I saw this video over at Brian Eberly’s blog and thought it was great. There church hosted a poetry night and Phil Long was there. This is not from that night but is a poem he shared. Check it out.
Compassion
I’m always amazed when I come across stories of hope. Stories of lives that God uses to bring glory to himself. The video below is a reminder of such stories. Thanks to Brian Eberly for showing this on his blog.
Some musician friends of mine have gotten together to write a song raising awareness and funds for Haiti check it out.
Hi everyone, Jeremy here. I’m sure you all know about the situation down in Haiti. I can’t even begin to imagine how life down there has so drastically changed. To try to help out every way we can, Justin, Alastair Vance, and myself recently got together and wrote then recorded the song Let Us Be.
I invite you to preview the entire song. I also ask you to please consider purchasing the song (MP3 download) for $1. 100% of the money raised through the song will be given to the Compassion International Haiti Earthquake Relief fund.
I believe that God has called us all to help out those in need. So even if you decide not to purchase the song, I hope that hearing it will at least remind you to pray for the country and its people during their time of need.
If you would like to donate more than just a dollar, please click the image below to be taken to Compassion’s site where you can donate and find out more about the relief efforts.
Please pass the word along to everyone you know, and let’s raise as much money as we can!
God bless,
JMListen and Purchase Here
“I’ve learned that trusting and following the heart of God is the most beautifully risky thing you’ll ever do. It requires much risk, much sacrifice…but it is the most satisfying and fulfilling thing you’ll ever do. In many ways, we know that this story we’ve been a part of is just beginning…and we are thrilled that God chose us to be a part of such a magnificent story.”
These words are so true, they reflect the struggles of adoption and the struggles of life. You can read the full post here.
We have been lifting up organizations such as Real Hope for Haiti and Compassion International in prayer and rightly so. We have been lifting the people of Haiti and all those who have come to their aid in prayer also. I would encourage you to continue to lift your voices to God for those in Haiti, to continue to give finically and sacrificially.
“God burden our hearts for the widow and orphan. Burden our hearts for this hurting country, for the people of Haiti. Amen.”
excited to release this video, especially with ALL that is going on to get Amos home these past few days… share it with friends!
::Aaron Ivey
To those who read my blog be in prayer that Amos will come home soon.
This weekend marks a huge turning point in the lives of a few friends here in Durham.
Jeremy Copeland, a close friend and church planter moved his family to Durham North Carolina from Southern California about the same time we moved here. Jeremy is the lead pastor of story church and this Sunday marks the official launch of their church plant here in Durham. Another friend I meet through Copeland, an Irishman named Alastiar Vance is leading worship for Story Church and does a brilliant job. His family moved here from the UK awhile back.
If you’re new to the area or have been here awhile, or maybe you have tried other churches or given up on church all together I would encourage you to check them out. Service starts at 10AM, below is the address, but don’t trust your GPS the school where they meet just opened this year.
Spring Valley Elementary School
2051 Northern Durham Parkway
Durham, NC 27703
So I’m asking those who read my blog to take some time this weekend and over the next few weeks and months to commit to pray for Story Church and the ministry God has already allowed them to do in Durham. You can follow Jeremy on twitter @pastorcope, Story Church @storychurch, and Alastair @alastairvance to keep up to date on what God is doing.
I can’t believe it’s been since the 22nd of November that I have updated my blog. I have been so busy with Lauren and the student ministry at our church that I have not had much time to update here.
Lauren is doing amazing. She had her trach taken out and the stoma stitched closed this past weekend. She is now home and making noise. She is quite a bit hoarse but that is to be expected. She has “discovered” her voice we thing and sits and makes noise when she reads a book. The greatest moment is one I posted on twitter. I could feel her breath on my neck as I held her sleeping body in my arms. It brought tears to my eyes because it’s one of those things must of us take for granted.
The student ministry is going full throttle this month. I actually can’t wait till the end of the month so we can all (students included) breath a little. We had a spaghetti lunch this past Sunday to raise some money for our winter retreat which is scheduled for the 20th-22nd of December. We are heading to Boone, NC for two days of skiing and worship/retreat time. I’m going to be teaching and Justin Teseniar is going to be leading the music this year. I’m hoping that this will be a very reflective soul searching time for our students as they reflect on this past year and look to the new one that is upon us. Last night and tonight we are volunteering at the Christmas Toy Store which is hosted by our local association of churches and is an opportunity for our students to help those in need. We have Refuge tomorrow night as well as a parent meeting to follow for the winter retreat and a few other events this month for the church as a whole and our student ministry. December is also a time I do a lot of planning for the following year and really try to get my brain wrapped around the direction God has for us.
Fun Times!
I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. Some of which I would love to share on here and some of which I just can’t. Some of it is exciting yet stressful and some is just unknown to us but known to God.
Lauren is rocking it. In fact, we are waiting on a date to have her trach taken out which is big news for our household. All we are waiting on is the OR date, which could be as early as the first week of December. We can’t even fathom what life will be like without all the medical equipment we have to carry around with us. The diaper bag alone will loose about 20lbs! It will just be amazing. We are going to be able to put “the tank” in storage for awhile and take out pinky. The tank is the tandem double stroller we use to carry all her medical junk as well as whatever else we need to bring with us places. Pinky is a VERY pinky stroller that screams girl. Even though she is getting the trach out, she still cannot eat on her own and will have the feeding tube for a long while. Our goal is to start kindergarden without the feeding tube, feeding pump, and backpack; so that is a few years.
I have friends who have just recently changed church jobs (as well as states) and friends who are praying for God’s leading to new positions. I know churches who are struggling with the choices they have made/will make in the coming months and I’m praying for God’s direction for them.
I’m seeking God’s direction for our student ministry this coming year. We have our Winter Retreat coming up and I still have a lot of planning and prep to do. I’m praying for each of our students who are going to attend this event and those who have darkened the door of Refuge since I came on staff, I pray that God would speak into their lives even if they don’t care to hear what he has to say.
God has been challenging me through various books and blogs I have been reading and I’m grateful. There are many minds out there far more brilliant then my own.
Now I leave you and ask for your continued pray for my daughter, my wife, and myself too. I’m off to play a bit on my box before I slip under the blankets and drift off to sleep.
Digging around on my friends blogs has lead to a few thoughts of conviction on community today. I’d like to share this quote from Bush, who besides being an amazing photographer, who challenges with his images, is also a man who challenges with his words. I’ve meet this guy in person once and have to say he inspires me and I love him for that.
We want to know the names of the people on our street, and begin to know their stories. It’s pointless for us as a family to move into this neighborhood if we never meet the family two houses down, or the man who lives at the end of the street. We can’t love and serve our neighbors if we don’t know their names or their situations. I feel like the backyards and security fences of America have been one of the biggest hindrances to great community being formed. It’s time for us to come outside, and embrace the world in all of it’s beauty and brokenness. I am hoping God will grant us favor with our neighbors, and that relationships will be formed.
If you want to read the full post check it out here.