Blessings...

Another week is well under way, and I woke up this morning just thinking and I jumped when I realized that my goodness it was Wednesday and I hadn't posted my blessings yet.

Week in News Flash:
Monday: busy busy busy
Tuesday:  me and my sisters had a 'tasteless tea' party (since none of us like tea, we had water in fancy cups!) and we all dressed up like Jane Austen characters. It was a lovely tea I, Jane Bennet, had with Emma Woodhouse and Elinor Dashwood.
today: we were at church packing boxes to ship to Haiti. There were boxes and boxes and more and more boxes! Amazing!

#280- 294
M and Z dancing at church

50! rubbermaid bins ready to go to Haiti

Ms. Dee Dee's smile

R having a great time at playgroup

hundreds of tiny cream bottles for little hands in Haiti

laughing when we realized that the box we packed up and still need to put stuff in is buried at the bottom of the pile

'tasteless tea' with my sisters

dressing up as Jane Austen characters

using beautiful tea cups from the party again

R's new haircut! oh so cute!

lilacs blooming

my I (pretzel picture) Philly shirt

wearing my daddy's vest :)

two big brown hispanic 4-year-old eyes and smile when I spoke to her in Spanish


~May the Lord bless you this week~
Kaye

Rainy Sundays Are For...

...worshiping the Lord...

...celebrating the successful youth dinner this year...

...making cookies in the kitchen...

...laughing with my sisters...

...playing with my brother...

...talking with my mom...

...driving with dad...

...watching the race ...

a quiet rainy sunday at our house.

Kaye

My Friend's New Blog

My friend Marianne Mobley has started a new blog!

It is really cool and you should check it out!

Her blog is called Lillie's Valley (cause her favorite flowers are lillies). It is a really fun green blog with pictures of flowers and lilac bushes that she loves to take pictures of.

Check it out here!

I guarantee that it will make you smile~

Kaye

Simple Things

The world is full of little simple things.

All we have to do is look for them and see if we can find the beauty in them.

Like telephone lines running to our house.

And electricity powering our world.

The water that runs out of our sink.

The windchime that clinks in the wind.

Simple things.

our family sitting down to dinner- all six of us- to read the Word and talk about worldviews with my dad. 

bowls and spoons and plates waiting to be used.

a wooden cross and a red flower as our centerpiece.

simple things.

fiery sunsets that cast shadows through all the trees.

laughter around the table.

adventures with my dad (whether we look for them or not).  ;-)

God's continuing grace in my life.

simple things that I am oh so grateful for.

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are those who wait for Him.

Isaiah 30:18

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

May the Lord bless your day and may you delight in the simple things!
Kaye

Pictures: my mom's dragonfly windchime; our family dinner table; sunset on our block; HCR dinner

Ask Me About Sponsorship

Quite a few years ago, my family decided to choose a child through Christian Childrens fund to sponsor. She is just a year younger than me, and she is from Bolivia. I loved that I could write to her in spanish and she would write back. Now, she is almost 16 and has many siblings. She sends pictures of her where she is smiling so big and holding a new pair of shoes or clothes, or whatever she was able to buy that month.

On our fridge, there are pictures of her from when we first chose her to now, and I am amazed at how she has grown!

When my dad turned 37 years old, my mom and sisters and I wanted to do something new and special that would mean a lot to him. We thought about it and prayed, then my mom told us that we could sponsor another child for him.

I was excited! We jumped online to World Vision and chose a child. Since we were all girls and we already sponsored the young girl in Bolivia, we chose a boy from Kenya. His little picture popped up and we all instantly fell in love with his. He is a Hope Child who lives in an area of Kenya that is severely affected by AIDS. His small smile and little overalls stole our hearts, and we chose to sponsor him.

When my dad opened his gift and saw that little face, I believe it made his day. The little boy was only 4 at the time, and just slightly younger than my sister M.

For six years now, we have recieved letters and pictures of this little boy who is now almost 11 and much taller than he was when we first started to sponsor him.

It makes our day to recieve letters and hand-drawn pictures of him all the way from Kenya. His picture are right next to the girl from Bolivia's on our fridge, and every time we walk in the door, they are one of the first things we see.

After reading A Hole in Our Gospel by the president of World Vision, I was again reminded of the many children in the world who are without food, water, clothing and resources to get them out of the life of poverty. The $35 a month that you could give them through sponsoship would literally help lift them and their families out of poverty.

