Give Me Faith

"Give Me Faith"

Elevation Worship

Our Unique Tree

 Six Unique Things About Our Christmas Tree

Instead of decorating our Christmas tree with expensive, delicate ornaments, we like to decorate with simple, fun and even goofy things.  The kids always get a kick out of it, and the tree just feels like home.

#1 - We have rock stars on our tree!

 

 #2 - Kissing Fish???

 

#3 - A monkey wearing shades and eating a banana

 

 #4 - Not sure if this is a self-portrait of my kids, 

or if they were trying to put Mick Jagger

on the tree. :-)

 

#5 - Electric Guitars on our tree

 

#6 - Shyaka, our sponsored child from Rwanda

Show Me Your Glory...

Show Me Your Glory

Kim Walker (Jesus Culture)

I Miss You

The cry of our Father's voice...

"I Miss You"

by Shane and Shane

May Waltz

May Waltz

-Brooke Fraser

I've got a mind to take you away.

To some white sand and a palm tree parade

I've got a mind to take you away.

I've got a mind to go.

I've got a smile that's only for you.

Exchanged in secret, the way lovers do.

I've got a smile that's only for you.

Baby, I've got a smile.

Morning sneaks up on us.

Shines on our sheets.

Waking me into my favorite dream.

My best imagining never implied, 

That you'd be the dawning that ended my night.

I've got the will to love you always

through the chilliest winter

to the hot summer haze.

I've got the will to love you always.

I've go the will to love.

Honey, I know it won't always be sweet

Loving a person is not a small feat.

Don't give up on me and I won't on you.

Pack your bags baby 'cause I'm taking you.

You're Not Alone

You're Not Alone

Meredith Andrews

Rwanda Smile

The smile tells the whole story! 
Shyaka, my sponsored child.  (Photo by Natalie Green)

Great Minds

"Great minds discuss ideas,

average minds discuss events,

small minds discuss people."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Update from Rwanda

Africa New Life Ministries (ANLM.org) is such a wonderful organization. It's been about 8 months since I started sponsoring this young man in Rwanda.  Shyaka is a precious example of the great need to sponsor children.  I wrote about Shyaka in a previous post (click here to read), so be sure to read that if you haven't already.

Natalie Green, with ANLM,  is leading two different missionary teams to Rwanda this month.  She was directly responsible for choosing Shyaka for me and my kids to sponsor.  She has become a dear friend over this last year, and has kept me up to date with so many different ways to help.  She has just arrived in Rwanda and will be there for about a month this time.

Natalie just sent me a message on facebook.  She said "Guess who I found assisting the leaders distribute new shoes at "Center Day" my first 10 minutes at our main property?! Healthy and joyful...and quite the leader--thanks to your sponsorship! He was promoted to grade SIX! I ran to him and gave him a giant hug. And I told him I would see him many times this month. He will be at the Kigali Sponsored Child Party this Wednesday and I will give him the gift y'all sent him then!"

Natalie Green and Shyaka

I'm so excited!  We sent several gifts for Shyaka with the team.  Things like a deflated soccer ball that the team can pump up, colored pencils, hot wheel cars, and a bit of candy too. :-)  Sounds like Wednesday they'll be having a special party for all the sponsored children, and will present gifts at that time.

It such a good feeling to know that people are actively touching and improving his life.  Not just his life, but thousands of other children as well.  If you'd like information on sponsoring a child, just let me know and I can get you in touch with Natalie and ANLM.

Pop Quiz

If I were to sum up the last 2-3 weeks, I would have to describe it as a time of testing.  God has been teaching me (or should I say correcting me) in so many different ways.  Almost daily I can see Him shining the light in areas of my life that need His help.  He has a gentle way of keeping me on the path that He has for me.  It seems that after He speaks, I am shortly presented with a "pop quiz" to really see if I learned the lesson.  Sadly, I fail more often than I pass.... I guess I'm not a very good student.  :-(   Thankfully God is a very patient and loving teacher.  His grace allows me to try again and again until I get it right.

For instance, God has been showing me that I need to be more active to reaching out to those in need.  He's been opening my eyes to the poor, and showing me that I need to change my attitude and judgmental thoughts.  He's been teaching me that everything comes from Him, and "my" finances are really "his".  He will fully fund me for anything He needs me to do.

