The Fruitful Family

And the Light Bulb Went On...

2012-04-21T13:12:00.001-04:00

One of the projects my daughters had to do in their first grade class this year was a special service project. Each child had to come up with an idea of a way to serve another individual or group and then do a poster presentation in front of their class.

Of course, my girls chose The Cupcake Kids!!

But here’s the really neat thing…even though our girls’ mom and dad have been doing this thing in Uganda for two years now and they’ve done gazillion of Cupcake Kids sales (even my 2 year old knows when I whip out the cupcake pans to say “Cupcake Kids”!), it wasn’t until this service project that the lightbulb really went on.

Here’s the comment their teacher emailed me last night: Just a quick note to tell you that Brooke and Taylor each did a great job yesterday sharing about how they have been serving God and orphaned children of Uganda. The other children really enjoyed the cupcake shape of Taylor’s display and the cupcake background of Brooke’s display. They both provided a very good explanation of how the money that they earned would provide the children with the chance to eat healthy food instead of posho and to sleep on clean mattresses instead of ones that were bug infested. They both seemed very proud of their displays and super excited about presenting which was very sweet to see.

I’ll let their projects speak for themselves…..(taken directly from their poster project)

“THE CUPCAKE KIDS”
by Taylor & Brooke Harty

These are the ingredients to make the cupcakes.

We are making the cupcakes.

We are selling the cupcakes.

We made $900 for the kids in Uganda!

Instead of eating posho,

they can eat healthy food.

These are their old mattresses…..

….these are their new mattresses!

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

"I Love Me Some Me"

2012-03-04T07:35:00.001-05:00

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Gal. 5:13.

Joy and I have taken the Crown Financial class 3 times. I wish I could say we’ve got our finances totally under control, but in all honesty it’s a work in progress. The good news is that we’ve come a long way. Whereas we use to not track our spending, we now track just about everything... almost everything at least.

One of the lessons that left a lasting impression on me (each time we took the class) is that all spending decisions are spiritual decisions. In other words, when I choose to spend money a certain way, I'm choosing not to use it for some other purpose. No matter how you look at it, that has spiritual implications.

I can’t tell you how often I’ve thought of our tithe as the first fruits devoted to God and the rest was MINE to do with as I please.

1 for You, 9 for me!

When you put it that way it sounds unsettling. But thinking of it that way helped me realize that none of it is mine – it’s all God’s. I’m only watching over some of it for a little while.

Although Joy and I continue to struggle with how we spend money, we have shied away from several purchases over the years. We certainly want nicer things (you should see our sofa), but on some occasions (emphasis on some) we’ve decided against a purchase (mostly lifestyle choices) in hopes that we may be able to use the money to serve other Kingdom purposes.

And we've been grateful to see God's hand through it. Here are just a few blessings we've received by choosing to spend less on ourselves:

1. We have been free to give more to other ministries.

2. We have been free to travel to Uganda to minister with SixtyFeet.

3. We have been free to help friends, family and others in need of financial support.

4. We have been free to help other missionaries or those in seminary.

5. We are free to adopt!

Honestly, I can’t imagine giving up these blessings for anything, especially for some of the junk we spend money on. And man can we buy some junk. As I said, work in progress.

The way we give says a lot, but the way we (Joy and me) spend says a lot as well. In many cases, it can speak to a love affair we have with ourselves. The tithe can become just another item on our list or budget that we check off before we focus on our true love... us. The NFL receiver Terrell Owens (known for his high opinion of himself) once said, “I love me some me!” Don’t we all... don't we all.

Here are are some great principles grounded in Scripture that have helped Joy and me (from Randy Alcorn's "The Treasure Principle" - which I highly recommend). I pray they speak to you as well.

1. God owns everything
2. My heart goes where I put God's money
3. Heaven, not earth, is my home
4. Giving is the only antidote to materialism
5. God prospers me not to raise my standard of living but to raise my standard of giving

There's No Place Like Home....

2012-02-23T18:22:00.000-05:00

We all know the story of little ol' Dorothy being swept away into a far away land and encountering many strange things.

This isn't just a fantasy story to my friend Sara. It's her reality. Almost 12 months ago, she was swept away to a far off country called Uganda. While there, she encountered many strange things....some things amazingly awesome. And some things not so good.

I originally told y'all a bit about The Ribben's story back in October. If you want the full story (which is their's to tell), check it out on their blog, Let Love Guide. I warn you, though....grab a box of Kleenex before you camp out. You'll need 'em. Trust me.

For days on end, Sara and Andy have been visiting "The Great and Powerful Oz" (a.k.a. the Appeals Court) and presenting their case. And finally, Oz granted a positive ruling in their case. And they even got their official papers from the US Embassy giving them access back home.

The only thing she's missing are her ruby slippers that she has to click in order to get back to Kansas, or in her case, Santa Barbara. You see, the plane tickets they purchased expired today. Yup, lass than 24 hours from the time they were to board that big hot air balloon and travel back home. I'm sure Sara knows how Dorothy felt as she saw Oz float away.

And now they have to purchase tickets to fly 5 people half way around the world. Tomorrow. Translation....they are having to come out of pocket lotsa coin (pronounced kah-wan). And having lived over in Uganda for the last year (go right ahead and read into that "Andy has not had a year's worth of paid vacation") and two adoptions....they're lacking the said coin (still pronounced kah-wan).

But, the great thing is that Sara doesn't put her faith in a little man behind the curtain. She puts her faith in a Living God Who works miracles! And this Wonderful Lord uses everyday folks like you and me to work His miracles.