I was convicted lately about how many 'loaves' I have been given. Jesus asked his disciples when He fed the 4,000, "How many loaves do you have?" They gave Him what they had, and He multiplied it to feed 4,000 men (that's not including women and children!)

I have been given much. I have many 'loaves'. I have been homeschooled and raised in a Christian home. I have a lot of time to spare during my day, and the resources to make a difference. So why wasn't I making a difference?
I went online, back to World Vision, and searched their site for something- anything- that I could do.

Lord, just show me something.

I came to page where it describes hosting a party to raise awareness of the great need that children have, and to ask people to seriously consider sponsoring a child. God poked me.

Got it.

I sent the link to my mom and dad. My mom read my mind! I was standing by the door just about to ask when she looked over and said, "You'd like to host a party, wouldn't you?" I started to cry because yes, I really did.

My mom knows me well.

So we are planning a party to help the kids who are hurting. To help more little smiling boys in Africa and laughing girls in Bolivia.

Look for an invitation to the party coming in June/July!

Lord Jesus, I pray right now that you would take and use the loaves that I have. Use me to spread your good news of salvation from sin. Give me Your courage to do what You've asked.
In Your Name and to YOU be the glory!
Amen

K.A.S.

1000 Blessings...

a big day full of surprises yesterday winds down to today- a quiet day at home to do school and dance in the living room with my best friends (LM&R) to my favorite radio station, the Refuge. (Thanks Mom!!)
so today as spring comes into full view with a beautiful day, I remember blessings- #260-279 of 1000!

a fun cd cover by one of my favorite bands, Hawk Nelson, a christian group from Canada

spanish... such a fun language

re-reading books by Christopher Paolini

babysitting at church

Carter (one of the preschoolers from church who finds me and reminds me every time that his name's not Carter, it's Lightning McQueen!)

books by Chuck Black- the Kingdom Series. He tells the stories of the Bible in the form of a kingdom of Arrethtrae (earth terra backwards! pretty clever!) who finds salvation in the words of a King and his son, the Prince. "The King reigns... And His Son!"

my bff L and I talking through Psalms together

a printer that works

shoe shopping with my daddy

The Girlhood Home Companion magazine! what a great magazine for young ladies learning to live for the Lord!

 vinca vine flowers covering our garden as the first blossoms

World Vision signs in Linden Hills reminding me to keep it in perspective

our neighbors in the yellow house

Deanna coming over for dinner

cool pink lemonade

homemade sub sandwiches

phone calls from Grandpa Baker

Mr. G speaking at church yesterday

Mr. G's joy and excitement over being used by the Lord

peace

His promise:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."     Joshua 1:9

May the Lord bless your day!
Kaye

World Vision

I am reading a book- The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision U.S. It is a call for American Christians to stop just going to church, giving a little money, and moving on. Stearns calls everyone to start walking out our faith by helping the desperate needs of our time.

"What does God expect of us? Is our faith just about going to church, studying the Bible and avoiding the most serious sins- or does God expect more? Have we embraced the whole gospel, or a gospel with a hole in it?

Ten years ago, Rich Stearns came face-to-face with that question as he sat in a mud hut in Rakai, Uganda, listening to the heartbreaking story of an orphaned child. Stearns' journey there took much more than a long flight to Africa. It took answering God's call on his life, a call that tore him out of his corner office (Kaye here... he was the CEO of Lennox) at one of America's most prestigous corporations- to walk with the poorest of the poor in our world. (Kaye again... he is now the president of World Vision).

The Hole in Our Gospel is the compelling trure story of a corporate CEO who set aside worldly success for something far more significant, and discovered the full power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to change his own life. He uses his journey to demonstrate how the gospel- the whole gospel- was always meant to be a world-changing social revolution, a revolution that begins in us."

-back cover, A Hole in Our Gospel

It is a desperate call from a man who has seen the work of the Lord do great things in countries around the world who are desperate for aid and how he is determined that if we all gave of ourselves, we could change the whole world.

One thing that struck me while reading this is the ammount of water that I use all day. I turn on a faucet, rinse out my toothbrush, wash my hands, drink, and cook with water all the time.

