Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
For your viewing pleasure...
When you are so in love you just have to share it with the world...
Eat our heart out ladies... he's all mine. ;0) Sunday, April 19, 2009
When you never know what you are gonna get
One day I get this...
(notice the 5 purses she carried around all day)
I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings! ;0)Saturday, April 18, 2009
Camping made easy
Our 3 youngest kiddos got it into their heads that they really wanted to go camping.
So, being the good mommy that I am and not wanting to disappoint my little cherubs...
I pitched them a tent.
(technically this is considered "camping" right?)If you ask me the great outdoors is over rated. Indoors there are no bugs involved.
It's all good! ;0)
Friday, April 17, 2009
Five Reasons
Some days it's easy to just live life.
You know, run to Walmart and stock your cart. Do a couple loads of laundry, pick up the kids from school, sit down to dinner, read a few blogs, take a nice hot shower. Just exist.
And then other days it hits me.
The burden on my heart is so heavy... and it is at those times where I can no longer ignore the voice of God.
He's calling, asking me to stay focused on him and not fall into the trap of every day living in America.
He wants me to wake up, listen and obey.
He's asking me to be His hands and feet.
And I know, without a doubt, that ordinary living is not okay anymore.
I know the scripture- and now I must ACT.
Five Reasons the Church Can’t Ignore the Plight of the Orphan Any Longer
Tim Nelson of World Orphans lists fives reasons the church can’t ignore the plight of the orphan any longer:
1. Scripture. James describes the care of orphans as being “pure and faultless religion.” The prophet Jeremiah laments that there are men among God’s people whose evil has no end. Their evil deeds are the sin of omission. They DO NOT plead the case of the fatherless to win it. “Should I not punish them for this?” he asks. The minor and major prophets declare that the Father hears the cry of the orphan, and the church, who has His heart, can no longer ignore that cry.
2. Missions. Our mandate as the church is to “go and make disciples.” If we were really serious about making disciples, we would start with the people group most ready to receive the gospel. Orphans are the #1 people group on the planet most ready to receive the gospel. Their cry is to be saved, cared for and loved by the kind of compassion that only the Savior brings. We must start seeing orphans as 143 million opportunities to make disciples for Jesus Christ. And let’s make sure these disciples have food, clothing, education and medical care. We are not doing our job if we don’t.
3. Terrorism. Terrorism grows out of poverty and in response to oppression. If the church were proactive and on the healing side of children’s lives in the poorest of places around the world, we would prevent the argument of terrorism from taking root in a potential recruits heart. The modern state has a military response to terrorism. The church is called to use other weapons - that of compassion and love. Caring for orphans is one of the best ways to proactively fight terrorism. Let’s lift the burden from the backs of these children, and offer a better way to live. If we don’t do this, someone else will offer the promise of life, and it may involve a gun.
4. Accountability. One day the church will be called to account for how we use our resources. When there are 143 million abandoned and orphaned children in the world and the church chooses NOT to respond, we stand exposed before a Holy God who demands justice. How is it even possible for the church - the redemptive community on the planet, called by God to be His hands and feet - and 143 million abandoned, orphaned children, without love or basic care, to exist on the same planet? We are without excuse.
5. Awakening. I see people waking up to the issues of justice and being on the healing side of problems in our one and only world. We need to see this world as a gift from a loving and holy God who desires the end to the abuse and abandonment of His children. We are created with the dream of beauty, wholeness, and justice, given us by God. When the church decides to act in harmony with God’s intentions, we find ourselves waking up to be the church God has designed us to be.
You know, run to Walmart and stock your cart. Do a couple loads of laundry, pick up the kids from school, sit down to dinner, read a few blogs, take a nice hot shower. Just exist.
And then other days it hits me.
The burden on my heart is so heavy... and it is at those times where I can no longer ignore the voice of God.
He's calling, asking me to stay focused on him and not fall into the trap of every day living in America.
He wants me to wake up, listen and obey.
He's asking me to be His hands and feet.
And I know, without a doubt, that ordinary living is not okay anymore.
I know the scripture- and now I must ACT.
Five Reasons the Church Can’t Ignore the Plight of the Orphan Any Longer
Tim Nelson of World Orphans lists fives reasons the church can’t ignore the plight of the orphan any longer:
1. Scripture. James describes the care of orphans as being “pure and faultless religion.” The prophet Jeremiah laments that there are men among God’s people whose evil has no end. Their evil deeds are the sin of omission. They DO NOT plead the case of the fatherless to win it. “Should I not punish them for this?” he asks. The minor and major prophets declare that the Father hears the cry of the orphan, and the church, who has His heart, can no longer ignore that cry.
