only one life,
’twill soon be past;
only what’s done
for Christ
will last.
just read that out of John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life. i am so convicted by this book. so many times i find myself fretting over this and that. i get so weary. when i read this, i realized all that i fretted over had little to do with Christ. so convicting. i found myself just pleading with Him to help me focus on what is of Him. i dream of the day when i respond in a manner worthy of His gracious love for me. i am so glad that i do not have do anything (better said...can't do anything) to earn His love, forgiveness or favor. i praise Him daily for loving me, forgiving me and favoring me in spite of my failings. it is this Love that makes me want to do all for Him. This was on my heart.....thanks for reading
now for the update:
Wow!!! ok so we begin realizing more and more that we are “not in Kansas anymore, Toto.” So yeah, we have not had internet more than we have had it.....sad :-(
it has affected us more these last two months more than any other time since we have been here. all that to say.....we are so sorry to have not communicated more.
i have been able to borrow some internet from friends periodically to check email and facebook (the beloved facebook) but that is pretty much it.
we are having such a great time this year. both of us continue to be amazed that He is so amazing faithful to us to give us things to do that fill us up. truly, in all our busyness we are not getting all that tired. it so fun to be doing what He has chosen for us. we get up ready to start the day with a whistle and a spring in our steps. that is fun....thanks for praying because we truly believe that it is the strength of the Father through your prayers that is sustaining us.
david is really growing in his new positions of chaplain and member care coordinator. he is having meetings with individual students on a near daily basis. this is so cool, because he was not sure how many would voluntarily sign up for these 1 on 1 (or 1 on 2) times. turns out he has no free spaces left on his sign up sheet. these students have really shared their souls with him.
please pray for him that the Father will give him His wisdom and His words to share with the kids who need the Love of an almighty Father.
please pray as well for david as he decides on the best plan of action for a distance learning seminary.
kim is having a blast serving up dinners 3 tuesdays each month. the first tuesday is always for new staff (for more orientation and just see how they are doing), then the 2nd tuesday is for a few teachers and spouses at a time (just for food and fun, and the 3rd tuesday is for students (we invite the whole class for food, fun, and fellowship). she loves cooking and watching others enjoy themselves and relax. what a blessing to use the gifts He has given in order to serve others and offer a respite from exhaustion, stress and culture stress.
please pray for kim to seek His peace and remember for Whom she is really doing it all. please pray for our budget as these dinners sometimes stretch it pretty thin...on that same thought please pray for Kim to lay this in the Father’s hands. she needs to remember that He loves her more than anything she can imagine and the He can be trusted in EVERYTHING
grace has once again been chosen to go on the Sea Tribes trip where she gets involved with children and house families as well as learning more and more about culture. She is immersed in it here.
please pray for grace as she does this trip again. there is a lot of prep work for this trip and she will once again need to raise funds for the trip. pray that she will grow to trust in Him more as she sees this trip come to be because of His provision (nothing that she has done herself)
emma is still struggling a bit with her allergies. it took us by surprise a bit, because she had been doing so well since we got here. now, her asthma and eczema seem to be a daily problem.
please pray for His healing touch on her health. also please pray for her as she has middle school struggles as well. especially pray for friendships that glorify the Father.
jeff is having a good year again. he was blessed to keep that same teacher. she is a kind and compassionate teacher. jeff has had some struggles with having good friends this year.
please pray for godly friends and a continued good attitude in school and at home.
abi is asking so many questions about having a relationship with the Father.
please pray for her young heart to accept Him and that she would grow up in Him
we have been watching the news from home. we are praying for all of you as the election draws near that God will bring to your mind who it is He would have you vote for. it is once again strange to watch our country's struggles from a very long distance away.
we are also watching the economy as it is doing its thing. i have never understood economic things very well, but i am fervently praying that God will bring peace and wisdom to all those who are struggling.
we would sure like to hear how you are doing.........hint hint.......how can we pray for you?
