I've had a saying that I tell people who talk about how they are freaked out about having kids, "Well, when God wants babies, God wants babies!!" So, I am just going to be vulnerable. I want babies. I secretly was hoping for a honeymoon baby once Malcolm and I got married. But that was just not God’s plan. I had surgery on my ovaries this past summer because they were too big for my abdomen (my doctor told me one was the size of a grapefruit). In my post op appointment, she said I either needed to get on birth control or get pregnant in the next 6 months. I needed no other encouragement!! But that was not God’s plan either. The first month of trying went from so much excitement to extreme disappointment. And then the next month, and then the month as well. I kept asking God, “Why is a baby not your plan us right now? You gave Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth babies – why can’t you do the impossible with my womb too?” There have been times within the past few months where I couldn’t even look at pregnant women in Wal-mart because I was going to burst into tears! Finally God got through to me with what I needed to hear – truth. In a booklet my ministry uses to share the gospel called, Would you like to know God personally? point one says, “God loves you and created you to know Him personally. He has a wonderful plan for your life.” God kept bringing this to mind, asking me, “Do you believe that I really have a wonderful plan for your life? Or do you think I have a mediocre, stupid plan for your life?” “Of course you have a wonderful plan, Lord!” I would reply back. “Do you believe that I really have a wonderful plan for your life?” He would echo back. That’s when I realized how important that in all areas of my life, especially this one, I need to keep going back to truth. I can’t rely on my feelings. I can recognize my desires for a baby and to be a mom, my hurt for it not happening in my timing or that it could not happen at all – but if I trust my feelings over the truth that God lays out in scripture I will become bitter, angry, resentful, and distrusting of God to come through. Maybe you are struggling with those same feelings with me today. Feeling like things are not happening. You are longing for good things – babies, oversea opportunities to share the gospel, finances to come through, etc. I found that there is one thing to do when you are about to fall into despair – go back to the truth! Does God truly know you? Psalm 139:1-16 claims that He does know you far better than you can even know yourself! Does God truly have a wonderful plan for your life? Jeremiah 29:11-14 claims that He has plans to prosper you, to give you hope and that give you a future! Now the real question is – do you believe that? Dear Lord Jesus, I admit that I don’t always believe that you know what’s best for me. I don’t always trust that you understand my situation. I honestly don’t know why you’re not allowing us to have kids naturally at this particular point in time. I ask, like the little boy’s father asked in Mark 9:24, help me in the areas where I don’t believe the truth. Thank you for your truth and for being THE Truth for life! I don’t deserve you love, mercy, and complete forgiveness from sin – but I am eternally grateful that you extend it all!! Help my perspective be centered around that truth more than anything! In your name I pray… About Leah![]() Leah works with Master Plan Ministries at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Other than watching college students' lives change, she enjoys getting her mind blown by God and His Word, watching sci fi, baking cupcakes, and spending time with her hunky husband. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs
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It's that time of year again. The time when we're all promising to be better parents, friends, wives, husbands, co-workers etc. We all want to be better. The problem is the "how". How do we be better parents, friends, etc? Today, I want to talk about being better parents. In particular, how to be a more patient parent. Patience is not one of my virtues. I'm the crazy woman honking her horn at the little old lady who is going 5 mph under the speed limit. I'm the one checking my watch and tapping my foot when the doctor is running behind schedule. I'm impatient with most people but I'm terribly impatient with my family. And stress directly impacts my impatience. When I'm stressed, I tend to explode on my family and every little thing just seems bigger. I tend to get busy and stressed and then I run behind and I'm barking orders at my daughter to hurry up so we can still be on time. I hate when I act like that. I don't want to be that parent. Busy all the time, in a hurry all the time. I want her to have fond memories of her childhood. Because of that I'm really trying hard to work on my patience. I think I've found a little secret. I'm not sure it's a cure, but it is helping. I've started this routine where I sneak into my daughter's room at night after she's fallen asleep and I just stare. I just stand there in the dark and I watch her. I watch her little eyes twitch behind her eyelids as she's dreaming. I watch her chest move up and down in slow, steady breaths. What I've noticed as I'm standing there watching her is that my breath and my heart starts to quicken but not in a hurried or stressful way. It quickens because I'm watching something amazing. And in those moments, it doesn't matter that there are toys strewn around my house and stuffed animals lining my stairs and crumbs in my couch cushions. It doesn't matter that I haven't gone to the bathroom in private in almost 5 years. It doesn't matter that she couldn't sit still during her lessons today. It doesn't matter that my car smells of old food. None of that matters. I'm witnessing a miracle. My heart quickens because I am instantly aware of how thankful I