Wherever you go--There you are ... :)

Hey, everyone! We just returned home last night from a trip to Outer Banks, NC (Nags Head) for a beach trip reunion with Richard's family. We'll post some photos of the beachy love this week--12 kiddos and 8 adults all shared an ocean front home this week--the kids were in cousin heaven!!


But first a smile--you know that ole quotation, "Wherever you go, there you are" ? Well, we had a FUN time with this with our Graham as we road through Graham North Carolina to and fro the beach. The "Mayor" of Graham had a fun time "surveying" his town :)!!--Next we'll need to plan a trip to "Jackson" Miss. and Perhaps to "Anderson" In.--perhaps an Ashley destination...SUGGESTIONS, anyone???...it was so much fun taking these photos--even for those of us with more unusual names!! :)



SWEET!!



The Water Tower that "called Graham's name" from the highway :)




Just Chillin' at Graham's Soda Shop








Graham, "the thinker" :)





Sweet kid--really sweet southern town--lots of fun ;)


Just a funny today--love to you all!
Blessings,
Gillian

The Cry of the Radical Heart

In my circles there has been alot of speech about the word, "radical"--this song speaks well about the working out of this word/theme.

What a RADICAL thing--to be captivated and personally known by the living God.

What would this mean to your life personally?
What if Jesus WAS the lens that you saw all of life out of?

Living Waters that would flow from you--

no striving to serve.

For the river of love straight from the living God would flow to the hearts of whoever we are around--

SPLASH!!

We would bring that awesome river with us wherever we go...

... to splash on whoever is in front of us.

No one would have to convince us with statistics or pain stories to go forth and love for love would simply be in residence in us and would lead us to what Christ's heart burned for.


Fire that no water could ever quench--no ministry burnout here--for the lovesick heart does not wear out by work--

"a lover will out- last a worker every time!!"


No offense toward "others who just don't 'get it' "

for as we are filled with love --

We realise that the strong love we have for the helpless/the hurting is overflow --

NOT from the production of our hearts and desires and will

but overflow

from God's heart

bursting out from inside of us.

We would realise that the SAME love that Christ gives to us,

He has for these same people--who may not as yet

"get it"

FOR

"OH HOW He LOVES the world"--

and this includes

the selfish,

the cynical,

the greedy--

the VERY unsaved ones--"those" ones--

you know...

the one whos picture just came up in your mind--

THAT one--

Oh how He loves--

THAT one

And how great a love they will have for Christ as they are forgiven much

For he who is forgiven much loves much!!

YES, with melting, passionate, self-sacreficing love Jesus would woo them to Himself as well...

JUST like He wooed me...

We EACH and ALL are targets for His love!

We would realise that the point of and definition of the gospel is not only US--not even only others or service to others or the labors of our hands but all about the GLORY of this incredible one,

--JESUS--

who fills all of eternity,

who's glory fills the Earth,

who is coming to reign soon,

yet who's love fills and lives in MY heart.

"How can it be? That you, Oh God should die for me?"
And yet He calls us His BELOVED...

Ah to be captivated by His beauty and glory--

It is what we are made for.

Our eyes are meant to behold HIm.
Our hands were made to bring glory back to Him.
Our relationships to bring glory to Him.
Adoption and other ministries to bring His glory back to Him through these precious lives.

HIM, HIM, HIM...

Jesus is worthy of all the focus, all the strength, all the drive of our lives---HE is what we were made for!


Everything else flows from this...--including the 2nd commandment--to love others as we love ourselves. Only after being captivated by our glorious Jesus personally could we ever love or serve well or have ANY purpose to "lay it all down" or "obey those harder sayings" --until we get this first glimpse and filling of Christs' love in our sight and our hearts.

And this takes action.
But action that brings life and direction.


Plunge into Him--He's waiting for you--like that Lovesick Dad waiting at the end of that dusty path--waiting for His beloved child to return home. To run into His arms is our first requirement--and everything else flows from this--it REALLY does!

Be Blessed be captivated by Glorious Jesus!!
Love, Gillian

OH... HOW......what I'm singing today...

