5 & 1/2 months along...or 22 weeks :)

Neighborhood Friends

The two older children, Lynne and Kendrick have become a regular part of our week. Lynne already has sweet motherly instincts at the age of 8 and Kendrick is giving me a good picture of what a little boy is like at the age of 6. They love to play with Jackson and they love to play with .... Jack! As if the picture doesn't already communicate that :)

I'm still trying to learn how to respond when kids knock on our door to see if "Jack" is home. If not, they usually sigh and then run off to do something else. Lynne & Kendrick have been coming to Church with us the past few weeks. They talk about it during the week and have said in their own ways how much they like going to church. We are blessed to know and love them.

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child." 1Cor. 13:11

"My Daddy's in Jail"...these four striking words spoken with such little emotion from the mouth of a young boy were said in such a way that convinced me how completely foreign this concept is for me yet at the same time how normal it is for him. This is all he knows of his father right now and so he reasons, thinks and speaks of what he knows as a child would. I felt trapped to find the right words to respond. "I'm so sorry" came out first. The little boy then shared how his brothers and sisters have different Daddy's than him. Now this concept isn't so foreign to me, it was just said in a way I am not use to. I grew up hearing my friends’ say, "this is my step-dad, my half-brother, or my half-sister" Another way of saying this is simply how this little boy put it, "My brother & sister have a different Daddy's than me but we have the same Mommy."

After the initial feelings of uncertainty in how to respond passed, it was as if for the first time while living here I was able to speak back to him like a child by sharing a deep concept in a simple way. I shared how even though he can't see his earthly father right now He has a Father in heaven that sees him everyday, who takes care of him, who loves him and who knows him intimately. We talked about the ways God takes care of us and what Jesus ultimately did to take care of His children. I'm not sure what type of impact this conversation had on this young boy but I am confident that God is working in me to learn "discipleship & evangelism" in such a new and almost more challenging way than I have ever experienced. The scripture above finishes, "When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." Though this is true of me as an adult, my prayer is that I would put back into my mind & heart the way children think, reason and speak so I can better minister and love them while I live among them.

A Missionary Sits On A Rock

Day After Day, The Missionary
Learns The Ways And Language
Of The People From The Children

After Many Months,
The Life Of The People
Draws In The Life Of The Missionary

~Author Unknown~

Make a Smilebox greeting

Favor in the eyes of children

Our community continues to grow with new residents which means it continues to increase in the amount of children we see playing & running outside. My kind hearted husband began to notice how much the children around us had little to do or even play with after school. Though play grounds and a computer center on on there way, there is little to do in the mean time. Our church put on a simple Christmas play early in December. Jack thought it might be fun to try and gather the children around us to see if they would want to participate in a Christmas play as well. Little did we know that this endeavor would lead to such sweet relationships between us and the children. The gospel was shared in our community through these children as they participated in a play that shared about the birth of Christ from the gospel of Luke.

It is clear to us now, that God is giving us much favor in the eyes of the youth. We hope that as God continues to give us opportunites to know and love these Children that He would bridge the gaps we continue to face in connecting with the parents around us. My heart melts everytime I see one of the kids run up and give Jack a big hug! Please pray with us that we would be able to put together some sort of after school program here at White Rock Hills.

A Mother's Love

If I am always cleaning, organizing, running errands and cooking
but have not love, I am just another wife and mother.
If I give my time to community service, volunteer work, & church activities
but have no love toward my family, I gain nothing.
If I spend time in God's word, in prayer & in writing
but have no love, it profits me nothing.

Love is rising with little sleep and letting go of a planned week.
It's changing diapers, wiping a runny nose, singing songs and playing "Uh Oh!".
Love reads silly stories and makes air plane noise,
Love carries on her hip.

Love is willing to endure back pain.
It does not envy another life;
wishing things were different or longing for more free time.
Love accepts her lot and believes her cup runneth over.

Love fights bad attitudes.
It confesses sin and asks for forgiveness time& time again.
Love disciplines in hope that her children see God's loving boundaries.
She does not discipline for her comfort or peoples praise.
Love sets other desires aside, so she can look into her child's eyes;
She realizes how fleeting life is.
Love never fails.

~ Emily Murphy ~
October 21, 2008

The idea to write this was modeled in a book called, A Mother's Heart. The purpose was to help us pin point areas in our life that seem to rob us of the agape love we are called to pour out to our children and husband. The purpose was also to bring light to areas that seem so insignificant, such as changing a diaper, and enable us see the little selfless things we do daily in Mothering are communicating and living out this agape Love that God has placed in our hearts through Christ. The Lord has been shaping and renewing my mind in significant ways toward this calling of Mothering. It is also taken from I Corinthians 13.

Cultural Differences & Common Ground

I have humbly been learning that a man who initially appears scary to me can go from being intimidating to my friend named John in just a few minutes of kind conversation. Though it can seem to the eye that there isn't much in common between us and our neighbors, this just isn't true. We are all created by God, we all enjoy good weather, conversations, food, sports, etc... We are all going through life's ups and downs and we all have a story to tell. There is an equal need each day for God to provide for us whether one gives credit to God or not.

