Gotcha Day!

It's hard to believe, but 11 years ago today, Dr. Falwell placed Stephen in our arms. For the full story and to see the video, go here.

I am absolutely amazed that we went from this



to this, so quickly. Where or where did the time go!

Snow and Rainbows

Winter. I don't like it. The snow would be beautiful if it weren't so cold. Why can't we have snow and maybe 75 degree weather. I hope that's what we have in heaven because I truly would like to hang out in the snow and play, but I just can't stand to be cold! And the sun...the sun...where has it gone? I feel like it didn't shine yesterday or today or at least not very brightly. I need the sunshine. It affects how I feel when I don't see it for a day or two. This is one reason why I think I'm not supposed to live in Michigan. When we lived there I always felt like the sun went behind the clouds in October and didn't reappear until April or May.


I don't like the rain for many of the same reasons. Dark clouds and no sunshine. But last week as we were driving to Franklin and it was just barely raining, there was a big beautiful rainbow in the sky. We all were just fascinated by it. We talked about what the rainbow represents. It represents that God won't flood the entire earth again, but more than that it represents that God keeps His promises...all of them. He is a promise keeping God. When I read His promises, I don't have to wonder if He was making an empty promise. What He says He'll do, He'll do.

And today as I was praying for some warmer weather and some sunshine, I was reminded that even though I don't like the winter, something wonderful comes after the winter. Spring. New life. Beautiful flowers. A new beginning. I can't wait until those tiny little buds start popping out of the ground and then something beautiful will appear...beautiful colors of flowers almost as beautiful as the colors in a bright rainbow. But something's happening in the ground right now...getting them ready for when it's time for them to poke their little buds out of the ground. And in the very same way, God is working in our lives. He is working even when we can't see it. He is creating something beautiful even if we feel like we're in the winter season of our lives right now.

And I was reminded again, "never doubt in the darkness what He has shown you in the light". Springtime is coming!

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Isaiah 55:11. And how fitting that the verse just above it mentions snow and rain! Isn't God sweet that He reminded me of that verse today as I was thinking about snow and rainbows! And just like the snow and rain water the earth and bring forth fruit, so God's word will not return void. What seeds are you sowing this winter?

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

Tuesday's Takeaway

I don't think I've ever done this. I read two non-fiction books by the same author back to back. I usually take a break and find another author and then I'll go back and read the same author again. Some authors are easier to read than others and it helps when I have some variety. Anyway, I loved Wild Goose Chase and so I picked up this one by Mark Batterson and finished it in just a couple of days. It's a pretty easy read and I really liked this book. I think I might like it even more than Wild Goose Chase, but it's hard to make that call. I am buying his next book asap hoping that I'll get just as much out of that one.


The book is based on 2 Samuel 23:20-21. I am sure that I have read those verses at some point, but I will never read those verses again without being reminded of this book. The subtitle is "how to survive and thrive when opportunity roars". He talks about chasing lions and how we need to chase those dreams that God put in our hearts and not play it so safe. The Scripture is full of people who took risks and were truly willing to step out in faith. If we wait until all our ducks are neatly in a row, the opportunity might be gone.

He says, God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time. God is awfully good at getting us where He wants us to go. But here's the catch: The right place often seems like the wrong place and the right time often seems like the wrong time.

God is always using past experiences to prepare us for future opportunities. But those God-given opportunities often come disguised as man-eating lions. And how we react when we encounter those lions will determine our destiny. We can cower in fear and run away from our greatest challenges. Or we can chase our God-ordained destiny by seizing the God-ordained opportunity.

Faith doesn't reduce uncertainty. Faith embraces uncertainty. We'll never have all the answers.

And I've realized after reading this book that if you're always making responsible decisions, you'll never step out in faith and take some risks. I'm not saying that we should be irresponsible, but did it really make sense for David to fight Goliath or for Peter to walk on water or for Noah to build that boat. I'm sure family and friends thought they were making irresponsible choices, but they were stepping out on faith and taking a risk. Some failed at times, but God used that failure to push them to the next opportunity.

One of the quotes from the book that penetrated my heart to its core is this one: The more you're willing to risk, the more God can use you. And if you're willing to risk everything, then there is nothing God can't do in you and through you.

May 2011 be a year of adventure and risk as we continue to pursue God with our whole hearts. I hope you'll consider joining me on the journey and be willing to obey God even when it doesn't make sense, to trust Him when life doesn't seem to be working out like we thought it would/should and to serve Him completely even when He asks us to do things that the rest of the world (including Christian friends and family) thinks is crazy. May we have crazy love for others as we serve a radical God!

