The Intentional Life

So we went to a wedding today. I loved it.  It was a wedding of a long-time friend and I was so glad to be there to see their celebration. I so appreciate a wedding that focuses on God.  On Jesus as the groom and the church as his bride. And that is what we saw today.  It felt kinda appropriate to attend a wedding this week. A week where the federal government decided to "redefine" what marriage is.  Now, I don't want to get into a long debate, because I will continue to believe what I believe. And one of those things I believe is that God is still in it. People can tell us that marriage means this or that.  They can define it how they want. But God still created marriage.  That is not going to change.  And God is still in marriage.  I just saw it today.  He can be in your marriage.  And He can be is in mine. And someday the ultimate marriage celebration will occur.  Between Jesus and His Church. And I plan on at...

Squishy  Nemo Dory The 3 fish laid to rest in our backyard today. Two of our teenage girls went bucket fishing last night and came back with 4 fish that they wanted to keep as pets.  They kept them in a bucket in the garage overnight. Only 1 fish lasted the night. The girls wanted to give the 3 fishies a proper burial. A casket was found. Burial linens made. A floral bouquet crafted. A hole dug. Maria gave the eulogy that was both touching (and hilarious) at the same time.  Goodbyes were made and the fish were lowered into the grave. The Doxology was sung, along with Amazing Grace to close out the ceremony. I am not sure what possessed these two girls to go to such length for a few fish they owned for less than 12 hours.  But, it kept them occupied for a greater part of the afternoon. And I think it's certainly a memory that will not soon fade. I think. RIP Squishy, Nemo, and Dory.

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) Adoption.  One of the most beautiful pieces of the Gospel. An all-powerful and loving Father God chose us , in our sinfulness, to be His sons and daughters. Does it get any better than that? The fact that we, as Christians, can replicate this relationship in our own families to tell the Gospel through our lives is an complete honor and joy. "WE SAID YES TO ADOPTION" // Andy & Laura's Story   (video by Andy Watson) Andy and Laura, adoptive parents of Eli from Ethiopia shared how God provided every step of the way, crushing fears and showing that HE is faithful to finish what He starts. Part of God's provision came from Lifesong and its partner, Legacy 685 Adoption Fund, helping this family financially with a matching grant and funding support. Learn...

A grandma. An aunt. A great-aunt. A foster dad. All seven teenagers under our roof right now has been raised by one of the above people. Not a single one has been raised by their own biological father. In some cases that is probably a good thing:  due to prison time, drug use, and other illicit activities being the main lifestyle activities of some of these men. But it still is little consolation for kids who want the father who is not there.  Regardless of their lifestyle. God has a high calling for fathers, calling them to lead and love.  But He also knows that we are living in a fallen world. So he calls the rest of us to step up, stand in the gap. Caring for the orphan in their distress (James 1:27).  Being mentors.  Being examples (I Corinthians 11:1).  Pointing these fatherless children to the One who they can call "Abba, Father." It makes me yearn for the day that we can be in the Place where no one is fatherless, everyone...

I couldn't get through it without choking up, breaking down. Telling the teenagers, and the littles, "Zach died this evening.  He's in heaven now." I couldn't even type that without sobbing. But tonight I am not sad for Zach.  He fought a hard fight. And he fought it valiantly.  Cancer tried to get the best of him. But he found a way to redeem his time while fighting the death inside him. No, tonight I sob for his wife, Jenny. And their two children, Zion and Moriah. Please join me in prayer for this family.  Because God promises to be our comfort and our hope. Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.   You know the way to the place where I am going.... I will n...

 But I am the mother of a 1st grader. And a Kindergartner. They warned me they would grow up quick.   And I believed them.   And I tried to cherish those moments.   And I believe that I did.  Most of the time.   But boy, this year went fast.