When I Cross Over Jordan...

When your children shall ask you in time to come saying what mean these 12 stones
then you shall tell them how you made it over.  Joshua 4:21-22
Memorial stone in Selma, Alabama at the site of a civil rights march-- we visited in 2008

I can hardly believe that it has been a year since we've had our fabulous 4!  

This year has been marked by unspeakable joys and innumerable challenges that have been covered by the precious blood of Jesus over and over.  

I've been given the gift of living out scripture in ways that would not have been possible any other way. 

The little boy who wanted to throw himself into the fire-- is my child--- and he is healed.

Matthew 17:14-21

The Mary who poured perfume on Jesus' feet from her alabaster box lives here--- and her box never runs low on oil.

John 12:1-8

The lost sheep who Jesus leaves the 99 behind to search for and brings back on his shoulders---has been restored.

Luke 15: 3-7
The dove that Noah sent out to look for land, has found a place to build his nest.
Genesis 8:12

More than once I've heard the question, 

"Do you ever wonder what you've gotten yourself into?"

Well, I did not get myself into it.  God did.

And I can honestly say that I have never doubted that AT ALL-----not even once!

It was His hand that stopped the flow of the Jordan for the Israelites to walk over on dry land.

And it was His hand that 

caused our eyes to fall on these sweet faces, 

released them from their chains, 

led us across the ocean to get them,

and has provided for our every need---- abundantly!

What does give me a sharp pain in my heart is the thought of what if I had just passed on these kids and said we'll choose others when the situation was looking hopeless. 

And the most beautiful part about it is that He used His Body to do all this.

When I think back over the past year, what stands out the most is how we have been so incredibly supported by His Body living out His truth in word, in prayer and in deed.

You are the 12 stones of remembrance that will be passed on to our children-
living stones
1 Peter 2:5  

Since our kids came home they always define someone as,

"They have Jesus, or they do not have Jesus."

They arrived distinguishing people like that because where they are from, if you love Jesus it shows in everything you do and say.

Not so much here, where the church and the world are hard to tell apart.

Unless they look like this holy bunch of faithfulness who have held us together with PRAYER and with cords of human kindness and ties of love. Hosea 11:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is not an exhaustive list-- just the pictures that I could round up--- and each photo tells a story that deserves a whole post to itself! 
  Each of you has touched our family with kindness beyond measure!  


I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13


eternally grateful!