“it’s chic to make fun of the dads”

I strooooooooongly agree with this article. In the last couple weeks I’ve noticed at least two instances in which people were condescending toward men, both of those people were men. In one instance it was a simple, “Well, what do we expect, they’re men,” In the other, it was something like, “That’s just part of the problem of being a guy, being clueless. Hahaha.” These really incensed me.

It’s not honoring or loving to anyone to stereotype them as stupid, unable, or inadequate.

Come on.

The pendulum has swung too far.

Could we please be more honoring in how we perceive and talk about men?

Men are wonderful. I happen to be engaged to an absolutely exemplary, honest, pure, strong, brave, sincere, smart man. I don’t want him to be condescended upon simply for being male, nor do I want any other man to be mistreated thus.

I suggest sharing this link. Here in America, we really need to change this cultural tendency.

This is inspiring. It stirs my very blood to desire and resolve to live each day more fully, to be more thankful, to focus on what is positive and to watch it supernaturally grown and affect nations.

Please share this video with friends.

Let’s all live fully alive.

This clip is POWerful. Let your hope and faith toward the salvation of nations expand today. 

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

This is excellent. Pass this along. 

Years ago, walking the streets of Jerusalem, I asked a friend what he thought signs of true revival were. He replied, “We will know revival is real in the church, when adoption is very common.” That sentence struck me with deep poignancy. Certainly, this is true. To truly comprehend and live in perfect love like God, one would adopt, just as He adopted us.

This video is a powerful vignette of one family’s journey. I encourage you to share the link far and wide so other families might feel inspired to adopt a child. There should be NO orphans. We have the power to end that. Let’s let love rule.

I applaud and thank every family who has adopted a child. Those people are heroes of love. If you know someone who has adopted a child, be encouraged to support and help them however you can. It’s an involved and unique journey. Plus, simple encouragement via notes or small acts of kindness go a very long way.

There’s also, this one.

Restore

Chris August

Nobody’s growing old together,
we’ve made it easy just to quit
Love has become a negative percentage,
Why do we bother to commit
We’ve got a long list of excuses,
Ways we try to justify
Well, I propose to you the truth is,
Marriage does not have to die

CHORUS
I know you’re feeling like it’s falling apart and it can’t go on anymore
But God is a God who knows how to heal so just give it up to the Lord
And He will restore

He said with this ring I promise, and with I do she said forever
But right now if they’re being honest they don’t know if they’ll stay together
Let’s fast forward to the future after struggling on their own
They finally figured out they needed Jesus in the middle
Now I’m watching God rebuild their home

CHORUS

The enemy tries to come and divide
Trying to get us to give up the fight
But darkness will always lose out to light
‘Cause we’ve got the power of Christ on our side

I see you growing old together
I pray I find a love like yours

So if you’re feeling like it’s falling apart and it can’t go on anymore
God is a God who knows how to heal so just give it up to the Lord
And He will restore

Like it was before
You may have strayed off course
But He will restore

Publishing: © 2012 Word Music, LLC (ASCAP) / Wordspring Music, LLC, Early Service Music (SESAC) (All rights obo itself and Early Service Music adm. by Wordspring Music, LLC)

Writer(s): Chris August / Ian Eskelin

I didn’t know then that I would marry someone of Indian heritage, who also had henna (or mehndi as it’s called) as part of the wedding traditions. Thus, when his mom recounted her wedding preparation stories, there would be henna involved. Moreover, when I would eventually tell my future husband’s mom about my own henna plans, she would appear as if near tears, light and joy shooting out of her very being.

God is smart. He can out-think any box. And He has a knack for fulfilling promises in very amazing ways.

He’s worthy of being handed your heart.

“My message, unchanged for more than fifty years, is this: God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.” Further, he writes, “My life is a witness to grace that amazes as it offends. A grace that pays the eager beaver who works all day the same wages as the grinning drunk who shows up at ten till five. A grace that hikes up the robe and runs breakneck toward the prodigal reeking of sin and wraps him up and decides to throw a party no ifs, ands, or buts. A grace that raises bloodshot eyes to a dying thief’s request – ‘Please, remember me” – and assures him, ‘You bet!’ A grace that is the pleasure of the Father, fleshed out in the carpenter Messiah, Jesus the Christ, who left His Father’s side not for heaven’s sake but for our sakes, yours and mine. His grace is indiscriminate compassion. It works without asking anything of us. It’s not cheap. It’s free and as such will always be a banana peel for the orthodox foot and a fairy tale for the grown-up sensibility. Grace is sufficient even though we huff and puff with all our might to try to find something or someone it cannot cover. Grace is enough. He is enough. Jesus is enough.”

- Brennan Manning, “All Is Grace”

I am blessed to be marrying a man who lives this brand of integrity, power, and belief daily. I’ve been hurt a lot through the actions of men – especially because I spent three years in the Middle East, where men’s condescension and objectification of me was often palpable. I’m not bitter. I have no interest in blaming all men for the behavior of some. On the contrary, I want every man on earth to shine and fulfill his God-given destiny. Moreover, I want to work, love, and transform the world side-by-side with men. Men are awesome.

And men who love women well are inspirational.

A HUGE thank you to those men.