Two years ago, the guys bought me a little leather copy of Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost for His Highest" daily devotional. It has changed my life. Seriously. Every day I read in it, and every day I am encouraged, convicted, and reminded again and again and again of God's unchanging Truths. Still can't figure out how I even survived before I knew of this book. If you don't have a copy yet, get one! Now! :)

I have been particularly struck by recent readings, specifically those that deal with Life in the Ordinary. What are we striving for? We must have the faith to live between the mountaintops, to grab hold of the promises that looked so clear on top of the mountain, and keep holding onto them even when we're trudging through Yet Another Valley.

From November 16th: "The great marvel of the Incarnation slips into ordinary childhood's life; the great marvel of the Transfiguration vanishes in the devil-possessed valley; the glory of the Resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anti-climax, but a great revelation of God.

"The tendency is to look for the marvelous in our experience.... It is one thing to go through a crisis grandly, but another thing to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, no one paying the remotest attention to us. If we do not want medieval haloes, we want something that will make people say -- 'what a wonderful man of prayer he is! What a pious devoted woman she is!' .... It takes God's spirit in us to make us so absolutely humanly His that we are utterly unnoticeable. The test of the life of a saint is not success, but faithfulness in human life as it actually is."

-Ems

Thankfulness Day 31: Memories from Mesa Verde

We have so many great memories from time spent in Mesa Verde last year! Here are some very random pictures... 

Like father, like son

Almost to the top...

Time for a quick rest!

Surveying the valley floor

Apparently there is more than one way to get off a rock.

Love him.

Yours truly

Thankfulness Day 30: The Wisdom of the Elderly

"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Prov. 16:31

We love you, Nanny Rose. :)

Thankfulness Day 29: Cross-Cultural Living

I am so grateful for all the opportunities we have had as a result of ten years' worth of traveling and ministry. One of those opportunities has been to live cross-culturally and experience many different (sometimes extremely different!) kinds of people, places, foods, customs, and languages. It has provided a unique worldview for us, has caused us to have a deep and genuine love for people, and has helped us to be flexible and easygoing. I wouldn't trade our experiences for anything!

Example:  our annual stay in Amish country, while Papa does intensive counseling with those who have come out of Amish and Old Order Mennonite cultures.  Through extended periods of time living among them,  we have developed lasting friendships and have been invited into their inner circles.

For the last 5 years, Curtis has expressed much interest in setting up a medical clinic in one of the more isolated and under-served Amish communities; we all share the love he has for these warm, down-to-earth people.  None of us knows yet where God will open doors for each of us to spread the gospel, but we look forward to serving Him wherever He places us!

Thankfulness Day 28: Our Resident Dove

I just couldn't resist posting pictures of this naughty little dove who hangs out on our back deck... the Hairy Woodpecker knocks down seeds from the feeder, and this bird-sized vacuum cleaner is provided with a handy lunch. He (or she?) shuffles back and forth on the deck, coos at us through the window, and seems to enjoy taking naps in the snow:

I am so grateful for all the wildlife we have around here (and thanks to Augs for taking such great pictures)!

Thankfulness Day 27: Curtis

It's Curtis' birthday today!

What an awesome, incredible blessing God gave us when He put Curtis in our family. 

Amazing brother, best friend, confidant, leader, encourager, gifted evangelist, tender-hearted, strong, fun-loving, discipler of many, fellow coffee lover, solid man of God, future Doctor...

The list goes on, and on, and on, and on.

Now in his second year of medical school, Curtis is well on his way towards medical missions, with an unshakable heart for the lost and an unquenchable love for God's Word. Curtis is well-loved, well-respected, and much looked up to by everyone around him for his rare strength of character and integrity. 

He has already had an impact on many lives at medical school, and looks forward to serving God through missions in the future. But Curtis firmly believes that the Missional Life doesn't start when he becomes an M.D.; God calls every one of us to be a missionary, right where we are. It isn't about traveling to a far-away country where the people don't look like you. It is about being salt and light, serving the Body of Christ, and winning souls for Him, right HERE.

Curtis knows what he believes and where he's going in life. I am so thankful to be his sister, and to be by his side, witnessing first-hand the greatness of God and the powerful effect of one man following the ways of Christ.

Happy Birthday, Curtis!

P.S. If you'd like to leave a comment to wish him happy birthday (a great idea!), just click here.

Thankfulness Day 26: An Early Birthday Party

It is Curtis' birthday tomorrow, so the rest of us have been conspiring together for a while, and yesterday we threw a surprise birthday party for him! It was organized by one of C's study partners, and we all had a blast, even if it was SO hard to keep it a surprise. :)

 Ike & Ibs putting up some Christmas decorations

 And the party begins!

 Three of Curtis' classmates - Dale (in the black), Trishul (in the red), and Asaad on the far right.

 Asaad & his wife Jasmine, and Eric with one of his kids

 Lighting the candles, with help from Joanna (Eric's wife)

 Still working on the bonfire...

And a concert by Eric. There were also many games of ping-pong, plus invigorating discussions, much consuming of Trishul's world-famous cooking, and reminiscing over good memories from this past year. It was a wonderful time, and we look forward to many more like it.

Happy early-Birthday, Curtis!