to do their own thing at their own time seemingly for convenience sake. And if we learn anything from the persecuted church it is that following Christ is not convenient - nor should it be. May we not hold on to our own agendas but may we put Christ and His people first. ONE WITH THEM

Persecuted Church

November 13, 2011, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.
The banner in the photo above was hanging in our home until last week when we loaned it to the church we attend. (Hopefully, they will hang it on Sunday.) The banner has been a tangible, daily reminder helping our family keep the persecuted church in our thoughts and prayers. Too easily we seem to forget that our brothers and sisters in Christ are being whipped, beaten, tortured, imprisoned, shunned, killed, persecuted - today. Right now. As we read our Bibles, go to church, drive kids to AWANA, listen to our hymn cd and such, we forget how blessed we are to be able to do those things without fear - and yet, maybe it comes too easy or us. What if there was the threat of real persecution? What if we had to choose life or Christ? I am so humbled by the steadfastness of those around the world who are a part of the persecuted church. On Sunday, November 13, 2011, please join me in partnering with them and participating in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Please pray for those being persecuted as well as those missionaries serving in restricted and hostile nations.
Here are just a few noteworthy items.
*In Laos eleven orphans are being pressured by the director of the orphanage they live in to stop attending church. If they don't they will need to leave the orphanage - they will be alone on the streets.
*The government in Iran took children away from Christian parents and will only return them if the parents file complaints against and give information about other believers.
*Attacks on Christians in Nigeria continue - over 100 followers of Christ were killed in September alone.
*The decapitated body of a kidnapped Christian was found in Somalia.
*In Myanmar, Christian youth are being forced to choose between faith and family.
*The government in Eritrea arrested 90 Christians in a recent crackdown.
*Whole villages are being burned to the ground in northern Africa.
*And the list goes on and on and on and....
We must remember there are many places around the world where inviting a friend to church could get you arrested and beaten and where following Christ could, literally, cost you your life.
"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:3
November 13, 2011 - International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Birds and Worms

While walking through downtown Mt. Vernon last weekend, we saw a sign for sale in a shop window. Painted on the sign were the words - the early bird gets the worm. There were other home decor items for sale in the window but as we kept walking that phrase rattled around in my head. Even after browsing through three antique shops and a fabric store the bird and the worm hadn't left my mind. The phrase itself wasn't new - I had heard it a thousand times - so why the bird and worm took up residence in my head was beyond me. But then I knew. Perspective.

If one is a bird it is best to get up early - but from a different perspective it is best to sleep late. Just think about the worm. It is that friendly, little, wiggly worm that is still burrowing in the recesses of my mind.

You see, pain comes in many different forms and this past week was painful, very painful, for me personally, as well as for several people who are dear to my heart. And when it came to perspective, I failed. I am still failing. As I look forward to the week ahead I still see pain, lots of pain. And to be honest, I don't like it. At all. But maybe, like the worm, I need to look at things from a different perspective.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

As we walk the path of pain, may we remember the worm and keep perspective.

Ntcheu

The district of Ntcheu is located between the two main cities in Malawi - Lilongwe in the north and Blantyre in the south. It is located near the border of Mozambique and is the area where we would like to go. We read of a pastor living in this district who visits 60 churches a month on an old worn out bicycle in order to bring encouragement, prayer and teaching to other followers of Christ. And he does this joyfully and willingly while trying to support his family on less than one dollar a day. You can do the math - gone a lot, no support, little training. How incredible would it be for this man to have a new bicycle? financial support for his family? Biblical training? a partner in ministry? a time of refreshment?

The primary language spoken in Ntcheu is Chichewa. So as the desire to take a trip there deepens we thought we should learn at least a bit of the language - and since you are walking this journey with us, we would like to share a few of the phrases we are working on.