Please enjoy this video as a gift from our family today...and if you have not yet read our "big announcement"--it is in the post before this one--surprise! :)
Love to you all!
Gillian

Big Announcement from the Tucker Family :)

Our Journey continues...



Hey, Everyone!

WELLL, if it has seemed to some--even those of you closest to our family-- that we have had something "under wraps" for a while--we have!

We have an announcement of sorts. :)

Our family is being sent to become missionaries through the International House of Prayer Ministry in Kansas City, Mo.

YES! As soon as we sell our home, we are packing up our six kiddos and are heading out to Missouri.

As we have sought after and journeyed with God this year, He has used International House of Prayer's podcasts,music, teachings,conference as a tool over and over to help us know Him more--to introduce us more and more to who He is and what our identity in Him is.

As we have been encouraged to dive into prayer, fasting, receiving of the Holy Spirit, deep times digging in the Word of God...We have been smitten with His heart, filled with His spirit. God's power and personality has been SO near. A fountain of revival, passion after His heart that has brought such power has sprung up among our family after we have "laid it all down", counted the cost, and have remained at His feet--there's just so much to the Presence of the Living God--we echo Psalm 27, what we truly desire most--each one of us is to seek His face--to enjoy Him in His holy place--this ONE thing we seek. Christ has made Himself our ONE THING this year.
He has been our reward.

He has brought other rewards--some of which you have witnessed here on our blog--like a flood of physical healings, restoration and salvation of our foster children's lives, and a literal,dramatic saving from the Nashville Flood. We have heard His voice and have received precious promises. We have delighted in finding Him in worship times that He overflowed to places like the local grocery stores--where He would bring us to people to lay hands on and pray for--this is just the tip of the ice berg--we are a people ON FIRE with the realness and the goodness of a very REAL God.

He saves,
He is SO loving--
He burns with holiness and glory.

He has revealed so much of our deepened and transformed hearts through a flow from secret,intimate times with Him-- Overall--this HAS BEEN A MIRACULOUS YEAR!! THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO GOING BACK!!

Soooooo....We have shared with a few close friends and family members about this new call and the next question of course is , "what will you be DOING there?..."

Firstly and most importantly, the most special thing about the ministry of the International House of Prayer can be gathered by its name--

We will be PRAYING.

10 years ago, a prayer meeting was established at IHOP that has been going on non-stop, 24/7 ever since. (There are prayer/worship/word teams that come into the prayer room in 2 hours blocks around the clock.)

And you know what?

If you spend THAT much time with God in intercession, adoration, and worship, He is going to share and download ALOT into your heart, mind, and will.

And He has.

Just some examples of how God has responded to a people who's hearts are tender to His heart are--

A ton of new music, straight from the heart of God, from the Word, from the Holy Spirit is flowing out of the prayer room--we have been incredibly touched by this precious gift.--

There have been incredible answers to prayers and petitions--much favor even in foreign nations--even among unsaved leaders for the sharing of the gospel.--

God's been so sweet in bringing His Presence among a people who are seeking HIm in this way--many other prayer furnaces that are bringing glory to God are being established all over the Earth as well--.

And the things that God's heart yearns after and beats for-- He has readily shared with people who are giving such focus and attention to HIm--

Now, ten years after establishing the prayer room, International House of Prayer also has an incredible Bible University to equip young people to find their identity in Christ, to restore broken lives,to be built up in God's living Word, the Bible--

Many times then these same young people that fall passionately in love with Jesus are bringing this love to their families, cities, and even specific nations. God has pressed justice movements as well--VERY strongly on the intercessors at International House of Prayer-

-as of course He naturally would--

For if you spend ALOT of time talking with a good friend--you are going to get to know his or her heart--

You will receive powerful awareness of God's glory and identity--

That God's heart truly beats after the lost, the hurting, the weak, the hungry, the orphaned, the widowed, the helpless...AND yes, YOU!

...and this is what has happened with people who spend hours with God during the week--He has talked back! ... He has answered the desires He has placed on hearts!

He has pressed specific movements so powerfully that now International House of Prayer has established --24/7 ACTS of justice to match the 24/7 ACTION of Prayer.

Those who are on staff are in the prayer room for 24 hours a week and are required to give 24 hours of service to justice.

