Ps. 135:5 For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
"The worth and excellency of a soul is measured by the object of its love" (Henry Scougal). If this statement is true then can we assume that the worth of a soul is also directly connected to loving the things that God loves. Our sols can no more have worth in themselves than we can save ourselves and since it is God who is the Redeemer then should we not consider that what He loves ought also to be the things we love? Should we not have our affections tied to the affections of God?
If that is all true then should we not be searching the Scriptures to find what it is that He loves and then line ourselves up under those same affections? I was thinking this week about sin, as I watched 1000s of people walk by the front of our booth at the fair. For most of my life I would have said that sin is doing something wrong; stealing, cheating, adultery, lying. But this week I have been thinking that it extends much farther than that; much farther than the sin that the ungodly even consider sin.
Sin, is not giving God ALL the praise when something good happens to us. Sin is accepting some of the credit, even a small amount, the nice things about your character, when it is God that does ALL the work. Sin is, when someone says that you have worked really hard this past year and so you deserve for your business to be successful, and you don't correct them. When someone tells you how nice your kids are and you don't give God ALL the credit... I think you can get the picture.
Whatever God pleases He does and if that is to work through our lives then how can we take any of the credit? Does He not deserve all our affection, and our highest and complete praise, when He chooses to work in our lives even in the slightest measure? Think about it; the God of the entire universe is intimately acquainted with all our needs and concerns and He delights to do good to His servants. How can we then with hold even some of our praise?
Let us worship Him as He deserves; not from compulsion but from complete adoration.
8/25/09
Donkey and Goats and the trip.
We are well on our way to have the list filled, with the exception of the lap top and the Ipod.
We are going to purchase 22 gallon sterilite totes. These are able to go on the airplane as a "checked bag" and are very light weight. Often a cheap suitcase takes up much of the 50lbs.
I want to add to this list a couple of things that have really changed the way I think everyday.
Kingdom Kids has a "donkey and goat" program. Here's how it works. No, I am not buying a plane ticket for a donkey:)
For $50usd we can donate a donkey to a family in Ethiopia. This donkey will truly change the life of an entire family. Just think what a head of a house hold could do with a donkey in Africa. Instead of the entire family walking 3 miles each way to get water, one of the kids could go and load 4-6 water jugs onto the donkey and the donkey would carry it back, while the family could be working in the garden, or whatever. With no donkey they all have to make the trek and this is a lot of calories expended that they don't have to spare.
Goats are used for milking but currently I am not sure what they cost. What could you give up for a week, month or 2 months to donate $50 to help. We can't all go there, but we can all help in some way. I just want to help you think outside the box a little and give you the joy of giving in this unique way.
I have been asked if I know for sure that they are not eating the animals. Since I have not been there yet I can not tell you 100%, but I have been told they are not and it seems to make sense that an animal that does that much to help your family would be taken pretty good care of. "Don't muzzle the ox" comes to mind.
If you donate money to Kingdom Kids and you would like us to take a picture of "your" donkey being delivered to the new owner, LMK and I will try to get that done.
Please join with us as we pray for these people before we go. We want to be a light and an encouragement to them in whatever way we can. The trip will include a lot of air miles and many on the ground, new culture, food and much heart wrenching scenery. Pray that God would give us strength and wisdom to know what to do and say and that most of all He would be glorified through us as we tell of His goodness. Sitting in airports and hotels there are always opportunities to talk about His grace, and we desire to be faithful to those divine appointments. Much work to do and He gives the strength to do. Praise His glorious name for that.
We are going to purchase 22 gallon sterilite totes. These are able to go on the airplane as a "checked bag" and are very light weight. Often a cheap suitcase takes up much of the 50lbs.
I want to add to this list a couple of things that have really changed the way I think everyday.
Kingdom Kids has a "donkey and goat" program. Here's how it works. No, I am not buying a plane ticket for a donkey:)
For $50usd we can donate a donkey to a family in Ethiopia. This donkey will truly change the life of an entire family. Just think what a head of a house hold could do with a donkey in Africa. Instead of the entire family walking 3 miles each way to get water, one of the kids could go and load 4-6 water jugs onto the donkey and the donkey would carry it back, while the family could be working in the garden, or whatever. With no donkey they all have to make the trek and this is a lot of calories expended that they don't have to spare.
