Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone, we had our first snow of the season and basketball season has begun, among many other things.
We had a great time with family and friends over Thanksgiving. Our family traveled to Indiana for the holiday. We ate way too much, too many times. This trip was a sort of "two for one" as we will not be with our families over Christmas.
We arrived home on Monday evening and woke up Tuesday to snow that covered the ground. I am not a lover of snow, but there is something so beautiful and pure in that first snow. The kids are sad that it is now mostly gone.
The oldest two kiddos and my hubby have been back into the swing of basketball practices. This makes our afternoons and evenings a bit different right now. The boys practice right after school until 4:15 and that is when Aaron's team begins practice. Even though the boys are both on the Middle School team, they are actually on different teams: "A" and "B". This means trying to keep three game schedules straight. Games start in the next week or so, and life will get even more interesting. I can only be at one event and there are some nights where all three will be in three different places. (I am struggling a bit with not being able to support each one, every game.)
We also have Christmas programs and extra activities in the next few weeks, plus my new boss (our church's new Lead Pastor) comes next week. It's kind of overwhelming to look at the calendar right now. On top of all the extras are the normal day to day things that we have going on, such as work, school, homework, etc... And then to add to the busy-ness of our lives we are planning for our trip to France. (For me, I also have to have everything prepped for the two Sunday's we will not be here.)
Due to all of the above, I don't have a lot of extra time so I am not going to be posting anything for awhile (not that I have been posting much lately anyway). However, the plan is that we will post from France to keep everyone up-to-date with our trip. Hopefully we can make this work. If not, I will post a bunch when we return. Until then, enjoy your family and take time to truly reflect on the reason we celebrate this season. Without the birth of Emmanuel, we would be without hope and peace.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
My one and only political rant...
For many the fact that the election is over brings a sigh of relief...the ability to watch TV without the many political ads blasting someone's character, policies, or twisting words and statistics (this happens on both sides of the isle); the freedom to once again answer the phone without the fear of listening to yet another recorded message; the hope that friends and family will tone down their Facebook posts and tweets. (Maybe even that posts on blogs would have nothing to do with politics...)
I voted. I chose the candidate that most closely aligned with what I believe is best for my family and this country. Did I agree with everything about that candidate? No. But as a citizen of this great nation, I exercised my right and freedom to vote for who I wanted. That is one of the great aspects of this country, we can choose. That may mean that I disagree with a friend, family member, co-worker, or any number of people but they have the same right that I do, so I really can't be mad at them. Right?
Yet, I have seen fear and hatred well up in many people. Sadly these same people say they are followers of Christ. I can't seem to understand it. We claim that we believe that God is still the King. And in another breathe rip apart our friends (remember if you are blasting people on Facebook, you chose to be friends with them) and enemies who voted differently from us.
If God is still King, then guess what?! He was not surprised at all by the results of this election. In fact I believe that it fulfills His sovereign will and plan. He appoints leaders and authorities and we are told to live in submission to those authorities.
I think we as adults can take a lesson from my six year old. Yesterday, she told me that in Chapel at school she prayed for President Obama, that he would make good choices. Instead of arguing and fighting, instead of living fearfully or in anger, let's pray. (Interestingly, my 12 year old son was also in that Chapel made the comment, "We didn't have a time of prayer for the President." My response: "Obviously she didn't need a designated time, she followed a prompting from God to pray.") Let's commit to putting ourselves in a place where we can hear the prompting of God over the noise of dissent. No matter what side of the isle you are on, let's pray for our country and it's leadership. And let's pray and commit to being the Light of Christ to this hurt and divided nation.
I voted. I chose the candidate that most closely aligned with what I believe is best for my family and this country. Did I agree with everything about that candidate? No. But as a citizen of this great nation, I exercised my right and freedom to vote for who I wanted. That is one of the great aspects of this country, we can choose. That may mean that I disagree with a friend, family member, co-worker, or any number of people but they have the same right that I do, so I really can't be mad at them. Right?
Yet, I have seen fear and hatred well up in many people. Sadly these same people say they are followers of Christ. I can't seem to understand it. We claim that we believe that God is still the King. And in another breathe rip apart our friends (remember if you are blasting people on Facebook, you chose to be friends with them) and enemies who voted differently from us.