So, will you help Andy and Sara (and O and B and N) come home? All you have to do is click this donate button and say to yourself, "There's no place like home....There's no place like home....There's no place like home....."

To donate, please visit Let Love Guide and click on their paypal "DONATE" button on the right sidebar.

Moving On

2012-01-28T22:06:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking Scott needs his own blog. He enjoys posting way too much. No, wait...maybe it's a good thing that he keeps posting. Seems lately I don't have a spare moment to write. Plus, he's always got something good to say!

Over the past 3-4 months, we’ve been talking about moving. As our four girls grow our home has felt a little snug, and you may have heard that we’re in the process of adopting. So we thought it might make sense to get into another home to accommodate our growing family. And given the fact that interest rates are at all time lows and home prices are severely depressed, it would probably make sense to buy now, right?

After some serious prayer, fasting and long discussions we reached the completely opposite conclusion. Rather than move into another home as our family grows (and incur some more debt along the way), we’ve decided to stay put (and dramatically reduce our debt along the way).

Here’s how it went down.

A home we’ve had our eye on for nearly two years dramatically came down in price. By like 50%. It got to a point where we had to seriously consider doing something. So we sprang into action. Call the bankers, check. Gather funds, check. Re-run the budget, check. All set.

Not so fast. We need to pray and seek Godly counsel. So often we proceed with our plans and ask God to bless them rather than seeking His will first. As we did, God spoke to both of us – with a megaphone!

God calls all of us in different ways. Resources can be allocated in a variety of ways to serve in the Kingdom. We felt a deep conviction that God is calling us to be free. By that we mean, totally free of debt so that we are fully available to serve Him in any way He wants.

As we considered our move, we realized we would be less free. We would be tied to the figurative chains of a larger mortgage, a bigger home, and more stuff making us less available to go somewhere to serve or to give more. The thought of not being able to go to Uganda as often, or not being able to give more to friends and family in need was simply not palatable to us.

The question we kept asking ourselves was which scenario would draw us closer to Christ? Which alternative would deepen our relationship with Him and help us model humility and sacrificial giving to our children? For us, the answer was clear. The move felt more like a distraction from what Christ was calling us to.

By staying put and paying down our debt, we hope to free ourselves for service and greater giving. We want to say (sincerely), “Here we are, send us!” And we feel like He has big plans in store.

So here’s where we ended up. We’re staying put and over the next 3 years we hope to pay off ALL our debt. That’s right – debt free in 3 years. Can we pay off all our debt in 3 years? No way. Apart from a miraculous move by God, I can’t fathom any possible way to do that. But that’s the beauty of it. Only God gets the glory. And by the way, the adoption is still on.

Some have said this is silly. Specifically, someone recently told me we don’t HAVE to do all this. It’s not necessary and it’s kind of crazy. But if after prayer and fasting we feel God calling us to this, then what kind of servants would we be if we disobeyed. Why seek His will in the first place.

So we’re moving on… sort of. Hopefully moving past some of the trappings of this world and more in line with His will and His specific plan for our lives. We can’t wait to watch it unfold.

Immeasurably More

2012-01-05T08:57:00.002-05:00

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21

God never ceases to astound me.

And yet, I'm so glad He continually amazes me,

because it's then I remember just how AWESOME He is!

You remember a couple of months ago when we asked you to Dare to Dream with us?

When we had some very generous donors step up and give $60,000 to SixtyFeet in order to help us make Mama Catherine's Children's Home a reality?

When we announced that we wanted to match this donation, dollar for dollar?

Well, God IS able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

He turned that $60,000 into

$210,000!!!

Please join us in humbly praising and thanking our gracious Lord!

Want to read more?

Check out the SixtyFeet blog.

Not My Economy

2011-12-20T20:43:00.001-05:00

First, I want to thank you all for supporting SixtyFeet and the Giving of Life voting. Unfortunately, SixtyFeet did not win one of the top 3 grants....but we did win a $2,000 grant! I have to confess - the human side of me was seriously bummed out. Like we lost, or something. Uhm, hello!!?? Not the case at all! We won $2,000! And three other amazing non-profits won crazy amounts of money for Kingdom purposes!! As I rethink it with a more Kingdom mindset, we are all winners, really!

So, that brings me to my ask...

There's another chance for SixtyFeet to win several thousand of dollars by virtual voting and WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Cultivate Wines is a company that gives away 10% of their profits each month to non-profits that benefit education and basic human needs. There are really 4 winners - the first gets $10,000 and the three runners-up get $5,000 each. Would you please help SixtyFeet win one of these grants? It's super easy! All you have to do is register and then vote. But it gets better! You can vote once per day!! I've had some friends set "The Give" page as their browser home page just to remind them to vote while others have set a reoccurring alarm on their smartphone...the website automatically pops up on their smartphone screen, they tap it, go to the website and voila!

And, if you feel so called, you could go one extra step by blogging about this (feel free to re-post what I've written to save the creative juices) or simply email it to a bunch of friends.

Voting ends New Year's Eve, so that gives you 11 votes!

Thank you all for your support and catching the vision in helping these precious children half way around the world!

The Humble King

2011-12-05T15:43:00.001-05:00

...and another post by Scott. I think he has officially hijacked my blog! Really, it's okay. I don't have the time to blog anyways!

