Breathe

He is the Source.
In Him I live and move and have my being.

It's time I let Him breathe in me- His Spirit directing each step, authoring each word, prompting each prayer.
I am excited about all that 2011 holds.  And I can't wait to see how this new theme of breathing will help me abide in Him, pray in Him, dwell in Him.  And praise Him!

Inhale. Exhale. 

His fragrance is sweet and intoxicating.  This is going to be a good year.

**What is your word for 2011?**

My Theme for 2011

As we pray and plan and hope for Uganda, there is a theme echoing in my heart.  Just breathe.  

Inhale His Spirit. Exhale worship (service, gratitude, love, compassion).

Josh and the boys have a delightful excursion to Toy Story on Ice tomorrow- so I'll have time for a mini-retreat in preparation for all that 2011 has in store!  I may have a different word after spending some quality time with Jesus, but I'm thinking this may be it.

just. keep. counting.

peppermint tea in hand. snow drifts deep outside my window. chris rice gently playing carols on itunes. the boys playing excited with new toys with their Grammy in the living room.  happy tummies full of Grandma Laurie's cookies.  a long hug from my dad.

this. is. not. where. I. thought. we'd. be. this. Christmas.

and yet, here we are.  and we are grateful.  the next two years we're about to spend in Uganda will test our faith.  and try our gratitude eyes.  and the fierce winds will blow.  and I hope our roots are dug down deep enough to withstand the storms. I hope our support team is firmly established to carry us in prayer.

and so we bury our hearts deep in the love of God.  and we try to capture memory stills in our minds eye.  freeze that moment just so.  hold on tight for one more hug.  take. lots. of. pictures.

and count...

#2737.  gathered 'round the heart of Christmas. reading the Jesus story on Christmas morn
#2738.  peppermint tea steaming from a holly mug
#2739.  a snowy weekend.
#2740.  Christmas carols.

#2741.  new toys. happy boys.
#2742.  home for the holidays.

#2743.  Christmas blend from Starbucks
#2744.  my mom's Christmas cookies.
#2745.  filet minon that melts in your mouth, atop homemade bread
#2746.  laughter.
#2747.  wii fit.

#2748.  being together again, just like this.
#2749.  family and friends.
#2750.  my amazing husband
#2751.  a long hug from my dad
#2752.  little up-turned face catching snowflakes in eyelashes

#2753.  child wonder. peering out the window.
#2754.  modern technology blasting a path through the snow
#2755.  wild boy energy. tussling on the couch

#2756.  sweet baby goodness in my arms

joining the grateful ones... putting down deep roots and capturing sweet memories...

Merry Christmas!

"Jesus comes as a traveler and if we follow Him, this world is not our home, but heaven is our destination, and we put on our shoes and go out into all the world, so more will hear of Him and journey with us to the cradle of the King." -Ann Voskamp, Jesse Tree Journey

 

We are so grateful to be home this Christmas with family and friends, but it only underscores the longing of our hearts to journey with Jesus out into the world.  Thank you for being part of our journey!  Merry Christmas and Joy to the World!

Who do you Need Jesus to Be?

Kelly with a little boy. August 2004

These verses are so beautiful... a lovely description of who Jesus is and what He came to do. Read on and be delighted by our wonderful Savior!

"The Spirit of God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." -Isaiah 61:1-3

Our Precious Savior... take a moment and just drink in the sweet word of God! As Jesus is described as coming to earth for the poor, the brokenhearted, the prisoner, those who mourn, those with heavy burdens... it convicts and challenges me and comforts me all at the same time! I know I am often the bound by bad attitudes and pride, and He came for me.... that is the comforting part. But the conviction comes at the realization of how far I am from being like Him! He came as a babe, into humble circumstances (probably circumstances I wouldn't lower myself to!) to spend all His time with needy people. Wow. That blows my mind! And yet stirs within me a longing to be more like Him- there is such joy in meeting people's needs, such reward in loving them with the love of Jesus- and yet my daily life doesn't reflect that!

Chapel Program at Heritage International School

As the reality of our call to missions sinks in, I am growing more aware of my inadequacy. There is so much Jesus has yet to teach me, so much I need to learn, so much compassion I fail to have, so much pride that needs to go! But the good news is, Jesus came not only for the needy in Africa, but for needy me! And He loves to equip, and empower His people to be His hands and feet! So I take joy in the fact that He will be all that I need Him to be- and make me all He needs me to be!

Today as Christmas looms closer, who do you need Jesus to be to you? Do you need Him to heal your brokenheart? Do you need Him to free you from some prison? Or to comfort you as you mourn? Or perhaps exchange your heaviness, for His light yoke? Whatever you need- He will be for you! And then, in return, He asks that you be His hands and feet to someone else! And not for your sake, or even for those you serve- but that HE MAY BE GLORIFIED! Amen.

