The past couple of months have been a bit tough around here. Nothing incredibly serious but just a lot of little stuff. We've had some financial stretching as Shannon's paychecks have changed from weekly to every other week. That has made us one week's worth of pay behind. Shannon had surgery numbers 4 and 5 for a polinidal cyst he's been struggling with for several years. It is looking like neither was successful...again. I fell on the steps outside our front door and broke my tailbone then less than two weeks later fell on solid ice back by our hen house. I landed flat on the back of my head and sustained a mild concussion which had me rather sick for a couple of days and headachey for weeks. My work car had two breakdowns in less than a week and the list goes on. A couple of weeks ago Shannon said he wanted a do over on the past month or so. I told him there was no way I wanted to do all of that over again.
Last night I had a dream. It was very real. You know those dreams where you wake up and your heart is racing and you need to get up and walk around to be sure it wasn't real? Anyway, it was about a tornado. My aunt(Janelle) and I were taking refuge in a shower stall while the rest of our families were in a bedroom underneath a mattress. Janelle and I hadn't had time to join the rest of our loved ones as the tornado was so close. We were waiting for just a few seconds and could hear the wrath of nature bearing down on us. In those few seconds, we hugged each other and I began praying. I can still remember now what I was praying at the time, and then I woke up from the dream.
Wide awake, I got up and walked around and made a trip to the bathroom then laid back down in bed. As I lay there thinking about my dream I found it comforting that even in a dream, especially in a dream, I had had the sense to turn to my God when in a crisis. I had remained calm and at peace with the future knowing that He was in control of the outcome.
As we go through our current tornado of life I am reminded that I need to remain calm and in prayer, trusting my God for the outcome. Whether the hills and valleys be high and deep or low and shallow, prayer is the ultimate peace keeping and peace making tool.
If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the grave, you are there. If I rise with the sun in the east and settle in the west beyond the sea, even there you would guide me. With your right hand you would hold me. Psalm 139:8-10
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Glory Mountain and the Tanzania property
Just this past week I was able to get my hands on some photos of the property in Tanzania that the ministry will eventually be building on.
This first picture is one of Rev. Debra standing in front of one of many Mango trees located on the property. On the right edge of the picture you can see a bit of the trail leading to the property.
This photo shows the view from one of the higher points of the property as it overlooks a village at the bottom. All of the land right up to the homes is the ministry's. No "squatters" will have to move, however, as you can see, they were farming some of the land. It shows us that some of the land is tillable and fertile soil. The residents in the area are very excited about the ministry moving into the area.
This shows what Rev. Debra is calling Glory Mountain. Taken from a distance it doesn't look very high but it is. It is likely that one day there will be a Christian radio station tower and/or a wind turbine located on top of Glory Mountain.
Here is the Tanzania ministry team that was there at the time, along with Pastor Richard and his nephew Alex, anointing the land for God's work and having communion together.
And the following is what Rev. Debra wrote about the trip to visit the property in her latest newsletter.
"We traveled across Lake Victoria on a ferry in our van and after only a fifteen minute ride, we were on the opposite side of the lake.(Actually it is a narrow channel on the southern edge of the lake-explanation mine) We then drove right off the ferry and traveled up a mountain road, a thirteen minute drive before arriving at the land and End Time Glory Mountain. An official from the area came with us to help in the surveying of the land. Upon seeing the land we were awestruck by the favor, and the blessing and wonder of our God! He truly does go before us and make a way. We saw the beauty of the Lord in that place with mango trees and even a few monkeys were seen by some. We then climbed Glory Mountain, and there on the highest place of the land sanctified it and cleansed it by the pouring out of oil and the elements representing His blood. Psalm 24:7-10 was read(see below), and we then took communion together, rejoicing in all that God had done!"
Look at this incredible view as it overlooks Lake Victoria!
\
"Lift up your heads, O you gates, be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is He, this King of Glory? The Lord Almighty- he is the King of Glory." Psalm 24:7-10
This first picture is one of Rev. Debra standing in front of one of many Mango trees located on the property. On the right edge of the picture you can see a bit of the trail leading to the property.
