Full of thanksgiving

One of the five challenges of the Radical Experiment is:
Spend your time in another context...
"As you are making disciples in your community, commit, as individuals and families, to give 2% (one week) of your time in Gospel ministry outside of your community for the sake of God's glory in all the world."

This past week, our family had the priviledge of participating in a mission trip to the Village of Hope (VOH) in Ensenada, Mexico.  The team that went was able to build an 800 sq. ft. house in just 2 1/2 days!!  The house is for the VOH pastor to live in. 





Since this week is the "official" thankful week, I thought I would share some things I saw that made me even more grateful for the many blessings I have.

Thankful for my house



Thankful for my washer and dryer



Thankful for paved streets



Thankful for my yard



Thankful for good jobs



Thankful for friends



Thankful for pastors and missionaries all over the world


Ephesians 3:19-21

New International Version (NIV)
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Christmas Card Blues

Image
True confession time.  I am vain and I have an ugly, prideful heart... especially when it comes to my Christmas cards!!  If vanilla man can admit he idolizes Costco vanilla ice cream, then I need to fess up about my Christmas card idolatry. I am fortunate to belong to a large church family that LOVES to send Christmas cards.  And between vanilla man and myself, we have quite a fair amount of relatives (over 100!).  Thus, the month of December is my favorite month for going to the mailbox and getting the mail.  Everyday is filled with anticipation as we anxiously await another envelope that is addressed to: The De Leeuw Family.  And here in the Central Valley of Cali, the photo card is king.  Everyone sends a darling picture of their beautiful families.  And many of our card senders are extremely creative.  We have recieved cards with ribbons and bows and glitter and bling and even moving parts.  This year we've...
Read more

When a thank you card just isn't enough...

Image
As many of you may or may not know, as church planters, we survive fully off of the support of others since we do not have an established congregation of our own yet. Each month, gracious families send in their donations to help us continue God's call to plant an RCA church in Oceanside. It is a very humbling experience to say the least. Every month we send out thank you cards to the people that have generously given in our behalf. As I address the envelopes and get them ready for mailing, I always say a prayer of thanks for the kind hearts of those who have donated. This month, as I was going through the list, I realized how many of those same families were dealing with some big struggles in their own worlds. Sickness. Loss of loved ones. Change of job. Brokenness. And I was completely overcome by their act of generosity towards us. That even in their family's time of need, they would still believe in the calling God has given us and continually support us in this most c...
Read more

Put Your Foot in It!!!

Image
Put Your Foot in It!! Every place I’ve ever lived before moving to Oceanside, CA has been flat. My childhood home in Artesia, CA was located in what was historically known as Dairy Valley. Mostly flat. After Scott and I got married, we moved to Tulare, CA situated in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Extremely flat. I’m guessing one of the flattest parts of California. The highest point in town (besides the water tower) was the freeway overpass. Not until I moved to beautiful, hilly San Diego county did I understand the importance of knowing how to drive up a steep hill. My dad has been a truck driver as long as I can remember. During my school years, he drove long haul. For thirteen continuous years, he drove his conventional Peterbilt from California to Minnesota and back again. I will never forget one trip I went along with him and my younger brother. It was the summer I was fifteen years old. We were driving through the lonely parts of Wyoming when my dad suddenly announc...
Read more