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2 months ago
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
One Foot In Front Of The Other
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Helping Hands
Have you ever neared the point of exhaustion because of trying to accomplish more than humanly possible in a short amount of time? Has God ever surprised you with unexpected help on the final stretch of your task to allow it to be completed?
The Lord did this for us, and we praise Him for the hands of His people.
On Saturday, November 19, Reid and I were frantically trying to complete the "to do" list on our house as we were moving out. Rooms to be painted, a sink and countertop to be installed, stair railing to be built for the deck, etc... The list overwhelmed us. We had spent days carting loads from the house out to my parents' in a pick up truck, so these jobs dauntingly waited for our time.
However, there was a Superhero waiting in our midst! Bruce Randall, pictured below, changed into his House Helper Superhero Costume (i.e. painting clothes) and arranged for people to come help us complete the tasks before us! Thank you Bruce! You are our hero!
The Lively family came with paintbrush in hand. We could not have done it without their help! Brush up. Brush down.
Claire took on the job of going through the "leftover" things in the house that I didn't know what to do with. Hi ho, Hi ho...to the trashcan we go!
Of course, working with Bruce is always fun. Laughter is a MUST!
We are so grateful to all of you for coming and helping us. You have served the Lord with gladness. From the depth of our hearts, thank you!
"Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations."
Psalm 100:2,5
And A Little Child Shall Lead Them...
It amazes me how children have hearts to give...and give...and give...
Reid and I have had the opportunity to share God's story through several different avenues lately. While we are working to raise support, our ultimate goal is to share what God is doing in His world and how His people can join to be part of His Work.
Over the past three days the children have impacted me as they have parted with their own funds to help support God's work to the people of Ghana. The generosity of children blessing our family began on Thursday while I was teaching at co-op.
Aaron Millard, a child in one of my classes, approached me after class and handed me $10. He said, "This is to help your family." Sarah Wood followed him handing me another $10 stating she wanted to give it to help us. Both are in sixth grade. Both gave their own money.
A high schooler from my classes last year, Hope Sprenz, approached me at the end of the day giving me a wad of bills. She said, "I know it's not much, but I want to give this to you to help your family go to Ghana."
One of my students, Jackson Rader, sixth grade, is making handmade clay necklaces and selling them. He is giving our family the profits from every sale. On Thursday, he shared $2 from his first sale!
Three sisters, Bekah, Abby, and Maddie Ochs, held a yard sale this past weekend for our family. They brought a ziploc bag full of change and bills totaling $228 for our mission. The three of them interrupted one of my classes to hand it to me. I had no idea they were doing this for us. How overwhelming to see children I love give their time, energy, and effort to raise money for us!
God's touch on children continued last night. Azi Tegelaar, age five, gave me a handful of change from her piggy bank while we were at her house. Not even having full comprehension of the difference between a quarter and a nickel, she gave us $1.12 of her own money. "This is to help you move to Ghana," she said.
Finally, at the end of our evening last night, the tears came.
Some precious friends hosted a dessert for us. We were given the opportunity to share God's story to five families who chose to give up their Friday night to hear what the Lord is doing around the world. Surprisingly, when it was time for us to start our presentation, all of the children gathered around us to listen. None of them chose to play. Instead, they engaged with us intently. After we shared, everyone gathered around us to pray. I prayed for the hearts of the children surrounding us. I prayed for the Lord to plant His seeds in their hearts!
At the end of the prayer, Lauren Gebbie, age 12, came to me weeping. Tears rolling down her cheeks and quiet sobs echoing from her chest. She handed me a $20 bill. Her heart was broken for the one million fatherless children in Ghana. Her emotions poured forth for the 2.3 million people in Ghana who have not heard the name of Christ. They have no hope, and Lauren Gebbie comprehends this, and her heart responds. Oh, it is beautiful!
As she cried, I held her and whispered over her, "You are part of God's work, Lauren. You are a piece of what He is doing. Thank you. You are impacting the world for Jesus."
These children long to see God's work done here one earth. They gave from what they had. They parted with money which could have been spent on things for themselves. Isn't that inspiring?
I wonder if these gifts are similar to the woman's two coins in the Bible. She gave all she had, but the amount seemed so small. Children giving from their own resources in order to join in what God is doing resembles the woman's heart as she dropped the two coins as an offering. The amounts may seem so insignificant, but I believe these are precious gifts before God. He smiles at the generosity of children. They do not "hold on" to money, but are willing to part with it for something greater than their own pleasures.
Thank you all for giving for something greater. Thank you for sharing what you have to make a difference in the lives of children who have nothing. Thank you for wanting the hope of Jesus to spread forth to the ends of the earth. Thank you for being an example of what it looks like to be a "generous giver." Thank you for hearts yielded to His heart. Children, you have blessed us beyond measure. We have seen Christ in you. Thank you.
Reid and I have had the opportunity to share God's story through several different avenues lately. While we are working to raise support, our ultimate goal is to share what God is doing in His world and how His people can join to be part of His Work.
Over the past three days the children have impacted me as they have parted with their own funds to help support God's work to the people of Ghana. The generosity of children blessing our family began on Thursday while I was teaching at co-op.
Aaron Millard, a child in one of my classes, approached me after class and handed me $10. He said, "This is to help your family." Sarah Wood followed him handing me another $10 stating she wanted to give it to help us. Both are in sixth grade. Both gave their own money.
