This chair and my Sweet Song Bird have a history.

While Jason was on a 21 day Brazil ministry trip it caught my eye. Why do we have this worn out weathered chair on our back patio? How did we even end up with it in Florida?

This is the chair that used to sit quietly by his mom’s bed in Savannah. His sweet mama became paralyzed when he was only 9. From that time on he would faithfully sit in the chair by her side. It sat by her bed. He’d sing and they would talk. He’d sit in the chair to serve his mom. He is a great servant. Of course I’m completely biased… but I believe anyone that’s had the honor of crossing his path would agree. His servanthood is one of the mysteries that drew me in.

It was not all fun and games. Yes he was an entertainer. He would make his mom  laugh. He would sing. He would sit by the bed while they watched countless movies together. But in this same chair he would also sit with water filled bucket in hand and wash his mothers hair. He would bring in pots and pans and all of the ingredients for dinner and listen to her every instruction on how to prepare a meal.

He sat in the chair and he served. And the chair served him well. And here it is… the chair. A reminder of the past.

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A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…Proverbs 17:22

For some time, Regina and I have been looking and asking God for a piano. There are many reasons for this, but a continuation of making our home a habitation for God is first and foremost, desiring our home to be an altar and our family to worship together, catching the Sounds of Heaven. Never ceasing to be amazed at God’s faithfulness, a dear brother and friend, Dave Cates, found a beautiful piano and delivered it to our house!

I wasted no time! Immediately, I sat at the piano, though slightly out of tune, and began to worship, Gina and I began singing random songs. Nothing can match the raw, authentic sound of an acoustic piano, with its sound reverberating against the tile floors and bouncing off the walls throughout the entire house. I LOVE IT! I want these constant vibrations of this piano to saturate our home and for our children to see their mommy and daddy worship at the altar of God, in our home, just as much as on the platform.

Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Faith-Tuesday twirling. My heart overjoyed as she danced before God! Often wanting to literally pinch myself, as my life seems like a fairytale, I marveled in our family, a picture of the rescue of Jesus, yes, having our share of struggles like everyone, but having experienced the constant saving grace of God. Gathered around this beautiful red piano in our living room, we worshipped before the throne of God!

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This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

Sitting outside a restaurant in a small city in the Amazon at two in the morning, exhausted from leaving it all on the altar, my heart still raw from the intense meeting. At our table the atmosphere around us richly filled with laughter and testimonies from the night. In true Brazilian fashion, we sat, celebrating life and enjoying each other’s company, abruptly though, the conversation ceased.

Turning to see the cause of this interruption, my eyes settled on a young man speaking…no pleading- desperately…hopelessly pleading with the pastor.

His hair matted and face warn, my heart shattered. Garbed in a bikini top and women’s shorts, his face painted in make-up and sweat oozing from every pore, he obviously needed a fix…

Often lost in translation, I’ve learned from my travels to read situations, not sure what was being asked, but quickly realizing he was asking for money. Looking on further, the pastor offered him some food and an invitation to dine at a nearby table.

Not sitting well with the restaurant owner, he asked the man to leave. Sneering and pointing at our table, as if to throw in his face, “They told me I could sit here!”

Little did we know, earlier, he spat and sneered at patrons refusing his plea for food or money. The locals knew he was a drug addict and a male prostitute…later we found out he would trade money, food, and even sex in exchange for drugs…

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