How do you Measure it All?

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

In the midst of the dishes and the commute to work,
Or on a hilltop gazing at the stars.
In the fray of the busy and the strain of the frazzle...
On the jogging trail in an early morning's run.
In the tears and the laughter,
And at the bottom of the laundry pile.
In highest accolades,
And hidden in lonely,dustiness.
In the striving and the resting,
In our hearts desires and dreams,
And in our entertainments.
In our giftings and our failures,
Before our family and in our friendships.
In what we build up and choose to tear down.
In together times,
And in the Secret Place.
In one Life's footprint on this blue world,
Going around and around SO fast.
There is a question that follows us into every moment and place.
What is the Measure of Man?
It is simple but vital questions to answer,
"Where was your gaze?"
"To Whom did you give your Heart?"
"Did you KNOW the One Who MADE Love?"
And, "Did  you Learn to Love from Him?"




"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."     (1 Samuel 16:7)


The measure of a man is the measure of his heart
The measure of a man is the measure of his love
[x2]

You don't measure me like man may see
You're looking at my heart, the core of me
Your eyes of fire see differently
Keep me in the gaze of love

The measure of a man is the measure of his heart
The measure of a man is the measure of his love
[x2]

When it's all been said, when it's all been done
When the race is run, well it all comes down to love

Did you learn to love? That's what You will ask of me
Did you learn to love? Not about my ministry
Did you learn to love? Not about my money
Did you learn to love? Did you learn to love?

[Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/misty-edwards-lyrics-measure-of-a-man-feat-david-brymer]

Love, Gillian

He saw all of us...and yes...He loved us

Fire in the Night ~ Anderson takes over the blog this time! :)

This post is really by our Mr. Adorable, Anderson. (11 years old)

His Words:

"Hi this is Anderson, after dinner tonight we were praying for people who do not know or love Jesus. There are SOOoooo many who DON'T. God pressed on my heart and I had to do SOMETHING. First, I made a good news book out of craft materials and asked my mom if I could go out right then and find someone to share the gospel of Jesus with. She said it was too dark and late but suggested I tell YOU on HERE by making a video!! I just needed to tell people about Jesus tonight! This is good news that EVERYBODY needs to hear!!If you don't know Jesus, here are the basics in my videos here. Really. Get to know Jesus, He is so awesome. You will get more than like all the money of the world if you come to know Christ. You only have a little bit of life to know Jesus."

(Yep...I told ya he's adorable!!)

"Please look at my videos. I really want you to know Jesus!!"

"Love, Anderson"


This will blow your MIND!!:




Let's start at the very beginning:



This is VERY important:



The red words bring us life --REALLY!!



Getting Washed is Like Jesus having a car wash



(sorry this is on its side!!)

Be blessed, Love, Your Friend, Anderson

Getting Ready to Hear :) ~ so cute!!

I am having so much fun sharing this fun resource with you today!!

This little video is made by The Daniel Academy, our school here in Kansas City Missouri. We love how our children are being trained up in adoration for Jesus and in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord here.

In this video, Ava's Kindergarten teacher, our dear friend, Lelonnie Hibberd,who has a heart for children to know God's heart ( she's just the bestest Kindergarten teacher EVER!!), is showing what it means to get your heart ready to hear from God as you study scripture. This is how our kids study the Bible every day in addition to Bible teaching and worship. There are jewels on this little video here for each of us!

The super-cute family highlighted, is the Mike and Stephanie Gerard family--such an amazing family, full of life and God's joy and love. Each one of us in the Tucker family claims a buddy in the Gerard family and you will easily be able to see why!! :) ~ Make sure you watch long enough to hear little Shekinah sing--it is WELL worth bringing joy to the heart and a smile to today!!

Maybe show this to your family and try the "dare" at the end. :) You may be wowed at what God wants to say through your children. We did the "dare" last night and it was incredibly special to later gather round on the living room floor as the children shared what God had revealed to them as they meditated on Psalm 23:1~each one was so different and so special. We grew.

Blessings as we all grow in waiting on God and knowing His voice more every day...

"My sheep will know my voice" (John 10)

(Ashley will be on the next "Daniel Dare" video we will post and then Jack and Anderson too! ~ stay tuned! )

Sow in the Morning....Harvest at Night...

O Lord bless me and keep me cause Your face to shine on me
Lord be gracious lift the light of Your countenance give me peace

I live only to see your face so shine on me

Let the light of Your face shine down on my heart and let me feel it

~ from Psalm 4 vs. 6b.


Woke up to a Golden Morning this Morning
And this is what I am singing today.
And He is singing it back to me.

It is good to seek Him in the morning...
and to walk with Him through the rest of the day




"In the morning, O Lord,
   you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my 
   requests before you
and wait in expectation."


Psalm 5:3


To sow our requests in the morning 
and to harvest our praise at night...


This is what I am singing today.

Love, Gillian

The Pursuit...always the Pursuit...

And now these three remain:

FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE.  

But the greatest of these is LOVE.

(I Corinthians 13:13)

...THIS
is our new family secret...

We have a green plant that we use as a center piece on our dining room table.  It is a simple houseplant with cheery spreading green "arms" and heart leaves.

