They're not My children

When we began the journey of foster care we faced many questions and comments regarding the time when the children leave your home.  Having not yet experienced that heartbreak, the only answer we had was the one revealed to us when God placed this service on our hearts.

"God showed me that even "my own" children, are not my own, and can still be taken from us at anytime."

All children, no matter who they are born to, belong to Him first.  He is so good to give us the privilege to love and care for His most precious creation, the one made in an image of Him.

In July our home grew from a family of 2 to 4 and soon became 5 with the birth of our son.  In November our first placement moved and a month later we said goodbye again and were left with a very empty home.  Many, many tears have been shed, and being mommy and daddy for 6 months and having to say goodbye is possibly the hardest thing we have ever been through.

I started asking myself...

"Can I really do this?"  

"Will I love the next one less because now I know what goodbye feels like?"

"Is this really what He wants us to do?"

Somehow, I found a comfort in the presence of so many questions.  Isn't this EXACTLY what God calls us to? 

The hard, the ugly, the faith building trials...

When we are in a situation so heart wrenching and God is still there...when His hands are almost visible...we cannot help but know He is good, and see His sovereignty over the situation.

Despite "loss" being still so fresh, I know that all the tears in our eyes and scars on our hearts are a worthy sacrifice for the privilege to care for God's children in such an intimate way by welcoming them into our home.

Grief is heavy on our hearts, but there is still room for a little excitement in the unknown details of the next child whom we will share our home, and most of all our heats with. 

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If you would like to learn the many different ways you can serve through foster care, look up your state's DCFS website.

If you are in Arkansas, look up the next info meeting in your area, through the CALL

The Good Father of foster care.

Overnight we became the parents to two sweet girls through foster care.  I would be lying if I said it was everything we were prepared for.  It has been the hardest thing we have done so far, yet I wouldn't trade a minute of it.

On a normal (to us) Thursday we received two separate phone calls that would turn out to be our first two foster placements.  That evening, while eating supper with family, we couldn't help but think about how "normal" and mundane the day/evening was for us, yet our eyes had been opened to the sobering fact that just miles down the road lives were being torn apart and tossed upside down.  In a matter of hours we learned of two separate heartbreaking situations taking place, all while we went along with our everyday lives.  Before the evening was over our household had grown from 2 to 4, when we welcomed a 12 yr old and a 1 yr old into our home.

We are only two months into the "parenting" part of the fostering journey, but one thing, and possible the ONLY thing I know for sure is that God is still always in control.  We have both already shed many tears with and for the young lives in our home, and if it wasn't for the peace and comfort of knowing who holds the future, I honestly don't think I could continue this journey.

Recently the four of us were in the vehicle with KLOVE playing as always.  Chris Tomlin's song "Good Good Father" was on and in that moment when I heard the two little voices in the back seat singing along, I immediately was overwhelmed with emotion.  The depth of that moment, knowing that two young souls, who may possibly have never known a "good father,"  were hearing (and singing) the gospel of the greatest Father we could ever have.

I will never forget that moment.  In the moments when this journey seems impossible to endure, I will forever remember those little voices in the backseat.  My prayer is that they to, wherever their path leads, with always remember He is a Good Good Father.

Summer Catch-Up

Well, it has been a typical June around here, maybe even a little crazier!  I don't even have time to make this real long (luck you) so I'll just pass along the highlights of the last month...

*We canNOT keep up with the garden... cucumbers, squash, tomatoes (I do a pretty good job of eating these up), green beans...

*I gained a sister!

*I turned 30! WHAT!? ~ I'll never again be in my 20's ///

*I have spent one week at church camp and Brett is on week 3!

*We have our final walk-thru visit for Foster parenting next week!!! (prayers please)

*We have new puppies!!!

Check out more at MorrisFarmyard.com

*We found Miss Kitty's babies!

*We have less than 10 weeks before Baby Morris arrives!!!

As you can see summer 2016 came in hot! (I mean that in every sense of the word)  

How has your summer been!?

Stop Following Your Dreams

It's graduation season!

Aisles are filled with cards that read "Congratulations,"  "You Did It," and "Follow Your Dreams."

and I'm wondering, is this really what we should be telling them!?

not just our graduates, but anybody striving for success in this thing we call life!

