family

 

California!

What’s up everybody!!!!  We want to send word back to the east coast of all the incredible encounters we had in California.  It was a true honor to link shields with Roger Joyner and the Burn crew in Oroville, California!  The city of Oroville has a large number in poverty and they are contending for renewed hope in their region.  We believe God is raising up the Tabernacle of David in Oroville, and believing hope-deferred would be eradicated and renewed hope and the testimony of Jesus would triumph in the region.

The highlight of our journey was spending quality time with the Oroville BURN.  It was a blessing to encounter a crew who is as passionate and hungry for the presence of God as you all are.  It encouraged our heart to see a company of radical lovers of God tarring through the late night and crying out for restoration in the early morning.  These people are true contenders to see justice, love, and mercy established in their land. 

While in California, we also had the opportunity to visit Bethel in Redding.  Our hearts were encouraged as we sat under the ministry of Bill Johnson, Kris Valloton, and other honorable fathers of the faith.  As great of an experience this was, I can honestly say the highlight was to plow and pioneer a resting place for God in Orville.  Something legendary happens spending countless hours with people who have pioneering hearts.  I’m thankful for the regions in our nation where a Kingdom culture has been established such as Redding, CA.  But I can honestly say I desire to see greater things than these in regions such as Oroville and Rochester.  Why?  Because we are standing on the shoulders of leaders such as Bill Johnson.  THEIR CEILING HAS BECOME OUR FLOOR!!!!!

Lastly we had a great opportunity to visit San Francisco, with Roger and his wife Gabriel.  These two led JHOP (Justice House of Prayer) in San Francisco for two years.  On our way to the city Roger gave testimony of their time in San Francisco.  The cry in his heart became contagious as a spirit of travail fell upon the car and we wept for the city.  Entering into the city limits we spent most of our time in prayer as we visited the AIDS memorial and the Castro District, the largest homosexual community in our nation.  Our cry has become,

“Lord, raise up your house of prayer in San Francisco!  Raise up a company of people who carry an anointing to break the back of HIV!!!  Let us see a movement in our day that would contend for the deliverance of those who wrestle with homosexuality, and a community of  believers who will love San Fransisco into their destiny!”

Returning home we have great expectancy in our heart to see further break-through within the Rochester region.  This is why we are alive on the Earth!  This is why Jesus has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation!  We won’t bow our knee to mediocrity!  Nor will we tolerate a form of Godliness with no power!  We are lovers at heart, and warriors by trade!  It has been such an honor to love and cry with you all.  We are who we are today because we have found a company of people to live with and a company of people to die with.  I’m convinced that the  keys in fulfilling the destiny of our lives fall in the hands of our brothers and sisters.  Please continue to unlock our dreams as we fervently and persistently unlock yours.  With an unyielding love, we look forward to reuniting our hearts with yours.    

One will put one thousand to flight but two, ten thousands,

Love Always,
Brandon and Crystal 

the last 6 months

With every place we've been traveling and ministering in we've been purchasing A starbucks coffee cup.

This reminds us while we're having our cup of joe in the morning to pray and bless the cities we have been too.

Obviously, Israel didn't have Starbucks so we settled for a local brand there :D

Who is Israel?

I have had a word burning in me since I've been in Israel that I never really got a chance to release. I often look back at our trip and am in complete amazement. I literally only slept 4 days out of the 9 we were there! Now thats a supernatural wonder! And I'm still in awe of the strength that came to the team while we were there. I think we've only tasted the true significance of this trip for us all.

So, I need to be obedient and rightfully share this word that I tarried through the night with while we were in Israel. If it speaks to you may God take you on your own journey through the scriptures and even begin to teach the Church about who she really is.

The word is this - Israel is a physical place, with a significant promise. But its the spiritual Israel that has been neglected in us that leads us to neglect her as a nation.

Who is Israel?

Why would God say, "I choose Judah and Jerusalem as my possession." (zechariah. 2:12) and also say through Peter speaking to "aliens" that they are a chosen people, a royal preisthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession (1 Peter 1:1, 2:9) and also Paul say to Gentiles that God CHOSE them for salvation FROM THE BEGINNING? (2 thes. 2:13)

Are we ALL God's chosen people?

