Thank You!

Our fundraiser was a success! We were so busy that we forgot to take pictures of the event. Bad blogger, I know. Thanks to everyone who attended or ordered take out that evening. It was such an encouragement to our entire family. We raised over $1,500 and gained new monthly supporters. Praise God!

Hey Y'all

We are having a fundraiser at the Pizza Ranch!  Please come and eat supper at the Pizza Ranch in Hudsonville any time between 4 - 9p.m.   If you can't make it, you can take it.  All take out orders count too.   A portion of the proceeds goes to

support our ministry.
Our hope for this fundraiser is not only to raise money, but also to raise support.  No, I did not just repeat myself.  There IS a difference.  Money is just that…money.  Support is more than that.  It's about relationships, communication, and prayer.  Don't get me wrong, money is definitely needed.  However, support is also vital to us.  We would love to connect with a lot of families from the community and our kids' school and let them see how "their community" and friends are supporting them too.
We hope y'all can come and support us!

When:   Monday, Nov. 10  
              4:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Where:  Pizza Ranch -- 
            3492 Chicago Dr.  Hudsonville
              (616) 669-7030

You Want Me To Do What?

Obedience.  That is a word that I tend to reserve solely for children.  But the reality is that we are all children, God’s children.  Just like we expect obedience from our own children, so God expects obedience from us.

In Jeremiah 7:23 The Lord says, “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.  Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.”

Instead of obedience though, I sometimes want to compromise with God.  If He does what I ask (or need) then I will do what He asks.  “God, if you heal me, then I will lead that Sunday School class.”   Have you ever done something like that? 

God doesn’t want compromises though, especially when it comes to our hearts and allegiance to Him.  These past two years, God has really been working with us on our obedience.  It has been a process of stretching us, searching our hearts, and bringing us to a point of submission to His will.  Once we are submitted, then and only then can God really go somewhere with us. 

1 Samuel 15:22 says, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying to voice of the Lord?  To obey is better than sacrifice.”

Sometimes obeying does mean sacrificing though.  I realize that in that passage Samuel is referring to the literal action of a sacrifice, but it is still relevant to us today.  For me, selling my house (favorite house ever!) is an act of obedience AND a sacrifice.   Being submitted to God and being obedient to his call often means valuing the things of God not of man.  We will all be sacrificing in this missions process: us, our kids, parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers, etc. 

However, what we give up in the process pales in comparison to the delight that The Lord receives from our obedience. 

What is God asking you to do today?