If God is still King, then guess what?! He was not surprised at all by the results of this election. In fact I believe that it fulfills His sovereign will and plan. He appoints leaders and authorities and we are told to live in submission to those authorities.
Romans 13:1-2 "Everyone must submit themselves to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves."God plans and ways are far above ours. He calls us as His followers to love our enemies, love and pray for those who persecute us (again, this is happening on both sides of the isle). We need to consider that maybe the results of this election could possibly be a catalyst for His people who are called by His name to humble themselves and pray. It may be a call for the Church of Jesus Christ to actually act like the Church! God's eternal kingdom is coming and we need to be prepared for that day. In our preparation are we condemning those who think and act differently or are we considering their need for Jesus? Are we showing them love? Not the emotion of love but the person of Jesus who is Love.
I think we as adults can take a lesson from my six year old. Yesterday, she told me that in Chapel at school she prayed for President Obama, that he would make good choices. Instead of arguing and fighting, instead of living fearfully or in anger, let's pray. (Interestingly, my 12 year old son was also in that Chapel made the comment, "We didn't have a time of prayer for the President." My response: "Obviously she didn't need a designated time, she followed a prompting from God to pray.") Let's commit to putting ourselves in a place where we can hear the prompting of God over the noise of dissent. No matter what side of the isle you are on, let's pray for our country and it's leadership. And let's pray and commit to being the Light of Christ to this hurt and divided nation.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
51 Days
In 51 days our family will embark on an amazing adventure. Honestly we hope it is the first of many like it. We will fly to France and have an opportunity to encourage others and spread the love of Jesus. We will be given the chance to minister to kids who are in ministry with their families. I love the thought of hanging out with these kids. Being a child of a parent in ministry can be tough. However, I believe that ministry kids can be amazing tools used by God. I look forward to challenging these kids to "shine God's light", not just because it's what mom and dad do but because they can have a personal and amazing impact for God.
For our family to do this together is an amazing blessing! I look forward to seeing how my kids react to and deal with another culture. I have been told by friends who have been in France that the darkness there is palpable. I am excited (and a bit scared) about how this can impact our family for a long time. We truly want to be stretched and grown by God through this experience. (And not just trying some new foods, though I am a bit excited about that too.)
Please join us in praying for the team that is going. Our family is being joined by two other couples: Marlin and Sue, Nevin and Heather. Pray that details with the flights and transportation in and around France will be smooth and easy (plus that we can find some great deals!). Pray that the people we come in contact with-whether missionaries, their children, local pastors, or the local French people-will be encouraged through us; that we would be a light to all we meet. Pray that we will come back changed!
Right now our biggest prayer is that God will provide the funds for our trip. Taking six people on a trip like this costs money and quite a bit of it. We believe that God can do the miraculous and provide exactly what we need in terms of finances. In fact, we believe that God can use our friends and family to bless this trip through their gifts and prayers. Please join us in praying for this portion of the trip as well.
And if you are interested in giving toward our trip. Please respond to this post with your email address and I will send you the support letter and paper for giving.
Whether you give the gift of prayers or finances, please know that we are grateful and blessed by the love and support of family and friend! God is faithful and good!
For our family to do this together is an amazing blessing! I look forward to seeing how my kids react to and deal with another culture. I have been told by friends who have been in France that the darkness there is palpable. I am excited (and a bit scared) about how this can impact our family for a long time. We truly want to be stretched and grown by God through this experience. (And not just trying some new foods, though I am a bit excited about that too.)
Please join us in praying for the team that is going. Our family is being joined by two other couples: Marlin and Sue, Nevin and Heather. Pray that details with the flights and transportation in and around France will be smooth and easy (plus that we can find some great deals!). Pray that the people we come in contact with-whether missionaries, their children, local pastors, or the local French people-will be encouraged through us; that we would be a light to all we meet. Pray that we will come back changed!
Right now our biggest prayer is that God will provide the funds for our trip. Taking six people on a trip like this costs money and quite a bit of it. We believe that God can do the miraculous and provide exactly what we need in terms of finances. In fact, we believe that God can use our friends and family to bless this trip through their gifts and prayers. Please join us in praying for this portion of the trip as well.
And if you are interested in giving toward our trip. Please respond to this post with your email address and I will send you the support letter and paper for giving.
Whether you give the gift of prayers or finances, please know that we are grateful and blessed by the love and support of family and friend! God is faithful and good!
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