29January2015 Quickshot: 8 Months

Imagine the desperation she must feel to embark on a dangerous journey to freedom while eight-months pregnant.  Pray for refugees!

28January2016 Quickthought: Decisions

“When Jacob (Israel) hears from his sons that Joseph, his long lost son, is alive and ruling Egypt, he is stunned and overjoyed. Then he faces a decision: should he move the entire family of eleven sons and all their offspring and possessions to Egypt? This wouldn’t just be a holiday visit. It would be relocating, and it would mean leaving the land God had promised them. But it would also mean saving the family from the famine that drove his sons to Egypt in the first place. It was a hard decision, but Jacob decided to go for it.” He Reads Truth 1/08/16

This reminds me of the decisions refugees are making every day.  Who knows the plans that God is working out through this current crisis or the decisions refugees are making!  He is in control!

 

Our days may come to seventy years,

    or eighty, if our strength endures;

yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,

    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

If only we knew the power of your anger!

    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.

Teach us to number our days,

    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, Lord! How long will it be?

    Have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

    for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May your deeds be shown to your servants,

    your splendor to their children.

May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us;

    establish the work of our hands for us—

    yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90

21January2016 Quickthought: "God oversees the movement of all peoples."

While watching the G2Summit today,  these words really resonated with me:

When we see the migration of peoples, due to a multiplicity of reasons, we’ve got to recognize this is all occurring under the ultimate governance of God…Our God aims to be sought, found, known and enjoyed by all the peoples of the world and He oversees their travels toward that end. In His goodness God turns even the tragedy of forced migration into the triumph of future salvation...." David Platt

What a great reminder!  It is SO easy to get wrapped up in the evil of this crisis but God has not relinquished control!  He is working in the midst of the tragedy!

"He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us" Acts 17:26-2

A few days ago I found myself on a beach in Lesvos, Greece, helping sopping-wet children, hysterical women and shell shocked men off a rubber dinghy that had just rolled and bobbed across the Aegean Sea for five long, cold, miserable, scary hours.  I'm not sure how you respond when confronted face-to-face to the suffering of others, particularly kids, but after the heartbrokeness subsided, I was angry.  All that anger was directed at the people who had caused this mass movement of people.  In the heat of the moment, I forgot a very important principal.  God is sovereign.  He is in control and as David Platt reminded me today, "God oversees the movement of all peoples."

19January2015 Too Good Not to Share: Free to Choose Freedom

Great words on the liberty of grace from Chuck Swindoll today:

I wish I could guarantee all of us full freedom from sin 365 days a year, but that is not possible—not so long as we are earthbound. Perpetual sinlessness (theologians call it "sinless perfection") will not be ours to enjoy until we are given glorified bodies and we are at home in heaven. But the good news is that we don't have to sin on a constant, day-after-day basis. Grace has freed us to obey Christ.

But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:17–18)

Wonderful, wonderful truth! Choosing righteousness, we enjoy a lifestyle marked by God's blessings, stability, and strength. Grace frees us to choose. We can decide to walk with God and draw strength from Him to face whatever life throws at us. Or we can decide to walk away from God and face the inescapable consequences. The next time you are tempted to yield to your old master, remember this: Grace invites you to return and find forgiveness, but it doesn't automatically erase the scars that accompany sin; some could stay with you for life.

In spite of the terrible consequences sins may bring, grace also means we allow others the freedom to choose, regardless. To do otherwise abuses as much as those who use their freedom as a license to sin. I am a firm believer in mutual accountability, but grace means I will not force or manipulate or judge or attempt to control you, nor should you do those things to me. It means we will keep on helping others to freedom by providing breathing holes. It means we deliberately let go so each of us can grow and learn on our own; otherwise, we shall never enjoy the liberty of an open sea. For most of us, letting others go is neither natural nor easy. Because we care, it is more our tendency to give people hints or advice. The thought of letting them fail or fall is extremely painful to us, but God treats us like that virtually every day of our lives. We tend to clutch, not release . . . to put people in our frame and not allow them any breathing holes unless and until they accept the shape of our molds.

17January2015 Quickshot: Daddy's Got You

In the middle of this huge throng of refugees boarding a ferry, with pushing, shoving, sweating, crying babies, crying mamas, swearing...in the middle of all that this little boy (yes "little boy) was fast asleep.   You know why? Because his daddy had him. Let that sink in a minute.  In the middle of the mess, your Daddy has you. Wooot!  Y'all lets tell the world!  He is a good, good Father!

12January2016 Quickshot: Camping

Today 648 Syrian refugees call this camp in Greece home.  It's a temporary home though, a brief respite (1-3 days usually) on their journey from Syria to freedom.  They have survived the dangerous voyage from Izmir, Turkey to Lesvos, Greece. From here they will board ferries to Athens and eventually, God-willing, will arrive in Germany or Denmark or the UK or Canada or wherever they can find safe harbor. Pray for these dear people.  They have endured so much yet have so much farther to go.  