The Humble King

Amy, our third child, recently started calling me “the humble king.” It was pretty sweet. Unfortunately, I had to burst her bubble and let her know there’s only one humble King and it ain’t daddy. If only I were that humble!

It got me thinking about humility though. What does true humility look like? I once heard that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. I think that pretty much sums it up. Christ is the perfect embodiment of this; a true King who set aside everything to become nothing for the sake of others.

But it’s hard to find that type of humility these days (even in the church). I don’t see it very often, especially in myself. In fact, I see the opposite quite a lot. I see people pursuing positions of honor, people who love praise, and people who seek after wealth and then flaunt it. Rarely is any of this truly forsaken for others.

Yes, we still give to others, but we often do it out of abundance while we continue to gratify ourselves. Where’s the humility in that? It’s like saying Christ could have stayed in Heaven and redeemed humanity from there without sacrificing anything.

So little Amy has encouraged us (in her own way) to embark on a mission of humility. Not in our own strength or to receive any praise. We want to think of others more and of ourselves less. We want to live humbly for others and before others to glorify the One who gave up everything for us.

What will it look like? We’re not entirely sure, but we can tell you what it won’t look like. It won’t look like the rest of the world. If we want to be closer to Him we need to identify with those things that manifest His character: humility and sacrifice are but two.

This time of year we celebrate the birth of Christ. Honestly, it’s really hard to even fathom the reality of what we celebrate. The Creator of time and space, entered time and space. The One who created man became a man. The One who is infinitely more, became less. He descended from the heights of glory into the depths of humanity, not escorted on a chariot or by angels, but in the lowliest way possible. Without a place to even lay His head, He poured Himself out as an offering for His people – sinless, bruised, buried, risen, glorified.

Now that’s a humble King.

“though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9

Faith Like a Child

2011-11-29T09:52:00.000-05:00

“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

2011-11-05T21:52:00.000-04:00

Do They Know It's Christmas Time at All?

2011-11-04T08:52:00.003-04:00

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!

2011-11-01T21:31:00.000-04:00

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.

Trick-or-Treating, with a Blessing

2011-10-31T21:55:00.000-04:00

Okay, y'all know us by now.

We don't do things the "normal" way.

We are a bit fruity.

But we like it that way!

We want to be different.

We want to look different than the world.

We want to live a life that is a little bit radical.

Oh, let's see...let's take Halloween as an example.

I promise I'm not getting all judgmental on you

or trying to make you feel guilty

for how you and your family choose to celebrate Halloween.

This is just how our family does it.

As a disclaimer, I've never liked Halloween.

I hate scary stuff.

H.A.T.E. I.T.

I find it annoying when my doorbell rings constantly.

And it irks me to no end when kids reach into the bowl,

grab a handful of candy,

stuff it into their already full bags,

and walk away without even a thank you.

And if I want a lot of candy, I'll just go to Target and buy a bag.

Oh, and I take it pretty seriously when Scripture links witchcraft, divination, sorcery to evil and how much the Lord hates it and warns us to have nothing to do with it.

So, how do we deal with Halloween with 4 children but a mom who could do without it?

We bless others...

while still getting dressed up in fun costumes...

and still getting candy...

and staying up past our bedtime...

and still having a whole bunch of fun.

Each year, we take our children to a local retirement community to trick-or-treat.

The girls love it!

In fact, Taylor kept asking, "When are we going to the retirement home for Halloween?"

It blesses me that my children delight in bringing others the joy of the Lord.

You should have seen the precious faces of these men and women

as my 4 paraded in the dining room.

It was priceless.

Hopefully, my children are learning that holidays aren't all about getting.

But giving.

(More on this tomorrow...)

The Third P - Prayer

2011-10-30T20:55:00.000-04:00

Hey folks -

Well, Scott's been quiet.

But it's not for lack of something to say.

No.

He was working diligently.

Collecting his thoughts.

Saving his best for the last.

(Or so he says, but I believe he's on to this blogging thing!)

Please women, this one is a biggie.

It's foundational.

Grab your guy.

Encourage a good challenge.

Or better yet, just pray for his heart to be conformed into the likeness of Christ!

A.W. Tozer often said “As a man prays, so is he.” As one of the greatest evangelists of the last century, Tozer considered prayer the most sacred occupation of man. Everything thing he did (preaching, teaching, living) flowed from his fervent prayer life. In fact, he was so passionate about practicing the presence of God that some people would open their eyes when he prayed to see if God was next to him.

If ever there was a subject that deserved more than a cursory discussion, it’s prayer. What follows will not (and could not) convey the shear weight of importance that prayer plays in our marriages and families. It is crucial for us to lead spiritually in order to fulfill our covenant role as head of our families, and prayer is central to that leadership.

As husbands and fathers, we must take this seriously. Dismissing prayer is like saying you don’t need to breathe today. It is our lifeline. So if we are not regularly in prayer (alone and with our wives and children), if we are not initiating it and leading our families in it, if there is a faint desire to commune with God and be with Him in prayer, we need to examine our lives and ask why.

I finally got to a point where I had to be honest and admit this was a struggle for me. I deeply desire a strong prayer life and to pursue God with passion, but there are so many obstacles and distractions. John Piper said that Twitter and facebook are proof positive that prayerlessness in our day is not due to a lack of time. I couldn’t agree more. Sadly, it’s due to something much deeper.

There are many obstacles to prayer in our lives including busyness, misplaced priorities, sin, and spiritual warfare. The one obstacle that scares me the most for myself and other fathers is self-reliance. In our society, we have become so self-reliant that we are in danger of failing to believe God and trust in Him. And it shows in our prayer lives.