Does Israel only make-up Jewish believers or does it just include New Covenant believers (replacement theology)? Or does it include them both?

We must understand that God NEVER said He makes His covenant with the House of Jews or with the House of Gentile believers. He said He makes His covenant with the House of Israel! So we must rightly define who Israel is to know who He is making covenant with.

Exodus 4:22 says, "Israel is my son, my firstborn."But who is really God's firstborn son, the son of many sons? Yeshua Messiah! He is the true son, Who will join Israel together in the last days. Isaiah 49:1-6

Israel IS the true Bride of Christ. When the Church recognizes they are a part of Israel, a part of the seed of Abraham (Hebrews 2:16), who is joined together by Yeshua, it is then that she is truely able to carry the heart of God for Israel. The joining of Ephraim and Judah, which I believe are the two olive trees in Revelation, is symbloic of the one new man....The Bride He is coming back for without spot or wrinkle (this is why Jew and Gentile must walk hand in hand). We are Israel. And there is a deep deep mystery when we come into the understanding that we are a part of her. Think about this - Abraham was not born jew. He was a man without a God....he worshipped the sun, moon and stars. But then God revealed Himself to Abram and he believed, changing his name to Abraham. It was Abrahams faith that God brought the promise. His faith bore him a people chosen by God (which also made him the first Jew). It is also by your faith that you too bear the promise.....the promise of life.

Summary

I know this is a lot and could be an exhaustive study (and should become one). But simply this is what I heard the Lord digging deep within my heart. Rev. 21:9 Who is Israel? This is the real question. Is it physical or spiritual? Is it both? Physical Israel and God's covenant He made with them is a foreshadow of the covenant promise He is making with the Spiritual Israel, His Bride, His Beloved.

I believe we are leaving in defining times right now. The Church is being redefined by going back to the foundational example Christ gave by breaking bread with one another and fulfilling the greatest commandment to love God and love people. Though there are some who would like to remain in the old wineskin... God is doing a NEW THING (Is. 43:19). He is bringing brothers and sisters together to dwell together in love and unity. We must not forsake Israel, for we are a part of her. This is why America's choices for our stance with Israel is so important. An attack on Israel is direct attack on both the Jew and the Gentile believer. We MUST see ourselves as one. It is only then that we can genuinely pray for her, stand with her and be joined to her. Some stay in the old, while other replace the new with the old. I believe Jesus fulfilled the law by marrying the two. Food for thought.

have park days really begun?

some recent pics of the pretty flowers this late winter

(but its a tease with all this nice weather!)

a riddle

I'm the centerpiece in the American home

I'm worshipped everyday.

You even arrange your furniture around me.

Now I am at the gym, and sometimes at every machine.

You love to spend time with me that life would be hard without me.

I've become one of the family and I' m treated with honor

I teach quanitity, not quality, because thats what life's really about.

The more you take in the better you can live your life in the satisfaction of others living.

I make you feel good instantly, that you can't help to come back again and again.

I'm aware that bigger is better and so you save to make sure I am just that.

In fact, put me in every room and you'll be sure to make everyone in the house feel better.

I am your safety. I am pleasure. I am entertainment.

Who am I?

why I'm done playing church

because Jesus is so much better.

It doesn't mean I'm not going to go to Sunday morning worship. It doesn't mean I'm backsliden and forsaking the assembling of believers. It doesn't mean there is no value in pulpit preaching. It has its place. It has its fruit.

What I'm talking about goes beyond title, beyond business of a "ministry", beyond precedented times of prayer and worship. There's a voice calling us out to go deeper, to search wider, to seek truth outside the box and its echoing the Church of Acts 2. To not go to church, but to BE the chur

ch.

I love my fellow brothers and sisters. Hear my heart in this, less we harden our hearts like the religious people in the days of Jesus. Isn't it interesting that we rebuke and harrass the heart behind the Pharisees but fail to see it in ourselves as well? For me, the sobering reality has been that Jesus literally broke every religious rule, jurisdiction and order of that day!

