40 days of Fasting and Renewal

I am so proud of my husband... He just completed his second 40 day fast yesterday. He and I did a fast in 1998 along with many from the Campus Crusade for Christ organization founded by Bill Bright who sort of brought the idea of fasting back into the 21st Century. In 1998 Ken fasted all food and took in limited nutrients. I fasted all solid food, but kept my calorie intake up (soups, ensure, shakes, juice, etc.) because I was already very small and was coaching a girls track team and running with them. Anyway, it was an amazing experience for both of us.

You can read more about his recent fast on his blog... but the most amazing thing about it was that unlike 9 years ago, he has a family and he was around food all the time and could not take alot of breaks where he could just go hide and lay around when he felt tired or weak. I know humanly speaking it had to be unbearable temptation.... But during this fast instead of going and hiding when it was dinner time, he was often the one in the kitchen making some gourmet meal, often including dessert for the whole family. He was such a servant. He also went to a number of family functions where there was lots of food and desserts and people... and he quietly went about helping with all our kids at meal times so he would not have to announce to the world he was fasting. I know he doesn't want all this praise, but I am just so proud of him. I know how hard it is to fight "the flesh"... and he won (well Christ won).

It has been an interesting time for me though... I feel like I sort of fasted vicariously through him and grew spiritually in amazing ways. I did fast off and on with a "Daniel fast" our Church is doing, but for the most part I just supported him and cheered him on, watched God grow us closer together, watched God grow both of us, and am amazed at how He continues to clarify the vision He has given us.

God has definitely confirmed our hearts are definitely for Europe, not just for France... and we are not sure of all the details yet, but just as the last day of the fast came, God began moving in ways that we are excited to see the fulfillment of.

From "Magnificent Mile" to "Battleship Half-Marathon" God is still in control

God has once again surpassed my expectations. Two weekends ago I opened the season with a 5k (March of Dimes 5k). Didn't run a great time, but I was thankful to win. This past weekend I ran the first race in the local Grand Prix road racing series. It was a mile race, the event I ran in college, but not something I was looking forward to. My college teammates and I have a saying, "As you get older you run longer because the short races are just too painful to train for and to race.

Last season I ran a 10 mile race, something I never chose to do on purpose because it just seemed too long and painful. But because there was prize money, and it was in a small town, and we needed Christmas money to buy presents for our kids, I decided to think of it as a long run day, hope no one good showed up, and see if God might just bless us.... Well, that happened. I actually ran a great time, won the race, and really enjoyed myself. The race was so much more relaxed than the intense mile and 5k races I have run for years.

After that race I began to set my sights on a half-marathon because... well all the real runners run marathons and half-marathons. As we began looking into it, we realized how much it was going to cost to enter a race... and then you have to pay for housing and gas and food... and where we were at in life (then and even now) that was just not going to happen. So I chalked it up to a good idea and decided to run whatever God opened up in our town and that we could afford.

So after this opening mile race of the Grand Prix series, and not really training for it, I found myself pleasantly surprised. I ran a decent time (5:26), won the masters, unknowingly broke the NC state masters record, got 8th overall right at the back end of the elite pack, and was very excited to experience the feeling of running fast again. Now after the race is where God showed up, and I believe revealed to me His blessing for waiting on him and not getting all stressed out because what I wanted to begin doing last season didn't happen.

A race director and coach from UNC Chapel Hill that I have known for years came up to me and asked if I'd be interested in running two championship races he was helping put on. One was a local 5k (The Second Empire 5k) and the other was a half-marathon (OBX Half-Marathon) at the Outer Banks in NC. He then said he would pay my entry fees and housing for my whole family, and that I very likely would win some prize money.

I sort of stood there in unbelief. Every runner wants to be an invited elite runner where the race director pays your expenses to come and participate in their race. So I stood there in awe of God's timing and His ways. I didn't try to force things to happen last year, and now God has gone beyond my expectations. I am being invited all expenses paid to do something I was trying to force into happening last year... okay, so now I have to train for a half-marathon I wasn't really preparing for, but I guess God also has a sense of humor in his surprises.

In all this God reminds me that when His timing is perfect, everything will fall into place for Ken and I and our kids to go to Europe and help plant dynamic radical churches that will reach this generation... all expenses paid.

I Have Fought the Good Fight, I Have Finished the Race, I Have Kept the Faith

I love this post by Pastor Jim of Enon Chapel in Midway Park, NC... because my dream in life was always to make an Olympic Team as a runner.