If I think back at the "dreams" I had at the end of high school, and the end of college, it is there that I discover is the start of what creeps in as a feeling of failure.

Better yet, maybe what we need to ask is how are we defining failure, and/or success?

Over the course of conversations, I realize that a feeling of "unsuccessful'ness," even if not considered failure, comes from comparing our current situation with the expectations we once had.

This is not an recommendation to throw out all desires, goals, and aspirations...

But maybe we should redefine success...

King David, left his son Solomon with this...

"keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn" - 1 Kings 2:3

Can we agree that "prospering in all you do" sounds like success?  Scripture says to achieve this follow the Lord and His teachings. That's it, no minimum salary, house size or car payment, no maximum number of failed attempts, plans, or re-dos; just following what the Lord has for us, however different that may be than the person next to us.

Solomon later reflected on that life lesson in these words...

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man” - Proverbs 3:1-4

The first step in following God's plan for our lives is accepting His gift of eternal life through His son, only then can true living begin.  A life lived in Jesus is not without trials, but rather with hope.  As our lives are transformed by the spirit of God, we begin to be filled with fruits such as love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  It is through the growth of these fruits that we live by the two greatest commandments, 

 "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:30-31

We do not become immune to trouble and hard times, but rather push through them with God's grace, wisdom, and peace.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" Romans 8:18

When we push and strive for what the world defines as success, we can begin to loose sight of eternity.  I have been in circumstances where following God's plan seemed crazy,  when choosing His path looked like the opposite of success to the world.  Sometimes I walked with Him anyways, other times I took the wide path, only to find out that is was eventually dissatisfying and often heartbreaking.  

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? - Matthew 16: 24-26

We must stop following our dreams, but rather invest all our aspirations and desires in God's perfect plan for us!

Trust in the LORD and do good;
         Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD;
         And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
         And your judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him

Psalm 37:3-7

This feeling can't be wrong...

So yesterday was a pretty rough day.  I had to say goodbye to my best friend of 10 years, my sweet Dixie... and hold it all together at work.

Then last night, it continued.  After just less than 2 hours of sleep I woke up with a toothache, and remained in the awakened - not resting state - until the alarm went off to come to work.  

Today...did not look to be any better! 12 hours to go, with only a few hours of sleep...

At lunch, I had to go pick up a prescription and when I walked outside I was greeted by the most beautiful day.  It is actually bringing tears to my eyes to think back on how much I needed that warm embrace from the Father.

Shortly after I pulled out of the parking lot, a song came on that I have not heard in awhile...and it was meant just for me...

"And oh there's something 'bout the way
Your sun shines on my face
It's a love so true I can never get enough of You
This feeling can't be wrong I'm about to get my worship on
Take me away
It's a beautiful day,
It's a beautiful day"

He never fails... when my heart starts to sink in the crashing waves, He always grabs my hand and brings me back to His embrace.

He is so good, and so faithful...my eyes are filled with a different kind of emotion today.  The warmth of His arms wrapped around my heart.  So glad I know who holds my tomorrow when my "today" is falling apart.

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Sure will miss this sweet girl.

Song: Jaime Grace -"Beautiful Day" 

Still small voice (& kicks in the bladder)

"behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him..." 

1 King 19:11-13

So often we only expect God to be present in big dramatic ways, and I'm afraid this causes us to miss out on so many opportunities to hear that still small voice.  For me anyways, I find myself not seeking Him often enough.  More like just waiting on Him to show up in an earthquake like moment.

The most recent reminder of this came when I was beginning to get anxious/worried/upset when I was nearing 20 weeks and still had not felt the baby move.  When we went for our ultrasound, and we could see little Squishy kicking those feet around, I realized that I HAD been feeling movement for the last couple weeks, I just wasn't aware of what it was.  And in the following weeks in the few moments that I was completely still, I was much more in tune to the movement of those little feet.

I have also been the same way with God, He gently shows me His presence everyday, but unfortunately, all too often it takes a much bigger moment for me to "see" Him move, then I realize He has been right here all along, I just haven't been quiet and still enough to notice Him!

As busy as life is, I believe that it still holds far more quiet moments than it does "obvious" ones.  I pray that I can become much more aware of His voice and grow all the more closer to Him.

Flashback Friday...