9January2016 While Driving Today II: Treasured

We had to stop the car again today and snap photos of this glorious sunset. As we marveled at the scene above it struck me, almost like the Spirit whispered in my ear, "The One who made this sunset admires and treasures each of us exactly like we view this scene." We are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Sometimes we need those little reminders. Dont you just love it when He does that?!

8January2016 While Driving Today: Dew of Hermon

 

Today we came around a curve in the road and spotted this beauty.  In the distance you can see Mount Hermon, covered in snow.  David mentions Hermon in Psalm 133.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever."

What a beautiful picture of the beautiful nature of unity!  Soothing oil running down a weary, wind-chapped face. Refreshing dew replenishing parched, arid ground. 
If you are drawing breath, you know what it's like to experience discord with someone.  Maybe a disagreement with a neighbor or a fight with your spouse, an argument with a brother or sister...we all know how that tension, anxiety, hurt and worry just gnaws at you.  It can suck the very life out of you.  In contrast, remember how amazing you feel when said relationship is restored.  You work things out with the offending or offended party, apologies are said and maybe a hug is shared.  It's like a breath of fresh air through your soul.  It truly is a lovely, or as the psalmist says, "pleasant" thing for us to dwell together in unity.  Now, maybe more than any other time in history, we need to experience this unity.  The enemy loves to divide but our Father is able to restore.  Pray for unity among the Body.  Pray for unity among families.  Pray for unity in the Middle East.  Oh how the world needs this!

2January2016 To good not to share: This could be the year

Great question from yesterday's Our Daily Bread.  Could this be the year?

"My dad was a pastor, and on the first Sunday of each new year he preached about the return of Christ, often quoting from 1 Thessalonians 4. His point was always the same: “This could be the year that Jesus will return. Are you ready to meet Him?” I’ll never forget hearing that sermon at age 6, thinking, If that’s true, I’m not sure I will be among those He’s coming for.

I felt certain that my parents would be going to heaven, and I wanted to go too. So, when my dad came home after church, I asked how I could be sure. He opened the Bible, read some verses to me, and talked to me about my need for a Savior. It didn’t take much to convince me of my sins. That day, my dad led me to Christ. I will be forever grateful to him for planting these truths in my heart.

In an increasingly chaotic world, what a hopeful thought that this could be the year Jesus returns. More comforting still is the anticipation that all who trust Him for salvation will be gathered together, relieved from this world’s suffering, sorrow, and fear. Best of all, we’ll be with the Lord forever!

Lord, keep me always mindful of Your inevitable return. Thanks for the assurance that this world is not all we have but that a blessed eternity awaits all who trust in You."

1January2016 Come with us...

One of the main purposes of this site is to share our lives so that friends and families, and even some strangers, can join our family on this journey God has us on.  It may not be feasible to hop on a plane and enter this crazy world.  That's crazy talk, right?  Wait! maybe it IS feasible.  Maybe that's exactly what God has in mind for you this year.  If you're interested in touching, breathing and tasting life in the Middle East, then come join us.  We have some friends that are putting together a trip for early Spring.  If you'd like more information send us a note and we'll get you connected.  

Okay, for our more sane friends, there are other ways to get on board without actually getting on board.  We need your prayers!  Contrary to our bright and shiny instagram photos, there are some darker days here.  How can there not be?  We're normal folks (well, semi-normal), right?  There are bills due, crazy drivers, bullies at school, failing body parts, guilt, regret... Yes, we have all those things too.  When they come knocking, on those days we actually feel (I'm talking "physically feel") your love and prayers. And we want more of that.  We are more graceful, more compassionate, more forgiving and definitely more effective when you are praying for us.  Please keep that up!

Finally, come with us in one more way.  This morning I read this from James 1, "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."  In 2016 we want to implant the Word of God in our lives and we want that for you too.  How do you do it?  The Bible seems so daunting.  As A. would say, "It has ALOT of pages!"  It CAN be daunting but it's really quite simple.  Read a little every day.  One of the best ways to do that is by following a daily reading plan.  Check out You Version.  I use it each morning and if I can do it anyone can do it.  There are tons of reading plans, tailor made for all types of people.  The One Year Bible is what I'm recommending for our teens, J. and Z.  See the intro below.

Happy New Years. We love you all!

14bf

I belong to a squash club that is also a gym. Each year on 1 January they bring in extra gym equipment. The place is packed out. By about 7 January, they move out all the extra equipment as most people have given up their New Year’s resolution and the club returns to normal!

• Get fit


• Lose weight


• Reduce drinking


• Stop smoking


• Get out of debt

There is nothing wrong with making these common New Year’s resolutions. Of course, all of us make resolutions that we fail to keep.
The good news is that each year is an opportunity for new beginnings and a fresh start. But then so is each week. Every Sunday is the first day of the week – a new beginning. Actually, every day is an opportunity for a new beginning.
The first three words in the Bible are, ‘In the beginning…’ (Genesis 1:1). Each of the passages for today tells us something about new beginnings and new opportunities, and suggests some possible New Year’s resolutions.