Equipping Families to be Strong in the Lord
Stephen spoke this morning at church on the book of Jude. He had lots of insights and I thought he did a great job. (Instead of having a pastor at our church, we have multiple elders. Different men take turns preaching the sermons.)
Jude warns us that there are men who seek to lead the church astray with false teaching, and his main emphasis is that we should “earnestly contend for the faith.” That means that we need to be diligent about defending Biblical truth.
Sometimes life seems to be a series of unfinished projects. One unfinished project that we’ve had on our list for a while is a coloring book to go along with our book, Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends. A few weeks ago, Sarah and I decided to tackle this project so we could have it done for Homeschool Conferences this spring. It’s been going well.
After picking out the pictures we wanted to include, we needed to modify some of them to make them easier to color.
Editing pictures on my dad’s Tablet PC–the wondeful tool my dad has used for the pictures in both of our books and in Bright Lights materials.
Sarah working in her “office” (which is actually her old bedroom).
Yea! Another Iowa blizzard! I’m happy about the foot of snow we just got.
Wow! What would I do without a dad and brother to shovel our path?!
I’ll explain the purpose of our path for those of you who don’t know. Our family has 2 houses back to back, with a path connecting them. We kind of live in both houses. We usually sleep and eat at the “new house” but spend most of the day working at our “old house.” (I know, creative names.) When people come over to volunteer for Bright Lights, they join us at the old house where we have all of our computers and office equipment set up. We bought our new house about 3 years ago out of a desperate need for space and it has been perfect. It was a neat story how the Lord provided it, and we are so grateful to Him. Maybe I’ll post more of that story later.
The back of our old house. (My dad made this trellis in between the 2 yards.)
About twice a year, a group of engineers from China come to our town to work on projects for Rockwell. Usually it is a different group of people each time.
A good friend of ours, Sam, (who grew up in Taiwan) hosts these Chinese visitors while they are in the States. Sam drives them around town, takes them shopping, and frequently entertains them in his home. Every time a group comes, Sam also brings them to our house for a meal and to hear the harps. We always have a good time and are very grateful for this opportunity to have these Chinese people into our home! We look at it this way: We can’t be in China right now, but God can bring China to us!
A few nights ago was one of those special evenings where China came to us. 🙂
My dad explaining a passage of Scripture to our guests while Sam translates and expounds on what my dad said.
The evening was full of picture-taking, exchanging gifts, delicious food (thanks to Sam and his wife, Shirland, who are great cooks!) lots of smiles, laughter, and relaxed conversation.
Sarah recently printed more copies of her book, Before You Meet Prince Charming (now slightly revised) and a semi truck came and delivered some of the shipment – about 100 boxes – this afternoon. Usually Stephen and my Dad round up a group of guys to unload the boxes when book shipments come. Today, since no one else was available, Sarah and I got the privilege. It wasn’t too bad, though…it was actually kind of fun. Kind of. At least the temperature wasn’t 20 below like it was yesterday!
“Grace—I want to read you something!” my mom called to me yesterday afternoon.
“Okay” I said, not knowing that this was going to be an answer to my prayer.
My mom began reading me a newsletter letter from Roy Robertson, founder of TEL (Training Evangelistic Leadership, a missions organization). Here is what he had to share about his wife, who recently went to be with the Lord:
“…above all she gave top priority to her time in fellowship with the Lord. Her life verse was Philippians 3:10: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”
At this my ears perked up. I had just been memorizing in Philippians yesterday morning and that passage really popped out at me. I specifially prayed that the Lord would give me a deeper understanding of what it means and how to apply it in my life. I realized that this must be an answer to my prayer! Now I was really interested in what the rest of the letter said…
My mom continued reading, “…She rose regularly at 4:00AM in order to get three hours in the Word and prayer. She kept extensive prayer lists and prayed through them both day and night. She carried about her Scripture memory packs and reflected over the verses even while traveling, waiting in line or doing chores. She read through the whole Bible each year taking daily selections from the Old Testament, New Testament and poetic books. Shortly before her homegoing, I asked her how many times she had read through the whole Bible. After reflection she answered, “67 times—twice the year I was saved, and once every year thereafter.”
Wow—her goal really was to know Christ, wasn’t it?! It was obviously the passion of her life!
My mom went on to tell me some more things about what Phyllis was like. My mom had been able to get to know her while our family was in Hong Kong in 1990 helping with TEL and a Billy Graham Crusade. She said that Phyllis was always telling people about Jesus. She was always witnessing to the people sitting next to her on the Subways and buses. Wow, what a life worth living. I wonder what her entrance to Heaven was like.
She is an example of how when someone is walking with Jesus, it simply spills over into their life and their interaction with others. That’s why we should all make spending time with the Lord the #1 priority in our lives! Notice Jesus didn’t say to his disciples, “Go and become fishers of men”. Rather, He said, “Follow me, and I WILL MAKE YOU fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
May you be encouraged, as I was yesterday, to consider everything else as “rubbish” and give the Lord your full attention!
Stephen took this picture a few years ago when we went camping in the mountains. The water was so clear in this Colorado lake, I could see my feet. It made me imagine what the crystal lake in Heaven would be like… when we will truly be with Jesus and see Him face to face.
One more thing: Sarah would like to pass on a big “thank you” to all of you who wrote so many encouraging comments and exciting reports on the last post! It made her birthday very special and she enjoyed reading each comment as they came in… 🙂 Thanks and God bless you all!
If anyone wants to know how old she is, the answer is found in Joshua 15:32. (I decided to make you work for it. 🙂 )
We have a little family tradition of going to coffee shops occasionally on snowy mornings. This morning we had two reasons to go to a coffee shop: it was snowing, and it was Sarah’s birthday! What a great way to start the day out right!
At breakfast this morning I was telling the family something I really like about Sarah. It’s this: If she is excited about something, she gets the whole family excited about it. If she is discouraged, she takes it to the Lord but doesn’t spread the discouragement to others. My family agreed with me. People like that are nice to be around. 🙂
One thing I really appreciate about Sarah is the great advice she gives me when I go to her seeking counsel. She almost always has the exact answer I need to hear! Sarah is also the most patient person I think I’ve ever met! (And, remember, a little sister would know how patient a person really is… 🙂 ) She definitely practices what she teaches.
Sarah, thank you for being such a wonderful big sister, and for all the ways you’ve led me closer to Jesus. Thank you for your example of one who walks closely with God. I love you!!
“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” (Psalm 118:14-16)
“I am a companion of all those who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts” (Psalm 119:63)
When we take a team of girls on the road to lead Bright Lights conferences, we all enjoy the fellowship and good times we have together. Unfortunately, when we come home everyone is busy and we don’t see each other very much. Because of this, we were grateful to our friend Lena for setting up a formal Christmas party in her home for some of the Bright Lights leaders who were able to make it. Here are a few pictures…
Rebekah, Katie, Ellen and Sarah
Sarah (piano), Aubrey (flute), Emily (violin), Me (flute)
This morning Sarah and I had a planning meeting together to discuss which projects we needed to complete before Homeschool Conferences start mid-March. I told Sarah I’d bring a snack to the meeting to make it more fun…so we had a little tea party. Or, rather, coffee in tea cups. 🙂
(Notice that I can’t pour coffee and take a picture at the same time without spilling…)
A few minutes ago I walked around and snapped a picture of everyone working at the Bright Lights office right now.
Top to bottom:
Nickie writing “teacher’s sheets” for the Bright Lights group leaders
Stephen doing something…
Sarah talking on the phone regarding a recent order
Grandpa organizing Bright Lights sets
Chrissy packing orders