The 1981 Oscar winning film, Chariots of Fire, tells the true life story of two men, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, and their paths to and involvement in the Games of the VIII Olympiad (1924) in Paris. In an early scene in the movie, Harold Abrahams, has just suffered his first-ever defeat in a race. Afterwards, he sits alone pouting in the bleachers. His girlfriend approaches him and tries to encourage him. He rudely rejects her efforts and bellows in rage, “If I can’t win, I won’t run!” Calmly and wisely she replies, “If you don’t run, you can’t win.”

Abrahams took her counsel and continued his pursuit of Olympic gold. He qualified for the British National team and sailed to France to compete. At 7:00 PM (local time in Paris) on July 7, 1924, Harold Abrahams won the Olympic Gold Medal in the hundred-meter dash, beating all the American favorites, including the 1920 Gold medal winner, Charlie Paddock.

Eric Liddell, who grew up a missionary kid and eventually went back to China with his family, represented Britain in these same Olympics. He was known for his conviction not to run on Sunday even in the face of winning an Olympic medal. He therefore forfeited his 100m race, and ran the 400m the next day, beating the race favorite and setting a new world record. He is a hero of mine and made two of my favorite quotes: "When I run I feel God's pleasure." and "God made me for a purpose; that purpose was China, but He also made me fast."

Abram's was definitely faithful to continue his dream and not quit and his dream came true, but Eric was faithful unto death serving Christ on the mission field in China. He spent 18 years after his Olympic medal in China, his last couple of years at a rural mission station in Shaochang where they were desperately short of medical help and the living conditions were rough. He was then moved to a safe camp for missionaries when the Japanese took over the mission station during the Chinese and Japanese war. He died there of a brain tumor, many think due to stressful work conditions and malnutrition.

God gives so many of us dreams that we do not need to give up on, but do we keep on running when our dreams do or do not come true? Do we have a view of the lost as we chase after the dreams God has put in our heart? Can you really say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Tim. 4:7)?

What would you do?

I read this post by Tim Stevens on his blog, Leading Smart. It's a real gut check on how many judgements I make every day about those around me. I would probably have ran over to see if I could help because I'm the ultimate "rubberknecker". My judgements do, though, keep me from sharing Christ every day in many situations. What would you have done in this situation?

On Saturday it was my goal to stay home all day, but just after lunch I had to run down to the corner nursery to pick up my fertilizer. I was on my way back when I noticed something very strange. There was a car that was pointed at a 45-degree downward with its back wheels in the air. The driver had tried to jump a curb not realizing there was an 18-inch drop-off between the gas station parking lot and the lot next door. His car was perched on the curb and he was in deep trouble. My first thought, which I said aloud, "Oh my. Sucks to be you."

I watched for a few minutes as two guys circled the car considering their options. The two guys circling the car were punks. They had body piercings everywhere, tattoos all over. I'd guess them to be about 20-years old. I'm just staring, amazed, wondering what these idiots were thinking when they tried to jump the curb. Then I noticed the car model. It was a newer model, luxury car. It was easily a $50k car. Then I got even more disgusted. These punks are driving around in daddy's car and just messed it up.

That's when I started realizing how wrong I was. There were three little kids still in the car and their dad was driving. I looked past the "punks" and saw a young Hispanic man and his wife, very shook-up, trying to figure out what to do.

These young white "punks" had stopped their car to help the Hispanic man in distress.

As I finished pumping, one of the "punks" called out at me. "Hey, can you give us a hand?" They had analyzed the situation and figured with 4 or 5 men they could lift the car off the curb and get this guy on his way. I would never have attempted that or even thought it was possible. But within about 10 minutes, 4 of us (through the very capable leadership of the "punks") got the Hispanic family on their way. The driver quickly grabbed his wallet and offered to pay the "punks" but they waved him off, got back in their car, and drove away. They didn't want money or recognition. They were just there to help.

I got back in my car feeling guilty for my quick judgmentalism. I wasn't happy I could help--I was aware that I would have just watched from behind my car if the "punk" hadn't called out.

Pride is so subtle. It twists its way through our hearts and makes us less than Jesus-like.

Proverbs 29:23- "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor."

Are you following Christ or the Christians?

I got this quote off of a new pastor's blog my husband and I are reading. His name is Vince Antonucci. My husband heard this guy speak at a conference, and just recently started reading his blog. In this particular blog he is talking about physically becoming sick when he realized how far he had come from interacting with and reaching "lost people". At the end of this experience he summed it up with this:

We find God’s heart for lost people by being around lost people, and we lose it when we’re not. So here’s the question I continually have to ask myself: What can I do to get myself around lost people? Because if I’m going to improve at reaching lost people, I need to understand and have God’s heart for them.

