Be Adventurous!

Follow our family on our daily adventure on this thing called "life" as we try to be God's hands and feet to the world around us. Matthew 28:19-20







Monday, August 18, 2008

Do you belive God heals?

I believe God heals the sick, the worried, the fearful and the lonely. I have seen it first hand on the mission field, in my life and in the lives of those around me especially my mom. Having watched her go through cancer and the fight she knew was not just flesh and blood, but spiritual too.

She would go into chemo with 3x5 cards full of scripture verses on healing, faith, God's promises. She had friends and family fill out these cards with scriptures that spoke health and life that began to heal her spiritually while she was going through the healing of chemo. She would pray before chemo was started, then would sit and read the scriptures or have someone with her read the scriptures to her as she had the chemo start. I do this for any friend that I hear of that is going through chemo.

When she was going through her stem cell and bone marrow transplants, she would have scripture printed out in large font and stuck to the walls so no matter where she looked in her room there was encouragement through the word. She lived on those promises of God. She knew that God was faithful! She was such a testimony on her floor.

I know that the power of the word of God is better than any medicine out there on the market today. Don't get me wrong though...I believe God has blessed many men and women with the skills to treat and help those of us who are sick. Luke was a physician in the Bible (Corinthians 4:14). I believe that medicine is necessary, but don't do it alone! The word of God is health, healing and life.

Yesterday at church we sang a "new" song by Hillsong called "Healer." Oh my...the story behind the song is so powerful! I am including it below. There is nothing impossible for Our God!

Healer



The story behind the song

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Then Sings My Soul - Yours



Today's selection is Yours by Steven Curtis Chapman for a couple of reasons:

1. This song speaks to the missions heart of me. This world is God's. He cries for every person on this planet. He created them and they are His children. They are HIS. We are HIS - We are YOURS God.

2. This a reminder to me today and through this challenge my family is going through that we are HIS. He cares about every hair on our head, every worry thought that crosses our mind. We don't have to worry because He has a plan and a purpose. It is not to harm us. He will not give us more than we can bear even when we may feel like we are at our darkest hour. We have seen it in our lives and we know it is true. We are YOURS God.

3. The Chapman family has been all over the press this past couple of weeks trying to tell of their family's faith in something they do not understand. God is in control and they may never understand what is going on, but God is faithful and their obident hearts to tell the world where their strength comes from will be honored. God is doing something so big that the Chapman family may never truly comprehend it's reaches to the farthest places until they see arrive in heaven. I just know that God is doing something so big through the Chapman family. The Chapman Family is YOURS God!



YOURS LYRICS WITH NEW VERSE
I walk the streets of London
And notice in the faces passing by
Somthing that makes me stop and listen
My heart grows heavy with the cry

Where is the hope for London?
You whisper and my heart begins to soar
As I'm reminded
That every street in London in Yours
Oh, yes it is

I walk the dirt roads of Uganda
I see the scars that war has left behind
Hope like the sun is fading
They're waiting for a cure no one can find

And I hear children's voices singing
Of a God who heals and rescues and restores
And I'm reminded
That every child in Africa is Yours

And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
You're the Maker and Keeper, Father and Ruler of everything
It's all Yours

And I walk the sidewalks of Nashville
Like Singapore, Manila and Shanghai
I rush by the beggar's hand and the wealthy man
And everywhere I look I realize

That just like the streets of London
For every man and woman, boy and girl
All of creation
This is our Father's world

And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
You're the Maker and Keeper, Father and Ruler of everything

It's all Yours, God
It's all Yours, God
It's all Yours, God
It's all Yours, God

The glory is Yours, God
All the honor is Yours, God
The power is Yours, God
The glory is Yours, God

You're the King of Kings
And Lord of Lords

NEW VERSE
I’ve walked the valley of death’s shadow
So deep and dark that I could barely breathe
I’ve had to let go of more than I could bear
And questioned everything that I believe
But still even here
in this great darkness
A comfort and hope come breaking through
As I can say in life or death
God we belong to you.