This photo shows the view from one of the higher points of the property as it overlooks a village at the bottom. All of the land right up to the homes is the ministry's. No "squatters" will have to move, however, as you can see, they were farming some of the land. It shows us that some of the land is tillable and fertile soil. The residents in the area are very excited about the ministry moving into the area.
This shows what Rev. Debra is calling Glory Mountain. Taken from a distance it doesn't look very high but it is. It is likely that one day there will be a Christian radio station tower and/or a wind turbine located on top of Glory Mountain.
Here is the Tanzania ministry team that was there at the time, along with Pastor Richard and his nephew Alex, anointing the land for God's work and having communion together.
And the following is what Rev. Debra wrote about the trip to visit the property in her latest newsletter.
"We traveled across Lake Victoria on a ferry in our van and after only a fifteen minute ride, we were on the opposite side of the lake.(Actually it is a narrow channel on the southern edge of the lake-explanation mine) We then drove right off the ferry and traveled up a mountain road, a thirteen minute drive before arriving at the land and End Time Glory Mountain. An official from the area came with us to help in the surveying of the land. Upon seeing the land we were awestruck by the favor, and the blessing and wonder of our God! He truly does go before us and make a way. We saw the beauty of the Lord in that place with mango trees and even a few monkeys were seen by some. We then climbed Glory Mountain, and there on the highest place of the land sanctified it and cleansed it by the pouring out of oil and the elements representing His blood. Psalm 24:7-10 was read(see below), and we then took communion together, rejoicing in all that God had done!"
Look at this incredible view as it overlooks Lake Victoria!
\"Lift up your heads, O you gates, be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is He, this King of Glory? The Lord Almighty- he is the King of Glory." Psalm 24:7-10
Sunday, January 25, 2009
ATruly Historic week
It has been a historic week in the nation. We have watched as the 44th president of the United States of America was sworn into office during the same week we commemorate the birth of Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King, the man with a dream would have been thrilled to join us as we watched the transfer of power,from Caucasian American to African American, from Republican party to Democratic party,take place Tuesday morning. The transfer of the presidency took place in a peaceful and joyous manner with the entire world watching. Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States is also the first African American to be elected into that office. Although I disagree with most of his politics I am truly thankful to live in a nation where it seems that the color of ones skin has less to do with life than it has in the past.
This week was also the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade legal decision of 1973 that reversed all of the laws at the time that were against the killing of tiny unborn human babies. The legal decision said that it was against a woman's constitutional rights to force her to bear the child she had conceived, completely forgetting about the human and constitutional rights of the babies whose lives the abortions take. Since 1973 aproximately 50 million babies have not been given a chance art life due to this decision.
Imagine the potential that our human race has lost. We have allowed to die so many inventions, ideas, cures and dreams as well. Each of those lives lost is a tragedy and it truly grieves my heart.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13
President Obama has promised that one of the first things he'll do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), a law that would overturn the few existing state and federal restrictions on abortion. Researchers estimate that FOCA would generate at least 125,000 more abortions a year in a nation already devastated by 4,000 a day.
Ironically, it is the African American race that has been most affected by abortion. Here are the latest sobering statistics.
*Nearly half of black pregnancies end in abortion.
*Three in five black women will abort a child.
*1,500 black Americans are aborted every day.
*America's black population has been reduced by roughly one-third because of abortion.
Abortion has done for the African American race far more than the Ku Klux Klan could have ever dreamed of. I can only pray for the changing of hearts. If the hearts of our nation believe that unborn children truly are children, that those babies have a hope and a future, then maybe, just maybe, it won't matter any longer what the laws of our land say and unborn children will all have a chance to fulfill their potential.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
This week was also the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade legal decision of 1973 that reversed all of the laws at the time that were against the killing of tiny unborn human babies. The legal decision said that it was against a woman's constitutional rights to force her to bear the child she had conceived, completely forgetting about the human and constitutional rights of the babies whose lives the abortions take. Since 1973 aproximately 50 million babies have not been given a chance art life due to this decision.
