Morning Devotion

Here are some thoughts from my morning quiet time:

Isaiah 1:16, 17
The Lord has just finished telling Israel that He doesn't want to listen to their prayers anymore because they are not really seeking Him. They are going through the religious motions, but their hearts are far from Him. So He spells out for them what He desires from them:

• learn to do good - seek after what is good, try to learn it, you don't have to be perfect right now
• seek justice - be proactive about things being right and just
• reprove the ruthless - speak up and against evil
  
• defend the orphan - those who have no rights and no defender
• plead for the widow - one who has no one to protect her

The Lord is saying "This is what I'm all about - goodness, righteousness, kindness, compassion - and you can learn to be like me. No, good deeds won't save you, but they will draw you closer to me. And you know, this is all about a relationship, not religious motions."

And then the Lord goes on to say that if they will just obey Him, all their sins will be removed, forgiven, and as though they had not sinned. They will be provided with the best of the land. If they refuse to obey, they will be destroyed by the sword.

So not only does He continue to tell them what to do to be restored in their relationship with Him, but He also offers grace to remove their sin.

I think it's important in every relationship to understand where you stand with the other person and what you can do to get closer, if that's what you want. God realizes that and spells it out for us over and over again. Our God is so good to us.

School...almost...here

Today is Sarah's last day of freedom before her semester starts.

Joshua has until Monday.

The countdown begins...

Sorry to keep you in suspense. I did make it to the doctor last week and it turns out I had bronchitis. Not fun. But I go on medicine and am really much better now. Which is really just in time. School starts for me Friday and for Joshua on Monday. I have already bought my textbooks, but I left them in my car because I'm not ready to deal with that yet. =)

For those of you who keep up with our blog regularly and are wondering what is going on these days...Sarah is sick, sick, sick. I'm finally going to the doctor today and we'll see what the verdict is. So far Joshua hasn't gotten sick - he's still pulling long hours at work making sure everyone gets things done. =)

More to come later

Ashley's Wedding

Our good friend Ashley Rodenberger got married this past weekend to Ross Pagenkopf. It was a beautiful wedding and a very fun reception! Here are some pics!The bride and her mother before the ceremony. Don't they look beautiful?

A slightly blurry picture of Ash, Ross and her family.

A lot of our pictures turned out blurry. I'm not sure why. But here's one more!
Awww, the old married couple, as we have affectionately been dubbed! =)

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Pagenkopf! Enjoy your honeymoon!

JB Burrell - Papaw

SAN ANGELO — James Bernice “J.B.” Burrell, 91, went to be with the Lord on Friday, July 27, 2007, at home in Kerrville surrounded by family. He was a longtime resident of San Angelo and Odessa.

J.B. was born Dec. 21, 1915, in Gist, Texas, to Henry Ervin and Nora Lee Gist Burrell. He married Dot Eugenia Norman on April 16, 1939, in Miles and enjoyed 68 years of marriage to his bride. They raised their family in San Angelo. -

-excerpt from the Obituary for my grandfather - Papaw.

Sarah and I attended his funeral in San Angelo on Wednesday of this week. We drove to meet my brother in Waco, then drove together to San Angelo. The Funeral was a great time of celebrating with family the life of Papaw, worshiping his Creator and Lord- who's presence Papaw is now enjoying- and grieving the loss of his presence on earth with us.

I was most encouraged and challenged by the remembrance of Papaw's simple life of humility, love, obedience to, and faith in Christ. He led his family into the satisfying embrace of their Heavenly Father leading daily devotionals and consistently attending church. Through the generations that have followed this message and love from Papaw's Savior has been been taken around the world. Papaw's faith has truly rippled down through time and out across the nations in a way that I'm sure he never would have imagined.

Papaw was not a wealthy business man that lived a luxurious life, nor a revered theologian that meditated on the doctrines of scripture. He was a humble man that worked with his hands and walked obediently with Christ living a life of faith, hope, and love. All of which he is now enjoying the fulfillment of. He laid up for himself treasures in heaven.

We were challenged at the funeral to consider life and death, and where our priorities lie with our life left on earth and our life eternal.

Photo taken on Thanksgiving 2006 with Mamaw and Papaw

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinth 15:54-57

We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

2 Corinth 4:14,15

3 years

Two days ago we passed another milestone...3 years of marriage! Yeah! We have had a great 3 years, full of adventures, many lessons learned (and still learning), lots of college and graduate classes, and many different living locations. Since getting married we have been to 4 countries outside the US, and at least 3 times to one of those countries. We have seen God provide in more ways than we thought possible and we've seen Him turn tears into singing. Sarah has been in 3 weddings and we've attended many, many more. And we've celebrated new life with friends as they've had their first babies. (No, we have not yet had any of our own...be patient).

So much in 3 years. And still so much to come. Thank you to all who have shared this time with us and walked with us through all of these experiences. God continues to amaze us as He shows us more of Himself, more of His plans for us, more of His love for His people. We get to see His love in the faces of our friends, in the supportive prayers of our home team, in the people we serve with at Connect. And we get to dream of what we will get to do with architecture, with counseling, with missions, with whatever else comes our way.

