"Chick-Chick!"

MEET MY PARENTS:

This is Dad. He was raised on a dairy farm in Michigan.

Mom grew up in a Kansas City suburb.

Dad studied in a one-room school house. Mom attended a large public school. While Dad was driving tractors around the farm, Mom was cruising around the neighborhood on her groovy bicycle with a banana seat.

They were born into two different worlds. But both of my parents were brought up in Christian homes. This shared, wholesome upbringing played a key role in bringing them together.

They were kind enough to pass the legacy on to their children.

Dad was a Wesleyan minister. Mom was a loving nurse. With both of them wanting the best for their kids, it makes sense that one of the first things I remember them teaching me was the importance of God's Word. Some of my earliest memories are linked to the massive Bible they kept on the coffee table, including the night they opened it when I first prayed to live for Jesus.

As I got older and learned to read, Mom and Dad encouraged us kids to spend part of each day in personal devotion with God. Although their intentions were pure, I quickly associated Bible reading with the rest of my chores. During weekends, my brother and I would get up early to play video games. I would dread my parents waking up and asking if I had spent my time in the Word. If I hadn't (which was usually the case), I would have to stop playing video games until I read some scripture.

I began reading scripture to get it out of the way.

As legalistic as it might sound, I appreciate my parents' attempt to create in me a sense of respect and dependance on God's Word.

The most effective way they did this was by example.

There was something powerful in seeing Dad dig into the Word each morning. I wanted to be like him. Morning devo's were a huge part of who he was and what he aspired to be. That inspired me to do the same.

I continued reading the Bible -
not to get closer to God, but to be more like Dad.

Digging into a fish like he digs into the Word.

It has taken me a long time to receive this lesson of leaning on scripture from my parents. I am familiar with the Bible. I trust what it says. I believe God still speaks through it. But I have never experienced the sweetness of seeing the Word come to life as I have in these past five months!

Now I read the Bible for I value what it has to say.

My time in Africa has finally allowed me to catch a deeper glimpse into the vastness of God's love. I have become dependent on Him for fulfillment. I have waited on Him, trusting Him to act and speak and move. I have entrusted Him with my greatest dreams.

How has He responded?

He continues to fill me!
As I draw near to Him,
He faithfully draws nearer to me.

He is showing up right on time!
He has yet to be late;
sometimes my schedule's just premature.





He is blessing me beyond belief!
I came to Africa prepared for the worst,
but God hasn't stopped overwhelming me with blessing.

God blessed me this month by giving me two weeks to chill with my father. The pictures of us in this post are from a trip we took to the northern section of Mozambique. He was involved in leadership training, and I tagged along for the ride, moral support, and a little sports ministry with the kids. Coke was the theme if you can't tell. :)

I already miss him.

Praise God for another blessing of an amazing family of supporters and fellow missionaries! Thanks to care packages from friends at home, eager guards to help a brother out, and an awesome missionary's willingness to play along - God gave me a memorable Halloween this year! The guards didn't quite get the pronunciation down, but they had a blast celebrating the day of "Chick-Chick!" (Trick-or-Treat).

Kyla and I trick-or-treating at the guard shack

God cares about the little things and the big things in life. He cares about refreshing reunions with family members you haven't seen for months. He cares about relaxing evenings in a social environment often saturated in stress. God provides them both. He cares about we care about, and He wants to bless us abundantly if we will only give Him the time of day to do it.

If you don't spend regular time in the Bible,
please consider it.

Maybe it will start out like it did for me, like a checklist. Maybe you'll do it to be like someone else you respect. But let me warn you - when you start hearing God speak to you - WOW! You won't want to put it down! You will look forward to that time, you will protect that time, and you will be marked by that time throughout the day and for the rest of your life.

It truly is the Living Word.



No trick!
It's a treat!