Each night conversation, laughter, and singing,and prayer flows over this little humble plant as we sort through the days' business, lessons, trivia, triumphs, stories,  and testimonies. And at the end of the meal we purpose to make sure we have fed everyone  REAL,LIVING FOOD that keeps us ever-full and nourished--God's Word.
  We bring verses that have impacted us in our day with the Lord and share them...or listen to one of the littles read a chapter that they have been reading in their cute lispy way...or we memorise a verse all together...or sing a verse together...

...the Holy Spirit will press on one of us to open up a piece of the Word and share it/ digest it with whoever God has brought to our table that evening.  The corporate "chew" is an incredible dynamic.

  I have learned and been taught by every member of my family here.  For there is no "JR. Holy Spirit"!!  He can speak through a child powerfully and clearly ~ maybe even more so than the adults many times!  We are a flowy family more than a systematic one--so each night looks REALLY different but is rich and precious ~ truly alive.  Then, after Word, we "work out" this word in worship in the living room--or I could say, since what God is doing here is so organic--our Word time that vines around the table springs into blooming,fruitful  praising worship in our living room...

  Before dishes...before bed... THIS...is my favorite portion of the day...

Recently, our fresh green "friend"lost a few leaves the night after our day spent picking blueberries this week. But for a very noble purpose!  (Aren't the humble so often used for noble means?)  :)

We love the Hebraic model of teaching aka. asking questions.  As we impart things to the children.  Our time had gone something like this:


"What was it like to find fruit on the blueberry bushes today?"

Oh, YES...EATING the fruit...that's best part for sure!!

"What was it like to see your bucket filling up with fruit?"

"What do you plan to do with all of that fruit?"

"What happens to a bush that is picked?"

YES!  It makes MORE fruit..!"



"What about the branches that did not have fruit on them?  What about them?"

"Why do you think they did not have fruit?"

You know...JESUS spoke about gardening and pruning and picking and fruit...does anyone know about this?


And God moved the conversation to our little plant on the table...and at this point our little friend lost two leaves for the betterment of our hearts!! :) 

"AW! Don't pick off her leaves!!"

"But what do you think will happen to these leaves?  Can we reattach them?
  Are they getting that good life from the roots of our little plant or from the vine?
  What's going to happen to these little leaves?"  Lets watch them for a couple days and see... (...hint...for those who want to know...shrivel...shrivel...shrink...dry...dust....Poor little leaves...)

And now for the Word...Children, did you know there are SECRETS in the Bible?  God says that if we seek Him out, He will be found and He will share the secrets of His heart with us ~ the secrets of the KING!!  We are going to hide ICor. 13:13 in our heart.

  It is a SECRET to life.

To ABIDING...

In Christ...


  In anything that we are doing whether it is getting along in our family, or doing our work jobs, or in friendships or talents, we can ask this question of ourselves:

"Are we growing in Faith (in this area), Is (this area) full of hope to God? Do we see more and more love (here, in this area?)  Let's take LOVING YOUR BROTHER as an example (hee!hee!~it had been kinda a rough day for this!!)  You could love God in your room or anyplace and just lift up in your hands your love for your brothers~ you could ask yourself, "Did I grow in faith with God in the way I loved my brother today?...Or in the way I forgave my brother today?...cause growing in Faith is actually more important than being right about the card game..."How about my love, God? Did I grow in love with you today?"
 
Jack relates..."you know...its like God is always there but you have to accept Him and let His love grow UP,UP,UP around you.  You gotta CHASE it down...like when I chase Bruik around the house!!!"
 
Bruik beams with pleasure.
 
"Yeah, you gotta chase love down"
 
And we read that NEXT  verse about "pursuing love"... (later he dances this out in the Spirit in the living room...(see video below)
 
Then it is 10 year old Anderson who makes this connection.  "OH! and when you find out that you need to love more you will realise that you JUST DON"T have the love you need.  Then you are like the little green leaves on this plant...as long as you STAY close to Jesus,stay near to Him and repent from what is not love...HIS love will flow THROUGH you...it won't be work!  The leaf just rests on the vine!!!"  He puts his head on the table and grins. :)

"Whoa! "  He rests...in knowing...in loving...in connecting with the one who brought this revelation to his heart...then...

"You know what? I found out today that I never have to be bored!" 

All eyes on Anderson--after all we have been stuck in the house ALOT on 110 heat index days in Missouri summer heat.  "All I need to do is to go in my room and turn on worship music on the radio and sing to God...and I'm never bored!" (and you are abiding my son...)He bounces over to our computer and puts worship music on REALLY loudly and I do not dare turn it down for the children are all so ready to dance...and we flow into worship...

Untitled from gillian tucker on Vimeo.

Untitled from gillian tucker on Vimeo.

...This is sweet Jack "Chasing God's Love Down" ~ Look, Mom! He said, "I'm Chasing Down ...I PURSUING God's Love....I chase Him and He chases me....and His love goes UP, UP,UP all around me...then I bring it to other people too...It heals them...God is chasing them down in His love too..."

Blessings, precious friends!!