Flashback to one of my first posts on this blog

What Inspires Me?

The original post can be found here

What Inspires you?

I shall call him my squishy...

This week we reached the half way point in the wait to meet our little miracle.  We had to go for a level 2 ultrasound due to some health history, however little M looked as healthy as can be. 

However, already taking after daddy, getting pictures was a little difficult.  We are choosing to wait on knowing the gender.  We are praying for a healthy baby above all!!! (but we both think its a boy)

Some think we are just keeping it from everyone else, #1 because I usually call it "he,"  I just can't bring myself to call it "It."

However, I have occasionally called him "Squishy."  The story behind that is that when a friend of mine first found out we were pregnant again following the miscarriage  she would always say "just keep swimming" to the baby when I saw her.

This is the best profile she was able to get!  Like daddy much!?

We you join us is praying for a healthy baby!?

Life vs Living

Are we allowing life to get in the way of Living?

Our lives are so packed with work, and tasks, and to do lists, and must haves, that I am afraid it is taking the place of truly Living our lives on God's time.  What if instead of fitting our "God tasks" into a schedule already full of "life." we choose to make our schedule on God's time.

I know that the main point of this is not a new lesson, it is one that has been addressed by many before, but maybe its time we all look at it again.  Maybe instead of looking at it all as life, we start discerning the difference in life and truly Living for Christ.

I'm not going to set forth a list of this is just life... and this is how we should be Living... because first, I certainly don't have this all figured out, and most importantly, that "list" would look different for everybody.

I'm not suggesting we all quit our jobs, throw out our calendars, cancel all appointments, and wait on a daily auditory to-do list from the heavens.

But rather, taking time to truly listen to our Father, the one who cares for us, the one who has our absolute best interest in mind...and the hard part... when He is speaking to our hearts, instead of pulling out our calendars to see if/when we have time...MAKE TIME.  Truth after Truth tells us that if He has something for us that interferes with our "lives," it is because He knows we are missing out on Living and He is directing us to a much more fruitful path.

For some of us this is SCARY stuff, He may potentially asking us to change jobs, give up pay, give up our homes, give up material possessions, replace activities we enjoy.  However, no matter how important we think these things are, or how much we think we must do these things, whatever He has planned, will be FAR GREATER THAN WE CAN IMAGINE!!!

Trust His plan, Trust His love, Answer the call, Make the Time to LIVE!!!

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What in your life is in the way of you doing something for God?

Reading Lately...the secret is out!

SOOO, the secret is finally out!  

We're expecting!!!

With everything we went through last year, Brett was understandably hesitant to spread the word too fast.  

We serve a God of miracles and can't wait to meet the latest at the end of August!!!  It's going to be one long hot summer for this mama but totally worth it!!!  

We are so blessed God chose us for this journey and know that it will bring us even closer to Him!

*Oh! and the reading part... the "What to Expect" book is super overwhelming.  I have just been thumbing through it.  It contains a lot of what I would consider common sense but also contains some good "heads-up" tid-bits!

Although exciting, this season in life is a huge reminder of our need for our Lord.  Without a doubt I will need His strength and comfort now and the months to come more than ever!

Holes made Whole: 2 become 3, or 4

If you would have asked us in May what November and December looked like for us we would have spoke briefly of turkey and Christmas parties, followed by an anxious, exciting, nervous conversation about "nesting" and preparing our lives for our family to become 3 around the 17th of December!

But just a month later it would have been a totally different conversation.

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Before we ever got married Brett and I talked of adopting and other ways to "care for the orphans."  Brett brought up fostering a couple times but selfishly my heart said no! I didn't think I could handle caring for a child that could at anytime be stripped away from us.  Loving a child as your own for a week or up to year and at any unexpected moment they be removed from our lives.  I wasn't prepared to test my heart in that way.

After we got married and understood the possibility of infertility, my heart was content with that, broken, but content. I knew adopting was an option. 

During a conversation with a particular friend about her health and ability to safely carry a baby, I had even made statements like, "as heart breaking as infertility is, I can't imagine how much more challenging it would be to get pregnant and loose the baby."

So months later when I found myself in the midst of that exact trial, I questioned God, "why would He take a heart content with absence, and tear it with loss?"

Eventually, He would answer that question for me...