Imagine the potential that our human race has lost. We have allowed to die so many inventions, ideas, cures and dreams as well. Each of those lives lost is a tragedy and it truly grieves my heart.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13
President Obama has promised that one of the first things he'll do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), a law that would overturn the few existing state and federal restrictions on abortion. Researchers estimate that FOCA would generate at least 125,000 more abortions a year in a nation already devastated by 4,000 a day.
Ironically, it is the African American race that has been most affected by abortion. Here are the latest sobering statistics.
*Nearly half of black pregnancies end in abortion.
*Three in five black women will abort a child.
*1,500 black Americans are aborted every day.
*America's black population has been reduced by roughly one-third because of abortion.
Abortion has done for the African American race far more than the Ku Klux Klan could have ever dreamed of. I can only pray for the changing of hearts. If the hearts of our nation believe that unborn children truly are children, that those babies have a hope and a future, then maybe, just maybe, it won't matter any longer what the laws of our land say and unborn children will all have a chance to fulfill their potential.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all that
Once again it seems I have taken some time off from posting on the blog for a few weeks...and a couple more weeks of not really writing anything personal. I am back now to reminisce and share things in our lives.
When I first started this blog, it was to be a place to share our thoughts, feelings and happenings in regards to our missions work in Tanzania. Neither Shannon nor I had any idea that the process of getting there would take this amount of time. We thought then, that we would be moving overseas much faster and wondered if we possibly could have enough time to process it all ourselves much less share all of our thoughts about it here. Here we are, 2 1/2 years later, still as positive today as we were then, that God has African missions in our future. So often, when we have agreed upon or decided to do something we just weren't positive we were doing the right thing. This, missions, to the Tanzanian orphans and widows, still remains one of the few things in our lives that Shannon and I are sure about. We know that is what God is preparing us for and we continue to wait on and trust in His most perfect will and timing. With that said, here is the recent family update.
The past four months have been difficult ones for myself and the family as I have worked many hours, many more than we anticipated when I first took the Census Bureau job nearly two years ago. Due to a new survey September through December were very busy. The survey still continues in addition to my previous survey work but will now be mostly by phone. This will cut my running and away from home time dramatically and it is a much anticipated change. When I finished my December work by mid month last month, we all enjoyed the couple of weeks of respite. Time that was spent with immediate and extended family preparing for and celebrating Christ's birth. It was an enjoyable time.
A big decision that was made in that time frame was that we removed Star from her private school setting. Due to some staffing changes at the school as well as the difficulty of the third grade level work for her there she has had a pretty tough fall and we knew it was time for a change for her. So, effective tomorrow, Star joins Molly and Evan in our homeschool. Due to Star's special needs, we have decided at this point that the best thing we can do for her is to bring her home where she can work at the academic level she is at, at a slower pace and with curriculum that best meets her needs. She is excited about it and so is her full-time Personal Care Attendant who will be assisting me with Star's daily care and helping to keep her on task with her schoolwork when I am working with the other children. I just purchased for Star, online, a Math program called Math U See. Collin, Molly and Evan used it several years back and enjoyed it. At the time we switched I felt it would be a better program for younger elementary which is where Star is at. We are backing her up a bit to get her addition and subtraction facts down better and also need to spend some time working on time and money. These are abstract concepts which are something Star struggles with very much. We are hoping that Math U See can help her to process it out. It is a program that has been used with special ed students with great success.
Another upcoming educational decision we are facing is in regards to Collin. Collin is currently a sophomore at the local Christian school. In the stater of Minnesota there is something called PSEO-Post Secondary Enrollment Option. Under this program, any Minnesota high school junior or senior can take college courses paid for by the state of Minnesota. The college credits count as high school credit but they also count as college credits. It is a great way for a student to get partially through college at minimal expense. We are looking at the possibility of bringing Collin home as a homeschooler next year and enrolling him in PSEO courses. The decision then becomes one of wanting to choose the right college now rather than a year or two from now. He could take the course through our local community college but I know too many who have done that and not been able to transfer all of their credits. Currently we are looking at the PSEO distance learning options through Northwestern in St. Paul or North Central in Minneapolis. If you have any personal experience with either school please get in touch with us and share.
