IT'S A NEW DAY

I can't describe how powerful it is to receive so many comments, emails, prayers and calls. Thank you to everyone who is up into the early hours of the morning praying, awoken in the middle of the night to pray. Your obedience to the Holy Spirit is comforting and reminds me of God's unchanging love.

We stopped at some friends in Arizona. We are mending. It is a process for sure. We listen to the Ipod in the truck while driving and during one song we're singing and in the next were crying our eyes out in disbelief that we're driving home empty handed.

Here is what we know positively. We know this test will make us stronger. I'll share something very close to my heart through the preparation process to become a dad: I was ready for my life to change!

I mean, so many people told me about how having kids changes your life. I had no less than 50 conversations with dad's over the last two months where we talked specifically about life change. I was ready for it. I had prepared my heart for it and embraced whatever that meant.

And it's not that I'm disappointed in the life that I lead (without kids) because Melinda and I get to pastor a great church, we have a special marriage together and there are so many wonderful relationships surrounding us. BUT, I was ready for a change, you know! I was ready to add this little girl to my world and be there for her every moment. It wasn't a burden because I was so excited to do it; I wanted it.

And now coming home God has given me and Melinda a unique perspective. We STILL want our lives to change. We've decided, if this is the life (without a family including kids) God wants for us then we want more out of that life. I mean, I want more anointing to preach and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ! I want more people Connecting to Life at TRC. I want more impact in racing! I want more!

I don't want more for the sake of just having more; I want more for the sake of it will change LIVES! I want more of God, more prayer, more faith, more of the Word in me, more meaningful relationships. I'm not talking stuff here, I'm talking LIFE. I want more from LIFE!!!

If I have to go the rest of my life loving OPK's (Other Peoples Kids) like my own than so be it, but I want to build for them a church that will reach them, a camp where they can build memories and; frankly, an army of church leaders (that's you) who will not think in limited terms about how we can help save a generation. If I have to raise thousands of "other peoples kids" to love God with all their heart, mind and strength then so be it!

Melinda and I will not return home the same. This experience has profoundly changed us in many ways. BUT one area we know our lives will change is our expectations! We are returning home with greater expectations.

2 Corinthians 4:17, "For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever!"