I look around and see a church culture that is less and less dependent on prayer and the power of God, and more concerned with numbers, and metrics and programs. I see men less consumed with God’s Word and His work in their lives and more concerned with sports, and politics, and social mobility. I see Christians content to settle for what is possible and realistic instead of praying for God to manifest His miraculous and supernatural power through His people. We trust so much in our resources and not in God.

I feel like we’ve forgotten the basics. At this very moment, do you believe that God holds your breath in His hands? That your entire existence hinges upon His incredible mercy and grace? That your life, your children, your family, your job, your home, your health, everything you have (yes even your faith) are miraculous gifts from a loving Creator? Do you believe He is bigger than any problem you’re experiencing right now?

The bottom line is we have strayed. Our lack of trust in God is one of the most obvious reasons (in my mind) we have weak prayer lives. And so the foundations (marriages, families, homes) start to crumble.

In my limited experience, a thriving prayer life begins with humility. In my life, God is the most active when I am the most broken. This is the one whom He esteems: he who is humble, contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2. If only we would display such humility instead of the arrogance, and pride and puffing up that marks many of our gatherings. A heart felt confession of brokenness and hunger for God would do wonders for our marriages and families and the church. If only we would acknowledge our desperate need of Him and be continually astonished by His grace.

Some people say prayer is deeply personal and private. I consider it deeply intimate. Prayer ushers us into the presence of God and draws us close to others in ways that are unexplainable. I have felt closer to my wife, my children and my friends through prayer than through anything else.

I must confess sometimes I’ve been intimidated by prayer. Not knowing what to say or how to say it. In those moments, I find a quiet stillness before God is the best approach. But prayer doesn’t have to be wordy, or eloquent, or poetic. The objective is not to impress. Prayer should be sincere and heartfelt. The smallest and shortest of prayers are often the most beautiful and grandest. Faith like a child.

For those dads that struggle, I pray you break out of your shell. If you need help, seek out like-minded men. Pray for your family, your children and your marriage. They need your leadership and you need to lead. Even if you’re not comfortable praying with your wife or family, please step out in faith! Grab your family by the hand and lead them to the Father. Trust Him and He will meet you right where you are.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:10.

Can You Help?

2011-10-25T20:28:00.001-04:00

Hi friends!

I have a favor to ask.

It will take about 3 minutes of your time.

But the impact could change the lives of many imprisoned children

SixtyFeet serves in Uganda

Please go to Giving of Life and cast a vote.

Seriously, it’s as simple as clicking the word “vote” on the left side of the webpage.

And if you register on their site, you get extra votes.

(Don’t worry – if you register, you can un-click the “Keep In Touch” box

and you won’t receive any unwanted emails.)

And if you tweet about this,

you get extra votes.

That’s it.

Yup. It’s that simple.

You click.

You vote.

SixtyFeet moves into the top 20 ministries.

We become eligible to win a grant for $50,000.

Lives are changed.

It takes a few minutes and it will cost you nothing.

But it could literally make a world of difference

to the children SixtyFeet serves in Uganda.

Please go.

Vote.

Vote again.

Tweet.

Share the link.

Do you know what could be done with $50,000 in Uganda?!?

How Far Would You Go?

2011-10-16T20:54:00.002-04:00

Adoption can be a tricky gig.

There are lots of unknowns.

And I mean, LOTS of unknowns.

What will your child really be like?

Will you like him or her?

Will he or she like you?

Is my child HIV+?

Are there other health issues?

Am I strong enough to handle the ups and downs?

Will I treat my bio children differently from my adopted children?

How much will it cost?

How long will it take?

How long will I have to stay in-country?

What if the judge gives a different ruling than what I wanted?

What if the judge says I'll have to stay in-country for a much longer time than I planned?

Like, maybe 3 years?

Do I just leave this child for whom I prayed and head back home?

Do I make this child's country my new home?

Do I forsake all else for the cause of Christ?

These are not hypothetical questions either.

These are questions many of my friends (both cyber and real life) deal with daily.

I have a dear friend who used to live on the other side of the country from me.

She now lives on the other side of the world from me.

She and I have laughed together.

We have cried together.

We have prayed together.

We have served together.

We have loved together.

While I can't share her story
(perhaps one day, because it's shaping up to be a really awesome God story!),

I do want to ask for your help in supporting her family.

They are literally around the world

living moment by moment,

living in faith step by step,

trusting God for every little thing.

A mutual bloggy friend has a really awesome fundraiser going on.

She is selling these beautiful ornaments (among other cool things).

And 100% of the funds raised go directly to The Ribbens Family.

I bought 10.

I'll probably buy some more.

Everyone needs one of these on their tree.

Just to help them remember.

That Christ was born in a humble state.

Only to die for those He loves.

Even the little children in Africa.

The Second of the Three P's...

2011-10-06T21:18:00.000-04:00

He's on a roll!
And I'm loving it!
I hope you are, too!

Girls, this is stuff we know our husbands should know.
But many times they don't know.
So, grab them
along with a nice glass of wine (not whine),
read this together,
and then kiss!
*smack*

The Gift of Presence

What better gift to give your family than yourself. Once our priorities are straight, the next thing that follows should be a greater sense of presence in the home. It’s just a natural outflow of prioritizing Christ and family in our lives.