His church is definitely on the edge, and we (Ken & I) love seeing how he continually has "the lost" in His head. His blog is a great read, and it has a different flavor than some of your typical pastor bloggers. He came out of a totally unchurched secular lifestyle and shares alot of himself in his blog, and has some great insight into reaching the totally unchurched... because he was one.

It's so easy as a Christian to isolate ourselves from the world as we try to keep ourselves and our families from temptation, but at some point we must come out... if we don't who will? Satan is already out there reaching them and enjoying watching the "Holy Bubble" or "Holy Huddle" so many of us live in.

"Father keep me open to anyone who may come across my path that may have no other opportunity to hear the gospel... Keep me out in the world so that I can be reminded over and over and over that it is for these that you came: the lost and dying and hurting and messed up hopeless people. They are still out there even if we ignore them... but you do not... You are just waiting for a willing soul to leave the Holy Huddle and become all that you created them to be. Thank you Father... for choosing to use me. I only hope I can be worthy of your calling."

Giving Up To Get What's Best.

All things work together for good according to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Have you ever given something up for God or allowed Him to take something away gracefully knowing that He who is able and is in control, has your best interest in mind. Isn't it so hard to believe that when you're in the midst of something that you have had to give up or had taken away. I think we all watched in great awe of how Jordan and Patience Leino gave up their son gracefully trusting that God who is able to heal knew what was best.

In a much minor but significant way, God has reminded me that so often if we will give something up we so badly want to hang onto, He will give us something so much greater. As some of you know about a month ago the night we got home from a long trip at 2am in the morning, I let our cat out, not sure how much he had gotten to be out while we were gone, and he got attacked by a dog and we had to put him to sleep the next day.

We had only had this cat for about a year, but he was the best pet. He loved the kids and slept at the foot of my bed or one of the kids beds every night. He would even wake us up if something was wrong with one of the kids. Anyway, I just didn't really understand why God had to take him away. I know there are so many things so much more important, but I really missed taking care of my cat and all the things you get use to doing with a pet. A few days after we had to put him to sleep, I called a friend to ask if she knew anyone who had any kittens because the kids and I were really wanting to get another one. She said her sister-in-law had a cat that had just had kittens and would be getting rid of them in a few weeks.

Well, we went over and visited her and played with her sweet kittens and planned to come back in a few weeks. Now I had met this lady before. She had had two kids at that time around the same ages as my two. A couple of years later we both had had a third and fourth about the same time, so we had 4 kids all within 3 months of each other in age. The first time I met her what I saw was a very attractive put together woman who seemed to have it all together, and her kids seemed very sweet and obedient. I thought, "I will have absolutely nothing in common with this woman, as my boys ran around wrestling and acting... well like boys...

There were many times her niece (our babysitter) would talk about how her aunt was at the end of her rope and how we should get together. There was always the thought of calling her, but I was controlled by my first impression, not what I know now was the Holy Spirit putting something on my heart to do.

From the first phone call asking about the cats... it was like calling an old friend. We talked about so many things without ever feeling like we were keeping the other one on the phone. Maybe we were so starved for adult conversation dealing with 4 kids, ages 6,5,3, and 2 all day long and homeschooling. We have since gotten our kids together many times, and they just click. I have had many friends as an adult, but none that just clicked like this. She is so laid back like me, and we struggle with so many of the same things, and our kids played great together (meaning they played and fought and played again like brother and sister).

A few days ago as I was thanking God for this friendship, and I began to think through that I would never had gotten to know this person if my cat had not been killed and her cat had not had kittens, and how God orchestrated the perfect scenario to bring us together. Now if God will go to the extent of bringing all this about to give me a friend, and maybe her a friend also, even when I ignored His attempt to get me to call her a year or two ago, how much more does He want to take all the good things in our lives and make them great. How much more does He want to orchestrate the perfect scenario to reach that one lost person or the millions who have never heard the gospel.

So next time when things don't seem to make sense, or maybe God has taken something away, or is asking you to give something up that is hard to let go of, don't let Satan get a foot hold by complaining or getting angry or getting depressed because things don't seem to be working out how you planned or wanted. Trust that God who knows all things, who is kind and loving and who only wants to bring people to himself, knows what is best. He may be wanting to give you something so awesome you can't even imagine, you just have to give something up to get what is best.

