I Am So Blessed!!

God continues to amaze me through the power of prayer. I think we don't see the miraculous power of God very often because we don't pray in the desperate way we do when we are praying for the life of someone.

If any of you have been following the baby Isaac or the Dax blog God is doing some amazing things in both these children's lives. Baby Isaac was at the brink of death 3 times, and Dax who is older and understands more of what is going on in his life has had some very scary times as a 3 year old, but is now stabilized and is waiting for a liver.

Whenever I think my day is bad or my situation is overwhelming or stressful... Whenever I am at the end of my rope with my kids and I am not being very Christlike... Whenever I think I am so exhausted I can't go on emotionally, mentally, and physically...
I think of these families and realize my day is really not that bad; that a messy house and uncontrollable laundry is not that big a deal; and lack of sleep, no rest, no time for myself will not kill me; even kids that run crazy, don't seem to hear anything I say, and disobey me in public is no reason to thow in the towel...

My God is an awesome God and I know he cares for me. God is in the business of caring for us all day every day. How often do we lay all our seemingly less important burdens at His feet to help us with. Do we think He's too busy with the major ones; death, starving kids in Africa, wayward children, the lost.... Scripture tells us He cares. Matt 6 says don't worry, seek God's kingdom. Psalm 37:4 says God cares about the desires of your heart. In Matthew 17 God says if you have the faith of a mustard seed you can move a mountain. In Philippians 4 it says not to be anxious about anything but through prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. Further on in that passage Paul says (while sitting in an ancient times kind of jail cell), I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation... I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

So today I am thankful for 4 healthy kids, a house that is a cleaning challenge, laundry that overtakes my life, and unruly kids. It reminds me that I am human and that I need God. He has so much to give me when I think I am at the end of my rope, and help to offer in the practical things... If He can move a mountain, I don't think my issues are too much for Him.

Thank you Father for loving me, for dying for me, for giving me 4 healthy children, clothes that I don't pay for, a nice house with air conditioning, food on my table, for giving me many times over the desires of my heart, and a million more things I don't have time to put on this blog. I am so blessed!!

Technical Difficulties

I am so excited to be posting something and reading a few of the blogs I follow. I have actually laughed quite a bit these past 3-4 days because everything that has to do with technology lately breaks when I touch it. I am actually on my husbands laptop so I can communicate with the outside world for a few minutes.

My first laptop (an old one of Ken's which he called a dinasour) got water spilled on it by one of our beautiful children... imagine that. His next laptop which he gave to me when he got a new one died a couple of months ago, and it was pretty new. I then got demoted to the desktop. You'd think we had entered the stone age having to sit at a desk and not move while on the computer. Well, I am happy to say I have now killed the desktop. But that is not all... the printer when I tried to use it the last few times didn't work, and now is permanently not working. And the last piece of equipment I always like to talk about is my phone... it gets stuck on mute, and I have to throw it on the ground where it breaks apart (where the battery comes flying out) and put it back together for it to work.

So now you see why I am not allowed to touch technical equipment in our house. My husband, the computer genius, has not been able to figure either one of the computers out yet, and he can take them apart and put them together. I told Ken today Satan just wants us to be frustrated and not to be able to communicate with people because he knows what's going down in France.

So I just laugh knowing technical issues are no surprise to God and certainly not beyond his ability to fix when needed. Communication with people also cannot be thwarted by a few computer gliches. God has all that under his control also.

So go ahead Satan take your best shot. This is not our plan it is God's and it will not be thwarted. You are going down like Goliath in France and I can hardly wait to see it!

YOU GO GOD!!!"

Travel to Europe

If any of you are hoping one day to come visit us in France, or take a trip on your own to Europe, I came across this website today, and I am going to add it to my regular links on my blog. You might have heard of Rick Steves or seen him on T.V. He has alot of great tips for traveling in Europe and places to go and see outside the mainstream tourist attractions. His website is "Europe Through The Backdoor," a place Ken and I look forward to getting alot of information from.

Anyway, just thought I would plant a seed in hopes many of you would come visit us. It is actually very cheap to fly to Europe in the "off-season" (fall, winter, and early spring). Even if you don't know us well, we welcome you... as long as you don't have an ongoing criminal record, or been let out of an institution within the last year or so. :-) If you are part of the body of Christ, you are our family and we'd love to introduce you to a culture who desperately needs Jesus. If you do not know what I am talking about when I say "body of Christ" and would like to know more, please email me.

We plan on being there for at least 5-6 years, so please pray about it and take us seriously. Who knows, maybe you'll come back to stay and work with us for a while and help us reach Europe in new, creative, and exciting ways.

Baby Isaac is going home!!!

If you have kept up with my blog at all you will know who 15 week old baby Isaac is. Well, he got to get in a stroller and take a ride outside today... and if you know any of his story you will know what an indescribable miracle this is. There is also been a date set for him to go home!!... To read more about this absolutely amazing miracle and see lots of pictures of him not laying in a bed hooked up to tons of wires click here.

The Desperate Love of a Parent

How many of us will understand the love of a heavenly father who sent his son to die in our place. I linked to a blog the other day about a very sick little boy named Dax. His mom wrote an amazing entry about another situation in the hospital that makes those of us with healthy kids who have never had any serious health situations realize what trivial things we make into huge concerns and stresses.

If you're struggling to be thankful today, go to the entry "Late Night Ramblings" (it will not let me link directly to it) and read a very inspirational entry his mother wrote.

An International Audience

Since my husband mentioned me in his blog today I have to link to his blog for a laugh.

When God links to your blog

You have to go to this blog and see the link at the end of the article where it says "planting churches in France". Can God not do anything he wants? Can God not bring anyone into your path from any where in the world to tell them about His love for them? I have no idea who writes this blog, but I had 2 hits yesterday and 10 hits already today from this site from both England and France.

Father, I pray you pour out your Blessing on this blog site today and that you would bring French people across mine and Ken's path because of this blog (This French life) that will come to know you and that would be a part of a church we plant someday.

The Reason I Want to Reach The World

A friend of mine, Sue, had this blog on her blog and it is so powerful, I wanted you to see it. It is the reason I have wanted to be a missionary my whole life. It is the reason I am willing to leave my family, raise my kids away from grandparents and cousins, walk away from the only culture I have ever known and love, enter a knew culture where I am the strange one (of course some think I am a little strange here) :-) , learn a language in a culture where they will always correct my pronunciation, know my kids will grow up not really feeling at home in any country...

It hurts to think about sometimes, but it hurts more to know I have been so blessed to have been raised in a pastors family who showed me Christ so clearly, all I ever wanted to do was to follow Him... and there are people out there who live in countries where there are no churches and if there are churches, they are not showing the people who Christ is in a way that they can understand or that give them the desire to know more .

Watch this video and ask God how you can be a part of reaching more people like this.

Please Pray For Dax

For those of you who have prayed for Baby Isaac, I would like to ask you to pray for a little 3 year old boy who desperately needs a liver transplant. His name is Dax. You can check out this blog to find out more about his situation. Make sure you scroll down to read "A journey to Dax... A Look Back". His parents adopted him knowing he had a health issue that may not let him live past 1 year old. They sound like amazing people.

I pray, Lord, that you will bless this precious family with healing and/or a liver transplant for little Dax. We have seen you bring Baby Isaac back from the brink of death. We know there were probably thousands praying for him. But it is not the numbers that you listen to, it is the heart of one righteous person. I pray Lord that I would be righteous enough that you would hear my prayer for this total stranger (Dax). I love children; especially special needs children. I would love to fill my home with them, but since you have not called me to that right now in my life, I pray for those who have. Have mercy on this family and bring health and a long life to this little boy so he can bring you glory and a life that can serve and tell the world about you.

Knowing God's Love in the midst of the storms

My heart has been so full lately... full of heartache when I see the world around me... full of passion to reach them... full of God's love and God's view of wanting to reach them... full of passion for Gods word... and full of God's love for me...

My husband and I have felt bombarded with "situations" (some might call attacks from the enemy), but we know they are here to grow us. We know we have a calling on our lives, and we know we will never fulfill this calling unless we are willing to grow through all these challenges. I have been amazed at how my husband has been walking in the Spirit and handling all these "situations" with grace and God's love for others.

