I Choose

Here is a picture of my brother and Isaac in front of a sunflower in my dad's garden.

Today I was re-reading something a friend sent me. It is by Max Lucado. I think you will enjoy it too.

I Choose Love...
No occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...
the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see
people as anything less than human beings, created by God
I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than
an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace...
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience...
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of
cursing the one who takes my place. I'll invite him to do so.
Rather than complain that the wait is too long.
I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist
at a new assignment. I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Goodness...
I will go without a dollar before
I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast.
I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness...
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word.
My wife will not question my love.
And my children will never fear that
their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness...
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control...
I am a spiritual being...
After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I choose Self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.
I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God.
I will be taught only by Christ.
I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek his grace.
And then, when this day is done,
I will place my head on my pillow
and rest.
Max Lucado-When God whispers Your Name

Our Time With Ethiopian Missionaries Part 1

Isaac and I playing football with his older cousins. He was tired of taking pictures!!

Last Friday night we met with a couple from Holland, Michigan who have been missionaries since 1965. They have been dear friends of Matt’s aunt. They have spent time in Oman, Ethiopia and Liberia. Now they are going to Cameroon in Western Africa for the next 5 months.
The spent two years learning Arabic years ago and took their two young boys with them to Oman. The boys went to school in India while living there.
Both are now in their seventies. Can you imagine taking on a new experience in Camroon at that age? I told Matt most people their age are playing golf and bingo in Florida!
What wonderful people who seek to do God’s will. He is a surgeon who educates in hospitals while she teaches English. I think we could have talked all night long to them.

They just returned home from Ethiopia, about 5 or 6 hours south west of Addis Ababa.
I talked to him about the NOVA program where women often develop obstetrical fistulas during childbirth. He said he has performed those surgeries.
They had written down several sayings and stories. One stands out right now.
A father brought a young boy to him at the hospital. He had a large growth on his face. He kept asking the father why he waited so long to bring him to him because the growth was huge and may not be able to be removed. The little boy said, “it got too heavy and I could not carry it anymore.” Keep in mind the growth was now resting on his shoulder!
He said that when people get diseases, growths etc… they typically hope it goes away and do not seek help.

They gave us several books about Ethiopia and some local artwork painted on sheep’s skin. I am excited to frame it for our little one. Books on Ethiopia have been hard to find to this is a great help to us.
Because we learned so much I will keep posting information they gave to us!

On another note, a friend sent me a daily devotional in the mail this week. We went to graduate school together and though I have not seen her in years it was a blessing to hear from her. Something broke inside of me when I received it. I think my emotions from the babies that have went to heaven in Ethiopia and thinking about our Samuel just came to a head. I had a good cry and talked to God about it.

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by a friend to post seven weird/random facts about myself.
1. I have visited three other countries
2. I am a member of a Native American Tribe
3. I have climbed an active volcano
4. I spent two months in Perth Australia 10 years ago
5. I lived in Chicago for 2 years while going to University of Illinois Chicago
6. I would love to get my nose pierced
7. I burp louder than my brother
You must all feel like you really know me now!
The picture above is from our Trunk or Treat at MOPS. I actually won. I am pretty much the opposite of Martha Stewart so I went in with low expectations. Think I won because of the bale of hay I bought on the way there that morning.

Our Heart Breaks

We heard that another little baby went to heaven on Saturday in Ethiopia.
His family was given their referral in September, he truly was their own. We weep with this family as they miss there little one. So many emotions at this time.
Please pray for the other babies at the transition home and for all the caregivers. We need God to have mercy on them and heal their illness.

No Computer

Oh how I hope our computer is fixed tomorrow. So we are without for awhile longer. More posts later!!

More Northern Michigan Beauty

We are enjoying a few more days up north. The trees are still so beautiful!
My computer is down and being repaired so I have not been able to congratulate the families who were told they had gotten referrals for new little ones this month.
Four more referrals were handed out this week!!
Hope my computer is up and running soon.
Our pastor talked about Kingdom issues that are important during this election.
Check it out at reslife.org it was an awesome message of what issues are important to God and not negotiable.
Hope you can see some gorgeous trees turning colors near you.

Loving October

October may be one of my favorite months. Isaac and I just got home from Northern Michigan and it was beautiful. Every year I look forward to the weather cooling off, leaves changing and Christmas coming. Matt is also back from his business trip. We are excited to spend time with him again.
Here are a few pictures from our trip up north. I took one from the deer blind where we hunt and another of my parents dog Idgy and Isaac on the gator. The hunting property is about a mile from my parents house and we frequently drive the gator over to sit and look at the birds and deer.
I think Isaac spent the majority of the time outside this week. We were up visiting for a few days. What a wonderful time.
On a side note, we need to watch out for division in the church, between friends, relatives or co-workers. During election times people have strong opinions and sometimes I think words come out that hurt others. I am as much to blame here. I come from a very politically aware family and love discussing it. But, remember our hearts can hold grudges and that is not healthy .
We live in a free country and I thank God for the men and women who have served and are serving to keep our country free and fight wars in other lands. I am thankful we are not fighting on our soil.
So many verses come to mind over what is happening.
Matthew 16:3 "...Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times."
1 Tim 4:1-2 "The spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared with a hot iron." For more information on things taught by demons go to reslife.org Our pastor completed a series you can listen to on Doctrines of Demons.
I Peter 4:7-8 "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins."
I think we can watch cable tv for 5 minutes and know how things are morally in the US. But, God is bigger than that and our prayers do make a difference. Continue to love people and seek God for our country. Remember we are apart of God's kingdom and if we have accepted Jesus in our heart and live for him than we can trust Him without fear. This is one of my favorite verses:
I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
There is one more important verse I have been dwelling on and I can't find the address for it so more later!!

Prayer

We continue to lift up three little baby boys in Ethiopia.
We know two of them are in the hospital right now. We also are asking God for Grace for our friends who lost their baby Jaren last Thursday before he made it to the hospital. Matt and I know what it feels like to have a child in heaven and it brings back a lot of feelings.
I have so much to say about God's healing power but it will have to wait until I get some sleep. I always tell Isaac Jesus not only died for our sins on the cross but our healing and protection as well.
I am believing and asking God for a miracle in Ethiopia and in the bodies of these boys.

Prayers for our Friends

Today our friends received word their little boy in Ethiopia has died and went to be with Jesus. He was only four months old. My heart feels so heavy for them.

Two scriptures came to mind.
Proverbs 15:13&14 "A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken."
Isaiah 51:11 "Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: They shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away."
Pray for this family, lift them up to the Lord.
The loss of a child is incredibly difficult. All the hopes and dreams you had for them will have to wait.
Isn't it good to know we can have eternal life through Jesus and spend eternity with our babies? That is the hope we have.
Today our little friend met our Samuel in heaven. Thank God for his promises.