Death is not Dying

At Bible study this evening (man, it is sweet to be back at our home church for this month!) I was reminded of a talk I listened to recently~ for the 3rd or 4th time.

This is Rachel Barkey: a 37 year-old mom of two young kids who in March of this year addressed women in her church with the most important things in life. At that time, she had just been given 6- 18 weeks before cancer would take her life. Her talk is titled "Death is not Dying: a Faith that Saves".

This is Excellent. Outstanding. Every word here is worth worshipping God for with tears- lots of them- and joy and wonder and humilty and marvelling praise. I love this talk and I most eagerly commend it to you.

Her talk is deeply impacting for me and has left me with Rachel's life mission statement etched deeply on my own heart as well: to serve with joy. Not a small task. A life purpose that only Christ can accomplish in and through us. Oh may I- may we- live and die and proclaim Christ as clearly and sweetly as this dear sister.

Go to her home page (www.deathisnotdying.com) and then look for the tab to Media in the bottom left to download the audio or to watch the video. (I've also added this as one of our favorite sites, on the right hand side list on our blog.)

no more Mr. Nice Guy

No more? No way... just this one shot. Actually, this boy is super sweet and enjoyable. We are absolutely spoiled to have such an easy, delightful baby. What a gracious gift from God for this traveling season for our family... and far beyond that. Children are such a great blessing from God.

Recently, I've been reading a bit and thinking over and discussing with some godly friends the topic of children.... and specifically, having lots of them. I don't know how many we'll end up aiming to have, but I know that each one of them is a privilege to know, to train, to raise up to know and love the Lord.

So often I think it's easy to think of "blessings" from God as being all the easy comfy things of this world, but God has said these little treasures are straight from him and are good gifts.... We glady agree,

with a tired, but still joyful "Amen!"

Thank you Lord for these three blessings in our lives.

more Georgia

bubbles in Georgia

We so enjoyed a few days of R & R in the woods with D & K M.

Isaiah and Marian LOVED these bubble sessions with you guys. Thank you friends!

into deep waters

When we landed in Florida a few weeks ago, we knew that swimming lessons for our kids would be a high priority. The dear friends we got to stay with have this beautiful pool in their backyard so it was the perfect motivation and opportunity. Isaiah and Marian got in on a class through the local Parks and Recreation Department and got to swim with their little buddy Jonathan. By the end of three lessons, and with some extra encouragment from his patient, loving Dad, Isaiah was finally willing to jump in. Such a thrill for us to see him enjoy the water so much and with such success... and then, of course, he didn't want to stop!

sweet words to sing

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one, stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk, till traveling days are done.

The tune for this song is great... makes me cherish and delight in the words all the more. Here's a link to a decent rendition of the song if you want to hear it.

K Family Fun

We had a great time with family preparing for and celebrating Amy and Andrew's wedding last weekend. Here's a short record of some of our funner moments. (For me, lots of the fun was simply shooting the photos or enjoying the great shots my photo-savy sister-in-law. Thanks Heather! Most of these are yours...)

Our kids think it is just as funny as can be that they could "sleep" on the swing. Here's how they did it...

Staying in rural North Dakota is a real treat for me. I grew up in city-suburb areas where the population density is, well.... much thicker than it is here.

Matt and I took our three kids and our sweet niece on a walk all the way across town- from his grandparents home to the baseball field where Matt's dad played as a kid. The walk took about 20 minutes, at toddlers pace and we meandered as much as we could. All dirt roads. We saw one car on the road the whole time (that is, the whole way there and back again.)

The fields just beyond town are wide, wide open to a happily blue sky with clouds unlike I've ever witnessed elsewhere. The sky seems all the more on display- in the spotlight- here since there are no mountains or hills or buildings and few trees to obscure it's place center-stage.

It was a magical afternoon for us with our kids. So sweet to enjoy the simple, spectacular beauty and sweet, still quietness with them. That is of course, the quietness beyond our little party.

MRS. North Dakota!

Much love and cheer to you Mr. and Mrs. Andrew B. We so enjoyed celebrating with you at your wedding last weekend! What a great day and neat ceremony.... and what a beautiful couple you are! Welcome to the family, Andrew!

Amy, you are just stunning dear, and we love your photos too! Your mom has been so proud to share them and talk about them and stare at them.... We are so happy- with you- that they turned out so well. Phew!! I think it will be worth toasting to your Renegade Photography guy next time we're together!

Here's some of our favorite photos of you two on your beautiful day...

(just click on the link to see them)

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16784

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16765

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16796

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16814

And here's the family...

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16829

and alllllllll the K's...

http://www.renegadephotography.org/Image=16816

Here are a few shots from cool Auntie Heather...

worth pondering

This morning I got in a walk in the crisp cool air of this farm town where Matt's grandparents met and married, raised Matt's dad (and his 5 siblings) and have lived ever since. Nothing could be a more stark contrast to the capital city where we lived in Asia. I found a dirt road that dead ended with a tiny grass cul-de-sac where I could stand and stare out at hundreds of acres (I'm guessing) of crops and be shined on by the sun as it rose over those fields. Beautiful.

And I got to listen to a great talk by John Piper (Passion for the Supremacy of God). Here are two bits I definitely want to reflect on....

First, he shared about George Mueller who charged himself every morning, "I must be happy in God today. Because if I'm not happy in God I will seek my happiness in lesser things that will never satisfy. I'll use people to try to make me happy, though they never will...." (paraphrased.)

Second, in replying to an accusation that Christian Hedonism inappropriately detracts from the virtue of self denial, Piper exhorted us: "Don't pity yourself if your head gets cut off for the cause of Christ. You cannot give up anything for him, that he won't repay a thousand fold."

Christ is worthy- so satisfying, so good, so desireable. I have no cause for complaint, pity, saddness at all in this world. Would that my heart be happy in him today- no matter my circumstance. He is the most worthy Treasure, the One I was created to be filled by and for, and having him, my soul is rescued from certain death and I am filled and at peace. Such cause for joy!