...Of course if you listen to Him in the first place He may not have to take something away to get your attention. :-)

61.2 Million People With No Relevant Witness

Recent findings include the fact that the population of metropolitan France now stands at 61.2 million people, while the number of births continues to rise and people are living longer.

These are the headline figures from INSEE's most recent population survey which provides a snap shot of the country on January 1, 2006.

Their work shows that the population of France is getting older with 16 per cent of inhabitants aged 65 years or older, which is a little over one per cent greater than ten years earlier.

In the same period, the proportion of young people below 20 years old dropped from 26.3 per cent to 25.1 per cent, while the proportion of people aged 20 to 64 years old is practically unchanged.

But again the number of births rose in 2005, with 807,800, close to the figure for 2000 (808,200 births) and confirms the trend towards an increase that has prevailed since 2003.

France, alongside Ireland, has the highest fertility rate among the 25 countries of the European Union.

Please pray with us for the 61.2 million people who have almost no relevant witness to the gospel. Just yesterday a pastor from England saw our website and contacted us saying he was interested in working with us to reach other cities in France... It's so exciting to feel like you are part of something much larger than yourself. God is doing some amazing things in and around us. Joining in praying for God's power to continue to be poured out over us and France and that we will see a pouring out of His Spirit all over France and Europe in our lifetime.

Answered By Fire

I watched a television special last night called, "Answered by fire." Answered by Fire is a two-part mini-series based on the 1999 East Timor conflicts that led to East Timor's independence. The story is a fictionalised account of a team of international observers, primarily police from nations such as Canada and Australia, working on behalf of the UN in order to arrange and run the vote for independence in East Timor. It is obvious early on that not all is well in the troubled region, with massacres of entire families leaving no doubt in the mind of the UN officers that the Pro-Indonesian Militia are attempting to subvert the independence proceedings. The list of voters seems to be becoming a death-list, scaring more and more from registering themselves.

It is about one of those brutal realities we in America and other civilized countries will probably never have to face: living in a third world country, being brutalized by militia with no protection from our government. Brothers and fathers being taken away never to be seen again, sisters and mothers taken to be raped over and over by the enemy and sometimes the corrupt government; little kids being sold into slavery, the sex trade, or to fight for the enemy...

I love and I hate watching these types of shows. It's really hard to watch, and you just want to turn the T.V. off and try to forget the reality; which is actually pretty easy as we turn up the air conditioner, go fix lunch, pick up the tons of toys our kids have strewn on the floor, and call a friend for coffee next week.

One line in the movie which was made by a Timorese translator working with the UN said, "If I were born somewhere else, I could go to school or get a job, and my mother would still be alive."Many innocent men women and children were slaughtered in this movie because they wanted to vote to become autonomous from the Indonesian Government. It is a great movie to watch if you can catch it when it is on sometime.

It renews my desire to pray for those around the world who live and have lived in this sort of atmosphere their whole lives. Those in Darfur who have been in pain and suffering for so many years. "Lord, have mercy on them and completely destroy their enemy." The common people in Iraq who are being killed every day only because of where they live. "Father, have mercy on them and spare their lives and let them know You as their Savior." The suffering orphans in Africa who are sick and starving to death. "Father feed them and heal them and let them find you as a Father."

And there are so many more around the world I know nothing about.... and in actuality it hurts to know more, but just because I want to stick my head in the sand does not mean it is not a reality for a 40 year old mom just like me across the world who is taken for the pleasure of an enemy, an 8 year old girl who is prostituted out in India, or a 4 year old in Africa who is sick and starving with no hope in sight.

Father, break my heart... keep my eyes open... and then drive me to my knees daily to do the only thing I can do... and that is to pray to the one who is in control of it all to find them and heal them and save them and have mercy on a lost and sick and sinful dying world...

Be Still And Know That I Am God

These past two weeks have been so awesome! ... and I am not sure why.

Maybe its because even though we never really stop doing homeschool... we have a great schedule going, I have two kids to homeschool this year, and I love Charlotte Mason (the schooling philosophy I follow), and they seem to really be learning.

...or maybe its because the weather is cooling down a bit and I ran 4 days in a row, 6-7 miles every day, and I wasn't able to do that last year. I would run one day and then have to take off two days. I am so excited about his Fall's road racing season.

... or maybe it's because there are so many birthdays between August and September in my family that there are parties every week... and I love parties! (I especially love it when it's one of my kids birthdays and our friends stay all day :-)

... or maybe it's the atmosphere that happens when school starts, and fall sports start, and you start hearing highschool bands, and you go to high school football games and relive you high school days (if they were good... and mine were).