Love, 

GG

p.s. Blue Scarf Jack is using for dancing was brought back to us from Ethiopia by Ally P. at the time of the P. family's addition of their beautiful two Ethiopian girls :)

Delivering the Orphans...Will Begin With my Own Heart...

Sid Roth - It's Supernatural Messianic Vision: Leif Hetland - Healing the Orphan Spirit

Cross -Training

Watch videos at Vodpod and more of my videos

Hey, everyone!
This is an awesome teaching--a GIFT to you today!! :) Just drag the timer on the vod pod, after you hit play arrow, to 1:09 to the teaching part--this is from Hebrews 11 and 12 if you have your Bible nearby...or enjoy the worship too at the beginning :)...

This teaching is WELL worth the time it takes to hear it!!

Also WELL worth the effort it takes to work it into your walk--or should I say, "run race" in Jesus

May we grow in endurance as we face the race set before us.


Blessings--such blessings in Him!!

Love, Gillian

Happy Birthday, Bruik!!

Happy Birthday to Bruik!!

Bruik has greeted the day today with "B" shaped pancakes and dancing with YELLOW (favorite color) crepe paper streamers after breakfast to chipmunk music ;)

--a fav. with the six year-olds in the house!!

We'll be making our way to Jump Zone and then the pool for a pool-side family birthday celebration. :)

Bruik, you bring us great JOY!

Bruik is giving, kind and a very loving,obedient son.

He's Jack's buddy,
Ava's example,
Daddy and Mommy's sweet companion,

And a delight to us all!

God has blessed Bruik with a bright mind that is learning to read and loves to create ALL sorts of wonderful magenet block and lego creations.

He also has been physically gifted--he is beautiful in action in any Sport!


Bruik has a sweet friendship with God. His prayers are such an example of simple conversing with a loving Father. Bruik has SUCH a real and tender love for God's Word (the Bible). He often asks to read with us. At night he snuggles with the Word either close by or in his arms. He trusts the Holy Spirit's power and can be the first to lay hands on the sick in our family or to trust in God's provision for us.

We see the light of Jesus shining on your precious life, Bruiky!




This is the blessing Bruik, our "Gift of God" has us sing over him each night. (his name means, "Gift of God"--see our post on the miracle of how his name came to be under this post in the labels--"naming Bruik") I just looked the blessing up--it is from Numbers 6:24-26 --it actually is the priestly blessing God told Moses to teach to Aaron to say over the Israelites.

Very fitting for this child who's heart beats after God.
Would you please pray these verses with us today for Bruik?...


The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

“‘“The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.”’

“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Love, Gillian

We love you M and M

Love is the river than flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you




Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all
Matters the most

Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep
Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you

Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease
At the end of time

Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes
When you don’t

Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you

When my heart won’t make a sound
When I can’t turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater than this
Greater than this

Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way
The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you


~~~~~~~~~
Glory to God!
THE God of Love.
We have seen His Mighty, Searching Love
Here
Among Us
Salvation is SOOOO Real
and NEAR
Salvation IS a personal God
We can know HIM
and touch Him
and see Him.
He is Jesus.
He IS the way
He is the only solution
He is what all Life is about
THE Truth
OF Abundant,Real Life.
We praise His name
New members to the family!
It IS harvest time
Glory to God!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

“All who rage against you

will surely be ashamed and disgraced;

those who oppose you

will be as nothing and perish.

Though you search for your enemies,

you will not find them.

Those who wage war against you

will be as nothing at all.

For I am the Lord, your God,

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.

Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob,

O little Israel,

for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

“See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,

new and sharp, with many teeth.

You will thresh the mountains and crush them,

and reduce the hills to chaff.

You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,

and a gale will blow them away.

But you will rejoice in the Lord

and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

“The poor and needy search for water,

but there is none;

their tongues are parched with thirst.

But I the Lord will answer them;

I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

I will make rivers flow on barren heights,

and springs within the valleys.

I will turn the desert into pools of water,

and the parched ground into springs.

I will put in the desert

the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.

I will set pines in the wasteland,

the fir and the cypress together,

so that people may see and know,

may consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

that the Holy One of Israel has created it."

(Isaiah 41:9-20)

We KNOW who holds you
He holds us too

Love for ALWAYS,

Mama GG and Daddy Richard

When the Waters Come

As I write this post flooding has come to our neighborhood at least 20 homes are flooded. Last night we received a frantic call from the precious lady who rents our home in the back of our neighborhood--the Harpeth River--which is normally about 200 feet from our home was encroaching quickly--it was already at our neighbors back doors. We sent Richard, Graham, and Big M. out into the night to hoist furniture up stairs and to carry out children and animals down our street which in an hours' time became knee deep, then as high as the mailboxes--as high as Richard's waist (he's a 6 foot 5 inch guy!!). My men came home hours later, after the police and firemen had declared that the homes be evacuated and after securing them as much as possible at the time... During this time tornado sirens rang out in addition to the storm and one of our precious neighbor's, The Lowry's house caught on fire and the fire department could not get enought pressure out of their hoses. Their home has now burned to the ground. As Mrs. Lowry stood with her family and watched the blaze of her home it is reported that she told a neighbor, "It is just stuff. I'm thankful my family is O.K."

This is one of those times that you see on T.V. on the evening news--there is actually an incredible peace to being a child of God in the midst of a "disaster area". We are as helpless to hold back the water as the sticks I see being swept past our house--But we have a great settledness and confidence that we are covenant children of the MIGHTY God who originally made ALL the boundary lines for water and said to the sea, "You may NOT pass this line." He is the same God who stood in the middle of the Red Sea and made the waters RECEDE on either side--drying it up for His people to walk through on dry land.

Our afflictions are eclipsed by His glory. Our fears are nothing compared to His Greater Love and Power in us.

As my Richard hoisted I gathered up and comforted children in the storm and snuggled them all up into blankets on the first floor last night. Then it was time to praise God. To give Him a sacrefice of Praise. This is our only option when the "storms" come. We have asked big and bold requests of our Father who loves us so much through His perfect son--I'm so glad to know Him personally --He is a real and present friend--He is more real than our closest friend.

The physical rain is still falling at this posting--We are not afraid--we are asking for God to keep us dry and safe--to make a boundary line for our property--we are praying against what our eyes see. But what is more important is that He is to be glorified--in the storms of life--May more of Him come out through the harder times in our lives--and may He also create notable miracles among HIs people that would bring many souls to Himself--to bring MORE glory to Him--that's the point of Life after all--that more Glory would come to Him.

Last Night as I was pressing in to worship and intercession I heard a song with lyrics like this,

Be near me God
Depths are High to You
Dark is Light to You
Far is Near to You
Lord I need to Hear from You
You are Near

He is EVEN closer to us in these times--He actually promises to be "near" and to "carry" us. I trust Him. May our hearts continually be "flooded" by Him.

Please pray that God will push back the flood waters for our family, for our neighbors, for our town and area. Sweet little beautiful Franklin is now waist deep in flood water in the down town streets. There are people in canoes in my neighborhood... And if you are in the local area, its worth a drive out there--if its safe!!-- to see what some of your neighbors are going through--whole neighborhoods are water-logged--please assist as you can. Many will need help with clean up of debris and water logging, and cleaning out homes. Many will need meals. I was just at the local grocery and many of the people, while bonded in this time of disaster--were looking dazed --now is a fruitful time to share God's heart and love with them. Come work among God's people here to help them--come share true hope with those who do not know God and who may be crying out desparately for Him--please be praying for these specific families--that God would use this time to "flood" their hearts with PURE, living water for the first time--with an "overflow" of His Presence and real, saving Power.
We've just filled the bathtubs, baby pool,washing machine and all available containers in the house after hearing the water system could be compromised here in our town. We are heading out the door to check the status of our house right now--at 3:00 the water was at the threshold...we are praying it down with the only true weapons/tools in a time like this that actually work--God's wonderful, active,powerful name and His Word...