My heart was also selfishly content with disobeying a very important commandment... to care for orphans

I was only willing to do this on my own terms, within my own comfort-zone.

My number one reason for not wanting to foster was because those children could be taken from me at anytime.  Through miscarriage, God showed me that even "my own" children, are not my own, and can still be taken from us at anytime.  Children are a blessing, despite how they come to us, and every child deserves a loving home that points them in the direction of our perfect Heavenly Father.  We can not let fear, or loss of control keep us from God's will for our lives.  It was not God's plan for us to miscarry, He did not cause the death of our child.  But, He did allow it, and He used it to bring us to a place of huge blessing!!!

So in May, when we told you how anxious, nervous, and excited we would be with preparation, we were right, it just looks a little different than we thought...

The process has begun for Brett and I to be foster parents! The first couple rounds of paper work & our first walk-through have been done! Our Christmas list has been made, and we are preparing to love on kids who may not know what that looks like, and hopefully point them in the direction of the One perfect Love we all need a little bit more of!!!

So pray for us as we prepare our hearts and home! 

Waiting on the holes to be filled...

Lately I have struggled with something.  I haven't been able to give it words, so I'm not really sure how this is going to go.

I have been through most (if not all) of the emotions one would expect after a miscarriage.  But ultimately I knew I didn't want to be the girl who no one can say "baby" around.

Or invite to baby showers.  

Or talk about pregnancy.

I had to choose between joy of all the new life I am surrounded by, or letting the circumstances steal the delight in celebration with my friends and family.

I absolutely still have days of sadness.

Days of questioning.

Times of heart ache.

I still have moments of weakness when I see others experiencing things that have been taken from us.

One would expect pain with the reminders that we will not be bringing home baby in just a few short months.  But I have been caught off guard by how often I have to remind myself that wont take place.

I still catch myself shopping racks of baby clothes, reading cloth diaper how-to's,  making plans that are no longer necessary... I am a mom with-out a child.  Worse than being reminded by the world that we lost a child, Is having to remind myself that I lost a child.

We as women have been designed this way, it is woven into are existence.  I have witnessed this my whole life growing up on a farm.  So many times I have watched an animal loose their offspring and immediately start to "mother" something else.  A couple years ago a doe lost her fawn during hay season.  She started to think that a small dog was her baby and she hung around for months, often times even acting as if she thought she was just one of the dogs.

As I was navigating these feelings I have been dealing with, I began to consider something that is happening in our yard right now.  We have a guinea hen who had disappeared for awhile and we knew she had probably nested down somewhere she had been laying eggs.  Since she is the only one we have we knew that the eggs would never hatch.  She soon reappeared, we don't know if she just sat until she knew her time was up, or if something disrupted the nest, but either way she had been preparing for a flock of littles, and yet, she had none.

A couple weeks later we got some newly hatched chickens and guineas.  Our guinea hen would circle there pen and talk to them all day.  She would protect them from anything that came close to their pen.  When we began letting them free range she keeps them close.  

Her desire and design to be a mother is at work.

I am sorry to drag on with this critter talk, but I have no words of my own to describe this feeling of "loss" or "emptiness," and these examples put life to these feelings.  Something I took away from the flock in the yard...

They needed a mother as much as she wanted to be one.

Unfortunately, our own "species" if you must, is not without orphans.  

Children who need love and care.

It is said that every hole we have within us is God shaped, and only He can complete us.  

He does not leave the orphans fatherless (or motherless), and His plan is perfect.
Empty "holes" will always be "whole" with God's perfect plan...in His Perfect Timing

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October is Pregnancy & Infant loss month and through this vulnerability I hope to bring awareness to the struggles of loss... and the Hope of fulfillment through God's perfect plan.  I don't know His plan for us yet, but I do hope that through following along, you will also find hope.

Remember, Revive, & Rejoice

This past week we have met every night to gather in one name to lift up our voices in prayer to the One we know can bring us revival.

two or more... and Him.

Each night many voices from one body would petition requests to our God.

So many hearts in one room, sharing testimonies of one thing...Suffering...

hearts hurting for loved ones so dear

young ones gone too soon

suffering of exhaustion, hearts worn thin

souls in need of outpouring

suffering of loss

Our souls long for revival, but what for? To take away all our suffering?