I on the other hand I have struggled greatly with the challenge of motherhood. I have wanted to walk away because of what I have seen in myself, and what my children have seen. I have been exhausted from lack of sleep, flustered by lack of schedule, overwhelmed by still attempting to clean my house to get it on the market, and pushed to my limit from 4 small kids who, I think, have taken a vow to challenge their mother all day every day all at the same time. My human nature has come to this strange conclusion that if I yell loud enough and look scary enough, they will listen... and they do after they get done crying. You just can't be told what to do out of a book. It all sounds great, but when it's coming at you "times 4", not including cleaning a messy house, laundry, meals, cleanup, diaper changes, helping with potty, and the never ending calling of "mommy!!!", it just sort of pushes you over the edge. (Boy it stresses me out just typing it).

But I know it is all for a reason. It is put here to grow me... and as God typically does, He does not give us anything new until we have gotten victory over this challenge... So watch out Satan! I want to go to France! People are dying and going to hell, and we want to get there! I am not a quitter or a loser! I have already won this one in Christ!... I just haven't reached the finish line yet!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Phil. 4:13 (Isn't it ironic that this was what the speaker, Robby Robison, spoke about at our church this weekend).

I THANK YOU LORD THAT YOU ARE OUR VICTOR, MIGHTY WARRIOR, OUR COMPASS THROUGH THE STORMS... I LOVE YOU LORD!!

The Birth of Catalyst France

I stole this blog from my husband just because it is sharing what is going on in our lives and I don't have to rewrite the story.

Three years ago Gina and I joined a mission organization and began to prepare to plant a church in Paris, France. Over the past year or so, however, God has begun to move in our hearts to do more that just plant a church. We began to talk about planting a church that would be a catalyst in France for a larger church movement.

This month Gina and I made the decision to step down from our missions organization and become more closely aligned with like-minded church partners. This led to the formation of Catalyst France (It's our new website still in progress).

Our vision is to see France impacted with the gospel through the multiplication of high-impact churches where French people have an opportunity to hear the gospel clearly communicated in a culturally relevant way, see it lived out in the lives of transformed believers, and to experience lasting life-change through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

While change always comes with its share of uncertainty, God has given a tremendous peace about this decision. Monday we emailed this news out to our prayer team. Since that time we have already had new people come to us asking how they can support our ministry and one couple who said that they are seriously praying about joining us in Paris.

We're really excited about what God is doing. We are still working out the administrative details of Catalyst France, but we hope to have everything setup for tax-deductible contributions in the next week or so.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can be involved in planting a church in Paris or would like to give financially to this ministry please contact us at info@catalystfrance.org.

Motherhood - a job to be accepted with fear and trembling

This is blog a friend wrote on Mother's day that I needed to go back and read today. Being a mom, wife, and homemaker has been especially challenging this week (well, every week is challenging, but this one just more so). Did you ever just want to quit, send your kids back, and move out on your own... Well, thanks to Erika I was brought back a little to reality.

Motherhood is one of the hardest, most confusing, most joyous, and amazing jobs and experiences I have ever been blessed to struggle through.

There are so many books, magazines, websites, and offers of advice you can ever ask for but there is nothing and I mean nothing greater than prayer.

I love my children. I am amazed at my children. I am blessed by my children and I am taught by my children.

When I look at their faces I see myself, David, our parents...I wonder if that is how God sees me? Does He look at me and see Himself? Does He see a characteristic and remember when He created that in me? Is He watching on this mother's day and remembering when He placed this day in my life while I was still being made in my mother's womb?

My prayer for all the mom's out there...is that you know how much you are loved and appreciated!

What Will Your Funeral Look Like?

There are not many people who have ever lived who can say they have closed down an airport or closed down public schools for their funeral. Dr. Falwell truly laid his life down for Christ, and he has reaped an amazing harvest and is being honored in an amazing way. It feels as if heaven also is standing up to honor this man.

According to Tadd Grandstaff's blog, the funeral is set for tomorrow at 1:00 pm. Nancy Regan, George & Barbara Bush, and George W. & Laura Bush are just a few of those that will be attending the service. (You can also link to a live feed of the service from his blog).

The service will be held at Thomas Road Baptist Church with live feeds to the Vines Center (LU's basketball arena) and Williams Stadium (LU’s football stadium) and they are planning for all three locations to be at max capacity with standing room only.

They will also be shutting down the Lynchburg Airport because of the influx of private planes & jets. They are closing all public schools and most private schools by noon tomorrow. They will also be closing the Lynchburg Mall to use their parking lot to shuttle people to the campus. It's really hard to imagine, but a town is basically shutting down for this funeral.

The one thing I began thinking of was that Jerry Falwell was just a man, and he used his gifts and talents to the utmost for Christ. He walked by faith, did the hard things, and was rejected and ridiculed by those who didn't believe the way he did. But it was for those that he did what he did. He loved the lost like few I've known. I have known of Jerry Falwell for a long time, and then got to meet him when I coached track at Liberty, and while my brother-in-law (Matt Fry) was the youth pastor at Thomas Road. But because of how the world has responded to this man's life it has made me take a closer look at mine and ask, "What will my funeral be like?"

Dream Big Dreams!

Aaaaaaaaah! Perry Noble... a man after my own heart. I have copied a little of his post yesterday on dreams.

What is it that you want? OK…put THAT thought OUT of your mind…

What is it that God wants you to want? Is there a dream or desire in your life that is so huge that you can’t seem to shake it…but you also can’t seem to believe that it would ever happen?

God rocked my world this morning when I read I Chronicles 11:4-5, WOW!!! Basically David had became the king of Israel…but after becoming king he STILL had ambitions and dreams. (In other words–pastors, church leaders–our point of “arrival” is no where on this planet…as long as we are alive we need to pursue God sized dreams!)

SO…in this passage he goes after his dream–Jerusalem. (Yep, I definitely think God wanted him to pursue this!) The first thing he was told was, “You will never be able to do this.”

When we pursue God’s dreams–the first thing to happen is ALWAYS the naysayers who somehow find us and begin to tell us about all of the things that we cannot do!!! I know we had them at NewSpring when we first began…we were told our church would not work, that we would never be able to move into the Fine Arts Center at Anderson University, that we would never build a building, that I would never succeed as a pastor because I do not have a seminary degree…and the list could go on and on.BUT…I would not let go of the dream!!! It wasn’t something I could let go…it was a passion that God had placed inside of me. I see that in David in this text–even though he was told by a group of people that his dream could not take place–it didn’t stop him.

In verse five we see the dream accomplished…it worked. When we pursue God given dreams and inspirations with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength…GREAT THINGS HAPPEN... AND–he didn’t form a committee to study the problem! NO…he had a vision from God–and he pursued it.

If God TRULY places a dream and a passion inside of you–pursue it!!!

Well, you get the idea. (Link here to read his entire post (yes, it's quite a bit longer than this).
I really thought this way when I was in college and spoke often to teenage audiences about these kinds of things when I was competing in college and in my 20's. "Dream big dreams," I would say. The Bible says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" Ps. 37:4 It never occurred to me that one could use this type of thinking in building "The Churh."

It's so awesome to see pastors and visionary leaders reaching the lost with this same passion, and speaking about "dreaming big" all the time. It reminds us little guys that God wants to use us to do the same types of things if we would just step out in faith and dream big dreams like these crazy visionary pastors and our heroes in scripture.

Terry Woychowski - Executive with General Motors

I love what Terry Woychowski, an executive with General Motors -- responsible for more than 8000 engineers, said at the Daybreak conference. I copied these notes from TimSteven's blog of Granger Church who took a group from his church to his conference.

He talked in this session about change. Terry drove onto the stage in a 2007 Chevy Silverado carrying the actual 2007 Motor Trend Truck of the Year trophy. Some notable quotes from his session:

• One year ago we reported a $10 billion loss in one quarter.
• We had to change or die. GM did not have the universal right to exist. We had to change or we would cease to exist.
• We had to change our processes, our systems, even some of our people. I had to let 1200 engineers go who worked for me.
• This past year was the most difficult year in my life by far. Change is hard. And massive change is massively hard.
• Change is inevitable. The question is whether you will change for better…or change for worse.
• There are roadblocks between your community and God. Your job is not to move the community to God. It is, rather, to remove the roadblocks that keep them from making their way to God.
• To change…we often need to “feel” the need deeply to be sufficiently motivated to voluntarily change.