We have found that we must initiate with those around us and once we do the walls fall down and we find common ground. Yes, there are some who clearly keep their distance, but we know that the God who broke forth light into the darkness will continue to shine His light into the darkness of human hearts, including ours! We have already seen God drawing out a spiritual interest in a couple named Kevin and Erica, who have said several times they want to 'start going back to church'. Pray with us that we will be consistent, steady lights that burn not through our own effort, but through resting & trusting in the Light burning within us.

Our 1st Social Service
The smell of hot charcoal & hamburgers on the grill filled the air while we hosted our first BBQ for the complex this past Saturday! The beats of rap music, which normally bugs me, began to seem unnoticeable as I started getting to know new residents and help serve a large group of kids. While Jack grilled away, we enjoyed the evening getting to know new neighbors. Cristo Rey
We think we have found a church home! Cristo Rey is a bi-lingual church offering worship services in English & Spanish. This church is a church plant that branched off of a large & popular church in the heart of Dallas called Park Cities Presbyterian. We had a rich time singing praises & hearing the gospel preached in both languages. Because Cristo Rey is a church plant in process, we believe it will be a good place for us to get a picture of what church planting looks like as we are wondering if that is what God will call us to after seminary. We are beginning to see more Hispanic residents and for that reason we are glad to know that Cristo Rey may be a comfortable and attractive church to those we invite. Visit the web site at www.cristoreypca.org
Thank you for keeping up with us and for your prayers! ~ Emily, Jack & Jackson

Life's A Dance You Learn As You Go, Even If You Have To Step On Each Others Toes...

It's true, life is messy. Decisions have to be made, bills have to be paid, responsibilities have to be taken care of, and relationships have to be maintained. When you put two sinners together in a home, in a marriage, and in a family it just gets messy. And when it does it's so easy to point out the other persons faults. We have hit that phase of messiness as we try and figure out how to balance our family life, ministry and seminary. One friend said, it's like learning a new dance. It's hard at first and you may step on each others toes, but in time you figure out how to dance beautifully together. I've never been much of a dancer... But, I know someone who has and that person knows how to dance perfectly. Therefore, He is the One who can take the messiest dancer and teach them how to dance with their partner one step at a time.

Somehow the Lord graciously enabled us to two-step our way into our first Bible Study this past Monday night. We began the book of John with 5 other residents who we now call friends. Porsche is one of our new friends who shared that coming to this Bible study was one of her first steps in getting back on the right path. We don't know the details of the “wrong path”, but we all know we have one too and can easily step back on that wrong path daily. That evening we saw seven souls, including us, who were eager to walk on the right path of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately together. In my struggle to be patient I want to ask you to pray that we learn this “new dance” quickly. However, I need to ask you to pray that we cling to the One who is teaching us instead. Thank you, Emily

Life in Dallas so far...

Have you ever been so excited for future plans to come but uneasy to leave the comfort of what's familiar? We are on the brink of our desires becoming a reality as I started seminary August 5th. Excitement, isn't even the word! The romanticism has faded a bit now that I have a taste of the work load, but I have already grown to appreciate Westminster's approach to teaching. My professor emphasizes that our minds are gifts that God has given us for the enjoyment of learning to the glory of God. This has been demonstrated by Prof. Greene going into mini-sermons while teaching a Greek lesson. It has reminded me that I'm here to grow in my love and obedience to Jesus and secondly to learn how to better minister. We have agreed that seminary will be a season of trial and error as we balance family life, ministry, and studies. However, we are praying God enables us to stand firm in what Jesus has done, remembering the righteous standing He has given us and His eternal power to do what He commands us to.


" ...for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, ..." Isa. 61:10b.
And He promises “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”2 Cor.12:9

Urban Missions...(Emily)

Early one evening we were trying to say hello to a man from across the parking lot and it seemed like he was politely ignoring us. Jack was persistent thinking he didn't hear us. As we caught up with him, we realized it wasn't that he didn't hear us but that he couldn't. James was deaf. In God's good providence my rusty sign language from college came in handy! James seemed thrilled that I could sign and we enjoyed getting to know him some.
Our town home complex stands out in a culturally diverse community as a bright and friendly place. Of the 302 units, 15 or so have been occupied and more people are coming every week. As we enjoy meeting our new neighbors, we have been reminded of the importance of “being learners” of different cultures. We've been encouraged by how God has already allowed us to connect with some, such as James, and even people like Linda, who is looking forward to the upcoming prayer/Bible study time.

Family Life...(Emily)
"Happy Birthday to you”....was a common tune in our new home last week. Jackson, turned ONE on August 1st! We had a warm welcome of family come in town to celebrate as well as family who live in town. It was a special time for us and for Jackson. He isn't walking yet but Jackson is beginning to take steps while we hold his hands and he is clearly testing his limitations to see what Mommy and Daddy will do :). Ruslan, is one of Jack's friends from Russia who came and visited over Jackson's birthday weekend. Ruslan loved being able to experience an American birthday, have his first taste of Texas Bar-b-que, and visit the “grassy knoll” as Jack's dad talked about 'the magic bullet' theory and other mysteries concerning the JFK assassination. He added joy and culture to our weekend as we were able to have conversations about the difference between Christianity and his upbringing in Islam. After church he asked what it means to worship; we were blessed to be able to share how all people worship what they believe to be the most valuable, whether that is God or something else we put in God's place.