Goats are used for milking but currently I am not sure what they cost. What could you give up for a week, month or 2 months to donate $50 to help. We can't all go there, but we can all help in some way. I just want to help you think outside the box a little and give you the joy of giving in this unique way.
I have been asked if I know for sure that they are not eating the animals. Since I have not been there yet I can not tell you 100%, but I have been told they are not and it seems to make sense that an animal that does that much to help your family would be taken pretty good care of. "Don't muzzle the ox" comes to mind.
If you donate money to Kingdom Kids and you would like us to take a picture of "your" donkey being delivered to the new owner, LMK and I will try to get that done.
Please join with us as we pray for these people before we go. We want to be a light and an encouragement to them in whatever way we can. The trip will include a lot of air miles and many on the ground, new culture, food and much heart wrenching scenery. Pray that God would give us strength and wisdom to know what to do and say and that most of all He would be glorified through us as we tell of His goodness. Sitting in airports and hotels there are always opportunities to talk about His grace, and we desire to be faithful to those divine appointments. Much work to do and He gives the strength to do. Praise His glorious name for that.
8/23/09
Gift List for Ethiopia
Would you like to help in some way? I told Michelle that our ministry would probably be excited to fill this kind of a list, so here is your opportunity. I will need to have all this to me by the 13th of Sept. so we can pack it up and take it with us. Please LMK what you would like to bring so I can check it off of the list.
Also, if you are able and would like; there is a donkey and goat program in Ethiopia and if you want to make a tax deductible donation to Kingdom Kids we will be able to take them to the villages when we are there. Just make sure you fill in all the info and designate what you would like it to go toward.
We can make a difference in the lives of these people, so many miles away. EVERYTHING helps.
Teresa and I only have 200lbs total that we can take and this kind of stuff adds up really fast. So please make sure you are thinking lightweight.
1. The most wonderful thing you could take if at all possible is a laptop computer to leave with Getachew-(Ge-Ta-Cho), our director over there. Electricity is available on a very sketchy basis.While sending email messages at an internet cafe, if the electricity suddenly goes off and my messages have been lost, it can be discouraging. If he had a laptop he could write the messages on and then put them on a thumb drive and easily send them from an internet cafe quickly and if the electricity went off he wouldn't lose his messages. It could be a used computer. Just make sure it can run on 220 voltage.
2. Cloth diapers - about 4 dozen. Also plastic pants in sizes NB to 18 months. Also diaper pins. Fuzzy buns?
3. Baby formula - very important! We can use any brand, any kind, but it needs to be the powdered kind.
4. Flashlights and batteries! They will be used often because every other day there was no electricity. The orphanage used candles which seemed dangerous. All the staff coveted my flashlight, which I left with them. Several small flashlights with extra batteries would be wonderful. LED is probably better as the batteries last much longer. Rechargeable batteries would be really nice. Also, small camping lights. Think some light, rechargeable and light weight.
5. Ten crib sheets - you can buy them from thrift stores for about $1 each.
6. Ten waterproof crib mattress protectors.
7. Fifteen twin fitted sheets - we only need the bottom sheets, the fitted ones. You can easily buy them at a thrift store. Also pillow cases. Get at a thrift store.
8. Multiple copies of the same Bible stories coloring book - 40 to 50 copies. They can teach the s/s lesson to all the kids at the same time.
9. Some simple puzzles, no more than 30 pieces. Can be the kind that comes in a cardboard frame or can be the kind in a box. Please make sure all the pieces are there.
10. Items for the teacher. Boxes of 24 crayons, child scissors, pencils, little pencil sharpeners, glue sticks, watercolors, rulers, colored pencils, pencil pouches, construction paper. The kids will be thrilled with these things! 50 or so would be plenty.
11. Maybe a few games that don't require English. I think they could learn UNO, and a Memory game, and maybe something like Chutes and Ladders. If there is room they would love Duplos (I think these would be better for them than Legos). Also baby/toddler toys without batteries, and maybe some jump ropes. The girls love to jump.
12. Deflated soccer balls with a pump to blow them up.
13. Children's Bible story books with lots of pictures - might be able to get used.
14. An Ipod loaded with sermons for the chaplain. He does understand English and Michelle said he would be thrilled to have this. It doesn't have to be new, just working well and have all the charging equipment. A variety of speakers would be great.
8/22/09
Ethiopia
It has been decided; Teresa and I are going to Ethiopia, to visit. I am sure we will bring many things back, but not children in the entire sense of the word.
