Multitudes on Mondays

#324-343 of His gifts...

*spiky-haired boys, freshly bathed
*wind whipping the rain to look like snow
*Lego building--a sea plane
*booklet for memorizing Colossians
*precious quilt with our wedding date embroidered
*soft, red, warm boy cheeks upon waking
*stomach problems solved!
*stainless steel coffee pot--unable to be broken by my clumsiness
*praying for a friend's son's first day of school
*taxi driver's amusement at my silly, sweet boys
*new bedtime routine--boys to bed at separate times
*"Great is Thy Faithfulness"--a wonderful hymn
*seeing the Christian community faithfully surround friends
*rearranging the furniture *smile*
*a clean house and how it calms my mind
*a car ride with a sweet friend~just uninterrupted talking
*honest conversations
*finding another homeschool family in Singapore with kids our kids' ages
*retrieving the "lost" coin my oldest swallowed 9 days ago

Guatemala

The boys and I were talking about the landslide in Guatemala the other day. We found Guatemala on the world map and prayed for the people there. The next night when we were saying prayers before bedtime, we prayed again for those hurting in that country, and afterward Caleb asked me about the people who live there.

I told him they were very poor and many lived in homes where the dirt was their floor and that they had roofs that would let in the rain (it was raining in Singapore that night). Caleb asked if they had stores. I told him that they probably did, but that they didn't have any money to buy supplies they needed to fix their homes or build better ones.

He said, "Can they get packages?" I told him maybe they could. He said he wanted to send a package with our money so they could buy some wood and fix their houses. So, today, as a family, we're going to find a place for Caleb to send his money, the money he has been saving in a little jar for such a time as this. We'll let him fill an envelope with the money labeled "Giving," to give to others in need, and we'll "mail" it to Guatemala. (In reality, his daddy and I will give online since we know sending cash in the mail isn't the best way.)

We don't want to just tell our kids that it is important to give to the poor. We want to involve them in giving. And when they are older, we want to involve them in serving others. We want to purposefully, intentionally, seek out ways to serve and bless and share Christ with others.

This is why we sponsor (so far) two children through Compassion International. We let Caleb choose his own child this last time, and he chose a boy in Kenya who's name is Victor, and Victor just turned 5 this September (just like our Caleb). Victor lives in an area ravaged by HIV (unlike our Caleb).

One day I hope to visit our Compassion kids. We get their letters and write them, too, but seeing them face-to-face would be such a joy. I don't know if that will happen this side of Heaven, but I pray someday that will be a reality for us. To see and touch our other kids. The kids God has given us in this special way.

There is a group of bloggers with Compassion International right now in Guatemala. Ann Voskamp wrote about meeting her sponsored child, and I had tears in my own eyes at her joy. Please go read that post and consider how you can help release children from poverty in Jesus' name.

Scripture Memory Verse Sixteen

Justin and I joined a new Bible class this week, and the first week's homework is to memorize this Scripture (I love it when it's easy for me to decide what to memorize next):

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." -Romans 6:6-7

{Heart} Broken

The day of my eighth wedding anniversary, a woman stood in my kitchen and told me she had recently found out her husband was having an affair. With a woman she has to see every day.

She was heartbroken, and my heart began to break for her as she recounted the details to me. She was angry and hurt and betrayed.

I prayed for her so much that day and in the days to come. I kept seeing the pain in her eyes.

A week later when we were standing in my kitchen again, she told me I was the only one she could talk to because her "countrywomen" (as she put it) would not understand since this was a shameful thing that had happened to her.

I keep thinking about how hard life is. It just is. And I keep wondering how people who don't have the love and forgiveness and peace and grace of Jesus Christ make it through this life at all.

I'm so glad I don't have to find out. And neither do you.

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." -Romans 3:21-24

"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." -1 John 5:3-5

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." - John 3:36

Scripture Memory Verse Fourteen and Fifteen

Here are my verses for August:

"...train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present and the life to come." -1 Timothy 4:7b-8

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom." -Colossians 3:16

Our pastor has given us a Scripture for our whole church to memorize, so I'm working on that one, too (he said he'll be calling on people in church to stand up and recite it, so I don't want to be caught not knowing it!).

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." -Joshua 1:8

My Scriptures this month, including the one for our whole church, definitely have a theme--knowing and meditating on the Word of God. Next Thursday I will be leading a group of women in a weekly study of God's Word, and I am so excited! I've been preparing for that class and praying for the women God will lead there.

I hope some of you are still with me on this Scripture memory journey...I haven't heard from you guys in a while! If you've fallen behind, just start anew. We must have the Word of God in our hearts if we are to stand against the enemy's schemes (see 1 Peter 5: 8-9).

Scripture Memory Catch-Up

I neglected posting my Scriptures while we were on vacation, so here are my verses ten, eleven, twelve, and thirteen!