And what is neat about this is that this requirement is actually is a perfect fit for the way we are already choosing to order our days and to what we are already pursuing after in God today.

We have found that justice (like our experiences with M and M--our foster kids this year-- and other such experiences) so MIGHTILY springs up from time with our Father--and this is the best way to enter in to justice, be it loving your neighbor down the street,caring for that specific person that He brings you to in the grocery line, feeding the hungry, or even adopting--for God then can send you just where He wants you--to the tasks He's uniquely set out for you before He made the world--as the Bible would say.

Now PLEASE don't get me wrong--we are NOT YET spending this type of time in prayer--24 hours a week-- with God --but we desire to. We actually found that much of the power behind our incredible year (and at all the other precious seasons in our life) has stemmed from an obedience to a time in prayer.

About a year ago this week, God told me clearly in a time with Him to give Him my Tuesdays and my Thursdays--to give them over to Him in fasting and prayer. No lunches out with friends, no hanging out on the computer ,let go of the hobbies during that time, no chatting on the phone,leaving the errands alone for a while, no catching up to get "ahead" while the kids were in school those mornings--

It was incredible--

Only God could lead you into such things for in the natural--how in the world could a mom of 8 children pull this off? BUT He knew...this was EXACTLY where I needed to be--

If I had NOT been on my knees and in worship and deep times in the Word and intercession I would not have had the specific direction and strength and Presence of the Holy Spirit's power that I DESPERATELY needed to parent all the issues and details and burden that this melding of kiddos brought to our lives this year.

(And I'm not the first by far that God has specifically given this calling to!--One of my heros is Susannah Wesley--mother to Charles and John who's sons God used in one of the most powerful awakenings the world has ever seen for Christ--Her TWELVE children knew that when mother pulled her apron over her head she was in intercession and was not to be interrupted--what fruit those prayers brought to the World!!)

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I would drop the little kids off at school, dress, start my dishwasher and laundry machines and then would "hit the carpet". Some mornings He led into worship, others into writing to HIm,other mornings He gave me new songs to sing to Him as I read certain parts of scripture to Him, others times specific Word for the people I was praying for, other times he astounded my heart with His very real nearness and word to me--

He's just SO real and near to us--ready to meet us when we come to seek Him out--its SOOO true. I've really lived and experienced this!!!!

By the time it was time to pick up the preschoolers and minister to all the other kiddos, I was completely prepared to serve in my home and had received instruction from God in how to parent for the day, where the needs in my home were, where He was sending us out into our community that day, how to love my husband best, how exactly He wanted me to apportion my time, my chores, my menu.--He's the real deal! He REALLY speaks to us. In worship--He healed me of thyroid disease,planter faciotis, a 5 pound tumor in my abdomen, and an achy tired body (among other things--I was a mess health-wise previously!--being sick took up so much of my time and thought, effort and energy)--I know He loved healing me--for I have learned that He loves us so, and delights in healing bodies. He is SO real.

As my life was being flooded with God's presence, we also witnessed God's Spirit fall on each of my children, on my husband, on our foster children, and on our family as a whole--its been a new and living way--immersion in Him brings such life--

This does not mean that we are not fun or that we do not live life in a natural way--we have laughed more and had more to give in this joyful season here--On the other hand, PLEASE don't think either that we have got things "all figured out" --my children can argue amongst themselves like any other siblings, we get cranky, we have to ask for forgiveness ALOT--:) But in the midst of much humanness we are getting SUCH an awareness that God not only loves us but that He likes us and that He has great things in store for us --that His glory is going to shine out of all of our "cracks" (we've got alot of them!) more and more until the "full light of day".

So we are already living this intercessory life that will be going on on this missions' base--and we are thrilled about that.

When we arrive, there will be a training phase via a wonderful Bible University on campus,to be trained to equip young people to seek the Lord with all their hearts, to be restored and healed emotionally and spiritually (restored--we will love counseling and loving on these teens and college age kids.--this is perfectly made for Richard's pastoring heart and mine as well)

Next the students are sent out to testify/bring the glory of Christ to the nations locally, nationally, and internationally in missions and Christ- centered and filled justice initiatives.