So that's the latest with us. Please keep us in your prayers as God continues to grow us all and prepare us for bigger things.
When I first started this blog, it was to be a place to share our thoughts, feelings and happenings in regards to our missions work in Tanzania. Neither Shannon nor I had any idea that the process of getting there would take this amount of time. We thought then, that we would be moving overseas much faster and wondered if we possibly could have enough time to process it all ourselves much less share all of our thoughts about it here. Here we are, 2 1/2 years later, still as positive today as we were then, that God has African missions in our future. So often, when we have agreed upon or decided to do something we just weren't positive we were doing the right thing. This, missions, to the Tanzanian orphans and widows, still remains one of the few things in our lives that Shannon and I are sure about. We know that is what God is preparing us for and we continue to wait on and trust in His most perfect will and timing. With that said, here is the recent family update.
The past four months have been difficult ones for myself and the family as I have worked many hours, many more than we anticipated when I first took the Census Bureau job nearly two years ago. Due to a new survey September through December were very busy. The survey still continues in addition to my previous survey work but will now be mostly by phone. This will cut my running and away from home time dramatically and it is a much anticipated change. When I finished my December work by mid month last month, we all enjoyed the couple of weeks of respite. Time that was spent with immediate and extended family preparing for and celebrating Christ's birth. It was an enjoyable time.
A big decision that was made in that time frame was that we removed Star from her private school setting. Due to some staffing changes at the school as well as the difficulty of the third grade level work for her there she has had a pretty tough fall and we knew it was time for a change for her. So, effective tomorrow, Star joins Molly and Evan in our homeschool. Due to Star's special needs, we have decided at this point that the best thing we can do for her is to bring her home where she can work at the academic level she is at, at a slower pace and with curriculum that best meets her needs. She is excited about it and so is her full-time Personal Care Attendant who will be assisting me with Star's daily care and helping to keep her on task with her schoolwork when I am working with the other children. I just purchased for Star, online, a Math program called Math U See. Collin, Molly and Evan used it several years back and enjoyed it. At the time we switched I felt it would be a better program for younger elementary which is where Star is at. We are backing her up a bit to get her addition and subtraction facts down better and also need to spend some time working on time and money. These are abstract concepts which are something Star struggles with very much. We are hoping that Math U See can help her to process it out. It is a program that has been used with special ed students with great success.
Another upcoming educational decision we are facing is in regards to Collin. Collin is currently a sophomore at the local Christian school. In the stater of Minnesota there is something called PSEO-Post Secondary Enrollment Option. Under this program, any Minnesota high school junior or senior can take college courses paid for by the state of Minnesota. The college credits count as high school credit but they also count as college credits. It is a great way for a student to get partially through college at minimal expense. We are looking at the possibility of bringing Collin home as a homeschooler next year and enrolling him in PSEO courses. The decision then becomes one of wanting to choose the right college now rather than a year or two from now. He could take the course through our local community college but I know too many who have done that and not been able to transfer all of their credits. Currently we are looking at the PSEO distance learning options through Northwestern in St. Paul or North Central in Minneapolis. If you have any personal experience with either school please get in touch with us and share.
So that's the latest with us. Please keep us in your prayers as God continues to grow us all and prepare us for bigger things.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
A Couple of Christmas Music videos
These guys are incredible. They sing everything acapella.
First up...Silent Night, acapella style
Next up, a comedic performance of the 12 Days of Christmas. This is one of my least favorite Christmas songs but I like it when these guys do it.
You can find more by these guys on You Tube and they also have a website
First up...Silent Night, acapella style
Next up, a comedic performance of the 12 Days of Christmas. This is one of my least favorite Christmas songs but I like it when these guys do it.
You can find more by these guys on You Tube and they also have a website
Monday, December 15, 2008
Since laughter is good medicine...
After some wintry weather over the weekend I am home with the kids today. School has been canceled and most of my daytime census bureau work is done for the month we have been doing some cleaning and sat down to browse the internet. I have spent the past couple of days with a horrible cold or maybe the flu but this video made me feel a bit better. I laughed until I cried and so did the kids.
The comedian at the Comedy Barn pulled some guests up on stage for part of the show and got a bit more than he bargained for. Take a look.