"He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the One who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." -John 7:18

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." -Proverbs 31:25-27

"Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal." -Isaiah 26:4

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

Summer makes it hard to get motivated sometimes, but I just keep writing Scriptures in my spiral. Even if I'm not actively working to memorize right now, I've kept up with adding a new Scripture and read over them often. Just trying to stay consistent.

So, what are you memorizing/meditating on?

Scripture Memory Verse Nine & A Resource

A few days ago a friend gave me a copy of While They Were Sleeping: 12 Character Traits for Moms to Pray by Anne Arkins and Gary Harrell. Precious friends are the ones who pass on resources like that! It has written out prayers you can pray over your children by just filling in their names, and you can use their prayers as a guide to pray about specific situations that arise in your kids' lives. It's such a wonderful tool and has helped me in praying for my children. The first section is on kindness, and we could use some of that around here these days as the boys have been spending more time together and, therefore, more "brotherly love" has been expressed. :-)

The Scripture I've chosen this time comes from the Introduction to While They Were Sleeping:

"Rise during the night and cry out.
Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him in prayer,
pleading for your children" -Lamentations 2:19

I want to pray faithfully for my children as they grow. This is a time of guiding them that I will not get back. I want to pray for them like Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17-19 "asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give [them] spiritual wisdom and insight so that [they] might grow in [their] knowledge of God. I pray that [their] hearts will be flooded with light so that [they] can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that [they] will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him."

Here's the Amazon link to the book if anyone is interested.

Verse Eight

It's time for another Scripture to memorize. This time I'm choosing one we've been studying in BSF.

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." -John 6:68-69

Which one have you chosen? Don't give up! Keep meditating on your verses and hiding God's Word in your heart.

Verse Seven

Forgot to put up this verse since we're having so much fun with my parents being here in Singapore!

"Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." ~Isaiah 26:8b NIV

Which one have you chosen? Let's keep it up, ladies!! Even if you've missed one or more, just pick back up. There's no condemnation!

Egg Hunting

On Saturday we had an Easter egg hunt here at our place. It was so fun to have our friends over and party! Caleb had on normal clothes before the party started, but before the egg hunt, he went into the bathroom and changed into his Superman Halloween costume and refused to take it off. So, that's why he's wearing it in the videos below. Crazy kid. ;-)

I apologize that my kids were running around in circles...watching the video camera follow them might make you a little nauseated. ;-)

Singapore Easter Egg Hunt 1 from Jennifer ReflectingHim on Vimeo.

Singapore Easter Egg Hunt 2 from Jennifer ReflectingHim on Vimeo.

Happy Easter!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" ~Luke 24:1-6

Camille has a great post about our Easter egg hunt yesterday. Go read it!

Verse Six

I'll admit I haven't been working on memorizing my last Scripture as much lately. But I press on and read them all and meditate on them. It goes in waves like that throughout the year. This is a marathon, not a sprint. I've added so many Scriptures to my spiral as I've come across ones that are speaking to my current situations and things God is working on in me (pride, etc.). The one I've picked for this time is 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.

I've told so many friends lately that I feel like last year was an emotional beating from life and this year seems to be a physical beating. I've had more illnesses than I can remember already this year, and my stomach problems are fired up again. And, of course, my ankle.

But, I'm remembering that, "he gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:29)

Let's see your Scriptures!!

Better

Thanks for all the encouragement on my last post! I wrote down every single Scripture so I can refer to them often. You guys are the best. I'm doing much better now, but I know those days will come again, so I have your encouraging words ready!

Big news for our family...As of 1:30pm CST on Friday, March 19, we are no longer homeowners. :-) It's a little weird not owning a house anymore, but it's a good thing for us. We will miss the house we brought both of our boys home to, but we look forward to more memories in a different house when we return to the US.

We also just bought our plane tickets for our visit to Texas in June. The boys and I will go back a couple of weeks earlier than Justin so he doesn't have to take so much time off work. We are looking forward to seeing all the people we love and miss so much. And we're also looking forward to eating BBQ, Mexican food, Chic-Fil-A, steak and Blue Bell ice cream.

My parents will be here in less than 3 weeks (the first family members we've seen in 10 months!)!!! We are so excited we can hardly stand it! The list of things I want from the US keeps growing, so we'll see if they have room for it all. ;-) We're not sure how much we'll be able to do while they're here with my bum ankle, but just being together will be so good.


So, this is what our floor looks like most days now. :-)
And here's Caleb with leaves taped to his arms. This was his attempt to fly. (He was really disappointed that he didn't get off the ground.) :-)

Verse Five

I'm still memorizing my passage from Daniel 2,

"He reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." -Daniel 2:22 NIV

but I'm also going to work on this one:

"And those who walk in pride He is able to humble." -Daniel 4:37 NIV

Part of our lessons on Daniel lately have been about pride. God was really stepping on my toes through those lessons, and I realized there's a lot of pride in my heart. It's not pretty. I need His Word to help counteract the thoughts in my head. I'd certainly rather hide His Word in my heart and get rid of this pride than be humbled by Him.

So, what are you memorizing/meditating on/studying lately?

Verse Four

This time I'm continuing with the passage from Daniel.

