When we view a problem, a situation, an issue, as "too big" or "too overwhelming" for our personal effort to make an impact... we end up doing nothing.
We each have something unique to offer in service to our King. We each in our own way can make an impact... whether small or large. Too often we underestimate our value, our abilities, our worth, so that when it comes to the actual doing of a thing... we stop. We park our cars, turn off our engines and wait... and wonder.
We wait for a "sign"... for "clear direction"... our burning bush experience. All the while, the Word tells us plainly what is expected of those who follow Jesus.
Sometimes we may know what we have to offer and our only obstacle is that we don't know how to go about the actual work of getting the job done. So... we watch.
I am so guilty of watching... of waiting... of wondering what my effort could possibly add to a situation. ~ God forgive me ~
In "A Hole in Our Gospel" (which I highly recommend!) a quote from pastor, Earl Palmer, says it well. He says, "God can't steer a parked car." Richard Stearns goes on to add, "If we sit in the parking lot with our engines turned off, just waiting for a voice from the sky, we'll never get anywhere in our quest to solve the world's problems. We need to at least 'start our engines'."
We can not follow Jesus if we are sitting in a parked car. "Whoever serves Me must follow Me..."
"We may not be clear on just how God wants to use us. But that's no excuse for doing nothing."
Let's not sit in the parking lot... let's not watch as specatators... "...let us throw off everything that hinders... and let us run with preserverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1
Friday, January 29, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Pointe
Elizabeth is ready to go up on Pointe!
We went this week to get her pointe shoes.
She is very excited...
and we are so proud of her!!
Congratulations Lizard!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Help Haiti
"We never know how God might use our efforts, no matter how insignificant they may seem to us, to influence important issues and needs in our world."
Visit Compassion
or World Vision
to learn how you can help!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Update
Thank you for asking me about our adoption. It really does mean so much to have you ask and to hear that you are praying for us. I do appreciate you!
So... although there has been n o t h i n g to report for so long... I am happy to tell you... we have made progress!
While we were in Uganda several weeks ago, we were finally able to get all the necessary information for our lawyer to compile our guardianship "application". This is a GIANT step! This is the application that we need in order to go before the judge. Our lawyer is hopeful to have a court date sometime in February.
I am beyond excited at the possibility that we may FINALLY be able to move forward in the process of bringing our beauties home! At the same time... I have a certain amount of reservation... since we have been disappointed so many times before.
PLEASE pray with us! Pray for a February court date. Pray for favor with the judge. Pray that things will go smoothly and quickly for us to be able to bring our children home soon.
It's hard to believe it's been a year since we started this process. It's frustrating to find out that things do NOT need to move as slowly as we were initially led to believe. It's heartbreaking that so many families still wait... at the mercy of an agency.
Thank you for your loving support of this journey the Lord has us on. Thank you for your faithful prayers!
We are trusting the One that set all this into motion, trusting Him to bring it to completion in His perfect timing. Hoping that we are nearing the end of the waiting and stand at the edge of a new beginning!
So... although there has been n o t h i n g to report for so long... I am happy to tell you... we have made progress!
While we were in Uganda several weeks ago, we were finally able to get all the necessary information for our lawyer to compile our guardianship "application". This is a GIANT step! This is the application that we need in order to go before the judge. Our lawyer is hopeful to have a court date sometime in February.
I am beyond excited at the possibility that we may FINALLY be able to move forward in the process of bringing our beauties home! At the same time... I have a certain amount of reservation... since we have been disappointed so many times before.
PLEASE pray with us! Pray for a February court date. Pray for favor with the judge. Pray that things will go smoothly and quickly for us to be able to bring our children home soon.
It's hard to believe it's been a year since we started this process. It's frustrating to find out that things do NOT need to move as slowly as we were initially led to believe. It's heartbreaking that so many families still wait... at the mercy of an agency.
Thank you for your loving support of this journey the Lord has us on. Thank you for your faithful prayers!
We are trusting the One that set all this into motion, trusting Him to bring it to completion in His perfect timing. Hoping that we are nearing the end of the waiting and stand at the edge of a new beginning!
Friday, January 15, 2010
The BIG 5 0
My darling husband turned 50 while we were in Uganda...
Then we celebrated the evening with dinner...
He got to spend his birthday in one of his favorite places on earth... CLM orphan village...
loving on his daughters...
and his sons...
and this beautiful cake ...
that our adopted son, Daniel, had made for him.
I don't think he would have wanted to celebrate any other way! It was pretty much the BEST way ever to celebrate FIFTY!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
To my amazing husband...
my closest friend...
the love of my life!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Chicken Update
To ALL who donated for the chicken project...
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!
I am so excited to have the opportunity to join with you and be a part of such a tangible project to help improve the diet of the orphans at CLM's orphan village!
When we arrived in Uganda the project looked like this...
A week later it looked like this...
and this...
The children are SO excited!
Your donation has made a HUGE difference in the lives of the orphans at CLM.
THANK YOU for loving these precious children!
May you be blessed abundantly!!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A Year Ago
my life was changed forever.
It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I first saw the children God hand-picked to join our family. I love the way He gently spoke to my husband and I, as well as our two daughters, while we sat watching them sing songs during our first visit to Uganda.
As we re-visited the rock quarry last week, it was difficult for me to comprehend our Juliet and Kenneth descending into the deep pit of the quarry, entering into the caves to excavate large boulders that would be turned into smaller rocks. We have been told numerous times how dangerous the work is... that many people have died there.
As they stood on the edge of what used to be their lives, tattered clothes replaced with new ones, hope and expectation in their hearts... I wondered... What if we had not answered His calling? What if we would have gone about our comfortable lives and ignored the tugging on our hearts?
