DISQUS

bryan - first...you totally made the deadline! :D

but most importantly...i LOVE your daughters! i loved how you all worked together and had so much fun! that was so incredibly special and sweet to watch, you have no idea how much this just blessed me...no idea!

thank you for playing along, bryan.

and girls...AWESOME JOB!!!

i love this! reminds me of pastor t's post.

i am so inspired by this!

my husband and i recognized last year that this point "Not around enough lost people" was our biggest obstacle. its so easy to get comfy around our believing friends, hanging out at church and what not.

so we purposed to get out into our community. doing things we enjoy so that when we meet knew people we have an instant common ground...then take it from there.

it has been one of the best things ever! challenging at times, but good for our growth. but ultimately...it isnt about us. its about Him and His children.

i found this very easy to sing along with. especially the harmony.

i like, russ!

excited to hear more from you!

<abbr>tam’s last blog post..you’re a SUPERSTAR!</abbr>

this is why it is so crucial that we teach our children reality. show it to them. brent and i decided early on as parents that if we sugar coated everything for our kids we would be doing them a huge disservice. once out in the real world, they would not be equipped. im not saying thats what happened to you, im just speaking from personal experience.

great post. makes perfect sense!

im thankful for blogging friends who have become more than blogging friends. i cant imagine my life without some of them. truly.

<abbr>tam’s last blog post..Tam asked me to post for her, and she doesn’t know what I’m writing.</abbr>

roast, mashed potatoes and corn.

i love a roast that has been in the crock pot all day long. it falls a part and melts in your mouth. SO good. and the potatoes must be homemade.

<abbr>tam’s last blog post..10 Things: Confessions</abbr>

this is so funny. saw your tweet. came over. read the title AS i was listening to mercy me's "gloria" and rehearsing it for this weekend. weeeeird!

great arrangement russ. i really like that! the scripture reading was awesome. loved the excitement in her voice. very cool!

<abbr>tam’s last blog post..when did you realize…</abbr>

haha Papa!

we do Mercy Me's Gloria too. love it!

i laughed at you saying, "one of our females". sounds so....caveman-ish.

<abbr>tam’s last blog post..let the chase begin!</abbr>

mmm. yes. God is with us. i love that!

the last week or so has been pretty mellow with the perp. my daughter is actually looking forward to the day when she can, safely, reach out to this girl. i believe it will happen.

sorry you had to go through that too.

andy, im so sorry,

im blown away that you can share this like you do.

so how many tears did papa shed for you? i love his tears. its his love and compassion for jesus and people pouring out. so beautiful!

<abbr>tam’s last blog post..“what’s under your jacket?”</abbr>

i dig the beard. looks great! you keeping it?

<abbr>tam’s last blog post..my week at twitter</abbr>

i think we're gonna have to do a vid like this too. looks like you all had fun!

happy thanksgiving!

sheeze! way to put it all out there! if we're all being honest - we're all guilty of this. youre just brave enough to admit it.

amazing testimony!

we did everlasting God this weekend too, and like you all, our church really sings out on that one! it definitely strikes a chord in the hearts!

so what would you say has been the single most beneficial thing Miles has learned from this so far?

congrats too!!

i was suffering from post-partum depression after my 1st child was born. it was pretty intense. i didnt want to look at her. hold her. feed her. nothing. i didnt even want her. i hid these emotions for nearly 3 weeks.

finally, late one night, i let it all out. my husband prayed over me, my in laws called me on the phone, read a ton of the Word to me and prayed with us right then. i was a bawling mess. they all recommended i try to eat. my husband was making me a sandwich and i was in bed holding my 18 day old little girl. i took a deep breath and looked down at her, expecting to have this wave of fear and anxiety, but instead i fell head over heels in love with her. she was the most beautiful thing i had ever seen. ever. and...she smiled. 18 days old - and she smiled. im convinced to this day that was the Lord. totally smiling through her and comforting me, showing me the beauty of life.

i know a lot of my struggle then was due to not having dealt with my abortions. and God revealed that night the little baby i was holding was His gift to me...now LOVE her!

i'll never forget that moment!

wow. sounds like, to me, youre a big step ahead of most. ive rarely read, or heard, people be as honest as you are here. that alone...is huge.

i think having an honest estimation of oneself is the basis of being able to navigate through the and beyond the weak spots. thats where you are..and in doing that, you do the most you can - and trust Him to lead you into the outcome He desires.

and i have to say...so much of what you shared, resonates in me. thank you for you honesty!

"Much of the communications between my fellow followers of Christ have been disrupted in a similar manner. Some focus on individual verses rather than reading the Word in context. The debates get heated, and new division occurs as one side rallies against the other."

i just lost a friend to this. this and that i wont subscribe to her thinking and if anyone tries to challenge it, its a war. so ive had to step away. im kinda in the grieving process right now. my heart is grieving - but i know, as odd as it sounds, its the best thing.

having said that...i have A LOT to learn. and this only pushes me to dig in even deeper.

HE is still God and on the Throne and His purpose will prevail.

dang. i didnt know your story went up!

so i have to ask. how did you feel about your mom putting you in the mental institution? what were you thinking? what were your thoughts while in there? i mean, a mental inst. seems kind of extreme for the behavior you were exhibiting.

and i agree with the private school thing. kass went for 2 years and she asked to go to a public school so she could actually share Christ with people who cared. crazy!

i love all our different stories and backgrounds, cuz we all reach different groups of people. and its exactly how it should be. you relate to certain people well because of your lifes experiences. so keep reaching them, Josh. im stoked to "know" you! you're a good man whom Brent and I respect greatly!

what would you suggest in situations where some of the team members "fellow believers" dont play nice? when they see it their way only and shun any insight, of scripture, if it doesnt line up with their own? i ask, because i have/am experiencing that. and its been a very unpleasant experience. to the point of seeing loved ones being ridiculed and insulted.

kenly, that scripture is in James. i was just reading that last night. and the "prayers of the righteous accomplish many things"

so...lets pray together for hearts, and wills, that are "willing...to be willing" to want what HE wants.

fantastic post!

God blows me away!!

thanks for linking to the story fred. that means a lot to have your support!

halloween? backslidden? i dunno. just because i buy things from target who supposedly supports child porn does that make me a porn addict? no. just a target addict :D but seriously. God looks at the heart. are you truly imitating evil? is that your intent when you dress up your kids? i dont think so. youre allowing them fun and showing them that we, christians, do not have to exclude ourselves. we can get in to our communities, rub shoulders with them and be an example for God in what we do. and we can do that as a power ranger while taking strangers candy.

my 1 cent.

<abbr>tams last blog post..have you ever…</abbr>

absolutely we will pray. i will be sure to have my kiddos pray for Gabriel too.