What would each of our lives look like if we embraced every aspect of the life of Jesus? Did Jesus say He gave Himself partially to the Church? Did the Bridegroom say His Bride would only be half His? No. And as ridiculous as it sounds we have a large generation of people not walking out the reality that they have been made ONE with Jesus, and that He has given us His whole self without restraint! We have become a people coping with their demons rather than being delivered from them because we fear our sin more than we fear God. We are trying to empress people in the four walls of what we call "church", rather than loving God first.

Oh Church! We were called to so much more! Relevency cannot hold you. Talented musicians will not sustain you. We teach what we know but we can only impart WHO WE ARE. Programs will bring people but they may not bring the presence. Where is the presence? Where is the presence? Where is the presence?

I've commited my soul to the Lord. All my days are fashioned by Him. Whether in my home, in the secret place, or whether amidst a congregation before man, my heart will be rendered to the Lord. I will radically love, willingly obey and freely walk in the liberated life Jesus gave me. Did He not die for nothing that we still be entrapped by that man of old, that spirit of religion?

Come. Come join the rollercoaster of freedom. Its so much better to Be His. You were not built by man's hands. You were made for His glory. Be free to be His glory. Be ALL His. You don't have to be afraid. Were all wanting something real. We all want Him. Its sometimes hard to let go into the unknown. But He's saying its ok. Its ok my Love. I've given all that I am so you could do so.

overcome by presence....

It’s hard to describe glory! In fact it’s almost impossible. If God’s ways are higher than our ways how does one articulate glory! When His presence comes everything is caught up in a swirl of love, wonder, awe, thankfulness, anticipation, suspense, and power. Before you know it you get plowed by His spirit because you’re laughing, shouting, crying, and trembling all at once. What brings this... incredible array of heaven? Is it music? Song, melody, heart, rhythm, and harmony being the vehicle of heavenly joy. Maybe it’s our prayers. Supplication, thanksgiving, petitioning, decreeing, interceding and groaning attracting the heart of God. Nevertheless a broken heart and a contrite spirit He does not despise. This is the extent of what our senses perceived in that prayer room. And this is just a taste of even greater things to come.

Leaving the House of Prayer we made our way into the Upper Room. Wow! I’ll never forget the acoustics in this place. Spontaneous praise broke out as our hearts were flooded with love, joy, and goodness. It wasn’t long after when the same thing happened at the pool of Bethsaida. What started off as a single man leading a chorus with a simple chord progression turned into a harmonious choir of worship. Presence was filling the atmosphere and Jesus was drawing all men to Himself.

View from the top of Mount Carmel!!!!

Looking down at the Valley of Jezreel

Israel, only the beginning

My eyes opened at 5:45. Perfect I have to be up by 6 anyway. I felt wide awake and ready to start my day. I almost did until I realized that it was only 1am in the morning in Israel and the 5:45 on my phone was PM, echoing Eastern Standard Time. To say the least I couldn’t fall back asleep. That’s when a rooster began to crow. Crowing is an understatement. You would think this bird was howling at the moon. However it brought life to the story of when the cock crowed three times after Peter denied his Lord. “Wow, this is crazy” I thought to myself. Israel, Jerusalem, Jet Lack, and Crowing roosters early in the morning. I thought it didn’t get better than this until I heard Muslim prayers and chants bellowing outside my window several hours later. With the atmosphere filled with dark chants of hopelessness my heart began to conceive a cry for the city of Jerusalem.

After a helping of some incredible cheerios we began our journey to the Old City of Jerusalem. Passing through the Damascus gate we made our way to the Wailing Wall. We were going to have to revisit this monumental place seeing that we only had a short window of time to make it through security. Passing through security was more intimidating than customs at the airport. It’s not every day when you observe Israeli and Palestine soldiers caring around machine guns as if they were some type of accessory. This nation is truly in war, I thought to myself. And we were about to ascend to the most fought after piece of land on the face of planet Earth. Our minds can only fathom the spiritual war engaged over this land. Who will occupy the high place? Principalities and spiritual hosts of wickedness or myriads of angels.