Not that anyone reading this would question the importance of dads being fully engaged at home, but to bring the weight of this issue to bear, ponder this:

* The University of Texas at Austin conducted a survey and 91% of the fathers surveyed agreed there is a “father-absence crisis in America.” What are the major obstacles facing dads: 1) Work demands, 2) Media, 3) Pop Culture, 4) Finances

* The connection between healthy child development and engaged fathers in the home is unquestionable. Studies have shown that the influence of fathers positively affects school performance, thinking skills, social development, and moral development.

* Daughters who feel their fathers care a lot about them have significantly fewer instances of suicide, eating disorders, low self-esteem, depression, and substance use.

* And the studies don’t just apply to single parent homes where fathers are absent! Researchers at Columbia found that children living in 2 parent homes where the relationship with the father was poor were 68% more likely to smoke, drink and use drugs.

I don’t think we really need the stats to emphasize the point. We all know the positive influence an involved father has on their children’s lives, and the negative impact a disengaged or absent father can have. Not to mention the impact it will have on your marriage! But what does it look like to be present in a modern day family?

There seem to be some misconceptions about this in our day and age. The image of a detached dad who is a spectator more than a participant in the home is a very common image of fatherhood in America.

As men we can probably go ahead and admit there is a degree of passivity that has overtaken us. It can be traced back to Adam, and continues to this day. It’s actually a little odd when you think about it. Many of us are go-getters at work. We take charge at the office and in meetings. We get things done, push through work, manage people, and have great initiative.

But when we get home we can be withdrawn. We may check out, or retire to our man cave (or whatever our escape valve is). When it comes to the chaos at home (which there always is if you have kids) we tend to be compliant rather than assertive. We don’t take initiative on decisions or problem solving when it comes to the weightier matters like spiritual leadership, discipline, sacrifice and service. In other words, we don’t lead.

Presence involves so much more than just being physically around. Some dads are simply absent (physically), but some are absent (emotionally) even when they’re present (physically). To a certain extent that was me.

So I’m striving to be present, both physically and emotionally. I want to be there for my family and to be fully engaged, but it’s difficult. The old ways are hard to shake and as I’ve learned presence is a full contact sport!

So what does it look like? How can we be more present at home? Here are a few suggestions that I’m trying and that may work for you:

1. Lead. This may look different for everyone but make sure the buck stops with you. This is a big one. On the big issues make sure you know where you stand. If there are discipline issues, you own it. A problem with the neighbor, you solve it. Spiritual development, you initiate it. Prayer time, you lead it. As much as possible, take charge of your family and allow your wife to support you. They will thank you for it. Plus God has entrusted them to your care. Lead and nurture them as Christ does for us.

2. Take initiative. Oftentimes there are unspoken issues that need to be addressed between spouses, or parents and children. We’re good at sweeping this stuff under the rug and hoping it just goes away. Don’t allow yourself to think it will magically evaporate. It won’t. Take the initiative to communicate with your spouse and children, especially on touchy and difficult subjects.

3. Listen. When your wife and children are speaking, pay attention. Ask questions. It may not be a big deal to you but it is to them. If you’re distracted, tell them to give you a minute then give them your full attention.

4. Turn off the technology. I mentioned this in a prior blog post but it’s so true. Computers, phones, TVs, you name it. They are distractions. Your work, the news, your boss; they all can wait. Your family needs you to be there so turn off the gizmos. We instituted a “computer covenant” at home where the gadgets have to be off during certain times, and Joy just gives me a gentle nudge when I forget (which I tend to do!).

5. Dinnertime. Do your best to make it home for dinner. Table time is great time to find out how your wife and children’s day was. This is tough, I know. As a professional, dinnertime hours tend to be active time at the office. But these are some of the hard choices we need to make.

6. Take interest in the details. Know what your wife has planned each day. Attend school meetings, sporting events, social outings, school lunches. Know as much as you can about your wife and children – teachers’ names, homework, what they enjoy, favorite food, color, songs, whatever. You may be surprised!

7. Play time. Have fun. Go on hikes, go swimming, play soccer, apple picking, camping, reading, bike riding, tickling. The giggles are intoxicating!

I wish I could put into words what this has meant to our family. All I can say is that the difference in how we relate to one another, how much fun we have, and how Joy and the children have responded is monumental.

Give your family the gift of presence and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about; hopefully you already do. I always was a slow learner!

The First of the Three P's

2011-10-02T21:09:00.000-04:00

My blog's been hijacked by my husband.

So, girls, grab your guys once again.

This one hits where it hurts, but it's rreeeaaaalllllyyyyy good!

Priorities
The First of the Three P's

When I thought about writing a few posts, I was thinking it would be primarily for men. Since I suspect nearly 99% of the people who read this are ladies, I guess I may not be reaching my target audience! But in reality this stuff applies to all of us. I do hope some men are able to read this and benefit though.

One disclaimer before proceeding. This is merely my perspective. I realize there are other vantage points and I don’t mean to offend anyone by what I say. Rather based on my personal experience, what I see around me, and what I know of other families who are similarly situated to ours, these issues seem to be very prevalent, if not ubiquitous. So I don’t intend to judge, but I do intend to challenge.

Of the “Three P’s”, priorities is one that is foundational. Without it, the other two (presence and prayer) will suffer or be virtually non-existent. Not that long ago, I would have said my priorities were in line. At least I would have said that prior to an incident (actually a few of them) that opened my eyes to see the truth.

