Foster Family

On my Snow Day...my Epic friend/brother Tim, im'd me ...he is in Africa! Soon, we had Tim, Carol, Brian, Joe and Noah...all chatting online at once! It was CraZy good! A bat flew in Tim's tent, we discussed goat heads, herds, toilets...or holes in the ground...some kind of meat, rice, beans, lentils...sunsets, showers under the stars, the Southern Cross (and I thought he was in Africa, not Mississippi) we talked about how we were all working...sort of... and beer. It was a "rush" of im'ing! Imagine...just imagine. Wow...what an amazing time of the world this is...and What a mighty God we serve! This picture is of Tim's new friend "Praise"...he has a little sister "Hallelujah"...They would fit right in with the little guy we sponsor in Malawi, "Precious"...I am so proud of Tim...he saw where God is working...and he went there. May his time and obedience be blessed...amen.

Snow Day!?!

So today, February 26, 2009 we woke up to a sweet blanket of snow. It is the strangest feeling when this happens...especially when you don't expect it in the least! School was canceled...now it is 12:35pm and there is not a trace of snow in site...must use this as a catch up day! I like snow.

Jake, Melissa and Addie Represent at Tour of California!

Somebody in back…"
by John Fischer

The following exchange took place in a CBS interview Katie Couric conducted recently with the crew members of US Airways Flight 1549 that went down January 16 in the Hudson River with all passengers remarkably surviving.

"Did you, at any point, pray?" Ms. Couric asked the pilot, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger.

"I would imagine somebody in back was taking care of that for me while I was flying the airplane," he replied.

It was a loaded question, and a stellar answer. The man had literally seconds to make a decision where to land the plane, gliding 77 tons of metal, jet fuel and precious human cargo into a perfect water landing that did not break the plane into bits and pieces. "Let's bow our heads for a few moments of silent prayer" was probably not on his agenda at the moment. But "somebody in back" was most likely taking care of that for him.

Prayer is vital to a Christian's life. Prayer is our link to the eternal and an act based solely on our faith in an unseen God. It's probably something we could all use more of in both cases of our own prayer experience with God, and the support of others praying for us. But sometimes, you've got to just concentrate on landing the plane and count on the fact that somebody in back is praying.

Often, these days, I feel like I'm trying to keep my plane from crashing, and although it's not like I don't have time to pray, it's nonetheless comforting to know that somebody in back is.

In truth, I think we need to be in both of these positions at the same time. We need someone in back praying for us, and we need to be that someone for someone else.

And remember, as important as prayer is, sometimes you just have to land the plane.

Samantha Louise joins our family...Mommy TerryLynn and Daddy Tom...weighing in at 7.1 and 19 inches...she is beautiful!! This makes me GREAT Terry Aunt. I love her!

When You Speak, God Hears
by Max Lucado

Those who pray keep alive the watch fires of faith. For the most part we don't even know their names. Such is the case of someone who prayed on a day long ago. His name is not important. He is important not because of who he was, but because of what he did.

He went to Jesus on behalf of a friend. His friend was sick, and Jesus could help, and someone needed to go to Jesus, so someone went. Others cared for the sick man in other ways. Some brought food; others provided treatment; still others comforted the family. Each role was crucial. Each person was helpful, but no one was more vital than the one who went to Jesus.

John writes: "So Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick'" (John 11:3, emphasis mine).

Someone carried the request. Someone walked the trail. Someone went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus. And because someone went, Jesus responded.

In the economy of heaven, the prayers of saints are a valued commodity. John the apostle would agree. He wrote the story of Lazarus and was careful to show the sequence: The healing began when the request was made.

The phrase the friend of Lazarus used is worth noting. When he told Jesus of the illness, he said, "The one you love is sick." The power of the prayer, in other words, does not depend on the one who makes the prayer but on the one who hears the prayer.

We can and must repeat the phrase in manifold ways. "The one you love is tired, sad, hungry, lonely, fearful, depressed." The words of the prayer vary, but the response never changes. The Savior hears the prayer. He silences heaven so he won't miss a word. The Master heard the request. Jesus stopped whatever he was doing and took note of the man's words. This anonymous courier was heard by God.

John's message is critical. You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously. When you enter his presence, the attendants turn to you to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God--and he listens.

Intently. Carefully. The prayers are honored as precious jewels. Purified and empowered, the words rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord. "The smoke from the incense went up from the angel's hand to God" (Rev. 8:4). Incredible. Your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God.

One call and heaven's fleet appears. Your prayer on earth activates God's power in heaven.

You are the someone of God's kingdom. Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don't need to. But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth. What an amazing thought!

When you speak, Jesus hears.

And when Jesus hears, the world is changed.

All because someone prayed.