coughing and singing

This past week, I've had such a bad cold. Friday it seemed to be getting better so I figured I'd sing back up while Kevin lead worship at our home church on Sunday. Well, Saturday night my cold got worse. Crazy. We were planning to sing a praise song in Russian after we gave a quick 5 minute update. And we have the next two months away. It would have been easier to say, naw, not today, I'm sick... but this was our chance.

In the inspiration of Brother Andrew, whose book I just finished reading - good book, I decided to sing anyway, putting it all in the Lord's hands. Brother Andrew would bring Bibles behind the Iron Curtain where they were forbidden. When he would cross the border, he would set some Bibles on his front seat so that he would get through because it was in God's hands and not because of his cleverness. Then time after time he would drive right on through and get his Bibles delivered!

Now, singing a special number in church is maybe not the same as bringing Bibles to those who need them... but it was still a step of faith! All in God's hands. All in His control. I'm learning, even if it's baby steps!

By the way, my singing may not have been perfect but we did get the job done fairly successfully... and now on Monday, I've been coughing like crazy and can barely talk! So that morning was my chance... coincidence? God IS in control.

(The book I read about Brother Andrew is called The Narrow Way and was written along with Jars of Clay... His organization is called Open Doors if you want to google it! Good stuff.)

Benjamin's bowling party!

Benjamin turned 8 years old March 31st! Eight years old. For his party, we invited some of his good buddies over for cake and ice cream and then we headed over to the bowling alley. Besides having friends, cake, and gifts... Benjamin won the bowling game! He got a whopping 99! A couple weeks later he got 131! Our bowling champ.

Here's a few pics of his big bowling birthday bash! :)

Whoo-hoo!!

belief... rewards

Mark 5:34
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Mark 6:5
And because of their unbelief, He couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place His hands on a few sick people and heal them.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Okay... what do these verses have in common? Heh. They are all one's that I've read in the last couple days. And they all speak so strongly about how important it is to BELIEVE, have FAITH. Our faith, or our unbelief, will directly affect the work God is able to do in our lives. What a powerful inspiration for us... "Lord increase our FAITH!" (Luke 17:5) He is able to do anything, will we let Him!?

Then Hebrews goes on to say that we must believe that that He exists... which most typical Americans would tell you is true. There is a God. But how about the second part that we must believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Are you earnestly seeking Him with expectation of His great rewards? I mean, comon, just think of what great rewards there could be from the Creator of the universe! And this is what He asks of us... to believe that He'll do it!

Wow.
BELIEVE!

Christos Voscres!

Christ is Risen!
(A family picture of us after the Easter service at our home church, VCC, here in Grand Forks, ND.)

Happy Easter! We celebrated Easter at home this year with my folks and my 98 year old grandma. They had planned to stay home but then decided to come celebrate with us since we might not (hopefully not) be here next year! So it was good to spend time together. We went to our home church together and sang some lovely songs about the Lord. What hope we have! Christ is risen - risen indeed! Cristos Voscres - Va Istina Voscres.

Let me share a couple pics with you here. Hope you all had a great time remembering the Lord's incredible sacrifice and awesome power to overcome death and to bring us hope and a future!

(The bunny cake was a gift from our neighbors! What a cute, little masterpiece!) :)

(The kids are sitting at our counter behind me... they ARE there celebrating Jesus with us! Heh.)

think about it

Think about what you're thinking about!

It seems like I've heard a lot about thoughts lately. Well, for the past year or more! Heh. God's thoughts for you are good, positive, for-you thoughts. You can do all things through Christ. You are His child. You are a brother or sister in Christ. You are victorious. You are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. You have a hope and a future. He has good plans for you. He will always be with you. On and on... The enemy, however, is trying to get you to think all the opposite thoughts. Whatever lie he can get you to believe is good for him - bad for you. He wants you to feel overwhelmed and defeated. He wants you to forget your future and your hope. He wants to you not get along with others. He wants you to feel alone. He is a liar. God's thoughts are for you. The enemy is out to destroy you. God's words for you will build you up. The enemy's will tear you down. God wants you to live in joy and freedom. The enemy wants you to live in guilt and fear.

It is wise to stop to think... who's words am I listening to? Which thoughts are playing in my head. Truth or lies? Choose wisely who you listen to. Fill your mind with the Word of truth. It's a matter of life and death!

2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.