We want to live like that...

(Don't forget to pause the play list on the side to listen to this great video:)

Love this song and I want to yell..."WE DO!!! WE DO!!! AS A FAMILY WE WANT TO LIVE LIKE THAT!"

This summer I am helping to lead the Beth Moore Summer Bible Study at our church!  We are doing James!  Amazing!

I had to laugh, the gal who usually leads is the retired Pastor's wife!  I love her.  She is wise, so loving, encouraging, we relate in I way I don't with too many people (her first baby girl was stillborn, full term over 40 years ago) and she is totally 100% sold out and on fire for the Lord.  You can not deny it... it is obvious to everyone she meets.  In fact right now she is overseas ministering for 2 weeks in Africa! How cool is that?

Anyways, I feel pretty ill equipped to help her... but I know God will provide for my every need... even in leading...

I am so excited to delve into the book of James deeper!  The main message is to LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH...  Living the sanctified life.  I am SO SO  thankful for Jesus work on the cross...

Now how does my faith in him, desire to share the gospel message with others, and my thankfulness play out in my daily life... in the moment by moment of a life filled with 6 kiddos, piles of laundry,  strep throat, joy, sadness, homeschooling, ministry commitments and so so much more I would love to share with you?:)... someday:)

You know, sometimes I think it plays out really easily; the kids running cupcakes to our widowed neighbor, sending snack bags to the street kids in Uganda, supporting missionaries, giving to those we see in need... But other times I would be lying if I didn't admit my own selfishness and my concern for how to minister when I have relationships that need healing, a heart that needs continued healing, and an overwhelming feeling when the tasks and needs are so great.

You know we have a heart for adoption and orphans... and one of my favorite verses is from...

James 1:27 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Trust me, I can assure you this family is ALWAYS thinking about how we can keep working bit by bit, one person at a time to care for orphans... (In fact you can pray for the next GO team leaving for Uganda this weekend who are heading over there to minister to those same kids that Greg and Lou reached out to back in February:)

For some time we have been wanting to take to heart and move on the others that are mentioned in this verse... the widows.  I tell you, after getting to know Levi's donor mom who was widowed in her 20's... my heart had a whole new space in it growing for widows...

We have been brainstorming, and pouring over  ideas and thoughts for how our family can be a part of showing the Lord's love to those who have lost their spouses. (At least those in our whole circle of life)  After losing my son, I can't imagine losing a life partner... so so sad for those who are missing their best friend... :(

So whether Living out that faith means wiping snotty noses, cleaning toilets, giving $$, caring for your own family, caring for orphans, widows, your neighbors, the needy in your area... There is SO SO much we each can do to be the hands and feet of Christ... We are the BODY!  Praise God that He gifted us so differently to minister in different ways to reach MORE people with Jesus message and HIS LOVE!  All for HIS Glory alone!

Hopefully I can share with you some of our ideas soon... Now off to take the pop up and camp with the crew at our Local Relay for Life Cancer walk... (Thanking God for 20 years cancer free for my love Greg:)