A high schooler from my classes last year, Hope Sprenz, approached me at the end of the day giving me a wad of bills. She said, "I know it's not much, but I want to give this to you to help your family go to Ghana."
One of my students, Jackson Rader, sixth grade, is making handmade clay necklaces and selling them. He is giving our family the profits from every sale. On Thursday, he shared $2 from his first sale!
Three sisters, Bekah, Abby, and Maddie Ochs, held a yard sale this past weekend for our family. They brought a ziploc bag full of change and bills totaling $228 for our mission. The three of them interrupted one of my classes to hand it to me. I had no idea they were doing this for us. How overwhelming to see children I love give their time, energy, and effort to raise money for us!
God's touch on children continued last night. Azi Tegelaar, age five, gave me a handful of change from her piggy bank while we were at her house. Not even having full comprehension of the difference between a quarter and a nickel, she gave us $1.12 of her own money. "This is to help you move to Ghana," she said.
Finally, at the end of our evening last night, the tears came.
Some precious friends hosted a dessert for us. We were given the opportunity to share God's story to five families who chose to give up their Friday night to hear what the Lord is doing around the world. Surprisingly, when it was time for us to start our presentation, all of the children gathered around us to listen. None of them chose to play. Instead, they engaged with us intently. After we shared, everyone gathered around us to pray. I prayed for the hearts of the children surrounding us. I prayed for the Lord to plant His seeds in their hearts!
At the end of the prayer, Lauren Gebbie, age 12, came to me weeping. Tears rolling down her cheeks and quiet sobs echoing from her chest. She handed me a $20 bill. Her heart was broken for the one million fatherless children in Ghana. Her emotions poured forth for the 2.3 million people in Ghana who have not heard the name of Christ. They have no hope, and Lauren Gebbie comprehends this, and her heart responds. Oh, it is beautiful!
As she cried, I held her and whispered over her, "You are part of God's work, Lauren. You are a piece of what He is doing. Thank you. You are impacting the world for Jesus."
These children long to see God's work done here one earth. They gave from what they had. They parted with money which could have been spent on things for themselves. Isn't that inspiring?
I wonder if these gifts are similar to the woman's two coins in the Bible. She gave all she had, but the amount seemed so small. Children giving from their own resources in order to join in what God is doing resembles the woman's heart as she dropped the two coins as an offering. The amounts may seem so insignificant, but I believe these are precious gifts before God. He smiles at the generosity of children. They do not "hold on" to money, but are willing to part with it for something greater than their own pleasures.
Thank you all for giving for something greater. Thank you for sharing what you have to make a difference in the lives of children who have nothing. Thank you for wanting the hope of Jesus to spread forth to the ends of the earth. Thank you for being an example of what it looks like to be a "generous giver." Thank you for hearts yielded to His heart. Children, you have blessed us beyond measure. We have seen Christ in you. Thank you.
"And a little child shall lead them..."
Isaiah 11:6
Thursday, November 17, 2011
House for Rent...Not Anymore!
This is our humble home. We have celebrated memories here for nearly six years. However, we were beginning to need more income to live on while we raise support to move onto the mission field. The small savings we had planned to live on has quickly dwindled over the past few months.
Reid and I knew it was time to place our house on the market to rent.
On Friday, Nov. 11th we took the following pictures to post on Craigslist. We were scrambling to take them because some of this furniture had been sold and was being picked up that afternoon. Additionally, some of our furniture has been used to furnish an apartment for missionaries and we were delivering our bed the following day. We knew the photos would show our home better with furnishings, so we quickly snapped the pictures.
We posted the "House for Rent" ad on Craigslist on Nov. 11th, but somehow it disappeared into cyberspace! After several days without calls, we were a bit concerned. Reid realized our ad was not popping up for searches. Late in the evening on Nov 16th, Reid reposted the ad. We were praying for the Lord to bring renters quickly. We were specifically praying that He would bring someone who would care for our home and someone who would be a blessing for our wonderful neighbors.
In the meantime, a young father of five children was meeting with his Bible Study asking the other men with him to please pray for his family to find a house. They needed to find a house quickly, but one that would house their family of seven. On Nov. 16th concerted prayer was lifted for this family to find a home. The Lord heard all of the prayers - ours and the ones from this men's Bible Study!
That night, this couple found our ad on Craigslist. Early the next morning, Nov. 17th, they called. When they came to look at the house, they immediately gave us a security deposit and said they wanted it! God answered all of the prayers! What a blessing! Our home was on the market for less than one week!
We hope this young family will be blessed in our home. We pray they will have many happy memories. We are thankful to see them come, and pray they will know the Lord's presence while they live there.
"For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building form God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 2 Corinthians 5:1
Thursday, November 3, 2011
More...Less
The two words God keeps bringing to mind are MORE and LESS. The Lord continues to conform me into the likeness of Christ by revealing areas untouched by His grace and power in my life...
More of Him, Less of Me
Expecting More of Him, Stop living with little faith to expect Less than what God promises
More contentment with Less stuff
More awareness of His presence by Less time on worldly activities
A desire to give More of myself for Him, but realizing I sometimes am satisfied (I think) by offering so little, so much Less
More of his vision and Less view from my own eyes
More wonder and Less worry
What does More and Less mean to you? Does it reveal a heart with sealed areas unpenetrated by God's power, promises, and presence?
I desire MORE of You, Lord. Always more.
So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
2 Corinthians 12:15
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