... or maybe it's because my precious husband made dinner this past week for me, a 7-cheese Lasagna from scratch. It took him hours, and I think that is so romantic. I love a man who can cook something besides hamburger helper.

... Or maybe it's College Football Season!!!!!!! Go Vols!!! (by the time you read this hopefully Tennesse will have beaten Cal (UC Berkley... they are playing right now!)

...or maybe it's because both my husband and myself have sensed a quietness in our Spirit, a peace we have not felt in a long time or maybe have never felt... and we continually sense God saying, "Be still and know that I am God..." and when we went and found the passage in scripture (Psalms 46:10) we realized the rest said, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

... yes, I think that is it... that is why life feels so good right now. God is still in control... and He has my life in His hands.

Are You Family?

I read this on a pastors blog this morning and wanted to share it with you... it is awesome and reminds me of what happens when someone enters the family of God. I reminds me of what God thinks about me... about all of us. I can hardly wait for the homecoming celebration for the French and eventually other Europeans. Now I could plan that party.... okay, I could be the social chairman at that party. :-)

The movie, Antwone Fisher, is the true story of a young man abandoned at birth by his mother and raised in abusive foster homes, orphanages, and reform schools. After his 18th birthday, Antwone attempts to escape the horror of his past by joining the navy. It is there his bitterness and anger surfaces and he becomes embroiled in a series of scuffles. After several fights, he is considered a disciplinary problem and is ordered to undergo counseling.

Psychologist Jerome Davenport probes Fisher's past to find the root of his present difficulties. After hearing Antwone's story, he encourages him to find his family in an attempt to promote healing. After several phone calls, Fisher reaches one aunt and uncle in Cleveland. He arranges a visit with them and they escort him to a dilapidated apartment complex where his mother lives.

Fisher's knock at her door is answered by a suspicious and aloof woman. As she realizes that Antwone is the child she gave up at birth, she retreats to another room, sits down on a soiled and worn couch, and begins silently crying. Antwone asks for an explanation as to why she gave him up and never sought him out. She cannot answer. She simply stares ahead, not daring to look at him, while tears roll down her expressionless face.

He gently kisses her on the cheek as if to say, "I forgive you" and walks away devastated; feeling helpless and alone. His mother remains on the couch and stares at nothing; making no effort to reach out to him as he leaves. A despondent son leaves the apartment with his questions unanswered and rides back to his aunt’s house with his uncle.

As he exits the car, his slow gait betrays the loneliness of a man with no hope of a meaningful connection to anyone. As Antwone enters the front door, however, his world changes. He is met with a chorus of cheers from 50 plus relatives, all waiting to meet Fisher for the first time. There are cousins, uncles, and family friends all greeting him with hugs, slaps on the back, and beaming smiles. The hallway stairs are filled with kids holding up signs with his name scribbled next to crayola-sketched smiley faces and rainbows. One cousin tells him his name is Edward and adds, "I’m named after your dad." An older aunt squeezes his face in her hands, while Antwone, overwhelmed, tries to take it all in.

He is then led into the next room where a grand feast is spread across a long table. The table is overflowing with chicken, mashed potatoes, pancakes, fruit salad, and many other dishes. The room is prepared for a party in his honor. For the first time in his life, Antwone is the center of attention and the focus of every one's affection. You can see it in his face, as it slowly dawns on him, that for the first time he belongs...he is family.

Vive l' Automne en France

According to "This French Life" "many people say that the best time to visit France is in September and October, when the tourists have gone home but the weather is still lovely and warm." It is also about a quarter of the price to come in the off season ($300 vs $1200).

This French Life lists a number of festivals and events celebrating the harvesting of the crops, as well as discover the work of artists and savour the talents of musicians.

For those of you who are following our journey to France, pick a festival and come visit us. We expect to take in France in every way we possibly can when we get there as long as God leaves us there. We then expect to take on Europe in more ways than one (spiritually as well as historically and astheically).