Terry pointed to the Motor Trend trophy and said that he worked three long years to win that award. But, some day it will burn or rust or be buried. But what you do, in church work, that really matters. That will last.

My God Is So Awesome!!

I wanted to write some inspirational blog today, but I didn't want my picture of the Arch de Triomphe to be moved down where I don't see it first thing when I go to my blog... and I love that blog. It was from my heart. Do you ever have those. I also like the link to my husbands blog that I refer to on the last blog. And, since mine is like a small essay on the Arch, I will just keep this short so everyone can finish reading it or go back and remember what it was they read.

I also have to say comfirmation of our new step of faith (stepping down from our missions organization & creating "Catalyst France") has been overwhelming. People have actually come up to us or emailed us and said, "we would like to support your ministry in France, where do I send the money." I want to burst out crying (for joy) every time that happens. It overwhelms me that God really does care about our dreams and does not call us to do something He does not provide for.

I LOVE MY LORD!!

"Impacting Culture in Paris"

My Hubby has a very complimentary blog to what I just posted on France. It's worth taking a look at.

Paris, France and the Dream in our Hearts

PARIS - Right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy became president of France on Wednesday, officially taking over from his conservative predecessor Jacques Chirac. After a private lunch Sarkozy will ride in a motorcade up the Avenue des Champs Elysees, escorted by the mounted Republican Guard, and lay a floral tribute at the tomb of the unknown soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe (Read entire story on MSN).

If you have ever been to Paris, this has to be one of those moments in time you would never forget. Riding up the Avenue des Champs Elysees (something you can see from all over Paris) and then laying flowers beneath the Arc de Triomphe (one of the most famous monuments in Paris).

The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly the Place de l'Étoile, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. It is the linchpin of the historic axis (L'Axe historique) leading from the courtyard of the Louvre Palace, a sequence of monuments and grand thoroughfares on a route leading out of Paris.

It attracts many tourists. It was commissioned in 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz by Emperor Napoleon I at the peak of his fortunes. Laying the foundations alone took two years, and in 1810 when Napoleon entered Paris from the west with his bride Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria, he had a wooden mock-up of the completed arch constructed.

The monument stands over 51 meters (165 feet) in height and is 45 meters wide. It is the second largest triumphal arch in existence ^[1] Its design was inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus; The Arc de Triomphe is so colossal that in the Paris victory parade marking the end of hostilities in World War I, an early daredevil flew his biplane through it, and was caught in a newsreel.<sup>[2]

Just writing about this makes my stomach begin to churn and puts a lump in my throat. Is there anything you ever wanted to bad that it hurt not to have it yet. My heart and my husband's heart yearn so much for the people of France and Europe. We really do believe we have experienced something here in the states that can be applied in France and all over Europe. It is the new creative church movement that has inspired so many new church planters to try all sorts of new and innovative things.

Churches like the one we go to (C3 church) and others like New Spring church in S.C., Mosaic L.A., and Granger Community Church in In. have an amazing way of getting the unchurched in the door. We believe the organization of ARC has an amazing way of training up and providing for new church planters. We believe organizations like Catalyst</sup> and the many other conferences put on by these creative church planters (Exponential Conference, Origins, Buzz Conference, etc.) train, encourage, motivate, and simply light a fire under this movement for Christ.

We want to do this in France. Not because there is anything in ourselves that we think is special or talented, but just because God has put this burden and dream in our hearts that is so clear it sometimes hurts not being in France yet, and we are just willing vessels clueless enough to think God can do this through us and those He chooses to join us.

Jerry Falwell - An amazing icon for Christ

I am sad to report what most people have already heard, but the icon Jerry Falwell died this morning at 10:45 am. He was found unresponsive in his office. Not matter what you thought of him, he was a man that had a vision and followed that vision with passion for most of his entire adult life.

He has been responsible for millions turning from their own way of living to following Christ. Our pastor, Matt Fry (my brother-in-law) went to liberty and God called him into ministry there. He helped in the youth group at Thomas Road while in school, was a youth minister for years, went back to Liberty as the Senior Youth Pastor and now has one of the top 100 fastest growing churches in America according to Outreach Magazine (C3church).

I attended seminary there for a year while coaching track and I loved Liberty University. My husband Ken Witcher (then boyfriend) was a youth intern at Thomas Road Baptist Church underMatt Fry. Liberty has a large University feel with a consevative Christian environment. It even has a Division I athletic program. The worship at chapel was done with drums and a band and was always dynamic. The students had purpose and a drive you don't find on typical university campuses. It was just a fun place to be... a far example from what most people saw Jerry Falwell as.

He was also an exremely personable person. What you saw on T.V. was not what you saw on campus. He loved to have fun with the students and gave many students a second chance after failing out or getting kicked out. He was also an amazing family man never missing a birthday of any of his kids and attempted that with his grandkids.

So, no matter what you thought of him, he was a man who was passionate about the lost and gave his life to following Christ and making a difference. I could only hope to end my life and say I have influenced as many people as he did for the Kingdom of God.

Read also what others have said about Dr. Falwell:
Tadd Granstaff - a friend and fellow church planter of Pine Ridge Church in Burlington, NC, who attended Liberty.
Tim Stevens - Pastor of Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana.

Martha Fry on "Faithfulness"

I forgot to mention that my sister, Martha Fry, pastors wife of C3 church, spoke on Mother's Day. She is a great speaker, and if you can figure out how to download a sermon (unlike myself - I have to get my husband to do it) She did an awesome job and it is worth your time to listen to.

Great job Martha! I was very convicted there at the end when you talked about at the end of your life seeing Jesus face to face, can He say, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

I began thinking if I saw Him today, could He say that? Having 4 small kids and all your typical household duties, I am at the end of my rope much of the time and have to confess my children do not see Jesus in me as much as I would like. In fact I'm quite ashamed at how often they don't.

Please Father, may the power of Your Spirit work in me, so that not only my children may see Jesus, but that everyone I meet will see Jesus through me.

The LG HDTV Refrigerator - The Bomb!

I was surfing the blogesphere this morning and Tim Stevens of Granger Church mentioned this refrigerator. Well, before I even saw his blog, we (Ken & I & all our kids) just happened to be in Best Buy this weekend and saw this piece of art. I thougth to myself, "What a great Mother's Day idea."

Now to someone like myself who is a news junkie who doesn't like to cook (well I use to like to cook until I had kids) I thought, "What a brilliant idea!" I might even prepare meals ahead of time if we had this refridgerator. Of course this might be like offering alcohol to an alcoholic... I may never get anything done... which is the reason we don't have cable anymore. I guess this refrigerator with fuzzy T.V. wouldn't have the some effect.

Of course now that I read the display I see that it only gets the latest weather updates using a cellular network, but also features a recipe bank (preloaded with 100 recipes) and organizational tools such as a calendar and to-do list. In addition, the screen can be used as a digital photo frame. Maybe this T.V. is my dream T.V. I certainly need recipes on hand that I don't have to look up, and a calandar with a to do list in front of my face might certainly help. Of course, now I look at the cost...

Oh well, it was a nice idea. Maybe in my next life.

Oh, the Joys of Motherhood!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!! to all those overworked, exhausted, unappreciated, but blessed mothers.

I woke up this morning with the opportunity to, well... be a mother. As I lay there in bed hoping this would be an opportunity to read in a quiet room while my husband made breakfast and thinking what it would be like to get to enjoy a delicious breakfast I had nothing to do with... in bed...

...A crying (okay screaming) almost 2 year old let me know my peace and quiet was short lived. I went into the kitchen to help my husband with the omelet he was trying not to burn for me, while trying to appease our youngetst children. I Helped my daugher find some pants. Continued helping my husband by cutting up pancakes as he cooked them for the kids. Changed a stinky diaper. Cleaned up the table and filled the dishwasher while my husband helped the kids get their Mother's day card done and wrap a present. Broke up a fight somewhere in there I'm sure, and finally sat down in my fuzzy slippers to drink some tea. (We did go to church last night if anyone is wondering why I'm sitting around and casually drinking tea on a Sunday morning) :-)

Oh the joys of motherhood...

