Terribly Interesting

This Blog is updated each Tuesday. I have been feeling nostalgic of late. This is evidenced by my random smattering of old pictures contained in this week's blog. God has really been reminding me of where He brought me from. Sometimes, I wonder how I am alive. Thank God for His amazing grace.  As I perused old photos I found myself thankful to God for each season of life and how He leads us onward. Our first step is to find out that we put God before ourselves. I become second. I think it can be a pitfall to remain there. We keep seeking who we are in Christ and wanting Him to constantly affirm who we are. I do believe, however, that He has another step for us to take.  I Am Third is a memoir written about Gale Sayers, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. His story is about a teammate he had on the Chicago Bears that died of cancer. His credo is, "The Lord is first, others are second, and I am third." I am third. God is opening my eyes to others needs more a...

This Blog is updated each Tuesday. About a year ago a man bought some land from my grandmother. I found myself recently very interested in something that he gave land to. He gave land to start a year round camp for children with special needs. Camp John Mark is an amazing place. As I sat and read the story, I was overwhelmed. My perspective was challenged as I read the list of their camps for March 2009.  Week One: Families who have lost a child Week Two: Families with a child who has cancer Week Three: Families with a child with spina bifida Week Four: Families with children who have had organ transplants How can we ever complain? As we stare into the faces of our healthy children, how can we ever complain? Perspectives. Gomer is thankful! Denbigh and I stood out in the front of the respite on Saturday evening in awe. We could have never imagined all that was accomplished could have been done in one day. There was a total of over 40 people to come with chain saws, mowers, and tools...

This Blog is updated each Tuesday. I was reminded of something very simple today. As we strive to make "Jesus" happen and draw attention to ourselves, God is truly at work in the minute  [ mahy- noot ,   - nyoot ,   mi- ]  unseen details of life. When is the last time you loved on someone who couldn't do anything for you? When is the last time you served and didn't end up getting some glory for it? Are you doing ministry for your glory or for His? These are questions I ask myself at the beginning of every endeavor I take on. If God doesn't tell you to do it, sit down. Let the one He called rise up. Otherwise, you will waste years of your life in the endless pit of worshipping yourself. Reach out in the quiet. Pray in the quiet. Love in the quiet. Expect your reward from Jesus.  "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." Matth...

This week we set up a "command center" for the downstairs. It includes lists of all the things we need done in the Respite. Writing that all out truly makes you realize the gravity of the project at hand. The picture above was taken of the 40 plus feet palm trees in front of our house as we were eating dinner outside last night. We set up a make shift kitchen with a ' snazzy ' red microwave. Our new refrigerator arrived last week as well.  Anne, Steve, Syd, and Ben (and Scout)came to help us around the house. We now have a working toilet upstairs (hooray!). Now, all we need is the drain fixed to the bath tub. My pet project is Laomai's room. I have been sanding ALL of the wood down to re-stain it the original mahogany color. This is quite a task. Moulding in our house is about 5 times the width of the moulding of a normal house. I will be excited to get this little girl a room to call her own after sleeping in makeshift spaces the past nine months! If you like to...

This Blog is updated each Tuesday. Yovel is the Hebrew word for Jubilee. Jubilee was pronounced every seven years in Israel as a time when debts were forgiven and slaves were set free. The name comes from the horn, or shofar , used to announce Jubilee. Every fifty years there was a super Jubilee. All land went back to the original owner to prevent one man from amassing all the wealth.  I have been thinking quite a bit about Jubilee. I keep seeing the word everywhere I go and in everything I read. I would love to experience a year of biblical Jubilee. Can you imagine all of your friends' debts being forgiven? What a party! It really hit me as I thought about it. Jubilee wasn't designed by God to teach us how to receive, but how to forgive. It's a year of repentance and returning. It's a year that you get to forgive those who owe you spiritually, emotionally, financially, and so on. For you to declare Jubilee, you must be willing to forgive. You must be willing to repent...