She's graduating!!!

It's hard to believe but my oldest princess is graduating a year early from high school!   We recently made the decision to graduate Chelsea from homeschool this June because she has all of her high school credits finished in addition to 15 college credits (online Bible courses from Baptist Bible College).  We are so grateful to God that He has given us strength and wisdom these past 12 years to begin the homeschooling journey with her and to finish it as well.  Chels is a beautiful young lady inside and out and we are excitedly planning for the big celebration.  Grandparent's plane tickets have been bought, a dress ordered (her dream was to own a full length dress for the occasion), photographer for senior portraits hired, announcements and diploma ordered and the beginnings of decorations put together :)  It is fun to create a ceremony and party that will reflect her unique style and we are looking forward to the big day and hoping that friends and family can be there to share in this milestone.  God has worked marvelously to provide a way for Chelsea to continue taking college classes with very little cost..she will continue to work toward a Bible degree and be at home to continue her ministry to her family as well as her ministry in our church as pianist and Awana leader.

I reflect back to a time in 2005 when I knew that adding to our family through adoption would mean that I would most likely not be able to work to help pay for the older kids to go to college...we wondered then how God would provide..especially since the adoption expenses would take all of our savings away.  God knew and He had a plan that was just right for our family and for Chelsea ..and we thank Him for the amazing gift that this is for her to take classes online and how He's given her the ability to do dual enrollment this past year to learn more about college.  Combining Chelsea's love for writing, Bible classes, the computer and being able to do it from our living room...only God could so uniquely create something so well suited for our daughter and we thank Him!

He is no fool

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose”  Jim Elliott

I have been thinking after a particularly difficult morning in our home about this idea...of taking up our cross to follow Jesus.  Sometimes I read about the missionaries who gave up their very lives to reach a group of people and I'm inspired...forgetting that each day I'm called to the same loss of life.  Maybe it's not death here, but it is loss of things that are important to me.

Matthew 10:38-39 says: ³⁸ And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

and later in that same passage He says:  ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

I am reminded today that I share in common something with those who have gone before me on the road of suffering...a chance today to take up my cross and follow Him...and not by going overseas right now but by living faithfully with His strength alone to do the job before me.  I must die to self and what I wish my family or my life looks like..and give a cold cup of water to those in my life who need it remembering that Jesus did far more than that for me.  I am no fool....to give what I cannot keep to gain what I can not lose...