Without sharing too much, the incident involved an abdication (not delegation – there’s a difference) of responsibility for important matters in our home. Due to a lack of leadership, Joy had to fill in the gap (or gaps) without my support or direction. She was left to fend for herself – abandoned by her husband (not physically but in other ways). Something God never intended men to do to their wives.

I don’t think I intentionally neglected this area (or any other area) of our family. Comparatively, I was probably doing pretty well. But there is only one standard and by His standard, I was falling short. That’s hard for a man to admit! It makes the hair on our neck stand up when we’re challenged, particularly in this area. It sure made mine stand up! But it was true and I was blinded to it. I had a wake up call, and hopefully others may as well.

When I think of priorities I think of a list. Some things on the list take precedence over others and there’s one thing at the top which trumps all of them. The one up top is the one that you devote the majority of your time and energy to. When pressed to choose between others, this is the one you don’t sacrifice.

A friend once said to me, give me your calendar and your checkbook and I’ll tell you what’s important in your life. How does your calendar and your checkbook look? Where are you spending the bulk of your time and energy, and why?

Many men in the church say that God and family are the top priorities in their lives. But when you look at their lives, it really makes you question whether that’s true. The disconnect between words and actions does not go unnoticed by others, especially our wives and children.

We claim to love God but don’t regularly lead our families in prayer or devotions (or spend much time in the Word ourselves). We claim to put our families first but aren’t at home for dinners or on weekends, and even if we are, we’re usually distracted. We express our love oftentimes through material possessions rather than time and affection, sending a mixed message about what is truly important.

One of the excuses I have used, and seen many other fathers use, is that we need to provide for our families. We have bills to pay, man! Mortgages, tuition, food, power, car payments, loans; the burden is mighty. So if we don’t work (or maybe if both spouses don’t work) how will all of this be taken care of?

To a certain extent, I would agree. Some families (particularly these days) struggle to make ends meet. But many families I know are well provided for and yet there is a discontent that pervades their lives. They want more! More compensation, more recognition at work, a bigger house, nicer clothes, more security, better vacations, shinier things, more comforts.

So in the midst of abundance - where God has more than adequately provided for all our needs - we are still dissatisfied. And as a result, we have dissatisfied children. We wonder why our kids complain and moan, when in reality they are reflecting our grumbling spirit.

The Word tells us that “Godliness with contentment is great gain”; that “if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content”; we ask God to give us neither poverty nor riches but simply our daily bread. As I write this, I feel even in my own spirit a sense of insincerity with respect to these verses. Who among us is honestly content with our daily bread? If we’re honest with ourselves and others we would admit that we want so much more. We’re discontent and our priorities are skewed as a result.

Idolatrous hearts and the praise of man (rather than the fear of God) drive us to find satisfaction in things other than Christ, and we suffer. Families are wasting away because of it rather than resting in a merciful God who has redeemed us from all that!

And to justify our covetous hearts we somehow equate God’s blessing with financial prosperity. As if our success is a tangible sign of God’s favor. There’s no doubt God has blessed certain families who have in turn given abundantly to Kingdom purposes. But you usually hear the opposite. If God blesses me, I can give or serve the Kingdom more abundantly. We should remember there’s always a cost to pursuing worldly treasure!

The question we should ask is what (or better yet Whom) are we pursuing and why? Are you pursuing God or His blessings? Do you want more of Him or just more of His stuff? I see a lot of men pursuing the latter at the expense of the Former. The result is an emptiness within many families. A chasing after the wind that will never fulfill. Moreover, families that are supposed to be salt and light, simply look like everyone else in the world with very little distinction.

The bottom line is my priorities were off, and I saw the impact it was having on my family. The good news is that our God is a God of redemption. The years the locusts have eaten have been restored. He has upheld our family in incredible ways ever since I made significant shifts in my priorities. For me, that involved leaving a lucrative position, slowing down at work to focus my attention on my family, and ministering to them spiritually and emotionally. And somehow the bills still get paid! Incredible how that works.

One last thing, since Joy and I have worked on and strengthened our relationship, my relationship with our girls is noticeably greater. Not that it was bad before, but it’s so much fuller now. If our relationship with our wife is suffering, then our relationship with our kids will suffer also. They go hand in hand.

So I would encourage husbands and fathers – please take a look at your priorities! If they need to be readjusted, make some changes. Talk to your wife openly about these issues. Be humble enough to say “I’m sorry!” where it’s appropriate. Be open to thoughts and suggestions from your spouse.

Renew your love for Christ. Pursue Him with the passion you profess with your mouth, and don’t let yourself get distracted with the cares of this world. You may need to make some serious changes in how you live and it will be very difficult and uncomfortable I assure you. But He will be there every step of the way.

Finally, let your wife know she’s the love of your life.

Let your children know that you would move heaven and earth (if you could) to fight for them - that they are treasured in your eyes.

Love them sacrificially. I promise you will never regret it!

The Three P's

2011-09-28T09:34:00.000-04:00

As y'all know, my man is in UG this week. Being away from the comforts of home and in the mission field is always a great place to hear God speak to your soul. God's speaking to my man in a big way. Here's what he heard. (Women, grab your man. This was really written for HIM!)

Priorities, Presence & Prayer

Nearly two months ago, I wrote a guest post about a journey Joy and I have been on lately. You can read it here for a little background. Recently, I realized (with the help of my lovely wife and a merciful God), that I was neglecting some major things in life. Namely, I was failing to lead my family in critical areas and allowing my relationship with Joy and the kids to suffer.

