Winding Down

I cannot believe it, but Zach is almost out of kindergarden...next week is it! This is one of those "last's" that Karen Kingsbury talks about in her children's book (Let Me Hold you Longer...I think). The last day of kindergarden. We've already had the last day of tball (ever) and so many more things that you never think about until they are gone.
I look at him and wonder how we changed his life when we adopted him 5 years ago. Did we save him out of an orphanage, off the streets, from death? I don't know, but I do know that we didn't save him at all, God did. He chose Zach for us from the beginning of time and nothing could've stood in the way of bringing our firstborn home from Guatemala. It seemed for a time that he wouldn't be part of our lives, but in God's most perfect timing, he was brought home.
I can say with 100% certainty that we did save Zach from the worst thing that could ever have happened to him...we saved him from hell. Earlier this year, he understood his need for a Savior and was brought into the family of God for eternity.
So I can say that no matter what else happens in his life...he has already experienced the BEST thing that life has to offer. JESUS! I pray for him that he will become a man of God. Knowing the hardship and circumstances that we had to go through to even get him here, he has a purpose that Satan was trying to keep him from (I believe).
On that note, the most important thing that we can do for our children like God instructed the Isrealites in Deuteronomy 11:19
"Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Moses was telling them just previously not to turn away from their God and worship idols. If they did, God would take His favor from them in anger and they would be punished. I think this applies to us today in that we have so many distractions that can cause us to turn away from our first love (Christ) and worship idols (money, things, tv, our children, etc.). We must teach our children the two commandments that were left for us by Christ in the New Covenant. They are found in Matthew 22:37-39
" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
If we don't show these things to our children by our own actions, then they will be more likely to turn and follow the way of the world (which leads to death).
May we all strive to be the examples of Christ to our children that we need to be to make them have the overwhelming desire to have what we have....Christ in us!!

Bondage and Grace Collide

We had an awesome weekend at church. Saturday night (after a hard, long day for the guys laying sod on our pitiful hill) we had a benefit concert for a dear couple in our church. Mike Childers underwent a liver transplant several months ago and they are dealing with enormous medical bills. He was as close to dead as you can be without actually seeing Jesus. But in God's grace and timing, he was chosen by his God to remain with us for a while longer. I think around $3000 was raised for them which is AWESOME!!!
Today brought a young man, Steven, into the lives of Midway Community Church and somehow I don't think our lives will ever be the same. You could tell immediately when you met him that he had a story to tell. In praise and worship, I was waiting on him to jump the chairs or break out into dance in the aisle (not that there is a thing wrong with that, just some of us "baptist" folks would have been a little taken aback). He was so completely worshipping....it was refreshing!!
He shared his testimony and boy did he have one to tell. I'll suffice it to say that this young man was in bondage from Satan because he had a testimony that the devil didn't want to get out. But by God's grace he has been set free and is on FIRE for Jesus! If only some of us could have an ounce of what the guy had Anderson SC would be a burning inferno for Christ.
Our pastor also shared a vision of what he sees for Midway. It is one of complete dependency on Christ because we could never pull it off ourselves. Very exciting.....
Last but not least our Breaking Free study also hit on grace and bondage and the freedom that is found in Christ. I see a common thread here...bondage....God's grace...and the freedom that can be found only in Him. No matter what we may be in bondage to: drugs, alcohol, money, fear, other people, or ANYTHING else, God's grace is sufficient and it covers all. He will meet us where we are if we will only admit we have a problem and open our minds and hearts to Him. He will be our Deliever and our Healer every time. He loves us and is fullfilled when He can be our Fullfiller. He is in the business of Healing Hearts and Renewing Minds....praise God!

Rainy Friday

OK...so I am completely new to this blogging thing. It took me nearly an hour to figure out how to set this basic blog up. And pictures....who has time to take pictures anyway...but I couldn't find a recent one anywhere on my computer. Oh well, most of you who'll be reading this know what we look like anyway.

I thought this would be a cool way to keep everyone informed on our life...if they care to know...the ups and downs...you know, life.

A little about us to catch everyone up...Jon and I have been married for 9 years (this October). We have 2 beautiful boys and one more to join us come September. If you asked Jon, he'd say we have 2 girls also. Our black Lab, Annie, and the infamous Dachshund (why isn't this spelled Dotsun?), Chloe.

The tapestry of our life so far has been weaved from struggles and uncertainties, but God has proven faithful and I know He will continue to be our Rock. I'll be sharing the stories of our international adoption, Mimi's death (Jon's mom), Sam's cerebral palsy, and others along the way.

So come on in, sit down, grab a cup of whatever and let's share awhile.