time.

I leave for Zambia in 3 months.

Didn't I just get back?! Where on earth has the time gone? So much has to happen before I leave:

-go to California to see brudder bear graduate!
-second team meeting
-Easter
-third team meeting
-Momma J's 50th birthday!!
-showers, parties and wedding for Skye
-party and wedding for Jodi
-move out (but with nowhere to move into!)
-pack?!
-leave for Zambia for 2 WHOLE MONTHS!!

ehhh.. I'm sure I've forgotten a thing or two in between, but my brain just can't hold it all in anymore. Thank the good Lord for calendars :)

the facts on winning.

Vince Lombardi was famous. He was one of the most successful coaches in NFL history and praised for his motivational speeches and teachings. One of his most known quotes is this:

winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing.

I learned a little bit more about Vince Lombardi today at church. Packers fans drive past 667 Sunset Circle to get a glimpse of the house Lombardi lived in. Maybe to get some of the motivation that he so famously was known for. Maybe to get the inspiration his players felt every time he gave a speech. But here's the thing. His children, the ones that lived in that house with him for so many years, they never go back. Because they know the man he was behind that door.

Some say that the football field was full of Lombardi's greatest accomplishments. But more importantly is this, 667 Sunset Circle was full of his greatest failures.

If you ask me, I would say his success was only a sometime thing. Maybe it's because he defined winning as the team with the most points on the scoreboard when the clock hit zero instead of the father who taught his children with Love and care.

I think he could take a lesson from Daniel Sepulveda, the punter for the Steelers. This is his second chance to play in the Super Bowl and this is the second time that he has been injured. During an interview, he was asked if he was angry that this has happened to him for a second time. He said obviously he was frustrated, but angry, no. You see, Daniel knew that his football career could come and go, but the one thing that's constant is God's love for him. Besides, God does everything for a reason, right? How often does the punter get interviewed, and here he was being interviewed and he was able to give all the glory to God.



So, what's the point of all of this? I'm not saying don't enjoy the game because it's football and it's fun and exciting. But don't make it everything. Don't put your hope in a game because the glory fades. Put your hope in God because He will always be faithful.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

He has proven His might.

This week I've been reminded that we do not deserve life. For those who think we do, well, I'm here to tell you that you're very much mistaken.

Luke Steinmann, an 18 year old boy, has been in a coma for the past 15 days. He had a brain aneurysm while driving that caused him and his younger brother to crash. His brother woke up and is healing well, but Luke has undergone multiple surgeries (the latest being today) to relieve the pressure from the fluid build up in his brain. He is still in a coma. For 15 days his parents have waited for their 18 year old son to wake up. For 15 days they've been praying for complete and total healing. And for 15 days they've been thanking God for an amazing 18 years with their son. Do they hope for 18 more? Without a doubt. Are they angry at God for this aneurysm? Not a chance. Through this time, they've gotten to see how many people their son has impacted. They've gotten to grow closer together and closer to God. Their faith has been strengthened. As I humbly read their blog, I'm reminded that each moment is a gift from the Lord. Thank Him by using those moments to bring Him glory. (Here is the link to the blog if you want to join me in praying for this family: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lukesteinmann)

Once a month, I've started eating lunch with the most amazing woman. She is paralyzed from the neck down due to MS (Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves). I'm not going to lie, I was so nervous the first time I went. I mean, was this going to be awkward? I had to adjust her bed, feed her food, fix her water bottle so that with just a turn of the head she could drink, and most of all talk with her while she eats. What would we even have in common? Let me tell you, this woman is absolutely amazing. I LOVE my time that I get to spend with her! She puts life back in perspective for me. She has to lay in bed all day every day but her sweet and amazing friends have set up a schedule so that she has somebody to eat lunch with her EVERY SINGLE DAY. What a testament to how she has impacted their lives that they would go to such lengths to give her happiness. Today, as we chatting about tv shows, my work, and her family, I realized we have more in common than I thought. We are both daughters of the King. She had me read out of her devotional for the day and it was about not knowing what the future holds, but knowing that God has it all under control. What a perfect message for this week.

recap:
It's through the hardest times that God is able to perform the biggest miracles.