None of it was anything people would call “critical.” We weren’t in desperation or “on the brink.” But we were on cruise control – in a bad way. You probably would have looked at our life and figured everything was fine. But if mediocrity and misplaced priorities are acceptable, particularly among Christian families, then there’s some major readjusting that needs to take place.

I suspect our journey is so common within our community (extended family, church, school, etc…), that I’ve been fearful for other families since this began. So I thought a follow up blog post (or 4) would be worthwhile in hopes that even one guy might identify with our walk and make some “radical” changes as a husband and father. By that I definitely mean something uncomfortable. Something that is foreign to modern culture – even Christian culture.

So after the blog post in July, three words kept coming to mind. They don’t come from a book or a workshop on fatherhood. They’re just a few words that kept coming up as I processed what Joy and I were experiencing; they are priorities, presence and prayer. I think these capture the essence of what we (and me in particular) have been struggling with, and over several posts I hope to unpack what each of these means for our family, and especially for me as a husband and a father. I pray they speak to your family in some way as well.

As a precursor, far too often, we men view ourselves principally as providers rather than spiritual leaders. Yes, we see ourselves as fathers, and husbands, and coaches. But principally, we see ourselves as providers. If we adequately provide for our family then we feel like we have pretty much fulfilled our role. If we have abundantly provided for our family, then we’ve basically earned bonus points, which we cash in from time to time. On the flip side, if we are not able to provide for our family then it can be devastating to us. So to a large extent, our identity is wrapped up in our ability to provide for and support our family.

As a result, this (among other factors) can lead us to have misplaced priorities (I would argue idolatrous at the root). It can distract us from our family, it can lead us to not be fully engaged, and ultimately it can destroy our spiritual headship in the home resulting in a weak prayer life and little time spent in God’s Word and teaching it to our children.

In a word, we “settle.” We settle for so much less than God intended for us and we don’t fulfill our calling to be the husband/father that God called us to be (a true servant leader in our home). Instead, we find fulfillment in other things. One of those may be work. Maybe it’s possessions. Maybe it’s the prestige that comes with climbing the ladder at the office, or completing a large deal, or traveling to exotic locations. Whatever it is, it distracts many us and unfortunately our wives and children suffer.

On the outside, things may appear fine to friends and family, but on the inside the foundations may be crumbling. We are so good at playing church that most people may never realize something is destroying us from within. Hopefully we stop playing church, start being the church.

For us, that means living out the gospel. Not living it out kinda sorta while we pursue other treasures, but really living it out keeping our eyes on the eternal. It also means being humble enough to acknowledge that we’ve bought into a culture (including a Christian culture) that promotes and idolizes lifestyle above family, and selfishness above sacrificial love for others. Prosperity is the gospel most of us reject yet everyone seems to live. And it’s destroying us from the core.

Ultimately, what does a life that is utterly surrendered to Jesus Christ look like? What does a family that is sold out to the gospel live like? For us, the answer certainly was not the status quo. It was remarkably different and we will share some of that in the next few posts. But it started at the top. It started with dad.

Five Loaves and Two Fish

2011-09-25T16:00:00.000-04:00

I'm going to take a break from stories about my trip to Uganda for a minute.

I'm going to rest a bit.

I'm going to retreat from the pain and heartache.

I'm going to refuel my tired, weary body and soul.

Are you liking these words...

...take a break...

...rest...

...retreat...

...refuel...

We all know that adoption and orphan care is exhausting work -

physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

And, we all know how hard it is for tired mamas to get an opportunity to...

...take a break...

...rest...

...retreat...

...refuel...

As you meditate on those four beautiful words,

let me tell you a story.

It's a story about a mama

who has a gigantic heart for orphans and adoption,

and for mamas that have gigantic hearts for orphans and adoption.

She needed to retreat for a weekend.

To escape reality for a few days and

refuel her Spirit with some time with the Lord.

She, like Jesus in Matthew 14:13,

needed to find a quiet place

to rest and retreat

with just a few of her close friends.

But, just as in this familiar Bible story,

the crowds heard about her little retreat

and followed.

Okay, so there aren't 5,000 that followed her.

At first it was 25.

Then it was 250.

Then it was 450.

Then it was over 600!

How on earth was she going to be able to care for over 600 mommies?!?

But, her heart responded just as Jesus' in verse 16:

"Do not send them away."

She obeyed.

And Created for Care was birthed.

Truly, when she followed the Lord's leading for this retreat,

she had planned for 25 folks.

But then word got out.

And the retreat filled up with 250 women in just one day.

That was last year.

This year, when registration opened up,

400 women signed up in 9 hours!

And 200 went on the wait list.

This mama prayed and prayed....

how could she leave the 200 on the wait list

and not care for them?

But, as in the miracle of the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish...

God provided!!!

There is going to be a

SECOND

Created for Care retreat!

March 23-25, 2012.

Registration begins September 28, 2011.

Seriously, if you have adopted,

are in the process of adopting,

desire to adopt,

love and care for mamas who adopt,

this is it!!

The women I met last year have grown to become some of my closest friends!

Like minded mamas,

who love the orphan,

who love Jesus,

who laugh,

who cry,

who hug,

who sing,

who pray...

This is a little glimpse of heaven, I'm sure!

Whatcha' Cookin'

2011-09-23T11:19:00.000-04:00

Here's what "typical" meals look like for the kids at the Remand Homes.

And I say "typical" because that's if they have water.

And they only have water if they have electricity.

And the kids at M1 haven't had electricity for 3 weeks.

