Snowy Days

We've had some good snow here the last few days, and the kids are thoroughly enjoying it!!

It's Been A While!

I can't believe how fast time has gone. My last post was in July, and it is now December! SO, after a short hiatus, I am returning to the blogging world.

We have baby number 3 on the way, due on April 16th. I am getting more and more anxious about this endeavor as the day gets closer! We have 2 very active and strong-minded children. I have prayed from the beginning that this baby will be sweet, mellow and easy-going. Now I know that God has a sense of humor, and He will probably bless me with a similar child to the ones we already have. But, I can hope and dream.

Not much else new around our home. Makenna will turn 4 on Dec. 21st. I can't believe it!! 4 years really has flown by. We will have our 5th anniversary on the 27th. Colton is a pistol, similar to his sister, but very tender-hearted. He talks about monsters regularly, and declared this morning that he had 2 in his jammies.

We are constantly in prayer for our family and our church as the Lord has big things in store for us and many others in the near future. With the Christmas season upon us, we attempt to balance the fun and traditions with celebrating what it's really about.

I've posted a few family pictures taken back in July by Steven LaValley (Studio Laval). They are already a touch outdated as I have a constantly growing belly now with a new addition on the way.

That's it for now. Off to dishes, laundry, and kids.

Trip to Portland

We just returned from a very successful trip/vacation/conference to Portland. The kids did great, with a few exceptions. We hit Chuck e Cheese, Washington Square, Ikea, Children's Museum, the Worthington's house, parks, the Evangelical Conference, Starbucks, Solid Rock Church, and Imago Dei. We had a blast, but are happy to be back in Bend :-).

Caught in the Act

So I need some advice. My wonderful, pesky children have indulged themselves in a controversial act. Some might laugh, others might cry. I'm not sure what to think so I need an outside opinion :-).

First Wednesday services at New Hope Church are our communion services. The pastor's kids (ie mine) have decided that the communion cups (grape juice) are just the right size for their little mouths. Between the two of them, they chugged around 30 cups on Wednesday night.

Do you think God is displeased? Or should we lighten up a bit and recognize that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these? :-)

Thank you Ronni Carrick for the wonderful picture!!

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

If you haven't read this book, it is a must read. The author is Jim Cymbala, the pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle.

His church is a testimony to PRAYER. True, pure, crying-out-to-God sort of prayer. On your knees in humble submission to a Mighty God ... who is capable of doing far more than we could ever dream.

Our God instructs us to pray. He says we do not have because we do not ask (properly). Our God wants to take New Hope Church, Bend, Oregon, and beyond to another level with Him. It will begin with prayer.

Would you join me in prayer to a Heavenly Father who desires us to walk with Him daily? Would you be a prayer warrior for your family, friends, church, community, and beyond? I don't think that we can imagine what God might do if we devoted ourselves to prayer.

A must read: Crazy Love

Francis Chan is a Godly man. In Crazy Love he challenges, inspires, and educates. He is a great example of a life not wasted.

READ IT!!

God cannot be mocked.

Check out Francis Chan's message (Cornerstone Church, Simi Valley, cornerstonesimi.com) 5.18.08. Here's a summary:

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." GALATIANS 6:7

We can lie to other people, we can even deceive ourselves. GOD, however, knows all. He will be neither deceived nor mocked.

We will stand before our Mighty Judge one day. Our hearts, our motives, our actions WILL BE REVEALED.

What are we doing with our lives? We can fool our family, we can fool our church, we can fool ourselves, but we cannot fool God.

Do our lives POINT to God? Do we live every day as if it's our last? Do we pursue pure motives and God-centered intentions?

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for AT THE PROPER TIME we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Either we pursue God things, or we pursue our things. There is no middle ground, no holding pattern. The opposite of sin is not not sinning. It's doing good.

Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers."

Check out his message. You won't be disappointed.

Wow. I will be judged one day. May my life be a beautiful offering and a light for Jesus, for God will not be mocked. I will reap what I sow.

Paradigm Pleaser or Paradigm Changer?

Is it possible to alter a personal paradigm? Change the way something has always been done? Permanently shift someone's perspective? Is it too daunting a task?

The media shapes it. The culture adjusts to it.

Is the church capable of implementing a Jesus-shaped paradigm on a massive level?

If the answer is no, the church in America will continue at its current rate of decline until it's practically non-existent, and extremely non-effective.

Shouldn't a community look different because of God's church? Thus, a nation look different because of The Church?

Our God is an amazing God, and He will use willing vessels to be His hands and His feet to break down a deteriorating paradigm and re-build a Biblical one.

I am willing Lord, send me.

Hindurwa

Last night, the group Hindurwa performed at New Hope's First Wednesday service. These guys were awesome!! Their hearts just shined through their songs, their testimonies were a true representation of what Jesus can do with a life surrendered to him.

They are survivors of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, left homeless and abandoned at very young ages. Sponsorship gave them new hope and a new life.

They began with a high energy performance with their drums that is typically reserved for ushering an earthly King or President. By the grace of God, they now drum for the King of Kings, and sing to the Lord of Lords. What a pleasure to be a part of such an amazing testimony.

God is doing great things in Rwanda. He is doing great things in Bend. When lives are fully devoted to Him, great things are inevitable.

recalibrating today.

