3 good things already

It's not even 11am and it's been a good day already.

This year my word is "gratitude." Among all our life-changes, we're focusing on being thankful for past blessings, current provisions, and future adventures.

1. It's sunny in Seattle. No further comment needed. (Anyone else think that's a very good thing?)

2. Lewis' rabies shot went off without a hitch - he's making the trip from Vancouver to his new family in Toronto tomorrow. He has no idea what a fantastic home he'll have, but I do. My college choir director spoiled Sonatina (her Pekinese) rotten while we were in school. She loves animals and Lewis loves people and other dogs. What's not to celebrate?

A friend's gift: a Spirit-dove and green (life) candle

3. I have more time than I planned today. God of course knows the "real schedule" and is never surprised. But having 4 extra hours (2 cancellations) is a lovely treat. Today, I start to box up the basement. I'm grateful for time in this calm space, however short it's been.

What are 3 things you're smiling about today?

Read more:
*O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Psalm 95:1 ESV

*He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth--the Lord God Almighty is his name. Amos 4:13 NIV

*Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

*A man who had been lame, with a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. Acts 3:2,8 NASB

Moravian Prayer: As we sing and shout our praises to you, Lord, may your healing presence be with us and those who are in need of your touch. Whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual, we thank you for being our rock of salvation. Amen.

3 things about a day

There are three things I can count on, no matter how tired I feel, no matter what I plan or think will happen:

1. Each day starts with the love of God surrounding us. We wake to a new morning, certain that whatever changes around us, God remains the same - faithful, kind, loving, watchful, protecting.

The day explodes into praise

2. Each day fills with people - and opportunities to serve others. We can go through an entire day thinking mostly of ourselves. (I felt like that today - stressed and a bit out of sorts because there's so much going on. I talked too much, listened too little.)

Or, we can think constantly of what God is doing around us ... and join him. (A classic resource to help align us to God's work is: Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby.)

This pretty much sums up the WPPRs, my closest friends.

3. Each day ends with God's forgiveness, his lovingkindness wrapped around us, and the assurance that whatever comes, He is with us.

Nightfall along the way

Sleep well, my friends. It was good to be together. (You know who you are...) Indeed, you are God's gift to me. Thanks be to God.

Read more:
*Praise the Lord, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. Psalm 103:2,4 NIV

*Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:5-6  NIV

*Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 ESV

*Paul wrote: It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. Galatians 2:20 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Lord, through your love and compassion we turn to you in times when we have gone astray. Remind us that we are called by you to do your work in our communities and the world. Amen.

3 things about the cabin

The beautiful Flathead River

We've just come back from a week at the cabin. We thought last year would be our goodbye, but we had almost a week this year to work on projects before we move away. I noticed 3 things about the cabin this year:

1. Though we work hard each time we come,  the cabin is our oasis. Pure glacier water flows from the taps; fresh air clears our lungs, and the early morning sun wakes us. We have lots of company to refresh our hearts. Shelves of books promise to mentor and amuse us. The cabin is wi-fi free, so we spend time talking, reading books, and exploring the surroundings. I’ve quilted, painted, and written here over the years.

A relaxing gathering room

We've learned a lot about each other, too. W enjoys crafting and building. He says it's his hobby - and we have a second home because of it. I may be the visionary, but he's the project manager. My style in tackling a project is to imagine the possibilities and plan all the details - start to finish. Once I lay the pieces out, I want to "go for it" until it's done.

W prefers to do a little part, go back to the store for supplies, do the next part, and then go back to the store. Sometimes we've driven each other a bit crazy because our processes are so different. He wants to do the task at hand perfectly; meanwhile, when the project is finished in my head, I'm ready to move to the next thing.

The "boys" bunkroom

If we were shooting for the moon, W would be the trustworthy engineer! If we were dreaming about what we could accomplish in outer space, I'd have wilder ideas and ways they could work. Both are valuable, right? I'm glad W is careful and matches all the tiles perfectly. But the wrinkled maps, papering the back entry, make me happy, too.

2. Time at the cabin is different – and better – than we envisioned. When I drew up the layout 18 years ago, I’d planned an efficient getaway, maximizing beds and rooms so the kids could fill it with friends and sleepovers (while we could still visit with adults). We just last year finished the inside (except for a few finish details). This year we painted the entry doors red and installed deck railings for the balcony.