Si ndi kumva. -- I don't hear (understand). (This is a good one to start with, don't you think?)
Mu nenenso pang'ono pang'ono. -- say it again slowly
Moni. -- hello (o as in go and i as in hit)
Muli bwanji? -- how are you?
Ndi ma ku-konda-ni. -- I love you
and we already know - zikomo -- thank you
One down and only a bajillion to go!

Great Resolve

Jubilee, Jem and I are studying the life of William Bradford - along with William Brewster, England, the difference between the Puritans and the Separatists, and the Pilgrims. And what fun we are having! But how convicted we are, too! While reading about William Bradford I caught myself thinking 'things were different back then.' When in reality, the people we were reading about were just men - human - like us. What has stuck with me the most is the resolve of William Bradford - even as a youth. As a teen, when friends and family were trying to persuade him not to leave the Church of England, he said the following.
"To keep a good conscience and walk in such Way as God had prescribed in His Word, is a thing which I must prefer before you all, and above life itself. Wherefore, since it is for a good Cause that I am likely to suffer the disasters which you lay before me, you have no cause to be either angry with me, or sorry for me. Yea, I am not only willing to part with everything that is dear to me in this world for this Cause but I am thankful that God hath given me heart so to do; and will accept me so to suffer for Him." WOW!
And the Pilgrims - again, people like us with thoughts, feelings, wants, desires and temptations - were willing to sell everything they had - EVERYTHING - say good-bye to friends and family - maybe forever - and face unknown dangers, hardships and heartache all in order to freely serve, love and worship God. Again I say - WOW!

May we use the lives of those who have gone before to inspire and encourage us to live our lives fully sold-out for Jesus Christ. And may we always remember the sacrifices they made.

Snakes

Snakes are reptiles. They are cold-blooded, which means they are unable to make their own body heat. Snakes can live almost anywhere - deserts, grasslands, woodlands, swamps, water. In cold areas, snakes hibernate in the winter. More than 10,000 garter snakes can live in a single den and they can release stinky, bad-tasting liquid, helping them to escape predators.
As I was reading about snakes one thought kept coming to mind - the church. Bear with me here. Just as snakes need the sun to fill them with warmth so, too, we need the Son to fill us. There are members of the church everywhere - rich areas and poor, city and rural, across the globe. Just as snakes are lulled into sleep by the coldness of winter, the church can be lulled into a waking sleep by the comforts and security of a mediocre life. And it can 'hibernate' together, in small country churches or heart-of-the-city mega churches 10,000 members strong. And as for the stinky liquid that seeps out of garter snakes - well, the church is full of those who seep bitterness, judgementalness and just plain blandness. Not very tasty to those who are searching for the Bread of Life.
Snakes also have a bad reputation. The word snake is even used as a slang word for bad guy.
Although snakes are actually SUPER COOL creatures I, for one, do not want to be like one -I do not want my passion for Jesus Christ to grow cold, for the things of the world to lull me into hibernation. And I don't want to secrete smelly goo.
However, giving off the fragrant smell of joy, love, hope and thankfulness, living in true community and being filled with the Son are all things I would like to be. May we, the church, stop hibernating and, instead, live a passionate life devoted to Jesus Christ.

Go Cougars!!

Wow - what an adventure! Hayley Ann and I just got back from Pullman, WA, and we had a great time! We arrived safe and sound, albeit a tad tired. After a couple hours of sleep we spent the day exploring the Washington State University campus - and walking about 52 miles!! That being said, the WSU campus is amazingly great. It is beautiful - and actually green - with a nice layout. We were welcomed by their distinguished entomology professor, were able to sit in on an actual lecture, spoke to admissions advisers, ate in one of the cafeterias, took a campus tour including dorm rooms and lots more. We got to see where they keep the cadavers but we didn't get a chance to see the bears. Did you know that several grizzly bears live on the campus - real, live bears? And just when I felt like my legs were about to fall off - mind you I had just had a full day of normal stuff then I drove seven hours then slept for about four then walked about fifty two miles and then was about to get back in the car and drive for seven more hours - we found it... a real Barnes and Noble store with a coffee shop - on campus. Ahhhh..
And Pullman was fun, too. There are cougars painted in the intersections and WSU banners literally all over the place. The new Safeway store even has a cougar tiled into the floor. All of Pullman seems to be rallied around WSU. It really is a college town.
Needless to say, we had a great trip. And, no, nothing has been decided. Although WSU would be a great fit for Hayley, so would the other universities on the list. We have toured two and she is considering a couple more. So as she is filling out applications and we are writing checks for the application fees, please keep Hayley in your prayers as she seeks wisdom and direction on what avenue to take in regards to continuing her education. And no matter where she goes we will always say... Go Cougs!