We are going to the largest stone show in the world, which we go to every year; in Italy. The show is in late Sept. and so I thought this would be a good time to look and see what it is really like there and to see about taking a short term mission team there next summer.
Here are some of the things the trip is supposed to include.
A visit to the orphanage in Addis Ababa. This is the capitol if Ethiopia and sits at around 8000 ft above sea level. This is the main orphanage for Kingdom Kids. Michelle, the founder and director of KK is going to meet us in Addis and show us around the city and orphanage. They currently are considering moving from this orphanage and renting a larger one in Sodo, which is about 4 hours from Addis. The rent it higher in Addis and many of the kids come from Sodo anyway, so this will be a big decision for their board to make. Pray for wisdom. Pray that we would not get altitude sickness. Teresa has a hard time with this sometimes.
Speaking of kids; the currently are about 50 kids in the orphange in Addis, which has a crowded capacity of 80. The reason the number is lower is because they have been able to place many of them recently. How good is that?
We are going to have the opportuniy, Lord willing, to go to the villages. There currently are 11 kids that are ready to come to the orphange from the village and so we will get to watch them say their good-byes and take them to their new "home" awaiting their real new homes. Michelle said this is both exciting and heart breaking as they are saying good bye to the only people they know in the whole world and are leaving the only thing they know; their village.
We are also hoping to get involved with the "Donkey and Goat" program while we are there. $50usd can can purchase 1 donkey which can change the entire life of a family and so we are hoping that there will be those who would like to join us in contributing to that fund. Michelle told us that handing the rope, that is tied to the head of a donkey, to a head of a household is like handing the keys to a new car over to an American. We can really aid in changing lives for $50, or less. They use them for everyday chores, like carrying water from the well.
We are also going to get a list of items that they need in the orphanages. We are going to try to take over a small generator, but have not figured out the freight situation yet; they only have power and water in the orphange every other day. I will post the list as soon as I get it, so we can pack it up with us.
Not everyone can adopt a child, but everyone can help the process. Every dollar makes a difference and this is a good way to teach our children, thrrough our own obedience, to start giving to those who have so much less than we do. This is a way to show our true heart for those whom the Lord loves and cares for very dearly; widows and orphans.
Please pray that God would give us wisdom as we move forward. That He would provide the needed funds to not only finish our adoption process with "Vince" but that He would move in hearts to give to this much needed area as well.
We will take lots of pictures and videos, Lord willing. I believe we will come back with child, or many children, in our hearts. Also, hopefully an expanded world view and a heart for those whom God has a heart for. Please pray for us as we start this new crazy life.
Hang on Honey:)
We are going to the largest stone show in the world, which we go to every year; in Italy. The show is in late Sept. and so I thought this would be a good time to look and see what it is really like there and to see about taking a short term mission team there next summer.
Here are some of the things the trip is supposed to include.
A visit to the orphanage in Addis Ababa. This is the capitol if Ethiopia and sits at around 8000 ft above sea level. This is the main orphanage for Kingdom Kids. Michelle, the founder and director of KK is going to meet us in Addis and show us around the city and orphanage. They currently are considering moving from this orphanage and renting a larger one in Sodo, which is about 4 hours from Addis. The rent it higher in Addis and many of the kids come from Sodo anyway, so this will be a big decision for their board to make. Pray for wisdom. Pray that we would not get altitude sickness. Teresa has a hard time with this sometimes.
Speaking of kids; the currently are about 50 kids in the orphange in Addis, which has a crowded capacity of 80. The reason the number is lower is because they have been able to place many of them recently. How good is that?
We are going to have the opportuniy, Lord willing, to go to the villages. There currently are 11 kids that are ready to come to the orphange from the village and so we will get to watch them say their good-byes and take them to their new "home" awaiting their real new homes. Michelle said this is both exciting and heart breaking as they are saying good bye to the only people they know in the whole world and are leaving the only thing they know; their village.
We are also hoping to get involved with the "Donkey and Goat" program while we are there. $50usd can can purchase 1 donkey which can change the entire life of a family and so we are hoping that there will be those who would like to join us in contributing to that fund. Michelle told us that handing the rope, that is tied to the head of a donkey, to a head of a household is like handing the keys to a new car over to an American. We can really aid in changing lives for $50, or less. They use them for everyday chores, like carrying water from the well.