Red doors and a balcony

We’ve spent 4-5 weeks here each summer, negotiating building projects and hosting camp friends. Our kids took turns at summer camps and roamed the grounds without supervision. Today’s parents are more watchful, but our kids had the run of the camp with their buddies. I’d whistle them in only for meals and bedtime.

The children have grown up and moved out on their own. They still meet friends and family at the cabin. Two spent their honeymoons in the partly-finished spaces (oh brave daughters-in-law!) 

The office - ready for words and work

The past few years, W would leave me behind on August 1; he'd prep for the school year in Seattle. 

“Are you lonely,” people would ask me. “Aren’t you afraid to be by yourself?”

Nope. After raising 4 kids, the silence was a gift so overwhelmingly wonderful that I would often waken with worship shouting inside my head. I made a point of resetting my inner clock, rising at sunrise and going to sleep at sunset. I only used electrical lights on dark rainy days. A steady stream of guests came in and out. 

W would return for me and close up the cabin a month later, on Labor Day weekend. By then I had decompressed from our hectic city pace and was ready for the next year. Purest luxury.

I thought I’d do my doctoral dissertation in the cabin office. Instead, I stayed away from the building chaos for a few years and wrote it at home. How I missed the people, beautiful surroundings, and the quiet. I can’t imagine summer without my “Montana month,” but I look forward to God’s provisions in other places.

3. The cabin is personal, quirky and filled with memories.

• As we began to build, Pastor Rohde came by to watch the cement truck pour the footings. He looked and us, smiled affably, and asked very kindly, “Well, do you folks know what you’re doing?” before jumping in to help. Whew.



"Half-wide" steps maximize space

•  Our dads put up the roof trusses and helped frame and life the walls into place. W’s dad died 12 years ago but we talk about his legacy and my dad’s when we’re here.
• Our off-set stairs take everyone by surprise. They use half the space of regular steps and make room for a big closet underneath.
• National Geographic maps from the 1970s and -80s paper the back entry hall. I find the maps and their capture of shifting borders fascinating. I hope the grandkids feel the same someday. 
• Some floors are planked with 11” wide, reclaimed Douglas fir, trucked in by an Amish fellow who advised W on how to finish them (between man-chatter).



The kids' play area upstairs

• The lamps and furniture are an assortment of “finds” and “rejects.” I slipcovered a friend’s modern pastel blue and pink sofa with cream canvas painter dropcloths. I paid $100 to repair a 100-year-old chair that matches the French Provincial sofa purchased by our daughter-in-law’s great-grandmother. Both sofas sit happily in the living room.
• Visiting kids play games upstairs, perching on the torn vinyl seat of a commercial children’s table: we picked it up when the old Kirkland library auctioned off their furniture. It’s sturdy as a rock. Retro books and games line the Blockbuster shelves of the family room; our guests love to explore old and new favorites.
• W fashioned 4 sets of bunkbeds by framing padded exercise mats with plywood backs (found on Freecycle). I imagined the 2 bunkrooms filled with small cousins and messy teenagers. 

Books and games galore - family history

      Instead, at last year's reunion, a family of 4 was the first to sleep in a bunkroom. Even the 6’4” dad could stretch out on the extra-long bunks. Romantic? Hardly. Comfortable? Completely.

• We found a modern Western artist’s giclee print at an art show. It was priced at $10,000. Someone had torn two gashes in it during a move so the gallery marked it down to “barely affordable” for us. It was my personal post-PhD present. The art restorer in town wanted $900 to repair it. So we stopped at an art supply shop for linen PH-neutral tape ($20). I repaired the gashes and touched it up with my Winsor & Newton watercolours. Voila. Within minutes, we could hardly find the tears in the canvas. That abstract cowboy with his flourish of bright colors makes us smile each time we come.
• The bedding and linens hail from our stay in England, our Seattle house, and local shops. The rugs and fridge are from a friend. Every thing reminds me of someone or someplace.

Happily keeping up a family tradition
on the way out of town:
the historic point

“Don’t sell it; you may need a retreat sometime,” advised a ministry mentor. Our kids and the caretakers will maintain the cabin while we’re away.

FB pictures remind us of the place during the winter. Once in a while, feeling overwhelmed by preparations for our move to Indonesia, I’ve clicked open that album. Immediately, I feel more peaceful and settled. (Yes, I’m that visual.) I may do that occasionally from across the ocean, too…

BTW: Pull out the futons, stretch out a cot in the office, and it sleeps up to 19. It's for rent during the summer when family isn’t there.