Here is a list of just a few of the festivals listed by This French Life:

Antique market, Saint Quentin, Picardy

Over 1,500 stalls will take part in a fair that existed before the Great War and it has been growing ever since. Typical Picard dishes will be served such as tripe and black pudding.
September 3
Pumpkin & Wine festival, Chateau du Rivau, Centre Val de Loire
In the magical setting of the Château du Rivau, the festival offers pumpkin juggling for children as well as vegetable garden festivities, arts & crafts, a gourmet market and workshops for the rest of the family.
September 9
Jewellery Festival, St Martin-de-Valamas, Ardèche
Two thirds of French jewels are created in the Boutières region, among them, those of Christian Lacroix and Thierry Mugler.
September 15 and 16
Accordion Festival, Tulle, Limousin
The 19th edition of this annual festival known as the “Nuits de Nacre”.
From September 13 to 16
Seafood Festival, Granville, Normandy
16 regional chefs will be demonstrating their cooking prowess at the Halles de Granville with a spread of the best variety of Norman seafood.
September 29 and 30
Wine harvest festival, Tarascon, Provence
Big fair to celebrate the harvest with wine and gastronomy, abrivado, parades and a motorbike rally.
October 6 and 7
Fiesta des Suds, Marseille
During eight days and nights of festivities, discover various cultures and music with four concerts every night, from reggae, rock, soul, electro, sounds from Africa and Brazil.
From October 19 to 31

Wake Up Church!

I found this true excerpt from a pastors blog I follow. This little story came from an actual 4 year old at Cramerton Baptist Church (I have no idea where that is).

As they were getting ready to go to “big church,” the Sunday school teacher decided to prepare her class for the upcoming worship service. So she asked one of her brightest students, four year old Holly, "Why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"

Holly looked up and replied in complete sincerity, "Because people are sleeping."

As funny as that is, that is the reason we see this new generation of churches that are relevant and exciting in the U.S. People can hardly wait to go to church because they like the music, and they are dying to get out of the mess they have gotten themselves into in their lives, so they listen to everything the pastor says and apply it because it is applicable. It is an amazing concept, but for those of you who grew up in church and ever fell asleep in church, you know what I am talking about.

Sadly to say the young generation in Europe have actually surpassed this phase with no relevant exciting church to fill the void. Their parents quit going to church because it was boring and had no relevance to their lives... they began to sleep, and now the kids have no experience with church... yet they are searching. Even as I write this my heart gets heavy and I find it hard to breath... my heart aches for the emptiness the people in France feel and long to fill. They have food, they have jobs, they have homes, yet they have no hope.

Ken and I are so humbled by what God is doing in us in order to be able to use us to fulfill the dream He has put in our hearts. And trust me their is alot of work to do. We actually see a light at the end of the tunnel. We know we are going and we know how we are going to get there. We know now He is going to provide, and it is an awesome feeling. After 3 years of raising awareness of the church in Europe, traveling all over the U.S., taking many research trips to France and learning about the heart of the people, our God is so faithful and in His time He has prepared the way. If we had gone 3 years ago we would have missed out on being used by Him here and growing in some amazing ways.

I will share more later, but I can just hardly contain the peace and joy and humbleness I feel as God is showing us something new.

C3 Leadership Conference '07

I forgot my hubby posted notes from the C3 leadership conference at our church with guest speaker Dino Rizzo. You can go to his site to get the notes.

You also need to go to the podcast and hear his tell about doing whatever it takes for the kingdom.
He shared the story of how an organization donated sleepwear for them to pass out to the poor and needy in south Louisana. When they received shipment and opened the truck to check out their merchandise what they found was an entire truckload of leopard-print lingerie. They made the decision to go ahead and pass out them out to an area known for poverty. He said people came up to him for months after that in that part of town and gave him that sly kind of smile.

Now that's my kind of church!

Martha Fry - my sister... the shining star

I almost forgot to blog about this past weekend. We had a leadership conference at our church that was lead by Dino Rizzo and our pastor Matt Fry. It was awesome! I will try to post the notes tomorrow...

But the best part about this weekend was my sister... sorry Matt and Dino... My sister, Martha, spoke at all 4 services. She is over leadership and development at C3 which includes all the Connect groups. This weekend she spoke on connecting with God, Others, and Our Community. It was awesome. She is an amazing speaker and I hope to bring her to France someday to speak at the women's conference we hold at the largest theater in Paris, or the largest soccer stadium, whichever holds more. :-) You can download the podcast here.

Martha, your gifts are amazing, and thankfully I finally came to terms with who God created me to be so I would stop always wanting to do the things you did. I love to serve in the shadows while you are the shining star. I love you Martha.

... and for anyone who is wondering, she is older... prettier, but older. :-)

Sauerstown Carepoint and Abused Children

Don't forget to join the 40 days of prayer for Children's Cup. Today was about the Sauerstown Carepoint.

