What's In The Box???

 

Yes, this was an impulse purchase. Kregg and I simply went to the Farmer's Coop for some seeds. And we came home with two female New Zealand bunnies! 

How do these things happen? 

Actually, we have had several discussions about bunnies lately. We had Netherland Dwarfs several years ago when the first three kids were younger. So today, when the opportunity presented itself, we took "the plunge." 

After all, what are a couple more critters among our menagerie? 

Kregg needed something else (building a hutch) on his list, didn't he?

The Mighty Intercessor

            

Make us intercessors, Lord! Please help me to be become a rescuer! Show us how to spend our lives for Your Glory.

5-Minute Friday: If I Could I Would

These precious children from NE India were all abandoned

If I could, I would end abortion.

If I could, I would end human trafficking.


If I could, I would make sure all children had loving families.

If I could, I would help parents learn to raise their children to glorify God.


If I could, I would go to all the far reaches of the globe and share the Gospel.

If I could, I would remove from power all who do not glorify Him and replace them with those who do.


If I could, I would eliminate hunger.

If I could, I would end all war.


If I could, I would teach people to live in Peace.

But, I can't. And so I pray. I pray for wisdom to understand how the Lord uses hard things to show us our desperate need for Him. I pray that I will do whatever He asks of me and trust Him for the fruit. I pray for all of us who so desperately need Him. Which is all of us. I pray that His People will be salt and light. 




On 5 Minute Fridays, Lisa Jo gives a "prompt" and then anyone who wants takes it and writes. For 5 minutes. And then you have to stop. I always want to go longer or go back and change things. But we are supposed to simply write and allow the words to flow.

Book Review: Man of the Family

The sequel to Little Britches, Man of the Family picks up where Britches left off. Ralph Moody, in this autobiographical series, paints the reader right into the picture of his childhood. He and his family had moved to Colorado in 1906 when Ralph was eight years old. His father had to move west for health reasons and bought their "ranch" sight unseen, on the recommendation of a less-than-trustworthy cousin. To say they were shocked at first sight of their new home would be a gross understatement. The house was uninhabitable and the trip west had used up almost all their money. But it was these very circumstances that make the telling of this tale so remarkable.

Charlie, Ralph's father, was a man of integrity and ingenuity. And Ralph was an eager apprentice in these character qualities. Together they learned about ranching and building and animal husbandry. The frugality and resourcefulness they exhibit as a family is an inspiration. No challenge arose that wasn't manfully met. Even under the most desperate circumstances, there was a calm resolve to simply do their very best. 

At the end of Little Britches, everything changed for the family when Charlie died. Man of the Family received its title because that is the role Ralph stepped into at the ripe old age of eleven. Mrs. Moody, realizing they could not maintain the ranch with her husband gone, sold it to move into a house in town. The family had no visible means of support, but simply set to work finding ways to earn money. The work ethic of each member of the family is such an incredible example, and sets a wonderful standard for our little listeners as I have read it aloud during our school time. We have discussed many times how so many opportunities were offered to Ralph because he was such a hard worker and so determined to solve any problem that arose.

His love and skill with horses provided him with many adventures and ways to raise money for his family. But one of the things I loved the most about this book is all the ways the family found to work together to accomplish their projects. Mrs. Moody and her six children were an example to all those who knew them. And just when it looked like they had found a way to finally not live hand to mouth, the most unexpected crisis arises and forces Mrs. Moody to say this: "Children, I have to make the greatest decision of my life--possibly of our lives--and I need your help."

This is the second book in a series of seven. And when we finished it today, the kids begged me to immediately order the next one. I am already thinking that, if I time it right, we could still be reading through the next five installments when we go on our "epic road trip" later this year. We always take some great books to read aloud in the travel trailer before we go to bed at night. It can be a challenge, however, to find books written well enough to engage ages 49 down to 11, but these books would definitely accomplish that. 