’twill soon be past;
only what’s done
for Christ
will last.
just read that out of John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life. i am so convicted by this book. so many times i find myself fretting over this and that. i get so weary. when i read this, i realized all that i fretted over had little to do with Christ. so convicting. i found myself just pleading with Him to help me focus on what is of Him. i dream of the day when i respond in a manner worthy of His gracious love for me. i am so glad that i do not have do anything (better said...can't do anything) to earn His love, forgiveness or favor. i praise Him daily for loving me, forgiving me and favoring me in spite of my failings. it is this Love that makes me want to do all for Him. This was on my heart.....thanks for reading
now for the update:
Wow!!! ok so we begin realizing more and more that we are “not in Kansas anymore, Toto.” So yeah, we have not had internet more than we have had it.....sad :-(
it has affected us more these last two months more than any other time since we have been here. all that to say.....we are so sorry to have not communicated more.
i have been able to borrow some internet from friends periodically to check email and facebook (the beloved facebook) but that is pretty much it.
we are having such a great time this year. both of us continue to be amazed that He is so amazing faithful to us to give us things to do that fill us up. truly, in all our busyness we are not getting all that tired. it so fun to be doing what He has chosen for us. we get up ready to start the day with a whistle and a spring in our steps. that is fun....thanks for praying because we truly believe that it is the strength of the Father through your prayers that is sustaining us.
david is really growing in his new positions of chaplain and member care coordinator. he is having meetings with individual students on a near daily basis. this is so cool, because he was not sure how many would voluntarily sign up for these 1 on 1 (or 1 on 2) times. turns out he has no free spaces left on his sign up sheet. these students have really shared their souls with him.
please pray for him that the Father will give him His wisdom and His words to share with the kids who need the Love of an almighty Father.
please pray as well for david as he decides on the best plan of action for a distance learning seminary.
kim is having a blast serving up dinners 3 tuesdays each month. the first tuesday is always for new staff (for more orientation and just see how they are doing), then the 2nd tuesday is for a few teachers and spouses at a time (just for food and fun, and the 3rd tuesday is for students (we invite the whole class for food, fun, and fellowship). she loves cooking and watching others enjoy themselves and relax. what a blessing to use the gifts He has given in order to serve others and offer a respite from exhaustion, stress and culture stress.
please pray for kim to seek His peace and remember for Whom she is really doing it all. please pray for our budget as these dinners sometimes stretch it pretty thin...on that same thought please pray for Kim to lay this in the Father’s hands. she needs to remember that He loves her more than anything she can imagine and the He can be trusted in EVERYTHING
grace has once again been chosen to go on the Sea Tribes trip where she gets involved with children and house families as well as learning more and more about culture. She is immersed in it here.
please pray for grace as she does this trip again. there is a lot of prep work for this trip and she will once again need to raise funds for the trip. pray that she will grow to trust in Him more as she sees this trip come to be because of His provision (nothing that she has done herself)
emma is still struggling a bit with her allergies. it took us by surprise a bit, because she had been doing so well since we got here. now, her asthma and eczema seem to be a daily problem.
please pray for His healing touch on her health. also please pray for her as she has middle school struggles as well. especially pray for friendships that glorify the Father.
jeff is having a good year again. he was blessed to keep that same teacher. she is a kind and compassionate teacher. jeff has had some struggles with having good friends this year.
please pray for godly friends and a continued good attitude in school and at home.
abi is asking so many questions about having a relationship with the Father.
please pray for her young heart to accept Him and that she would grow up in Him
we have been watching the news from home. we are praying for all of you as the election draws near that God will bring to your mind who it is He would have you vote for. it is once again strange to watch our country's struggles from a very long distance away.
we are also watching the economy as it is doing its thing. i have never understood economic things very well, but i am fervently praying that God will bring peace and wisdom to all those who are struggling.
we would sure like to hear how you are doing.........hint hint.......how can we pray for you?
