God's Kindness

Today in my Bible study I read about Nehemiah and how he repented for not only his own sins, but also for the sins of his people, the Jews (Nehemiah 1:6). The Bible teacher taught us that it is God's kindness that leads us toward repentance (Romans 2:4). It is His kindness that helps us to repent so that He can be our All in All! I taught this to our kids when we all did Bible time and Kolson said, "It's like God's love protects us from sinning". That is exactly it! God loves us so much that He first of all sent His Son to die and make a way for us to come to Him but He doesn't stop there...He continues to work IN us and HELP us to LOVE and OBEY Him.
WHAT AN AMAZING GOD WE HAVE!!!

So I tried to think of a real life example to make this TRUTH real to the kids...I thought of how 14 months ago orphans were not on our radar. We were being disobedient to God's commands in His Word to take care of the orphans and the least. He EMBRACED us and met us in our sin and neglect of His command in James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." He loved us enough to place the desire IN our hearts to take care of orphans - for us, this desire looks like adopting and advocating for the least (for others it may look different). 
I LOVE that about our Jesus!!! 

I think of how we really get caught up with selfishness - our culture breeds this in each one of us - but Jesus won't let us stay stuck in that sin of selfishness!!! His KINDNESS will lead us toward repentance...toward turning the other way and LOVING others with HIS LOVE and SHARING HIS GOSPEL and the GOOD NEWS of JESUS with those who have never heard about it. He has already begun this good work in our hearts by giving us all a desire to go overseas and SHARE HIS LOVE and WORD with the least and needy. Thank You, Jesus that Your Kindness leads us toward repentance and that it is YOU who WORKS IN US to will and to act according to YOUR good purpose (Philippians 2:13)

So this song was my worship to Jesus this morning...

He LOVES us like no other!!!! In HIM only Grace can be found...He leaves nothing the same when we come to Him - He changes us from the inside out!!! I truly can't get over HIM and HIS AMAZING LOVE.
The more I learn about Jesus, the more I stand in AWE of HIM!!!

Our Summer

We've had such a nice, relaxing summer! We've enjoyed having extra time as a family!!! Here are a few of the things that we have been up to.....

Hair Cut time  :)

We went to the Delta for family vacation...our kids loved fishing!!!

The girls are getting ready to swim

The Bakers and Nana and Papa are heading out on the boat

Kols was SO excited when he caught a fish!!!

Look at that fish!!!!

Brodie had Softball all summer...we had fun watching him and our kids are the BEST fan club ever!

We had Claire's 1st Birthday

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

All the cousins

Our kids had a Last Day of School Party

These are the teams getting ready for "Whip"-le Ball

Go Keegan!

Sissy got whip cream on her face  ;)

Nice hit, Kols!

We even had a talent show as we waited for it to get dark enough to start our outside movie

 

Kols  entered the talent show with his shoulder stand

Keeg is letting Daddy and Alese throw him

No fair...Sissy gets to practice all the time with Daddy  :)

Time for the movie (Kols is taking his own picture :)

Jordy's Graduation!!! We love you, Jordy!!!

Kols and Daddy got to have their Father/Son date since he had to miss the getaway with the guys

We've had such a great time going to lunch with Grandpa most every week! We are so blessed to have him around...he's going to miss the kids when they head back to school! He likes having his whole family with him at lunch :)

We've been reading through the Bible. We have LOVED having sweet time in God's Living Word each evening!!!

We also LOVE having extra time with cousins  :)  Here are the girls!

4th of July on the Lake with friends

Fire works are about to start

Fun on the tube

Our kids love to hang with Taryn and Nolan

Snack time before the fireworks start

Building a fort on the beach

SOOOO... glad that we have a few more weeks! We could use even more time, but we'll just have to make the most of what we have left  :)

Kolson's 8th Birthday!!!

Kolson, how could you be 8 already??? You are growing up so fast! Jesus is strong in you and you are a JOY!!! We had a FUN Birthday day  :)  We woke up and Sissy and Keeg got your present all set out for you. It was a Lego set which you have already almost finished building (with the help of Keeg). Then we went to Mimi's for breakfast. Since you share a birthday with Claire and it was her 1ST Birthday, we headed off to her party which was so much fun! Then we went to Boomers as a family. You are a special boy and we are blessed to have you as our son!

Breakfast at Mimi's

Fun at Boomer's

Laser tag

Kolson hit the jackpot and earned 500 tickets!!!

Wa-hoo!!!

Since you turned 8, we each listed 8 things that we LOVE about you..here is a list of some of them:

1. You LOVE Jesus and want to be like Him

2. You LOVE your family and always want to be with us (especially Sis and Keeg)

3. You are caring and kind

4. You are compassionate and you are always there to help others

5. You are very polite and respectful

6. You are FUN to play with and FUNNY

7. You have tons of JOY

8. You are good at soccer and legos  :)

Your birthday wish / prayer is to SHINE Jesus' light wherever we go and to be more like Him

We love you, Kols!!!