Or to remind us of it?

Jesus constantly left us the commandment to "Remember"

We are not meant to heap happiness over our pain until others can no longer see, it is still a fire burning so deep inside.

Rather, what if we remembered or sufferings as a reminder of the Hope we have in Jesus's name!

 ^"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18

This past year for us has been a special kind of trial, but it would be a shame for us to not see the Glory that was revealed through every painful step.  This verse became a lifeline for me, in it a powerful reminder that as hard as the here and now seems to be, the peace of God is an unfathomable comparison.

So what is revival? A time to remember the Glory that has come and is to come from the sufferings.

"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Romans 8:19-25

Let your heart cry out to God, remembering all He has brought you through, most of all, setting your mind on the Glory to come.

I am so thankful for the blessing of community. So thankful for a time of Revival.  A time to remember and celebrate the Glory that is our eternity.

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Psalm 85:6

Dear 16-year-old me,

                                                  Wednesday, September 9: Write a letter to sixteen-year-old you.

Miss Kylee at Sixteen,

We don't know each other, we are two very different people.  Our passions, beliefs, friends, and dreams are very different.  There are probably things we could learn from each other.  You do fairly well with handling stress and channeling emotions, try and keep it that way!  Keep pushing yourself to be better at everything you do! One day you will be able to look at all those years of effort and improvement with a sense of pride.  Be careful not to try too hard tho, you can get wrapped up in it and start to think feel like you haven't gotten anywhere.

But it will get you somewhere, you will end up in college with another two years in a sport you love! Cherish the moments and friendships that come from that, they will fade away all too soon!  I'm sorry to tell you it is there that your 4 year relationship will come to an end.  It will hurt. A lot.  But please know that there is an amazing path ahead for both of you!  The two of you will reconnect a couple years later and see that had that pain not occurred, you would have both missed out on huge blessings.

You career path will unexpectedly change, and you won't have any clue then, but it is all part of a grander plan, one that you don't even know about!  Your heart will be torn apart a couple times, but each knock down is bringing you closer to your knees, and when you finally hit them you will meet someone...

You'll learn that He has had his eye on you for quite sometime.  You'll slowly get to know Him a little bit better.  You'll start to realize the many times you broke His heart and you didn't even know it.  But you will then discover that despite all the hurt you have caused Him, He loves you just as much as He ever did; and He gave up everything to be in a relationship with you.

Then, that day, when you let go of what you think your life is suppose to look like; That day your life will change. Because of Jesus.  Your hopes and dreams will all become His. And girl let me tell you, are you in for it!  You can't even imagine what your life will look like after that!  But trust in Him, trust the Journey He will take you on. He has a messy, beautiful, life planned out for you!

Love, me You (the redeemed version)

Dear Younger Me By MercyMe

Are you wondering where this very uncharacteristic post came from...well, it's part of Blog-tember hosted by BraveLoveBlog!  

If your joining me from the Link-up, WELCOME! I'm so glad you found me! 

This one was kinda hard for me, what about you!? It got a little easier once I got started, I liked the challenge!!! 

Also read...

Why, Recklessly Chosen?

Blog-tember

Monday, September 7: Tell us about your blog name. Where did it come from?

This is the post I originally wrote when "Recklessly Chosen" was first launched! My reason behind starting this blog was to share what the Lord is doing in my Life.  I wanted a name that described "this life"...

Recklessly Chosen

When we think of "reckless," what do we think?...

A book I have recently read, The Prodigal God,made me take a second look at the definition of "reckless."  The author, Timothy Keller, first brings up reckless when he refers to God as "prodigal."  Again, not my choice of words for our never moving, ever present father in heaven, however, he points out that the definition of prodigal is, "recklessly spendthrift."  Now that I think rings a little truer of a God who gave up His only son, just so we could return to Him for eternity!  Seeing Him as "reckless" took a little more thought...

The definition of "reckless" is... "marked by lack of proper caution : careless of consequences."

Is my God reckless?...  Of course He is!

He did not need to take caution or worry of the consequences because He ALREADY KNEW what the consequences were!  He knew what He would loose and what we would gain, and He did it anyways!

The more I thought about it, I couldn't help but think..."Would any god who was "playing it safe" or "weighing the consequences" have ever saved ME?

