MALAWI & SOUTH AFRICA

This month, Brodie had the opportunity to serve the Lord in Malawi and South Africa. The trip further increased his desire to share the gospel with those in need and specifically confirmed his heart's desire to love and serve needy children. We thank God for this special experience and pray for wisdom as we continue to follow His leading for future ministry opportunities.

Bright Vision Orphan Care, Malawi

Teaching at Family Camp, Kuti Community Wildlife Park, Malawi

 

Muphamuzi Baby Home, Pretoria, South Africa

HOME

How sweet the reunion when a loved one comes home! Gratitude overflows and I thank Him.

 

This but a glimmer of our final homecoming when we enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise, when we finally arrive at our eternal home, united. The race will have been run and we will see Jesus face to face. What will be written on the pages of my life?

"So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Having said a last goodbye to both my mom and dad makes the reality of a race well run and finished more tangible. The finality glares sometimes so brightly that I must refocus on the here. This is home for now, but a far greater home awaits and I sense it. I pray for grace to finish strong and I focus on today.

"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

I'm overjoyed to be together again and eager not to lose sight of the sole dependence that was. I thank God for safe returns and pray for what comes next. Right now, I'm just really happy that he is home!!!

HE IS NEAR

"The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Psalm 145:18

He is always near. He is never far. The Lord is close to those who call upon His name. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us...without fail.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

For the most part, these weeks of "aloneness" with Brodie gone have been smooth, even joyful! But it only makes sense that there were also times of sadness. I realize that if all of life were roses, never pricked by thorns, then we would be sufficient without a Savior. Yet, that is not the case. Much greater is His story when we struggle, toil, cry, and come to the end of ourselves, where He begins, and then we thank Him for His caring mercy and Fatherly love. It's with this perspective straight that I thank the Lord for the thorns of the week, even count them all joy.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

James 1:2-4

Life is hard. Have you noticed??

But how often do we thank God for our trials? How easily do we forget? If He is in control (and He is) and if He is always good (and He is), then we can trust God. We can press into His faithfulness and let go of self-reliance. We can exhale...and then breath in deep His steadfast love and mercies. They are new every morning. How great is the faithfulness of the Lord!

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Who can relate to a life without struggles? Anyone?

I've thought about this with my kids this week. If I don't let them in on my struggles, then I can't let them in on my Solution. And it's the same with friendships. As we all wander through the desert that life can be, my hope is not that I can live a flawless life, but rather that as I contend with the flaws I can point to Him, my Solution. I can turn to Him, Jesus, the only One who will never disappoint us. He will never let us down.

He is always near. He is never far. The Lord is close to those who call upon His name.

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." James 4:8

True it is that sometimes God's "good" looks different than our idea of "good", but indeed He is always good. Simply, His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are infinitely greater than our thoughts.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

And so I thank Him. I thank Him for the roses and I thank Him for the thorns. I trust Him way more than I trust myself and I draw near and I find Him. 

He is always near. He is never far. The Lord is close to those who call upon His name. 

"But you are near, O Lord." Psalm 119:151

"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." Jeremiah 33:3 

PUT ON COURAGE

"Fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." Daniel 10:19

Today as I was missing my beloved, my Beloved stepped in.

I bundled up in his favorite cozy sweatshirt, in need of his big strong hug. I missed him. I prayed...and prayed...and sought the Lord. He sent encouragement through a great friend and His Word.

Then I realized how sweetly He had helped me. I had to laugh later when I noticed the label on the sweatshirt-hug I had worn.

Courage.

And so I put it back on.

"As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death." Philippians 1:20

Some things I've done this week have required courage. Not my strong point. But if what I can do is dependent on my own strength, then why "on earth" would I need a Savior? It's at the end of myself that God begins.

His courage. I think I'll put it on.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

"Your courage asks me what I am made of

And what I know of love

Your courage asks me what I am afraid of

And what I know of God"

-Sara Groves (I Saw What I Saw)

HE HAS RISEN

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay."

Matthew 28:5-6

Today we are celebrating the resurrection, clinging to our hope, and believing Truth by grace through faith.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2"8-9

One of our favorite CDs:

 

Our favorite song from the album, Behold Our God:

 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:6