Great News

Guess what! Someone sent a flock of chickens to a family in need in our name. Isn't that super great!! Ok, they didn't personally box up a bunch of chickens and send them oversees but they made a donation to Heifer International - and Heifer takes care of the details. Heifer is an organization dedicated to ending world hunger (a passion of mine, as well!). Heifer is taking steps toward this goal by giving livestock to families devastated by hunger, training the families how to take care of the livestock and requiring each family to pass on the gift - meaning that the family who receives 'our' chickens will need to give a flock of chickens (once theirs start reproducing) to another family in need. So you see, the family 'we' are helping will now have fresh eggs and meat to eat, eggs and meat to sell (providing an income and helping to break the cycle of poverty) and the joy of being able to help another family. We have been involved with Heifer for several years and when we received the email saying someone gave chickens in our name, well, we are just thrilled and had to share! With the holiday season coming, check out the Heifer catalog and give the gift of life - by way of chickens, cows, sheep, bees, etc.. It feels great!

Tigers

Last week I had several conversations about why we are the way we are - why do we like something that others don't - why aren't we good at things that others are - why do some things get our blood boiling while others don't seem affected - why am I different - and so on and so on and.... And throughout those conversations I was reminded of the tigers we saw on our zooapalooza. Yes, tigers, the largest of the big cats. The Siberian tiger is the largest of all - growing up to eleven feet long and 455 pounds. Tigers have great night vision and they are very sneaky. Although the Siberian tiger once roamed throughout Siberia, it's habitat is decreasing and so now it lives in the cold, northeastern part of China and the far eastern part of Russia. Adult tigers live solitary lives and each one claims its own territory - between 174 square miles (females) and 772 square miles (males). This would be a good time for me to discuss the reasons why males need so much more space but that is not why tigers popped into my head. It is because of their stripes. Tigers are so beautiful - the colors, the stripes, the muscles and majesty. But let's focus on the stripes. No two tigers have the same stripe pattern. That's right, no two are alike. Each and every tiger is unique! God made them that way. And wouldn't you know, He made us that way too! No, not the stripes but the uniqueness. He knit each of us together, individually, uniquely, personally, wonderfully. So, next time you are met with the why-are-we-the-way-we-are questions just think of tigers and the beauty that comes from being unique. Then thank God for the stripes!

More on Malawi

Back on January 21st we told you that God had put Malawi on our hearts and we have written a few posts with factual tidbits about it. A few weeks ago we had the privilege of meeting and visiting with a couple who are missionaries to Malawi. Chet and LeAnne Burns were stateside for a couple of months and a few days before they left to go back they graciously gave us some of their time. It was a very long day - traveling 11 and a half hours round trip - but what an incredible meeting we had! God's timing might not be ours but He continues to amaze us - like dropping this meeting in our laps, so to speak. We learned so much about the Burns' and their ministry - Chet has a background in business - they have adopted internationally - they home educate - Chet is constantly driving people to the hospital because there isn't any medical care in the area they live and people would die without him - they are involved in pastoral leadership development, feeding centers and much more -they are alone on the field, the only ones serving a ginormous area (they work in the rural district of Ntcheu). The potential for ministry in this area is so vast; the harvest is ready but the workers are few. Our hearts once again connected to Malawi and we so desire to go visit and see it first hand. Please pray for us, the Burns' family and Malawi. Zikomo.

