attitude is everything.

my dad used to tell me that growing up.

Usually it was because I just struck out or let the ball get past me in the field. Afterwards I would beat myself up about it. I let it bring me down. I let it ruin the rest of the game. That one mistake led to many more mistakes because I couldn't let it go.

attitude is everything.

This past summer in Africa I struck out when it came to my partner. I wanted Kelvin. I didn't get him and I let it bring me down. I let it ruin the rest of the day. That one mistake led to many more mistakes because I couldn't let it go.

attitude is everything.

this past weekend in Austin at the Africa meeting I struck out when they told us if our kids were over the age of 16 they might not get to come to camp this year. I wanted my boys. I might not get them and I let it bring me down. I let it ruin a couple of days. That one mistake led to may more mistakes because I couldn't let it go.

attitude is everything.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Cor 4:8-9

"When you try to save your own life, your own desires, you will lose. But when you decide to put aside your desires, to lose your life for me, you will find it." Matthew 16:25


I'm tired of living for my own desires. Fervently I pray that my desires and God's desires for me are one in the same. I know I will fail. God knows I will fail. Hearing that I may never see my sweet boys again breaks my heart. But I know God didn't send me to Africa to only show His love to 15 beautiful boys. He has a bigger plan for me.

So yes, my heart hurts a little. Yes, I miss my boys something fierce. Yes, I'm trusting that God will take care of me. And yes, I pray that my attitude should be that of Christ Jesus through these situations that I can't understand.

because attitude is everything.


"your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." Phil 2:5-6