Boxes

I've spent some time this week pondering boxes. Why you might ask? Because when I came home from Colorado Springs I had about 20 of them waiting for me. That coupled with my recent studies on the Bible really got me thinking about boxes.

Boxes offer a temporary boundary. They can offer protection, storage, hide things - you can use them to ship things, make a play fort or even a temporary table. Boxes are amazing. They are one of the most useful things known to man.

Some boxes come to us without frills or identifying marks.

Others clearly say what's inside.

Some boxes are dressed up and suggest thoughtfulness or fun.

Other boxes reveal surprises.

This is Professor Mittens - my son's cat




The box is a fantastic tool for consolidating objects into order. But, there's one important issue regarding boxes that will never - ever work.

You can't put God in a box.

God can't be stuffed away and hidden from sight. He refuses to be contained, and what a wonderful blessing that is. As I was studying Genesis and the life of Abraham, God promises Abraham a son even though Abraham and Sarah are old and beyond the normal child-bearing years. Genesis 18:14 has the Lord saying, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

I love knowing that there is nothing too hard for God. Not my messes. Not my failures. He can work through anything and with anyone. All through the Word we see where God has used the lives of people who were considered useless by others. God didn't put them in a box and hide them away. Better still, He showed them His awesome power.

They heard His voice asking, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

So I hope you'll think on that today.  There may be some daunting tasks facing you.  You might feel the impossibility of your situation or the hopelessness of a loved one, but I challenge you to remember - there is nothing too hard for the Lord.  Take it to Him and rest in His provision.

Digging Deeper

This has been an incredible week of digging deeper in the Bible. I've been completely blown away by learning how to better study God's Word. As I mentioned last week, my husband Jim and I came down to Colorado Springs to take Precepts Ministry leadership training with 3/4ths of the Woodhouse family Kim, Josh, and Kayla(Jeremy who is a pastor couldn't make it as he's also a principal at a school).

This will help equip us better to lead Precept Inductive Bible Studies which I have come to dearly love.

 

 

One of the first things we were taught about "Inductive Bible" studies was the focus. By breaking down the word Inductive to focus on "In" and "du" you get In-du-Bible and In the Bible is exactly the best place to learn more about God's Word - In The Bible.

We learned the importance of marking words for emphasis. My husband was originally against this idea. Well, that's putting it too strongly. He just didn't believe it was all that important. Then he started doing it and admitted that it was helpful. I love it. At a glance I can look at the chapter and see the who, what, when, where, how and why. It's been a real blessing. 

We've also been focusing on context.  When reading and studying the Bible - context is so very important.  My mother taught me that when I was quite young.  She said "Don't just pull verses out of the Bible to please yourself otherwise you end up with things like, "Judas hanged himself."  and "Go ye and do likewise."  If you put those two Scriptures together you get a false message to be sure.  Conext is critical to understanding exactly what God wants us to know about His Word.









Not only that, but we've had an amazing time with the Woodhouse family and our instructor John.  Here Kim and I learning amazing new information.

 

Here's Josh Woodhouse pondering the new information.

And here's our mascot - Teacup Yorkie - Samson Woodhouse

 

 

So I ask that you would keep us in prayer as we travel back on Saturday and please pray for Kim Woodhouse. Shortly after the above photos were taken she had to be rushed to the hospital with severe pain. On Wednesday they removed her gallbladder. Pray for her to be healed completely. Thanks so much!

God Bless You!

Free ebook

Hey just wanted to let all of you wonderful readers out there know that Bethany House/Baker is offering a free ebook copy of: LAND OF MY HEART, book 1 in the Heirs of Montana series as well as quite a few other books. Click on this link: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse/ebook-specials-from-bethany-house And enjoy. God Bless You!

My beloved African Family

Many of you know that my husband Jim and I adopted an African family.  Well, not in a court of law, but in a court of love.

Jean Pierre, a Burundi native, was introduced to us through our daughter Jen when she was working as a missionary in Uganda.  Jean Pierre was attending the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Kampala. where Jen was working and we fell in love with him and his family.

Over the years we have become their biggest fans.  Albine, our sweet daughter and Jean Pierre our son have 6 beautiful girls ranging in ages from 3 to 14.  Albine is currently expecting and we're praying for a safe and healthy delivery as she lost her last baby--a boy.  A son in their culture is super important so I'm hoping they will get the boy they so desire.  But no matter what I know this child will be loved.

 Jean Pierre and Albine's adorable daughters have a special place in their hearts and in ours.

 

Back row from left to right - Christa Bella, Merville, Lena Fiorentina and Ayolina

 

Front row left to right - Tracie and Ruth (yes, Tracie was named after me and Ruth after my mother's middle name)        

 

 



Aren't they a bunch of cuties?





















Jean Pierre has been responsible for starting over 10 churches in Burundi. Here is the church they are currently building. It still needs a lot of work, but these people are so happy about having a place to meet and worship God. Their joy in the Lord and happiness for the smallest blessings truly humbles me.

So as we begin 2013, I am thanking God for all my blessings including this beautiful family. I hope if you think about it - you will pray for them as they serve the Lord in Burundi, Africa.

New Year's Blessings