Prayers for Haiti

I don't have much time, but I also don't want to forget. So I am going to pound out this post real quick!!

Bible Study Thursday mornings that I attend with some of the ladies from Reality...

Leader=Joy

Her husband is the head of the Board for Child Hope International, an orphanage in Haiti.

Here's a link, awesome story how they started. At the top of the page is a link to read updates on the earthquake in Haiti:

www.childhope.org

Bill and Suzette=the couple who started the orphanage, due to a vision and a mission that God set within the heart of their nine year old daughter. She is now 17, here is a link to her blog, it is worth reading!!!

http://ari-haitilife.blogspot.com/

As we have been praying as a family for Haiti, I have been blown away at the Holy Spirit's work in the kids' hearts...

"Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have established strength.." Ps. 8:2

Caleb's Prayer:

"Dear God, please help the people of Haiti to stop worshiping idols."

Emma's Prayer:

"Dear God, please don't let the people of Haiti die in their sin, but help them to believe in Jesus and be saved."

We asked the kids to pray with us, because the people of Haiti are in need of food, and water and medical supplies. There are needs EVERYWHERE you look... and yet, the greatest need in Haiti is the greatest need of every man, woman, and child... to have the wrath of God removed from them through the precious blood of Jesus.

They are seeing an increase in violence, as resources become scarce, distribution is unorganized, and people become desperate and feel hopeless. We have heard MANY stories of miracles, too many even for me to share here. God is making His name known!! Pray for the faithful servants of Jesus, that they would not lose hope. Pray for protection, for provision, for God's grace and mercy. Pray that God would continue to make His people distinct, as they give all praise and glory to Him, that others too would be drawn to the One True God!!

Please join with me in praying this Psalm for those in Haiti:

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,

My enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.

Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear;

Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

One things I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion;

In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;

He shall set me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!

Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When You said, "Seek My face,"

My heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek."

Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.

Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path,

because of my enemies.

Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;

For false witnesses have risen against me,

And such breathe out violence.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!

I love this book!!

This was a reader that the kids read for school work. They each read it in about...twenty minutes, maybe less. There aren't a lot of words on each page. But man, it is amazing. I loved it. (67 pages)

This is the book synopsis from amazon.com:
Other people crowded into the house, and Kuri heard them whispering. "Look what happened to him. Surely he is being punished."

Kuri's eyes flew open in alarm.

Kuri's father has planted their yams without praying to the spirits. The Head Men insist that the yams must be planted in the right way, but Father declares, "God is mighty," and he continues to plant their garden in the name of Jesus Christ.

Kuri can't help wondering whether the Head Men are right. Are the spirits punishing him and his family? If the yams don't grow, what will they eat? Does he dare to be like Father and trust only in God? The day comes at last when Kuri must decide.

"Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom." Job 36:5

Seasons...

Sometimes, you have to remind yourself that life goes in seasons. And although we may like some more than others, they are all necessary, and carry their own beauty in different ways. Sometimes, it is peaceful in our home, and everything is fun, and it feels like summer. Sometimes, there is a lot of bickering and it seems more chaotic... but I have been trying to remind myself that those are the times where the ground is being tilled, and weeds have to be pulled, and it is all in preparation for growth.

We all want to see growth. That is encouraging and hopeful. But, God is just as gracious, just as faithful, and just as much in control and at work when we don't see the growth... when all we see are weeds that need to be pulled and ground that is harder than a rock. Sometimes our season is lonely. Sometimes it is lonely because we don't allow others to walk beside us.

I am learning some things about myself. I can't even put them all into words right now, but I am just reminding myself that there are seasons in this life. To be honest, we have experienced so much blessing, and so much of God's abundant grace, that I really just need to sit with my face in the carpet. And we have experienced some difficulties, here and there, but God's mercy has always covered it. And I am not entirely sure what my point is, why I am rambling here on my blog... except to say, that in this wonderful season, in whatever God is bringing... I am aware of some weeds, and some hard ground. I am aware of some things in my heart that will need to die, if new life is going to come out of what's there. I am... humbled.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." John 12:24-26

Big Boy...

This was at Daddy's request, and Noah's as well. So, we're giving it a try. (He got a haircut)