Thankful Thursday

One thing the Lord continues to teach me is that my ways are not His ways and that His timing is always perfect.

Our August team thought we had lost a team member. John wasn't able to travel with us because of some serious illness. We prayed for His healing and that he'd be able to go with us, but it wasn't God's time. We didn't lose a team member, we gained a prayer warrior who interceded on our behalf while we were gone. But the picture didn't completely come full circle until the last few weeks.

John (our August team member) and Derek decided to take a small team (and when I say small, I mean just the two of them) to Africa. The purpose of the trip, to pour into some local church leaders and teach them the Bible. Encourage, exhort, teach...the older men are to do this for the younger men. You just never know how you're going to be received or if the need exists, but these men came eager and hungry. They came early and stayed late and asked some tough questions. Our God is so sweet that He chose to unite these hearts together.

And this picture says it all.

John wasn't supposed to be on our August team. God just used that trip to introduce Derek and John to each other. And then God took two men who love Him and love people and He sent them across the ocean to do His work. I do believe that they'll be back with a similar itinerary at some point in the future.

And this picture...I just love this casual picture. There is obviously something going on and they're distracted...how I'd love to know what was going on around them while this was being taken.

Always remember that God may not be saying no, keep praying and believing. He may just be saying, "not yet". He says no to the good, because He has the very best planned for us!

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday's Takeaway

So I just finished Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. Fabulous read. This book challenged several things about my life. A lot of my New Year's resolutions were birthed because of this book.

Here's a snippet from the back cover: Most of us have no idea where we're going most of the time. Perfect. Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit -- the Wild Goose. The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it's like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were onto something....Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure!

I found all kinds of great quotes in this book like

We start dying when we have nothing worth living for. And we don't really start living until we find something worth dying for. Ironically, discovering something worth dying for is what makes life worth living.

The only way you'll find your security in Christ is by throwing down the human securities we tend to cling to.

God doesn't always answer my prayers how or when I want Him to. But I do live my life with this fundamental conviction: God is able.

And two of my favorites: But when we trust our plans more than we trust God, our plans can keep us from pursuing Him and His will. And sometimes our plans have to fail in order for God's plans to succeed.

When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things? God wants to send us to dangerous places to do difficult things.

It's the best book I've read in 2011...well, it's the only one so far, but I highly recommend it!!

New Year's Somethings

Did you make any? I almost don't want to call them resolutions, because I don't know if they'll all happen. But I decided that if I didn't make any, then nothing would change.

So here are mine...

I'm not going on a diet this year...not at all. I might eat healthier and exercise more, but scrap the diets. You just lose weight to then gain it back.

I am going to take a day of rest (Sabbath). It'll most likely be on Sundays. I think this will include a day without checking work-related email which will pretty much be a miracle, but a healthy one. Did you know the word Sabbath means "to catch one's breath". God knew what He was doing when He made it a commandment.

Hold onto your seat...I signed up to run in the half marathon, which is hilarious seeing that I rarely if ever run. But I said I wanted to do it some day and Derek said awhile back that I wasn't getting any younger, so I decided that 2011 just might be the year. If I can only run half of the half and walk the rest, then that's better than what I can do today. :-) (Seriously I really think I lost my mind on this one!)

I am going to try to read the Bible all the way through in a year...might even finish early.

I am going to try to read a book every two weeks or at least one a month. That means less facebook for me and less tv for me, but I do think it's a healthier choice for my mind. Note to reader: if someone makes a huge announcement on facebook, please let me know because I just might miss it!

I am going to slow down and not always be in such a rush. I realize that I am missing God ordained opportunities, because my mind is so task oriented, I quickly move onto the next task and in so doing I miss many opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around me.

I am going to teach two of my children (one already gets it) to flush the toilet. Seriously, we have majorly failed as parents in this area. I don't know how you can get so distracted in the bathroom that you forget to flush!

As a family, we are going to memorize one verse of Scripture a week.

And most importantly, I want to deepen the consistency of my walk with God. This will be done through some of the above mentioned ways, but deepen and consistent at the same time are the two key words.

I heard a quote today, "The New Year is as bright as the promises of God", so I hope that there's some bright new beginnings in your future because the promises of God are too many to count!

Happy New Year Everyone!