The Gift of Life!

Enjoy a short video of Jackson's first 2 years in our family.

So many times in life when I look back over the years I have lived, I wish I could start over and erase some parts of my life. I watch as new life is given to our family through Jackson and all the wonderful firsts he is experiencing. Some times I want those firsts to come again. Especially when I think about my adolescent and youth years. But being completely honest with myself I realize how much I have to be thankful for. All those firsts in my life, including the many firsts which I wish were different, I realize that God allowed for a purpose. To help shape and mold me into being me. In spite of all the wrong decisions I have made (the firsts I regret) there is one good first that makes all the bad firsts go away and it makes life into "Something Beautiful." That first is when I asked Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Saviour. Nothing can ever change that wonderful moment in my life. I hope and pray that I can help provide that same first for so many people here in Tarija, Bolivia.

Lessons from Elijah

Every morning in our house we have a tradition in which all the kids crawl into our bed for devotions. It is actually a little comical. Jackson is usually the one waking up Jordan and Joelle, telling them it is time for "debotions". The last few days we have been learning about Elijah. I have been incredibly encouraged by the lessons we can glean from his life that I wanted to share a little of it with you.

1 Kings 18:41-45 (the story):
Elijah had just had one of the most amazing days of his entire ministry. Fire had fallen from heaven and 450 prophets of Baal were killed by God. All of a sudden Elijah feels his spirit moving within him and he knows that it is time for the drought to end. He climbs mount Carmel along with his servant and begins to praying for rain. His servant is sent to look for rain clouds and finding none Elijah prays some more. Six times the servant goes to look without finding a single rain cloud in the sky. Six times Elijah prays fervently for rain. After praying the seventh time he sends his servant again and there is a very small cloud in the sky. The rain is coming. It wasn't enough for Elijah to know in his heart that God wanted him to pray for rain. Elijah continually prayed until he know the rain was on its way. And if that isn't enough after sending his servant to tell Ahab the rain is coming, he returns to prayer until the rain finally arrived.

The lesson:
How many times when we feel a moving in our spirit that something great is about to happen do we turn to the Lord praying that it will happen? If you are anything like me...I begin to celebrate. Elijah turned to the Lord in prayer. If we do find it in our hearts to pray do we pray with such persistence? Do we pray until the the prayer is finally answered or are we like Ahab, already partying because we know God will answer when he is good and ready? May we learn from Elijah and pray with fervent hearts until our prayers are answered.

As missionaries we covet your prayers. Thank you for praying for us and our ministry here.