Mattaw update and some random thoughts

Here's our new water tower! I took this from Hollie's facebook. Thanks Hollie! It'll definitely hold a lot of water! We want an abundance... not just clean pure physical water that doesn't have any sickness (a big reason for deaths in Africa is people not having access to clean water) but the even better kind, the living water of Jesus. An overflow! Bud said one of our kids, Juma, is going from 3rd to 5th grade! They did standardize testing with him and he has improved so much he's jumping ahead. Praise God! We think he's around 10 yrs old so that puts him at the right grade level with his age. He'll also be in a classroom with boys his age. What a boost of self-esteem that is for him. We've had the inspectors for education in the government come by a few times and they had no complaints, just some advice for improvement. One of the things was that we didn't have a flag pole and needed one. So now we have a flag pole with the Kenyan flag!

I've so enjoyed this time at my parents. It's been fun to be around my parents when God brought forth a huge breakthrough this past week in their life. God provided my dad with his job back that he had lost when the economy fell. They've been through quite a rough season financially but I'm so excited and thankful to see this new season come through for them. It's happening all around including in our lives! 2010 is indeed a year of harvest, newness, growth, and so much more. Spiritually I believe he will give us more revelation of His LOVE and who He is as FATHER, (if you want it). I hear every time I turn around about the orphaned spirit. I wrote about it last year HERE in relation to our children at Mattaw. Two verses that go with this that I keep hearing:

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father".

Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!!!"

Just listened to a great sermon and here's a few things I chew on... and added some thoughts to it...

The greatest reality of God is as Father. The revelation of Father gives us our nature and our identity. You never become jealous of someone if you know who you are.

At one point the pastor says "Many people stop short of a divine encounter because they're satisfied with good theology. They're satisfied with knowing head knowledge rather than heart knowledge. They're satisfied with only turning to a verse in troublesome time rather than also having an experience and encounter with God"

Good point you make!

These verses are a side note of what the above made me think of...

"For the Kingdom of God does not consist in word (logos) but in power (dunamis)" 1 Cor. 4:20

"For our gospel did not come to you in word (logos) only but also in power (dunamis) and in the Holy Spirit.... " 1 Thess. 1:5

He also points out how when Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, two out of three times, Satan says to him "IF you are the Son of God...." and attacks his identity by doing so.

If Jesus was tempted in that way, you bet we are too.

Our identity is continually under assault and attack, its on us all as individuals of who we are in Christ.

God is a perfect and loving Father and Christ redeemed that relationship for us on the cross.

When we know who we are, and why we are who we are, we find our purpose. Not a worldly view of this, but a heavenly view from the Father.

Just some food for thought.

Created for love,

Kimberly