am. I am instantly aware that God has heard my prayer for a child and that He continues to hear the little prayers I pray every day for patience and peace. I love my daughter and I know that I am a better, more patient parent when I stop to remember that. And I think it may just make the world a better place if other parents would take the time to do the same. Today, take the time to stop and really observe your children. It's best to do this when they are asleep and not covered in food, but really any time will do. And really stop. Don't just observe them on the way to your next appointment or obligation. Really stop and really observe them. And then be thankful. You can read more about how to experience patience here. About Kerry![]() Kerry Todd is married to her best friend, Denny, and has one daughter, Alivea. She is passionate about missions and about orphans and she loves watching the church be the church. She and her husband have adopted one daughter and are in the process of adopting another child. She writes at my life (his mission) all about how God has wrecked her heart for the orphan and how she has found new life in the midst of infertility. You can keep up with all of her craziness on her blog, facebook, and twitter. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs
Seasons. Seasons of life are hard. Some are good. Some are bad. Some bring life. Some bring death. Some bring joy. Some bring pain. I think the hardest thing for me is when I am in one season but I can sense or even see another season on the horizon. I sense a change coming. It snowed today and I went outside to play with my little girl. I took my phone and snapped this picture of our hammock (that I forgot to put away in the garage when summer ended) against the backdrop of the winter snow. This little irony was such a sweet reminder of the ebbs and flows of life. It made me start to think about seasons and how oftentimes there is no real end to one season and beginning of another. They simply flow from one stage to another. For instance, sometimes the flowers start to bloom and then a freak snowstorm happens to remind us that winter is still alive. This plays out in our lives as well. We've accepted that new job, the one we've been hoping and praying for, but we still have to fulfill an obligation to our current employer. We're training a teenager to make good decisions and yet they still need their Mommy when they feel sick. We're anticipating the birth of a child, but we are still pregnant. I guess life is really all just about being pregnant. Pregnant with the next stage. Pregnant with the next life event. Pregnant with anticipation. Sometimes we know what we are pregnant with and sometimes we don't. Sometimes something is just being born in us and we know we are being prepared for something but we don't see the whole picture yet. 2013 was like that for me. Now that 2014 is here, I don't really know if all the waiting is over. I don't have all of the answers but I know the One who holds the answers. And I know that He sees me and He sees my desires and my concerns and He is Lord of all of them. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ~Jeremiah 29:11-13 My prayer for 2014 is that I would be Brave. Brave enough to take God at his word and believe that He is doing something in my life. I may not always be able to see it, but He is at work and He has a plan for me. A hope. And a future. A new season is coming. I don't know when. But it's coming and in the mean time, while I'm waiting- while I'm pregnant, I will wait faithfully and believe Him. About Kerry![]() Kerry Todd is married to her best friend, Denny, and has one daughter, Alivea. She is passionate about missions and about orphans and she loves watching the church be the church. She and her husband have adopted one daughter and are in the process of adopting another child. She writes at my life (his mission) all about how God has wrecked her heart for the orphan and how she has found new life in the midst of infertility. You can keep up with all of her craziness on her blog, facebook, and twitter. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs Living for Christ means dying to self, correct? That is such a bold statement I sometimes struggle to see the daily, simple areas I’m able to sacrifice what matters to me in order to magnify God. The day before Thanksgiving I was in the crowded grocery store; alone, with my very energetic children. I was irritable and distracted. I ran into a friend from church who smiled at me and tried to give me the cordial, “how are you” conversation exchange. I felt rude but I could barely say “Hi” when my mind was racing with, “Pait sit still. Butter, eggs. Where’s Jax. Milk, cheese. Pait don’t do that. Yogurt. Jax stay with me. Biscuits. Pait come back….” I was hoping to leave the store keeping my sanity intact and without causing harm to a child. Towards the end of this horrible outing the Lord drew my attention to an elderly lady who appeared sad. My buggy was filled with food to feed my precious family on Thanksgiving, and she had a buggy with only a few items. Ramen noodles and some canned goods. I cannot tell you where this woman was in life and I do not know what her Thanksgiving plans were, but the Lord used her in that moment to break my impatient heart. She looked lonely. I felt guilty because I had no idea how I could show her the love of Christ. I don’t believe it was that specific lady the Lord was breaking my heart over. He took that circumstance to break my heart over how I live. I had nothing to give her, because I live for me and my family. Taking care of our needs and not intentionally looking for the needs of others around me. The bible says for us to be ready “In season and out of season” with the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2). Yes, I could have stopped her in the isle and shared with her the full plan of salvation but