Faith Like a Child

“God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through.” 

Crazy Love, Francis Chan

Faith Like A Child

A few years ago we took our twins to Disney World.  As you can imagine (or as you may have experienced), it was like a dream come true for our 4 ½ year olds. 

When we were standing in one of the many lines, the girls were trying to entertain themselves.  So they climbed up on a wall (about 4 feet high) to play.  Of course, as the protective father, I asked them to get down so no one would get hurt. 

As I held out my arms for them to come down they simply fell towards me.  My hands weren’t on them yet, and if I hadn’t caught them they surely would have busted their heads open.  They had complete faith that I would come through and catch them.

At the time I was amazed that they didn’t even flinch.  They just went off the edge of that wall and didn’t hesitate.  It was a beautiful picture of a child stepping out in faith, trusting that her father was there to catch her no matter what.  It was a picture of the unwavering trust I want to have in my heavenly Father.

Now the girls are almost 7 and this past weekend I had a chance to see what they would do today.  We were playing outside and they were up on another wall and wanted me to catch them.  But this time they wouldn’t fall into my arms like before.  They waited until my hands were firmly planted on their side and then they jumped towards me after they knew they were safe.

Nothing has really changed since that time at Disney.  They still know I’m there and I’ll catch them.  Except now they know it’s dangerous.  They know if they actually hit the ground it’s really gonna hurt.  So, just to be safe, they wait to make sure that I will catch them.

It was a different picture, and much more telling of how I tend to trust God; trusting but wanting more reassurance that my Father is there to catch me on the way down.  If only we could have faith like a child – totally unafraid to make that leap of faith (whatever it may be) because we trust God is there to protect us.

And then there’s Amy… our 3 year old who gave me a great picture once again of what it looks like to have complete trust and faith (of course she is wearing a helmet – but it was because she was riding her bike, I promise!)

Orphan Sunday

Do They Know It's Christmas Time at All?

Remember that great song from 1984 from Band Aid

"Do They Know It's Christmas?"


It's Christmastime
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime


But say a prayer


Pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears

A few days ago I posted about the way we do Christmas in the States.
How we can rethink Christmas.
How we can do Christmas a little different this year.
If this resonated at all with you and your family,
I want you to join us in blessing those that truly need to be blessed.

Dare to Dream with us this Christmas.


Straight from the SixtyFeet site...

Dare to Dream

What if the youngest, most vulnerable, most desperate children at M1 and the other facilities didn’t have to be there? What if they could live in a place filled with hope, where they could grow to know and love God, where they would be deeply cared for, where they could receive an education and have a future? What if…


Since SixtyFeet first began, we’ve dreamed of purchasing land and building a home so we can remove the most vulnerable children who live in the M facilities. We can all agree, these children shouldn’t be in these conditions.


Late last year, we had a matching donation to raise funds so we could acquire land. The land was to be used as the site for a home where the youngest and most vulnerable children at M1 could live in a loving, nurturing family-like environment. Some of you may be wondering what happened to that.




Well, we were blown away by your generosity, as usual, and you sailed past the $10,000 match raising a total of $30,000. That money, unfortunately is still sitting in the bank – set aside and earmarked for the home we so very much want to build.


Various obstacles prevented us from moving forward with our original plans (we’re learning that sometimes we just need to be still and wait on the Lord). So that’s what we’ve been doing. But we never gave up hope. Ever since then, we have been praying that we would be able to raise the remaining funds to start this home.


Recently, several incredible donors have stepped forward to offer a whopping $60,000 as a matching gift in order to make this dream a reality. Yes, that was not a typo and you read it correctly. Every dollar we are able to raise between today and December 31, 2011 – up to $60,000 – will be matched, dollar for dollar. 


So what does this mean for SixtyFeet and the children? With the $30,000 that was raised last year, we are hoping and praying that by January we will have $150,000 in order to purchase land, build a home and have a place where we can nurture these precious children. But we’re not just thinking land and a home. We’re thinking bigger… way bigger – as in community. We want to build something sustainable.


Given the size of this gift, we also pray we can use a portion of the funds to expedite our plans to remove and house many of the older children at the M facilities. We hope to establish multiple homes for boys and girls 10 and older where they can live with up to 20 other children and be mentored by young adults, who themselves have been in similar situations but who now have a heart to give back and serve.


So as we enter this holiday season, please dare to dream with us. Dare to dream of the eternal impact this will have in the Kingdom and in the lives of the children of M. Dream of the children who may arise from these homes. The leaders, the doctors, the pastors, the educators. All of whom may ultimately come from M and go on to serve and do amazing things in the name of Christ. Just imagine it.


To donate to this amazing cause, to have your donation matched dollar for dollar, and to make a big difference this Christmas, click HERE. 

Ho, Ho...Holy Cow!

Now that Halloween is behind us, 

Christmas is full steam ahead.

Well, I guess commercially, Christmas has been a go for weeks now!

Just take a jaunt to any mall, department store or Target, and you'll be inundated!

We really do try to put Christ at the center of our Christmas.

We always emphasize that Jesus is the most precious gift.

We go to Christmas Eve service to focus on the miracle that occurred that night.

We read the Christmas story each Christmas morning before we open any presents.

But try as we might, we succumb to the materialism of Christmas.  

And apparently so do a lot of people.

According to a certain website,

Americans spent $584.3 billion dollars

in the 50 days before Christmas. 

That's right - $584.3 BILLION!!!!!

$584,300,000,000.00!!!

HOLY COW!!!!!!

And on what????

Inflatable Santa's popping out of a chimney on your front lawn?

(sorry if you actually have one of those!)

On things we need?!?

On parties or dresses for parties?

On gifts for our pets?
(public confession here)

On yet another toy for our children?

(because the scooter, tricycle, and bike just aren't enough?)

Now, before you think I'm judging, I'm not.

I'm disgusted with myself!!

I do this year after year after year after year.

This year, though, we want it to be different. 

A friend told me about a project called The Advent Conspiracy.

No, they are not advocating of getting rid of all gift giving.

They are just encouraging you to give ONE less gift. 

And redirect that money to something with eternal value. 

To get back to proclaiming Christ in how we celebrate Christmas.

To rethink how we do Christmas.

If you are feeling that nudge in your heart to do things a bit differently this Christmas,

I pray that you and your family will consider 

redirecting A SMALL PART of your Christmas gift-giving money

to fund a HUGE project from SixtyFeet.  

Though I can't give specific details now, 

(just wait a few more days...it's coming, I promise!)

trust me.....this will be a gift with ETERNAL value.

Oh, and just in case you are wondering the amount of 

charitable contributions given in 2010...

sadly, it was about half of what was spent in those 50 days prior to Christmas.

$291 billion.

And that was for the WHOLE of 2010.
That's right - in 50 measly days
Americans spent more on Christmas gifts than they gave to charities all year.
Dare to be counter-cultural.