Power of the gospel

Our associate pastor at church posted this video to facebook and I just wanted to share it with you all. It really blessed my heart and encourages my heart to see new believers in places where the gospel had not been heard come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. In this man's testimony you can really see how God has revealed the truth of the gospel to him and how it has impacted his life and thinking. They are in Papua New Guinea.



I can't help but look around us here in America, at all the people who claim to be Christians, but yet Christ has no place in their lives....He has no impact on their thinking......they have no testimony of the redemption and transformation that God has given them in His Son. This saddens my heart for many reasons. Maybe some are Christians but have never grown in their walk with the Lord. Maybe they are deceived into thinking they are Christians for all the wrong reasons because they have never seen or truly understood the gospel. I heard someone say that being a Christian is not just about a decision, but a DESIRE. If we are Christians, our hearts desires should be His desires. I pray that we, who do know Christ, who have experienced His power and His salvation, would live in such a way that people around us would have no question about WHOSE we are......

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

And that by doing so, maybe those who have never grown in their walks, or have never truly known Him would see what it looks like to live surrendered to the Lord and walk in His truth. Sometimes people don't know that there is more to the Christian life than going to church and "being good" because they have never been taught the truth of the His word and understood who He really is and the intimate relationship He desires with us. THAT is AMAZING, that He desires to have a relationship with US.
I say all these things because I have been in the place of not understanding and knowing that there is SO MUCH MORE to our "being a Christian" and I praise God for revealing to me through His word, His Holy Spirit,through pastors, friends and even the places that God has allowed me to live in. I really didn't plan on posting all this. And I don't claim to have all the answers or be a perfect Christian.....really there is no such thing. I struggle to live and walk by His Spirit daily, but I know without a doubt that my heart belongs to Him and I want my life to glorify Him as much as possible because that's all that really matters here on earth. Living for Him.....longing to bring Him glory in all things.
May God continue to reveal to each one of us more of Himself and more of His word so that we may love Him more.

Videos of Kapsowar

Here are some videos that just share some more insight into where we are going to serve this fall at Kapsowar Mission Hospital in Kenya. The video below features Dr. Kyle Jones and the work he has been involved in there. Lord willing, we will be serving alongside him and his family this fall. Please pray for them as they are back in the US right now after finishing their two year term. They plan on returning to Kapsowar in July. They are currently raising financial support for their return. If you would like to learn more about their family or how you can support them their blog is www.joneshousehappenings.blogspot.com

Please continue to pray for us as well. Pray that the Lord would prepare our hearts for this next step and for wisdom in making all the decisions in preparation to leave. Thank you!!

Layna is one year old!!

Our little Layna girl is now one year old!! Her birthday was January 12 and we sang Happy Birthday to her that morning and gave her a birthday donut (her first donut) that afternoon. She LOVED the donut :). She started walking around 11 months and is a pro now. She loves to play with her big sister and they are having lots of fun together....most of the time. She is my active child, always climbing or exploring. She has learned to sleep much better now and we are so thankful for that! Everyone says she looks just like her Daddy. She can say "ma ma" and "da da", but just prefers to babble most of the time. She can blow kisses and wave bye bye. She LOVES to cuddle with her lovey and any stuffed animal she can get her hands on. We look forward to watching her grow and learn so much more this next year. We thank God for the beautiful gift He has given us in Layna Aleese Jones.


Birthday afternoon....


Layna likes to color like a big girl....just have to watch out for her taste testing the crayons :)


This was our "mini-celebration" for her birthday since we weren't sure when we would get to have a party. She wasn't sure what to think about the candle, but Braelyn was more than willing to help her blow it out. She had no problem with the donut and even shared a little with her big sister. She went for her one year check up yesterday and weighed in at 17.15 lbs, which is the tenth percentile for her age group. She was in the 30% for height, and 90% on head size!! What a brain she is growing :) She is very petite, but very strong and LOUD! Don't be fooled by those big blue eyes.

Hopefully we will be able to celebrate with family and have a birthday party in the coming weeks.

Thankful for a Christian Heritage

Last week my Granny Hasty passed away. She was 87 years old. We went to middle TN this past weekend to be with family and for the funeral. We thank God for the long, blessed life that He gave her. She did not have to suffer long, only a couple of months. Of course we are sad that she is no longer with us, but at the same time it is of great comfort to know she is with Jesus. One of the things that was said at the funeral about her was that she loved to laugh. And that was so true. I am thankful for the love and laughter she poured out into our family and the wonderful example she left.

After being with family all weekend, I just realized what a blessing it is to have a Christian heritage. I am so thankful to my Granny & Pop for the example they have set in loving the Lord and each other.
My Pop was with my Granny at the nursing home and the hospital, and never wanted to leave her side. They have loved one another and loved the Lord for as long as I can remember. They had been married for 68 years! What a legacy. I know he will miss her dearly, but I trust that the Lord will comfort him and guide him through each day.
While we were there this past weekend I was helping my Pop clean off some things from his desk and we came across some blank Christmas cards that had been sent as a gift from an organization he supports. I asked him if he wanted to keep them and he said, "Well, since they don't really say anything about what Christmas is about (Jesus)....I don't think I need them." (The cards were just "holiday" cards, nothing about Jesus) I was thankful I got to listen as my Pop said that because it showed me, again, his heart for the Lord. Also on his desk was his Bible, opened up.
I feel so extremely blessed for the family God has placed me in. I hope and pray that Aaron and I will be able to continue this heritage the Lord has given us with our children and (Lord willing) grandchildren someday.

Psalm 145

1 I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable . 4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. 6 Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness. 7 They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful ; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. 9 The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. 10 All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, And Your godly ones shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power ; 12 To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14 The LORD sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time. 16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. 20 The LORD keeps all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.