I was thinking the other day about the hymn I walked down the aisle to, 3 years ago, and how it is still our desire now.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Not be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping thy presence my light

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Son
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all

kids' camp

A couple weeks ago Sarah went to kids' camp with Connect. It was a Student Life camp in Sherman, Texas. It was fun...and exhausting. I loved getting to hang out with the girls I've been teaching for a year now. They are a lot of fun and I love them all.

Gotta love blue face paint! We were the blue squad for rec, so we went all out whenever possible.

Camp was great and it's also good to be back and sleeping in my own bed!

Wyoming!

This past weekend we went to Wyoming. It is so beautiful up there!
That's what we saw flying in! Mountains!
The conference was so great, too.  At the conference we got to see people we worked with in Guatemala, other interns, and other staff we hadn't seen in almost 2 years. We got to hear about more projects they are doing, the lives they are touching, and future plans for the offices and the glory of God. We have come home with our heads spinning about what it all might mean for us in the future.
A big thank you goes to Joshua's parents who made it possible for us to go and who joined us there to experience the great stuff. We also got to go whitewater rafting, enjoy great food, and stroll around the little town in Jackson Hole.

Update needed!

Wow! I realize that an update is way overdue! This summer class has kept me busy...as have other adventures.

A couple of weekends ago we went down to Houston to visit my parents and go to Spamalot.

It was a lot like the movie of Monty Python and the Holy Grail - basically irreverent about everything, with some very funny parts, some silly parts, and some obscene parts.
We had a great time with my parents and grandmother. Then we got to see Jesse and Melody's newborn baby, Ryleigh Ann. She is so sweet and they are so happy.

Then Sarah had more school, lots of reading, some work. Joshua worked long hours to make up for missing last Friday in order for us to go to...

MEXICO!

We went on a scouting trip with some other friends from our church to see if this town outside of Monterrey Mexico would be an opportunity for future mission trips. We left Thursday night and came back Sunday afternoon. It was a great trip! We got to speak Spanish again and hang out with Mexicans - who I love! This is Guillermo, the son of one of the pastors. He loved these little cats and carried them around everywhere - much to the cat's fear and trepidation.
Here are the ladies who went on the trip. The two girls with cowboy hats are daughters of a family we met down there. They are the "adopted" Mexican family of the man who took us down there. He has been taking trips down to this town for several years now and is excited that we might be interested in adopting the area.

So, as you can see, we've been busy. =) I'll try to post more thoughtful, reflective posts soon.
Until then, here is a slideshow to enjoy.

Birthday Celebrations

Sarah's 24th birthday was Monday, June 4th. But the birthday celebration started Friday night. We met Ashley and Ross at Starbucks for coffee and brownies. Ashley brought my birthday present and a birthday cake candle for the whole effect. On Sunday night we had planned to have our home group over for games and hang-out time since our bible study leaders are out of town. But Joshua secretly told the group that we were going to celebrate my birthday and even invited a few extra people to come over. He made me a birthday cake and we got to celebrate with several of our friends from Connect.

We look a little shiny in this picture because the air conditioner in our house isn't working. So we had 11 hot and sweaty people having fun playing games, taking turns standing by the fans! We had a great time anyway and didn't wrap up the evening until around 11pm.

Monday was my actual birthday. Joshua brought me coffee in bed and I got to open a couple of my presents from my grandmother and Josh's parents. Then I had to go to staff meeting at the office, but we had a birthday lunch for me and Joshua surprised me by meeting us there for lunch. We had a cookie cake and Rachael made me cupcakes, too. It was a lot of fun.

Of course, the downside to the whole day is that I got my first speeding ticket on my birthday. That's right, he gave me a ticket on my birthday. I guess that will keep me humble.

Thanks for all the cards, phone calls, emails, and birthday wishes!

Picnic at the park

Saturday was our first weekend with sunshine in a long time. So we took lunch and the dog to the park for some fun in the sun.

There's our football dog!

A talk about James

On Sunday our pastor, Mark, was talking on James, since he's been doing a series there. This time it was James 5:1-6.

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Sounds like a fun passage to present, huh? He began by expressing that most of us don't consider ourselves rich and so it's easy to pass over this section thinking that it doesn't apply to us. But when we define "rich" as "having more than we need," almost all of us realize that we are rich, especially when we consider the world economy. James is talking to those who have more than they need, explaining that the "riches" they trust in are rotted.

So is James blasting the wealthy for being wealthy? No, not really. The question we need to ask is Why does God give us more than we need?
Mark gave a great illustration: Suppose you are little Billy's parent. You decide to take little Billy and his friend little Johnny to the park for a picnic. They each bring their lunches. Little B and little J each pull out their peanut butter and jelly sandwiche, apple, and juice box for lunch. When they are finished, little Billy (your son) reaches in his bag and pulls out a bag of cookies. Little Johnny doesn't have a bag of cookies. As a parent, what are you hoping little Billy will do? Share his cookies with his friend, right? And you will be so proud with little Billy gives 4 cookies to his friend and gives 4 cookies to himself.