Sauerstown is a community on the outskirts of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The fact that houses are relatively large can be deceiving. It is not comfortable suburbia. A dozen or more people pack into the homes where power and running water are the exception. Few people have any money at all. The economic depravity of this once-thriving nation is destroying the hopes and dreams of its children. If it is true that God loves to hang out where people are hurting, then He’s in the middle of Sauerstown. Pray that our team there will be able to exemplify Jesus to the children here and that God will restore their ability to dream.


A few days ago the Children's Cup prayer was for abused children. The Rehmeyers, missionaries for Children's Cup in Swaziland, had a great post on abused children called Trust and Recovery. It's a great post that reminds me once again that I don't have any problems, and I have been so blessed my whole life.

The numbers for abuse are very high here in Swaziland. We examined a little 8 year old girl from one of our new care points last week. Upon examination, it was evident that she had been raped. She told us that she was HIV positive. Her mother and father both died with AIDS. She is living with an aunt who doesn’t know much about her. She has a skin rash all over her body, ringworms on her head, swollen lymph nodes, and some kind of vaginal infection.There is another little girl who is about 6 years old. She was raped by an older man a few months ago. The teacher from the care point brought her to the clinic.

There are thousands of children with the same story...

"Father save the children. Save the grown up children. Hear their cries when no one else hears. Hear our cries for them and help us never to close our ears or our eyes to their pain. We love you Lord. Show us how to love them and help them."

Viva la France!

As I have been catching up on my blog reading, This French Life had a couple of great articles... one about French markets, and the other about thieves pumping gases into caravans... And just when you thought France was the perfect place to live. I will post the article about markets, but you will need to follow the link to read about the thieves. :-)

SUMMER market in France can turn up some real surprises, but can also turn into a bit of a mad crush as once quiet village squares fill up to bursting point.

I've spotted a number of entertaining articles over the past couple of days that highlight the many characters, differences and treasures you can find.

16è grande Foire à la Brocante à Ribérac
Clare spots some fabric for her quilting work, but at a price that would make anyone wonder if they were seeing straight.

My French gourmet summer vacation, part 1
An interesting insight into the changes a Frenchman has seen after living in the US when it comes to all things food and wine upon his return to France.

When food tribes go abroad An entertaining look at some of the people you can cross in French markets, and others. I'm sure you will recognise one or two.

My Sweet "Oreo", or better known as "Kitty"

The last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. We just got back from Chicago last night... or should I say this morning. I love coming home from a long trip. I love a nice clean house and being greeted by my kitty who really does think I am his mother. I love putting the kids to bed in their beds knowing they need a good nights sleep, and then climbing in my own bed with clean sheets on it. It is such a great feeling... but something was really bothering me last night and I don't know why. After 14 hours of straight driving pulling in at 2:45 in the morning, I couldn't get to sleep.

Our kitty was really wanting to go out, and he is and indoor/outdoor cat, so against my first instinct to keep him in until morning, I let him out. I didn't know if he had been out much that day, and he kept meowing, so I let him out. Something woke me up about 5am sounding like a child falling down the stairs but it was out on the front porch. I listened for a second and I didn't hear anything else and went back to sleep. We then were awoken by a doorbell at 5:30am. A little frightened, I woke Ken up and whoever was at the door was then banging on the door. I then recognized the voice... it was our neighbor. So we opened the door and she said a dog had attacked our cat, and it had woken her up by all the noise on the front porch.

We ran over to check on him. He was way back in some bushes and only responded when he heard my voice. He kept reaching his head up to look at me as if asking for help. We got a towel and gently picked him up. He was pretty beat up, but we didn't see a lot of blood, so we brought him inside and laid him down and I watched him for a few hours. At that time he couldn't really walk yet, so he would try to crawl wherever I was and would just lay there while I petted his head. At 8am I called the vet, and at 10am I decided to go get a pretty big cut on his stomach looked at. I wasn't prepared for what he had to say.

When I laid him down on the table, the Vet did not even look at his stomach, he pointed to a place in his side where it was a little sunken in and said, "See that there? He has some broken ribs and a punctured diaphram and probably a punctured lung." He then said this cat is really messed up, and it will probably cost about 2-3 thousand dollars to fix him up and even then you're not guaranteed he will live. If it were me, I would put him to sleep." I had only been in the office 10 minutes. I was not ready to put the most loving, fun, smart cat who loved my kids and our whole family to sleep... The was the first pet that was a little more like a family member. He would wake us up in the middle of the night if something was wrong with the kids, or sleep with the kids as if protecting them. He was an amazing cat.

