it's not about me.

I'll be honest, I've been a little discouraged lately. Things haven't exactly gone my way. (notice the selfish "my" in that statement)

It's a good thing it's not about me.

"who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten my this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day." Deuteronomy 8:16-18

"I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant." Joshua 24:13

You see, there is no cause/effect relationship between fighting and winning. Or between how hard you work and how much money you make. Take example from how hard peasants worked and how little they earned. Nobody worked harder and everybody had more.

So what's the point of all this? It's really just to remind ourselves that no matter where you've ended up in this life that you didn't get there by earning it. You got there by the grace of God.

"for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but Your right hand and Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You delighted in them." Psalm 44:3

All that I have and all that I have accomplished has been through His hand and His hand only.

"It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved EVEN IN HIS SLEEP." Psalm 127:2


That is a powerful verse. Friends, He PROMISES that He will provide for His children. Even when we are sleeping. Even when we are doing nothing. He provides.

So here is where I am at. I am continuing to thank God for the things that I am not yet aware of because I know that he is always working for me. That's easier said then done most days, but I am confident my Lord has a perfect plan already laid out for me.

I don't need that.

I used to count myself as very non-materialistic. But here's the thing. The reason I felt like I wasn't materialistic is because I can't afford to be one. I have no money therefore I cannot buy many things. And then I was slapped in the face.

Because although I do not buy things, my mind is still consumed with the want. The want of new clothes. The want of good food. The want of nice jewelry and shoes. The want of money. And if I am wanting all of these things that means I am not content because materialism is the opposite of contentment.

If you're like me then you probably think, "if only I can just buy this one shirt, I will be happy." But what happens after you get the shirt? You move on to the next shirt. And again you say, "If only I can just buy this one shirt, I will be happy." Where does the cycle end?

We will never ever ever be rich enough to stop wanting.

"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." 1 Timothy 6:6-10

So, think about all you own. Is there anything in your possession that you aren't willing to give up? Anything you own right now that you can't give away, owns you.

God tells us that as long as we have food and clothing (not excessively) then we should be content. Can you honestly say that holds true for you?

Challenge:
For an entire month, take everything past food and clothing and invest it in the Kingdom rather than yourself.

Practice saying, "I don't need that."

Let me know if you try this. I'd love to hear of the results to this challenge!

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.