We are also going to get a list of items that they need in the orphanages. We are going to try to take over a small generator, but have not figured out the freight situation yet; they only have power and water in the orphange every other day. I will post the list as soon as I get it, so we can pack it up with us.
Not everyone can adopt a child, but everyone can help the process. Every dollar makes a difference and this is a good way to teach our children, thrrough our own obedience, to start giving to those who have so much less than we do. This is a way to show our true heart for those whom the Lord loves and cares for very dearly; widows and orphans.
Please pray that God would give us wisdom as we move forward. That He would provide the needed funds to not only finish our adoption process with "Vince" but that He would move in hearts to give to this much needed area as well.
We will take lots of pictures and videos, Lord willing. I believe we will come back with child, or many children, in our hearts. Also, hopefully an expanded world view and a heart for those whom God has a heart for. Please pray for us as we start this new crazy life.
Hang on Honey:)
Does God Really Listen?
I have to tell you this story; so you will be encouraged to pray and so you will know that God is totally personal.
Unknown to me, 4 years ago Mo, our youth pastor's wife, started to pray for Teresa and I. She told Sean, our youth pastor, that she was praying for something "big" for the Weinbergs. I don't think she told him then and if she did, he didn't tell me anything.
About 3 weeks ago Sean and I we having lunch and he told me about Mo praying for me. I asked, "what is the 'something'?" and he said I would have to ask Mo, but she may not tell me right now.
We had our staff meeting last weekend and so on Friday night I asked Mo. She said that it wasn't the right time yet; I think she was trying to add to the drama.:) On Sat. night I asked the same question and she said she would tell me then.
4 years-ish ago she started to pray that we would get excited about adoption. WHAT, 3 months ago, adoption was not even on our radar screen and now look where we are. How does God do those kind of things? I had no idea she was praying this way and I had no inclination except for the leading of the Holy Spirit to go this way.
This should get us excited that God does hear our prayers and He acts on them as well. He also uses those who are willing to be used, and prayer is a powerful weapon against the ruler of this world.
If you are not praying for the Weinberg family, please start. We need Him to be working in and through us as we go down this road that He has planned for us. I feel like I have no idea where the road is leading, but am really just excited to see where He takes us.
Thanks for praying Mo. God is so good.
Please pray.
Unknown to me, 4 years ago Mo, our youth pastor's wife, started to pray for Teresa and I. She told Sean, our youth pastor, that she was praying for something "big" for the Weinbergs. I don't think she told him then and if she did, he didn't tell me anything.
About 3 weeks ago Sean and I we having lunch and he told me about Mo praying for me. I asked, "what is the 'something'?" and he said I would have to ask Mo, but she may not tell me right now.
We had our staff meeting last weekend and so on Friday night I asked Mo. She said that it wasn't the right time yet; I think she was trying to add to the drama.:) On Sat. night I asked the same question and she said she would tell me then.
4 years-ish ago she started to pray that we would get excited about adoption. WHAT, 3 months ago, adoption was not even on our radar screen and now look where we are. How does God do those kind of things? I had no idea she was praying this way and I had no inclination except for the leading of the Holy Spirit to go this way.
This should get us excited that God does hear our prayers and He acts on them as well. He also uses those who are willing to be used, and prayer is a powerful weapon against the ruler of this world.
If you are not praying for the Weinberg family, please start. We need Him to be working in and through us as we go down this road that He has planned for us. I feel like I have no idea where the road is leading, but am really just excited to see where He takes us.
Thanks for praying Mo. God is so good.
Please pray.
8/16/09
TOO BIG for me
I am going to post this on both blogs, as I think it connects well with both.
Romans 8:28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Before leaving for the mission field a young missionary once said, "If predestination is true then I can not be a missionary". After 20 years in the field he only added one word to his statement; "NOT" "If predestination is not true then I can not be a missionary".
What do you think he meant by this? If the fields are white with harvest and God already knows who is going to be saved, then why do any need to go? Matt. 28 tells us why we need to go; to obey Christ's command. and also Romans 10:14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
So, again, why do you think that this missionary said this? It is because the job is too big for us to do. There is too much work for us to do in our own back yard, let alone the entire world. But if God has planned all this work for us to do, wherever He has planned it, all we really need to do is obey and be faithful and He will do the rest. He will make sure that the people we are supposed to talk to are in the exact spot they need to be to hear exactly what they need to hear, all we need to do is get there and open up our mouths.
