Sermon Notes

*sorry no pictures this time...only words I want to remember. I absolutely LOVE listening to Francis Chan! For some reason everything he says I can understand and it "clicks" with me. And I just so happened to listen to a few sermons that had to do with stepping out of the comfort zone...I appreciate the words as I plan to step out of MY comfort zone next week...

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"If you want to experience God...go take some risks..go do things that show you really believe in eternity...actually live by faith...and as you do that...you experience the supernatural presence and peace of God

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Why on earth do we need the Comforter to come if we are already comfortable??

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If our lives make sense to the unbeliever...then we are doing something wrong. In 1Corinthians 15 Paul is saying...If there is NO resurrection from the dead...then I am above all Men most to be pitied...Paul says I just gave everything, my whole life for teaching the resurrection. I bet everything. "Its the sacrifice...that promotes believability"

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Christians should not only accept suffering but DESIRE suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Being a Christian is not about your best life now....there IS going to be suffering. 1 Peter 4:12-13 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." So Paul is saying to REJOICE when you have sufferings! (wow!) Matthew 5:10-12 ~your reward in Heaven will be great for the suffering!

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Don't you feel more peace when your in danger and suffering for the sake of the Gospel then when things are easy??? We would think that safety and comfort would make our lives easy and more peaceful...but we KNOW when we are living that way...safe and comfortable...that we actually do not have a peace about life. There is a peace we get as believers when we are suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

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All the above words are from Francis Chan. I do understand his words. While everyone around me is worried and concerned about my safety...I am at peace...total peace. I know that short mission trips are VERY very important because we then see how we can make a bigger change and how we can impact more people. This is NOT such a big task to some people...but to me...this is stepping out of my comfort zone...where Jesus is..and I want to be where He is <3 br="br">

Randomness

Gustavo with his new sunglasses...FUNNY STORY>>took him to the mall last Saturday and when it was time to eat lunch he asked me if they had "poop" he could drink...after some confusion and laughter we figured out that yes, there was POP at the restaurant he could drink.Enjoying every moment with this sweet boy. He fits right into our family and we will be SO sad when the year is over!

Sneak peak at our family pictures several nights ago! Looking forward sending them out at Christmas!

 LOVE my new necklace from my dear dear friend...the words say..."Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson These words mean so much to me! Of course I understand that leaving my children and my husband to go to Ethiopia is NOT normal! I understand everyone's concerns BUT I also understand that memorizing scripture is one thing...and actually doing it is another. Also I understand that if this is my passion...if this is what I love doing...I should do it. It is extremely important to me that my children see me living my life and being happy. I do not want to ever tell them I couldn't ever live my dream because I was to busy raising them. I understand there the two sided argument about this BUT I am not abandoning my children by going to Ethiopia for 12 days. I think it is unfair that people assume things about me and my family without asking us...Britton plans to go in the spring..it just worked out for me to go in the fall and so we switched places. I have thought of Ethiopia every single day since I left. I know God has given me and my family and heart and a vision for this beautiful country...I think people need to be really really careful about judging us on this issue..please keep in mind that this is OUR story that God is writing. He has a plan for ME and my family, just as He has a plan for you.

 On a happier note...(this is totally a God story) I got a VERY inspirational letter, in the mail, from someone I do not know hardly at all. I will share it with you......
Dear Kristy,
Praying for you as your time to visit and minister in Ethiopia draws near. I'm praying God will build you strong that you will be poured out on behalf of the weak. May your life showcase our great and mighty God who saves! Also praying God will put angels around you and your friend and your families while you are gone. May your children see your love for God and the least of these and one day rise up as mighty advocates and soldiers in the Kingdom! May the lies of Satan be bound and your heart and mind be kept in perfect peace as you look to Jesus the author and finisher of the good work of faith He is doing in your life! Keep fighting the good fight sister, and may our Jesus be lifted high to the Father's glory!!! "All I have is one life to give my all, to be your hands and feet. Lord I want to be a revelation of love; I want to make the invisible God....VISIBLE!" -unkown
This letter came in the mail a couple days ago JUST when I needed it the most. God knew I needed these words...SO I am tuning my ears out to the negative lies of Satan. 

I mean WHO wouldn't want to go love on hundreds of babies and children in Ethiopia???? A couple days ago at lunch (and you should know lunch time in our house is just me and my two boys) I was telling my littles about how Mommy is going to Ethiopia to see and help my friends...Carter's sweet sweet words will forever be etched on my heart...He said, with much excitement and shinning eyes, "Mommy, when its my turn to go to Ethiopia, I want to take ALL the wood out of Daddys barn and put it in the trashbags that are under the kitchen sink...and I want to take it all on the plane and build houses for our poor friends." What a heart he has <3 -isaiah="-isaiah" 43:21="43:21" for="for" formed="formed" forth="forth" have="have" his="his" i="i" my="my" myself="myself" people="people" praise.="praise." shall="shall" show="show" they="they">

Special Words

To those....

