Faith

"Faith is the confidence that what we HOPE for will actually happen; it gives us ASSURANCE about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1
It's been some time since I sat down and read Hebrews 11 and I usually read more than a chapter at a time but I couldn't get passed this one this morning. It struck me at how faith is so important in our daily walk. God requires it from us and yet I live in worry and fear for most of the day or I get side tracked by stresses of my circumstances.
"Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation." vs2 ~ I want to earn a good reputation! I want to be faithful!! I think it would help if I would look at today and concentrate on how to glorify Him TODAY. Look forward to tomorrow and the opportunity to do it again but not to be anxious about something you can't change!!
And what should we HOPE for? Is it a new home, a vehicle that we think we need because this one is not feeling so reliable, a house that cleans itself, kids that obey, good weather, more children, laundry that magically disappears, meals on wheels??? I want what I HOPE for to be something that He has put on my heart because then I think it will truly be something I'm not anxious over but something I know He will bring...maybe not for me but for someone... "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it." vs13

What you don't have...

I've thought about those words lately. Again, watching the movie "Gifted Hands" has made me consider a lot of things and has inspired me to change a lot of things when it comes to motherhood.

The mother in the movie gave what she did not have. She instilled amazing values and worth into your children. Here I had listened to the words that said "You cannot give what you do not have." I see that is so wrong! We have nothing!! God has everything and if we want to be good mothers we should be giving what GOD has - which is everything!! I'm encouraged because I don't have a lot of self worth, inspiration, insight, decrement, knowledge, wisdom, grace....etc. etc.... but I can give my children those things if I allow Him to pour out into me and out again into the beautiful children he has given me. What an amazing opportunity!!!!

Be encouraged!! Breathe life into those around you!

Not Keeping Up

So apparently my inspiration only lasted a short while... To be completely honest (which is always better than just a little honest) I've had no energy to do anything lately. I'm so super lazy and I can't seem to get going on anything let alone finish what I get going on. I'm hoping this is a phase that will pass quickly!
I am amazed at the fact that Samuel's first year of school is almost over!! He has 3 more days of school. How can that be??? And I become that mom that says "Where did the time go?" I will learn to cherish more!! I have always pushed Sam and have expected so much from him and now I see how quickly they grow up and I think I'll start applying the breaks!!
I watched a movie last weekend (which is a super rare occurrence so I'm so glad it was a gooder!), called Gifted Hands. And even though it was a riveting drama it touched my soul like no other movie has. I needed to watch it at the stage that my parenting is at right now. The mother in the movie is the most inspiring mother I've ever seen! She instilled an amazing sense of self worth in her boys that she did not possess. I can't really explain it so if you haven't seen it you should! God has given every child EVERYTHING and I think it's our job as parents to see who they are and to draw out of them what He intended them to use. To show them what imagination is and to show them what potential is. I sometimes feel like I'm in a spectator sport and I'm just watching my kids grow up instead of actively 'growing up' with them.
Wow I have so much changing to do and I want to...and then I think of my lack of energy and I stay on the couch... time to sign off and go play 'restaurant' with my girl.
Hope you have a great day! Know that God's mercies are new EVERY morning.

It's Been a While

Well a friend of mine inspired me to continue writing on this blog that I started over 2 years ago, before we headed to Texas/Mississippi to work with MDS... I didn't think much happens in our day to day life that would be worthy of updating but I guess for all of you who don't live here this would still be remotely helpful.
Life is full of uncertainties and I've been struggling with that and the fact that I'm not in control. This Easter I've just come to a very real realization that God is a God of LOVE and He is always with us regardless if it's through good things or bad. Why do I want to be in control??? He's got it figured out...why stress about not knowing. I should spend more time getting to know the One that knows - and rest in that.
I'm so thankful for the beautiful children I have the pleasure of raising for God and for the man that was placed in my life for a reason... he is my rock and the one that has made me the woman I am today.
Thanks Mel for getting me to write again... It forces me to see the beauty in every day knowing that others are 'reading' my thoughts (well some of the thoughts that run through this crazy head in a day).

Praying for a year that is filled with His glory in a million different ways!

Frustrated

Well we finally got confirmation that we would not be leaving this winter which we have really been struggling with. At first MDS invited us to come for November and December but they were asking me (Jacquie) to work in the office - I didn't think I could do the work considering my rather active children so we declined thinking that we would just go after Christmas... well we were told about 2 weeks ago that was not going to happen because they didn't really have room for us. We were disappointed for many reasons and one being the fact that next winter Samuel will be in school and heading off to missions wouldn't really be 'responsible' (unless of course I lost my mind and home schooled him! Let's just say I know our personalities wouldn't mesh that well!)
So here we are wondering what it is that God wants for us. It seemed as though He put missions in our hearts for a reason but now we don't know why it's not working out for us to go. We also don't 'preach or teach' and those are the easiest missions to get into.. (or so it seems)
But lately my heart has been so broken for the orphan. I don't know why this is coming into my head now but I can't understand why we're always so distracted and think life is about us and our little family... there is so much more we should be doing for the Kingdom... time to get down on my knees and really spend time with the Maker of this crazy life I live...
I will start putting pictures up for my lovely southern friends... soon!
Love you all and covet your prayers once again.

Hard to Believe

As depressing as it may seem it's exciting in some ways... Summer might be officially over. This week we had super great weather and dreary rainy weather as well... but alas it's coming - Winter. And with winter comes decision time as well. We are unsure as to when and where we'll be going for some of the winter months. Harvest has just started so I guess we have a little bit of time to decide and see what MDS has for us.
Samuel and Olivia both started Jazz on Friday - it was a Blast! I'll post pictures soon.
If you're reading this and you have a little time we would covet your prayers for our future. It's so unknown to us and we know that God knows but in all our 'humanness' we would like to have a clue too!

Change of life :-)

Not really... this week has had sunshine, snow, hail, rain and wind... I'm dreaming of warmer days! The kids are getting a little impatient with the weather (as is their mother) and wish we could spend more time out in the backyard... soon hopefully.

We did our Missions Report this previous Sunday in church. There weren't very many people in attendance but we pray that is not because they don't have hearts for missions... anyway it was a little stressful for Willie because I'm so not a public speaker (I say "It's not my gift" but I'm not sure if I don't have enough faith or if it really isn't my thing) in whatever case, I didn't have a lot to say so Willie had to do it - I did the slideshow. A picture is worth a thousand words so technically I did say a lot! It was so good to go through all the pictures of the 5 months that we spent on the road. It brought back so many memories and so many things that we as a family will cherish forever. All the faces we'll always remember and the time that people spent with the kids... and of course our wonderful time with the Raifords and the Glenn's.

God has a way of putting experiences in our lives to forever change us if we took time to plants seeds... Willie 'planted' some wheat in a cup for Samuel to watch grow. We have it on our window sill by the kitchen sink and it's amazing what a short time it needs to grow if it gets the 3 simply things... dirt, sun and water! If only we would grow in the same simple environment. If we would rely on God to give us everything that we need than we would grow in Him. Not sure if that makes any sense but ...

To all of you in God's service - be encouraged!! God is enough! He's more than enough... He's everything!