This is #18 in the 52 in 52 challenge. 
 

Whisper "Mystery"

Secularism, materialism, and the intrusive presence of things have put out the light in our souls and turned us into a generation of zombies. We cover our deep ignorance with words, but we are ashamed to wonder, we are afraid to whisper "mystery."

 A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy 

The Home of Kelly of "Generation Cedar" Destroyed

The storms of the past few days have affected so many. The home of the Crawford family was destroyed in a tornado. Kelly is the author of Generation Cedar. They are okay, but need our prayers. Here is the link to more information.

Raising Homemakers

The Years the Locust Have Eaten

L to R: Government Officer, me, Judge, Kregg, Orphanage Director

During the court hearing that would make them our sons, the orphanage director told a story that broke my heart. It was the first time I had heard it.

Background First:
In Magadan, Siberia the only people we saw in charge of anything were women. The judge was a woman, the government officer for the adoption was a woman. The orphanage director was a women. The court officials were women. 

The government officer, after hearing my husband recite from memory the birthdays of our five biological children, asked me if there were any other men like my husband in America. "Would you please send them to us. A good husband here is one who doesn't drink too much or beat you too much," she said through our translator. She couldn't believe this man knew so much (their birthdays?!!!) about his children.

Additionally, our boys were taken away from their biological parents because of neglect. By the time the boys were almost 4 and 5, their parents had used up their last chance. Their own family members, none of whom wanted or could care for the boys, are the ones who filed the complaints against the parents. The demon in the bottle had dried up the hearts of these young parents toward their two helpless little boys.It is only through the Lord's Mercy that they survived. Joshua, the older one, remembers them "drinking vodka and then falling down." Remember, he was only about 5 when he was taken away from them and they haven't seen them since that day.


Now to the story:
All the workers in the orphanage were women. But there was a man who worked as a janitor and groundskeeper. The orphanage director told the judge that Joshua used to follow this man around asking him if this man would be his father.


Yes, I started weeping. Joshua wanted so badly to belong to someone. He wanted so badly to be important to someone. Anyone. 


In Russia, orphans are turned out of the orphanage when they turn 16. Can you imagine how he would have tried to fill that gaping hole in his heart--looking for someone, anyone to love him? It is terrifying. 


But, because of the Lord's Faithfulness, our boys' story has a happy ending. He has brought them so far in the past 6 1/2 years. We stand in awe of what He has done. 


Yesterday, I was walking through our study where Caleb had his books and computer spread across the table. Beside his things I saw this note written in Joshua's handwriting. 

And then tonight, he handed me this:

Even if he never learns his spelling or his punctuation, I would take that heart over scholastic achievement any day. The Lord has brought him to a glorious place and the years of desolation have been replaced by a heart so filled with Love that it overflows on all of us around him.

Joel 2:25-27

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
   the great locust and the young locust,
   the other locusts and the locust swarm—
my great army that I sent among you.
You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
   and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
   who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
Then you will know that I am in Israel,
   that I am the LORD your God,
   and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed. 

The Most Important Thing About Us

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God.  Worship is pure or base as the worshipper entertains high or low thoughts of God.

For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like."

The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer

Book Review: Lilith

Lilith, by George MacDonald, is a very puzzling read. It is about a man, living a normal life, going about his business, following in the path of those who have gone before him. There is nothing remarkable about any of it, until he meets Mr. Raven. 

Mr. Raven ushers him into another dimension where everything he thought he knew is suddenly turned upside down. He encounters giants and monsters, dancing and arguing skeletons, and a princess who turns into a giant spotted leopard and a blood-sucking worm. 


I read a review of this book, just to see if I was the only one who was confused by some of the imagery, and realized it's a pretty universal place to be. I have read several other books written by him, but this one is definitely set apart from the others I've read by the layers of symbolism contained in its pages. 

