YOSEMITE

For Father's Day, Brodie took our young men on their first father/son trip...

to Yosemite where Brodie spent much time as a child himself.

They were stunned by God's creative beauty.

They hiked.

Marveled at the waterfalls.

Made their way down the river.

 Played.

Camped.

Read the Word.

And enjoyed their time of fellowship in the great outdoors.

Memories were made and bonds strengthened.

"The father makes known to the children your faithfulness."

Isaiah 38:19

It was a special trip that they'll all never forget!

In Yosemite.

"May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown."

Psalm 144:12

"In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also."

Psalm 95:4-5

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY INDIA!

6!

In so many ways India feels so much older.

She's smart and quick and capable and keeps up with the rest with ease. So much so, that we must remind ourselves that she's still maturing even though she's taller than her big brothers and sisters. She's still learning even though she can out memorize the best of them. She's still growing and developing and deepening and softening and basically India is always doing a little bit of everything at once because she's a busy, industrious, excitable, jubilant little lady! She's bursting at the seams and shows this with her every move (particularly when she's worshipping). She's FULL of life and love and she's much more tender than she may let on. Indeed, India is a bit of a fragile tulip on the inside which adorns her outward strength in lovely ways.

Oh India, you add much brilliance to our family and it warms my heart to see your compassion and conviction grow. To see the layers of you build at such a young age, I can only image what all the Lord has in store with decades more. You will empathize and have great concern for others. You will take those in need under your wing. I can see it now. You will be bold for Jesus and share Him with others. You will love people with God's love. I know He has wonderful plans for your life and we are so blessed that we were chosen to be your mommy and daddy those many years ago.

India, you are loved!

You are special, very unique, and brimming with potential just waiting for harvest! It's a gift to work through the journey with you and to point you to the Word every day. I can't wait to see how the Lord uses your exuberant heart to bless others in Jesus' name...He already does, beautiful girl!

Happy Birthday to our India Soul!

"Jesus Christ...gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify

for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."

Titus 2:13-14

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 2018

...to the "Dad of the Year"! =)

Our children are SO blessed to have a father like you.

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!"

Psalm 127:4-5

COMPASSION

It doesn't take much...just a glance, and our hearts feel compelled to pour.

Compassion.

{The trick is setting our eyes on the needs.}

To remember...

(Malawi 2012)

"When [Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them."
Mark 6:34

He went. He saw. He had compassion.

We'd like to do the same. We want to be like Jesus.

"Be imitators of God."
Ephesians 5:1

May we pray for the world with open hearts.

Be willing to step out.

To serve.

To go.

To show His love to those in need.

(Haiti 2013)

To sponsor.

To adopt.

(beloved sons, daughters, brothers, sisters)

We always want to be seeking the Lord and His will and asking with open hands and hearts,

"What would you have us do in your name, Jesus?"

What would He have us do?

We must look beyond our own lives (which can consume us)
and recognize that the Lord wants to use us to show His love to others.

So, we pray and ask and seek and knock. We offer our very lives.

{Here am I, send me!}

We must intentionally set our eyes on the needs and allow God's love to stir.

(The Compassion Experience...seeing the realities of children in need brought to our experience
reminds us how sponsoring a Compassion International child can truly make a life changing difference.)

We must reach out and ask the Lord, "How could you use me?"

(China 2011)

We must remember that He can use anyone.

(even the little ones)

We must remember what incredible things God can do in the life of one...

(China 2014)

He cares about the one.

"If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the
ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go in search for the one that is lost until he finds it?"
Luke 15:4

Those are the words of Jesus.

I've heard it said and been inspired by unknown quotes such as these:

"Helping one person might not change the whole world,
but it could change the world for one person."

"No one can help everyone, but everyone can help someone."

We must remember...


(Democratic Republic of Congo 2012)

He cares for the vulnerable and so should we.

He employs us.

"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you,
as you did it to one of the least of these my bothers, you did it to me."
Matthew 25:40

And so we actively look for opportunities and never get too comfortable.

We set our eyes on needs purposefully and we pray:

OPERATION WORLD PRAYER VIDEOS

WWW.COMPASSION.COM

We have to do something.

"For the love of Christ controls us."
2 Corinthians 5:14

We love the ministry of Compassion International. Always have since we first discovered it's beauty 6 years ago. It's a ministry our children get to lead in. It's encouraging for them as they encourage. They write their letters and point their friends across the globe to Christ. It blesses me beyond measure to read their words and see them love like Him. This is something we can always do...today. How else can we love more, pray more, do more? We ask ourselves and God these questions.

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
James 1:22

We thank the Lord for compassion and we await His continued plans to further engage our willing hearts.

In His time and in His ways.

We are willing...

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
1 John 3:17-18