Happy Reformation Day

As our daddy writes a chapter on the Reformation and printing and the Oral Word of God being spread throughout the world, we focused in on Martin Luther in school today and our hearts are so encouraged.

I've been promised by a fifth grade teacher, it's pretty normal for a nearly nine year old to fixate on some topic. Elsie Jayne has been teaching us facts about Jim and Elisabeth Elliot for the past month. She has read multiple biographies and keeps finding clips and information from all kinds of sources. Every day we learn a new detail about their ministry, relationship, outreach and lives. We have Elliot crafts and notes all over our house.

Today the connection was made, "Martin Luther was brave, like Jim.

He was willing to do a hard thing so others could know Jesus personally."

Jesus used this innocent honest connection to continue the healing He is doing in my heart. Jesus uses people in the bush, and He uses people in the academy. His choice is about a willingness not a location necessarily. It's an availability.

Where is He asking you to be brave for Him today? My situations have certainly never been nearly as extreme as either one of these men...and yet, where He has led, He has been faithful.

As we continue to lean into Him and learn to be available to His purposes for us in Scotland, will you pray with us for Billy's board review tomorrow. He has submitted his work up to this point and tomorrow he has the opportunity to orally defend that work.

We go forward trusting.

Thank you for joining us in this journey.

And, Happy Reformation Day!

Lausanne YLG2016

Lausanne YLG2016

3-10 August 2016

Recently, Billy had the privilege of joining 1000 participants and 200 mentors from over 150 nations for the Lausanne Young Leaders Gathering (YLG) in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was a holy experience to be able to join so many from all over the globe in worship and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. The theme of the conference was "United in the Great Story," which of course resonates with our interest in orality. The planning team intentionally emphasized connections: connecting our stories with God's Grand Story and connecting our stories with each other's stories. 

 

Certainly the best part about YLG for me was establishing and building connections - those relationships. My roommate was A. from India who has lived in Scotland while pursuing his PhD! He is a saint who carries the presence of Jesus.

My connect group included new friends from Indonesia, Jamaica, Denmark, India, and Ghana. What impacted my heart was their availability to sacrifice for Jesus and their sensitivity to God in prayer... specifically for one another. I do not exaggerate in saying they are quietly (and even at times, not so quietly) impacting their entire nations with the Gospel of Jesus. 

Daniel from Jamica/thumps up; Billy; Mona Grace from Indonesia; Collins from Ghana; Lisa from Denmark; Stanley from India

The workshops and labs included some challenging dynamics and yet God showed up. The joy of  orality is getting people to discuss how God has impacted their lives through His Word and how He is impacting the lives of other people.  

There is something hysterical about a workshop title on "orality" being written in seven languages!

The Lausanne Team created daily video clips as well as made other pictures and reports available on their FB page. For those interested, I highly recommend the "Summary Video YLG2016." See:

https://www.facebook.com/lausannemovement/

We thank Jesus for those that were praying for us during these last weeks and for such an opportunity. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever! 

Elections on the 18th

These are just a few of the reasons we would like to invite you to pray with us for Uganda's Presidential elections on Thursday.... 

These are the faces of friends we love and care about so very much...there are countless others. 

Please pray for the peace of Jesus to reign in our beloved home-home.

Thank you for caring about those we love and care about. 

Thank you for caring about leadership of the nations...so grateful that's on God's heart as well.

Trusting with you for His goodness in the days ahead!

Strength

Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee...Psalm 68:28

Back in October when Lucy had tubes put in her ears, Jesus kindly promised to carry me from strength to strength from glory to glory. And the intervening months have needed that carrying as I never imagined....and He has remained faithful to His promise.

He truly has sent His strength!

In our weakness, He is strong...giving birth to William Blake, while homeschooling and still finding our way in a new culture while my dear husband begins a new school program has revealed a greater weakness and called for a greater strength than I have ever known...and He has remained faithful to His promise.

Every time...every continent...every weakness...He has been faithful!

Why do I continue to be shocked and amazed at His faithfulness. I wish I would assume it by now, but I am sad to confess there is a flinch in me, a fear that Jesus might not show up in the way I'll need Him to or the time I'll need Him to and yet...He continues to be faithful.

What do you need strength for today?

What is He calling you to?

He is sending forth strength for YOU...

praying you can trust and receive His strength and know His presence.  He truly delights to give good gifts! Strength...the gift for today.

Assume Goodness

"Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good..." Psalm 135:3a

At the beginning of this month, we felt like Jesus' words for our family in 2016 were: "Assume Goodness." Not in a 'naive' sort of way but in spite of the challenges of life, we felt like He was inviting us to trust that He remains good and has good gifts for this year. He has already been true to His word! We wanted to share a few of them with you so you could celebrate with us. 

For some that have not met, this is William "Blake" Coppedge. Thank you to all who prayed for his arrival! He is a healthy baby boy. 

Technically, he joined our family in 2015, but he has already brought our whole family so much J-O-Y! Hallelujah! Praise God Forever! 

One of our happiest good gifts was having Joanna's mama and daddy here over the Christmas holidays. Nancy came early and was a tremendous help with welcoming Blake. Praise Jesus for good grandparents! 

God has continued to surprise us by bringing Arua friends to Scotland! Pam and Stan Wafler were with us earlier this month with two of their kids, Jack and Joanna. We were all so excited to be together. Praise Jesus for good friends. 

The girls (Sophia, Lucy, Elsie with Blake, Chloe) love being 'big sister' to their brother. Praise Jesus for good sisters!

While some of you all have recently had 'lots' of snow, we don't usually get much here in St Andrews. This was a good surprise though. Blake didn't love it but the girls enjoyed it on his behalf.

Billy's oldest sister was able to come visit us. She was so excited to meet Baby Blake. Big sisters have a goodness all of their own. She was such an encouragement.

Here is Sophia, one of our 'warrior princess for good.' We sure love these girlies. 

Billy has started at the University of Edinburgh and travels in by train several times a week. He loves the program and has already thoroughly enjoyed his reading on East Africa. The girls have likewise started back to school and God is helping all of them adapt to schooling with Baby Blake's schedule. Adjusting to being a family of seven has indeed been an adjustment yet the Father has been so good to us. Thus we are starting the year with a deep sense of gratitude. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!