How will you take part?

"Yet we are the carriers of the gospel-the good news that was meant to change the world. Belief is not enough. Worship is not enough. Personal morality is not enough. And Christian fellowship is not enough. God has always demanded more. When we committed our lives to following Christ, we also committed to living in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God's character- His love, justice, and mercy- through our words, actions, and behavior." -Richard Stearns, President of World Vision and author of The Hole in Our Gospel

In my office, I was able to pick a verse to go on my wall and this is the one I chose:

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9


Every day when I walk in my office I will be reminded that NO MATTER how hard it gets, no matter how frustrated I become, I will never stop what I am doing. Because if I do, who then, will tell the kids all about their loving and powerful Savior?

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believed, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16


we were not meant to be quiet missionaries. Live your life out loud. Let Christ exude from your actions. Let the world see Christ rather than yourself. That's the point. Do you see? We do good because Christ was good. We take care of others because Christ took care of others. We share the gospel because that's what Christ did.

How will you take part? This new year I ask each of you to think about partnering with me as I continue my work at Family Legacy. Monthly gifts of $10, $25, or $50 are such a blessing. If you can't support monthly, but still want to give, one-time gifts are so appreciated. Follow this link to see my support page:
href="https://donate.familylegacy.com/sslpage.aspx?pid=382"

Your gifts not only make a difference in my life, but they make an eternal impact in the lives of the over 2,000 children that are in our sponsorship program. Without you, I wouldn't be able to be directly involved in their lives.

Thank you to those who have already taken part prayerfully or financially. You have blessed me more than you know!

Because I'm grateful, grateful, so grateful.

Every year in Zambia we are able to give tennis shoes to all the kids in our groups. It's been such a blessing to my boys who will come back the next year wearing the same shoes I gave them the year before. These shoes mean the world to them. They may be the only pair they've ever had in their entire lives. Most of them wear these plastic slip on sandals instead because they are more affordable.

Week 7 of camp this year, we were finding that there was a shortage of the middle aged boys shoes. Exactly the sizes I would be needing. We had a back up plan though, somebody had donated thousands upon thousands of crocs. Now, to Zambians, crocs are considered cheap. They are made of plastic, just like the shoes they wear because they can't get anything better. Because we didn't have enough tennis shoes, we had to mix the crocs and shoes that week. Meaning, one kid in your group may get air forces and the next get a nice pair of bright blue crocs. This caused a lot of grumbling, crying, pouting, arguing, and flat out bad attitudes. The kids had forgotten that these shoes were a GIFT from God. They began to expect the shoes rather than be thankful for something that was given to them.

Finally, it was my turn to give shoes. My boys were so excited and one by one I was able to give them ALL air force ones. It was amazing. Until Alick. He unfortunately had the smallest feet of my group and they didn't have his size. When I gave him the crocs, he smiled from ear to ear and ran to go show off his new shoes. What a relief. Only one boy had to get crocs, but it seemed to be turning out just fine.

When we went outside and everybody was inspecting each others shoes, Alick realized he was the only one with the plastic shoes. All of a sudden he began to complain that his shoes didn't fit him and he needed a new pair. My heart broke for him because I wanted so badly to give him what he wanted, but I knew that I couldn't do that. So I reminded him that these shoes were hand picked for him and that they are the perfect fit.

Right before we loaded the buses to head into the communities, Alick came up to me and apologized for not liking his shoes. He said, "I love them! God gave me shoes and they were a gift. They are good to me!" I hugged him so tightly and praised Jesus for Alick's amazing attitude. We spent the rest of the afternoon evangelizing to the people of their communities and when we were done, again Alick came to tell me something. He said, "My friends made fun of me for having plastic shoes today, but I told them that I loved them! They may not be good for them, but they are so good for me. God gave me these shoes and so I love them!"


