Matthew 22:37-39

Matthew 22:37-39

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Lisa Gungor - "Jesus And John"

Church

So we were driving to Springfield the other day to take the kids to the zoo; and I forgot how many churches are on every corner. Living in Branson, you don't see too many churches, but instead theaters and restaurants on every corner.
I was going to count how many churches and how many different names we drove by but it started to make me sad and wonder. I wonder what God thinks of all the division we have among our churches? It makes me sad how we, as the people of God, argue and fight about silly things, how we leave one church to attend another that better fits our needs, how we assume church is even about us and our needs, how we constantly forget about the poor, the widows, the orphans and our brothers and sisters dying all around the world. It makes me sad how many church buildings and names we have out there, and still so many lost and dying, so many that have not heard the name of Jesus.

Oh how I wish we, as the church, the body of Christ, were more like this.

They spent their time learning the apostle's teachings, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together. The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and everyone felt great respect for God. All the believers were together and shared everything. They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money and give it to anyone who needed it. The believers met together in the temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.
Acts 2:42-47
The group of believers were united in their hearts and spirit. All those in the group acted as though their private property belonged to everyone in the group. In fact, they shared everything. With great power the apostles were telling people that the Lord Jesus was truly raised from the dead. And God blessed all the believers very much. There were no needy people among them. From time to time those who owned fields or houses sold them, brought the money, and gave it to the apostles. Then the money was given to anyone who needed it.
Acts 4:32-35

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Remembering.......

I often go back to our journeys the Lord took us on for our children. I kept journals for both of the kids during the whole adoption process and I read over those often to remind me how incredible God is and how He was at work in every moment of their adoptions. We have a chest full of special things for both Lyndlee and Gavin, special things from Ted and Bev, special things from the hospital when they were born, special gifts from their birth moms, treasures from their home country, etc. Lyndlee is just now at the age where she loves to look through all these things and she is so proud of every piece. We just looked through it this morning and her number one question was "How mom did I wear these pretty tiny shoes" Love that girly girl. She knows all these special things belong to her and that they are from Taiwan, the very place where she is from and where our hearts are always.
Last night memories were flooding in.......
My husband received a phone call from one of the boys who live at the Home of God's Love in Taiwan. It was during the wee hours of the morning so I first thought someone was hurt and I began to panic, thanks mom for passing that constant worry along! Then my heart raced as I thought I heard Ted's voice and I listened as my husband even talked to this person as if he was talking to Ted. But it wasn't Ted, and the sweet boy wanted to ask for prayer because he had a big test in school. Bless his heart, he probably didn't think about the time change, but we didn't mind.
So my mind has been going back.
It made me think back to the times when we got the special calls about our children. It made me go back to when we would call the Home, talk to Ted and Bev, hear that oh so precious nursery music they would play when transferring you to the baby room. Oh the joy of hearing updates on our babies, and then the precious staff would put the phone to our babies ears so we could speak to them, pray with them, hear them. Precious memories that will always stay forever in my heart. I still remember the day before Gavin's heart surgery and Bev put the phone to his ear so we could pray with him. I still remember hearing Lyndlee scream through the phone, she was well known for lungs there! I still remember meeting Lyndlee and Gavin for the first time, kissing their sweet faces, and not wanting to let them go. I still remember waking each morning in Taiwan and just wanting to be with them, hold them and feed them. So many memories.

Our Lyndlee Jya-Ying
We went on waiting list December 2005
born May 9, 2007
called May 25th, 2007
Adopted August 22, 2007
We received a picture of the sweet babies in Taiwan from friends who were adopting their boy from there. I remember in May 2007 taking that picture and emailing it to my best friend and asking her to pray along with me that this baby in the bright pink blanket named Jya-Ying Lin could be ours if that was the Lord's will. And so we prayed. May 25th, 2007 was just another day until my phone started ringing and that international number we knew well was on my phone. Our hearts raced as we picked up and Ted said he had a little girl for us, that her name was Jya-Ying. Wow, God you do amazing things! And so we heard the first news about our daughter that night and proceeded to call our friends and family to share the good news. The next day we received pictures of our sweet girl. I still remember getting those pictures, crying and falling in love with someone I didn't even know. But I knew she was my daughter and that the Lord brought us together as a family.


Our Gavin Pan
We went on waiting list April 2008
born June 9, 2009
called October 10, 2009
adopted January 21, 2010
June 2nd, 2009 we were stateside after serving a year in Haiti. And all though we had no plan or idea what we were doing, we knew the Lord was in control. I love the timing, that we came back June 2nd and that Gavin was born June 9th. God had His plan set in motion to bring Gavin into our family! We knew waiting and praying was the game and if God was going to bring us more children, it would be in His time and not our own. So we turned in our home study and were ready to wait. The Lord led us to a youth ministry in Branson, Mo. October 10th 2009, I remember this weekend well because my family was coming to town so we could all go to Silver Dollar City.
That Saturday morning we got an email from Ted, asking us to call. And to our surprise, they had a little baby boy they were hoping we would welcome into our family. Wow, again God you do amazing things! His name was Ding-Dung Pan. So we got to hear the first news of our son and share it with our family coming in for the weekend. I still remember my parents buying us ding dong hostess cakes as a joke, and my dad picking out a cute blue elephant that we ended up mailing to our sweet Gavin. And that next day we got pictures of our Gavin. And once again, I was in love with someone I hadn't even met but knew that he was my son and that the Lord brought us together as a family.

