Joshua’s House

The printer is here and after using it a little bit, I’m more than happy with it.  Thank you to all of you who contributed!  It will make such a huge difference!

I’m excited about all that has gone on last week and all that will be going on this week. I am continuing to work on the JH curriculum, and I am excited to tell you that I have the rough drafts done through the end of Luke.  That’s really exciting.

I’m also working really hard to make more regular blog posts and to fill the blog with useful tips and information for you. Some of the things you can look forward to seeing are guest blogs, devotions and closer looks into the why and how of Joshua’s House.

Fund raising is going well too.  The method has been decided and in a couple of weeks, I’m meeting with a team of people to brainstorm ideas.  It’s great because not only will this event be a fund raiser, but it will also introduce the community to Joshua’s House and it will encourage kids and their families to get to know God better too.  How awesome is that?  Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we plan this project.  It is easy shift our focus from God and onto money in such circumstances.  The ultimate goal is that He will be glorified, honored and praised.  He owns everything in the world any way, so it’s not our job to be concerned about getting the money in.

Well, that’s pretty much it for the update this week.  May God bless you!

I know it has been pretty quiet here lately, but I assure you things have been moving forward as God continues to bless and encourage all of us here at Joshua’s House.

I was recently asked to write an article about Joshua’s House four our church newsletter, and I thought I would share it with you. I hope you enjoy it.

While others talk of going to the mission field, my heart is burdened with the great need of God here in America. It wasn’t until I worked at camp for a summer as a girl’s counselor that I realized how much I enjoyed working with kids. From their energy all throughout the day, to their questions and desire for truth during cabin worships; they held a special place in my heart. More than anything I wanted to see their humble curiosity grow into a deep rooted faith and friendship with Jesus Christ.

This discovery was confirmed even more as I was doing research for a project at school. According to the Barna Research Group, “People’s religious beliefs change very little, if at all by the age of 12.” God was making it clear to me that teaching children not only about His love, but how to experience it was of utmost importance.

How would I do this, how could I help these precious kids make this big life changing decision for Jesus? I had recently learned in one of my classes that the example set by parents, even uninvolved parents, has a bigger impact on their children than any other influence. Yes, God was calling me to minister to children and families.

God has blessed me with a creative mind. When He put that mind together with a passion for reaching His children, and pointing them to the Bible as their ultimate guide, great things were in store. It’s all too easy for us to live our lives and try to squeeze God and Christianity where it fits. Joshua’s House was created as God’s instrument to help kids and families learn to make Him the center of their lives, a spring that brings hope and guidance for each day.

Joshua’s House is a non-profit organization in the state of Tennessee and we are working on our 501(c)(3) status. Right now we are reaching our goals by providing workshops and free family fun ideas online. We are also working on creative Bible study materials for all ages as well as materials in living sound and on the internet. I am so excited to see where God leads. He loves His children and with Him leading, there is no limit to the possibilities.

I just checked the tracking number for our new printer, and it’s out for delivery as we speak! I’m so excited. God has blessed immensely, and I can’t wait to see how He will use this new addition to our office to further His work.

I will have to ask for God’s discipline however, because I have a lot of other work to get done, and new “toys” make great distractions. Although it can be a distraction, it will also motivate me to get the next big print job done so I can see how well this baby handles volume printing.

Last week I spent a lot of time prayerfully making plans and getting things in order. Instead of trying to accomplish all of the plans I have for Joshua’s House, God has helped me narrow my projects down to just three that I am working on at any given time. Currently my goals are: blogging, Children’s Curriculum for Luke, and fund raising for 501(c)3 paperwork (yup, still working on that).

I ask for your prayers as I continue to work on these projects. As I move forward with the blog I solicit your prayers that I will continually seek God’s guidance. It’s easy to plan to blog about things that are cool or will get people to visit the website, but that loose site of our focus and our vision. I also ask for prayer as I write Bible study materials for 10-12 year olds, and for guidance as we test the curriculum in a church. Lastly pray that all we do - including fund raising endeavors - will ultimately lead others to God and His word.

God bless you this week!

I’m so excited!  We were able to order a new printer for Joshua’s House today!  It’s the Oki C6150dn.  I am so excited about this new addition to our office as it will save a lot of money, making it possible for us to reach more people.  Not only that, but it will be much more effecient meaning fewer late nights for me.

Thank you for your prayers and financial help.  God is blessing your generosity!

Time is almost up to register for the Keeping the Focus Workshop on August 24 in Tennessee. The registration deadline is August 10 (that’s tomorrow).

I’m so excited about having the opportunity to take some time with families to explore some very important keys to growing together in Christ. I pray (and ask you to pray as well) that God will be with us during this workshop and that He will ultimately be glorified and praised.