I took a while to call around to a couple of Vet specialty hospitals and ask their opinions, talked to my husband, got some X-rays just to make sure there was not hope, and made the decision to put him to sleep, all while he lay there looking at me like he knew I was his primary care taker and he knew I would take care of him... I always had in the past. That was a very gut wrenching nauseating decision. I just got back into town 7 hours ago, and with only two hours of sleep I couldn't believe this was happening.

I am still in a little shock over this, but I know God is in control. In the past when I have had a hard time letting go of something to move on, God has gently helped me let go. I was thankful I didn't just find him dead somewhere. I was thankful this didn't happen while we were gone. I am thankful that I had such an awesome pet and I got to be there petting him as they put him to sleep. He really was in alot of pain. I really do believe, though, that God took him away because He is about to do some big things in moving us towards France, and it would be challenging to move a cat around with us, and He knows how hard it would be for me to just leave him behind.

So, thank you Lord that You know all things, and that you care about the things we care about, and that You are so gentle in loving in all Your ways. Thank You that You lead us and guide us and purify us and prepare us and provide for us as we walk in Your ways and follow you. I pray You will give us a deeper passion for the lost, and help us to be renewed in the areas that keep us from fulfilling Your will.

Day 11 Children's Cup 40 days of Prayer

"Orphan-Headed Households"

Stop for a minute and try to imagine being fourteen and burying your parents and being left to take care of 3 younger siblings. Your dreams cast aside, the reality of 3 mouths to feed crashes down on you. Your parents left no money. There is no insurance. All you have is a cold, tiny cement block house - if you can call it a house. You have an uncle, but he is sick too. You dread waking up each day. You want to play soccer with the other kids your age but you don’t have the time nor the energy. You want to go to school but you can’t afford it. Your life is consumed with trying to find ways for you and your three younger siblings to survive. Imagine the emotional, physical, medical and even social wounds that haunt these young children who are the heads of their households. Pray for them to find hope.

Please pray with me for the children of Africa. Go to childrenscup.org to get the daily prayer guide.

Children's Cup 40 days of prayer

Because of all the events in my life I have not done a very good job of highlighting Children's Cup 40 Days of Prayer.

This was a post a couple of days ago that really expresses some of the horrible issues facing the people in Africa Children's Cup is trying to reach.

When you sit at a street corner or look into any crowd of people in Swaziland and think that almost half of the people you’re looking at are HIV positive, it makes you wonder. How does an economy survive losing so many workers? How many funerals happen every day? How does a society deal with such a culture of death and the prevalence of AIDS-related illnesses? Add to that a spiritual darkness that is all too real.

Pray that God will use Children’s Cup and other groups of His people to make a real and true impact on the key influencers in Swaziland and begin a revival that touches every person in this nation.

Today, David Meyer, Director of World Missions for Joyce Meyer Ministries - a long-time integral support for Children’s Cup, is leading us in prayer.

David Meyer

Lord, I thank You for the good work that You have begun in Swaziland through Children’s Cup. We stand amazed as we watch Your faithful servants daily carry out Your plans. You are bringing them closer to completion…but there is still much to be done.

Raise up the leaders in this land. Give them energy, dreams, and hope for the future. Lord, I pray specifically that Your people would make a true impact on the key influencers in Swaziland, so they would become country changers and history makers.

Through the blood of Jesus, I ask You to break the curses of poverty and HIV/AIDS that have oppressed this nation. Bring supernatural healing and prosperity to the people as they turn from darkness to Your light.

I pray for supernatural strength, a passion to reach the lost, and divine wisdom for Your servants dedicated to bringing hope and healing. Thank You for granting them favor with all men and for Your hedge of protection that surrounds them as they faithfully obey Your voice. Continue to open doors of opportunity beyond human ability for Your glory and honor, and bring revival to every soul. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You can sign up to let Children's cup know you are joining them in prayer. And if you haven’t signed up yet, send them an email at pray@childrenscup.org.

Isaac Jordan Leino Feb. 25, 2007 - Aug. 5, 2007

Today was the funeral for Baby Isaac... and I am not sure there has ever been a human who lived who touched my life so much and helped me know my Savior in a deeper way. I got to see Isaac today for the first time even though I know it was not really him, because he is with our Savior in heaven. It was not as sad as I thought it would be... he suffered so much in his short life, it was peaceful to know this is just his earthly body, but that his precious baby spirit that we got to know is still just alive as it ever was, yet with the one who created him.

We love you Baby Isaac, Jordan and Patience, and we thank you for allowing us to be a part of your life.

My hubby also posted a great blog on the life of Baby Isaac.