the moment didn’t call for that. To reach her, I needed to lay down a part of me. For my life to impact this city for Christ, I need to lay down a part of me. Because the impact needed is impossible apart from God. Our simple sacrifices are prayers, inviting God to do what only He can do. After telling my husband my heart we began looking at our grocery and misc. budget and thought, “What would God do if I surrendered my “hair products” to Him and bought generic one’s instead? What if I surrendered the cheese that is just an “add-on” to a recipe? What if I surrendered those cute seasonal hand towels to the Lord?” These things are not bad but if I am going to have extra money this is where it would have to come from. Sacrifices to God are never in vain. His blessing it goes far beyond what we’re able to see. Remember the story about a small boy who entrusted Jesus with His only fish and bread? That’s what I’m trusting God to do with my favorite hair care products. We decided to cut back on our expenses and buy grocery gift cards with the leftover money. My hope is to keep one in my wallet at all times. Everywhere I go, I pray for the Lord to open my eyes to the needs around me and for the recipient of the card. I pray for Him to show me where He is at work and burden my heart for whoever needs this card. Since doing this the Lord has allowed me to anonymously pay for the groceries in the cart of a mom in-line behind me. The others cards I’m unsure how God will use them. They were given out where He was leading, by leaving a quickly scribbled note saying Merry Christmas from my church or from the city-wide women’s ministry I work with. I will never know their impact and I’m okay with that. These cards have been prayed over and I trust these small sacrifices in the hands of my Savior. About Melissa Bradley![]() Melissa Bradley is married with two small children. She is a co-founder of a City-Wide Women’s Ministry, The Well. She currently serves and assists in various churches around her community. The burden of her heart is to see the churches in her city come together to be the hands and feet of Christ. She is passionate to live every day missionally. You can also find Melissa at www.Melissa-Bradley.com. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it is often hard to remember that, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”. Somehow between shopping for everyone you know, attending dozens of holiday parties and class parties, getting Christmas cards ordered and mailed, shopping for the perfect Christmas Eve outfits, Santa and everything else, Jesus sadly gets put on the back burner. I too have been found guilty of this. A few years ago I found myself overwhelmed by the mass commercialism and consumption that Christmas brings, not to mention the stress and pressure to live up to a certain expectation of what Christmas is supposed to look like. So, for the last three – four Christmas seasons, I have been scoring the Internet and Pinterest for ways to help my family be more intentional about keeping Jesus at the forefront of our Christmas traditions. Finally, last year, I stumbled across The Christmas Angel. The idea behind the Christmas Angel is much like the Elf on The Shelf but it is completely Jesus centered. Its focus is the true meaning of Christmas. It encourages children to have a heart like Christ during the holiday season by teaching them love, to serve and GIVE rather then to RECEIVE. These are values that will last a lifetime. From their website, “The Christmas season is about a precious story to celebrate a gift that none of us deserve, but have an opportunity to receive. The birth of Jesus is the greatest example of love. So how can we show the same love to others? Simply by putting others before ourselves. We should help our children focus on giving rather than receiving, for that is the true spirit of Christmas.” Last year was the first year the Christmas Angel came to visit our family. You can read more about her first visit HERE. My kids are already excited about her coming again this year. My seven year old asked me just the other day if I thought she was coming again and what she might have them do this year. I told him that I am sure she is coming and that I am sure she has great things planned for them. It is encouraging to know that they are thinking about the Christmas Angel and the mission she might send them on this year. Last year she had them take flowers to their teachers with notes of encouragement and love. She had them take candy canes to all of the neighbors with the Legend of the Candy Cane attached to each one. She also had us take coins to the hospital with a note attached and taped to the vending machines that read “Enjoy a treat on us! Merry Christmas.” I had many other little missions from the Christmas Angel planned out but our family was slammed hard with the flu for about ten days and it kind of put a halt on our Angel Missions. However our Angel did leave us little “get-well” notes with suggestions on how to love each other while we were sick. It made for some sweet memories. We will be doing the Christmas Angel again this year. If you would like to follow the missions she sends us on, I will be posting them on my Instagram feed. These missions are inspired by random acts of kindness I have found on Pinterest. What are some of your family’s traditions? How do you keep Christmas focused on Jesus for your children? We would love to hear from you. About Jenna![]() Jenna is a born and raised West Texas girl married to her husband Phillip since 2005 and momma to three beautiful children, Parker, Beckham and Emerson. Jenna is passionate for Jesus. Seeking daily to make His name and glory known through the little moments in life. Jenna is also crazy about Africa. Specifically Ethiopia. Jenna and her husband have a heart for adoption, missions and ministry. You can often find Jenna grabbing coffee with friends, sneaking in much needed dates with her husband, reading way to many books at once, trying out her latest Pinterest find, playing outside with her kids or serving in her church. You can read more about Jenna and her little family at DayofKnight.com or you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter andPinterest. