Audacious Faith

This past week Scott and I had the privilege of attending the Willowcreek Leadership Summit at Central Christian church. All the speakers were fantastic, but one that really stood out to me was Steven Furtick, the Lead Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Steven is the same age as Scott and I, leading a congregation of over 8,000 people at four church sites. Steven described how God worked in his life because of what he deems, "dumb faith." Basically meaning, that in all his youthfulness, he was just way too dumb to know that his dreams were too big, that his goals were unrealistic.

Apparently not. Is this not the kind of faith that moves mountains? The kind of faith that actually gets things done? The kind of faith that is pure like a child's? The kind of faith that so many of us aspire to, but few have the courage to proclaim? 

The thing that Pastor Steven said that stuck with me the most was this: "If your vision for your ministry isn't intimidating to you, it's probably insulting to God."

Wow. This is something I personally aspire to. I pray for the day that my vision for my ministry and for my life rivals God's awesome power. And one person who I look up to in this area is my brother Brandon.

Brandon recently made the decision to go on staff full time with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at the UofA campus where he graduated. He has spent the last year interning with InterVarsity in Colorado at the Colorado School of Mines, and has seen God working in some powerful ways through college campus ministry. But this jump to going full time not only meant a huge increase in opportunity to share Christ with so many thirsty college students at UofA, but also a huge increase in ministry budget to fund raise. Quadruple the amount he needed during his internship to be exact. When Brandon shared his plan with us earlier this year, I shook my head and said, "Glad I don't have to do that!" The truth is, I do not envy his task. I do not envy what he has to do to make the calling that God has laid before him a reality. But I do envy his faith. 

God took the time to tap him on the shoulder and say, "Here's an assignment. I've crafted it for you. It might be a difficult one but I want you to do it. I'm going to grow you up through it and I want you to be faithful to it." (-Bill Hybels) 

How easy it is to shake our heads and say, "Whew, glad God didn't call me to that task." But the truth is, God has something in mind for each of us. A calling he wants to share with us. A call to something so fantastically unique and handcrafted for us that, if we dare accept, would catapult us onto the greatest journey of our life. 

There is such great power in youth. Such potential and audacious faith. I am so proud of my brother for answering his call. For not taking it lightly. For being willing to face the challenge laid before him head on. I know I for one, will do whatever it takes to help him on his journey. Together, Scott and I will support him, stand by him and pray for him, and believe wholeheartedly in the mission God has given him. 

Will you pray about joining us?

-Maria

For more information about Brandon's ministry, visit his blog and the InterVarsity website, or better yet, contact Brandon. He would love to meet with you and tell you more about what God's doing at UofA!!! 

Brandon: bhodge82@gmail.com

Kinley 14 Months & Emery 6 Months

I Want to Introduce you to Someone...

Dear Kinley & Emery,

I want to introduce you to someone. Well, I want to introduce you to the idea of someone. Many events in our lives start out as a thought. Maybe an image in our head; an idea floating around, popping up from time to time. Maybe even a feeling. Or, in our case, a whisper. A conviction.

The journey your dad and I have taken has not been an easy one. But then again, whose is? As you grow up I think you'll come to find that there is much heartache in this life. There is much despair. We live in a very broken world baby girls. And while our instinct as your parents is so often to protect you from it, I believe it is also our job to help you know it and understand it; to embrace it, to care for it. It is our job to plant a seed in your hearts that will grow over time, and I pray, will bloom into a deep longing to bring as much healing to the brokenness as you can over the course of your lives. 

You see, a seed has been planted in our hearts. In your dad's heart, and in mine. It started as a thought. It grew to an image. Then we heard a whisper, that turned into a conviction. And now, over time, it has grown to be a deep longing of our hearts. We both very much want our third child to be from Africa.

There are so many events, circumstances, and people that influence decisions like this along the way, and I can tell you this one thing for certain; you were both a huge part of cultivating this desire in our hearts. Although this particular idea has been around since before either of you were even born, the deep love we have for both of you, our children, has affirmed for us that a child is a child and all children just need to be loved. Today, there are 500,000 children in Somalia, Africa on the brink of starvation due to severe famine and war. And sadly this is not unlike many other dire circumstances so many children across the continent of Africa are facing. So while we may not be able to be everything to every child out there who is hurting, who needs a family, who needs to be loved, we can be everything to one. 

So while this idea has been placed on hold for two very very good reasons, ;-) we are now praying that God would open a few doors, and pave the way for it to become a reality. We believe that we already have God's blessing, because it's always His will that justice be done. That mercy be given. And always, always, that we would love. We are praying though, that the timing may be in keeping with His perfect plan for our family. Hopefully, we will welcome our son into our family around the time you Kinley, are 3, and you Emery, are 2. But that's for God to decide, so I guess we'll wait and see. :-) 

I am writing this to you today, because although you cannot understand it just yet, you are a very big part of this decision. You are a very big part of this journey. And someday, you will be able to look back at this, and know the process that we went through to come to this decision. Hopefully, you can read this to your little brother and he will know how very much we wanted him to be a part of our family. How much we wanted to give him a home. How very much we love him, just as we love you...

Which brings me to you. You girls are growing up oh so fast! Emery bug you are just about crawling! You get everywhere you want to go just by scooting. You are already up on all fours, wanting so badly to be able to go as fast as your big sister. You can sit up now, although you don't like to remain stationary for very long. You are eating lots of baby food now, and always trying to drink out of your sister's sippy cup. You girls are starting to play together and laugh at each other. And sometimes even snuggle together. :-) It warms your mama's heart every time you give each other big smiles and kisses. Kinley you are practically running now, you certainly wasted no time learning how to move faster on those two little feet! Your favorite thing to do right now is bring mommy or daddy a book to read you. You not-so-delicately put the book in front of our faces and then climb into our laps so we can read to you. It's so adorable! Here's some pictures from this month....

Nighttime snuggles

You're so excited to be able to play with big girl toys

"I'll show you how Emery."

You girls love your new tent

Kinley you LOVE playing Peek-a-Boo

Emery, you will follow your sister ANYWHERE

Love my Kinley!

And my Emery!

Such a pretty girl :-)

Kinley and Daddy

Emery, you do this face A LOT

At cousin Bryson's 1st birthday party

He loves you so much. :-)

Kinley's first time on a water slide

Such a big girl!

Emery, Daddy is still the only one who can get you to sleep.

Eating in your own high chair now (yep, we have two.)

Love your big brown eyes

Kinley, you are fearless.

Just chillin' in a big girl chair

You already love shopping!

Sitting up now!

You're still such a happy girl. You only cry when it's past
your bedtime, or anytime mommy and daddy leave you!
(And also when Kinley steps on your head.)

Trying so hard to crawl. I'm really not sure what this face
is about, but it's awesome.

Your mom and dad have gotten brave enough to start taking
you both to restaurants. It's pure chaos.

LOVE my snuggle bugs.

Love You SOOOO Much,

Mommy