Read more:

*Lord, guard me as the apple of the eye. Psalm 17:8 ESV

*GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. Habakkuk 3:19 ESV

*Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:4,5 ESV

Moravian Prayer: As we ponder the blessings you have bestowed upon us, give us hearts and hands willing to do your work for your kingdom. May our work be always pleasing to you. Amen.

3 things we'll miss about itineration

Laughter, conversations, and memories

How we're looking forward to Indonesia. We'll be in language school, eat great food, and meet many friendly people once we arrive. (We experienced the last two several times and can't wait to return.)

Meanwhile, we've travelled a lot back home, raising funds to go.

Here are 3 things we'll miss about itineration:

1. People along the way. Tonight we'll have dinner and sleep at friends' who are coworkers in sharing Good News. We have a long association with them, including serving on an alumni board, shared ministry groups, and learning together in an accountability group. We'll speak in their church in the morning.

We've met many other people as first- or second-time acquaintances. We've loved speaking with you, as well as praying and learning together.

... and in fall.

We'll miss our courtyard in spring

2. The scenery. We live in a stunning landscape: within a few hours' drive, there are towering mountains capped with snow to ocean beaches to deserts to temperate rain forests.

Today we get to drive through those mountains toward the desert. This morning, I walked 4 miles in our neighborhood, inhaling spring fragrances and crisp morning air. I'll miss that.

3. The sense of partnership in moving forward. Our friends, family, and Family have donated funds, offered hospitality, and prayed down heaven for the coming venture. You are our partners as well as our companions on this journey.

A Washington volcano

We are often asked if we are afraid. We certainly feel uncertain about what we don't yet know. Life is about to change. But fear? Not really.

Every day seems to unfold within the mystery of God. Our loving, all-knowing Creator already has our path marked out. And he has you in his hands, too.

Several people recently asked me about options and choices. Do we feel we could we stay here and continue in comfort toward retirement?

I have to admit, "No, we don't consider staying. When you hear the Shepherd's voice, you move." After all, his rod is strong and his staff is long. He can corral us if we wander off and prod us when we are stuck in place. Because of that, we're not too worried about fatal mistakes.

We expect life to get uncomfortable at times. I'll probably cry once in a while, missing home. And we may be frustrated by customs we don't understand and a different pace of living. Those are common to anyone who moves to a new culture.

One month to go. Thanks for your prayers and connections, those times when we say hello, hug, and wish each other well. We appreciate this time of goodbyes ... and of looking ahead with you.

Read more:
*In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can
flesh do to me? Psalm 56:4 ESV

*With God we shall do valiantly. Psalm 60:12 ESV

*Jesus said, "Go and learn what this means, "˜I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'" Matthew 9:13 ESV

*For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Giving Lord, for us your blood was shed, for us the lamb was slain. Instill within us a spirit unfailing, that we may live for you always. Amen.

3 things about good colleagues

Wikipedia: "Colleagues are those explicitly united in a common purpose and respecting each other's abilities to work toward that purpose. ... Thus, the word collegiality can connote respect for another's commitment to the common purpose and ability to work toward it."

We had dear colleagues and friends over tonight, sharing food, laughter, and stories of life and work. It doesn't get much better than this: a common calling, a shared profession, and a similar gifting. We were reminded of 3 things about colleagues:

1. Good workmates share the load. We're willing to pitch in, whether we're strategizing, working, or praying together. We're not afraid to be on the same team with the same goals.

2. Good workmates create a learning environment where skills can improve, resources are shared, and information is golden ... for everyone. We respect personhood and individuality, as well as the outcome of our work.

3.  Good workmates who become friends let their lives overlap. We applaud each other's achievements, grieve over each others difficulties, and boost each other to be "the best we can be." There's no rivalry; instead, we are glad when others succeed. We are proud of their advancement. And we hurt when others hurt.

W and I are grateful for the university and other work settings. Truly, we esteem our colleagues. We are thankful for the honor of sharing a united purpose and working hard together.


Read more:
*The word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe. Deuteronomy 30:14 ESV

*The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior--from violent people you save me. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:2-4 ESV

*Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands—O prosper the work of our hands! Psalm 90:17 ESV

*Jesus said, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock." Matthew 7:24 ESV

*In Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. Acts 9:36 ESV

*But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Holy God, help us to build our faith upon rock. We ask you, Lord, that with our faith on solid ground the words in our mouths may speak directly from our hearts.