So when God gives us more than we need, it's not really our need He has in mind. Rather, He's thinking about the needs of others. And what a proud Father He is when we share our bag of cookies.

Joshua and I really enjoyed this talk and are praying for and looking for opportunities to share what we have been given. May you be blessed with the same opportunities.

Memorial Day Weekend

We have had a very enjoyable weekend. At lunchtime on Friday Joshua's boss let the office go home and start their weekend with the afternoon off. Big surprise for us! We didn't think that would happen! So after cleaning the house that afternoon, we were free to enjoy the weekend!

Of course, it's been raining the whole weekend, starting Friday. But we have made the most of it. On Saturday we took the dog rollerblading and then went to a 6th grade graduation party at a friend's house. And we didn't have to come home early to do homework! How great is that?

On Sunday we got to celebrate new life as 6 people from our church were baptized. Since our church meets at a community center near a park, after the second service we walk over to the community pool there at the park and baptize there in the pool. We had two children and 4 adults make a public confession that they are followers of Christ. They each wrote in their own words about how they became a Christ follower and an emcee read their story so that we could all celebrate with them. It was sprinkling the whole time, but that didn't stop people from coming down to celebrate. It was such a special time. What a blessing to be able to share in the lives and in the special moments in people's lives.

Today it is still sprinkling off and on. We've just been relaxing and enjoying the time off. We had a very festive Memorial Day breakfast.Happy Memorial Day!

Graduation!

My brother graduated from UT this past weekend. I can't believe how fast those years went by! I am so proud of him and all he has done. He's a really great guy and I'm proud to call him my brother.We had a great time all getting to be together for his graduation and hanging out with some of his friends. Matthew plans to stay in Austin for the next year until some of the high school guys he works with in Young Life graduate. Then he plans to go to Costa Rica for about a year and start up a Young Life club down there.

We had to humor the parents and pose in front of the Bevo. But don't worry, we showed our Aggie pride with a Gig 'em. =)

More thoughts on James

James 1:25
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

This verse says to me that living the Christian life is not about memorizing a set of rules, but about looking up on the truth of God until it is seared on your heart and in your mind and you can't forget it. It's about knowing the truth so that when you are faced with decisions to make and difficult situations, you can respond in the way that is pleasing to God.

James explains that what we do will show if we have been look intently at the perfect law. Our behavior will show if we are effectual doers or forgetful hearers. And the one who walks in the law of liberty will be blessed in what he does.

What do my actions say about me today? Do I remember, as I go about each day, the things that I have read in God's word?

Finished!

Another semester is finished! Yay! We survived!

Joshua had his final presentation on Monday night where he "wowed" the architects with his project. He did a fabulous job!

Sarah finished today with her 4th final. Whew.

So what's next? Joshua is going back to work full-time. Sarah will be taking almost 3 weeks off of school before her summer class starts. She will keep working and catch up on housework, new recipes, and reading. She starts her practicum at the seminary next Tuesday!

Another semester older, another semester smarter.

Ahhhh! Finals!

Yesterday pretty much all I did was study for the 2 finals I had today. They were both hard. Basically, my brain is tired. I've crammed all kinds of information from this semester in there and now I want a break. But I still have 2 finals next week. So I'm trying to get motivated to keep studying...

Joshua is on the final stretch of his project. He presents on Monday night. So this weekend will be no fun as he has to work on that and I have to study.

Why are we in grad school again?

Reflections on James

Our pastor is preaching through James right now and in our home groups we are also going through James to deepen our study of the book. I thought I would share some reflections from time to time. Here's the first one.

James 1:19-20
But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Can you imagine how different relationships would be if we applied this more often? What great parents we will be if we apply this when we have kids! And it starts right now setting good habits in our relationship together. So what I need to do everyday is ask myself:

1. Today was I quick to hear Joshua? Did I listen to his concerns, his ideas, his frustrations? Or was I busy making sure he heard all of mine?
   
2. Today was I slow to speak? Did I seek to understand Joshua first before trying to be understood? Did I really listen or was I thinking of how I would respond? Was I quick with a response without really trying to listen to him?
3. Today was I slow to anger? Did I jump to conclusions and get angry? Did I weigh each situation to decide if it was worth fighting over? Was I willing to "drop it" in order to promote peace?

We probably all know that person who listens a lot and speaks less, but when he/she does speak, you listen up because it is important. I want to be a person like that. I want to weigh my words and not spill them out carelessly. I will have to give an account of every word spoken, so being slow to speak is probably a really good idea!

Furniture by Joshua

Joshua took a furniture design class this semester. When he started, I gave him a list of pieces of furniture I would love for him to make for our house. I didn't get it all, but he did make some cool tables for us. Here is his handiworkThis second table he designed to fit in this corner that we have by the downstairs bathroom. I was having trouble finding a table to fit there, so he just made me one!He's so good at this!