As I watched little children play along the treacherous edge of the quarry my Momma's heart was panicked. How easily they could slide off the side to a certain death.
As voices familiar to our little Sharon called her name in greeting... I was reminded... she once played there. She once walked the dusty quarry in tattered clothes. Did she break rocks? Did she take care of the younger children, carry them on her back? Her own hard work.
My honest answer is simply... because God spoke to my heart... and I answered Him.
That doesn't mean that I don't have moments when I think... "What am I thinking!?" "I can't do this!" But, even in those moments... the answer is His GRACE is sufficient. He has called us to "care for the least of these"... it may not be easy (as I have been reminded by those who feel it necessary to make me aware of this fact!), but He didn't call us to an easy life. He has called us to obey... to follow... to trust.
I wonder... Have we as Christians become so comfortable in our worldly lives that we have forgotten what life is really about? Have we planned our vacations? Our retirements? Our children's college funds? And in the meantime forgotten about the "least of these"? Have we left the work of caring for the poor up to major organizations? To rock stars? To someone else?
Praise God for the work those people and organizations are doing! But the question is... are we doing OUR part?
Please don't misunderstand me... I am speaking to myself here! I still believe there is more that I can do. The Lord has put a HUGE project on my heart that I have not been able to let go of... but at the same time I am hesitating... waiting. My prayer is that I will not wait so long that the idea becomes cold and my determination to see it through wains... leaving the work undone.
We as Christ followers have a responsibility to the poor... the orphan... the widow. We each have a part to do as believers... as the body of Christ. Our part will not look like someone else's... but each part is necessary for the whole to be successful.
I am asking myself today... Am I being faithful to my Savior in being His hands and feet here on earth? Am I doing my part? Or am I living my life to the highest degree of comfort... waiting for His return with my "golden ticket" to heaven?
I pray... Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, to see the world as You see it. Let my heart be broken by the things that break Your heart. Give me the ability to do whatever You call me to do faithfully and all for Your glory.
I ask you... Are you doing your part? Will you join me in prayer to have hearts broken... eyes opened... so that His work is done... His name glorified...
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead
It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I first saw the children God hand-picked to join our family. I love the way He gently spoke to my husband and I, as well as our two daughters, while we sat watching them sing songs during our first visit to Uganda.
As we re-visited the rock quarry last week, it was difficult for me to comprehend our Juliet and Kenneth descending into the deep pit of the quarry, entering into the caves to excavate large boulders that would be turned into smaller rocks. We have been told numerous times how dangerous the work is... that many people have died there.
I have been asked many times... "Why are you adopting?"... "Why are you adopting THREE!?"... "Why are you adopting from Uganda?"... "Why?"
My honest answer is simply... because God spoke to my heart... and I answered Him.
That doesn't mean that I don't have moments when I think... "What am I thinking!?" "I can't do this!" But, even in those moments... the answer is His GRACE is sufficient. He has called us to "care for the least of these"... it may not be easy (as I have been reminded by those who feel it necessary to make me aware of this fact!), but He didn't call us to an easy life. He has called us to obey... to follow... to trust.
I wonder... Have we as Christians become so comfortable in our worldly lives that we have forgotten what life is really about? Have we planned our vacations? Our retirements? Our children's college funds? And in the meantime forgotten about the "least of these"? Have we left the work of caring for the poor up to major organizations? To rock stars? To someone else?
Praise God for the work those people and organizations are doing! But the question is... are we doing OUR part?
Please don't misunderstand me... I am speaking to myself here! I still believe there is more that I can do. The Lord has put a HUGE project on my heart that I have not been able to let go of... but at the same time I am hesitating... waiting. My prayer is that I will not wait so long that the idea becomes cold and my determination to see it through wains... leaving the work undone.
We as Christ followers have a responsibility to the poor... the orphan... the widow. We each have a part to do as believers... as the body of Christ. Our part will not look like someone else's... but each part is necessary for the whole to be successful.
I am asking myself today... Am I being faithful to my Savior in being His hands and feet here on earth? Am I doing my part? Or am I living my life to the highest degree of comfort... waiting for His return with my "golden ticket" to heaven?
I pray... Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, to see the world as You see it. Let my heart be broken by the things that break Your heart. Give me the ability to do whatever You call me to do faithfully and all for Your glory.
I ask you... Are you doing your part? Will you join me in prayer to have hearts broken... eyes opened... so that His work is done... His name glorified...
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Happy New Year!
This year we brought in the new year at the National Celebration in Uganda.
It was a beautiful gathering of believers bringing in the new year with worship and prayer.
Elizabeth
and Katherine
danced to "Emmanuel, God With Us" for
an estimated 50 thousand plus worshippers!
Gary shared a word with the audience
reminding them that
"God sees you where you are"
and that "He never leaves us".
Our friend Sharon shared her testimony
of how the Lord healed her husband.
Her testimony was a powerful reminder
that God is still doing miracles today!
She reminded believers that we must pray with faith... truly believing that God will answer our prayers.
At the end of a month long battle with various life threatening issues, the doctors gave her husband, Duane, a ZERO percent chance of survival. They told her she should call in the family to say goodbye to him.
Instead... she called believers to join her at the hospital to lift up Duane in prayer. She told everyone that came to the hospital that if they were coming to say prayers of goodbye... then they could not go in to see him! She only wanted faith-filled prayers lifted up for complete healing and restoration for Duane.
Glory to God alone!!
Her husband was healed!
The doctors told her they had NO medical explanation! No explanation for not only his recovery, but also for the fact that he had no disabilities afterward!
Our God is indeed powerful and good!
Happy 2010!
May God bless you abundantly...
May your faith increase...
and may you experience His unfailing love
like never before!
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