And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky
To the depths of the ocean floor
And its all Yours, God, Yours, God
Everything is Yours
All the greatness and power, the glory and splendor and majesty
Everything is Yours
Yeah, it's all Yours
We are Yours
The glory and honor is Yours, everything is Yours

It's all Yours, God
My life is Yours, my heart is Yours
My hands and my feet are Yours
Every song that I sing
It's all Yours, all is Yours
All belongs to You
Our gifts are Yours, God
All our dreams are Yours, God
All our plans are Yours, God
The whole earth is Yours, God
Everything is Yours

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Cheap and Easy Recipes



I am looking for some quick, easy and healthy receipes. I have been in a rut when it comes to what my family eats. I am also looking for something that is inexpensive. With prices on everything skyrocketing, anything to save money without skimping on flavor and family appeal would be appreciated.

I had thought about doing the thing where you prep all your meals on one day and freeze them. But I only found one cookbook/guide that I kind of liked, but I wasn't sure if there was one that someone had tried that they liked that would be better.

Basically, I need help! My family pretty much will eat anything. I don't really have picky eaters which is helpful to me.

Any receipes? Any suggestions?

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Then Sings My Soul - My Redeemer



Because I am all about the Olympics and the story of the underdog/over comer, I am posting this video. One is to the song My Redeemer which is beautiful on its own, but this story gives it an even better meaning.

First video is the song, the second video is the story behind the song - The Hoyt family. I love this story and I am sure every one has heard of them, but it is an amazing story of a love of a father for his son. Just like Jesus for us! I love this story!

Bring out some tissues because you will cry!




Saturday, August 9, 2008

New baby in the family



NO NO NO - Not me!

My sister and her husband welcomed my newest nephew to the world today!

We got a call early this morning from my parent saying Nay was having some contractions and heading to the hospital. About an hour or so later my brother in law called to say that she had been admitted and was about 4-5 centimeters. We told him we would pray and then headed off with our day.

Around 8 or so our time we called my parents to see if anything was happening. My parent were watching my nephew, R, while my sister and her husband we at the hospital. No one had heard anything. My mom tried calling my brother in law and the phone was off. I said maybe she is pushing.

Well, I was right - she delivered around 5:30 or so in CA which made it 8:30 here in NC. Nay called around 9 to tell me she had a baby boy and that they were going back and forth on a name. Either name starts with an "E" so we will just say welcome to the world, Baby E! He weighed about a 1 pound more and 3/4" smaller than his older brother R.

We are totally excited in this house! We now have another baby to gush about! This year has been fun. Mr A's sister had her first baby in May and now my sis has her second baby today.

Baby E your family all the way across the US loves you very much! We wish we could be there to hold you and love on you in person, but that will just have to wait for now. We will see you in person before you graduate from high school - that is my promise! Take care of your mama and daddy and big brother for us. Welcome to our family! We are a crazy bunch but you will always be loved!

Friday, August 8, 2008

Olympics



"I am feeling very Olympic today" - Sanka Coffee, Cooling Runnings

That kind of sums up my feelings today!

I love the Olympics and always have. I can remember watching them as a kid with popcorn and coke on the living room floor at my parents house. I never played organized sports and am by no means a sport nut. I do love football in the fall - always have and always will. I love to watch beach volleyball - I guess from growing up on the beach in So. Cal. I also love going to a baseball game at least once in the summer. But there is just something about the Olympics that make me watch things such as fencing, weight lifting and other sports that make absolutely no sense to me for 16 days every 4 years.

I love the opening ceremonies and all the glamour, pagentry and culture the host country tries to convey to the world. I love learning about the history of the host country and its people. To see the hidden things the cities and people have to offer is just facinating to me. I guess that is the missionary in me trying to get out!

I love the underdog. Those stories of people who come to the Olympics with a dream to do whatever sport for the glory and pride of their country. They may have no chance in ever winning a medal or even qualifying to go further, but they came and had the opportunity to try. That is enough for them.

I love the stories of the overcomer. You know the ones who had something happen to them as a child that changed their lives forever because they were introduced to the sport to help them through those challenge. Or the ones where they were supppose to be the next big thing but tragedy struck and now they are just lucky to be here to compete. The love of a family member who sacrificed everything to help them acheive their dream of being an Olympian.

The Olympics bring out the best in people. Yes I know there are problems - performance enhancing drugs, politics, economic strife, the list can go on and one - but for 16 days we hear about the people who are brought together because of the love of a sport, the chance of a lifetime and the pride of a country.

I am thankful that my children and husband love the Olympics too! Well maybe the word isn't love but they sit and watch with me and that's love at least for me!

Bring it on Olympics! This lady is ready for every tear, laughter, smile, heart break and national anthem you have to offer.

Let the games begin!