Making Memories

Can I just say - WOW! God is amazing! And oh, so creative!!! Rob and I spent the few days we had off being utterly knocked to our knees by the awesomeness of God. It was zooapalooza and it was so much fun. We visited several zoos in the area - Woodland Park Zoo (twice), Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Greater Vancouver Zoo, and the Vancouver Aquarium. We were entertained by squirrel monkeys, mesmerized by jelly fish, intrigued by a vulture, drawn to an anteater, purred at by a cheetah and so much more.

And to think I was a bit down in the dumps before our vacation. You see, I had been planning a road trip for me and Rob and when it didn't work out a little black rain cloud floated in and took residence over my head. But then my children reminded me of something important - very important. Big trips, fabulous destinations and money to spend do not make good vacations. Making memories is what counts - and memories are made in moments. So I set out to live in the moment, enjoy our time together and make memories. And make memories we did! We had so much fun enjoying God's creatures ... and being just a tad bit silly (fun photos, temporary tattoos, goofy hats, etc...).

So next time you feel a little black rain cloud headed your way - take a breath, enjoy the moment and make a memory...go to the zoo. God is amazing!

"How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small." Psalm 104:24&25

Homeless

Homelessness is an issue that is dividing churches. Some people are very outspoken and encourage others to ignore people on street corners asking for help because they "will just buy alcohol," or because they "should get a job." Others believe we should help those in need and what they do with the help is in God's hand. And many more are somewhere in between.

This morning I was watching a small group study resource by Erwin McManus and the issue of homelessness was raised. The dvd clip that stood out to me actually had nothing to do with the topic of study - it was just a side note. The clip showed a driver at a stoplight with a man on the corner holding a sign asking for help. The clip went over thoughts the driver had about the man and then it ended with a verse - Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

To be honest, that was the first time I had seen that verse used in that way. An my first thought was - it's about time. You see, I have been wrestling with this verse and the common usage for quite awhile. when talking about this verse most people equate 'the least of these' to poor African orphans or those living in Cite Soliel shanty town in Haiti - and we usually don't hear mutterings about the need for them to get jobs or about what they might do with the help given to them. But there are people in need everywhere - and rather than specify who 'the least of these' - or those in the most need - are, I believe Christ is telling us of the importance of helping people in need, especially other followers of Christ. When we do this, when we tangibly love those who are hurting, we are loving our King.

So what about the homeless man on the corner? Is he hurting? In need? Does he know Christ? Does he need Christ? Is he a con artist, an alcoholic or is he a man "...needing enough for one meal, to humble (himself) enough to beg - to suffer our staring, pitying, disgusted, ignoring, untrusting eyes?"

Did you know:

37% of homeless are families
25% of homeless are children

70% of homeless have NO alcohol or drug problems

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17&18

Great News...

Ok, I know you have been wondering about what is going on with Jerry in Lusaka so here it is....

He is getting married!!! We are so thrilled and excited for him. If you remember back in January we asked you to pray for Jerry and God's guidance in a new relationship he was forming with a young woman. And, well, prayers have been answered in a major way! We so wanted to be able to fly back and be a part of Jerry's special day but we are unable to do that. So instead, please join us in praying for Jerry and his bride-to-be. May their life together be filled with a bounty of blessings!

Vacation

Hi All - just wanted to let you know we are taking the week off so I won't be posting for a few days. But check back next week because I have some news about Jerry from Lusaka that you won't want to miss!

More Nshima!

Hey - guess what! I did it. It took a year but I found a recipe for nshima and I made it for dinner last Monday night. It was yummy and filling. And, yes, we ate with our fingers. The texture was not quite like what we had in Zambia - it was much smoother there. Although, if I made it every day of my life and if I actually used mealie then I think mine could be smooth, too. Maybe. But considering it was my first try.... it was pretty good.