Mr. Vane, the main character, comes to realize through his adventures in this other dimension that he is not really alive. The Raven, who is also Adam, explains to Mr. Vane that he will have to submit to death in order to truly come alive. But before he is willing to submit to the sleep of death, he must come to the place where he voluntarily lets go of life as he has known it. But when faced with a choice to die or to continue to live only a shadow of true life:

"What a hell of horror, I thought, to wander alone, a bare existence never going out of itself, never widening its life, but, bound with the cords of its poor peculiarities, lying an eternal prisoner in the dungeon of its own being! I began to learn that it was impossible to live for oneself even, save in the presence of others . . ." 

It is only when he truly begins to understand Love that he moves closer to that willingness to die. As he learns to love the Little Ones, he recognizes that he must face his fear and do his duty.

"My boy," I answered, "there is no harm in being afraid. The only harm is in doing what Fear tells you. Fear is not your master! Laugh in his face and he will run away."

In his quest to protect the Little Ones from the Evil Princess, he finally realizes the only way they will be free is by defeating the Princess who seeks their destruction. He leads the army made of these children to the city to confront her, only to have her kill Lona, the "mother" of the Little Ones. They take the captive Princess and the body of little Lona back to Adam and the house of the sleeping dead. Each of those who enter it submit to the sleep that will make them fully alive. Even the Evil Princess, after much "tough love" decides she will let go of the illusion she has lived, the one that said she was in control and was her own master.

"When you are quite dead, you will dream no false dream. The soul that is true can generate nothing that is not true, neither can the false enter it."

Sounds a lot like the death we take on in Christ so that we may really live, doesn't it? 

"Thou wilt then know that which thou canst not now dream. Thou hast not yet looked the Truth in the face, hast as yet at best but seen him through a cloud. That which thou seest not, and never didst see save in a glass darkly--that which, indeed, never can be known save by its innate splendour shining straight into pure eyes--that thou canst not but doubt, and art blameless in doubting until thou seest it face to face, when thou wilt no longer be able to doubt it. But to him who has once seen even a shadow only of the truth, and, even but hoping he has seen it when it is present no longer, tries to obey it--to him the real vision, the Truth himself, will come, and depart no more, but abide with him for ever."

I find it fascinating to read the list of people who were profoundly influenced by the writings of George MacDonald. Among them are two of my favorite authors: J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. 

From the website The Literature Network comes this quote:

In his George MacDonald: An Anthology (1947) C. S. Lewis states that while reading a copy of MacDonald's Phantastes (1858) "a few hours later," through inspiration of the gentle Christian's words "I knew I had crossed a great frontier.".... "I know hardly any other writer who seems closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ himself."

Lilith was very challenging for me. There is still much that I don't understand, much that I am continuing to mull over. I don't know if I will ever plumb the depths contained herein, but it is fun to try. 

This is #17 in the 52 in 52 challenge. I know I have had several book reviews in the last few days, but I usually have 5 or 6 books going at once so it just happened to work out that I have finished several almost simultaneously. 

The Least of These

We were blessed Sunday morning to see several people we used to worship with. We have been helping with a church plant in a nearby city for the past several years, and one of the churches that helped plant us is the one we used to attend. We miss so many of our friends and mentors from that part of the Body, but we know we are where the Lord wants us. So when some of them come to worship with us, it is like a cool, refreshing drink from the Spirit. 

On Sunday, two of our very favorite came. These elderly men have served the Lord for decades and decades, and have been mentors to hundreds in His Body. Their faces shine with His Spirit. When I am in my eighties, I hope He will be so clearly reflected in me. Volumes could be written about their lives, as they have allowed Him to send them all over the world in His Name. 


One of these two, Gary Tate has been passionate about sharing the Gospel in NE India since his days there as a soldier in World War II. I will have to tell you about the other one another time.  
                    