Please lift up our foster children at this time--unsettled times are especially stressful for them...

Psalm 32:6+7

"Therefore let everyone who is Godly Pray to you while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

Because He is here, we are and will be O.K.
Blessings and real Grace to all who are in the middle of this storm situation.

Love,

Gillian

The Beautiful One

What I'm singing today...





Acts 17:28 For in him we live and move and have our being

Love,

Gillian

Happy Easter!

I find my Lord in the Bible
Wherever I chance to look,
He is the theme of the Bible
the center and heart of the Book;
He is the Rose of Sharon,
He is the Lily fair,
Wherever, I open my Bible
The Lord of the Book is there.

He, at the Book's beginning,
Gave to the earth its form,
He is the Ark of shelter,
Bearing the brunt of the storm,
The Burning Bush of the desert,
The budding of Aaron's Rod,
Wherever I look in the Bible
I see the Son of God.

The Ram upon Mt. Moriah,
The Ladder from earth to sky,
The Scarlet Cord in the window,
And the Serpent lifted high,
The Smitten Rock in the desert,
The Shepherd with staff and crook,
The face of my Lord I discover
Whenever I open the Book.

He is the Seed of the Woman,
The Savior Virgin-born;
He is the Son of David,
Whom men reflected with scorn,
His garments of grace and beauty
The stately Aaoron deck,
Yet He is a Priest forever,
For He is Melchizedek.

Lord of eternal glory
Whom John, the Apostle, saw;
Light of the Golden City,
Lamb without spot or flaw,
Bridegroom coming at midnight,
For whom the Virgins look.
Wherever I open my Bible,
I find my Lord in the Book.

~Unknown author

What I'm Singing Today

This is the song of my heart. How beautiful our Jesus is.
Jesus is real.
Jesus is a King.
and He's coming Back Soon.
Make time to soak Him in today...



Be Blessed,
Love, Gillian

Grace Times Five :)

Yes, this only lasted one night, until we had to separate them--but how cute are they?!


Sorry Graham, someone in the family has to bunk on the palate on the floor--it will make for a great family story someday though, right? Thanks for the sacrefice!


Not enough space for all? Jack was in heaven to get to bunk in with Mom and Dad for 4 whole nights--snuggle monster that he is!

Ashley and Anderson snuggling late one night




BRRRRR. it was COLD in Kansas City but we had packed a tub of cold stuff!! The kiddos got to have lots of snowball fights and got to do some AWESOME sledding too!!

Hello, friends!----The end of 09 and the beginning of 10---- or do you say, twenty ten? ----we have not received a clear answer on what to call this new decade!----but regardless the past few weeks have been very special in the Tucker family~~as we hope it was for you as well~~

We had another time of miracles among our family here just a few days ago. Richard and I had been led to go to Kansas City to be part of a worship/prayer/equipping conference there, called One Thing. It was put on by the International House of Prayer in KC. I just want to share an excerpt I recently wrote to a leader of that ministry...

"Recently we were prompted to head up to the One Thing conference in thankful response to all God has been doing via IHOP's ministry here. As we backed out of the driveway--packed to the gills in our Suburban with 6 of our 8 children, the check engine light went on! After a disappointing diagnostic hours later, we were told that it would take 555 dollars to fix our car. We got very quiet and before Richard and I discussed what to do next we each went to a different nook of the shop--me behind a pile of Firestone tires and Richard staring out of the advertisements on the glass front window of the Firestone store. The Lord's message to us was different than the mechanic. He spoke something else, "Go anyway" individually to each of our hearts, and , "I'm up to something big in your lives with this trip--you could miss out on it if you do not go". Next, he told Richard to lay hands on the car and then to drive 55 miles an hour up 550 miles to KC. (do you notice all the 5's?--this is God's # of grace) We obeyed--with much joy and anticipation--and had a very SCENIC trip on our slow drive up to KC. Not too long into our obedience, God turned off the check engine light--we did not see it for the remainder of the trip!
We have been living a missionary lifestyle of service and intercession here in Franklin and as we arrived in KC, we tried to purchase an item and found out that our TN bank account was completely depleted several large payments at home had hit our account early and all at once --now, at the beginning of the trip-- we only had enough for our hotel and no money to get back home.--We thanked God for a Breckfast bar at the Hampton hotel that provided what we call-"Breckfast and breckfast and breckfast" for each of our meals in KC! :) HEE!! (And for His grace on our children who did not complain once about sausage egg biscuits and muffins for dinner)! Next, as only God can do, He provided provision miracle after provision miracle,caused answers to prayers that have been prayed for 18 years, quite beautifully and right along with His timing of how He has so been on the move for our hearts and His power in our lives lately commissioned us for service as intercessionary missionaries, and spoke prophetic Word into us in the prayer room--the trip became a pilgrimage of sorts--it definitely was the trip of our lives!!"
God's miracles in our family were not just financial and protection over us physically and over our car (alot of miracles involving that car recently, huh?). The movement from the Lord that caused us great thankfulness and awe was being encountered powerfully by His loving,burning heart. Also, watching Him encounter our children. One special morning we asked for prayer from some intercessory missionaries who serve in the healing/prayer room at the International House of Prayer's Mission base--three incredibly dear people laid hands on our family and on Richard and I and then on our children as individuals--we heard MUCH encouragement and prophecy over each person in this time but most incredibly were the moments as they prayed over our little Ava. As they laid hands gently on her and quietly prayed for her the WEIGHTY presence of the Lord entered the room--I can't describe it well-- but we strongly experienced the presence of the Lord--it was peace and overwhelm at once. Ava's little body began shaking under the presence of the Lord--His Spirit was manifesting His glory on our little girl!!--this was happening while prophecy about her journey before the Lord, her giftings and callings were being prayed over her and pulled forth out of her as well --those minutes of prayer could have been days or years for we got lost in the Joy of His presence...as He danced openly over our little songbird
