On January 18th, I will be traveling to Brazil for two weeks with one of my supporting churches. We will be going to the very city where I will eventually live and minister and I couldn't be more excited!! Last night I became aware of a need they have in their baseball outreach. I wanted to make you aware of it and give you the opportunity to help out.
First a little background……
A couple years ago I had the privilege of helping to introduce baseball to South Brazil while on a mission trip. Our team took baseball equipment and since then we've seen them establish the first baseball league in South Brazil. This league is more than just fun and teaching Brazilians how to play baseball. It's a platform for sharing Christ and scoping out new areas for church plants. Baseball is very new to South Brazil but already the ministry is expanding! I found out last night that the group has grown so much that they are pretty max'd out on baseball gloves at some practices/games. That's where you come in! If you have a glove (new or used) that you would like to give to this ministry please let me know ASAP! Our team is gathering as many gloves as we can to take with us on January 18th. Please let me know by phone, email, or a comment here as soon as possible as we leave in 11 days!!
Thanks!
amymiller12@gmail.com
515-371-0215
Thursday, January 7
Friday, January 1
A New Resolution
Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Psalm 39:4
According to the USA.gov (“Government Made Easy”) website, the dozen most popular New Year’s Resolutions are: lose weight, manage debt, save more, change jobs, get in shape, go back to school, drink less, stop smoking, reduce stress in general, reduce stress at work, travel, and volunteer. Any of those look familiar? Since they’re the “most popular,” they probably do.
Here’s a different approach for 2010: Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with yourself or your circumstances, resolve this year to focus on God. Instead of making resolutions, resolve to do one main thing: Make your life the subject of gentle conversation between you and God on a daily basis. That doesn’t mean in the sense of, “God, I want...I need...I wish.” Rather, “God, I want to reflect Your glory in my life more in 2010 than in 2009. I want to live today in light of the end of my life. Speak to me and empower me to be conformed, gently but surely, more into the image of Christ this year.”
That’s a prayer God will answer by replacing the weakness of our resolve with the strength of His; a resolution that will not fail.
If our lives and ministry are to count for anything today we must solemnly resolve to make time for God.
Vance Havner
According to the USA.gov (“Government Made Easy”) website, the dozen most popular New Year’s Resolutions are: lose weight, manage debt, save more, change jobs, get in shape, go back to school, drink less, stop smoking, reduce stress in general, reduce stress at work, travel, and volunteer. Any of those look familiar? Since they’re the “most popular,” they probably do.
Here’s a different approach for 2010: Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with yourself or your circumstances, resolve this year to focus on God. Instead of making resolutions, resolve to do one main thing: Make your life the subject of gentle conversation between you and God on a daily basis. That doesn’t mean in the sense of, “God, I want...I need...I wish.” Rather, “God, I want to reflect Your glory in my life more in 2010 than in 2009. I want to live today in light of the end of my life. Speak to me and empower me to be conformed, gently but surely, more into the image of Christ this year.”
That’s a prayer God will answer by replacing the weakness of our resolve with the strength of His; a resolution that will not fail.
If our lives and ministry are to count for anything today we must solemnly resolve to make time for God.
Vance Havner
Thursday, December 31
Sobering New Years News
Found this on Mike Potter's blog...
Susan Jacoby, the author of The Age of American Unreason and a writer for the Washington Post, is celebrating the top developments in American secularism in 2009. They are as follows:
#1: In April, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported that those with no religious affiliation—the unchurched–were the fastest-growing group in the American religious landscape. More than 16 percent said they belonged to no church and identified with no religious group. Jacoby responded to this development by saying, "I consider this an extremely positive development, because those who identify with no religion—whatever their beliefs or non-beliefs about the existence of a supreme being—are least likely to support religious intrusion on government and are least vulnerable to appeals from right-wing religion.”
#2: In his inaugural address, President Obama mentioned nonbelievers as a group of Americans worthy of respect. This is the first time a president, in a major address, has gone beyond the usual litany of respect for Americans of various religious faith and included Americans who reject religion.
#3: One of the first actions of the Obama administration was to overturn the Bush administration’s policies banning research on new embryonic stem cell lines.
#4: Predictions that the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 would bring about a “return to religion” proved unfounded. Church attendance spiked briefly in the first month after 9/11, after which the drop-off in churchgoing, and the rise of the unaffiliated, has continued until today.
If you’re a Christian, then these developments ought to concern you. But more than that, these developments ought to motivate you to live out your faith in 2010 with renewed vigor. There is great spiritual need right where you live. May God grant you the faith and strength to live missionally in the coming year.
Happy New Year!
Susan Jacoby, the author of The Age of American Unreason and a writer for the Washington Post, is celebrating the top developments in American secularism in 2009. They are as follows:
#1: In April, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported that those with no religious affiliation—the unchurched–were the fastest-growing group in the American religious landscape. More than 16 percent said they belonged to no church and identified with no religious group. Jacoby responded to this development by saying, "I consider this an extremely positive development, because those who identify with no religion—whatever their beliefs or non-beliefs about the existence of a supreme being—are least likely to support religious intrusion on government and are least vulnerable to appeals from right-wing religion.”
#2: In his inaugural address, President Obama mentioned nonbelievers as a group of Americans worthy of respect. This is the first time a president, in a major address, has gone beyond the usual litany of respect for Americans of various religious faith and included Americans who reject religion.
#3: One of the first actions of the Obama administration was to overturn the Bush administration’s policies banning research on new embryonic stem cell lines.
#4: Predictions that the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 would bring about a “return to religion” proved unfounded. Church attendance spiked briefly in the first month after 9/11, after which the drop-off in churchgoing, and the rise of the unaffiliated, has continued until today.
If you’re a Christian, then these developments ought to concern you. But more than that, these developments ought to motivate you to live out your faith in 2010 with renewed vigor. There is great spiritual need right where you live. May God grant you the faith and strength to live missionally in the coming year.
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 17
Snow-toons
I think these are fitting based on the fact that we are just now coming out from under 15 inches of snow and temps hovering at, or below, zero! Thanks, Kevin Graham, for giving me this laugh! Welcome to winter!!
Monday, November 23
The Manhattan Declaration
This was drafted on October 20, 2009 in New York and released on November 20, 2009. Have you seen it? Have you signed it? Have you informed others about it?
Friday, November 20
Happy Thanksgiving
Since my family is having our Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow I can officially say "Happy Thanksgiving"!!
May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious,
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious,
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
Saturday, November 7
Thursday, November 5
Saturday, October 31
Wednesday, October 7
Sonda-me, Senhor (Search me, Lord)
I thought I would share with you my favorite Brazilian worship song. The translation is below. It's called "Sonda-Me" by Aline Barros.
Search me, Lord
And know me
Break my heart
Transform me, conform me to Your word
And fill me until in me
You are all they see
Then use me, Lord
Use me
Like a lighthouse light in the dark,
Like a bridge over the waters,
Like a shelter in the desert,
Like an arrow that hits the target
I want to be used in any way that pleases you at any time at any place,
Here is my life,
Use me Lord,
Use me
Search me
Break me
Transform me
Fill me
And use me
Search me, Lord
And know me
Break my heart
Transform me, conform me to Your word
And fill me until in me
You are all they see
Then use me, Lord
Use me
Like a lighthouse light in the dark,
Like a bridge over the waters,
Like a shelter in the desert,
Like an arrow that hits the target
I want to be used in any way that pleases you at any time at any place,
Here is my life,
Use me Lord,
Use me
Search me
Break me
Transform me
Fill me
And use me
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