He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
-Daniel 2:21

I am loving the study of Daniel! I'm learning so much.

Let's hear your Scriptures!

My Broken Ankle: The Emotions

The emotions I've felt as I've dealt with this accident are varied, as you'd probably imagine.

As soon as I hit the pavement on Friday morning and knew my ankle was broken, my thought immediately went to my two kids and how I would take care of them. It's pretty much the only thing I said in the emergency room (other than "10, my pain is a 10!!")...I have two little boys. When Justin came in to see me, it was the first thing I asked him, "How are we going to do this?" I felt so helpless because a broken ankle isn't like a broken arm where I could still basically take care of them and chase after them, and when you live in a place where walking is a huge part of your day, this is major.

My time in the hospital was pretty dark. I told Justin when we finally got in bed at home on Sunday night that I really was struggling with depression over this situation. Since we don't have full-time household help like many families in Singapore and we don't have family nearby, the decisions we needed to make to ensure we could handle this were huge. And the help we were going to need was enormous. And I was completely overwhelmed.

No longer could I take the kids to school and walk to the bus stop and go home.

No longer could I go to the grocery store and walk around and get the things we need.

No longer could I...

You see where my mind was going, constantly. Not a healthy place.

But sometime Monday things seemed to look up a little. And each day has been a little easier. Due in large part to the way God has used our friends, who have been non-stop in their offers of help. Bringing meals, offering rides, asking to bring my kids to their houses to play, encouraging me, asking what we need and fulfilling whatever that is.

One Scripture I memorized last year keeps coming to mind:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned,
and the flame will not set you ablaze." ~Isaiah 43:2

I like the New Living Translation of that one as well:

"When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you."

Because these are deep waters and rivers of difficulty. But God is with us. And we will not drown.

Thank You

They showed this video at Bible study yesterday, and I shed a few tears because I'm so overwhelmed at God's grace and love toward me. Our church family and friends here in Singapore have been taking care of us so sweetly during this difficult time; we're so very blessed. The body of Christ around the world is such an amazing thing--that we have friends in many countries praying for us and friends right here meeting our very real needs. Thank you to everyone who has brought us food, taken care of my children, called us, emailed, sent us Facebook messages, and prayed for us. You are so loved by our family and so much needed. Thank you. Thank you.

These words especially speak to me during this season of my life:

Thank You Lord just for loving me
Many times as I do forget
Every need that You have met
Oh thank You Lord, I know You're showing me
You are there when I am down and out
You're holding me, Your love is so amazing
Oh it changed me

Verse Three

I wrote this post the day before I broke my leg, so I'll do a post on that soon. I also have another Scripture I'll be memorizing along with this one that fits my situation right now.

Since I am doing Beth Moore's Daniel study right now and she has asked us this week to memorize the four verses in Daniel 2:20-23 over the next 8 weeks, these are the verses I am choosing, one verse every two weeks for the next 8 weeks...Providential timing, don't you think?

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his." -Daniel 2:20

I'm so excited that many of you have joined me on this Scripture memory journey. As Beth said in this week's study, "He wants few things more passionately than His Word abiding in us." Amen! It's so worth it!

It's so cool to see my friends from all over the world (literally!) memorizing Scripture together and encouraging one another. From Singapore to Alaska to Texas and down to Peru, we're doing this thing together, ladies. You are such an encouragement to me, and the accountability you're giving me is much needed.

Keep it up!

Along with the Daniel Scripture, I'll be meditating on these verses from 2 Samuel 22 during the next few weeks as well, fitting for this time of my broken ankle/leg and needing God's guidance and strength in a very real, BIG way:

²⁹ You are my lamp, O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.

³⁰ With your help I can advance against a troop ;
with my God I can scale a wall.

³¹ "As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.

³² For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?

³³ It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.

³⁴ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.

³⁵ He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

³⁶ You give me your shield of victory;
you stoop down to make me great.

³⁷ You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.

Verse Two!

I found this verse while browsing another blog and really liked it. I want to be wakened morning by morning with ears to listen! It's longer than my last one. (If you'd like to use this Scripture for your memorizing and think it's a little long, just choose the first or second half.)

The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
~Isaiah 50:4 NIV

If you haven't memorized verse one yet, that's okay! Jot down verse two in the comments and write it down in your spiral/notebook/paper/blog...whatever. Just keep working on them. If you haven't joined us and want to, it's definitely not too late! Be sure to keep your Scriptures handy so you can refer to them often. If you're not writing them down on something portable, post them on slips of paper around your house so you can see them often. REMEMBER...let's not get legalistic about how we're doing this because that only sets us up for failure! Consistency is what we're after; it will pay off.

I'm so glad you have joined me in this! I really need the accountability, so it helps to have to post about it every two weeks.

Let's hear your Scriptures!

Merry Christmas!

May you be filled with JOY!

"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." ~Luke 2:10-11

Many blessings,

Justin, Jennifer, Caleb, and Levi

photo courtesy Uncle Josh