Gracious Lord, thank you for the hands with which we work and the feet with which we walk. May we use the gifts that you have given us to bless our neighbors. Amen.

C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity: I find I must borrow yet another parable from George MacDonald. Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

The command "Be ye perfect" is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were ‘gods’ and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him—for we can prevent Him, if we choose—He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful, but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.

3 things about water

We’re on our friend’s boat tonight, after celebrating our son’s birthday. The water is all around. Here’s what I love about water:

1. It’s versatile. A few wet sprinkles of rain trail from overhead clouds, scudding along a mostly sunny sky. The boat rocks on the lake, tethered to the dock with stretchy ropes. And my teabag swims in hot water in my thermos as I write. 

Water can be stored, whether frozen into ice or at room temperature as a liquid. It evaporates when heated to steam. How mysterious! (How did God think of such a thing?) We can swim in it and drink it (not at the same time, we hope)… even open the pores of our skin by leaning over a steaming bowl of water.

2. It’s useful. Water itself is not particularly interesting (at least not to non-scientists like me.) It's clear and conforms its shape to every receptacle. Pure water has no odor and little texture. While water itself looks unimpressive, it is a vehicle for things that happen in the world. 

We wash ourselves and our things in water. Plants and animals need water to survive. Blood cells are pumped steadily through our arteries and veins, blood’s water carrying nutrition, oxygen, and waste. Food preparation may require water for steaming, boiling, or rinsing. Water transportation is a vital part of moving people and goods. Water also acts as a mirror, reflecting its surroundings.

3. It’s soothing. Water lubricates. In a hot-water (or cold-water) bottle, it warms the cold or cools the hot. What would life be without the occasional soak in the tub? Ah, bliss.

When you think of water, do you appreciate it? Avoid it? Fear it? Can’t wait to jump into it? Why?

Today I thank God again. Don't you love his imagination and care for us? “Thank you, God, for water!”

Scripture tells us that we have been washed by Living Water, the Word who came to live among us. As the boat tilts on the waves, I’m amazed again by God and the world he made.

Read more:

*The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. Proverbs 18:4 NIV

*In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him. Proverbs 21:1 NIV

*Waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:6 ESV

*For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 NIV

*For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:17 NIV

*(John wrote,) Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 21:1-2 NIV

Evening Prayer: Lord of Creation, turn our hearts to you. As we rest this night, let our hearts be still waters reflecting your goodness. In the morning, let our lives be like the brooks that carry living water to the thirsty. And all day long, let our longing for you be as broad and deep as the oceans, always moving, always seeking, always exploring new shores. 

Satisfy us in the days to come with the bread and water of life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

(Moravian Prayer) God of water, purify our minds. Today is a new day—may we enter the day with hope and love, spreading your word wherever we may go. Amen.

3 surprises about "his and hers"

Alliums: the beautiful onion

W and I have had at least three surprises about assumptions on "his and hers":

1. On our documents, I'm the missionary. He's technically the "spouse." Yet God called us equally as children to cross-cultural life. (Admittedly, since I'm a year older, I probably got called first.) A prime consideration for our marriage and life together was that shared vision.

The assumption when we arrive at a church is an old paradigm: he speaks. She comes along but does things behind the scenes. However, there's never been reluctance to power up a second mike: the churches have been flexible, open to a new model, and welcoming to us both.

2. We love to speak and work together. W's honed his teaching gift in the classroom, based in a university office. I taught in multiple settings, from a home base of raising our kids. Both of us like speaking in public. Yes, we like it - our gut feeling is comfort, of "coming home," when we stand before people.

We started speaking together this year, trading off naturally. The positive reactions have been overwhelming: "It was so much more interesting than having one person stand up and talk," "How do you work together seamlessly?" and  "How do you do that?" We consider the ease of interaction God's gift to each of us - and to the Church.

3. God has given us complementary gifts. We've come to appreciate the overlap and breadth of our interests. 

W likes gathering and applying information. I like connecting new and old relationships, ideas, patterns, and resources. At our best, W explains complex things simply, so everyone can understand. He passes along what he knows - whether that's theology, technology, or practical know-how. And I link people, resources, and systems for interdependence. I'm happiest when people interact and become empowered in fresh ways.

Who knew? God is full of surprises. While I experienced some limitations while raising the kids and keeping house, I've had many opportunities to write, mentor, and speak over the years.

