A Beautiful Work in Progress...

 

Two and a half years ago I stood at our garage door, looking doubtfully at the simple skeleton frame of the wooden boat that my husband was building. He showed me the detailed plans he was working from. He produced a picture of what it would look like one day. I was still doubtful. Could these bare wooden bones really become a boat? Last month my husband and I rowed our beautiful boat on Reeds Lake...exactly as my husband had purposed. One day, she will have a sail and a motor- she is not quite finished yet.
Do you ever doubt your calling into ministry? Do you ever doubt that you can complete the work that God intended? You are a beautiful work in progress. You are fully able to become exactly what God has purposed. He's just not finished with you yet.
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. Phil 1:6
Wait and See: Brandon Heath











Nine Years Old...

Marnie is on the right. To her left is
 her new friend who lives in this 
Kentucky home.

When I was nine years old my days were filled with climbing trees, riding my bike, and bouncing around precariously on my Pogo stick. I had no clue what a chisel was, I had never heard of a pry bar, and the only paintbrush I had ever held was the one in my Painting By Numbers set. Marnie, on the other hand, knows exactly what a chisel is, can efficiently use a pry bar, and is not afraid to climb a ladder to help paint the soffits at the back of a house. Marnie and I just returned from a Family Mission Trip in the rolling hills of Red Bird, Kentucky- an area of absolute beauty but also abject poverty. As she painted alongside her new found friend who lives in this poor Kentucky home, Marnie learned far more than how to use tools. She learned what a privilege it is, at nine years old, to be in ministry with the poor. And that is far more rewarding than bouncing around on a Pogo stick ever could be.
Ministry With the Poor
Read the Expanded Article Here

Staring At The Words

Click on this photo to see
Xander enjoying his Baby Bible

My beautiful little grandson is barely 3 months old, but already he has been introduced to the magical world of books and reading. A recent text from my son read, 'Mom, Xander is loving books right now. He is enthralled by the pictures and is really staring at the words.' The book that James was reading to his baby son was the Bible. The power of God's Word is already at work in his little life.
Friends- we are never too young or too old to be enthralled by pictures of God and to stare in awe at His Word. We just need to be introduced to that magical world. Where can you bring the Bible into a child's life this week?
Basic
Information
Before
Leaving
Earth
Amy Grant: Thy Word

In The River

Me, canoeing on the Hersey River

If you had been standing on the banks of the Hersey River in Reeds City, Michigan on Monday morning, you would have seen several colorful canoes and kayaks as they meandered lazily downstream. My husband and I were in one of them, enjoying the different sights of the river as it twisted and turned. Even though it was easy canoeing, we had a guide at the front of our party, and a guide at the back, just to make sure that everyone was safe. As we came around one of the bends in the river, we had to steer our canoe in between two large rocks. We successfully avoided one, but became grounded on the other. Thankfully, standing right there in the middle of that freezing cold water was one of the guides, waiting to help us.
As we meander through the twists and turns of our lives and ministries, God is like one of those guides- He is ahead, and behind, and everywhere in between. He is waiting to help us, right there in the river.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. Isaiah 43:2