--we were all overcome with the JOY of the Lord and laughter bubbled up as well as many tears--it was an utterly beautiful experience among MANY others over the course of our trip and related to His movement in our family lately--We had seen other adults come under the influence of the Holy Spirit but to watch Him awaken our little girl was a blessing beyond measure. She is so pure before Him that her open heart was easy and accessible for Him to pour into--I want Ava to be my model before the Lord--to be so childlike and simple and receiving before Him that He can mightily move in and through my frame--to pour in at Will whenever He so desires. And this is how I will be pushing in to His presence in this new year. God is REAL--His Spirit walks among us and wants to encounter us--just as He did in the past in the OT. and more--just like He did through the apostles and in Acts--He's as fresh and willing to move in us and through us and with us in power today as in any other time in history--time and time again this week we realized and experience His love among us. Among wonderful praise, encountering prayer, we also witnessed college age students, 20,000 of them reaching toward the pursuit of God. They were precious "kids"--full of the Spirit of Christ--engaging others, bibles were out instead of blackberries--there was hardly a text message in sight--a generation unplugged from the world's draw and charged up with the love for Christ and taking that love in vast acts of justice to His world. We did not hear a cross word among this large crowd for 4 days and joyed in overhearing young people's conversations in which they spoke of WHO they wanted to be in God (first commandment) and how that fueled their love for His Word and His world. We witnessed people taking off their glasses and taking off their casts to reveal healed arms, several crooked backs were made straight and several legs even GREW several inches to even out bodies--Christ loves to make us whole--that's why He went to the cross for us--and His power from the cross's payment for us was so powerfully moving among a receiving worshiping people WOW...I believe this is what Christ's body should appropriately look like and how it should operate. And I will be encouraging His body to take place before Him in these ways in the upcoming seasons of my life--you included, with much tenderness and love to you, my bloggy friends!!
Stay tuned for other movement of our family in Him and please keep us and calling in Him in your prayers.
Blessings in these first days of 2010!
Love, Gillian

Go Buy Oil

Misty Edwards--Matthew 25 Song (11.37 minutes)

This message burns on my heart and defines my time and my ways these days...loving entreaty from a loving Savior from Jesus' living Words of Matthew 25:1-13

But the foolish...so busy shining their lamps...forgot to get the oil.

...And the 5 who were wise will say to the foolish:

Go Buy Oil

For Yourself.

You have to

Take the Time

to

Know Him for Yourself.

They say,

Go Buy Oil

I counsel you.

Buy it Now.

Go Buy Oil...

Before it is Too Late.

I counsel you Now

Buy GOLD Refined

in the Fire.

Take the Time

From the Inside Out

Take the Time to Be Aquainted

with the Holy Spirit and the Word

Before it is Too Late...


Cultivating the Oil of Intimacy
(Mike Bickle--One Thing Conference 09)




Love,
Gillian

Small Things , Great Love

"Love Comes--From God."

Recently, within some whirling circumstances, God's been reminding me that He is not found in the whirlwind but in the quiet voice who speaks a simple command. Just Love. Love the Lord God with all your heart. Love your Neighbor as yourself--Everything is included in this. All direction, all command, for all of life--Really.

And there's the sobering reminder as well. If we have not love, what we ARE, what we DO, what we are FOR, what we SAY is declared to be NOTHING --as if we were only a gonging cymbol or a clanging drum--just noise makers. And oh, I don't want that!!

Late this morning, my boys spent an hour and a half beating on a drum set, a set of African drums, and also a kettle drum that we found at a yard sale today. Our home vibrated with the sounds of "clashing" --shaking--much noise!! The walls were just waving with clanging Vibes!! (Kudos to all you parents out there who have purchased drum lessons for thier sons!! or who have had bands in their garages...) But it made me think--what plays in the "garage" of my life---what sounds are coming out of the walls of the home that God has made of my heart? I must be ever asking God to search me show me (Psalm 139) to not let my noise drown out His music in me. Oh, may our lives reverberate with true,real love that comes only from God and not from noisy clanging around.

I love this sister's perspective:

... (a drunk man speaking to her in London)...'Oh after so long, the warmth of a human hand!' " and his face lit up. And his face was different. I only want to say that small things, done in great love, bring joy and peace...
Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God's gift of Himself. Ask and seek, and your heart will grow big enough to receive Him and to keep Him as your own. Wherever God has put you, that is your vocation. It is not what we do but how much love we put into it." (Mother Theresa--My Life For the Poor pg.49)

"But how much love we put into it". So simple. It boils down the essense of life. God's love available to us, in us, and for others through His LIFE in us. What do we KNOW--really? What can we DO--really? What can we do but "put love into it"(His Love)--and then it is SOMETHING--it is REAL--it is LASTING--it comes from God.

"Love comes from God"

Love, Gillian

P.S. Please continue to pray for the Mihnovich children's release and for a covering of protection for them. The video on Tracy's blog to the right of this post--(click on the picture of the hands that has the 4 children's names to see it)--is heart wrenching and eye opening and only a glimpse into these childrens' story and plight.

Extreme Light

Blessed Friday to you!

Has anyone commented on your "light quotient" recently? A little while back, I was reminded of this, as a neighbor stopped my husband in a local parking lot with a devastating prayer request. "I'm telling this to you, Richard, because I know you are a 'real Christian'". He knew that Richard was a source of God's light. He sensed he desperately needed that light--that it was his only hope in this situation. Previously, this guy had written us off as "crazy" for our heart for adoption, "kinda weird, Y'all", and "you guys are just...different--how do ya do it?" "Your life would drive me nuts!!"(ouch)--Now he was asking for the very thing he had thought was "quirky". We love this neighbor and are AMAZED with how simple, Godly lives matter so much in this world -- so THRILLED he's searching for God's light!! May this be compounded by all of our lives in Him!! Think about how many could be brought to Him!!