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs It has been said that Christianity is only one generation away from extinction. It would be so easy to leave the responsibility of spiritual training at the door of the Sunday school teacher or youth pastor, but the truth is that if we are going to raise up a generation of world changers, we have to aim higher than simply raising obedient and respectful citizens. The responsibility rests on our shoulders as keepers of our home to go the distance in building in our children a missional mindset that will not let them rest until they have heeded Jesus’ call to go into all of the world. Here are 5 Ways to Build a Missional Mindset in our Children:
As I have talked with fellow missionaries, one thing has stood out in our conversations: they feel that general interest in missions is waning. Perhaps it is because of the economic struggles many are facing, so in their struggle to just survive they have let their interest in missions slip to the back burner. Whatever the reason, one thing is certain – we can’t afford to let the idea of missions – whether local missions or world missions – fall by the wayside. We must pass on the importance of Jesus’ command to the next generation! About Rosilind![]() Rosilind is an American girl married to a Bosnian guy who lives in a small village just outside of Zagreb. They have two crazy boys 3 and under who are as opposite as boys can be. When Rosilind isn't writing, she is dreaming up recipes and searching for ways to organize her home better. You can find her at A Little R & R where she writes about missions, marriage and family, toddler activities, and her recipes. You will also find her onFacebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs Six years ago God showed off in a big way. Oh a beautifully wonderful way! Austin and I had always wanted to adopt but figured we would wait till after a couple biological kids to give us some experience parenting. I totally had it all planned out. After 2 years of being married we would get pregnant have a couple kids two years apart and then look into adoption. Then came the reminder that I am not the author of my life. I do not write the pages. That "right" was surrendered at the cross. After 2 years, our desire for kids diminished and returned a couple years later (after seeing examples of godly women who were still involved in ministry with kids). So we tried to get pregnant to no avail. After 2 years of trying and experiencing the two week cycle of hope and let down God stepped in and saved the day. November is National Adoption month and our alarm happened to be set to the Christian station. For a week straight we woke up to stories of God rescuing and redeeming little lives through adoption. Tears of amazement and joy ran down our cheeks every morning for a week. Shortly after the morning tears, I spoke at a women's retreat and Austin the same weekend at a men's retreat. We both had incredible conversations with people close to and effected by adoption. Austin met a guy who had been adopted and I met a mom whose daughters placed babies for adoption. Our convictions began to solidify and desire began to grow. Then not long after the retreats, in our time with the Lord, God showed us multiple adoptions in Scripture and how He used them. One day I walked in on Austin spending time with the Lord and music blaring, singing his heart out, "Yes and Amen, whatever is in Your heart..." and crying. He was saying Yes to the Lord, no matter what the cost, no matter what He asked. That day we decided to just get information. That's it, to just take the next step of researching organizations and going to an information meeting. The next day we got an email. And mind you, we had not told ANYONE we were considering adoption. The email said there was a girl interested in possibly placing a baby with us if we were interested in adoption. Can you believe it!? Well, after a series of beautiful miracles we stood in the hospital room holding our precious little baby boy. I had a tight grip on what I wanted my family to look like. But praise God He loosened my grip. But here I stand again. Seeing the need, hearing God's heart cry. Knowing, having seen, God's grace be sufficient time and time again. Often times he doesn't provide the resources till we step out and depend on Him for them. He says, "Test me now in this" that when we give, will He not abundantly provide? Will He not open the store houses of heaven? We now have 4 kids 6 and under with another on the way. "The American dream" says 2.5 kids, not Jesus. Our families, the amount we kids we have is not to please people. Jesus should determine the number of kids we have and where they come from, not popular opinion. Oh that the Lord would break our heart for what breaks His. He defines Himself by His love for the orphan, a Father to the Fatherless. Could it be that adoption is one of the greatest ways to glorify God? Could it be that He's serious when He calls us to care for them? All that's needed... a willingness to take the next step. ![]() Check out the rest of the Not About Me November Series About Laura![]() Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has four kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 11 years serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Staff Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 girls, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks to college and women's groups. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site. Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs.
