I am trying to be a much better blogger, but life is busy! Last night dear hubby returned home from a business trip, just in time to sing for a benefit for a Christian School in the area. It was great, as always. I love it when he sings with this band - it is a Christian Swing band, a big band and plays a lot of things similar to Denver and the Mile High Orchestra (whom I have been blessed to see once!). I have several that are favorites. One is "Saved and Free", and mostly because I know how close that hits home to my hubby and that when he sings it, it really means a lot to him.
The other from last night is: "Souled Out Holey Shoes". I cannot find it on YouTube, but if you know it or look it up, it is well worth it. What spoke to me last night was how we are called to do the best we can for Christ. Whatever it is that we are called to do, God can use. He created us, to be who we were needed to be. Basically, it was encouraging us to be sold out for doing the best we can for our Lord, at whatever it is, each moment and each day. Well, it occurred to me as I looked down the row at my children and then up at my husband belting out this amazing song, well, it occurred to me that God has taken two simple midwestern kids, with simple talents and used them for his work. I am always stunned at Steve's skills and how much he means each thing he sings (he really puts his heart into it, and what this chooses is so in line with Steve's heart). To hear him using the gifts God has given him is always amazing.
And then to think about me. Simple, midwestern kids - all I wanted to be was a mom some day. My career path was totally created around serving others, and being available to raise my own kids. My greatest hope and joy was to be a wife and mom. And I scanned down the row at my crew, with all their uniqueness, their amazingness, and I am so humbled and amazed. God created me with the desires HE put in me. I am so grateful that He has allowed me to use those desires to His purposes. He has so granted me the desires of my heart - He placed them in my heart, and if I allow Him to, He will use them for His good, as well as the good of others. Sometimes it requires being willing to go a bit out of your comfort zone (or way out!!!). Can I just clarify for everyone that I never set out to be the mom to ten kids (though am happy about it), or to EVER have left the country to go to AFRICA!!! I am so not a world traveller. I would be most content to be at home on our hobby farm with my family and animals. Talk about being stretched!!! When I went to Ethiopia to bring Solly and Zeri home, I cried all the way to the Milwaukee airport - about two hours from here! Honestly, I did not think I was going to be able to move my legs enough to board that airplane! This was NOT in MY plans! But I did, and I cannot even describe how life changing it was! Honestly, God's plans were much better than my plans! I do feel like He has used the desires and skills he created me with to be a part of the tapestry he is weaving!
Anyway, it struck me how we each have that role. God created us with interests, drives, desires, and He did so purposefully. We can totally use those things to serve God, whatever it is. Even the simple things, how we interact with others as we go about our day, the grace we extend to others, doing the best we can at whatever it is we are to do - whether we like it or not - some jobs are just boring! But, you never know what God will use - it might be your laundry task, or your bookkeeping, or someone just observing as they pass. You just never know. I am amazed at times how many people know who we are, as we are out and about (yeah, we do stand out and live in a small community). Sometimes someone will come up and tell me about somewhere they saw us and what they observed - and I realize how we are always a witness, even in the little things.
So, God made you who you are, as you are, for a reason. You can be sold out for God, doing what he means for you to do, and quite often in mundane things.
Since I couldn't find the song I wanted, and I love Denver and the Mile High Orchestra (though I like to hear my husband sing it more!!!) I am trying to put in a YouTube video of them doing "Stand". I highly recommend their music, though I have to admit that I mostly listen to their older stuff. But maybe that is because I am "old" - hee, hee.
God bless you all! Look back one post to see a link to our video that my son made along with a dear friend of ours about our adoption. We are so blessed and I hope we said something that is meaningful to you. I could talk forever on what adoption means to us, what family means to us, and why we believe that (especially) Christians are called to adopt, and why it is so important to God. And why if we cannot or aren't called, why we need to be advocates and supporters of the orphans and adoptive families!
"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
The other from last night is: "Souled Out Holey Shoes". I cannot find it on YouTube, but if you know it or look it up, it is well worth it. What spoke to me last night was how we are called to do the best we can for Christ. Whatever it is that we are called to do, God can use. He created us, to be who we were needed to be. Basically, it was encouraging us to be sold out for doing the best we can for our Lord, at whatever it is, each moment and each day. Well, it occurred to me as I looked down the row at my children and then up at my husband belting out this amazing song, well, it occurred to me that God has taken two simple midwestern kids, with simple talents and used them for his work. I am always stunned at Steve's skills and how much he means each thing he sings (he really puts his heart into it, and what this chooses is so in line with Steve's heart). To hear him using the gifts God has given him is always amazing.
And then to think about me. Simple, midwestern kids - all I wanted to be was a mom some day. My career path was totally created around serving others, and being available to raise my own kids. My greatest hope and joy was to be a wife and mom. And I scanned down the row at my crew, with all their uniqueness, their amazingness, and I am so humbled and amazed. God created me with the desires HE put in me. I am so grateful that He has allowed me to use those desires to His purposes. He has so granted me the desires of my heart - He placed them in my heart, and if I allow Him to, He will use them for His good, as well as the good of others. Sometimes it requires being willing to go a bit out of your comfort zone (or way out!!!). Can I just clarify for everyone that I never set out to be the mom to ten kids (though am happy about it), or to EVER have left the country to go to AFRICA!!! I am so not a world traveller. I would be most content to be at home on our hobby farm with my family and animals. Talk about being stretched!!! When I went to Ethiopia to bring Solly and Zeri home, I cried all the way to the Milwaukee airport - about two hours from here! Honestly, I did not think I was going to be able to move my legs enough to board that airplane! This was NOT in MY plans! But I did, and I cannot even describe how life changing it was! Honestly, God's plans were much better than my plans! I do feel like He has used the desires and skills he created me with to be a part of the tapestry he is weaving!
Anyway, it struck me how we each have that role. God created us with interests, drives, desires, and He did so purposefully. We can totally use those things to serve God, whatever it is. Even the simple things, how we interact with others as we go about our day, the grace we extend to others, doing the best we can at whatever it is we are to do - whether we like it or not - some jobs are just boring! But, you never know what God will use - it might be your laundry task, or your bookkeeping, or someone just observing as they pass. You just never know. I am amazed at times how many people know who we are, as we are out and about (yeah, we do stand out and live in a small community). Sometimes someone will come up and tell me about somewhere they saw us and what they observed - and I realize how we are always a witness, even in the little things.
So, God made you who you are, as you are, for a reason. You can be sold out for God, doing what he means for you to do, and quite often in mundane things.
Since I couldn't find the song I wanted, and I love Denver and the Mile High Orchestra (though I like to hear my husband sing it more!!!) I am trying to put in a YouTube video of them doing "Stand". I highly recommend their music, though I have to admit that I mostly listen to their older stuff. But maybe that is because I am "old" - hee, hee.
God bless you all! Look back one post to see a link to our video that my son made along with a dear friend of ours about our adoption. We are so blessed and I hope we said something that is meaningful to you. I could talk forever on what adoption means to us, what family means to us, and why we believe that (especially) Christians are called to adopt, and why it is so important to God. And why if we cannot or aren't called, why we need to be advocates and supporters of the orphans and adoptive families!
"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
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