We are personally being called to be involved in justice initiatives that war against human trafficking and abortion. We greatly desire to tell people about Jesus--who He is --bringing the Gospel-to people that hunger for Him--who may have never been introduced to Him.

Most likely this will take our family out around this nation and to other destinations around the world in differing ways--this call is a launch pad for so much to come through the members of our family.

We are very excited to have found a ministry that matches our musical giftings--there is ALOT of music coming out of the International House of Prayer and we all will be diving into this.

We will have a greater platform to advocate for orphans-- There is an adoption ministry there on the mission's base that our hearts are smitten with-- and that we will be plunging in to support. Our hearts continue to beat wildly for God's saving heart for the helpless.

If you have been following our blog, you may have gotten the sense that this has been an incredible miracle year in our life this year. It has!!

Much of God's movement has been behind the scenes--some of which we really desire to share with you and will very soon--its been powerful, transforming,and it truly has knocked our socks off!! I promise to share more details SOON!! As we dove into the heart of God this year, He brought a call that is so perfectly tailored for us. There is MUCH behind the "anatomy" to this call that I have not been able to share here because it stems from intimate places with God and it would just take to long to express--some of this we will be sharing later--there are many cool stories that are FULL of miracles, word from God, neat confirmations--

We'll share some of them soon--but mostly, I think there are many more stories to come. Its like we are at the beginning point of a roller coaster ride--we are going up that first hill and are hearing and feeling the "click, click, click" of the ascent to the first tummy turning hill. This is going to be an incredible ride!!

So please, those of you who know us or love us from afar in the FB/ bloggy world--please pray for us. There is alot that is to come together in the next weeks. We totally trust that we are going to see powerfully movement from God as He completes the details to what He's called us to.

Things you can pray over for us or if led give to:

We need to sell our home before we go.

We will need to raise financial partnership--all the staff positions at IHOP are volunteer--not paid positions. To enter in fully to what we will be doing there we could not hold a full-time job in the market-place--we are thinking over part-time job options combined with a sending base of partners who are excited about what God is sending us out to.

We are raising education funding for our children as well. We will need to raise 11,000 dollars to send our children to a Christian school in the area--currently there is not a public school option for our children. 26 of the local schools in this area of MO have recently been closed down --we will be combining homeschooling with a Christian school that we have found that really supports people who come on staff at IHOP. The children only have 8,000 more dollars to raise in their education fund--contributions toward reaching this final goal can be reached via the chip in widgit on our blog or at tuckersplash.chipin.com They are excited about and Trusting God to reach their goal by August 8th.

That's ALOT! Stay posted--I believe we are all going to see God provide here in huge ways. If God is pressing on your heart in some way to give to what He is up to in our midst, please feel free to call us at 615-567-6633 or tuckergillian@comcast.net or please feel free to use our Pay Pal button on the side bar that is related to donations.

Even before some of you have heard our full story, you have contributed to our family by your love to us, your prayers over us, loving emails and kind comments, and donations --thank you--we treasure how God has been using you to bring out a "new thing" in our family. God's hug has been felt through your willingness and love.

Many Blessings and Love to You!
Love,
Gillian

A 5 minute gift to you about intimacy with God--so sweet!

Summery Times

Some shots of summer moments today!
Not even in order because I am such summery mode! :)
Hope you are having a wonderful summer!!

A quiet moment with Ashley..






Apples make great friends!!


All lined up and ready to ride. These horses were at a ranch just 40 minutes away from us--My mom treated us to an amazing adventure day to celebrate the beginning of summer.


Graham, Ashley, Anderson went on a one hour trail ride and then got to tend to the horses--such fun! Mom and I stayed back at the ranch and were given a horse to take the littles on rides--it was so great to have room to roam and to tend to these beautiful creatures for an afternoon.


Cutie Pa-tu-tie!



I love that there are still wide open spaces like this to enjoy.

O.k. That's nough--we are gettin pretty hot, Mom!!



Graham at Middle school Graduation with a fav. teacher. Come on High School!!

We all came out to cheer for # 38's 1st football scrimage--exciting as the Super Bowl!!





Blessings!
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