So, as you've noticed it's been a long time since I've been on the blog. The following video is just one example of what's been keeping me so busy.

As you may recall from a previous blog, this song has really had an impact on our pastor and many people at our church. Since our pastor is celebrating 13 years at our church this week, I put together the following video for our Personnel Committee to present to Matt. Even though I listened to the song over and over and over again as I worked on it, I still got chills when I watched the final edition. Our God is amazing, and there is the hope that "Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done here!"

God in This City

Something really exciting is happening in our church. Our pastor planned to resign today. I know -- that's probably the last thing you expected me to say, but once you hear the whole story, I think it will make more sense.

He had received a call several months ago from another church that is closer to his wife's family, and after a lot of wrestling with the decision, they decided to pursue this opportunity. Everything from a human perspective told them to make this move...bigger church, better pay, nicer home, brand new congregation. On paper, it made sense. But as most Christians know, what's on paper doesn't always equal the right decision.

He finally started to look at his motives for wanting this change, and realized that his motives were not Godly. From the beginning, his heart told him this was not the direction God wanted him to go, and that was confirmed on Friday evening when he was driving toward downtown during rush hour traffic. As he was going south on the highway, he saw the bumper to bumper traffic that was driving north toward our community - the Northland. God layed upon his heart this verse - "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35). As he and his wife saw the endless trail of white headlights, they were reminded of how many people there are in the Northland who don't know Jesus as their Savior.

Can I tell you how excited I am about the way our church embraced our pastor and his wife? At the end of our service this morning, there were close to 200 people gathered around them, laying their hands on each other and praying for God's revival in our church and in the Northland. It is our prayer that God will use this weekend as a life-changing moment.

I just want to share a song that has kind of become our "theme." I pray God will use it in your life, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk

Happy Birthday to Lesa

What a fun night! Lesa's birthday is tomorrow, so for her birthday dinner she chose "China Wok" much to the dismay of the other kids. Mike and I had to chuckle at the many cultural "faux pas" they made.
The first was an honest mistake when Adam called the restaurant Polar Express (confusing it with Panda Express, a fast food Chinese restuarant that seems to pop up on every corner here in KC).
The next came when we went to order soup. "I'd like to have egg nog soup," one of them said. Later, they referred to chop sticks as "pork chops" and "chap sticks. "
Here are some photos of our fun evening.

Mike's meal came with a flower made out of a turnip. I was shocked when all three girls practically devoured the whole thing.

Happy Birthday to you!

Note to self: we ordered egg drop soup for the girls, sweet and sour chicken for kids to share and fried rice. Plenty of food, and everyone walked away full.

Adam's Glasses

Well, we've suspected for a while now that Adam needs glasses. This was confirmed today at his eye doctor appointment. It's official - he's near-sighted. Thankfully, he was excited to get glasses. As his mother, I'm disappointed, because I know what a pain glasses and contacts can be. But for now, it's a whole new world.
"Mom," he said in the van. "I can read the temperature!" "Dad, when I move my glasses, the scores on the T.V. move."

Choosing glasses for a boy is a lot harder than choosing for a girl. What do you think or our choice?

Hmmmm....maybe not. How about these?

And my personal favorite... :)

The final product - My dear, sweet boy and his first pair of glasses.

Christmas with our Families

On Christmas Eve, we went to our church for its annual Christmas Eve service. I had the privilege of singing one my favorite Christmas songs in a quartet - In The First Light. I have wanted to sing this song since I was in college, so I was extremeley happy when we put it together. The ironic thing - we almost didn't get to do it. Our piano player and fifth voice was too sick and couldn't be there, but by the grace of God it all came together.

Please take a minute and read these words and remember the true reason for this season:

In the first light of a new day

No one new He had arrived

Things continued, as they had been

While a newborn softly cried

But the heavens, wrapped in wonder

Knew the meaning of His birth

In the weakness of a baby

They knew God had come to earth

As His mother held Him closely

it was hard to understand

That this baby, not yet speaking

was the Word of God to man

He would tell them of His kingdom

but their hearts would not believe

They would hate Him and in anger

They would nail Him to a tree

But the sadness would be broken

As the song of life arose

And the firstborn of creation

would ascend and take His throne

He had left it to redeem us

but before His life began

He knew He'd come back, not as a baby

But as the Lord of every man.

Hear the angels as they're singing

on the morning of His birth.

But how much greater will their song be

when He comes to rule the earth?

Here are a few pictures of our families from this Christmas.

The Tilden Family

Front: Selah, Lesa, Adam and Amanda.

Middle: Valerie, Mike, Kira and Liz.

Back: Jamie, Richard and Deborah.

Cousins

Even Noel got a present, which she played with the rest of the night!

The Meyer Family

Front: Adam, Selah, Lesa, Kira, Kaitlynn, Anthony and Liz.

Middle: Linda, Dennis, Amy, Phyllis, Mandi and Ken.

Back: Mike, Chris and Vince.

Cousins, sort of...