It's been a while....

So sorry everyone for my lack of keeping in touch as of late! We have had an interesting journey over the last several weeks.... We spent several weeks praying and talking seriously about possibly adopting 3 precious little boys....and ended up feeling like this wasn't what God had for our family at this time. So we are praying for God to connect the boys with the permanent home that we know He has already picked for them quickly, and continuing to prepare our home for the arrival of little one(s?) (see our post on foster care/adoption plans) hopefully sometime in January.... Enjoying the fall weather, marriage and life together, life with our friends and ROCK fam here in KC, and life in Jesus. Here are a couple of things that have been on my heart lately:

God has been calling me to a place of being more intentional (less led by my emotions; more disciplined, etc...) in my walk with Him. I discovered a "Year Through the Bible" plan that has been working really well for me. It's taking me straight through, from Genesis to Revelation, in 3 to 5 chapters per day. It's really been interesting for me....I'm still in Genesis, encountering the heart of God profoundly in His tenacity to pursue the hearts of His chosen people in the face of their repeated unfaithfulness to Him. I don't know....but I think I'd have given up long ago if I were Him.... And yet even today, He continues to pursue the hearts of men. I'm a little undone by His undaunted love. Interested in the reading plan? Check it out here: http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/ (It's the top plan - the "Comprehensive Reading Plan." If you do this, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the heart of the Father as you read... He will do it and it'll blow you away...



Several conversations that Stan and I have had lately have revolved around seeing ourselves the way that God sees us; choosing to seek to have an accurate, God-given perspective on ourselves; walking OUT of false humility and INto knowing who we are and walking in the authority that Jesus gives us. What is false humility? According to Wikipedia, "false humility consists of deprecating one's own sanctity, gifts, talents, and accomplishments...." In my life, this sometimes looks like not wanting to freely, confidently be who I am and obey God in using the gifts, insight, etc. that God has given me, for fear of people thinking I'm arrogant, for fear of offending people, or for fear of any number of other things. True humility looks like not thinking more, OR LESS, of yourself than the way that God thinks about you. Here's some truth:

- God created us in His image. (Gen. 1:27)
- The work He has begun in us is GOOD and He will be faithful to complete it (Phil. 1:6)
- As a disciple, you are a friend of Jesus (John 15:15).
- You have been chosen and appointed to bear lasting fruit (John 15:16)
- You may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3:12)
- We are made alive in Him, saved by His grace, raised up and seated with Him in the heavenlies for the purpose of displaying His glory (Eph. 2).
- You are God's workmanship. (Eph. 2:10)

As I chew on these truths of who God says that I am, I begin to see areas in my own heart and life where my thought processes, or behaviors, don't line up with His truth about me. I find myself feeling small, wanting to shrink back from living my life as a confident, fully alive daughter of the King of the Universe. But I'm also finding that as I seek to know in a deeper way the heart of God toward me, as I ask Him to show me where my life doesn't line up with what He says about me, He is bringing growth, healing, and change. He is my glory and the lifter of my head, and so I am able to live with my head held just a little higher every day. He is my source of life, and everything good in me comes from Him.

And.... if everything good in me comes from Him, then who am I to withold the things He's put in me from those He's put around me? Essentially, I have no right to do this. I am called, even obligated, to NOT shrink back, but to freely, confidently be who I am and to let the life and love of Jesus flow FREELY from my life into the lives of believers and not-yet-believers alike.

Okay, I'll stop now. Just wanted to share with you guys some of what's been rolling around in Stan's and my hearts lately. I am so thankful to have a hubby and a church family who I can walk closely with on this journey. God is so good to give us the rest of His body to grow together with. We are so blessed.

We love you guys a bunch and will try to do a better job keeping in touch in the coming weeks and months! For now, happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy the cooler weather!! We're LOVIN' it here! And we're looking forward to a few days with my family in NC over Thanksgiving weekend, and a few days with Stan's family in CO over Christmas! We'll be sure to take lots of pix and keep you all posted. We'd love to hear from you all! Keep us up on your lives! Happy Fall! :)