Gary is the man in the plaid shirt in this video from a few years ago. Anyway, he and Kregg got to talking Sunday morning and Gary was so excited to learn about the things our children are passionate about. Mackenzy, in particular, has been working for several years on the issue of human trafficking. Gary became involved in this issue several years ago, and we didn't even know that. He is so adorable. He has called us several times since Sunday and is going to provide us materials and contacts for her to be able to serve more effectively. He is so passionate about this topic, and I love that this man of God didn't "retire" twenty something years ago, when most people do. He is MORE involved, more active, more passionate, if that is possible. 

He is hoping to meet with Mackenzy later this week. I think it is cute that he is so up to date with the technology that makes him more efficient. He wanted her email and cell phone number so he could set up a meeting. He has already sent Mackenzy's information to another young lady who is about to leave for a trip to that area. There are trips planned twice a year and Mackenzy is already hoping to go on one of them.

Rapha House is one of the ministries through which they do much of their work. "Rapha House exists to love, rescue, and heal children who have been rescued out of slavery and sexual exploitation. Operating as a 501(c)3, Rapha House began in 2003 to permeate cultures with love that heals and leads to restoration. Rapha House does this by providing safehomes and aftercare programs for young girls who have been rescued out of slavery and exploitative situations. All Rapha House homes are currently located in Southeast Asia, with the goal of expanding globally.

Slavery still exists in every culture. Rapha House is constantly partnering with advocates in an effort to build communities that extend unconditional love, physical rescue, and transformational healing." 

Then Gary sent me an email:

"Kregg, Anne & Mackenzy -  These are latest pics of 16
children rescued in the Nepal area by our worker in
NE India in last 4 months, ages 3 to 12, by our workers
in NE India.   They had been "abandoned" or in imminent
danger of being "trafficked".   Dimbeswar calls them
"Angels", and they have a Christian young couple as
"houseparents"... (Extreme poverty is a contributing
cause to their being abandoned or sold...)"

He attached these pictures, and my heart broke. 

They are so beautiful. Each of these precious little souls was snatched from the very clutches of the evil one, bent on their destruction. Praise God!! I cannot stop weeping over these little ones. I want to bring them all home with me!

What does He have in store for us? 

Lord, please show us what You would have us do in response to needs so great. May we not turn away. May we allow You to pour us out like a drink offering however You desire. Please wrap Your arms around each of these precious hearts. Help them to know what the Father's Love really looks like. You will never leave them or abandon them. Please be with their parents. I cannot imagine the desperation that would drive them to abandon these precious little ones. Oh Father, the need is so great. It overwhelms us. But You are Sufficient. Please raise up Your Body to meet the needs You reveal. May our hearts break with what breaks Your Heart. Help us to see how to be Your Hands and Feet to the least of these. 
Through Him Who Overcame,
Amen

                    

A Feast for the Eyes

How could we ever doubt that we serve a Good God? When we stop to think about the Glory that surrounds us every day, He is revealing Himself to us. Everywhere we look, every inch of Creation screams to us of His Majesty, His Holiness, His Love. The infinite creativity displayed in nature speaks volumes of His Goodness to us. To think: My Father designed and crafted flowers and trees and birds for me to delight in. The wonder of it all causes my spirit to sing. Even in parched, dusty, dry West Texas, look at the incredible diversity of leaves. Each one, perfect. Perfection because they speak volumes about how He cares for the smallest details that frame our time here on Earth.

He could have simply created one kind of leaf. We would never have known. Instead, He created thousands and thousands and thousands of different kinds of leaves. Why? Because they reveal Him to us, in all His infinite Creativity. In His infinite Love and Provision, He is revealed to us.

I don't want to miss any of it! I don't want to walk by something that is whispering His Love to me without even noticing. May my eyes be truly open. May I walk in constant wonder. May I see Him everywhere. May I hear His quietest whisper. 

Lord,
We marvel at all You have made. We praise You for the wonder on display for us. We thank You for the incredible multitude of blessings. Help us to be so filled with gratitude that we cannot but declare Your praises!