The weigh of the world is NOT on our shoulders, but on Christ's. The blood we may or may not spill has nothing to do with their salvation; it is Christ's blood that has already been spilled that is what saves them. No amount of sacrifice on our part can win them, it is only through the death of Christ that they can be won. These truths just take the burden of evangelism and missions off of us ao all we need to do is to go and be faithful to His commands; He will take care of the rest.
So if we are thinking about living radically, we don't need to try to figure out where we will end up before we start, we just need to start and let God take care of the rest. If we have a heart for adoption, which we are commanded to, so we all should, then we don't need to try to figure out where all the money is going to come from before we start, we just need to start and let God handle the rest. He is big and He loves for us to realize and show our utter dependence on Him. He loves for us to have just one way to get out of a situation that its way too big for us, and that one way is Him. He delights in that.
So whatever direction God is pulling on your heart, wait on Him, trust Him and then let Him move you in the direction He wants you to go. Don't try to solve all the world's problems before you start moving, just start moving.
Romans 8:28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Before leaving for the mission field a young missionary once said, "If predestination is true then I can not be a missionary". After 20 years in the field he only added one word to his statement; "NOT" "If predestination is not true then I can not be a missionary".
What do you think he meant by this? If the fields are white with harvest and God already knows who is going to be saved, then why do any need to go? Matt. 28 tells us why we need to go; to obey Christ's command. and also Romans 10:14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
So, again, why do you think that this missionary said this? It is because the job is too big for us to do. There is too much work for us to do in our own back yard, let alone the entire world. But if God has planned all this work for us to do, wherever He has planned it, all we really need to do is obey and be faithful and He will do the rest. He will make sure that the people we are supposed to talk to are in the exact spot they need to be to hear exactly what they need to hear, all we need to do is get there and open up our mouths.
The weigh of the world is NOT on our shoulders, but on Christ's. The blood we may or may not spill has nothing to do with their salvation; it is Christ's blood that has already been spilled that is what saves them. No amount of sacrifice on our part can win them, it is only through the death of Christ that they can be won. These truths just take the burden of evangelism and missions off of us ao all we need to do is to go and be faithful to His commands; He will take care of the rest.
So if we are thinking about living radically, we don't need to try to figure out where we will end up before we start, we just need to start and let God take care of the rest. If we have a heart for adoption, which we are commanded to, so we all should, then we don't need to try to figure out where all the money is going to come from before we start, we just need to start and let God handle the rest. He is big and He loves for us to realize and show our utter dependence on Him. He loves for us to have just one way to get out of a situation that its way too big for us, and that one way is Him. He delights in that.
So whatever direction God is pulling on your heart, wait on Him, trust Him and then let Him move you in the direction He wants you to go. Don't try to solve all the world's problems before you start moving, just start moving.
8/7/09
Take a number at the DOL
In the Home Study process, at least 3 visits with the social worker, I was told I need to get a back ground check from all the places I have lived since I was 18. That is a much larger number for me than it is for Teresa.
So I followed the web site guidelines and went to send in my driver's license. I realized that my address has to be the same on the front of license as my actual address. Since I have not renewed my license since we have moved, it is not the same. So, off to the DOL.
It did take an hour and a half to get my temporary, and I am hoping that the temporary suffice, we will see. But I tried to make the best use of my time while I was just waiting and so I talked to some others in line about Grant's event, which is always a good opener into the reality of how good God is. It is always interesting how people respond. Some are totally tracking and in tears and others are apathetic at best. It doesn't really matter to me that much how they respond to God's story in our life because He is the One doing the work and I just want to be faithful to tell of His goodness. I don't have any responsibility for their response, only for my faithfulness to tell. Like the Gospel; it's all God's calling and work.
While waiting I saw a little store,"Africa Mama", connected to the DOL building. Of course that sparked my interest, so in between making sure they didn't pass over my number and visiting with others waiting I checked it out. There were some fun things in the shop, but what I came away with was a visit with the owner who is from Kenya. She has lived in America for a long time but is trying to go back, to stay, by the end of this year. She is working on an orphan project while here and wants to go back to help in whatever way she can there.
We justed talked about the crazy abundance we have here, even in our "down economy", and how the girls in her orphange will never have as much as she does right now. I said, "We are spoiled rotten in America" and she said that we should remind ourselves of that everyday, since it is so true.
