One breath at a time...

is all I need...

He grants just what we need in every instance.  He is so good to us.  And I am deeply grateful.
excerpts #4660- 4717

--this calendar. full of ministry.
--scheduled rest. Sabbath. family movie night. home date.
--getting things on paper.  bringing order to chaos.
--You, steady God, who never changes.
--intentionally saying "no" to some things, and now the resulting freedom to say "yes" without stress.
--simple family movie night- a testimony to our priorities to a Ugandan man

--this coming undone. again. how You humble me.
--truth to combat lies.
--my worth in Your eyes.
--sun on my face. wind in my hair. perspective.
--a bright, sunny day, after a dark, stormy night.
--the honor of building a sanctuary for You and my family.
--the privilege of sculpting small souls for Your kingdom.
--how the mundane pushes me to seek You- Who are worthy of any service or sacrifice.

--watching Josh in action
--Youth Bash 2011
--living the dream
--young lives, here in Kampala for a reason, our privilege of walking with them

--this. day. home. with the men I love.
--taking time to create. beauty. inspiring my weekend of rest.
--creativity. mess. this process. being made in Your image. Seth being made in mine
--painting. cutting. gluing. with my little boy.

--the opportunity to serve my sick husband, in bed with a fever.
--prayer. instant access to the Great Physician.

Would be so grateful if you would take a minute and pray for Josh as he is sick in bed here in Uganda.

"I was hungry..."

A Hymn of Faith
Though the fig tree may not blossom,  
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Thouh the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,  
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;  
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.” 

-Habakkuk 3:17-19

As I see effects of drought, famine, poverty, I pray that God’s people in Uganda, Kenya, Somalia would be able to claim this Hymn of Faith.  It is hard to watch people go hungry.  I’m sad that people can’t find work.  There is such need.  And it’s hard to know what to do- there is a guilt, and an ache- to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  And yet, there is knowledge that “hand outs” don’t really help people.  That equipping and training people- empowering them- is the way to truly help them overcome their circumstances and make positive changes.   

So what do we do about the hungry people in Africa?

• We can live modestly, and share our wealth (sponsor a child, donate to Community Health Empowerment, etc).
• We can fast and pray for the hurting and hungry (fasting not only enhances our prayer life, it helps us stand in solidarity with the poor).  Or even just take one day a week and eat rice and beans for dinner- like many around the world- and share the weekly savings that choice brings.
• We can promote awareness of global need in our circles of influence.  Bring global/missions issues to the table at your church, at work, in conversation with friends.
• We can advocate for the poor at the national level.   
• We Can Help: Kenya Famine Relief with WGM 
• We can donate toward relief efforts. Compassion International is also on the ground in East Africa.   

Billy and Joanna Coppedge share their hearts about the great hunger in Northern Uganda.

image from fews.net