So after all this, He plants a homeless man on the curb right in front of my office!  Then for 2 weeks my business comes grinding to a halt for no reason at all -- slower than it had been in years!  And then a different man in need, knocks on my door asking for money and food two days in a row.  Oh my!  It's hard to explain just from typing, but these things combined with everything He's been teaching me have shown me that I still have so much more to learn about love, trust, giving and faith.

I wish I could report back good news about all of these things.  It would be nice to tell you how I reached out like Mother Teresa and met their needs.  But aside from offering some very trivial help, I pretty much failed.  My business has started picking up again, but only after much prayer and realizing that I still have trust and faith issues that need to be worked out.  I've got so much more to learn.  There's a lot of other things that God has been dealing with me about, but I won't bore you with all those details tonight. 

If you're not hearing God whispering into your life... He is.  Spend some time with Him everyday... read His word (Psalms or the book of Matthew are a good place to start).  Talk to him like a friend, worship, pray, and finally be still and listen.  Don't listen with your ears (unless you're Moses!)... listen with your heart.  He wants to spend time with you and don't be surprised if he starts smoothing out your rough spots too.

God Bless You Friends!
-Me

Who Will...

"Who will love me, for me"

What Love Really Means

JJ Heller

Forthcoming Love...

My Dearest Forthcoming Love...

Right now my Father is working on me.  He's working on my heart.  He's healing and restoring me.  He's teaching me how to trust again and how to love with an unbroken heart.  My Father's hand is steady and deliberate.  There is purpose in every motion that He creates in my life.

Though I don't know you yet, please wait patiently, because the day is coming when the timing will finally be right.  On that day, He will take you by the hand and lead you into my life and I'll forever be able to sing "God Gave Me You".  Until then, I will be patiently awaiting our day.

Divinely yours,
Stephen

Go! Touch! Tell! Love! Serve!

God's been placing so many thoughts in my heart lately.  My mind has been swirling with words, scriptures, ideas and concepts.  I know these are from my Father's heart, because many of these are come head-to-head against my own fears, limits and frustrations.   I feel He is drawing me into a new season and I cannot wait to see where all this leads.

I just want to journal a rough list of recent things on my heart.  Father let these be done in me...

• My plan is out-dated, old and obsolete.  His plan is the new strategy. 
• Nothing of this world will matter to me any more.
• I have died to myself, I am dying to my own dreams and goals.  I am only alive for the purposes of Christ.  In Him I live and breathe. 
• The book of my life is being rewritten.  Love is the plot, Faith is the binding and Hope is the pen with which I write.
• Fears are gone!  Fear of death, failure, loneliness, fear of growing old, fear of poor health, your notice has been served!  You have been broken!
• Money and finances are no longer the most important thing to me.  In fact, they are being moved to the most insignificant place.  I am fully funded to do what my Father asks.
• Simplify, Downsize, Eliminate, Lighten the load, Sell, Give, Live below my means.
• Cap my spending and income and give the rest.  
• My American dream robs from my Heavenly treasure.
• My earthly cost: persecution, suffering, misunderstood, hated, mocked
• My heavenly reward: priceless beyond measure
• Time to move from the checkbook to the street.  Go!  Touch!  Tell!  Love!  Serve!
• Fast, Pray, Discern, Listen, Hunger, Thirst, Seek
• Risk everything.  Go "all in".  Expect the unexpected.
• 6 billion people need my Father.
• Just Go... Make a difference... the world is waiting.

For Better or Worse

I had the privilege of being a witness of true love yesterday.  My son and I were fishing near the boat launch at the lake, when a small SUV pulled up with a pontoon boat attached.  An older gentleman stepped out of the car.  He was in his mid-50's with a long gray beard and was dressed just like a fisherman should be.

As he approached us, he started scoping out the boat ramp.  He was very friendly and began to tell me that his wife was handicapped and he was trying to figure out the best way to put the boat in the water.  "You see," he explained, "We love fishing and used to have a couple of  bass boats.  But ever since my wife's been handicapped we haven't been able to go out on the lake.  I just bought this pontoon boat and I built a special ramp so I can get her wheelchair from the dock to the boat."  He continued conversing with me while he was inspecting the ramp, and then when he was satisfied with his plan, he explained to me how he was going to do this.  I smiled, nodded, and realized I may have the help this guy a little.