2. Missions. Our mandate as the church is to “go and make disciples.” If we were really serious about making disciples, we would start with the people group most ready to receive the gospel. Orphans are the #1 people group on the planet most ready to receive the gospel. Their cry is to be saved, cared for and loved by the kind of compassion that only the Savior brings. We must start seeing orphans as 143 million opportunities to make disciples for Jesus Christ. And let’s make sure these disciples have food, clothing, education and medical care. We are not doing our job if we don’t.
3. Terrorism. Terrorism grows out of poverty and in response to oppression. If the church were proactive and on the healing side of children’s lives in the poorest of places around the world, we would prevent the argument of terrorism from taking root in a potential recruits heart. The modern state has a military response to terrorism. The church is called to use other weapons - that of compassion and love. Caring for orphans is one of the best ways to proactively fight terrorism. Let’s lift the burden from the backs of these children, and offer a better way to live. If we don’t do this, someone else will offer the promise of life, and it may involve a gun.
4. Accountability. One day the church will be called to account for how we use our resources. When there are 143 million abandoned and orphaned children in the world and the church chooses NOT to respond, we stand exposed before a Holy God who demands justice. How is it even possible for the church - the redemptive community on the planet, called by God to be His hands and feet - and 143 million abandoned, orphaned children, without love or basic care, to exist on the same planet? We are without excuse.
5. Awakening. I see people waking up to the issues of justice and being on the healing side of problems in our one and only world. We need to see this world as a gift from a loving and holy God who desires the end to the abuse and abandonment of His children. We are created with the dream of beauty, wholeness, and justice, given us by God. When the church decides to act in harmony with God’s intentions, we find ourselves waking up to be the church God has designed us to be.
Monday, April 13, 2009
What now...
I love being a Christian more than anything. It is such a privilege to know and serve the God of our universe. Each day, no matter what the circumstances that surround us- I stand in awe of a God who is all knowing. A God who loves us regardless of our sin, regardless of our faults. A God who created us for His purpose.
We have been spending a lot of time in prayer lately seeking Him, asking Him for clear guidance, asking for the doors to swing wide open to the path He wants us to take. The need is huge. Somewhere right now there is a child waiting. Alone, scared, hungry, hurting. A child God created. A child God loves. And God is calling.
As we sit and wait now for Him to lead the way, to clear the path of any obstacles and bring our child home- I cannot help but to be overflowing with joy. I have no idea who that child is, where that child is, what that child dreams of... but one thing I do know is that we serve an amazing God who has all the answers and I am so blessed by Him. It's pretty much indescribable. ;0)
We have been spending a lot of time in prayer lately seeking Him, asking Him for clear guidance, asking for the doors to swing wide open to the path He wants us to take. The need is huge. Somewhere right now there is a child waiting. Alone, scared, hungry, hurting. A child God created. A child God loves. And God is calling.
As we sit and wait now for Him to lead the way, to clear the path of any obstacles and bring our child home- I cannot help but to be overflowing with joy. I have no idea who that child is, where that child is, what that child dreams of... but one thing I do know is that we serve an amazing God who has all the answers and I am so blessed by Him. It's pretty much indescribable. ;0)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Don't sweat the small stuff...
I just adore little boys. I love how they are so laid back about life... how they could have a frog in one hand and a sandwich in the other and think nothing of it. I love how instead of bothering themselves with going to get a tissue- they just use their sleeve instead. I so wish I could be that relaxed about life!
Today, I asked my precious, laid back, not a care in the world, son- Kallan- (age 12) to hang up his clothes. And this is what I found hanging in his closet...
Hey, it's better than the floor I guess... ????Monday, April 6, 2009
Why is it that no matter how old you are, your mommy and daddy can always make you feel better?
We had so much fun with my mom and dad here last week. Travis actually talked grandma into trying out his paintball gear... (LOL) How is that for a good sport?
Into THIS- by just adding some trim and painting it black.
We had so much fun with my mom and dad here last week. Travis actually talked grandma into trying out his paintball gear... (LOL) How is that for a good sport?
Then my amazingly talented dad helped us turn this plain, kind of boring, cabinet in our office...
Into THIS- by just adding some trim and painting it black.
Thanks for everything mom and dad! We love you so much!!
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