Absolutely not!

Keller ends the intro with this...

"Jesus is showing us the God of Great Expenditure, who is nothing if not prodigal toward us, his children.  God's reckless grace is our greatest hope and a life changing experience."

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You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.- John 15:16

My God Recklessly Chose me, and I hope to share with you the grace and hope He bestows upon me daily!

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So here's what you'll find if your just joining me here!  

Where did your blog name come from!?

Serving one. Loving Jesus.

Why do we serve?

When I asked this question, I found my mind going in circles because I really could not settle on one solid answer, but rather was flooded with the many reasons we choose to love on others.  

First, being that sometimes, when we are so in tune with the Father, I find that it isn't even a conscious choice, but rather just allowing our Lord to move in and through us! Those "little" impulse moves to carry out somebody's groceries, or pump gas for the elderly across from us, or even hold a door so politely for someone.  These are acts of service, of love, and when performed so naturally rather than for self boast, it's not our love, but rather the perfect Love of the Father shining through! 

We should never find ourselves short of "reasons" to Love.  

Jesus and The Word, tells us to do so...

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" - 1 Peter 4:10

"If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” - Mark 9:35

I recently read a passage in a book that has stuck with me...

-why don't we assume God actually does want us to DO everything He tells us, and have faith that he will direct and channel those actions in the right direction?

Jesus not only tells us numerous times to serve others, but many times we read instruction to love others. Love is a synonym of serve, at least in should be! 

Because he first loved us...

We as fallen human beings lack the ability of true, perfect love. It is ONLY through God and our relationship with Jesus that we can truly love others. 

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us" 1  John 4:7-12

Why do we serve? 

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them" - Hebrew 6:10

Serving is not only a way we can demonstrate God's love, but in serving we "show God love!" It is an act of worship! 

Why do we serve?

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Gal 5:13-14

We have been set Free! 

When we come to the realization of who and what we would be without the saving grace of our Lord, we can discern that every part of our lives should be devoted to service

 For Him! 

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love" - Mother Teresa

There are innumerable ways that YOU can serve! Be proactive and pray for direction! Remember that we don't have to serve hundreds or thousands to serve Jesus.  Only ONE!

  "And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." - Matthew 25:40

Here are a few ways my family serves...

We sponsor children through Compassion Intl. and serve as child advocates.

Pack and send shoe boxes every year as well as give monthly to Samaritan's Purse discipleship program.

Participate in food drives that serve the local community.

Serve through mission trips at home and internationally.

Volunteer at various events such as conferences and concerts.

Serve in our local church.

Click Here For more ways to get involved and read a little bit about what God is doing around the world.

Perfect Timing (A Photo Blog) Costa Rica 2015

 Costa Rica Mission Team 2015

This is a month late, but despite having 4 weeks to put this week into words, it cannot be done!

But I have to try...

I cannot tell you about May 23-31 without telling you what led up to this being possible...

April 2014 - While on the World Race (Month 4 in Costa Rica), I felt led to fast and pray about the upcoming "months and countries."  Brett did the fast with me back in the States.  We began Easter 2014.

On Easter the missionaries in Costa Rica invited the team (WR team) to a big Easter dinner with a group of several missionaries serving in Costa Rica.  When it came time to leave, a lady (Holly) at the dinner offered to drive us down the hill to the bus stop.  During the drive down I overheard Holly telling one of my team mates about her ministry and all they did.

The three days following Easter we fasted and prayed; much to our surprise we felt complete peace about me traveling home instead of continuing on the race.  Also in that time Brett and I both felt like God was calling us to open some doors for the people in our community who felt led to step into missions and what God was doing around the world.

Fall 2014 - Brett and I began to pray specifically for our first trip to lead a group on.  We had two places on our hearts and already and been in contact with ministries who could use our help; both were orphanages, one in Africa, one in Asia.  Yet while praying, Brett was brought to remembrance of his trip to Costa Rica several years ago, and I recalled overhearing of a ministry in need of help!

I contacted my teammate who had spoke with Holly that day.  She was in Asia still and I knew it would possibly be weeks before she was able to get back to me and I wasn't even sure she had contact info for Holly. But, she got right back to me and I was able to get in touch with Holly in less than a week!

