Abigail's Student's Piano Recital

The last weekend of December was a very special one to me (Abigail) because each of my piano students played wonderfully in the Christmas recital. It has been an immense blessing teaching each of them and I know it will continue to be in the months to come! It was a privilege to hear each of them play so well and it encouraged my heart. I love each one of you dearly and look forward to seeing you this week!! :) Keep using your musical talents for the LORD!!!!
Here's some pictures:

Me with Caleb, Jonah, Hannah, Abigail, and my brother Gray :)

I loved having the chance to brag on each one of them! ;)

God's Silence

"When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days in the same place where He was."  John 11:6

This is the verse that Oswald Chambers used in an entry for "My Utmost for His Highest".  He speaks this day about God's silence as it was at Bethany for Lazarus' family.  This is something that God is teaching me lately, about His silence in my life.  He's teaching me about having patience and to wait on His perfect timing and perfect will.  Could it be the same as my timing and will?  That shouldn't matter as a servant of the King.  My life was bought with a price and it is not my own.  Yes, He puts desires in our hearts as we live according to His will.  It is His silence, Oswald Chambers shares, that tells me He is "bringing me unto Himself" and "giving me a gift".

Jesus actually said in John 11:4, "...This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."  May God be glorified in and through the silence!  He is working out His plan through it!  I do want the Lord to get the glory so, it must be worked out the way He sees fit.  Thank you God for loving us enough to have a plan and that you're working in my life!

My heart has peace in knowing that God hears the cries of His own and I have confidence that I am resting in His sovereign place of waiting on Him.

How it must have been painful to the dear friends of Jesus, Mary and Martha when Jesus waited and didn't come to Lazarus when He was alive.  Do you think they would've responded in upset had they known that God was going to bring such a miracle upon them all?  I think not.  I think they would've quietly mourned and had a joy deep in their heart anticipating what God was going to do.  There would've been a smile through the tears.  That is what God is teaching me too, having that joy while waiting.  I should be bubbling over with it in anticipation of His works and His ways!

If you've ever read "My Utmost for His Highest", Chambers' biography, or any of his other books you'll understand the life that was behind these words.  He speaks from experience.  He lived it.  It inspires me to do the same.

Looking to Him - Kelly

Summer Photo Shoot

The girls wanted to do a photo shoot one day last summer.  I (Kelly) was supposed to take the pictures however, I injured my foot as we were going to take them. =/  Nick ended up taking them and did an awesome job!  As a mom and a person that looooves pictures I was thrilled with them!  I thank the Lord every day for the husband and children He gave me!

The Unfathomable Love of God

"God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17-19

Adventure in Romania!

Like we said, we are playing "catch up" on some events that happened in our lives the past few years that friends and family are asking about!  So, sorry for the lateness of this post!

In 2011 Madelyn and I were blessed to embark on a mission trip to Romania along with Dr. Bill Gothard and 15 other team members. Our purpose was to meet with delegations and leaders to teach their country to be a model nation to the world! While there, we had several other ministry opportunities such as teaching in orphanages and schools, ministering to the needy on the streets and in hospitals, hand out tracts, and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all those we came in contact with! I will share more with the video and pictures below...

We prepared this video for our Mimi's church as an intro to the slideshow presentation because we were unable to attend their missions conference in Virginia.

Here is the full team that went to Romania in September, 2011! (Plus a few extras ;P )

After 24 straight hours of traveling through NYC (we were able to fellowship for a day here with other IBLP families that prayed over the trip with us), Baltimore, MD, England, and Hungary, it was exciting to finally reach Romania!

The first day was full of meetings with officials, delegations, and politicians who gladly embraced God's design and purpose for their positions and lives.

We participated in a Biblical salt and bread peace covenant which was quite significant!

This is President Radu Turley.  He was incredibly hospitable by hunting a wild boar and had the kitchen staff prepare it for us!  

At each church and conference we spoke for, we shared testimony in music.

On one day, we went in to Romanian public high schools and taught classes on character. There were many students that responded and wanted to see Jesus work in their lives! 

We went to many banquets and experienced the delicious fine dining of Romania!  They were gracious hosts to us all.

As we walked from place to place, there were breathtaking sights on the streets! We went from the president's building all the way into the slums of the rural villages handing out tracts.  We were even escorted by local policeman that escorted us to hand out Romanian tracts!

We walked through a hospital and prayed with those who were hurting and just enjoyed loving on them. 

The hospital is the tall building to the left.

All ready to go in now!

There was a woman there that Dr. Gothard laid hands on and prayed for that she would be healed of her disease that was fatal.  He was able to explain the connection between her bitterness and her disease.  She forgave and trusted God!  A week after the trip, we were contacted by the hospital saying she was completely healed for some "unknown reason" and heading home! We do know the reason though, God had worked a miracle in the life of that woman. Praise Him!

At one school we taught at, they greeted us in front of the building with a traditional Romanian dance performance! We were delighted and surprised. :)

One of my most favorite days was when we went in the orphanages to teach and love on the children. As I shared a clear Gospel message with the 15 children in my care, two little boys began excitedly jumping up and down and shouting something in Romanian. I asked my interpreter what they were saying, and she told me they were saying, "We have accepted Jesus to come into our hearts! We are clean! We are going to Heaven!"  It excites me to think of the day that I will see these precious children again when we meet in Heaven!  The little boy to my right in the picture is one of the boys that became a Christian that night!

The next day, we traveled to a rural gypsy village. When we finally arrived at the small concrete church we would be speaking at, we were pleasantly surprised to see at least a hundred people (mostly children!) were waiting for us! We were later told that they had traveled for miles and waited for three hours in that hot little tiny church building for our coming. The joy on their faces as we played music and gave them stickers and hugs was overwhelmingly contagious!  I think we were even more excited to see them.  We wanted to take some home with us!

After our joyous greeting, we went inside the little concrete church building and began teaching Bible stories and doing music and involving all the children in hands on object lessons! They attentively soaked in every word, through two interpreters... one from English to Romanian, and one from Romanian into their native Gypsy dialect!  They even sang some songs for us!  

We also participated in a National Pastor's Conference here.  We were blown away at their passion for worshiping the Lord together, as previously in their country they could not.  

Over the period of the trip, we stayed in the home of the Copu family. They were such wonderful hosts and have become life long friends! We'll never forget the experiences we had with their wonderful and special family!

After a completely packed trip of seeing God's awesome power in Romania, we flew home with many adventures to tell of, experiences to relay, pictures to show, and new friends to pray for. This awe-striking country holds a special love for both of us and will forever remain in our hearts!  We are forever grateful to God for the opportunities that we were able to experience.  It's astounding to think that many of these people had never heard the wondrous story of God's saving grace.  

Until next time, Romania! 

"Dumnezeu să vă binecuvânteze!" (God bless you!)