What an example. He may not have gotten the "best" shoes according to the standards of others, but he knew that his were absolutely meant for him. I know God gave them to Alick for a reason. He humbly accepted his gift and appreciated his shoes for the blessing that they were. In turn, every single one of my boys were taught a lesson of gratitude.


Hezekiah Walker says it well:

I am grateful for the things that You have done
I am grateful for the victories we've won
I could go on and on about your works
Because I'm grateful, grateful, so grateful just to praise You Lord.

This little light of mine.

This weekend I was inspired.

On Thursday, I was inspired by Chuck Madden. I've known Chuck since June and from day 1 I knew God had ordained us to meet. He has taught me so much more about what our relationship with Christ should look like than any other person. I am inspired through his actions. Yearly, he reads through the entire Bible. Daily, he memorizes scripture. He taught me that it isn't a matter of if you can or cannot, but rather if you do or do not want to. So, I choose to do it. I choose to push myself to know more about God because I want to and because I can.

On Friday, I was inspired by a man from Liberia, Olu Menjay. He said everyday his mission is to try. Olu has overcome obstacles far more terrifying than neither you nor I could ever imagine. The fate of his life rested on his answer to one question. Was he related to Harrison Menjay? As divine intervention would have it, the guard knew his father and was set free because of the good man his father was. He has gone back to Liberia after getting an education in the states and has helped get Ricks Institute to be the brightest light in primary and secondary education in all of Liberia.

Saturday morning, I was inspired by the yellow and orange trees, I was inspired by the crisp November air, and I was inspired by the peacefulness of the lake. That morning I was able to rest and relax in presence of God's beauty. It was an overwhelming thought that God planned that exact morning just for me. He ordered His most vibrant colors and the most perfect temperature just for me. I didn't have my camera with me, but I'm convinced that a photo wouldn't have done it justice at all.

Saturday evening, I was inspired by a woman named Georgia. I spoke to her about Zambia and the precious little babies that are just yearning to know the love of Jesus by His faithful servants who heard the calling and accepted. She listened to my whole speech and I could see in her eyes that she got it. But then she surprised me. She told me that she wished she could go, but she knew that God had already called her to take care of her parents who need 24/7 attention. As we talked, I reminded her that God will reward her for her obedience and what she is doing is very much a mission. She then went on to reveal to me that she can never be a mom, but that she works for a daycare and has 15 little 3 year olds in her class. How obvious it was, God has already made her a mom! She has 15 little cuties that she gets to take care of everyday! I told her I had 15 kids too, in Zambia. I was inspired by Georgia's faithfulness and obedience.

Later last night, I was blessed to see Addison Road and Shane and Shane perform. I was inspired by the harmony of Shane and Shane's voices. How perfectly they fit together. I was inspired by the LIGHT that Addison Road so brightly shines as they spoke about their belief that we are all called to reach out and do something.


All of these people are following God's plan. They shined their lights out to others and I know for a fact that I am not the only one who has been impacted by them. That is what it's all about.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden...In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14,16


This Little Light by Addison Road. Listen and be inspired too.

You have been called.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished." Acts 4:13

We, much like Peter and John, are uneducated, common men. We have no title or ranking. We have no birth rights making us superior to others, but do we not see Peter's example? So how can we ever give the excuse that we couldn't possibly speak up when proclaiming God's name to others? How could we possibly think that it's not important to step up in boldness? How could we possibly think that it's ever ok to not share the truth we know?

So here's the truth. There are a million children orphaned in Zambia right now. They're living without homes, food, clothes, and parents. That's one million little hearts that have been broken because they have been abandoned and forgotten about. Do you hear?

Here's even more truth. Those kids, the ones that the rest of the world discarded, God has a plan for them. They are heirs to His kingdom. They are royalty by blood-- The blood Jesus shed because God so boldly loved us.

Friends, you have been called.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

It is written, every single one of you has been called. So be bold. Step out. Speak up. Gather friends. Reach others. Love fully. Answer the calling.