Psalm 24 began to resonate in my Spirit. “The Earth is the Lords and the fullness there in. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord, and who may stand in His holy place. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, which has not lift up his soul to an idol.” As we made our ascent sobriety entered my mind. How could it be that the very place that once radiated the glory of God through His temple was now the location of a gold Muslim dome? Even though the dome of the rock was an impressive sight the cry in my heart toward the city of Jerusalem began to grow. The sights, the smells, the views were astonishing on the temple mount. There is much to be said pertaining to the Eastern Gate, the Mt. of Olives and the Kendron Valley but words do such an injustice when God gave us five senses to take in the beauty of what was created. Besides we were on our way now to the City of David.

The city of David was astonishing. Seeing the foundations of David’s palace and being near the ground of where his tabernacle was erected for 33 years was very intriguing. As much as I would have longed to be part of the community of David’s Tabernacle years ago, I looked around and presently saw myself part of an even more glorious company of people. A people living in a better covenant, built upon better promises, experiencing a better out pouring. Oh how the later rains are greater than the former and we were about to experience some of that glory rain as we entered into a House of Prayer that is the closest prayer room to where the original Tabernacle of David was erected. Come On!!! It doesn’t get better than this. I would love to continue to write more, but I feel sleep deprived and once again heaven is waiting for our partnership tomorrow morning.

- Brandon J

Struggling with weight

MY FIRST GUEST POST!!!!!

****************** DAVE POIRIER ****************

Who happens to also be my dad :^) Be inspired!!!

I'm writing this because my daughter (Crystal) suggested that I may be able to help others by gleaming from my experience of dealing with excess weight. I didn’t even realize how much of a weight problem I developed over the years. It was as if I was living in denial. I was just like the frog that boiled to death and didn’t even know it. Put a frog in water, and when the water temperature is increased, ever so slightly, the frog will eventually boil to death without a chirp.

Another thought that comes to mind is when I used to smoke. I would say, “I really like to smoke.” Then one day I realized, I didn’t like it when I first tried it. Funny, the first time I tried a smoke I coughed and hacked through the whole experience. Eventually I turned addict, and denial set in. Slow weight gain can act the same way. Eventually you’re eating your way to an unhealthy lifestyle, and potentially an early grave.

Truth is, I’ve always had a problem with weight and for awhile I kind of controlled it by smoking (curved my appetite). Smoking is a TERRIBLE habit, and it took all I had to give it up. But it's worth it! It was about ten years ago when I quit, and like so many others before me, I began packing on the weight. I gradually put on about 50 lb growing from 190 to 240. In my mid 40’s the doctor put me on blood pressure medication, and most recently was introduced to a C-Pap machine, a unit helping you breath at night. The real issue was keeping my wife up all night with loud snoring, also caused from large deposits of fatty tissue in my nasal and throat passages. Everything was weight related! It was time I woke up from the denial.

(Me, back in the day)

Like the frog or the confident smoker, I didn’t see myself as being THAT overweight. I was blind, looking in the mirror, still seeing myself as if I was in high school. Now that’s funny! Here’s a guy 50 lbs over-weight, approaching 50, and thinks he’s still all that hunk! Then my youngest began to struggle with excess weight. As the years went by, the problem continued to grow and I didn’t know what to do. The situation affects the family dynamics, long with my marriage, and we still struggle with the best approach with what to do. So, we pray……continually.

It was praying and asking on behalf of my daughter when God answered. "Son," He said, "how can you expect anything from your child that's not operating in your own life first?" That’s it! Soon after the Lord spoke this to me, my employer had enlisted Weight Watchers to help employees lose weight. I jumped at the opportunity!