I will say I am getting to enjoy my new CD of the soundtrack from "When Harry Met Sally"... How did the kids know I would like that? I am so impressed.

How Big Are Your Dreams?

I once again am going to quote some of what Perry Noble wrote on a past blog where I felt like he was writing my story. His words are in italics and I will be adding my comments in red.

I cannot explain what the Lord is doing in my life right now. Scripture is more alive to me than it has ever been…and the closer I get to Him the more I am realizing how small my dreams are. So…I am asking Him to fill me with His dreams…and here is what is coming to my mind.

I I don’t want a good marriage–I want a GREAT one! God is doing something in our marriage (mine and Ken's) that we really never expected. Taking this new step of faith together has united us in a way we have never experience. We have become each others best friend, and I cannot remember the last time we had a argument... now that is a miracle.

I don’t want to raise a child...I want to make a disciple. God is growing me so much in what my kids see on a day to day basis. Do they see an exhausted, frustrated, angry mother, or do they see Jesus?

I don’t want to pastor a church…I want to be a part of a MOVEMENT! This is why Ken and I have taken this step of faith. We feel God wants to start a new church movement in France very much like the new church movement we have seen here in the states that is impacting millions for Christ and He wants to involve us.

I don’t want to talk to God more…I want to listen to Him!!! I spend WAY too much time talking to God, telling Him what I want Him to do. I want to listen…to hear His voice. I want His voice to be as real to me as anything. I know that if I am going to be successful as a husband [wife], father [mother] and leader [follower] that I need HIS direction. I want to spend more time in Scripture, seeking the mind of Christ. I say it all the time–but no one EVER screws up when they follow Christ!!!

God is stretching me right now…REALLY stretching me. I [Ken & I] have had thoughts and ideas during the past two weeks that I [we] have NEVER had before. I am so excited about my walk with Him, my family, and the direction of this church [our ministry]. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Click here to read Perry's whole entry.

Discipleship - Our job or God's job?

I love what Perry Noble says about discipleship:

We have a different view of discipleship here at NewSpring Church. It bothers me that Christians will trust God’s Holy Spirit to draw someone to Him…but once that happens we often feel like we need to take over…and, like it or not, there are some really screwed up Christians because they have been taught to listen to man and not to Jesus.
I have seen the “process” of people becoming more like Christ merely reduced to a “to do list” in churches, and while this has managed to produce some fruit…I have seen it, unfortunately, develop way more legalists and self serving Christians? So…where is the balance? How do we “disciple” people at NewSpring? After all, Jesus did encourage us to “make disciples” in Matthew 28:18-20.

Click here to read more...

Successful Knee Surgery!

If you have been reading my hubby's blog, you will have read that he had knee surgery yesterday (like being a single mom of 4 for 2 weeks wasn't enough) :-)

Well praise the Lord!! they were able to do the least invasive procedure and get rid of alot of scar tissue from 3 previous surgeries 17 years ago. There was a possiblity that he was going to have to have a new ACL replacement, which meant many weeks on his butt and another human to take care of 24/7, but God had mercy on me.

Well, lucky him, all the bandages come off in two days, and he can probably start helping me clean the house next week. Now I won't make him carry anything heavy, but he certainly could fold clothes and do toilets.

France Has A New President!

I don't know if many of you have heard, but France has a new president! MSN said:

Sarkozy, a U.S.-friendly conservative and an immigrant’s son, defeated Socialist Segolene Royal by 53 percent to 47 percent with about 85 percent voter turnout Sunday.

French president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy plans to waste no time making France a friendlier place for business — and a less inviting place for criminals and would-be immigrants

The win gave Sarkozy a strong mandate for his vision of France’s future: He wants to free up labor markets, calls France’s 35-hour work week absurd and plans tougher measures on crime and immigration.

The article on the MSN page is very interesting, and looks as if Sarkozy may be a welcome change. Many say change will be hard for a country steeped in tradition, and usually things get worse before they get better. What an awesome time to enter a country and offer a security that will never change. Pray for France during this time and for those of us who will be ministering during, what could be, a historical time in French history.

Mosaic Origins Conference

If you read my last blog" Big Dreams" it is so exciting to see how God might be in the beginning stages of bringing that about. My husband, Ken, went to the Mosaic Origins Conference this past week and saw God moving in amazing ways. The people God has put in Ken's life and who he is beginning relationships with just blows us away; many of them who have amazing talents and are professional artists, also have hearts for the lost and have a desire to use these talents in Paris. God has definitely confirmed over and over the direction He is leading us and His blessing on our blind step of faith. My hubby, Ken, has written a little about his trip, the people he met, and the amazing things God did in him through this conference.

"Dream Big"

I love this blog posted by Tim Stevens at Granger Community Church called "Dream Big". The question was asked the staff and 400 members of their church and they answered the question, "What is Granger Community Church?" Their answers helped create their vision statement.

He then encouraged any church leader:
If you are leading a church, dream big! You'll have plenty of people tell you your dream is ridiculous, but it is the dreams of leaders that can change families, churches and entire communities. So, dream big!

So I used their vision statement to create what I envision our "Dream for France" will become: (This is just my own crazy thoughts after being enspired by his blog)

It is the dream of a biblically functioning community in Paris, where Christ-followers are continually taking steps in their walk with Jesus. It is a place where all are quickly connected in meaningful and life-changing relationship with others; where care and comfort happens in the context of shared life together; where a plethora of opportunities are available to help seekers and believers take their next step toward Christ.

It is the dream of an organization able to support a regional ministry and training site for ministers and pastors to learn how to reach their country in radical relevant ways and for them to be sent out to train others.

It is the dream of traveling all over France to train and teach believers how to reach their country for Christ and ultimately their continent for Christ.

It is the dream of hundreds of thousands gathering each weekend all over France to explore Christianity and take their first steps toward Christ, and then growing together in spiritual maturity through worship, study and fellowship – loving, laughing, and learning together, understanding God’s plan and living life to its’ greatest potential.

It is the dream of a people who never shrink back from communicating the truth of God’s Word using relevant and innovative means; where “cutting-edge” is normal and change is readily accepted; where artists are pursued, affirmed, cultivated, loved, and released to use their gift in the church.

It is the dream of a church that makes an indisputable impact on our region, where people of all races and religions will wonder aloud what God is up to.

A New Direction and A New Love

I feel I need to blog again, but it is hard to top the "pajama burgler", but I will try to go on.

Ken got home today!!! Can I just say, "I LOVE MY HUSBAND!" Now before you stick your finger in your mouth and do the gag reflex, or sit in envy because your marriage is struggling, our marriage has not always been this way. We have spent the last 9 years slowing growing from a nightmare marriage to what I feel has become the honeymoon period (we sort of missed that the first time around). Now if we had given up at any moment (which we thought of a million times) we would be missing out on what God is bringing us into; uniting us together for His Glory and Kingdom and showing us His plan to bring about dreams we've had in our hearts for years.

Ken has been gone almost two weeks, but when you and your spouse are on the same page with God and what He has called you to do, seemingly tough things end up not being tough at all. I was a single mom to 4 kids ages 1-6 (the 6 yr old being homeschooled) for almost two weeks, and I actually had alot of fun. We planned alot of outings, visited friends, watched movies, climbed through windows in our pajamas,... but what really made Ken's being gone so easy was hearing the awesome things God was doing in my husband through the people he was meeting from around the world. It made being his wife and the mother of his children exciting and fulfilling.

God is doing some amazing things in our lives right now. I haven't shared much, because God has been in process for the past few months, but Ken and I feel God has been moving in our hearts to take a step of faith and step down from our missions organization and go independently with a church or group of likeminded churches. The only reason being that we feel our vision is more like that of the church planters we have been meeting. We have been connecting with church planting groups and amazingly creative church planters and brainstorming with them and learning from them these past 3 years and we have found our niche. We believe God has been "filling our toolbox" (what my husband always says) with the ways He wants to reach the French, and connecting us with the people (other successful and creative church planters) we really need over us as we embark on this endeavor.

