Happy Birthday to our 2nd baby, @trinitycphotography! I can't believe you're now 18 years old!
You're loyal, kind, and tender-hearted. Beautiful voice, killer crossover (but need to shoot more), and genuine in your pursuit of Christ. I admire how you always advocate for others. We love you!
Blatant, unapologetic plug for my kids: Y'all, if you need any pro photos or family portraits, let her know. She or my other daughter @byjubilee will hook you up. And you'll be helping them with college costs!
Most of the time, we don't get to see the work of the Holy Spirit... the fruits of our labor. But every now and then, God gives you a glimpse. Today, I met these young women right behind me in Michigan and they shared that about 4-5 years ago, I had spoken at their school in Rift Valley, Kenya One of them even made a decision to follow Christ! They were all freshman HS students and now they're in their first year in college.
I poured out today @engedichurch but the Holy Spirit deeply encouraged me and filled me up. Praying in faith for those who made decisions today; For a shift in peoples' understanding of idolatry - personal, communal, and national. Sure got silent at the end...but trusting the Holy Spirit.
#Repost @sannyangg (@get_repost)
・・・
PASTOR EUGENE CHO - He came and spoke at our high school in Kenya when we were freshmen. Now we’re freshmen in college and somehow ended up sitting behind him in Church this morning (we were shook when he walked over and sat right in front of us). He even gave us a shout-out before he preached from the book of Jonah about God’s love and pursuit! So thankful for such special surprises.
Oh, how God loves children and youth - including those who are in need of families. Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at an event called 'Foster Aware' that deeply encouraged me for several reasons.
First, it was centering on God's heart and love for orphans, foster kids, and adoption. What a joy to be able to encourage current and potential foster/adoptive parents in Thurston County, Washington. And to encourage others who showed up to learn how they can support those who are foster/adoptive parents. May the Church embody the love of God to vulnerable children and youth in our foster care system.
It was also so moving to witness numerous churches and their leaders in this city gather, worship, and genuinely pray together about how they could demonstrate the love of Christ to their communities. To ask about some of the biggest challenges in their communities. And then to actually collaborate together!
This is beautiful. Less about walls More of this. This is the whole Gospel, whole person, whole discipleship we need in the Church. And it might not make the news but it's happening. It's not perfect and often messy but I'm witnessing more and more Christians and local churches modeling the whole Gospel.
I know that it feels like disheartening times. I get it. I feel it, too, but be encouraged. The Holy Spirit is still on the move.
At times, we have to say ‘NO’ to good things to say ‘YES’ to the most important things.
We can't do it all.
Pray and choose wisely.
Then invest deeply.
I used to pride myself in my ability to multi-task, to wear many hats, hold many titles, juggle hundreds of responsibilities, and strategize many initiatives, and the list goes on. I had no idea - that without wisdom and discernment - my very strengths would exploit my weaknesses. Or what you could do in one season may not be feasible in all seasons.
I'm reminded of this quote from the incomparable Bruce Lee: "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."
I really love basketball. Despite having torn both my Achilles, two blown knees, and really bad ankles, I still love hoops. Playing. Coaching. And watching my kids hoop. And today, being the honorary chaplain for the day for the Seattle Pacific Women's Basketball Team (@spu_wbb). Thanks to the coaches for the invitation to give a devotional, prayer, and be a part of the grind-it-out victory for them to go 2-0 in conference play!
SPU is a special school for us as Minhee went there for her grad school and so many relationships through Quest Church. In fact, Assistant Coach @sashamanderson is a Quester and it was fun to sit with her husband and cheer together. Even as I've stepped down from Quest, it's so encouraging to see Questers living out their gifts, passion, and faith throughout the city.
Woohoo!
Today, @onedayswages just signed and are ready to mail off these matching grants of $194,382.37 to help partners and indigenous leaders fight global poverty in their communities through job creation, clean water and sanitation, community gardens, education, building classrooms, etc. We're so excited to have fully funded all of these projects.
So grateful for our partners, staff, interns and volunteers who all make this possible. Scrappiest, most tenacious team ever:
2 full-time
2 part-time
3 interns
5 volunteers
160 square feet office
1 YOU.
Thanks for your support and partnership. And if you're new to ODW, check us out at onedayswages.org