The comedian at the Comedy Barn pulled some guests up on stage for part of the show and got a bit more than he bargained for. Take a look.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A long overdue update
I've known for a couple of weeks now that I really must get on here and post some form of an update so here I am. I've been incredibly busy with my jobs which has made it hard to get on here. My work load has nearly doubled with my census bureau job and I just returned from a couple of days in Minneapolis for yet another training. The workload there should decrease just a bit in January. I've also been working a lot at the post office while the regular carrier harvested his crops and then took some time off. I really enjoy doing the mail route but lately have been very thankful that it is only a 4 hour route. There have been many days where I've gotten off the route only to go out for an 8 hour day with the Census Bureau.
Everyone else in the house is doing well. The kids are all busy with schoolwork, thankfully some of Molly and Evan's homeschooling is done with a computer program removing some of the teaching from my "to do" list. Our hens have been happily laying and we have lights on them to keep them laying through the winter. For awhile we were getting 20-21 eggs per day out of our 23 laying birds but this past week, as it has gotten colder and our girls spend less time outside, the laying has slowed down to about 15 per day. Either way, it is more than e can eat. WE have been eating eggs for breakfast, lunch and supper. We've had fried eggs, scrambled eggs, egg bakes, omelets, french toast, popovers and more. Send your egg recipes here. We need them!
We are preparing for the holiday season. The decorating is in process and we still need to get a few things done with that. The shopping is nearly done and I am trying to get my work done early this month so I have more time at home later in the month. The church's Nights of Music are half over. We still have 4 performances this weekend. The stories and testimonies that come out of the event are always so wonderful to hear and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
Collin turns 16 today. We had his family/grandparent birthday party about a week and a half ago to beat the mad rush in December. I'll bake him a cake today so it doesn't seem like too much of a non-event. He doesn't seem in a hurry to get his drivers license, at least not as much as I would like him to have one. He's got his permit but doesn't drive very often. Hopefully we will get him to take the test in the next couple of months which will save me some tips to town getting him to his praise and worship rehearsal and other appointments. I've got to admit I never was very crazy about him getting his license in the winter anyway.
A friend sent this to me yesterday and I want to share it here at the risk of sounding hypocritical. This 3 minute video is a great reminder to all of us in this busy time of the year.
Everyone else in the house is doing well. The kids are all busy with schoolwork, thankfully some of Molly and Evan's homeschooling is done with a computer program removing some of the teaching from my "to do" list. Our hens have been happily laying and we have lights on them to keep them laying through the winter. For awhile we were getting 20-21 eggs per day out of our 23 laying birds but this past week, as it has gotten colder and our girls spend less time outside, the laying has slowed down to about 15 per day. Either way, it is more than e can eat. WE have been eating eggs for breakfast, lunch and supper. We've had fried eggs, scrambled eggs, egg bakes, omelets, french toast, popovers and more. Send your egg recipes here. We need them!
We are preparing for the holiday season. The decorating is in process and we still need to get a few things done with that. The shopping is nearly done and I am trying to get my work done early this month so I have more time at home later in the month. The church's Nights of Music are half over. We still have 4 performances this weekend. The stories and testimonies that come out of the event are always so wonderful to hear and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
Collin turns 16 today. We had his family/grandparent birthday party about a week and a half ago to beat the mad rush in December. I'll bake him a cake today so it doesn't seem like too much of a non-event. He doesn't seem in a hurry to get his drivers license, at least not as much as I would like him to have one. He's got his permit but doesn't drive very often. Hopefully we will get him to take the test in the next couple of months which will save me some tips to town getting him to his praise and worship rehearsal and other appointments. I've got to admit I never was very crazy about him getting his license in the winter anyway.
A friend sent this to me yesterday and I want to share it here at the risk of sounding hypocritical. This 3 minute video is a great reminder to all of us in this busy time of the year.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Check this out-Christmas LIght Display Extraordinare!
This guy named Richard Holdman, from Utah does a huge Christmas Light display each year and then sets it to music. I love it!
This is video of last years display where he had 45,000 lights. THis year he plans to have 150,000 lights!