Oh God, you are an amazing God. Thank you for my sweet babies. Thank you for Ted and Bev and how they answered the call to go and love the people of Taiwan. They have blessed so many families, and so many children because they love you Lord.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Earth is Yours-Gungor

Your voice it thunders
The oaks start twisting
The forest sounds with cedars breaking
The waters see You and start their writhing
From the depths a song is rising

Now it’s rising from the ground

Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy Lord
The earth is Yours and singing
Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy Lord
The earth is Yours
The earth is Yours

Your voice it thunders
The ground is shaking
The mighty mountains now are trembling
Creation sees You
And starts composing
The fields and trees they start rejoicing.

Now it’s rising form the ground
It’s rising from the ground
Hear us crying out
Hear us crying out

Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy Lord
The earth is Yours and singing
Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy Lord
The earth is Yours
The earth is Yours

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

One Day Without Shoes-TOMS




So today one of my moms I babysit for, came in and asked if we had a dryer so that she could dry her baby's blanket that was still wet from washing it the night before. I said yes of course. And then my mind flashed back to so many friends/students in Haiti that I saw hand washing their clothes in dirty water because they didn't have washer, dryer, running water, electricity, etc. I think back to the times we had lost electricity there for 14 days, and hand washed our clothes and I was awful at that but it opened my eyes and taught me new things. While living there I thought, wow we are so spoiled. So today, I got to thinking again, wow I am so spoiled. Blessed but spoiled to have a washer and dryer. Blessed but spoiled to have a roof over my head, food in my belly, clothes on my body, shoes on my feet; when so many don't. Today is "One Day Without Shoes" and again I feel blessed but spoiled. I stay home with the kids, so going barefoot wasn't anything different until I walked to the mailbox. As the tiny rocks were going in my feet, I thought, I am spoiled to have the option to put shoes on my feet.
Brennan, Lyndlee and I are not wearing shoes today and I have been explaining to Lyndlee why we are doing this. And she understands. We watched a video that TOMS put on their website and she kept saying "How sad mommy, kids don't have shoes" I love her heart.
I have a closet full of shoes I don't even wear. Why I am blessed and spoiled, when others are hurting and have aching & hurting feet?

I really admire Blake Mycoskie and his determination to help others be able to have shoes.
Founder Black Mycoskie stated that, “Giving is what fuels us. Giving is our future. It’s the core of our business and it’s time we celebrate it.” And that’s just what they are doing. The results, the way in which Toms Shoes has made a difference, it’s pretty impressive. In their first “Giving Report” (for 2010), they have reported that they have given over 1,000,000 shoes to children in need all over the world from Haiti to Ethopia to El Salvador to right here in the United States.
By Sunny Channel

So today my prayers are that I am thankful, I truly am grateful for all that God has given me. But I desire less in my life, meaning less things, less material things, less shoes for the whole purpose of giving more. I want to give to others in need, to love others always, to show them Jesus' love. And I want to teach my children to do the same. And it can start with no shoes today to help raise awareness.......

TOMS One Day Without Shoes 2011 - Will You Join Us? - Song "One Day" by ...

Sunday, April 3, 2011




Here is a picture of my sweet mother and grandma, love them.
And grandma (my mom) bought her Lyndlee a tutu. So of course Lyndlee wore it to church today. I love my sweet girl.
Blessings.

Past Weekend






I can't believe that my little sister went to her prom this past weekend. She looked beautiful and I was so blessed to be apart of the big night. She has such a sweet loving heart, I am constantly encouraged by her love for others and for the Lord. She may be a teenager to others, although to me, she is so mature and acts like an adult :) She wore toms with her dress, how cool is that :)
I love my sweet sisters and my mother, they are so beautiful inside and out. We went on a road trip this weekend to visit my sweet grandma. She has so many health issues going on and yet she still thinks of others first. This lady has taken care of so many people throughout her life and the time when she deserves help from others, she still thinks of how to serve others. It was hard to see her so frail but her faith and love in the Savior shines through! Something she said has stuck with me since we left last night. She said, "This is her new normal now, it may not be the best; but it is just fine with her"
Wow. Again, this lady is such a servant, such a loving kind hearted woman of the Lord. I know why my mother portrays all this traits as well and I pray that I too can model after these great women the Lord has placed into my life.

Gungor - "Dry Bones" Live Acoustic Version