There were also some changes beginning to happen in our organization that were going to affect us, and we felt this was the time and God was saying, "Go... take this step of faith and see what I will do.

Even when we first began to think along these lines, God's peace overwhelmed us. And ever since we finalized our decision and obeyed what we felt God was telling us to do, God began making connections that we could not ever have imagined. It was almost as if He was just waiting for us to follow Him blindly by faith, and then He began pouring out His blessings almost immediately. Our connection with churches and church planters has doubled, and God has connected us with so many professional new artists from an array of different backgrounds (dance, design, modeling, fashion industry, fine arts, theatre, etc.) from all over the U.S. and world, and many who have done their work on the professional stage in France and want to go back, or ones that just want to go with us.

God has already been preparing a team, and a church or possibly churches that will be our sending agents. God has not shown us the whole plan yet, so we will let you know as soon as He opens those doors. Our support will be coming through another avenue starting in June, and we will let people know that also this month. We feel our time table is the same. We hope to be in France by the fall, but we know God's timing has always been the same, and when we get to France He will have prepared the hearts of thousands of French people who are searching and will find Him in the movement God has put on our hearts; to help French people plant relevant dynamic exciting churches for this young generation.

Pajama Burgler

My husband posted this on his blog yesterday, and I thought I needed to add an explanation.

I received this email from my wife late last night.

Honey,If you are still up, I just wanted to let you know we need a new screen. It would also be good to put a spare key outside in case we get locked out… and could you leave your phone on so in case somebody broke in our house and tried to hurt us at least I could get in touch with you.

Me

I can just picture her tearing off the screen and climbing in the window in her pajamas at mid-night. This really happened.

Okay, he left out the part about how I went outside to get a book out of the car, and when I came back to go in, the door was locked. We have a couple of those doors where you can lock it from the inside, yet still open the door from the inside, but not the outside. I prayed, "Lord you are not doing this to me!! (I wondered if He was laughing thinking, "Sweetheart, I did not do this to you, but it is fun to watch). I prayed, "Lord please do not make me call the police from a neighbors house in my pajamas at midnight... and I would rather not sleep in the car."

Speaking of cars, I dug in all the cars for any set of keys because we sometimes leave a set in them because we have gone somewhere together, or, we just left them laying on the floor or in a drawer... I found none. The kids even have a set the like to play with that I know were in the car the past couple of days... no such luck.

So my next idea was to look for an unlocked window on the porch (we have a wrap around porch, so there were 3 opportunities... they were all locked. So I went to the front door and rang the doorbell incessently for about 5 minutes realizing that that was not going to wake anybody up on the second floor (remember my oldest child is 6). The only response I got was the cat staring at me through the window from the stairs and then looking up the stairs almost as if he understood my delima and thought, "would someone please come help this crazy woman."

I then went around and checked windows again just to make sure there were none unlocked, and then ring the doorbell again. I did this over and over a few times in desperation while I prayed, "Help me Lord!!" I then decided to check some other windows on the back... praise the Lord for a full moon, it made it easy to see the window latches on the back windows in the dark. I finally came across a window to my husbands office where one of the latches looked half locked and the other one unlocked. This window was my only chance before I climbed up on the roof. Praise the Lord also it was in front of the airconditioning vent and easy to reach.

I poked some holes in the screen where the latches to the screen were and tried to get the screen out without bending it. When I realized that was not going to happen, and I was not even going to be able to bend the screen, I thought, "buying a new screen is less embarrassing than going to my neighbors...", so I stuck a few fingers in those little holes and ripped the screen all the way to the bottom. I pushed on the window for a minute... and the lock, that was not quite half latched, finally popped up and I was in. I couldn't believe it! I almost cried.

"Thank you Lord that I did not have to face my neighbors and the police in my yellow monkey pajamas tonight."

Baby Isaac Update

Well, just wanted to update you on Baby Isaac. You can go read it for yourself on his blog and see cute pictures, or you can read it here:

Well, today has been a day of clarification. The morning began with Isaac in optimal conditions for extubation - vitals, nutrition, vent settings, the works. We were thrilled to see our sweet boy's face when they removed the tape & pulled out the ET tube. To see his whole face without tape or tubes...what a blessing! We must have kissed those sweet cheeks a hundred times!

Isaac sailed through the first half hour, sating in the high 80's & holding a steady, comfortable heartrate. However, he was unable to cough on his own &, with the build-up of secretions in his lungs, began to tire quickly. In spite of suctioning & albuterol treatments, Isaac simply had to work too hard to breathe & grew too fatigued to clear his lungs on his own. So after nearly two hours, our sweet boy was reintubated & allowed to rest once more.

We are so proud of how well Isaac did, especially considering that he's been intubated for 9 weeks & his many issues (diaphragm, vocal chord, pharynx). He's certainly a fighter, never giving up even when its hard. Now we know for certain that a trach is the best & necessary option in moving Isaac towards recovery. He will head back to the OR on Thursday morning for the tracheostomy. Though this route is different than we had expected, we're happy to move forward in getting Isaac well enough for home. God remains faithful & even when His answer differs from our hopes, we still trust Him, knowing that He heard us & has greater plans in store. We now look ahead to surgery #5.

Pray for Baby Isaac Tomorrow!!

Remember to Pray for Baby Isaac tomorrow. He is being extubated and if everything goes as we are praying he will be able to breath on his own. If it does not, they will have to put in a trach on Thursday.

We pray Lord for perfect execution of this procedure and that Isaac's body would respond miraculously. We pray there will be as big a party on that hospital wing as there will be in heaven as people stand in awe of our Awesome God.

We Love You Lord!

a surrendered life

I copied this excerpt from a friend of mines blog called "The surrendered life".

i now live a surrendered life. a life in which i've voluntarily given up living for me & i choose to abandon all selfishness & choose to live a life of selflessness, thus becoming more like Jesus. for so many years, i had fooled others, myself included, into believing that i did live a surrendered life to God. i really didn't. you know how i know, because deep down, in that place where it's only God & me, i knew it wasn't true. i was living a falsehood. how erroneous. it is so liberating to admit it. i'm not ashamed b/c i know that i'm not the only one that has lived in that lie, nor am i the last one to live that lie. admitting it is the beginning of relinquishing it all to the Author of my life. so, i can now say, i live a life surrendered. so, "i'll stand, with arms high & heart abandoned, in awe of the One who gave it all, i stand, my soul, Lord, to you surrendered, all i am is Yours......"

You know when I first read this. I thought, "Praise the Lord, I've been where she's been and now ... " I couldn't finish the sentence. I began to feel convicted. I could not finish this sentence to say I live a totally surrendered life. I don't even know what I am not surrendering. I mean I have given my whole life to reach others with the gospel starting from a very young age (7). I gave up relationships, running a number of times, comfort, good jobs, money, etc... to follow God to reach the masses who have not heard the gospel. My husband gave up a comfortable carreer with good money, to follow God's call to go to France to start a church. I gave up the comforts of America to raise my kids where we will live in much smaller quarters with possibly no yard. We gave up all our savings raising support these past few years, and we are giving up our kids being raised near their grandparents and cousins whom they love. So what could I not be giving up... I mean I just gave up satellite for goodness sake, and my laptop died, and I have to sit here in my room on this desk top. I mean what else is there.

"I mean, God, you wouldn't want me to be more submissive to my husband or more patient, gentle, and kind, to my kids would you? Don't you think I have given enough. :-) Okay God, you're going to have to really help me with this one because these are deep dark holes in my soul that I want to hang on to. Couldn't you just give me a pill or something and let it be done with?" :-)

What is your Calcutta?

Can I just say, "I LOVE THE BLOGGING WORLD!!" Not only can I sit at home with four kids and still feel like I have a social life even if no one is verbally talking to me, but I can be inspired by something someone said on a blog and then go share about it on my own blog feeling like I have inspired someone today, even if I don't know if anyone even read my blog. I can also respond on someone's blog and feel like I have had a discussion even if they don't read their responses. Isn't it great!...