Amazing Grace Techno - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.
Unfortunately, this year he needed to change the location due o his gated community not wanting the traffic there again. I guess I can understand but it is kind of sad for Richard. It looks like he has a found a good location and I will try to keep you updated once he gets that display up and going in the next few days.
This is video of last years display where he had 45,000 lights. THis year he plans to have 150,000 lights!
Amazing Grace Techno - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.
Unfortunately, this year he needed to change the location due o his gated community not wanting the traffic there again. I guess I can understand but it is kind of sad for Richard. It looks like he has a found a good location and I will try to keep you updated once he gets that display up and going in the next few days.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A Chronic Disease
A journalist was invited by friends to travel to Africa. He accepted the invitation, but as the departure date drew nearer, he became more and more apprehensive about the trip. When the day arrived, he went to the airport with every intention of canceling his plane ticket. Though his friends did their best to reason with him, the journalist seemed resolute in his decision. Then a shadow fell across their discussion, and standing tall above them was a holy man with an ancient, pointed beard and long black robes. The holy man addressed the journalist, saying, "I have a word for you from God." The journalist, noticeably shaken by the man's presence, nevertheless asked him to continue. The holy man said, "You will go to Africa-and you will come back with a terrible disease." Hearing this confirmed the journalists worst fears. The holy man went on to say, "The disease IS Africa. It will be in your blood for the rest of your life. And you will not be able to stay away." With trepidation, the journalist boarded the plane and went to Africa. And went, and went, and went-again, and again, and again.
Copyright Ward Brehm, White Man Walking, Kirk House Publishers
Copyright Ward Brehm, White Man Walking, Kirk House Publishers
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thank You to all current and former military members
I'm not much of a country music fan but this video and song seem appropriate for today. Thank you veterans and current soldiers, marines and airmen.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Top Ten Predictions No matter Who Wins the Elections
No matter what your political affiliation or beliefs are regarding the different candidates for the many different races going on all over the country, the following ten statements ring true.
#1-The Bible will still have all of the answers.
#2-Prayer will still work.
#3-The Holy Spirit will still move.
#4-God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
#5-There will still be God anointed preaching.
#6-There will still be singing of praises to God.
#7-God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
#8-There will still be room at the cross.
#9-Jesus will still love you.
#10-Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
Thank you God for who you are, for what you have done and for all you still will do.
#1-The Bible will still have all of the answers.
#2-Prayer will still work.
#3-The Holy Spirit will still move.
#4-God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
#5-There will still be God anointed preaching.
#6-There will still be singing of praises to God.
#7-God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
#8-There will still be room at the cross.
#9-Jesus will still love you.
#10-Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
Thank you God for who you are, for what you have done and for all you still will do.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Good Bye and God Bless You, Kallevig Family
Last Thursday evening our family went to say hello and good bye to a family in our area. About 8-10 years ago I served on the steering team for our local Mothers of Preschoolers(MOPS) group. It was there that I met Kelly Jo. Even though Kelly Jo and her family live in the area, about 8 miles from us, we never saw each other again after I left the steering team. Life gets in the way and we just never connected in person. We had spoken on the phone a few times over the years. I remember one time was when she and he husband were in the process of adopting from overseas at about the same time we adopted our daughter. Another time we spoke was when I found out, about 6 months after Shannon and I knew we were eventually moving to Tanzania, that Kelly Jo and her husband were going to moving to the mission field of Zambia. Zambia is located on Tanzania's south border so we will, even 8,000 miles from "home", be virtual neighbors once again.
So, anyway, last Thursday we picked up pizza and stopped to see the Kallevig's in their sparsely furnished home. Nearly everything they own had either been shipped over to Zambia many months ago or sold on recent garage sales. It was fun for me to see Kelly Jo again and for the Shannon and Brian to get a chance to meet. I know Shannon and I enjoyed spending some time with people who truly understand our feelings about our upcoming work in Africa. We felt a definite connection with Brian and Kelly Jo and we talked about many things-international medical insurance, raising financial and prayer support and what to ship and when to ship and how to ship. We talked about prep such as MTI-missionary Training International, ECHO-Educational Concerns for Hunger Organizationand other things. Our 5 children and their 6 played well together while their 7th, a new baby, took turns sleeping in people's arms. After several hours together, knowing we could have easily visited all night long, we prayed together and said good bye joking that maybe in a few years we will vacation at each others African homes.