On a side note:

Monday was Botswana day at our home. The children made maps and flags of Botswana, drew pictures on the window of animals found there and we ate traditional food from there. The corn meal mush is found through out southern Africa - in Zambia it is called nshima, in Botswana it is called begobep. So, technically, for dinner Monday we had begobep (nshima), morogo (cooked spinach relish) and diphaphata (stove-top muffins ). I'm not sure what the morogo or diphaphata were supposed to taste like but they were pretty good, too!

the Lord's Army

Many, many years ago in Sunday school I learned a fun song with motions. As I sang the song I was declaring that I was in the Lord's army - even though I will not be serving in our armed forces I am enlisted in fighting in a war on the side of the King of kings.

What does it mean to be in a war? To be part of an army?

An army is made up of a very diverse group of people - and each person has a specific job. No job is better that another as all jobs are needed in order for the army to be successful. It is also important that each member of the army be trained. But not only does a person enlisted in an army need to be trained, have a specific job and perform that job, the person must have access to resources such as weapons. (It is not enough to know how to use a weapon, one must have access to it.) And, most importantly, a person must be willing to fight - to engage the enemy - to die for the cause.

God has given each member of His army a special job and He has equipped us with armor and weapons - it is up to us to get the training needed to use them properly. In Ephesians 6 we read about the armor and are reminded about the importance of putting on the FULL armor of God. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 Paul tells us, "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." So, you see, we have the job and the resources but the question is - are we willing to fight??

Sometimes I think we forget that if we are followers of Christ then we are in His army. We tent to play church - it is safe and doesn't really cost us anything. But as Ron Luce wrote in his book Battle Cry for a Generation, "Jesus didn't give His life to start a social club; His church was meant to be an army."

The battle cry has been heard - the war is raging. May we not only embrace our position, get trained, put on the full armor and wield our weapons... May we fight!

Trusting God with the Unknowns

As Hayley finishes her associate degree and Riley begins his college studies we are filled with much excitement - and worry. Where will they study? What will they study? How in the world can we/they afford to further their education? What if we can't? How will they respond to the world's pull on them? Will their faith and witness weaken or strengthen? Will they find joy in their studies and future careers? Will they put Jesus first, everyday even if they don't understand - no matter what? You get the idea.

We want the best for our children - as most parents do - and this is where trust comes in. We believe God has a plan for them and we are encouraging them to follow Him no matter what - to seek Him first and not worry about the rest. Granted, planning and preparing are needed activities but worry, not so much.

Providentially, I was reading in Matthew 6 today - and verses 25-34 talk about worry. We are reminded that God cares about us and will take care of us. Verse 34 is pretty straight forward, too - "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself..." Why are we worrying about college? We will be strong and courageous because God is with us.

So whatever you are worrying about - stop. I know - it's not that easy. But be strong and courageous with us and hard as it may be, when we put our worries in the hands of our Father amazing things happen. Try it and see!

"Worry never empties tomorrow of its sorrow, but it does empty it of its strength. Don't let anyone rob you of your confidence in God. Know His word. Hold on to His hand. He will make your impossible mission possible and your life so much more than bearable." Barbara Johnson.

Refrigerators

I've heard that the outside of a refrigerator tells a lot about the people who use it. The refrigerators in some kitchens are spotless - no magnets, no fingerprints. Others are so full of stuff their color is hidden. How about the one in your kitchen? What does it say about you?

Unashamedly, our refrigerator is not void of fingerprints. In fact, our refrigerator is decorated with comics that make us smile, wildlife photos, photos of friends and family, inspirational quotes, letters (because you never get too old to play with magnetic letters), a blurb about Blake Mycoskie - the founder of TOMS shoes, artwork and a produce sticker collection - don't ask. We also have some forks on our fridge. That's right - forks. They are regular forks with magnets glued to the back. And, yes, they have a point. The forks are there to be a reminder to us - a daily reminder of the feast that is to come - the feast with our King - Isaiah 25:6 - Matthew 26:29 - Luke 13:29 - Luke 14:15. The forks remind us this life is not all there is - there is so much yet to come! We look forward to spending eternity together with Christ. I'm not sure what our fridge decor says about us but hopefully it says our home is filled with joy, love and hope - all sprinkled with fun!

