Into the waters

Sunday morning we had the great privilege of watching Emily go forward to be baptized.  That verb "watched,"  strikes my momma-heart, because it carries such a large truth.  We did not carry or bring our daughter forward, we did that 6 years ago, no yesterday we watched as she chose to announce her own faith. Her faith in a Savior who died for her.  A Savior she loves with such purity and beauty, that she amazes and teaches her mom and dad daily.


She went boldly and joyfully into the waters with a big pink cast on her arm and a smile on her lips.  

Watching her I saw, that this is how we are to approach the Kingdom of God;  with wiggling, naked feet that can't wait to go forth; with a heart so bursting with joy that it can't be kept from our lips;  with our brokenness unabashedly on display,  with nothing to offer, but that which Christ desires, ourselves.  

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus... so very sweet indeed.  

This year let's gain something instead of giving something up

For many people tomorrow will be their last hooray before they prepare to give up something for the season of Lent ( the 40 days before Easter).  While sacrifice and fasting can be good spiritual tools, it seems these days that Lenten fasting is more often about saving a few dollars (no Starbucks), or weight loss (no sugar, no chocolate).

So my friends, this year I want to encourage you to take the season of Lent to gain something, instead of giving something up.  I want to encourage you to gain some more Jesus in your life by ...

....gaining the practice of reading scripture daily (alone or with your children).

.....gaining the practice of a daily time of prayer.

.....gaining the practice of regular service to the poor.

                 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than                          burnt offerings - Hosea 6:6

For our family this will be a season of reading and prayer. We will journey with Christ through the gospels.  Being reminded of His love each night as we add another candle and draw a little closer to the greatest of days, Easter Sunday.

Our family would love for your family to join us.  You can print out my 40 day reading guide, Prepare Our Hearts.  I pray you will leave this Lenten season with more Jesus:   a stronger understanding of who He is, and a deeper personal relationship with Him, and you can even keep eating chocolate and going to Starbucks - what a deal! 

I Love You Mail

Don't you love to get mail?  I mean real mail that arrives in the mailbox, not the electronic kind.  For the past 5 years our family has given and received a flurry of mail to one another in the week leading up to Valentine's Day.  We call it I Love You Mail.  We each have a small decorated mailbox which sits out on our counter.  For a week, we deliver small love notes, pictures, homemade coupons and even a few candies.  It becomes a game to get mail into someone else's box without them catching you.  It is cloaked as a fun, sometimes silly, week-long tradition, but at its heart is making sure we tell one another "I love you,"  "I love you,"  "I love you!"  Kids, and moms and dads too, can never hear that enough.

In lieu of a family devotion for February, I am posting a print out of 6 scripture-based I Love You Mail cards for your kids.(Click here to download)  Small mailboxes are available at Target, Joanne's, and Micheal's.  These cards can also be stuck in lunchboxes or on a bathroom mirror.  I hope your family will join ours in taking this next week to share with one another ....

        I love you!

                    I love you! 

                             I LOVE YOU!!!