Please visit Brian and Kelly Jo's blog and say a prayer for them. This will be a tough week of good byes and last minute packing leading up to 30 hours in the air or in airports with their 7 children beginning on Friday.
Brian and Kelly Jo, thanks for taking the time to meet with us before you leave. We wish your family safe travel and true joy in serving God over in Zambia.
So, anyway, last Thursday we picked up pizza and stopped to see the Kallevig's in their sparsely furnished home. Nearly everything they own had either been shipped over to Zambia many months ago or sold on recent garage sales. It was fun for me to see Kelly Jo again and for the Shannon and Brian to get a chance to meet. I know Shannon and I enjoyed spending some time with people who truly understand our feelings about our upcoming work in Africa. We felt a definite connection with Brian and Kelly Jo and we talked about many things-international medical insurance, raising financial and prayer support and what to ship and when to ship and how to ship. We talked about prep such as MTI-missionary Training International, ECHO-Educational Concerns for Hunger Organizationand other things. Our 5 children and their 6 played well together while their 7th, a new baby, took turns sleeping in people's arms. After several hours together, knowing we could have easily visited all night long, we prayed together and said good bye joking that maybe in a few years we will vacation at each others African homes.
Please visit Brian and Kelly Jo's blog and say a prayer for them. This will be a tough week of good byes and last minute packing leading up to 30 hours in the air or in airports with their 7 children beginning on Friday.
Brian and Kelly Jo, thanks for taking the time to meet with us before you leave. We wish your family safe travel and true joy in serving God over in Zambia.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Hearing the Voice of God
For those of you unfamiliar with Beth Moore, she is an incredible bible teacher. She has written many bible studies, mainly for women, although Shannon loves her teachings as well. Anyway, I have been facilitating her bible studies at our church for several years now. Her studies are great ones to "lead" because leading basically consists of keeping the women on track during discussion time and then pushing the play button on the VCR. In a recent study, she shared the following story on video. It was great to see her tell the story. Just yesterday my aunt sent me the email of the story and I thought it would be a great one to share here. It's a long one but well worth the read.
April 20, 2005, at the airport in Knoxville , waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the
Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is
your ego.
I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over
in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously
fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his
trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his
shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.
I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As
I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering
if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then I remembered that he was
dead. So this man in the airport..an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us
somewhere? There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being
concerned about a thin slice of humanity served up on a wheelchair only a
few seats from me. All the while, my heart was growing more and more
overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap
more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching
emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.
I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall.
I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so
contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen.
And it may be embarrassing.
I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit
and I started arguing with God in my mind. "Oh, no, God, please, no." I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, "Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!"
There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, "Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane." Then I heard it..."I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair."
The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainier. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, "God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man ." Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. " That is not what I said, Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair."
I looked up at God and quipped, "I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?" God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word: "I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works.'" (2 Timothy 3:17)
I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I
retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, "Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"
He looked back at me and said, "What did you say?"
"May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?
To which he responded in volume ten, "Little lady, if you expect me to hear
you, you're going to have to talk louder than that."
At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, "SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?" At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Long Locks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, "If you really want to." Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, "Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush."
"I have one in my bag," he responded.
I went around to the back of that wheelchair and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man's hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I, for that few minutes, felt a portion of the very love of God; that He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's.
I slipped the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees and said, "Sir, do you know my Jesus?"
He said, "Yes, I do.'"
Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, "I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior." He said, "You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride."
Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it.
Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft. I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, "That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?"
I said, "Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!"
And we got to share.
I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted, you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!
I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way all because I didn't want people to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that oldman. He sent that old man to me.
April 20, 2005, at the airport in Knoxville , waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the
Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is
your ego.
I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over
in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously
fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his
trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his
shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.