May your home be filled with love, joy and hope, too. And may you hang a fork on your fridge and be reminded daily of what is to come.

Hanging a fork on your refrigerator is also a good way to share the hope you have in the Lord as your guests will ask why it is there. So go ahead, grab a fork, glue on a magnet and prepare for the feast!

The Dance of the Dead

Although I do not get a lot of time to read I do enjoy it. I was recently without a book so I borrowed one from Riley. And I never expected to be so deeply impacted by a fiction book - especially because I am only half way through with it. Riley and I both like the way Ted Dekker writes but the book of his I am reading now is more than just well written; it is subtly powerful. It is making me think and, hopefully, changing the way I think.
"What a terrible thing it is for children to see death, you say. We have it all wrong. If you make a child terrified of death, he won't embrace it so easily. And death must be embraced if you wish to follow Christ..." Janjic Jovic, When Heaven Weeps. Think about that for a moment. How many of us do not embrace death? And yet if we follow Christ, isn't death gain - isn't it a good thing - something to look forward to? So why do we not embrace it? Why do we not encourage our children to embrace it?
"The love that I saw in the priest and in Nadia was a sentiment that destroyed desire for anything less than union with Christ. If you say you love Christ, but are not driven to throw away everything for that pearl of great price, you deceive yourself..." Janjic Jovic, When Heaven Weeps. Yikes! That is to point and quite powerful - not to mention a wee bit painful! But how true it is!!
Now add on to that the article I just read in the latest VOM newsletter. It is about Asia Bibi and her family. Asia was arrested in Pakistan two years ago and has been sentenced to death. Her crime...telling co-workers about Christ. And Asia said she will not denounce Jesus Christ. What about her family? Her husband and daughters have had to move numerous times because they are constantly being threatened. But her daughters are in full agreement with Janjic Jovic. Isha, 12 and Isham, 8, continually say, "If they kill us for Christ, that is okay. We are ready."
May we all be ready.

Shattered

Have you ever had your hopes and dreams shattered? Have you ever cried out to God from the depths of your soul? What happened? How did you feel? My mom recently told me about a song that is heard on the radio - and since I am not an avid radio listener I had never heard it. The song asks some very thought provoking questions - I don't know them well enough to quote but they are something like these - What if His blessings come through raindrops? What if a thousand sleepless nights is what it takes to know He is here with us? Let's think about those for a minute. Would we willingly have our dreams shattered or eagerly accept a thousand sleepless nights if it meant a deeper relationship with the Lord of the Universe? For blessings? Shatterings produce such pain that I am not sure we would. I mean, I think we want to say we would but unless we knew the end result ahead of time I don't think we would embrace the shatterings in our lives; we don't even seem to embrace our trivial, daily challenges. And yet, we do know the end result - for those who have accepted Jesus Christ - God has promised to be with us here and now and He has promised us a home with Him for all eternity. What greater blessing could there be?
May we remember to place all the pieces of our shattered dreams in the hands of God and may we begin to see blessings where we once saw pain.

Dandelions

When was it that we lost our affection for the bright yellow flowers that visit our yards every summer? We once thought dandelions were flowers fit for a queen, picking as many as we could hold and running with such excitement and joy to give them to our moms. When she filled a cup with water, put the dandelions in and carried it over to be the table centerpiece we beamed with pride. Yet, now we spend time and money on new ways to get rid of them. We get frustrated and irritated when they show up in our yards uninvited. We don't seem to care that they are edible and delicious along with being bright, cheery and beautiful. They are a nuisance and not a treasure. So what happened?

