Do you know that God still delights to bring something from nothing? He did it in the beginning, and he's doing it today. If you feel like you've got nothing, today is for you. In Barranquilla, Columbia, you don't cross the tracks to find the most vulnerable children. You walk downhill. When the rains come to Columbia, they saturate the mountains. With the ground unable to swallow another drop, the water rushes downhill turning dirt paths into muddy streams, and streams into rushing … [Read more...] about When You’ve Got Nothing
Family
Property Rights and Other Practicalities of Real Life Parenting
When my kids were little, I said that if I ever wrote a book about parenting, this would be the title. I gave birth to six kids within seven years. Here they are. Aren't they the cutest? With this many "littles" around, I had days that I called "Moses Days" when it seemed like all I did was listen to the complaints one had against the other. Most of them revolved around property rights. "That's mine." "She took it." "I had it first." Even today with my precious … [Read more...] about Property Rights and Other Practicalities of Real Life Parenting
Reconnecting with the Marathon
Do you know what it's like to run a sprint so hard that when you cross the finish line all you can do is lay down in the dirt and look at the clouds? To pour yourself out and feel so good about what you've done, but feel the weariness in your bones? To wonder if the tired you feel is your new "normal?" That's where I've been. Zambia was AMAZING. And I have SO many beautiful stories to tell about healing, and hope, and the HEROES. Oh. My. Goodness. The HEROES. The women and men who came … [Read more...] about Reconnecting with the Marathon
How We Know It’s Right
By the time you read this, I'll be on my way to Zambia with RiverCross. We'll be conducting a leadership training for 12 Zambian leaders for two days. And then these leaders will lead a workshop to equip 125 Zambians who are working with orphans and vulnerable children. I'm super excited. But here's the hard part... I will be gone from home for 11 days. And during those days the beauty of ordinary life will go on without me. While I'm gone, Piper will swim in her last swim meet of … [Read more...] about How We Know It’s Right
What Could We Do?
If you could solve one worldwide problem, what would it be? Would you shelter the homeless? Would you welcome the refugees? Would you end slavery? What would you do? I would bring hope to children, to the world’s most vulnerable children. Today is a day for giving. For solving problems by giving. What would it be like if every day were a day for giving? What if every single day you and I chose to release earthly treasure and invest in something that lasts? What could we do? … [Read more...] about What Could We Do?
You Matter So Very Much
When my daughter, Piper, was a little girl, I'd often give her choices -- what color sippy cup she'd like, what book she would like to read, whether she'd like to color or play with play dough... And she'd answer, "I don't matter." What she was really saying was, "It doesn't matter, Mommy. You choose." But, I'd put the books aside and pull this precious one into my lap and tell her, "Piper, you do matter. You matter so very much." And so do you. You matter. You have work to do. You … [Read more...] about You Matter So Very Much