BEFORE and AFTER: Going for a run w/Brandon

So, now I'm 40 lbs (soon to be 50) lighter, off the blood pressure meds, off the C-Pap machine, all after changing my diet! WW is teaching me healthy ways to eat and how to listen to my body's hunger signs. I'm no longer addicted to food. They promote a lower fat, low carbohydrate intake while increasing protein and fiber. Regular exercise is also important (1/2 hour of exercise a day). I didn’t do that right away. So if your new to it, it's ok. I started very gradual, running further and further every week. And now I'm running 6 miles consistently! I never thought I'd be doing that at 50! If I can do it, you can do it too!

If you're struggling with getting healthy I HIGHLY encourage you to begin changing your diet and eating whole foods that are natural and nutrition-dense. This is what your body needs.

WW also introduced me to a varied number of supplements that I found beneficial and take on a regular basis:

1. Psyllium husk – (2) table spoons every morning – See http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-psyllium-husk.html , or read about it on Dr. OZ.
2. Chia seeds – Great fiber super supplement, put in all kinds of food, reduces points for yogurt from (2) to (1) point because of the extra fiber. See: http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/lindsey-duncan-nd-cn/chia-ancient-super-secret
3. Astaxanthin (10 gm) – (1) a day. Great antioxidant.

2012 brings in a new era at the Poirier household. My wife has embraced most of the new changes and has 110% supported the healthy lifestyle approach (it works best when everyone’s in the same boat). Our general practitioner has given my youngest approval to join WW this year and we find that the new insurance will cover some of the cost. So, here's to a year surrounded by God’s favor (2 Peter 3-11)!! Be blessed!

Fire on the Altar, OHIO

It's always awesome hanging out with our team on our trips.
More then a team, we are a family.
We live in covenant with God and we have covenant with each other.

And the worship was incredible. I felt a lot of team had break-through in this area!

Josh, Ami & Kelley have been committed to obeying God since we began Burn in 2009.

Here's our squad on lunch break :-)
I love traveling with these guys!

Our heart is Acts 1 and 2,
our mission is COVENANT.

Salem, MA!

Halloween weekend: Our Burn Tribe came into Salem, MA this Halloween for one purpose! To show Salem that the power and love of God super-seeds any dark supernatural power outside of Jesus. Welcome to some of the most hardest spiritual warfare yet. We faced great opposition, but we also experienced the supernatural power of God like never before!

Here's an intro to some of things happening in Salem:

Our team didn't know what to expect coming into Salem. we spent a lot of time in prayer the week beforehand, covering ourselves before entering such unknown territory to ourselves. But it really was one of the best trips yet. God brought break-through through many of us individually, as well a group.

We have a friend in Campbridge who feels called to the college campuses there. If you're in the area you should check out there GATHERING times. It's called Journey Church and there a great community of people there.

My highlight was one of the first nights we got there. Our team did a drum circle in the middle of this non-running fountain. We had rain sticks and flags and were just declaring, decreeing and prophesying over Salem's streets. You could feel the shift happening. It was literally exhilarating because you just felt your flesh surrendering and dying so that Jesus could have His inheritance in you! Glory!

Here's where we did dream interpretation, life readings and healing prayers on the streets Halloween night. 100% of those who got prayed for were healed. And When people would ask who our meduim was we would reply Jesus! And He loves you and has a purpose for your life. It was so awesome see how much God loves his people. God loves witches, pagan, warlocks, sorcerers just as much as you and I!


There's a group of believers there from The Gathering who were doing a small teaching on dream interpretation.

We also had worship and intercession happening around the clock at a local church while we were on the streets.

Jamie Dickson, who also over sees the Northeast side of Burn 24-7 lead the group to Salem. Next year they are looking for 300 believers to come and join.

We'll be in again so let us know if your up for the challenge! ;)

our humble home..

....every week :-)

Acts 1 and 2

Detriot!!!

This blog is called Jackel Journeys, but I feel I have been doing a very poor job keeping up with all the journeying we've been doing. Traveling a lot is an under statement for the past few months. Its been a lot of fun, along with challenging as well. We have been EXTREMELY thankful for our Burn Tribe, where a consistent group of core people are committed to seeing people hearts ignite with a firey love for the Lord and a passion for His presence.