That means they haven't had running water for 3 weeks.

That means they have to walk a mile up the hill with their jerry cans to fetch water.

And a mile back down the hill.

But back to the food...

For breakfast, they have porridge.

Think of Cream of Wheat made with 3 cups extra water.

For their lunch/dinner (served around 3 pm), they have posho

and, if they are blessed, beans.

That's it.

Each and every day.

Except on select Saturdays

when folks like SixtyFeet, Lovelyn Palm, and the Andersson Family help out

and buy food for a Saturday "party".

The children then get some meat or fish, rice, and a fruit or vegetable.

Our dear friend, Lovelyn, is raising money to host a Saturday Party at 3 of the 7

Remand Homes in which SixtyFeet works.

Think you can help Lovelyn out with the parties tomorrow?

Even a couple of dollars will provide a healthy meal for several children.

And, don't you know, even prisoners have a right to healthy food.

Headed to Our Lake House

2011-09-22T21:25:00.000-04:00

Here's a comment we've heard several times...

"Man - y'all go to Uganda like you're going up to your lake house for the weekend!"

Now that I'm counting up all the trips from just this past year...

Scott - 8 ... Joy - 2

We do seem to go over there a lot!

Well, I guess when we go to Uganda, we are going to our lake house.

It just happens to be Lake Victoria.

But check out the views!

And look at these beautiful faces.

These are the famous and wonderful Mama Catherine and Pastor Ernest

Why wouldn't we want to go?

I've been home now for 10 days.

I'm finally over jet lag.

I am (almost) unpacked.

And it just in time for Scott to go.

Yup.

You heard me right.

Scott left for Uganda this evening.

Or, rather, shall I say,

he went to our lake house for the week?

As our new SixtyFeet bumper stickers declare,

"I'd rather be in Uganda!"

Wouldn't you?

Now We're Talkin'

2011-09-17T20:05:00.000-04:00

I'd like you to meet my friend, Daniel.

(the fella in red)

He's a resident of M3.

You should know,

M3 is a remand home

designed for 30 children,

ages 3-7.

There are now 148 children,

ages 18 months to 18 years

living in this remand home.

I don't know his story.

All I know is he's an 18 year old

hearing impaired boy.

Did you know that sign language

is the same in America as it is in Africa?

God obviously ordained that I'd learn

sign language in the 7th grade.

He knew that one day I'd use it to

communicate with my brother

half way around the world.

No one else at M3 is able to communicate

with Daniel.

You should have seen the smile

on his beautiful face

as I started to "talk" with him.

But that's not the coolest part.

Remember how the children

asked for Bibles all week?

Daniel was no exception.

When he asked me for a Bible,

all I had was a children's Bible.

That delighted him.

He received the Bible,

sat in a corner,

and started "reading" it.

He signed word for word.

So, I joined in.

I sat next to him in the corner

and we "read out loud" together.

It was beautiful.

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

2011-09-16T20:51:00.000-04:00

They didn't ask for shoes, though they walked around bare footed.

They didn't ask for clothes, though most were barely dressed.

They didn't ask for food, though their next meal was hours away.

They didn't ask for toys, though they played games with rocks.

They asked for the one thing that mattered most.

A Bible.

That's all they wanted.

God's Word.

Truth.

Hope.

They hungered for it.

Do I?

No Words

2011-09-12T19:40:00.000-04:00

It’s been hard to blog this week.

We’ve had power - that’s not the problem.

I’ve had lots of experiences in which to write about - that’s not the problem.

I’ve had some (short) bits of time in which to write – that’s not the problem.

The problem is putting my thoughts, feelings, emotions into words.

Words just can’t describe this week.

Words cannot even begin to describe the precious bodies I’ve hugged this week, the eyes I’ve looked into, the smiles and tears I’ve seen.

Words cannot even begin to do these children’s stories justice.

Words cannot depict the lives these children live.

Words cannot capture the sight, sounds, smells of this week.

Words cannot express the emotions I’ve felt this week.

There are just no words.

Don't Shed a Tear

2011-09-05T13:41:00.000-04:00

I left for Uganda today.

I left behind my wonderful husband.

I left behind my four precious children.

I left behind my comfortable house.

But I didn’t shed a tear.

Don’t get me wrong.

I love my family.

With all my heart.

The kind of love when your fingers miss sweet blonde curls twisting through them.

The kind of love when you wonder what your husband is doing with the kids at a particular moment and you wish you could enjoy that moment with them.

The kind of love when you know something is missing next to you in bed at night.

The kind of love when you can hear sweet laughter ringing in your ears.

The kind of love when you can see sweet smiles as you close your eyes.

The kind of love when you are thinking the same thoughts as your other half.

But I’m not shedding a tear.

Because as much as I love my family, I love my Jesus more.

Mathew 10:27

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

This passage shows me that even though, through the worlds eyes, it looks like I’m forsaking my family by leaving, I’m really loving them more because this trip brings me closer to my Lord.

I’m honoring my husband by following his lead in our ministry.

By going where he’s given me his blessing.

I’m living my life as an example of how I want my children to live.

I know I need to be on this plane headed for a country I love.

I know I need to leave my husband in order to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I know I need to leave my children so I can share my love with other children who need it more.

I know I need to leave my comfortable house so I can remember how the vast majority of the world lives.

And though I’ll miss my family terribly while I’m gone, the kind of tears I’ll shed won’t be because my heart is empty.

On the contrary – I’ll shed tears because my heart will be overflowing.