Several weekends ago we were having a hot dog roast with a couple friends and neighbors--kids were running around and jumping on the trampoline--a typical happy time. We may have not "looked" all that typical :) about 4 or 5 nationalities of children played in the sandbox--some adopted some not--some with physical challenges--others not. Big families, small families --as I write this--I'm reminding myself of "Go Dog Go"--you know, the children's book that talks of all sorts of dogs, Big Dogs, Little Dogs, Blue Dogs, and Red Dogs all at a (emphasis here please as you read it out loud!)--A DOG PARTY!! We were having a great time. Well, some of our sweet neighbors stepped outside and really were floored--they were just hangin' out at their fence--just taking the scene in. It turns out they knew one of my dearest friends, Heather, at our party and as they visited with her, listen to some of the chat,it went something like this--"This is cool--I mean look at ALL these kids running around. And they are all getting along! Really different but really great, I mean it! Hey, I know your husband, Scott from the hospital (aside--Scott is an amazing pediatric RN and loves Jesus--ALOT--by the way) he is just different--tender--an amazing guy...there's something just so different about him...and how's Richard, Gillian...I mean that guy--he always has a smile on his face--he's a unique guy--(are you sensing a theme here?)
People are watching. And they see. They see the light even if they cannot comprehend it. (John 1:5) And we who love Christ are ever giving off His light--EVEN WHEN WE ARE NOT AWARE OF IT. That so encourages me!! For I would not know where to start to TRY to become a light-producer. NO, its GRACE. Like a little lightening bug, as we become His children, by believing in Jesus, AT THAT POINT we are given this "glow light"--its a part of us--it glows the brightest in the dark. A signal to where life can be found. "And the light that came into the world was the light of life" Light chases away the dark places of our Daddy's world, spotlighting His handiwork and will here. That's an amazing thing. To know that as we stepped foot into God's kingdom by our belief in Jesus, we His light just became a part of us--that it shines "ever brighter and brighter until the full light of day "-- till His return--Its happening RIGHT NOW if you know and love Christ!! Be assured, PLEASE have settled hearts as you hear reports on T.V. about this or that or about fear, or darkness, or unrest--we are children of the Father of the Heavenly Lights--we are citizens of a kingdom of Light. We just do not belong to the dark. I love hearing my little children sing, "Even the darkness is light to you and light is as bright as the dawn." This light in us will draw men to our Father's salvation even as little moths are drawn to our outside house lights. In a way, darkness is an excellent contrast/background to truly see light. He is the darkness chaser and pursuer--He WILL NOT let darkness remain or reign--in our hearts and it will not overcome this world--"take heart, I have overcome the world", He says.--Praise Him!!--Thank Him for His light in you!! Thank Him that He is coming back!! and so look forward to that day--encourage one another with this Truth. Thank Him for his kingdom that has come and is coming in more fullness every day.

Here's a powerful devotional from Voice of the Martyrs this is taken from their Extreme Devotion devotional booklet.

"Faith is the invisible expression of our personal relationship with Christ. The Bible characterizes people's faith as light -- a diffusion of hope that affects everyone around them. Jesus chose this illustration because of light's inability to be restrained. For example, reading by flashlight under the covers, unknown to the average child, is hardly effective in terms of disguising late night activity! Light simply shines by its very nature -- despite our attempts to restrain it. Likewise, tension arises in believers' lives when they must choose to fully express their faith or attempt to muffle it someway. With the reliability of the daily sunrise, those who have affirmed their decision once and for all find shining their light to be second nature."

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord...Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful,then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil...Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (from Ephesians 5)

Shine on, followers of Christ!! Let them ask, "what's so different about that one?"--don't be embarrassed about your light--they need it.
Listen to this powerful Word:

"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness over the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and His glory will be seen upon you.
And nations ahall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult"
Isaiah 60:1-5

Love, Gillian

He Broke His Body for our Wholeness

It is Finished.
The Price Jesus Paid for ALL of our Sin is Enough.
Thank you for breaking your body for us--for dying in our place--for stepping in and taking our punishment so that we can enjoy freed, forever life.
We are in awe of your choice to live a perfect life and then to die and rise again for us!!
We are clean in God's sight because of Jesus' death on the cross. We are covered and freed. Forever!!
Thank you, Jesus.

Love, Your Thankful Children

Our Easter gift to you--a video on You Tube of Keith Greene singing Easter Song
(sorry if link does not work well--its worth the trip to go view it)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3kc1jDahU4

His Bundle on my Back--From my Ethiopian Journal

"He takes care of his flock like a shepherd.
He gathers the lambs in his arms.
He carries them close to his heart.
He gently leads those that have little ones. " (Isaiah 40:11)

African women carry their babies within long fabric pieces on their back. Like these children, as a child of God, since I was five, I have been securely wrapped up within the love of incredible Father God. First He saved me and simply asked me to love Him and to love others. To walk out my life as He did. He named this love, "adoption", as He wrapped me close to His heart. In time and by degree, He lovingly secured a bundle to my back as well. It is so much smaller but looks like the one my Father carries. I love to walk through His world with Him. Within this bundle He has placed Adoption , Rescue, Care for the Orphan--the desire to give place to the lonely--to set them in families--love for His hurting world. This, He has lovingly has wrapped to my back since I was a tiny girl. He has so much more to fit into my bundle. I gaze in there and marvel and wonder at its beauty -- the honor of carrying a likeness to my Father. Other times it has been very heavy to carry. But then, the gold of His Kingdom can be weighty.