Was it that we grew up and got too mature? Are we simply bowing to a cultural norm without even thinking about it? Or are we afraid of what the neighbors might think if we allowed our yellow visitors to stay?

Just think about them for a minute. Dandelions awaken with the sun. Their color is eye-catching and gorgeous. Honey bees gather pollen from them and make delicious honey. They, in and of themselves, are a food source - a much needed free food source. No yard work is needed to grow them. And they close up in the evening. God made amazingly wonderful flowers - but when we see them we see weeds. Isn't that how it works with people, too? We judge them; we count some worthy of love and others we discard. We see potential in some and others we view as hopeless. Beauty is seen here but not there. We forget that God knit each and every one of us and that Jesus Christ gave His life to save us all. We forget that God is perfect and that what He makes is beautiful. May we strive to change our perspective and see things like Jesus - may we, too, see flowers instead of weeds.

Time Off

Things are getting back to normal after a couple weeks off. Rob was in Tennessee for a week and then he had a week of vacation. Or maybe we should use the new term staycation? We used the time to do yard work and celebrate my birthday. Although we didn't really go any where or do anything vacation like doing the time off, my birthday was a great day! Rob took me to Anacortes for lunch and fabric shopping and then the whole family loaded up and headed to Birch Bay for an evening of bubbles, parachute man throwing (I threw my arm out doing that - how sad), beach combing and marshmallow cooking over a campfire. Ahhh..... And as far as the yard work - with acreage there is always something to do and it was nice to have time to do it. So, all in all, the time off went by way too fast - as it usually does - and now reality is back.

Hide and Seek

Monday afternoon we watched our children play hide and seek; it brought back memories of when Hayley and Riley used to play when they were younger - much younger. I remember when Hayley and Riley used to play hide and seek with me they would simply close their eyes. They figured that since they couldn't see me then I couldn't see them. The thought of them standing in the middle of a room with their eyes closed still brings a smile to my face. This time, however, they played outside using the front acre and they really hid. There were so many places to hide that the one who was "it" had to be diligent and persevering. Great effort was needed. During all the searching and seeking I was reminded that we are to be even more diligent and persevering and put even greater effort into searching for wisdom - we are to search for it as if it is a hidden treasure.

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:1-5

And in the book of Colossians we read that the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. "...in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2b-3

Amazing! The more we pursue the Lover of Our Souls the more treasure we will find. And this goes for everyone - the orphan in Zambia, the widow in Mongolia, me and you. I must say it again - amazing!

May we take the responsibility of being "it" to heart and may we passionately, purposefully and diligently seek Jesus Christ. May we play to win!

Feeling Wimpy

For the last couple of weeks I have been sick. And, actually, I am still not feeling as though the 'bug' is completely gone. Now, being a homemaker and stay-at-home mom I do not get 'sick days' - we moms are a tough bunch. But this time as I continued to keep our home running smoothly I couldn't help continually thinking about how awful I felt, how I just wanted to stay in bed - to feel better. My family did help out, and for that I am thankful. However, even with their help I was just feeling icky. But the worst was yet to come. You see, I had a variety of medicines to take in order to help me feel better. I had vitamins, too. But what about the moms I met in Kasupe? They don't get sick days. They still need to walk several miles a day to get water - regardless of how they feel. And they don't have vitamins or medicine or ...anything! So, what did I have to complain about? At this realization I felt sick and wimpy. Is it possible to be sick and not feel wimpy? Yes! Choose your attitude! I am thankful for the help I received - I am thankful for the vitamins, medicine, tea, tissues, honey and butterscotch candy - And I am praying for the women in Kasupe!

Look What We Saw...

Check out what we saw on our recent family trip to the zoo!!

Updated Pages

In case you haven't checked in a while, I wanted to let you know that some of our blog pages on the right have been updated with a bit more information and some new photos from our recent trip to the Woodland Park Zoo. Be sure to browse - and thanks for reading!