Every day when I pick Shelby up from school, the first think I say is “Hey sweet girl how was your day?” And her response is always the same.... “Pretty good I got a blue” (or some other color). Shelby’s school uses a color chart for behavior where green, blue, purple and pink mean they had good-outstanding days and yellow, orange and red men they had challenging days. I like it because it gives me a bit of a gauge of how she did on each given day. So anyway, she tells me her color and then I always say some variation of the same thing “But how else was your day? Did you have fun? What was your favorite thing?” You wanna know why I ask that? Because I don’t just want to know how Shelby measures on a color chart, but also how she felt that day... what she did... who she talked to etc. "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Galatians 3:3 Legalism runs in our veins. It is so easy to try to please God by what we DO (in the flesh), thinking that somehow we will be just a little more pleasing in His sight if our day is a purple. But the truth is, God knows us... and our acceptance comes just through knowing Him through His son, not by performance. As parents, we have an opportunity to show our kids what the love of God looks like. Not acceptance through performance, but simple acceptance based purely on the fact that they are ours... just as we are His. I believe we have the chance to help mold not just how our kids look at the themselves, but also how they look at others. If they are measuring themselves only by the color chart, then chances are, they will also measure others by the color chart or what they do. I want my kids to think eternally when it comes to others and be able to share the love, forgiveness and acceptance of Jesus with their friends. My kids’ behavior is not about me. It’s not about if I’m embarrassed if they get a Red every day. It’s not about if I’m proud If they get a pink every day. It’s about the grace of God. It’s about showing my kids the grace of God. It’s about accepting my kids. And it’s about my kids showing others that same grace and acceptance. It’s about Jesus- who never had a sinful day... who on the color chart only would have gotten pink! And us teaching our kids that through Jesus, God sees our days at pink every day. ![]() Check out the rest of the Not About Me November Series About Rhonda![]() Rhonda attended Oklahoma Baptist University for two years until she felt called to reach out to a secular campus. She then transferred to Mesa State where she graduated in 2004 with a B.A. in Counseling Psychology. She now serves as a missionary to college students and has a passion for reaching out to young women. God has a purpose and design for who he wants Godly women to be, and Rhonda is excited about helping women find freedom and joy in His purpose. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs When I first became a mom (7 years ago) I found myself in a place of great dissatisfaction and discomfort. I was in a place where I was feeling heavy amounts of criticism, judgment and disapproval. Most of it was in my head but some of it was actually expressed to me in some very awkward face-to-face conversations. Knowing that there was more or, at least hoping that there was more to parenting then just raising well mannered, healthy kids who, dress too adorable for words and who follow perfect “eat, sleep, play” schedules and can count to 20 and spell their names before they are two, I began to search for more. In my search for more, I found that I was parenting to make myself look better. My parenting was beginning to be about me, my comforts and what everyone else was thinking about me. Although, I don’t think I ever admitted this out loud, when I look back on some of my early parenting moments, there is an underlying motive of self. I had a deep desire for everyone else around me to be pleased of the way I parented my child. After my second son was born, I felt empty. My parenting felt shallow and I craved to be genuinely fulfilled in my parenting. That is where God met me. God met me in the brokenness of my parenting. His grace came in and swept me off of my stumbling feet. And so, I was humbled. God began showing me that neither parenting nor my family, was about me. Nor was it about all the other people I had let into my family through my obsessive thoughts and people pleasing. God was showing me that I had allowed the thoughts of so many others to drown and push out the thoughts and opinion of the one that matters most. Him. Through God’s gentle grace I learned that family is not about me. It is about Him. He has created these children for His glory. They belong to Him and He has entrusted me with them, to steward them, and to raise them in the way that they should go. To raise them in a way where they will live a life of confidence in the Lord. My children…our children… and our families are a gift. A gift from the Lord. They are a reward from him. (Psalm 127:3) These children are our first “mission field”. We are to train them, teach them, love them and direct them to their Creator so that they too can go out and reach the ends of the earth proclaiming the name of Jesus. In my new found revelation of parenting I have found a satisfaction that runs deeper then I ever imagined. Though I grow tired and weary from day to day I am reminded of the bigger picture. I am reminded of God’s sufficient grace. When our hearts are increasingly