And speaking of plagerizing, Mark Batterson said something I love... He said,

"Can I share a goal? I never want NCC to feel like a church. I want us to feel like a movement. The church is way too static these days! The church is called to knock down the gates of hell. The church is the vehicle whereby heaven invades hell. That is why the world resonated with Mother Teresa. She brought heaven to a hell hole. By the way, I love the advice Mother Teresa gave when someone asked them how they could make a difference with their life the way she'd made with hers. Mother Teresa said, "Find Your Own Calcutta."

Well, it's been a long road, but Ken and I have found our "Calcutta"... France, and Mark Batterson states just what we feel. We have a passion to start a movement, not just a church. We want to invade hell and take back what satan has stolen in France, with the power of the Holy Spirit of course, and Heavens legions of angels to fight the Spiritual battles.

Does "red" mean bad?

My husband has been traveling alot these past two weeks, and I was just wondering if it was a bad thing when the yellow light on the refrigerator that tells you to change the filter, turns red... I was just wondering.

It makes me think, how in the world would I survive without my husband. Yes, I am one of those who knows nothing about the bills, and I really don't need to be involved in that. To me balancing a checkbook is attempting to balance it, and then drawing a dark line in your check register, and then calling the bank and putting your new balance under that line. I have no idea how to fix anything, because my husband is such a fix it guy that I don't ever even have to figure it out. We don't even call repair people.

So needless to say I guess we'll just have to drink tap water until my husband gets home because I'm not sure what the filter looks like, and I'm afraid I might break something if I try to take it out. :-)

The "Bread of Life" is not for the birds

I was really disappointed in myself the other day. Me, the "people person" who can't stand the thought of one human being going to hell, and it being the drive that makes me able to give everything up and move my four young children away from all grandparents, cousins, and family to raise them in a different way than most of the planet...walked to the neighborhood pond to feed the neighborhood ducks. These are actually two white ducks who stay here year 'round and the neighborhood people all sort of look after them; including feeding them bread, and dog and cat food. Well, following the true sentiment of Charlotte Mason homeschooling, I try to take my kids on walks to look and talk about nature everyday if possible.

The other day we were walking toward the pond and I saw something I had never seen before. There were two teenage girls swimming in the pond, and one laying out beside the pond in a swim suit. First I thought that was very strange because I didn't know anybody who swam in that pond and thought there was probably a good reason. There is also a sign that says "No Tresspasing", which everyone knows is there to keep riff raff away. I then saw what looked like two younger brothers throwing rocks in the water and pestering and teasing each other and the girls.

As we got closer to the pond I noticed the ducks waddling fast along the shore, going in and out of the water like they couldn't figure out what to do. I then realized these boys were throwing rocks at "our" ducks. I watched for a minute and when I knew that that's what they were doing, I raised my voice so they could hear me across the way and told them not to throw rocks at the ducks. I think I actually had to tell them two times.

My children and I proceeded to get our bread out and feed the ducks as these two girls got out of the water, joined their friend who had been laying out, in gathering their things and their brothers and slowly walked near us to get out to the road to go home.

As I stood there with a little bit of satisfaction in my heart for defending "our" ducks, I don't know that God actually spoke to me, but a sadness came over me as I realized I cared more about those ducks than I did about meeting and loving on those kids with a conversation. I began to replay the scenario in my head that I went over and struck up a conversation with the girls and spoke a few words to the boys and showed them how hundreds of fish and a few turtles would come up if you threw bread in the water, knowing that I could have most likely won them over because that's just who God created me to be as a people person.

As I watched them walk away, they didn't go to any of the homes they were walking toward, but started walking down the street to the local rundown trailer park where there are known drugs and animal abuse. I can't tell you how sad I am now to think about how little I thought of them and their destiny.

Lord, help me not to look at the outward appearance, but to see every single person that ever crosses my path as a life You created and loved so much you died for. Help me to get over my own agenda if you have another plan for that moment that will plant a seed for someone to come into your kingdom. Father, I thank you that you did not see me as "riff raff", but came to me and found a way to my heart so that I have spent most of my life saved from so much heartache because I heard about you and wanted to follow you. Forgive me father, and I pray I have a different story next time a similar situation happens.

"God Stop" Moments

I read a friend of mine's blog, "The Atkinson 6", and would like to share some of it with you. You can go to their blog to read it in it's entirity.

My question is, have you ever felt God's presence in your life? Haven't you felt that peace melt over you from your head to your toes and felt completely whole? Have you ever had a moment, just a moment when you felt that everything was right in your universe and that if there was a perfect moment for you, it was right here and right now. That is God. He is pouring His wonderful love over you!

Beth Moore often talks about "God Stop" moments. Those are moments when something happens and you are stopped from making a serious mistake and you don't know why. It also could be that you take a different way to work and hear on the radio that the way you normally take had a bad accident on it or it could be that He stops you to open a door for you and place someone in your life that will lift you up and encourage at the exact moment that you need it! Moments where God Stops you and redirects your path for whatever reason.

When I read this blog, I thought, "Wow, this is exactly what God is doing in our (Mine & My husband's) life, and the peace and presence of God has melted over us in a way we can't even explain. God is redirecting our steps, and we are having a moment right here right now in our lives where we feel everything is right in our universe. It is a "perfect moment," and God is pouring His wonderful love over us. It's something neither of us has experienced in such a dramatic way before in our lives.

We know God has a deep love for every person in the universe, including the French people. We know God has given us a vision for what He is leading us to do. And we are seeing now the ways he has and is going before us to prepare every detail of His plan. We are humbled to be a part, and pray that we can be worthy of "the calling" He has placed on our lives.

I will be putting a link soon on my blog if you are interested in helping us reach this new generation of French People with the gospel in radical, relevant, artistic, and music jamming ways.

We love you Lord!!

Church Marketing Sucks

I came across this blog, Church Marketing Sucks, and it is now one of my favorites. I am posting a blog from from this site because I know everybody doesn't follow all the links, and I think it is worth reading. The thing that surprised me, though, were a couple of the comments on this blog that I will share with you after you read it.

How To Achieve 277% Growth(Filed under: Advertising)
by Joshua Cody, Intern

OK, so the title isn't fully accurate. But it is how one church did it. Eastpoint Community Church in Middletown, Del. had an incredibly simple, strategic and successful marketing campaign, detailed by Marketing Sherpa (membership required). Here's a quick summary of their story:

A small, young church, they were looking to reach a community saturated by a younger generation with a general disquietude towards the idea of church. They knew that an unobtrusive web site would bring just the proper message--we don't merely want to tally converts, but we want you to discover us. Thus the brainstorming began. They knew a web site alone would not be enough. How would people find it? So they created a place of interest--a web site, and they created a vehicle for reaching this place--a marketing campaign. Rather than spending countless hours and resources reinventing the wheel and discovering new methods of marketing, they turned to time-honored tactics. Mailers and a billboard (you know how we love to talk about billboards here at CMS).

They created the site, and they put up a billboard. The billboard didn't mention their physical address. It didn't mention their mission statement. It just read "Before you turn church off ... www.eastpoint.org". In addition to the billboard, they sent mailers to their community advertising the web site. The final piece of this puzzle was creating a web site that would matter. They decided to go with a web 2.0 feel and create a prayer wall and blogs. It seems that these efforts created a perfect storm in their community. Church attendance shot up 277% (I believe that must now include most of Deleware's population), and they're looking for a new building.

So now comes the dilemma. When looking at this model, have we found the perfect example for increasing church attendance? Hardly. Blogger Nathan Rice makes a great point that not everything is for everyone. I think we can look at this and the most we can say is, "Wow, they were sensitive to how their community would respond, and they acted accordingly." This campaign won't work for all churches or all communities, but it is a tremendous story of what happens when we remain aware of the world around us and create accordingly. Oh yes, and it's a subtle reminder to those 30% of you who said "Billboards are for truckers" that maybe billboards aren't so bad. (link via Mike Atkinson)

So now for the comments. One guy said, "Well that is great that it worked for them. However, I must say that I think the trick to growth (numbers and spiritual health) is going out into the community (after all, we can't expect people to come to us if we don't first go to them) and authenticity."