When the stresses and strains of this life seem too much, I recalibrate back to Jesus. When the kids are grumpy and the house is messy, I recalibrate. When I'm out too late and up too early, I recalibrate. My God TAKES CARE OF ME!! But the best part is ... it's not about me. It's about Him. Less of me and more of Him!!

Off to Florida

Leaving the crazy monsters to my parents for 4 full days, we're flying out to a faraway land, where crocodiles run rampant, the humidity does ridiculous things to my hair, and the tea is entirely too sweet.

Off to Exponential ... a conference for church planters. We will be learning the ins and outs of planting, something that God has had on our hearts since we moved the Bend.

We're expecting our time to increase exponentially while we're there ... soaking in as much knowledge as we know how. Not to mention enjoying a little peace and quiet -- no fights to extinguish, whining to hear, and messes to clean. Makenna and Colton, I really do love you!!

Signing off.

High Heels, Happy Hearts & Waterfalls

My 3 year old daughter, Makenna, is a riot. A unique, one-of-a-kind riot. She sees the world in colorful rainbows and sweet jubilee. Her heels are referred to as nothing less than "high heels", all hearts are nothing short of "happy hearts", and drinking fountains spout "waterfalls" in her so imaginitive world. She sees images in the clouds and makes animals out of her sandwiches. She knew her colors by 18 months, and to this day refers to most objects first by their color. She finds laughter in most circumstances and love in most people. She's innocent, but worldly; trusting, but cautious. She takes risks when she knows the reward is great, and opens her "happy heart" to all who seek.

Makenna, you have beautiful high heels, a bright happy heart, and ... may I drink from your waterfall??

a secret life?

Thank you Angela Thomas and "A Beautiful Offering" for enlightening me yesterday. A secret life. God calls us to live certain things in secret. Matthew 6:1 - Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 6:3 - But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. 6:5 - And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. ... but when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 6:16 - when you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do ...

A secret life. A secret life such as this has eternal rewards. A secret life of integrity ... between me and my God. This secret life rewards with power from the Father. Significant power. Eternal rewards. My secret life WILL overflow into my public life. A life of eternal overflow.

Cinnamon Rolls

So, Keith gave a sermon a few weekends ago regarding Jesus' statement, "I am the bread of life." His message was insightful and practical; inspiring and motivating. In the midst of it, he made reference to cinnamon rolls that I make every now and again. He described them something like this, "My wife makes the best cinnamon rolls ever." He even brought one on stage and enjoyed a big bite in front of everyone. From this moment on, the bar has been set entirely too high. I have a confession. Another one. Not regarding coffee. SHHHH ... I got my recipe online, thanks google ... and, dare I say it, I use my bread machine for the dough!! I absolutely cannot take credit for the best cinnamon rolls ever! I am certain all of the ladies and gentlemen who have challenged me to a cinnamon roll cook-off may be slightly disappointed. They don't even look pretty. Thank you to my wonderful husband who thinks I'm so much better than I really am. Who forgives my shortcomings, and keeps no record of my wrongs. He truly is an example of a Christ-like character. Thank you, Keith, for your love and encouragement. I love you!

PS - don't lose sight of the forest for the trees. Jesus is THE BREAD OF LIFE!! Way more nourishing and satisfying than cinnamon rolls :-). We're talking ETERNITY!!

coffee.

I need to admit something. I love coffee. I can't go a day without coffee. My head is not clear without coffee. I love the smell of coffee. I love the taste of coffee. My kids talk about coffee. They even drink "white coffee" (translation: creamer). Am I addicted?

my crazy life

thirsty.dry.empty

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Psalm 63

When there are no words to express my heart, my God will provide them. When I am tired, weary, empty, my God will fill me up. When my heart is heavy and my mind is foggy, my God will relieve my burdens and bring clarity. When I am thirsty, my God will provide me with living water. My God is bigger than life. My God is bigger than this world. My God has already won the war. My God is sufficient. May my messy life be a beautiful offering ... as sweet smelling incense to my saviour.

Father Daughter Dessert

Keith took Makenna to the annual Father Daughter Dessert at New Hope. She had a BLAST. Kitty gave her a beautiful tu-tu to wear, and she felt like a princess all night. AMAZING ... we have a heavenly Father who wants to shower us with blessing (spiritually speaking). He has given us EVERY spiritual blessing!! We ARE a royal priesthood! Do we act like we're heirs to the throne? Do we LIVE like heirs? Do we credit Jehovah, Yahweh, Adonay ... for EVERYTHING? We are BLESSED. So blessed!!

i'm eating the seeds, too

I am going through the Beth Moore study, "Stepping Up: A journey through the Psalms of Ascent". Last week, Beth gave an analogy regarding reaping what we sow. She and her husband did work in Angola for a time. They brought over seeds to harvest. BUT, the people were so desperate, they could not see the big picture. They ate the seeds to satisfy themselves in the immediate, rather than sowing the seeds to satisfy ten times over in the future. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I EATEN THE SEEDS???

All the sermons, all the nuggets, all the times the light comes on ... and I ate it. I satiate my tummy with it. I chew it for a time, and swallow it. God, may I not eat your seeds any longer! Change me, Lord. May I not look in the mirror just to turn around and forget what I look like.