I hope you can see her. She is my heart for adoption, for adoption in Ethiopia. A beautiful African woman stands with dignity under a brilliant, cobalt sky. She is dressed in humble garments and is wrapped in a long piece of colorful fabric. With skillful ease, she bends over gracefully to take the ends of the fabric. Seamlessly, she wraps the fabric over a baby on her back or front until the baby has the cosiest of perches to view the market before them. They walk down dusty streets, past baskets of food on blankets, among begging people with gentle eyes and past the man with withered polio legs dragging his torso to the injera stall (Ethiopian bread). Her baby blinks at the sun and is covered with a light shawl. She jostles to sleep, secured on her Mother's back. On they go through the aroma of Ethiopian "Boona"--the most delicious coffee you could ever imagine, around a young goatherd, coaxing his goats through the crowded, bustling market streets. Lilting music plays out of shanty-type one-room buildings covered in tin roofs lining the street, making up the market's stalls --this is the the vast "Merkato".

Her beauty belies the secret of her heart, greyer than the afternoon storm clouds that sweep across Addis Ababa each day at this time. The German medical lab has given her grave news. She is not the first of her family to receive such news--in fact she has watched all of her family members perish after similar reports. Some lived several years--others just weeks. Their arms--asleep in quiet graves--unable to help her. Unable to come to her aid. And no arms to receive her precious Rekeb. Rekeb, full of life and energy with the cry so loud and lively her Mama's name's meaning fits her well, "one who cries out". In different times there were many loving arms to soothe Rekeb's cries. She would have been passed around to bring Joy to every heart. In this land, there is no original word for "orphan" for children are the treasure of their family circles. Rekeb stirs in her cosy sleep, soon she will want to nurse. Who will feed her? Who will hold her? Will she live? Oh, God, help her, see my child. Let her live...
The mother reaches her destination, the outer wall of the local Orthodox church. She can hear the sound of singing. The daily services must not yet be over. She has heard this is a good place. Surely they will hear her. Will they? Or will the wild dogs who run the streets find her first? She shivers. She unwraps her incredible bundle and ...we do not watch the most private and excruciating of moments between a loving mother and child.

With the greatest of care she finds a gap under the wall and makes a bed of colorful fabric for her little one. Rekeb. Will she live? She stays, until Rekab's cries draw a crowd of street children. They pick her up. One older girl wraps her on her back ,in the colorful fabric. They speak of an orphanage not far away. A good place. She will live...

Across the world, my bundle comes to life! It is full, pregnant with a referral of two babies!! I sense the loving arms that brought these children to my Father even as I see their photos on my computer screen for the first moment and I love them even as love swells for these precious babies. Big brown eyes stare sadly at me from the first photo I open. It is a little boy, he is 2 years old. His parents are deceased. As we have nested we did what many parents do and have looked at Ethiopian name lists. We decided quickly and firmly months back upon the name, Bruik, meaning, "gift of God." I wrestle my eyes off of his photo to glean my first bit of information of my new son. And as I scroll down, I gasp and cry,shout and jump up and down--in Joy-- African woman-style!! His name, before me on the screen is...Bruik. Oh, my little son. Placed "on my back" and in my heart since I was a little girl...
The next image is a tiny little baby girl. Her velvet brown legs and arms are so thin they make me ache--with a mother's longing to tend and to nurture. Her cheeks are so kissable -- I can't stand it. Little...Rekab. Captivator of my heart---so dear to another that she was brought to my arms... I stumble around for weeks--dizzy with love and the closeness of the Father--soaring, sometimes staggering under the glory's weight.
Soon we are on a plane, watching a tiny electric airplane model on a map on the screen fly increasingly quickly away from my land. My daily world shrinks away...I turn toward the land of my new children.

There is no sleep for me, I toss in our hotel bed--tomorrow--we'll meet them tomorrow!! It is like the night before I was married--full of mystery, hope, and elation. My mind jumping to the future and savouring the present all at once.
I rearrange baby bibs and formula and tiny outfits and shoes. I pray and thank my Father. I lay out my" bundle" before me and tenderly consider it. Excited to further fill it tomorrow as we love on the orphans we meet and greet our babies for the first time.

On the following day we pile into a bright blue and white van and bump through the streets. We pull up to a walled orphanage and my stomach leaps, "Kids Care Orphanage" says the painted metal gate.

Bruik awaits us, dressed in a crisp oxford shirt and little blue sweat pants. We gently touch and hug. He smiles brightly and jumps into His Daddy's arms. Richard swings him up onto 6 foot 5 shoulders and Bruik looks triumphantly down at his new family.

Rekeb is waiting for us in a walker in the baby room. Her nannies say to me with laughing eyes, "you must pick out your baby now". Oh, no! I know the baby girl which I believe is mine...but she is the loveliest of all the babies in their white metal cribs--what if I am wrong and she is another? The joke is on me--I have hesitated too long. A nanny reaches down to the beautiful baby in the walker and secures her in my arms. I breathe her in. We sway to the musical sound of children's voices and Amharic speech. A first dance...

We drive away from the chorus of children but they remain still in our "bundles". How God presses them on our hearts.

We rename our Rekeb, Ava Aday, meaning, "breath of life, precious flower." She will live. Our Father.our Savior, has promised "life abundant" for her. And as we carry our children close to our hearts and walk through their lovely people, taking in their beautiful land,filled with pain, awe, and joy, we sense our Father, securing our bundles, walking beside us, sharing His heart with us...

Love, Gillian