I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As
I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering
if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then I remembered that he was
dead. So this man in the airport..an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us
somewhere? There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being
concerned about a thin slice of humanity served up on a wheelchair only a
few seats from me. All the while, my heart was growing more and more
overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap
more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching
emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.
I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall.
I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so
contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen.
And it may be embarrassing.
I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit
and I started arguing with God in my mind. "Oh, no, God, please, no." I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, "Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!"
There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, "Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane." Then I heard it..."I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair."
The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainier. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, "God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man ." Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. " That is not what I said, Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair."
I looked up at God and quipped, "I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?" God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word: "I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works.'" (2 Timothy 3:17)
I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I
retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, "Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"
He looked back at me and said, "What did you say?"
"May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?
To which he responded in volume ten, "Little lady, if you expect me to hear
you, you're going to have to talk louder than that."
At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, "SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?" At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Long Locks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, "If you really want to." Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, "Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush."
"I have one in my bag," he responded.
I went around to the back of that wheelchair and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man's hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I, for that few minutes, felt a portion of the very love of God; that He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's.
I slipped the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees and said, "Sir, do you know my Jesus?"
He said, "Yes, I do.'"
Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, "I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior." He said, "You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride."
Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it.
Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft. I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, "That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?"
I said, "Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!"
And we got to share.
I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted, you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!
I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way all because I didn't want people to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that oldman. He sent that old man to me.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Slow Fade
I have fallen in love with this song. It's kind of sad but it is so true that people don't usually fall off of a cliff but they just slowly fade into negative choices. I was thrilled to hear the song was in the soundtrack for Fireproof. Check it out.
Slow Fade by Casting Crowns
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Copyright Casting Crowns
Slow Fade by Casting Crowns
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Copyright Casting Crowns
Monday, October 06, 2008
Look what we found!
On Saturday Shannon went to check on the chickens and he found a cute little brown, farm-fresh egg in one of the nest boxes. Here is a photo of it next to a store bought size large egg.
So, for lunch on Sunday, when we made scrambled eggs for brunch, our one little egg got added to the others bought from the store. Here is a photo of it on the right, next to a store bought on the left. You can see it is quite a bit smaller as they are when the chickens first start laying. You may also notice that the yolk is darker. That is because our chickens eat much better than caged chickens. They eat greenery from our yard as well as lots of leftover fruits and veggies from our kitchen.
Since the first one was found we have found three more so our girls are finally starting to figure it out. As far as we can tell, all the eggs have been laid by different chickens. All 4 eggs are different sizes and colors-the first was brown with dark brown specks, the second was a light tan, the next was a pure dark brown and the next was a lighter tan than the second. We aren't sure who's laying but are excited to see some results from our efforts.
I recently ordered a book called "The $64 Tomato." It is about a man who starts a garden and figures his tomato cost him about that much to grow. WE have been joking about the cost of our eggs and are excited that with each egg that appears our cost per egg goes down. Right now with all expenses including set up, the building and fence and feed and other supplies I'm thinking each of our 4 eggs(so far) cost about $100 each! Keep laying ladies!
So, for lunch on Sunday, when we made scrambled eggs for brunch, our one little egg got added to the others bought from the store. Here is a photo of it on the right, next to a store bought on the left. You can see it is quite a bit smaller as they are when the chickens first start laying. You may also notice that the yolk is darker. That is because our chickens eat much better than caged chickens. They eat greenery from our yard as well as lots of leftover fruits and veggies from our kitchen.
Since the first one was found we have found three more so our girls are finally starting to figure it out. As far as we can tell, all the eggs have been laid by different chickens. All 4 eggs are different sizes and colors-the first was brown with dark brown specks, the second was a light tan, the next was a pure dark brown and the next was a lighter tan than the second. We aren't sure who's laying but are excited to see some results from our efforts.
I recently ordered a book called "The $64 Tomato." It is about a man who starts a garden and figures his tomato cost him about that much to grow. WE have been joking about the cost of our eggs and are excited that with each egg that appears our cost per egg goes down. Right now with all expenses including set up, the building and fence and feed and other supplies I'm thinking each of our 4 eggs(so far) cost about $100 each! Keep laying ladies!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
