Almost Christmas

It is almost Christmas and I still am not in the holiday spirit. I want to be but I am not. In fact, it does not feel like Christmas time at all. I am hoping I switch in Christmas mode on Christmas Eve when all the festivities begin. I think it is fun that there are two babies in the family that will have their first christmas and two other kidd0 that have the energy and joy to bring life to any get together. Being able to spend Christmas with them is special for me.

I am missing my Kenyan friends especially now. I've never spent Christmas in Kenya but I guess the holiday of giving brings them to mind. With my heart trying to be in two countries at once, it is always an inner battle.

I wish all you that read this and that love and support me a very Merry Christmas. May your hearts be full of love and thanks this year for the birth of our Savior. God Bless!!

I am certain of this....

I am certain of this...that God answers our prayers! Within the past two months, the Lord has shown me that since He answers those "silly" prayers that I speak out to Him that He most certainly will answers the big ones....those prayers that are at the forefront of my mind and heart as I follow Him in obedience.

I have two great examples of the Lord answering my somewhat silly and simple prayers (even though nothing is silly to God). My shower head fixture had been broken for a long time (and had been super glued without success) and therefore I had to hold the shower head myself. On one particular day not so long ago i spoke a prayer in a sigh..."Lord, it would be nice to have a shower head that worked." Wouldn't you know, a few days later I saw a new fixture upstairs that was needed to do the trick. The person who bought it did not hear my prayer but the Lord moved him to buy that shower fixture that week so I would know that He was listening!!

A few days ago, before I left for a trip, I had every intention to do my dishes but, as things usually go, I ran out of time. I saw them sitting there before i left and said.."Lord, I wish these dishes were done and that I didn't have to leave them here a mess." Well, I came home 4 days later....breezed in and out quick to get to work...and then on the ride home said to myself.."Were the dishes there that I left??" Got home and saw that someone had washed and put away all my dishes while I was in Texas. My Lord was listening to me and I was blessed.

So now, I am going to be really honest with what I need...a big prayer request on my heart. I am praying that the Lord provides a team of people to rally around me and really help me as I move forward to establish this children's home. I need and so desire people to tap into that part of me and help me to be comfortable to live and share that passion daily. I am praying for accountability and assistance. I am praying for people to bounce ideas off of, to join me in prayer about decisions I make, to become just as passionate about what the Lord is doing in Kenya through me as I am etc.

" Lord of heaven and earth, I know you are listening and that you love this child of yours. You know my heart and my needs. I rely and depend on you with my entire being and I am seeking to make Your love my constant center. I give this request to you...knowing you will answer it...in your timing..in accordance with your will. Amen!"

I see Jesus!!

I am going to keep this post simple....not as wordy as I can sometimes get. I want to just share some of the ways in which I saw (and felt) Jesus this past week. Here we go:

I saw Jesus when...

• I spent time with a friend...the Lord has provided a friend who gets me and I get her.
• I watched a video by Lou Giglio with the girl's at bible study.
• An old favorite verse from Psalms came alive to me because of the video.
• A good friend texted me the same verse the next day...too perfect.
• I was able to picture 6 empire state buildings on top of each other and Texas covered in 22 inches of golf balls and realize how MUCH God LOVES me (you had to see the said video).
• I was able to go to Texas..spending time with awesome friends and making new ones.
• I was encouraged in my calling and was surrounded by people who had been to Kenya and understood my heart for Kenya.
• I attended a benefit for my friend's missions organization and was reminded how He is Jehovah Jireh
• I went to Sunday School had a really great discussion and time of sharing with two girls. We were able to relate w/ each other and uplift each other.
• I accepted a blessing than the Lord showed me had already taken care of things.
• I heard the testimony of an older man who started a children's home in Kenya.

I think I could list so many more. I love how the Lord knows just what we need and meets those needs. The Lord is really showing Himself to me powerfully. I feel His love immensely and am just trying to live every day with that as my center and focus. With His love as your center, everything else falls into place and you have a proper perspective.

In closing, I want to say that the number one way I have seen Jesus this past week is in other people. Thank you, my friends, for being His hands and His feet. Thank you for being His voice piece, speaking truth and encouragement into my life. Thank you for helping me to see that He cared about me through the care you showed to me. Thank you for loving me and being amazing brothers and sisters in Christ.