The Lord is My Banner

It is true kindness, generosity and faith that have motivated so many of you to give to Haiti.

-72 people or families have donated money

-$12,000 has been selflessly given

-So many other donations have been given in the form of swimsuits for orphans, soccer balls, water bottles, toys/gifts, jump ropes, solar mini-cars!....the list goes on and on.

We have five days left here in California. In the sweet-smelling comfort of our air-conditioned home with our easy food and silky sheets... and our abundant internet access.

I went for a run tonight. God painted the sky. Did you see it? Then the stars began to shine. The same stars that shine over Haiti. The same stars that shine over our two boys, Garisson and Hegel. I wonder, can they sleep at all waiting in such anticipation? I know I can't.

So easily I have become caught up in the stress of preparing to travel. Endless supply runs, packing 12 bags, emails to Haiti, paying bills early, ugh, who does that?! God reminded me to slow down. Enjoy the last few days here. Who knows, we may not be coming back... ;)

Then I read the story of Moses and the Amalekites.... The who? You know the Amalekites. Joshua and the Israelites were fighting them. 

The Bible says, "As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amakelites were winning." Then the Bible says, "When Moses' hands grew tired....Aaron and Hur held his hands up, so that his hands remained steady till sunset." The battle was won. Moses then built an alter to God and called it "The Lord is my Banner."

I thank God for so graciously giving you to us...to hold up our hands. This is a battleground we are entering. The nation of Haiti has been dedicated to satan. We are bringing love, hope, light and resources. And as long as you are holding up our hands, we will finish the task.
 
We have been given so much, but we know God still wants to do more. If you have been wanting to give there is still time. Please donate here or bring donations to us at our house, at the gym, at the store...wherever you can find us! May God richly bless you and your home!

A Reading List

I guess I read a lot. 
              Like more than the average person. 
All those years in school made me a fast reader, but now I get to read for my own personal enjoyment. Some of you have been asking what I read so I decided to give you a summer reading list with reviews. 

Even Tanner makes time to read to cute kids.

             I hope you have time to read this summer. Maybe you can read one of my listed books and then we can chat about it.

What I'm reading now:

-Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

I just started this today, but so far, so good.

-A Farmer's Year Devotional by Angus Buchan

I read this everyday and have for 3+ years. Tanner reads it, too. Good stuff, for non-farmers, too, although I do have a garden if that counts.

-The Bible, of course. Sometimes I pick a book and read through it. Sometimes, I read a Proverb a day since there are 31, so convenient. Sometimes I just pray and wait for God to show me what to read, very fun.

-The 52 Greatest Stories Ever Told by Ken Boa

This is a wonderful 5-day-a-week devotional highlighting 52 Bible stories. We read it together at night. It is perfect for me since I did not grow up reading the Bible.

What I just finished reading:

-Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony

Super good read on parenting the right way. Major takeaway, "Teach your children to ask the question, 'What needs to be done here?' every time they walk into a new room or situation." Love this one. I really don't enjoy lazy, unthoughtful children or adults for that matter. Sorry, if I have been in the past to you. Moving on, growing up.

-Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker

A fantastic story of how a funny lady and her pastor-husband started a new kind of church in Austin, TX, mostly ministering to the homeless and poor. Love this book. Really challenged me to think about most churches and how we just keep churching the churched and blessing the blessed. God is stirring us through this book. Look out!

-7 by Jen Hatmaker

Wow! Jen picks 7 things to do for 7 months like, month 1: eat only 7 food items. She also wears only 7 items of clothing for one month and shops at only 7 stores! She also has a great chapter on living green. Love it!

Must reads: 

-One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Amazing journey of finding joy in everything. Love her blog and love that she is going to Haiti same time as us, too. Cool.

-Crazy Love by Francis Chan

If you have not read this, stop, drop and roll! Read it now.

-Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

Teenage girl moves to Uganda, adopts 14 children, starts her own non-profit before she even turns twenty...need I say more. Amazing! All teens must read. All non-teens must read. It is never too late to do something bigger than yourself. Get on it! Her blog.

-Radical by David Platt

If you want to stay the same, please don't read this book. Continue in your lame, boring life. Just kidding! It is super good.

Books are everywhere in our house. Messy, but good. Look at these little kids I use to have!

There are so many more. Some are also listed on my virtual bookshelf to the right. Check it out. 


Have you read any of these? Comment, please. If you have another good one for me, do tell!