Another guy actually said: "Who cares about growth? 'Growth' has nothing to do with it. Love God and love others."

Are you kidding me?! Are these guys living in the 21st century?! Do they really care about the lost? Do they not think Christ is coming back soon, and if we don't get creative and figure out ways to get people in the door, to those people that we do not meet face to face aren't we saying, "You can go to hell, and I don't care because I love God and I loved my neighbor"... and yes we can expect people to come to if we don't first go to them! Can you tell that I am "hot" about this subject? Do any of these people work jobs that use marketing? If so, then why can the world use marketing, but the God who created the world, who did whatever it took to redeem the world, cannot do whatever it takes to get them in the door to hear this gospel?

I say, " Let's Praise God for Victory in Iraq!"

I am very disturbed about the comment made by one of our U.S senators this past week. He came out and said, "We have lost the war in Iraq." Now I realize he is of the opposite political party as the president and the battle between the two parties is always very disturbing to watch...

but...

Why have we as Christians not seen this as a spiritual battle? Why have we not risen up in prayer and said, "No Satan! You will not take this land! You have ruled it for a long time, but that time is over! Our God is more powerful and you were already defeated at the cross!" No matter if you are a democrat or a republican, if you are a Christian... this is a spiritual battle!

Do we realize (well, I actually didn't until I learned history through kindergarten homeschooling - imagine that) that Iraq is where the Garden of Eden was? This was where sin first entered the world; where the tower of Babel was built where men thought they could reach God, and God punished them. It is where Babylon was (a kingdom that ruled over Isael) that is mentioned in the endtimes prophesy... and if we do not see insurgents and the ones who are killing anybody and everybody through horrific bloodshed, including the innocent, as evil I don't know what evil is.

So if God is more powerful, and we are his people, and our men and women are over there fighting, and we are not on our faces before a holy God continually fighting the spiritual battle through praying and fasting expecting them to win, what is the point of having the power of God within us?! We are winners through Christ, and our nation is a nation blessed by God.

So I say let's pray people! Let's fall on our faces together continually so that we can help a nation defeat evil, and protect us and the rest of the world from this evil entering our country again. Let's pray for these poor Iraqi's who are going to live in this if we do lose this "war". We in America at least have the opportunity to hear the gospel. Most people in Iraq will never have this opportunity.

Let's pray like we have never prayed before! Let's pray for victory! Victory and protection for our troops and for the innocent Iraqi's. Let's pray for confusion among the ranks of terrorists like happened so many times in scripture when God's people won in crazy ways where they started killing each other; where a wall would fall when the believers shouted and praised God at the top of their lungs. Let's shout unto God for victory! Our country is worth it. Our troops are worth it, and our God is definitely worth the glory of victory even in a war that some say "is lost." Let's show them who our God is and who really has the power... it is not them, it is us.

In The Trenches of Motherhood

Can I just say I love the blog "In the trenches of motherhood". You can link to her from my sight. This is a lady who I think has 6 kids, homeschools, and has a heart to share her struggles and things she has learned and is learning with other moms.

She is pretty, organized (or should I say obsessively organized), young, and really makes me look bad... but she is funny, and very real, doesn't have perfect kids, and I laugh usually because she is saying what I want to say.

I have copied a blog she wrote, because I couldn't figure out how to link it (go figure) :-) So read and enjoy.

Time for bed!Tuesday, November 7th, 2006
I frequently get emails asking me about bedtime and to share my routine. I have resisted mostly because it is chaotic and not very worthy of holding up as some sort of shining example of having it all together.

I am all about bedtime, as in the time my children go to bed, not the time they go to sleep. To me there is a difference. I can’t control their sleep habits, nor do I try. All my children, aside from the youngest two. have reading lights next to their beds. They are allowed to stay up and read quietly on in their beds, play with their Leapsters, or even play a quiet card game with their room mate. Quiet is the keyword for all of these activities.

If they are not quiet I will come upstairs and remind them, or yell at the ceiling downstairs.
As I tell my children, bedtime is not about them, it is about me. At night I need to be off duty and relax without having to attend to the needs of other people. End of the story. Whether or not they are tired doesn’t factor into the equation at all.

My 3 and almost 2 yr olds had been staying up pretty late, past the time that the others went to bed. But I took advantage of the time change to push both of their bedtimes back. My 3 yr old is now going to bed between 7:00 and 7:30, and she is falling asleep almost immediately. She used to spend the 7:00 hour completely would up, running around like lunatic and making her siblings who were trying to relax angry.

I have found that children, generally speaking, act wild and hyper when they are tired. It almost seems counter-intuitive, but sleep seems to beget sleep.

Bedtime is my least favorite time of the day. It is usually chaotic feeling. People are tired and cranky and I don’t have a much left in the way of patience. I really just want everyone to get with the program and shower, brush their teeth and put on their pajamas like they do EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. But yet, every night they act as if they have never brushed their teeth, showered, or worn pajamas. And inevitably I end up yelling at someone for something and then I feel bad, because who wants to end their day on a bad note?

Last night I tried to jot down everything as it happened so that I could “live” blog it. It is pretty much the same every night, just switch the kids and the scenarios around.

Isn't it nice to know you're not alone! (and I thought I was the only one who yelled at the ceiling)

A Recovering Newsaholic

I am amazed at this new life without satellite. With this horrible thing that has happened at Virginia Tech, if we had satellite I would have watched it 24/7; I am a recovering newsaholic. The amazing thing (thank goodness for computers) I was able to keep up with the news and still run my house, pray for what is going on in the world, focus on God through all of it, and not have my children know every detail about every killing and the killer himself.

When the Jon Benet Ramsey thing came back into the news this past December,and we were at the grocery store where they would see her on a magazine cover they would say, "Look mommy! It's Jon Benet Ramsey." That's when I knew we needed to get rid of satellite. I can only imagine what else has been impressed into their brain before and since then.

Guys Rules

If you want a good laugh, go to my hubby's blog and read his excerpt from his yesterday's post.

A Walk of Faith

The past few days and weeks have been amazing. It's so interesting how God prepares you for a new step or direction. My husband and I have been overwhelmed with God's love and peace. We have heard his voice encouraging us on. We have seen his hand slowly begin to open the door to something. We had been sensing something new was going to happen, but it never is usually what you think.

The past few days God has blessed my husband with so many people who are excited about what God has put on his heart in France and we have begun to prepare our belongings to leave. No we don't have any exact dates yet, but we know the time is soon. God has worked this way in my life so many times before, but this is an exciting step of faith for Ken. He has a number of conferences coming up that he is going to, with alot of likeminded people; Church planters who are radical about reaching the lost and who are willing to follow Christ into this crazy life no matter what the cost.

Most people who live this way have to prepare themselves to: lose friendships, be thought of as radical, go against the barage of traditional thinkers who criticize them, and for Satan to use these types of situations to try to destroy them.

I am so proud of my husband. He has been walking through the fire these past three years, and he has come out more refined and beautiful on the other side. He has entered dark times of discouragement, felt totally alone, has been tempted to quit, has had his character attacked by leaders he admired... but what Satan has meant for evil God is using for good. He has handled each and every situation Biblically and with much kindness and grace (much more so than I wanted to give in many situations), and God is blessing him for it.

And as with each time of testing, if one continues to seek God and handle each situation with the grace and dignity of Christ, and in obedience to His word, we get what some people call a "breakthrough;" meaning a breakthrough from the struggle and pain, through to where one finds victory and the next step in God's plan... and I believe we are there, and God is preparing our minds and our hearts, and we are preparing our external belongings, for God's next move in our lives.

"I thank you father that you love us. I thank you that you created us all with specific gifts, talents, and personalities to fulfill your work. I thank you that you believe in us when no one else does and that you call us to live a life of faith that brings glory to you. I thank you that you are our Friend, and our Shepherd, and that you have a life prepared for us more exciting and wonderful than we could ever think or imagine. I thank you that if we would walk in obedience and faith in every situaion, you will use us to reach the world... and I thank you that you have chosen Ken and I (two very imperfect humans who need alot of work) to reach the lost in Europe beginning in France. I pray that by your power we will continue to die to self and walk by faith, and that you would use us to bring millions to the saving knowledge of Christ."