satisfied in God and our center focus is on Him in all that we do, a new affection begins to gradually expel old cravings and old frustrations. The way to break the powerful grip of self in parenting is to fill up on God and abide in His joy. The joy that we receive from God will leak out into our parenting and it will empower us to train and equip our children to chase wildly after God’s heart. We are then also able to capture and grasp the most beautiful and cherished moments of our life with our children. When I begin to feel daunted by the daily tasks of parenting, a small voice whispers “Cast your cares on me, my grace is sufficient, you are parenting for my glory and I am well pleased.” In what ways has God been showing you that family is not about you? ![]() Check out the rest of the Not About Me November Series About Jenna![]() Jenna is a born and raised West Texas girl married to her husband Phillip since 2005 and momma to three beautiful children, Parker, Beckham and Emerson. Jenna is passionate for Jesus. Seeking daily to make His name and glory known through the little moments in life. Jenna is also crazy about Africa. Specifically Ethiopia. Jenna and her husband have a heart for adoption, missions and ministry. You can often find Jenna grabbing coffee with friends, sneaking in much needed dates with her husband, reading way to many books at once, trying out her latest Pinterest find, playing outside with her kids or serving in her church. You can read more about Jenna and her little family at DayofKnight.comor you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram,Twitter and Pinterest. Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs It’s a Saturday morning in the middle of July. We are in a dorm in a small town in western Hungary, called Keszthely. This town has become a little slice of Heaven for our family. This is our fifth summer spent here, participating in an English Camp called ‘Speakout’. Every summer high school students from all over Hungary come here to learn conversational English. In the process, they experience the truth of the Gospel as it is lived out and spoken into their lives. My husband and my first Speakout happened before kids. This 5th one in 7 years saw our family grown to five. Our oldest son just participated in his 4th such English Camp. Our daughter experienced her 3rd and our baby his first unless you want to count last summer…when he was growing in my tummy. Our growing family has paralleled our growing love for this English Camp. All of the logistics are more complicated, but also more blessed. There are more little people to think of and to care for but also more opportunity for these image-bearers to shine the light of Jesus. Many young people are experiencing a loving Godly marriage and family for the first time as they witness our being a family during Speakout. As our kids grow so does their understanding of the mission. This past summer, our almost 6 year-old’s favorite time of the week was each Saturday. He woke up excited to pull the campers’ suitcases as he greeted them on their way into the dorm. Later that evening, his eyes danced with delight as he gave high-fives to those same young people during their welcome party. Our life, on mission, as a family has often been a logistical nightmare for me. I have lost too much sleep packing bags just to 50 pounds only to lose another night’s sleep on an overseas flight. With each choice to pack up and go when it is easier to stay, well-meaning people have dismissed what we are doing with ‘well it’s good to have an adventure while you are still young!’ But this is a very short-sighted view of the story. As I have lost sleep, I have gained spiritual strength. I have learned to rely on the Lord more during packing, sleepless flights or car trips than all of my other ministry experience combined. And in the process we invite our kids into the adventure that is never supposed to end as we embrace God’s call on our lives. So often, we miss out as families because we are not willing to take the first step. Or we are too busy to find room in our over-crowded lives. In the end, we settle for less than God’s best as a family. My most heartfelt advice for you mama, who desires to live missionally is 1) If the Lord is speaking to your heart, or someone in your family’s heart, about an opportunity, DON’T SAY NO because it is impossible to picture the logistics. 2) Give the opportunity to the Lord. Pray about it. And trust Him to bring it to pass if it is His will. Psalm 37:5 3) When you do step out as a family, realize that it is as a family. Your kids are as much if not more missionaries than you. Encourage them with the vision. Praise God as you see Him do ‘exceeding immeasurably beyond all you can ask for or imagine’ in and through their lives. 4) Take time to reflect upon and affirm God’s mission for your family. Then hold each other accountable to seek further opportunities as a family. Our world needs the love that your family uniquely has to offer. Our world is desperate for the Savior in your midst. My prayer is that you are challenged, encouraged & inspired to set the heart of your family upon eternity and that you will get to see, taste and touch it together. |
![]() If so, we have a FREE book for you! All of this and more is in our brand new book, Missional Life; A Practical Guide to Living in Light of Eternity. Sign up here | ![]() Read more of the 31 Days of Missional Living. |