Steven Curtis Chapman

That is right...we still LOVE Steven Curtis Chapman after all these years. It has a little to do with his new album coming out (check out Cinderella...makes a dad all mushy inside). A little to do with how cool he still is (my son agrees!) But let me tell you ...

About three weeks ago we were asked if we were willing to help at the Champaign, IL SCC concert. They were having booths set up as part of the Show Hope campaign. Basically, it is a branch of Shaohannah's Hope...that's right, the organization that granted us $5000!!! So when asked, we jumped at the chance.

Stephen and I drove to Champaign (about 1 1/2 hours) to hand out flyers, hold buckets for people to drop in change, and even man a booth to answer questions about adoption. And let me tell you, Steven CC has no reservations in talking about adoption. Whether it be his songs (When Love Takes you In with video in the background of people first meeting their adopted child) to intermission/pre-concert slide shows, to the pre-intermission Show Hope explanation and video of a family that received a grant...it was all adoption night (along with some fabulous music). He even ended the concert...not with an encore...but with a prayer over a family that received the money collected that night to help with their adoption expenses. We were pleasantly surprised to not only get a chance to help - but also see most of the concert (what a bonus!)

Steven Curtis Chapman truly has a heart for adoption - and is not afraid to share his vision. If you get a chance, check out a concert when he comes your way...we are glad we did!

You may also want to check out that new album, This Moment.

New Kind of Prayer

In the last post I talked about how stretched we are...knowing God will take care but still wondering if it will happen sooner, or later.

Well, I have been humbled a bit. This time it was 2 Kings 19. King Hezekiah is in the midst of a problem. The Assyrians are about to attack, and if things go true to form Jerusalem will be captured. Pretty bad situation for them, I'd say!

The devotional was about how Hezekiah turned to the Lord for help, which is a great lesson in itself. However God spoke to me about his prayer.

In the troubling situations I have been in I have prayed for God to help for the mere fact that I am His and he cares for me. If I was Hezekiah I would've prayed "God, please help because I do not want to die! Help me!"

But Hezekiah did something different. He prayed that God would deliver them "so that all the kingdoms on earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God." Sure, he wanted deliverance. But he prayed it for GOD'S glory!

If I approach my problems as placed there to bring glory to God, it is no longer about me. It is about Him, and His greatness, and His might, and His power, and His love!

I think I am starting to get it.

-Dave

FULL

If asked to describe how we feel right now...it would be full. More precisely, we may describe our lives as margin-less. We feel that we are at all we can handle mentally, financially, physically, relationally, etc... (that may explain why we haven't updated in awhile) And yet we know that God is there with us, helping us see it through.

We even knew it was coming! This time last year I was basking in the relative calm. Now we just lean on truths like: "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13)

In the middle of all that Sonya celebrated her birthday yesterday! I have included a merciful birthday pic...no Sonya in pjs. We had a breakfast celebration - fun gifts and all!