"Do you have permission to talk to me?"

Wow! My husband rferred to this blog this morning and passed it on to me. It is from a marketer, Seth Godin, who really hits the nail on the head. We as the church do have to compete with the world, and if this is what they are learning, then lets listen and learn.


I got more mail about this story in the Washington Post than any other non-blog topic ever. I saw it when it first came out, but didn't blog it because I thought the lesson was pretty obvious to my readers. [World-class violinist plays for hours in a subway station, almost no one stops to listen]. The experiment just proved what we already know about context, permission and worldview. If your worldview is that music in the subway isn't worth your time, you're not going to notice when the music is better than usual (or when a famous violinist is playing). It doesn't match the story you tell yourself, so you ignore it. Without permission to get through to you, the marketer/violinist is invisible.
But why all the mail? (And the Post got plenty too). Answer: I think it's because people realized that if they had been there, they would have done the same thing. And it bothers us.

It bothers us that we're so overwhelmed by the din of our lives that we've created a worldview that requires us to ignore the outside world, most of the time, even when we suffer because of it. It made me feel a little smaller, knowing that something so beautiful was ignored because the marketers among us have created so much noise and so little trust.

I don't think the answer is to yell louder. Instead, I think we have an opportunity to create beauty and genius and insight and offer it in ways that train people to maybe, just maybe, loosen up those worldviews and begin the trust.


I think there are alot of churches in the U.S. that get it, and thousands of people enter their doors because they have used marketing to gain permission to share the gospel. Many of these are the curches so many criticize because they are big. You don't have to be big to reach the world, but if you keep on reaching and are teaching others to learn how to gain permission to share the gospel, then you will continue to grow in numbers in some way. I say that if you are not trying to be big(for the sake of winning as many to Christ as you can) then you care more about feeling comfortable in your church environment than you are about people destined for hell. So to those mega churches who are gaining permission, and those small ones who are doing everything to get the lost in their doors, (and wreaking havock at the gates of hell), I say, "You go guys!!"

Rabbit Ears - And I don't mean Easter Bunny

Well, we have officially entered the world of life without satellite or cable. This just started this past monday, so we'll see if this "news junkie" and "Law & Order groupie" (myself) will begin having withdrawals or not.

Actually when I was single (beginning college age), even up until I was 30, I did not have a T.V., and I had so much fun. I read books, wrote letters, visited people, took walks, talked to friends, played games, and had lots of time with God. It was great!

Well, we'll see how life with four kids and no Satellite is. Yes, we still have T.V., and I do catch the news whenever I can, but I am enjoying this so far. I'm getting alot done, going to bed earlier, spending more time with God, catching up with some old friends, getting motivated with homeschooling... and really overall enjoying life a little more so far.

Jesus has risen and so has my Faith

Today is Easter and I am more excited about life than I have ever been. Most people would think that something obviously great has happened in my life. Actually a few things that appear negative have happened.

If you have read my last two blogs you will have read about a baby who is still fighting to live, and I can honestly say, Baby Isaac has changed my life forever (Go to this blog to see an Awesome Mighty God). Things I have learned from his parents are grace and strength and faith in the midst of devestating odds. I have learned to go to scripture in all things and find out who God really is.

A small "situation" in mine and my husband's life, may turn into a much larger situation, and could change our life forever. In our human nature it could seem like a very negative thing, but amazingly we have both confidently thought, "what Satan means for evil, God will use for good"... and we are more excited than ever about where God is leading us.

I am being vague about this situation because it is not resolved yet, but the amazing thing is that in the past when things like this have happened before, I would be really hurt and anxious, and almost unable to continue my normal daily activities until it was resolved. During this situation with Baby Isaac, I have spent much time in prayer and fasting, up late at night in God's Word and waiting and yearning and singing praise songs to Him and about Him, really wanting to know who God is and to see the God of scripture, especially as Healer... and God has changed me. When this current situation arose, I knew I was changed, because the peace and joy I feel in the midst of this "situation" is unexplainable.

I have come to know who God is in a new way, and I know He is in control. I know He loves me and has a plan for me (and my husband). I know He has given us a dream and a vision and I know He will fulfill that dream He has given us if we continue to live in obedience and follow Him.

Thank you Father for letting me know you. I still want to know you more. I especially want to see you as Healer in Baby Isaac's life. I thank you that you are our Shepherd and we never have to worry about where we are going, because you are leading us, and You go before us to prepare the way.

Babyleino.blogspot.com - PICTURE!!

PICTURE of baby Issacc !!

Today has been an amazing and yet exhausting day. I have fasted and prayed and really feel like God is challenging me to really know him. To understand that untangible thing called "faith." What exactly is faith? Some think it's a name it and claim it sort of thing... and maybe it is to an extent.

I put Baby Isaac on the Brooklyn Tabernacle prayer list (along with many other prayer lists). I did this because Brooklyn Tabernacle choir has an amazing understanding of prayer and the church has weekly prayer meetings where thousands attend. They sent back a response that said they will pray for a prayer request for 30 days, and also some words of encouragement. They gave the verses:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he will hear us. And if we know that he hears us --whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said in a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about man. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, "Grant me justice against my advesary."
For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!"
And the Lord said, listen to what the unjust judge says. And will God not bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:1-8)

So what do these things mean? I don't believe it means we always get what we want... but I do believe we as God's people, His representation of Christ on the earth, don't test God enough on his word, and his promises. I believe He wants us to know him in all aspects of his being: Healer, Provider, Comforter, Savior (He not only saves us from hell, He saves us from ourselves), Father, All-Powerful, All-knowing, Omnipresent, Friend, Companion through life, Defender, ...

I do believe that doctors, psychyatrists, jobs, etc. are needed, but we as Christians, I think, rely too much on the tangible things of this world and not enough on who God is.

In being part of this choir of prayers, I have come to know God more through this experience than any experience yet in my life. I believe God has responded to our persistent, continual, unending prayer. I believe Isaac would have died had we not joined together in a loud chorus to our compassionate Heavenly Father who understands the death of a son. I believe He wants to show himself as miraculous Healer in this situation, and I don't always believe that... but we must continue!! We must be like the persistent widow, and as we wait on him, we learn more about him. We sit in his presence and we dig into his word, and we spread the word because we know "the effective powerful prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

FAST AND PRAY for Baby Isaac

I just want anybody who has visited my blog or who is looking at this blog for the first time to check out babyleino.blogspot.com. This is a 5 week old baby who is clinging to life.

I have been involved in prayer meetings before, but never one like this. Because I am a stay at home mom, I refresh my blog about every 10 minutes when I walk by my computer to see if there is an update on baby Isaac, or to read another prayer or encouragement someone has posted. I truly feel like there is a wave of prayers and praise being ushered to the throne of God all day long and all night long. Baby Isaac has been put on prayer lists all over the world. This has been an amazing journey and it is not over yet.

Tomorrow is a day of fasting and prayer for baby Isaac. Let anyone you know join us for this amazing journey. God has taught me more about prayer in this past week than I learned my entire life of walking with the Lord.

Tonight also as I was reading the kids bedtime story, we read about Jarius the Synagogue ruler whose daughter was very sick and dying and he went to find Jesus. By the time he got home she was dead and Jesus healed her. After reading this story I was thinking of all the stories in the Bible about a sick or dying person and I realized there are no examples of a person sick or dying where someone sought Jesus out to heal them and he did not heal them... None!

So what does this tell me? Maybe this says that we have no idea what it is to call on God with believing prayer. We've all known someone who was on the brink of dying and we said we would pray for them. But how did we pray for them? Was it one sentence in the middle of dinner or bedtime prayer, or was it peristent continual prayer calling on everyone you know and finding they are actually joining you.

Well, this is what babyleino.blogspot.com has become. There are people who have never met Jordan and Patience who are fasting and praying and waking up in the middle of the night to pray (Me being one of them, except for that I know them). And I am not this crazy charismatic person who "names it and claims it," but I really believe God is going to heal baby Isaac. Maybe I am wrong in all my thinkings, but if we are to look to scripture to see who God is, that is what I see... just a thought.