We had a nice chat and exchanged websites/blog addresses and I left with my temprary license. I am so encouraged by what God is doing in my life as I just am faithful to share His goodness with others. I don't say this to in anyway elevate myself, but rather to encourage you also to find a common point of interest with others and just share how good God is in your life. People are hurting, searching for answers, and you sharing just a little bit with them might be just the thing they need to either ask you more questions or get them thinking down the road. We never know what God will do when we are faithful to share, but He won't do anything through you if you aren't willing to step out.
Often, I am at least as encouraged as others are when I have shared, just because they share their struggles and I know how faithful God is to work. God is so good and we really need to both remind ourselves and encourage others with His goodness. I hope you are encouarged.
So I followed the web site guidelines and went to send in my driver's license. I realized that my address has to be the same on the front of license as my actual address. Since I have not renewed my license since we have moved, it is not the same. So, off to the DOL.
It did take an hour and a half to get my temporary, and I am hoping that the temporary suffice, we will see. But I tried to make the best use of my time while I was just waiting and so I talked to some others in line about Grant's event, which is always a good opener into the reality of how good God is. It is always interesting how people respond. Some are totally tracking and in tears and others are apathetic at best. It doesn't really matter to me that much how they respond to God's story in our life because He is the One doing the work and I just want to be faithful to tell of His goodness. I don't have any responsibility for their response, only for my faithfulness to tell. Like the Gospel; it's all God's calling and work.
While waiting I saw a little store,"Africa Mama", connected to the DOL building. Of course that sparked my interest, so in between making sure they didn't pass over my number and visiting with others waiting I checked it out. There were some fun things in the shop, but what I came away with was a visit with the owner who is from Kenya. She has lived in America for a long time but is trying to go back, to stay, by the end of this year. She is working on an orphan project while here and wants to go back to help in whatever way she can there.
We justed talked about the crazy abundance we have here, even in our "down economy", and how the girls in her orphange will never have as much as she does right now. I said, "We are spoiled rotten in America" and she said that we should remind ourselves of that everyday, since it is so true.
We had a nice chat and exchanged websites/blog addresses and I left with my temprary license. I am so encouraged by what God is doing in my life as I just am faithful to share His goodness with others. I don't say this to in anyway elevate myself, but rather to encourage you also to find a common point of interest with others and just share how good God is in your life. People are hurting, searching for answers, and you sharing just a little bit with them might be just the thing they need to either ask you more questions or get them thinking down the road. We never know what God will do when we are faithful to share, but He won't do anything through you if you aren't willing to step out.
Often, I am at least as encouraged as others are when I have shared, just because they share their struggles and I know how faithful God is to work. God is so good and we really need to both remind ourselves and encourage others with His goodness. I hope you are encouarged.
8/5/09
All we can Do
Some of you know that I enjoy and am very much encouraged by listening to John Piper. I have listened to some of his sermons 1o times in a row before moving on to the next. Let's just say that sometimes I am easily distracted and before I move on I want to make sure I have picked up every kernel and put it into my bag.
I was listening to his sermon "A Fast for Waters that do not Fail" and was encouraged by the story of Doug Nichols. J.Piper is in Minnesota and he is talking about this Doug Nichols guy. I wanted to see if Doug was still alive, so I Googled him. To my amazement he is not only still alive but he lives about a half hour from me.
I started to read up on what he has been doing and looked at his schedule of appearances and was drawn to some of the things he has said. One thing that really stuck out to me was in answer to the question, "What can we do?"- His answer-"All we can do".
This is really short and seems almost like a sarcastic answer, but isn't this what God has called us to do? There is much to do everywhere around us, and God has NOT called us to every ministry, everywhere in the world. He has called us to do everything we can do, with all His strength, with all His wisdom provided, with His view of the harvest and that is all.
Isn't it awesome that God has not only planned all the work for us to do from eternity past, but He gives all we need to do every work that He has planned. He has knitted us together perfectly, so when we do follow His leading to the work, we will be perfectly suited to do it. He is not going to ask me to be John MacArthur, because He has not equipped me to be him.
So what does that mean to you and I today? We must be available and observant to God's leading, we must be humble in our expectation of where He might be choosing to use us, we must be learning and growing, because we don't know where that is going to be, and we must be willing and ready to do whatever that work is. That work might be to be the ALL that God would have you do as a home school mom and a wife with little time to minister in the local body except for being a great example of those things. It might also mean doing ALL that you can do in giving your entire life away as a missionary to China or Africa and He will have equipped you perfectly for that work as much as anything else.