~ Some of our Burn Fam ~

The two oldest girls have only gone a half of the trips, while the baby, Arista, has been on all them. By the time we hit January, when we go to Israel, she would have been on 5 missions' trips since being born (she's only 4 months old!). There is an incredible amount of grace upon our lives right now to obey God with everything we have.

So I'm committed to staying connected in this blog with our travels. The more we've been connecting with people and seeing others jump on board both physically and in spirit, prayerfully and financially with us, we want to be able to share the experiences, break-throughs, encounters and even challenges we have had along the way. What makes the pilgrimage a glorious journey?! That what this blog is about :^D

Our last trip was DETRIOT, where we went to The CALL and ministered at both Life in Christ Fellowship and Blue Water Christian. Check out what we taught HERE! It's a powerful message and a "now" word for the Body of Christ. In the evening we set ablaze in worship and intercession, desperate for more of His presence and for strategy for God to revive the Blue Water area with His heart and to see complete radical love pouring out of His Bride.

Everywhere we go we are meeting other believers who are praying and seeking God with all they have to see Him move and shake their city for His purpose. It's so encouraging seeing so many like-hearted, like-minded people, seeking after the same things. We even met a young family with three young boys who sold everything, bought an RV, and hit the road as the Lord leads. And they're inspiring other families to do the same! God is not asking for luke-warm, He is asking us for all. I've never seen children talk about Jesus the way these three young boys did! I was inspired, challenged and encouraged all together!

from great commandment to great commission

I'm extremely hungry for the things of God these days. It's a fiery zealous love, and its growing in intensity. Its goes from my heart and then to my belly, and when it reaches my mouth I can't help but to worship, to kiss Him with the praise of my lips. His love has become this consuming fire, and I'm lost in it. And more and more each day, not looking back at the past, I'm looking full-speed ahead, recognizing this is what I've been called to. This is my high calling. This is what I was created for.

As a lover of Jesus since the age of seventeen, I never really grasped the reality of His love quite like I am now. Many times I felt like I needed to do more. To somehow earn His love by doing good things, being a nice person, and reading the Bible. And though I never directly said it, my actions indirectly performed these tasks out of obligation rather than out of desire. In a lot of ways I thought if I read my Bible enough, treated people with enough kindness and stayed away from sinful things then maybe He would love me more and bring favor in my life. I somehow thought my obligation to christian duty would make me an acceptable sacrifice. My life became more about fulfilling the Great Commission in order to fulfill the Great Commandment. Then it hit me hard when there was a season in my life where God stripped me of everything. He asked my husband and I to lay down all ministry, all commitments for a season. And everything that I used to define my worth by was removed....in an instant.

We're now 2 years out of that season and its been a completely new, fresh and wholesome year for us. God has done a lot of healing. And we've decided it was better to obey than to choose to live the way we thought we should live. It's been a tremendously hard year, but extremely victorious as well. I would dare to call it our year of jubilee. Jesus has truly made His love more real to me than I have ever ever known before in my walk with Him.

And as I meditated on His goodness, I whispered to Him, "Lord, I could do this forever." I was speaking in reference to being in His presence. Worshipping and praying, never stopping, ever increasing in my life. And He responded, "then do it forever." {sigh} Then revelation came like an unstoppable force, like a mighty river that could not be contained - oh my Lord! I was meant to do this forever! It would be out of this love that I fulfill your joy! It would be out of this love that I receive my destiny! It would be out of this love that I touch the nations. The switch came. I no longer tried to strive to accomplish His Word in my life. I would love Him and in His presence I would thrive in what He has called me to! It's through His love for us and our love for Him (great commandment) that we fulfill the great commission. (It's never the other way around.)

"May the people praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him. " (Psalm 67:5-7)

"The largest global harvest in history will come directly on the heels of the extravagant sound of love, adoration, and praise that is released form the blazing Bride.......We are going to witness firsthand the beautiful correlation between the fire ignited in our hearts and the release of the fragrance and aroma of Christ on the earth. " Fire and Fragrance by Sean Feucht

rainy days

nothing like playing in the rain!

maximize your mornings

So I've recently started something new that I've probably been feeling that I should start while I was pregnant with Arista.

