Upward Life

A couple of months ago, when I had to make the hard decision to stay in Birmingham instead of heading off to Louisville for seminary, I knew the Lord had something for me here, or He wouldn't ask me to stay, but I couldn't imagine ever being happy or even content here. But within a few hours the Lord opened up some doors that I would have never even dreamed about.
One of the most exciting--coaching 3rd and 4th grade girls in Upward Basketball. We have a blast every week and although I don't know a thing about basketball they love me anyways.
So, here they are. . . the Lady Dolphins!


a little pre-game strategy


look at that speed. . .


lining up for the new period


and, just as important--cheering on our teammates!

End of the Spear

The story of the five missionaries killed in 1956. Written by Nate Saint, son of Steve Saint.
Go see it:

Ruin Me

You know how once you've experienced the best you're ruined. It's like my Granny's pumpkin pie. It's the best in the world and once you've had it you're not interested in any other pumpking pie. But that's not often how I am with the Lord.
I was running on the treadmill last night listening to the trusty iPod and since I never know what song will come on next it's always a toss up, but this song came on and I found myself having a hard time not shouting in the gym, "Come and ruin me with your love. So no other is enough."

"Friend for Life" by Watermark

Friend for life
Who took my pain
The cleansing flood
You remain
Wash over me
Till I can't be seen

Living Water swallow me
Deepest river wash me clean
Jesus, Savior more of thee
Jesus, more of thee
Come and ruin me with Your love
So no other is enough
Come and leave Your mark on me
Jesus, more of thee
Jesus, more of thee

Friend for life
I'll carry on
Through the power
Of this flood
Let it spill over, over
Till I can't be seen

Living Water swallow me
Deepest river wash me clean
Jesus, Savior more of thee
Jesus, more of thee
Come and ruin me with Your love
So no other is enough
Come and leave Your mark on me
Jesus, more of thee
Jesus, more of thee

Deep is the stain
Inside of me
But deeper the river
That washes me clean
I've been the one
Who cries in the night
But you've been
The friend of my life

Living Water swallow me
Deepest river wash me clean
Jesus, Savior more of thee
Jesus, more of thee
Come and ruin me with Your love
So no other is enough
Come and leave Your mark on me
Jesus, more of thee
Jesus, more of thee
Jesus, more of thee

Grace through Suffering

Excerpt from The Purifying Power of Living by Faith in Future Grace
from The Future Grace of Suffering

ARE THERE “CLOSED COUNTRIES,” OR FEARFUL HEARTS?

In regard to spreading the gospel today, we talk so much about “closed countries” that we have almost lost God’s perspective on missions—as though he ever meant it to be safe. There are no closed countries to those who assume that persecution, imprisonment and death are the likely results of spreading the gospel. And Jesus said plainly that these are likely results. “They will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9. RSV) Until we recover God’s perspective on suffering and the spread of the gospel we will not rejoice in the triumphs of future grace that he plans for the church and the world.

Obedience in missions and social justice has always been costly, and always will be. In the village of Miango, Nigeria, there is an SIM guest house and a small church called Kirk Chapel. Behind the chapel is a small cemetery with 56 graves. Thirty-three of them hold the bodies of missionary children. Some of the stones read: “Ethyl Armold: September 1, 1928-September 2, 1928.” Barbara J. Swanson: 1946-1952.” “Eileen Louise Whitmoyer: May 6, 1952-July 3, 1955.” For many families this was the cost of taking the gospel to Nigeria. Charles White told his story about visiting this little graveyard and ended it with a tremendously powerful sentence. He said, “The only way we can understand the graveyard at Miango is to remember that God also buried his Son on the mission field.”

And when God raised him from the dead, he called the church to follow him into the same dangerous field called “all the world” (Mark 16:15). But are we willing to follow? In Ermelo, Holland, Brother Andrew told the story of sitting in Budapest, Hungary, with a dozen pastors of that city, teaching them from the Bible. In walked an old friend, a pastor from Romania who had recently been released from prison. Brother Andrew said that he stopped teaching and knew that it was time to listen.

After a long pause the Romanian pastor said, “Andrew, are there any pastors in prison in Holland?” “No,” he replied. “Why not?” the pastor asked. Brother Andrew thought for a moment and said, “I think it must be because we do not take advantage of all the opportunities God gives us.” Then came the most difficult question. “Andrew, what do you do with 2 Timothy 3:12?” Brother Andrew opened his Bible and turned to the text and read aloud, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” He closed the Bible slowly and said, “Brother, please forgive me. We do nothing we that verse.”

"Mildly Abnormal"

Those are the words they used to describe my test results.

That’s the 2^nd time in 4 years. Although I’ve heard “totally normal” twice also. The reality: it’s probably something I’ll have to be careful about for the rest of my life. I’ll keep getting tests every 6 months. And that’s totally okay.

But hearing those words brought back all the emotion of the first time.

I’d only been in Africa for a week. Just a few days into what I thought was going to be a two year journey. And I find out there’s an “abnormality”. And I need to have tests run. In the Lord’s grace there was a missionary Dr. who was an “expert”.

But I had to wait a week.

I was angry. I couldn’t believe the Lord brought me all the way to Nigeria only to go home two weeks later, with, in my eyes, nothing accomplished. But in that week His Spirit ministered to me in a way I could never imagine.

As I was listening to a CD I’d listened to a million times before, some words grabbed my attention. It was scripture.

Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.
Hosea 6.1-3

This is where I was. He was crushing me in order to heal me.

I had an opportunity to visit with a Christian from one of Nigeria’s hundreds of people groups. He explained to me how they use these slingshots that they make to “shepherd” their goats and sheep. If one of them begins to wander off they shoot a stone out in front of it to frighten them and they will turn and come running back. What a picture of what was happening in my life.

During the days of waiting I spent a lot of time in the Psalms. I marveled at how often the Psalmist says he cried out to the Lord, “and He answered me.” And in His faithfulness, He answered me.

I will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord.
Psalm 118.17

The test results: nothing to worry about. But I knew that already. In my heart I knew that promise was specifically for me at that specific time. He promised. And He can’t lie.

So my response today: praise of His glorious grace! At least I’ll have a bi-yearly reminder of all that He’s done for me and what He wants—am I straying—come running back to Him.

my heart

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 7:24,25a; 8:1

The beauty of grace. . . everyday I break His heart, I turn from Him and walk away to follow the vanity of the world, but He knows me, He knows my heart and that my desire is to please Him. Even though most days, "I do the very thing that I hate."

"Even though we sin every day in various ways, there is a profound difference between sinners who keep God's covenant, and sinners who don't."
John Piper, Future Grace

A Bowl of Roses

Hang out with the crew last night to watch the Rose Bowl. I don't think we had any real serious fans for either side, but we had fun cheering.
And 3 baskets of chips and salsa later. . . Texas is the big winner.


Kellan and Anton enjoying the game in a reclined position.


enjoying hot fudge sundae a little too much Lauren?


deep in thought, or just really enjoying the food?


Katherine and Shannon enjoying the game.


the guys being, well. . . the cool guys they are!


Lauren, Beth, and me enjoying a little football.

contentment

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him.
Lamentations 3:25

There is great gain in godliness with contentment.
1 Timothy 6:6

A New Year

The beginning of another year. . . and the last one went out with a small bang.


Several sof us rang in the New Year out at Jay's

And there were a few exciting fireworks. . .



and a few that were. . . well, not so exciting.


. . . everyone seemed intrigued, but this one just never made it off the ground.