We have an urgent need for new transportation to get the kids to school.?? Our
van, which has 300,000 miles, is broken down once again!?? We hate to continue to
put money into fixing it as we know it is not going to last us much longer.??
This week we are renting a van and driving our SUV to take the kids to school.??
Ben is doing a great job of researching all our options as we begin the search
for the right vehicle for us.?? We are considering either one small bus that
would seat??30 people or 2 vans that would seat 15 each.?? Either way we go, it
looks like we are going to need to raise $25,000 to $30,000.?? Please pray for
wisdom for us as we look into our options and that the needed donations would
come in!?? If you are able to make a contribution you can send your donation to
Love and Hope International with a note attached??saying that??it is for
purchasing a vehicle.?? L&HI mailing address is 9555 Vista Parkway, Suite 230,
Cleveland, OH 44125.?? We greatly appreciate your prayers and support!
Discipline
I had just pulled in the driveway after three hours of parent teacher
conferences.?? I was driving home feeling encouraged.?? Not everything the
teachers said was encouraging, but a lot of it was, and I felt excited about
brainstorming ways to support those kids who are not doing as well.?? I opened my
something important to tell me or ask me.?? ???What time are we leaving to climb
the mountain?????? ???Who???s driving us to church?????? ???I just threw up.????? And then from a care giver the story of how two of the girls had been disobedient and
disrespectful.?? All my excitement vanished and I felt overwhelmed and
frustrated.?? I responded as best as I could to all the questions, mostly by
saying ???I don???t know.????? I knew I had to address the situation with the two
girls, but I was feeling my heart beating fast and I thought ???I???VE GOT TO GET
ALONE.????? I came into the office and locked the door.?? When we are weak is when
God can make us strong.?? Sometimes all I can do is repeat over and over whatever is on my heart at that moment until I feel like he gives me the strength to
stand up again.?? Sometimes it???s ???I can???t do this alone, I need you??? or ???I need
your wisdom??? or sometimes simply ???HELP.????? Before calling the girls in to talk about what they???d done and what their
discipline would be, I decided to read My Utmost for His Highest. ??I???m always
shocked at how that devotional seems to say exactly what I need to hear.?? The
title for August 14th is ???The discipline of the Lord.????? Before I disciplined,
God wanted to talk to be about His discipline in my life.?? Hebrews 12:5 says,
???My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you
are rebuked by Him.????? Just like the kids, I am a work in progress, God, my
father loves me and is ever patient with me and that is why he disciples me.?? He is at work creating a vessel to pour His son into.?? And actually, he???s already
poured Jesus into us, but there are still cracks and holes to patch up in order
for Jesus to fully live in us.?? My prayer is that God would continue the work he has started in me, and in our
children at Love and Hope, and in all of His children, that Jesus can live
again, now, through us.??