1000 Gifts - Nov. 2012

1. a delicious afternoon nap - warm under heavy blankets
2. rhythmic click of the rocking chair - Enoch relaxed and sleepy
3. unfamiliar flavors of sushi
4. warm, crackling fire on a cold rainy afternoon
5. giggles with my children
6. 2 red heads bent together
7. special times with Eliana: field trip to Calacali and snapping beans for dinner
8. coffee and conversation with friends and mentees
9. a moment alone with Sacred Space after a long day
10. sun streamed patterns on wood floors
11. laughter with Enoch
12. a day of rest
13. a snow-capped volcano, majestic and mysterious
14. snuggles in bed with my kids
15. breeze on my face
16. happy dog faces and tails
17. doing potatoes and eating popcorn with Enoch
18. thnuder
19. healed marriages and forgiveness
20. lunch with my sister
21. peaceful elections
22. Eliana's new hair cut
23. friends that help out
24. gas heaters
25. a good run - heart and muscles working together
26. the gray clouds, heavy with rain, resting on the mountains
27. lying on my back in the grass
28. reading books with my kids
29. so many flavors of fresh fruit juice
30. a mug of Kenyan chai, sweet and hot
31. the girl's first piano lesson
32. James and Michaela laughing; cousin time
33. smell of horses - kids riding
34. Enoch sitting at the picnic table with the kids
35. towering trees, vibrant flowers, green grass - a paradise at Nana and Papa's
36. coffee and my Bible in the early morning
37. Michaela reading her Bible in the morning
38. Michaela and Alex playing t-ball
39. watching the kids have fun at Harvest Festival
40. a glorious Sunday morning - remembering the resurrection - the sun on my back
41. a husband with vision
42. being thankful around the dinner table
43. tropical fruit brought from a fresh fruit stand right next to our house
44. walking home from school with the girls
45. "Be Thou my Vision"
46. Sype with my parents
47. piano music - flowing, rising, falling
48. flickering flames, changing... consuming
49. a dry house
50. frog and insect songs outside
51. clean children wrapped up in towels
52. A quiet dinner with my husband
53. sweet memories captured by pictures
54. saying hello
55. Enoch licking my face and giggling
56. a productive day meeting with supportive parents
57. lush, green Ecuadorian countryside
58. old hymns sung in English and 4 part harmony
59. confession
60. the eager learning stance with children
61. Joshua and James throwing the softball; Kent and Joshua playing horseshoes
62. a date with my husband
63. burning muscles from a good work out
64. girl time: lunch and a movie with my sister
65. bouncing red curls welcoming me home
66. silence
67. lemons on the tree, ripe and round in the sunshine
68. racing home with Jana
69. soft rain falling
70. pumpkin pie baking - crusty and golden in the oven
71. a child's fascination with the world - wood chips crunching underfoot
72. the flit of an emerald green tailed hummingbird
73. family gathered round the table
74. the glint of light off musical instruments, music washing over me
75. holding hands with my husband
76. sleeping late

Thanksgiving Day Psalm

New

He desires that all things in relation to HIm be New

New Creations, having the old being purged, replaced forever by the New! ^{(2 Cor 5:17)}

It is not the exteriors He desires but a New heart and New spirit...His New creation ^{(Gal 6:15, Ez 11:19; 18:31: 36:26)}

He carefully planned a New covenant with his people, not because the old was deficient but because the New was personally acquired by Him ^{(Jer. 31:31; Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25, Heb 8:13, 9:10)}

It was a relationship built on mature commitment, not in detail-bound written arrangement but upon risky vows, the New way of the Spirit ^{(Rom 7:6)}

Why this infatuation with the New?

Do we deserve the brand new?  Personally I believe we should be satisfied with options marked used or refurbished on our wish list

but no...He wants us to have that which is perfect.

He wants us to experience the best!  

The best New wine ^{(Is. 36:17; Jer 31:12; Joel 2:24, 3:18; Amos 9:13)}

a better New song ^{(Is. 42:10; Rev. 14:3)}

To erase our past in one full sweep and stamp New names of glory by which we will now be known ^{(Is. 62:8; Rev. 2:17, 3:12)}

The Lord declares, “The former things have come to pass, behold New things spring forth ^{(Is. 42:7)}

“See.....I am doing a New thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” ^{(Is. 43:19)}

Participation with the Holy is conferred on us 

though the New and living way opened for us through the curtain...his body. ^{(Heb 10:20)} 

through New birth we experience a living hope ^{(1 Pet. 1:3)}

one that is based on His compassion which never fails but is....Yes, New every morning ^{(Lam 3:22-23)}

When our Lord came to earth He brought a New teaching ^{(Mar 1:27)}

a New command to love as He had loved, and give as he had given ^{(Jn 13:34)}

He said,  “Go, stand in the public places, and tell the people the full message of this New life.” ^{(Acts. 5:20; cf. Rom 6:4)}

“I make possible a New self which is ever renewed in the image of its Creator. ^{(Col 3:10)} 

a self with a New interior of mind ^{(Eph 4:23)}

Though we don’t deserve his abundant generosity, newness he offers us.  He guarantees the best, ensures the most pure, and perfects all that comes unto Him.

Let us listen to Him on this day and be thankful.

He who is seated on the throne says, “I am making everything New!”  “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ^{(Rev. 21:5)}

^{Posted by Joshua Marcum}

Top Ten Furlough Highlights

After weeks of best intentions, I finally have finished the blog post about our US assignment....  Although we were exhausted by the end from all of the traveling (we drove from Michigan to Oklahoma to Arkansas to Nebraska to Wyoming to Colorado to Kansas to Texas and back to Michigan with a quick flight to Pennsylvania for Josh as well), we were blessed beyond measure by all the fellowship and memories we made. 

1.  Greenfield Village with Nyanya and Babu




2.  Summer Jam at Livonia Church of Christ - the girls first VBS experience!

3.  Vacation with Nyanya and Babu at Lake Michigan

4.  4 generations on the Marcum family ranch







5.  Family Pictures 2012




6.  Sikes Reunion 2012

 

7.  Reuniting with old friends

8.  Legoland with Matt and Janille

9.  Time with Family in Michigan

And last but not least!
10.  Time with the Harrold family in Wichita where we were pampered beyond belief (from Chuckie Cheese's for the kids, to a shopping spree and a massage for me, to dinner out)... unfortunately due to loosing my camera on our trip back to Ecuador (big bummer!), I don't have any pictures of our time together.