To those who think we should have chosen an easier route. To those who believe that life should be training to reign. To those who would rather just avoid the difficult things and live life to the fullest. To those who don't know or misuse scripture to justify a self-righteous position. To those? You've missed the Gospel. The Gospel is dirty. Scandalous even! And God's love toward His children is steadfast. Terrifying even! That holy God would offer Himself as a sacrifice to buy me back from my own filth and cleanse me by joining His Spirit to mine...never giving up on me, continuing on at all cost to make me into His likeness because He knows that His likeness means completeness and that is all that bring true and lasting joy. This hope I have is grounded solidly and wrapped intricately throughout God's word. It is this. That He will use any means necessary to form me into what will ultimately be my eternal joy. Suffering and trials will come. There is little earthly prosperity in this Gospel. The only name-it, claim-it here belongs to God alone. I'm grateful for the bruising. Hard as it may be because I know all things will work out for the good of those who love Him.

First Peter has these words, "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled..." It goes on to tell us to always be ready to defend that for which you've been called and defend it I will. The problem lies in that it tells me to do so with gentleness. I don't always like being gentle. So, I'll refer to James who tells his adherents to be first pure, then peaceable.I like Robert Frost. He wrote, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Britton and I have not chosen an easy road. One might say the road chose us. I'd rather like to think God chose us for this road. And He has and will continue to equip us for the various obstacles we will conquer. We will conquer because God does the choosing and the equipping. We will do the walking.

Anniversary Trip~Islamarada Florida 2012

 I LOVE how I uploaded all my pictures out of order....said no one ever.
Britton took me to the Florida Keys for a small getaway. I needed this vacation. It was so nice to have one on one time with my special husband. We talked and talked and talked...and did nothing else but have fun and relax. No cleaning No laundry No cooking...it was like Heaven....well more like Heaven on earth

 Romantic sunset boat ride

 Beautiful boat that came in the canal...we kyacked by it a few times and enjoyed looking at it!!

 We spent a whole day at Key West...this is sunset

 Ferrari! LOVE

 This moment by this water was p.e.r.f.e.c.t. it was so beautiful!

 Gorgeous Catholic Church

sunset at one of the restaurants we ate at

BEAUTIFUL!

SO fun to be out on the boat! We packed our lunch and went out to some islands for the day...just anchored up and hung out

 one of the better views

Manatee! It was rolling over so I could scratch his tummy...these things are so fun!

 The Florida house...this was the first time I had been in the summer!

 Enjoying our afternoon in Miami

 My very handsome husband...in West Palm Beach

 I had to stop and just look for awhile...must be nice!

 COOL place in the airport!!!!

 Welcome to Miami!

 Rainbow

Miami from the sky

 beautiful water!

 Britton's photography

 I have no idea why I am smiling....must have been before I saw the bill for our meal ://

 The shaved ice is one of the better things about the Florida house

 Southern most Point!!

I sure missed my kids while I was gone but Britton and I had a much needed get away...we love to be together and make memories.

Blessed

 *I am loving ALL these pictures with words on them!

We have been busy. Friends are calling and texting asking where have we been and that they miss us (thanks friends!) My family often gets irritated because i do not pick up my cell phone in the middle of the day because I do not have time to talk. My running partners are sad... and well, so are my running shoes! I feel like we are neglecting everyone and that soon we will have NO friends left!! But I am here to tell you that my days are filled with Love...and laundry, cooking, cleaning, soccer, volleyball games, football games, school pick ups and schedules and homework and the list goes on. But my days are also filled with...sweet hugs and kisses, afternoons with my 16 yr old talking about girls and school over a vanilla coke and toasted meat and cheese sandwiches, picking up a darling little girl from school every afternoon and loving the way she runs into my arms, evenings spent in our living room playing games and singing songs and talking about Jesus, bedtime prayers of my 5 yr old asking Jesus to keep everyone Mommy loves at Korah safe, and for ALL of the hungry children over the world to get a meal, beautiful nights spent at a soccer field watching my two oldest shine, together time with my special husband in the office every evening after everyone else is sleeping, and the list goes on. I am SO blessed right now! I am taking this moment now to tell you that my heart is full...full of love for my Jesus that gets me through every day of this Motherhood journey I am on...I wouldn't change a thing...not one thing...I am in love with life.

Officially a soccer Mom!

 As weary and tired and exhausted I get from being a Mother....the joys and the happy times sure do outweigh the bad! This is something new for our family this year! SPORTS! We have schedules and times and games and practices we have to make! And most of the time these practice are right over supper time! So that means supper in the crockpot around 8pm when we get home. BUT there is nothing funner then watching my two oldest LOVE soccer! It is bringing them much joy and so of course it makes me happy also!

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 Gracie ready for her first game!

 Carter all ready for practice!

 Gracie scored THREE goals! That is all the goals the team made! She is an athlete at heart!

Love my boys! Love this season in my life! Hectic..but I wouldn't have it any other way!