**edited and re-posted from the archives

O Come to us... abide with us...

this song. it echoes through the chambers of my heart.  it is the cry of my soul these days.  i'm tired of living independent and sinful.  i need His deep clean.  i need Him.  more of Him.  will you join my heart cry?


O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

 And as I read Arabah today, His answer is YES! 

Let us pray boldly and with great expectation!

Newsletter Links

Sorry the links in our newsletter didn't work!  Here are the links for ya

• Give the gift of prayer

• Buy gifts for Uganda

• Make Blessing Bags to keep in your car and give to the homeless

• Join the Advent Conspiracy

Christmas Spirit...

It's all a blur... isn't it?  Perhaps you still can't believe that Christmas is a little over two weeks away- perhaps it just doesn't "feel" like Christmas.  Maybe you just need to pause, light a candle, grab a mug of something warm (can I interest you in some peppermint tea??), and invite Jesus into your preparations.

Ann, at a Holy Experience invites us to share how we practice Christmas each Wednesday of December.

And today,  Getting Down with Jesus is your one stop shop for a host of great Christmas blog posts!

Oh, and there's nothing like giving to get your heart ready for Christmas: Joy's Hope tells you how to live with a big heart this season!

Need more inspiration?  Join with people around the world praying this December using WGM's Prayer Calendar!

How are you getting into the Christmas Spirit? 

Channeling the Blessings

opening gifts last year

Advent. Waiting. Anticipating. Longing.

Christmas. Receiving. Giving. Thanking.

Receiving, before giving? Yes, and that is how it ought to be. God, giver of all good things, blesses His children. And then we, as faithful channels of blessings, give, out of all His bounty, to those in need.

We are working on what that looks like for us this Christmas. But one way we're doing that this year is through our advent envelopes. Our little guys open one Advent envelope each day with a special Christmas Mission to accomplish. Here is our list this year, more missional than last year, they are listed in reverse order:

1. Open Christmas eve gift
2. Hand out food to homeless in Philadelphia.
3. Make paper snowflakes.
4. Go to Barnes and Noble story time.
5. Uganda: have a family game night and buy Christmas outfits
6. Have an indoor picnic by the Christmas tree
7. Bake Christmas cookies.
8. Make a Christmas card for someone.
9. Have a Christmas movie playdate. Share the true meaning of Christmas with your friends.
10. Make a gingerbread house.
11. Have cinnamon buns for breakfast
12. Sweden: St Lucia. Dec 13 Donate canned goods to local food pantry.**
13. Treat with Grammy and Poppy
14. Make a Christmas centerpiece.
15. Have a Christmas music dance party
16. Philippines: make a Parol star lantern.**
17. Give a dollar to the Salvation Army bucket.
18. Do something kind for someone
19. Australia: sing Christmas carols by candlelight under the stars.**
20. Go to Chick-fil-a for dinner and play in the play room
21. Color a Christmas picture
22. Watch a Christmas movie
23. Guatemala: set up the nativity**
24. Sort through toys & donate to the needy
25. Send a care package to a missionary family.
26. Germany: Decorate the Christmas tree**
27. Visit with Grandma Laurie and Grambo

I've been reading Living Fellowship, by Helen Roseveare, in which she beautifully illustrates our role in the world.  She felt led to open a leprosy clinic in addition to the overwhelming work she was already doing, and reluctantly obeyed the Spirit's prompting.  The bill was more than three times her monthly allowance (4320 Belgian Congo francs) and she had no idea how God would provide.  They prayed every day that God would supply the needed funds.  The last day of the month came and went, and all bills needed to be settled.  Feeling as though God had let her down, she did not know what to do.

"As I was returning home, Aunzo met me excitedly.  Waving a brown manila envelope he blurted out that another missionary had received our mail.  It had arrived yesterday.  "Perhaps, perhaps it is the money for the medicines for our clinic!"

We opened the envelope together and drew out the enclosed money and the statement of account from my field-leader.  Aunzo piled and counted the money; I looked at the account.  The total came to 4800 Belgian Congo francs.  The tithe of that would be 480 francs, leaving 4320 francs- the exact sum needed.  I could hardly believe it.  I looked at the names of the donors and realised that two of the three gifts had taken three or four months to reach me.  Then I saw that they were labeled, "This is for your leprosy work" and yet, when they mailed their gifts and designated them I had not even intended opening a leprosy clinic!  The way of God are very wonderful and beyond the comprehension of men.

I felt awed to be the recipient of such prayerfully given gifts, where the donors were in such close touch with God that He could tell them exactly of the needs before I myself knew them.  Truly they were spokes in God's wheel, channeling God's gifts to me as their part of the rim and they certainly entered deeply into fellowship with me in the work God had given me to do."

How can He use you this Christmas to be a channel of His blessing to those in need??

**For the countries in bold we are reading about how Christmas is celebrated in other parts of the world, using Christmas Around the World by Mary D Lankford