He returned to the SUV and I could hear him lovingly explaining to his wife how he was going to back the car up, tie off the boat, pull up the ramp to a nearby parking space and then help her onto the boat.  I didn't notice anything odd, and she was quiet so I figured she must be used to him taking time to explain and care like this.

After several attempts he was able to get the boat in the water.  I did offer my help and he was glad to have the extra hand to stabilize and secure the boat while he pulled the car and trailer up to the handicap parking spot.  He called out to me several times to express his thanks.

I wasn't prepared for what was about to take place.  As the gentleman opened his wife's car door and loving spoke to her, she squealed and shrieked uncontrollably and excitedly.  She was so loud that it startled me and my son.  We were some distance from their car, but I found myself looking around to see if anyone else noticed how odd this was.  His wife was not just physically handicapped and unable to stand without the use of a wheelchair, but there was a mental aspect involved as well.

It took him a few minutes to get her out of the SUV and into her wheelchair.  She was obviously very excited (and loud) about the boat as she kept squealing.  Once in a while, I could pick out a word or two she was saying, but he knew and understood her ever sound.  As he wheeled her down the pier he smiled and called out to me again.  "She's so excited!  You see?  She's just so excited about all this!"  He never  flinched or apologize for the strangeness.  He never realized how odd this was.  He didn't try to silence her, or even act like anything was wrong.  He was so happy to see her excitement and he couldn't wait to get her on the boat.

As he approached his "homemade" wheelchair ramp, she became scared and started to scream.  The ramp was about four feet long, but we had tied the boat so close to the pier, that she was really only going to pass over about 6 inches of water in the process.  But those 6 inches cause a great deal of fear for her, and her way of expressing it was screaming.  He stopped and talked with her.  He reassured her and calmed her and then he pushed her across the ramp an onto the boat.  Once on the boat, the excitement returned and she was obviously happy again.

I've been thinking about that couple several times throughout the day.  My mind was searching for answers to explain the level of care and attention that he was providing.  I wondered what could have caused the mental aspect of her handicapped.  I imagined how devastating that must have been on him and on their relationship; but then again -- it didn't even phase him.  He cared for her as if she was a child, but she was his wife.  Couples today are so quick to divorce over such petty issues, but here's a man that is committed "for better or worse".  And not only is he committed, he embraced it with a gentle, loving, kindness and excitement. There's so many lessons in what I saw today.... I know I'll remember that experience for years to come.

 

Your love sets me free

Addison Road

Hope Now

Everything rides on hope now

Everything rides on faith somehow

When the world has broken me down

Your love sets me free

You've become my hearts desire

I will sing Your praises higher

Cause Your love sets me free

This Love is Stronger

For several months I have been following the story of "Daisy Love" and praying for her as often as I can remember. Daisy Love Merrick is the precious daughter of Pastor Britt Merrick of Reality Church in California.  Daisy is just five years old and has been battling a rare form of cancer called "Wilms Tumor".  If you get a chance, please visit Daisy's web site called http://PrayForDaisy.com

A beautiful song was written for Daisy by Dominic Balli
Today I simply wanted to share this song with you, but if you'd like more information about Dominic Balli you can visit this page.

I hope you enjoy this song and please take time to pray for Daisy...

When that storm comes
Like a hurricane
And the sun seems far away

We will not fear the wind
We will not fear the waves
I can feel your calm within

When this life is shaken
By ragin’ seas
We are not gon’ be afraid

So if ya walk on waves and wind
Then hold my hand and I’ll walk again

Chorus:
This love is stronger than the blood that beats my heart
This love is deeper, than the pain of all these scars
This love goes farther than the hope in answer’s arms
This love is stronger
It’s strong enough for me

V.2
You lived our sorrows,
Befriended all our pain
All that we might rise again

You stole my sickness,
Rested in my disease
All that I might rest in thee

And you alone bring healing,
And for you I’ll wait
But we are not gon’ be afraid

Chorus:

Bridge:
We may be crushed but we are not ever forsaken
We may be struck down but we are not ever destroyed
Then when that fire comes to shine through me your glory
We are not gonna be afraid

The Thief

Brook Fraser has an amazing, poetic way with the lyrics in her songs.  Recently I listened to a couple of her albums and read the words as she sung.  I love her style and the deep meanings in her lyrics.