If any you ma's and pa's out there are as busy as I am with three little ones then I'm sure you'll be able to relate to this post! You know you're a mother when showers are commodity, solitude is when your going to the bathroom, and sleep depravation becomes the least of your health concerns. Life demands so much in motherhood. We're the family nurse, teacher, caretaker, cleaning lady, accountant and pastor. Bored with life? Add children to the picture and guantee you'll never get bored again! But in the mist of all that life demands, when does God get HIS time? Is it that God gets put on the back-burner until the children are grown? I dunno, but if my husband decided to do that to me while he took care of the demands of life, I KNOW I would have a LARGE problem with it. But how often do we do that to God?

Simply, when God said we should pray without ceasing I think it meant that it would be as constant as breathing. We stop breathing, we die. We stop praying.....well, we die. One is physical, the other is spiritual. But just because it's simple doesn't mean it's easy. How do we get to a lifestyle where praying becomes like breathing? How do we choose to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh? I am convinced that its my morning hours with the Lord, when the sun is about to rise, that is critical to my day and my lifestyle of breathing prayers.

My voice shall You hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto You, and will look up! Psalm 5:3

What does this mean to me? It's God drawing my heart in the morning hours, before my children awake the dawn, to draw near to Him! And there is a longing in my heart to walk with God. I know I can't be the mother God has called me to be without Him living His life through me. But I found every excuse in the book to not get up any earlier than I was. But then I came across this mom's youtube video and was inspired to action!

So I started getting up a couple hours before my children awake since last Monday. And apart from my Sabbath day, I've done ok. Not all days have worked out as planned but I've certainly seen fruit in my own thoughts and heart during my day, both toward God and my children. So this has inspired me even more to encourage other moms who feel this draw from the Holy Spirit to help them start as well. I'm starting an accountability group on FACEBOOK. So if you're a MOM looking for some extra inspiration in this area I encourage you to join this group! HERE we'll be able to check in during the morning hours, share about how are mornings are going, and share prayer requests with one another. Simply, its a place we can inspire one another to grow into all God has called us to be as mothers. Certainly if you are not a mother, the group is not limited to only moms. Its for ANYONE who wants the encouragement to MAXIMIZE THEIR MORNINGS, so we can consciously choose God first in our day. Let's maximize our mornings together!

a note from my sweetheart

Baby and I had a rough night last night, pretty much consisting of Arista not wanting to sleep AT ALL. Right around 6AM I had a break-down from the lack of sleep. So I've been a little lethargic jumping into my day. But I just received this note from my husband and I wanted to share it because it sweetly enriched my day! I feel strengthened and encouraged. In sharing it I too will hope you will be inspired. That even though sometimes our little ones cannot communicate how much our love means to them, that what we give matters. That you too are called to be a Proverbs 31 woman and to recognize that what you do everyday makes a difference.

"Sweetheart!

Want to tell you I love you this morning. You mean the world to me. I'm blessed, honored, and favored to have you as my wife and the mother of our children. Remember that virtue has over taken you today and ladies look upon your life and call you blessed. Read Proverbs 31 and let the truth of who you are soak into your soul and spirit.

Even though last night may have been rough, Arista is rejoicing inside. She may not be able to communicate it, but she would say, "mommy, thank you so much for staying up with me last night. It meant so much that you were willing to comfort me and love on me even though you wanted to sleep. Thank you for laying down your life in meeting my needs. One day, when I'm older, I'll be able to really articulate how much your love and life means to me. But for now, know that every cue is full of I love you's. You amaze me and I'm so thankful I have you to be my mommy."

I love you honey. Know that there is a fresh reserve to tap into. A reserve of strength, joy, peace, and love. As you wait on Jesus your strength will be renewed. You will mount up like an eagle. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not be faint.

Love you more than I really ever know how to express. You mean everything to me.