The Body has many parts and none are less or more important than the next, but the little toe has to be as good of a little toe as it can be so that the head doesn't have to take the time to make sure the little toe is going to do its part. And the leg has to make sure it is not running the little toe into the coffee table all the time. A weak attempt at humor and illustration.
We need to go and do all we can where God leads us and be thankful that He is willing to use us anywhere, for anything that might be of benefit to His Work. We also need to rejoice and rest in the fact that He equips us to do everything. Don't get stressed out that you are not able to do this or that, just do what He has you doing as unto the Lord and He will take care of the rest.
I was listening to his sermon "A Fast for Waters that do not Fail" and was encouraged by the story of Doug Nichols. J.Piper is in Minnesota and he is talking about this Doug Nichols guy. I wanted to see if Doug was still alive, so I Googled him. To my amazement he is not only still alive but he lives about a half hour from me.
I started to read up on what he has been doing and looked at his schedule of appearances and was drawn to some of the things he has said. One thing that really stuck out to me was in answer to the question, "What can we do?"- His answer-"All we can do".
This is really short and seems almost like a sarcastic answer, but isn't this what God has called us to do? There is much to do everywhere around us, and God has NOT called us to every ministry, everywhere in the world. He has called us to do everything we can do, with all His strength, with all His wisdom provided, with His view of the harvest and that is all.
Isn't it awesome that God has not only planned all the work for us to do from eternity past, but He gives all we need to do every work that He has planned. He has knitted us together perfectly, so when we do follow His leading to the work, we will be perfectly suited to do it. He is not going to ask me to be John MacArthur, because He has not equipped me to be him.
So what does that mean to you and I today? We must be available and observant to God's leading, we must be humble in our expectation of where He might be choosing to use us, we must be learning and growing, because we don't know where that is going to be, and we must be willing and ready to do whatever that work is. That work might be to be the ALL that God would have you do as a home school mom and a wife with little time to minister in the local body except for being a great example of those things. It might also mean doing ALL that you can do in giving your entire life away as a missionary to China or Africa and He will have equipped you perfectly for that work as much as anything else.
The Body has many parts and none are less or more important than the next, but the little toe has to be as good of a little toe as it can be so that the head doesn't have to take the time to make sure the little toe is going to do its part. And the leg has to make sure it is not running the little toe into the coffee table all the time. A weak attempt at humor and illustration.
We need to go and do all we can where God leads us and be thankful that He is willing to use us anywhere, for anything that might be of benefit to His Work. We also need to rejoice and rest in the fact that He equips us to do everything. Don't get stressed out that you are not able to do this or that, just do what He has you doing as unto the Lord and He will take care of the rest.
8/3/09
Home study update
As far as I know the home study went very well. There were a lot of verbal questions and now we need to fill out a big stack of papers for our guy, so he can evaluate whether he thinks we are fit parents for this little Chinese man.
The process is long, but good and it keeps people who should not be adopting out. There are just some bad people in the world who would do the wrong thing if there were not some gatekeepers to keep these children safe. These kids have been through more than their share of grief and loss, they certainly don't need to go through more when they arrive at their new home.
God still has many doors to open, if this process is to continue, not the least of which is a large amount of money. But, we have seen God work in some amazing ways and I don't want to run ahead of Him. In knowing first hand that it is better to give than to receive, I want to wait for God to work in hearts and let Him provide for all that we need and in doing this, give others the blessing of giving to something bigger than themselves and in so doing they will have the blessing of watching God work and provide for them as well.
It will be fun to watch our Great God work everything out for His glory and our good.
I will keep you posted, don't worry Katrina:)
The process is long, but good and it keeps people who should not be adopting out. There are just some bad people in the world who would do the wrong thing if there were not some gatekeepers to keep these children safe. These kids have been through more than their share of grief and loss, they certainly don't need to go through more when they arrive at their new home.
God still has many doors to open, if this process is to continue, not the least of which is a large amount of money. But, we have seen God work in some amazing ways and I don't want to run ahead of Him. In knowing first hand that it is better to give than to receive, I want to wait for God to work in hearts and let Him provide for all that we need and in doing this, give others the blessing of giving to something bigger than themselves and in so doing they will have the blessing of watching God work and provide for them as well.
It will be fun to watch our Great God work everything out for His glory and our good.
I will keep you posted, don't worry Katrina:)
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