In this song I love the lines...

"It is as if, 

I knew you before we spoke

Do our hearts know something we don't?

Conspiring, converging without giving us any say"

and the lines...

"You're ruining me

With secrets and gestures and looks.

With sonnets from second-hand books

Playing the chords in me, nobody knew how to play"

Love it.. good stuff! :-)

Holding My Heart Out

Love, where is your fire?

by Brooke Fraser

Love, where is your fire?

I've been sitting here smoking away.

Making signals with sticks

and odd ends and bits, 

but still there's no sign of a flame.

Imposters have been passing,

offering a good-feeling glow.

But I'm holding out 

for what you are about

an inferno that burns to the bone.

Some urge me to be temperate.

Lukewarm will never do.

Cause I wanna blaze with you.

So I'm holding my heart out to you.

So I stand handing out torches,

speaking words that are lamps to their feet.

Till the time when you come

and I'm whole and we're one and

the fire in me is complete.

Then a doubt comes to lie

at the back of my mind

That I'll offer you me

and you'll politely decline.

So I hasten to mute it.

I'll shout and rebuke it "away!"

Cause I know I'll blaze with you.

Cause I'm holding my heart out to you.

Cure for Loneliness

The cure for loneliness...

"On that day,

you will realize that

I am in my Father, and

you are in me, and

I am in you"

-John 14:20

You and Me Alone God

You hedge me in

with skin

all around me.

I'm a garden enclosed.

Life takes place

behind the face

for it's You and me alone God

...

Come into Your garden

Come into Your garden

Cuts Like a Knife

Luke 22:47-51 says...

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them.  He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"


When Jesus' follower saw what was going to happen, they said "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.


But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him (immediately).

I speak with experience when I say "betrayal cuts like a knife."  Nothing that I have ever experienced has pierced so deeply and caused so much pain in my life.  Anxiety quickly set in, and depression lingered on and on.

My Father God was so faithful to rescue me.  For almost a year, He led me to specific scriptures that soothed my soul on a daily basis.  He put songs in my heart, and worship on my lips.  He taught me how to forgive, how to love, and how to move on.  He put friends and mentors in place with words of encouragement.  It's been a very long process, but today I am a new creation in Jesus, and my heart has been completely healed and set free.

Even after all of this, the process of healing still requires the hand of God in my life every day, and today was no exception.  In the middle of a perfect day, a simple, small reminder hit me like a brick wall.  Within seconds I could feel my blood boiling and my heart sinking.  It was like the devil had punched me right in the stomach and took the wind out of me.  Three minutes earlier life was great, now I was once again at the bottom of a pit looking up.

But Jesus is so faithful and He is so near...

Just like the scripture above, I could hear him say "No more of this!"  I could feel His hand reaching out to me, and swiftly healing me once again.  He lifted me and put my feet back on stable ground.  He reminded me of forgiveness and love, and he quickly restored my soul.  The whole experience from sinking to healing lasted about 10 minutes. 

God is so good, and so faithful!! 
Praise you Lord Jesus for your swift healing!!

I Yearn For You

Lord I want to yearn for You

I want to burn with passion

over You, and only You

Lord, I want to yearn.

-Shane and Shane

I can't do this alone

This morning, just after I dropped the kids off for school, this amazing song came on the radio.  I stopped in my driveway and just sat there wiping away tears from my eyes.  The message of the song seemed to capture my failures, my daily struggle of being a single dad, and the cry of my heart on a daily basis.  The heavy weight of all that's involved in carrying my family can be overwhelming.  On the outside it may all look perfect, but keeping it all together for my children is a struggle I face daily.  My only hope is in the Lord and I'm left whispering "Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone."

Lead Me

Sanctus Real

It's the story that EVERY husband and wife must face... keeping love alive while still "doing" life.  Matt from Sanctus Real explains the story behind this song and the struggles that he and his wife have faced.  Click Here to see the video of the story behind Lead Me.

I Told You So

Forgiving works best

when we permanently

remove the words 

"I told you so".

-SMK (me!)

Side With Love

If it's between love and losing

and to never have known the feeling,

I'd still side with love.

And if I end up lonely,

at least I will be there knowing,

I believe in love.

-Colbie Caillat, Fearless