Our curiosity remains unquenched. Our interests are as broad as ever. And our vision for God-with-us is wider than before. We're looking forward to new surprises ahead!

Is your life full of anticipation? In times of change, do you expect that our creative God is able to keep you safe, thriving, and challenged? That He's enough to meet the needs of the day, even  (especially) when the hours unfold in unexpected ways? 

You can trust him. You can lean on him. And you may be astonished by how well everything fits together, considering who you are as a person and everything you have done until now. After all, God is never surprised by what's coming. He has it all planned out and under his control.

Thanks be to God.

Read more:

*And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

*Jesus said to the woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." Matthew 9:22 ESV

*Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Romans 15:2 ESV

*[Hearing and Doing the Word ] Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger ... James 1:19 ESV

Moravian Prayer: God, what is it that you ask of us? Take our possessions, Lord. Take our hearts, our lives, everything into your hands and bless us today and evermore. Amen.

From C. S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn Trader: 

“When the lion said—but I don’t know if it spoke—‘You will have to let me undress you.’ I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it.

“The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. You know—if you’ve ever picked the scab off a sore place. It hurts like billy-oh but it is fun to see it coming away.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” said Edmund.

“Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off—just as I thought I’d done it myself the other three times, only they hadn’t hurt—and there it was, lying on the grass, only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me—I didn’t like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I’d no skin on—and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I’d turned into a boy again. You’d think me simply phony if I told you how I felt about my own arms. I know they’ve no muscle and are pretty mouldy compared with Caspian’s, but I was so glad to see them.”

3 things about family

A room filled with memories of family visits

This week I visited with a sibling, uncles and aunts, cousins, a nephew and a niece across Canada. I stowed a lot of great memories. Our tribe affirmed three things about a healthy family:

1. Family reminds us of where we've been. My uncle gave me a picture of Grandma and Grandpa, their 5 children, and the 5 spouses. I'm taking that photo along when we move to remind me that I fit in somewhere (for a day when my light skin, hair, and eye coloring will be the strangest thing someone sees). 

A visit to the cemetery to leave
flowers at Auntie M's gravestone

We heard stories about our grandparents, parents, and the extended family since we were little. Those stories remind us where we came from and who we were. They tell us of the plans that worked and things that were hard. Of gifts and talents. Places and journeys. These tales carve into our collective memory the past accomplishments, failures, work, and generosity of the clan.

2. Family reminds us of who we are. We inherit our personalities, physical shapes, the way we think and learn, and many other traits. However, the way we respond to the world with those traits determines our character. Our combination of genetics and developed character makes us uniquely important to the world.

The loving affirmation of family assures us we can do anything that God calls us to. Our wins are their wins: we don't have to worry that they think we're bragging when we share accomplishments. (How nice to be able to say, "Guess what I did! Be happy with me!") On the other hand, they don't humiliate us when we need help; we protect because we know each other's weaknesses.

Cousins and friends since childhood

With God's help and a caring family, we become big enough. Strong enough. Our support team is in place. When we stumble, family picks us up and dusts us off before pulling us forward again. 

3. Family shapes our future. The goals and aspirations of a family have a lot to do with our hopes and dreams. Parents interested primarily in material things teach their children that money and comparison with others are important. Others value sports and cheer their kids in games, investing a lot of time and money. BTW: my brothers and I never considered being sports champions. The family were musicians. Our musical bent and training rewarded me with 33 years of self-employment. (Bonus: few surgeries or physical therapy, unlike our sports-loving peers = music is easier on the joints!)

Our family values asking God for direction. We expect that God will lead and guide his Church so we serve in communities of faith. Praying with my brother and my uncle this week, I felt sheltered and affirmed. How many prayers we have already offered for each other - and how many more we will call out to God, regardless of the miles that separate us.

A casual pose with the kids 2014

How does your family affirm who you are and who God is calling you to be? If they cheer you on in scriptural principles and right living, you are blessed indeed. If they try to hold you back, remember that your Father in heaven and your Christian family is connected across the world. We're on your team - certain that God oversees every bit of our history and future accomplishments.

If your family is not supportive, who could help you reach your potential by boosting you in the right direction?

Read more:

*You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit. Job 10:12 ESV

*Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10 ESV

*John writes to Gaius: Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 3 John 2 ESV


Moravian Prayer: Merciful Lord, our lives are in your hands. Guide our hearts and encourage our minds to follow you all of our days. Preserve in us, Lord, the way of your light. Amen.