There is some statistics I'd like to share that shook me:

"As many as five million people die every year of water-related illnesses...Thousands of hours are lost seeking and hauling water, especially by women. These are hours that could be spent earning an income or contributing to the well-being of the family and community. This same task affects children too: millions are unable to attend school because of the hours they spend fetching water.           -Richard Stearns, Hole in Our Gospel

Water has many affects on a community. The need of it can cause more hardships and work to be made, or the benefit of having a clean water well can benefit the entire community.

Think of it! If water were readily available to those who had to travel distances to get it, women could help at home more, aiding their production of food. More children could go to school, decreasing the illiteracy in the world. Men wouldn't have to run back and forth for water all day and start farming or helping out in the local industries.

Think of it!!

Why am I just sitting on my hands, pointing fingers and not up and out helping in any way I can?

After praying about it a few nights, I asked the Lord to show me something-anything- I could do to help those who are desperately in need around the world today. I felt the Lord leading me to give to World Vision.

I wasn't totally certain that this was the place to donate, so I prayed and waited some more.

Yesterday, the World Vision Catalog showed up.

I shook my head. Message recieved, Lord.

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it."

"Well, why don't you?"
"Because I'm afraid He would aske me the same thing." -Anonymous

The catalog has things that you can purchase for families aroundt the world- cows, chickens, goats, sewing machines for single moms, water wells!, emergency food, clothing, school supplies, farming supplies, seeds, plows, fishing kits, medicines, and more.

You could even give money to build and stock a health center, school, or home for orphans!

I am still deciding and saving up some more money before I choose what to donate.

If you would like to help out a family in need anywhere in the world, even the U.S., click here to go to the World Vision site.
To see a copy of their catalog, click here!
To find out more about The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, click here!

My family has bought chickens and ducks in the past, and it is such fun!

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. -Deuteronomy 15:11

 Kaye

Blessings on a Thursday

I just looked up and guess what? It was Thursday and I had forgotten to do my blessings list!

Many blessings swirl through my brain and I think about how much the Lord has blessed me.

250. our old black piano that still plays tunes throughout our house

251. PSEO prayers answered through acceptance letters!!

252. L's light switch mechanism, so that we can turn off the light from where we sit and read at night and don't have to leave our warm beds

253. Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

253. The Hole in Our Gospel book by Richard Stearns- incredible! Please read!

254. Friends who come to the project fairs

255. finishing my piano piece without exploding

256. Psalm 91

257. new traditions started this Resurrection Day with a package from Holy Experience

258. Bonifay's Blog- awesome!

259. homemade sloppy joes!!!

May the Lord bless your days ahead!

Kaye

Photos: our piano, The Hole in Our Gospel, wreath made by Caleb

Wednesday Wanderings

After a day of school and reading, I took a walk down to the corner with my dog.

Once we were there, I pulled out my dad's new camera and snapped a few photos:

He who dwells in the shadow of the Most High wiill rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Psalm 91:1-2

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:10-11

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8

May you walk with the Lord this Wednesday.

K. A. Silver

Nation to Pray For

Azerbaijan-
Status: Restricted Nation

Azerbajian has been dominated by its neighbors for centuries. Subject to the USSR during most of the 20th century, Azerbajian broke away from the Soviet bloc in 1991. The Christian population is almost entirely Armenian and Russian, and many fled the country following the massacre of their people in 1989. While Azerbaijan officially guarantees religious freedom, the nationalists are becoming more Islamic and anti-Christian.

Christians make up 2.67 percent of Azerbaijan's people. Armenian churches have been closed and few of the Christians left in Azerbaijan would feel secure enough to attend if they reopened. Police raided one of the nation's largest churches in September, 1999, and interrogated church leaders and foreigners in attendance.

Christian literature can be printed only with government permission, which is never given. There are currently only about 10 items of Christian literature available in the Azeri language. 
                                     - dc Talk from their book Jesus Freaks: Martyrs; Stories of those who stood for Jesus: the ultimate Jesus Freaks

Prayer Requests:

• That the Lord would light a fire in the Azerbaijan churches and that many would come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
• That more Christian literature would be permitted to be printed to aid those in the country
• That the people of Azerbaijan would be brave and strong in the Lord, and not fall away because of fear.

Thank you for your prayers for these people. We in the United States have a huge priviledge to worship the Lord and study the Bible. Don't forget those who are hurting.
Thank you
and God bless the Azerbaijan people.
K. A. Silver

Pink Splash

Hello there everyone!
My dear friend Bonifay just started her own blog and it is amazing!
Click here to see it!

Blessings-
Kaye Ann