Brandon xoxoxoxoxo"

camping with a newborn ......and some

We went camping for Labor Day weekend and it was ....um....fun.

I guess as fun as it gets with a newborn and two children whose curiosity still keep daddy and mommy at the "top of their game" when it comes to hide-and-go-seek. Our little Israel is the most curious. One minute she'll be coloring, but don't dare look the other way cuz the next minute she'll be half a mile down the road on her own little adventure.

But with a newborn things can't get complicated when it comes to family vacations and outings. But does that mean we shouldn't do them? From my personal experience the answer is "no". Outings with the fam are healthy for EVERYONE....all for different reasons. No one likes being cooped up in the house all day. Both my girls go a little crazy when they're in the house all day. And post-pardum mothers really should try to get out every once in a while {its healthy}. You'd be amazed at how going out on an outing can aid in keeping the post-pardum blues at bay and re-energize your ability to care for your children. And its always good for Daddy to get himself into the wild for alittle outlet as well during our baby-raising days. But I know it sometimes can be scary, especially for new young families, to take the children into unfamiliar territory.

Having a loose plan can help your outing be a lot less chaotic and stressful.

1. We normally use clothe, but having two in diapers, out in the wild....um, yeah.....disposables it is!

2. Communicate! Yes, as often as we know this is vital in marriage, its so easy to go on a trip and not communicate your needs to one another beforehand and during crisis. (And yes, all to often there will be AT LEAST one crisis on a elongated family venture with little ones! - The point is....don't be scared of them.)

3. Purpose yourself that no matter how much fun you're having....go to bed at a decent hour! There is nothing worse then what ruins family vaca is that you're exhausted the next morning because you stayed up late the night before.

4. And with a newborn....prepare yourself for NO PRIVACY. All to often when leaving the home, they'll be none. I can't tell you the countless times I had to nurse the baby while sitting on a toilet because there was no where else to go. So....that means, nursing covers, changing pads, back-packs and sun hats. :D

5. Don't freak out just cuz your little one is not getting his/her nap. Come on people. Just let them stay up and go to bed earlier. Essentially BE FLEXIBLE, and allow for adjustments in your normal routine. Trust me, it's a lot less stressful if you just forget about all that, at least for momentary get-away from home.

6. Lastly, don't be scared to ask others for help. If family is around, ask them to fetch the child who just ran off while you're nursing the baby. As mommy, its hard to break the pattern of doing it all, (cuz thats what we're use to at home), but know when you're out of the home we can ask others (including the hubby) to help do their share. Doesn't the proverb go "....it takes a village to raise a child...." - just sayin'.

Love you all! Have fun venturing!

inside look: home birth video!

So just like I promised, we put together a short video so you could have an "inside look" of our home birth. I did end up having a water-birth as well so you can see the tub we used :-) I wish we had more actual video footage for you, but maybe in the future when there's more time for editing. For right now it's mostly pictures.

I want to say thank you to my husband, who was AMAZING! Brandon was all-around super mid-wife. He even delivered Arista (with aid from the mid-wife), getting right along with me in the tub. Certainly after an incredible birth as we had with this baby, it will be VERY difficult for us ever to return to hospital birth. Birthing in our home brought us closer together in ways that other circumstances would have not otherwise.

I recommend home birth to EVERY couple who remains low-risk during their pregnancy. I really believe pregnancy is meant to be a journey, not something we try to "survive" and just get-through. But God can really use it to bring a family together. God really showed me how pregnancy is a foreshadow of what He desires to do through us. Love produces marriage. Marriage brings covenant. Covenant produces children (fruit). It's the same way in the Kingdom of God as well. We love God because He first loved us. After love transformation, there's a covenant commitment to God (the same we make to our spouse when we say "I do"). And out of that relationship, we begin to birth life in everything we do, say and touch, and even birthing spiritual children through discipleship. Pregnancy, labor and birth are meant to be a transforming spiritual experience for us all. And now I see why God led us to have the home birth this time around.....and to think, only because of a dream. {smiles}