A DECADE OF PREPARATION

It's been a long time coming...over a decade at least. God has stripped and pruned and groomed and refueled and we pray it's drawing near. We've longed for change, to use our lives, time, resources to serve Him with everything. We've prayed and waited and waited and prayed. Could the time be coming soon?

There've been confirmations, nudges and yet no definite plans in sight. What we do know is that God is moving in our hearts and prompting us to action. What we do know is He's given us specific desires to minister alongside one another (and as a family) according to His specific plans. What we do know is that He knows everything we don't. That's enough for us...for now.

And so we wait and pray some more and ask for God's direction. We search and serve right here, right now and seek opportunities to give more, opportunities to LOVE more...everyday we seek.

We cry out, "Lord, what can we do for you? Our hearts overflow with desire. How can we serve you more? We want to live our lives for you. How can we LOVE others more with your LOVE? We long for you to use us. Nothing matters more!"

It's been a decade of preparation. Some of it was painful. But, God has had a plan with eternal implications. A chapter has closed, the door's been shut, and we sense it is time to move on.

Cue reevaluation!

Our Father God knows just what He is doing and we trust Him more each day. Our hearts and arms are open wide, awaiting His appointment(s). What next, Lord?

It's pretty strange to sum up an entire decade in just one sentence, but it seems that's what God has done. He's taken the season and given it purpose, simple though the purpose be.

And now we say, "Use it, Lord! For your glory and according to your will, please put to use this decade of preparation."

 

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'

Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'"

Isaiah 6:8

OVERNIGHTER: ELKA & DADDY

Yesterday, Elka and Brodie headed off on their first overnight date!
They got to stay in our college alumni cottage which overlooks the ocean
and it has been a special time for them together.

 

We planned this date before Haiti because we really wanted Elka to have her own experience
with her Daddy too before Aida and Brodie leave with him for their mission trip in June.
I hope that she feels LOVED, cherished, and poured into!



Although Elka wasn't old enough for this particular mission trip, she can hardly wait to
GO, serve, and love needy people around the world.
She is deeply compassionate and exuberantly passionate to GO and I can't wait to send her...soon!

Elka has literally counted down the days, hours, seconds until this special overnight getaway. We've missed them here at home, but it's been a privilege to send them off. I hope that Elka feels as special as she is. I've prayed the Lord would meet them closely in their time away and fill them with His presence on their Daddy/Daughter overnighter...I know He has and always will!

 

Thank you, Lord, for our Elka...our sensitive, enthusiastic, rainbow of a daughter.
She fills our lives with joy and color and we know you will use her life mightily for your glory!

 

 

 

I sure do LOVE this girl!!!

 

So, Daddy and Elka are headed home after a fun last day at the beach. It's amazing how many
memories these two have made in just a day and a half! I'm so glad they had such a great time!!

 

 

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

HOW MANY KIDS...

...can fit in a five foot round plastic pool?

  

Apparently, at least eight...if it's hot enough. :)

"The summer is already near." Luke 21:30

GO TO THE WORD

I dappled along a rabbit trail this morning seeking encouragement for my family.
I read and probed and clicked and watched and thought I was on a good trek...for a while.

In my quest for inspiration other than what the world hails, most of which is more harmful than good, I invested my best efforts to find something refreshing. However, what I discovered after perhaps an hour or so of digging was simply what I knew all along.

"Go to the Word."

It's like a beacon flashing in my eyes the same way the morning sun is beaming through the shutters beside me.

"Go to the Word."

It's the only source that never fails.

"Go to the Word."

God's Word, the Bible, His breath is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. It corrects, rebukes, convicts, guides, instructs, and gently leads. It holds the answer to every quandary, the key to every door.

"Go to the Word,"

I hear Him whisper and in faith I respond. I know that He is all I need. Why was I searching farther?

"Go to the Word."

Books, philosophies, teachings from man, they all have potential to disappoint. They all will prove imperfect. But, God's Word is always perfect. It cannot be proved wrong. It is TRUTH and has the power to transform those who read it.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12

So, I go to the Word and I let it infuse. I listen to my Teacher's voice. He's always teaching. I ask Him in prayerful retreat to help me teach my family. I know He will respond. I ask for conviction and the power of the Holy Spirit to be what He wants me to be...for them. I can show His LOVE. He's gifted us to one another. He can use me, I decide. So, I pour myself out, an empty vessel. He fills.

"With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
Psalm 119:10-11

I go to the Word and look no further. Nothing could satisfy more. I go to the Word in quiet expectation, the only expectation reliant. I go to the Word knowing I'll be met with wisdom unending.

I remind myself with intentionality. I ask God to remind me once more and I go.
I thank Him for His whisper today and decide with confidence that His Word and His LOVE are what we really need.
Again and again and again and again I retreat. I go to the Word.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Psalm 119:105

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,

and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:16-17

JESUS ACT STICK DATE: B & ME

I LOVE that my son and I have a tradition of going to Souplantation for yummy food and awesome conversation time dates.
He regularly chooses this for his Jesus Act Stick Date with me and I hope he never stops!

I LOVE that we have "a table"...our table.
It's the booth near the ice cream. It seats just two. And, it's got our name on it every time.

I'm sure one day I'll go back to that table and cry my mommy eyes out when my little boy is all grown up. I'm sure I'll remember with nostalia the look in his eyes as he sat across from me and poured his little heart out over pizza, chocolate muffins, rootbeer or sprite, and a plate of grapes with one broccoli (the latter two just to make his mom happy). I'm sure one day when my boy has matured, I'll miss the way he used to tap his feet and play drums on his knees while we talked about the meaning of life and Legos. 

 

How I love my son!

I hope we never stop visiting our table as long as he and I exist.

And well after that, I hope we've made a connection that lingers through generations the way we lingered over seconds of swirl ice cream with chocolate syrup and caramel all those dates at Souplantation.

"His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation."

Luke 1:50

"Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation."

Joel 1:3