October 2014 - We Arise Missions scheduled it's first trip to Costa Rica for Spring Break week 2015 to serve with Mission of Hope!

November 2014 - Dates of the trip were changed due to school schedules of some of the team members.  The mission was now set for May 23-31st!

December 2014 - Team members began fundraising, many for their first ever mission trip!!!

January to May 2015 -  To attempt to explain all the ways God worked in these 5 months would be absolutely impossible!  Please if you know anyone who was a part of this group, take time to ask them about the ways God worked not only on the trip but in the months leading up to boarding the first plane!

May 2015 - Just weeks before the trip, Mission of Hope received funding to start a feeding program 5 days a week in a local impoverished community.  The local church had a kitchen, however it was not suitable for serving hundreds of kids.  A new one would need to be built and they did not have enough man power or money to build it...However, A team of 14 was coming with a project budget!!!  Our week schedule was changed to make our main project building a kitchen in a community built out of pallets and scraps.

May 23 - Due to a parking mishap, our team of 14 walked into the Dallas/Fort Worth airport with 8 minutes to get everyone of us checked in, bags checked, through security and on the plane...and it happened!!!
Can we all agree God was in control!


May 24 begins an incredible week, I'll let pictures do the most talking...

This is the church in the community where Mission of Hope would start holding a feeding program 5 days a week...

This is the church's kitchen

This was their stove

And these are some of the kids from the community...

To say we fell in love with them is an understatement!!!

Our team had an amazing time building a new kitchen for the church; a kitchen that would be able to support feeding all these kids all week long!

As well as construction, we all spent time playing with the kids and loving on them! We painted their faces, jump roped, played soccer, and attempted some balloon animals (worms and snakes are EASY!)

Bubbles were also a favorite.  This kid was to...this is Jeremy, his dad helped out with the construction of the kitchen.  Jeremy definitely has a place in everyone of our hearts!!!

Before we could start building, there was some demolition to be done!  The church is made of mostly pallets and tin scraps, so we tore out the back "wall" and cleaned up all the rocks, scraps, and garbage piled around the church!

Some rocks took some extra muscle!

When the guys have all the tools and you have to build a bridge to get into the door of the church...
We call it "God's hammer"  - One less rock they had to carry off!!!

The back half of the church also got a new roof! - The locals all thought Brett was too "grande" to be up there!

It is starting to look like a real building!

The 2015 Costa Rica Mission Team was blessed enough to raise enough funds to also purchase a real sink and a cook stove to be installed in the kitchen!

Constuido con amor por We Arise Missions!
Constructed with love by We Arise Missions!

While in Costa Rica we were given the opportunity to spend some time with a kindergarten class at a local catholic school!  Brett got to tell the kids about the three Hebrew children while the rest of the team acted it out!  Afterwards we played some games, painted some faces, sang some songs, and helped them each make a salvation bracelet and share with them the story of Jesus!

We also had the privilege to join Mission of Hope in their ministry feeding the 

homeless in one of the local parks!

We fed their bellies with pancakes and their hearts with the love of Jesus!

Our last day in Costa Rica we returned to the park with the youth group 

of a local church and helped put on an outreach.

I finally stepped up my game and created a flower!

By the end of the day I was a professional at making flowers, dogs, swords,
and even mastered 2 "mariposas" (Butterflies)

During our activity in the park...

12 people got saved for the first time, four of them are going to the church now!
15 people rededicated their lives
We prayed for 40 people for different necessities
10 people, mostly homeless, got their hair cut
4500 tracks give away
50 new testaments
50 cross necklaces
196 lunches and 53 breakfasts    

May 31st - The group landed in FL with just under a 2 hour layover before boarding time, Customs however, took 2 hours and 10 minutes.  You cant get 14 people on the "next plane!"  In an attempt to get at least some of the group on the plane everyone raced to the gate hoping to catch it at the last minute.  But due to being short staffed the plane was delayed and after a meal and a nap, all 14 of us got on the same plane back to Dallas!

God has perfect timing

Never early, Never Late

It was overwhelming enough to experience it, and remember it all in one week, but to look back at all the ways God's timing was absolutely perfect leaves me speechless and in awe all over again!

To keep up with all our missions visit...

WeAriseMissions.org