E3

Amazing Life

Need I say more than just look upon these beautiful faces.

It's Official

This past Monday August 24th Danielle along with the girls loaded up into the car and drove up to Jacksonville for a 5 minute court appearance in the Judges chambers.  It was then that all was settled.  Karli & Kassi officially in the eyes of the law became ours.  Even though they have been with us since Tax day April 15th legally it's now settled and done.

My wife Danielle posted this on her facebook after it was done "It is finally official what my heart has already known since day one... These are my baby girls :) Thank you everyone for your prayers and support"

Truly we thank you all for your love your prayers and support.  God has given us truly an incredible church family at River of Life who has always supported us.  You have loved us and you have accepted and loved my beautiful girls Karli & Kassi.  For all of this we are so thankful, so grateful to you all.  These girls are our Then Suddenly that I preached about in January.  I told Danielle back then in January after preaching that message that I wanted to put that message into a book form.  I told her then that I had to wait though until that very special Then Suddenly happened.  Little did I realize how Sudden it would be or how big it truly would be.  Well, now that I have had this tremendous Then Suddenly I have begun working on putting this message and some into a book format.  So please pray for me.  I have had so many encourage me to do this, and it's a little scary, but I step by faith as we move forward.

Website

I'm sitting here in my office making some notes for the church website which is currently under construction.  I'm excited with what it's going to be looking like.  We plan to get alot done tomorrow with the home page and a few of the links.  So be prepared for a new launch in a few weeks of the entire website.  Should be exciting stuff.

We are in the process of revamping quite a few things.  The website is just one.  We are getting ready to launch Lord willing in September new video announcements as well as some new church literature.  You will see a newer more modern look and approach that will allow us to reach out in a greater way to our community.  It's really an exciting time there is just so much needing to be done and so little time to get it all done in.  Keep a look out as it's all coming your way soon.

It's been a little while

Well it's certainly been a little bit since I last posted on here.  It was just after we had gotten the girls and wow, how so much has happened in 4 months.  The girls are now 11 months old.  Danielle is working to plan their 1st birthday party.  Since we got the girls 4 months ago we have seen them get their first teeth.  Karli now has 6 teeth and Kassi 4 maybe 5 it's getting harder to get in their and look.  They started crawling, then standing and now have aleady taken steps.  Time is going by way toooo fast.  These girls have brought so much joy to both Danielle and I as well as many others.  I am so glad how God has used our story to truly minister to so many others.  I said 2009 would be a year of the "Then Suddenly" and truly it is...

Just yesterday we got another testimony of a "Then Suddenly" at River of Life Church.  If your not connected to River of LIfe Church then your missing out on something big right now.

We are welcoming so many new families into The River this summer.  It has probably been the greatest summer of increase we have ever seen over the past 6 years since we started River of Life Church.  God is sooooo good and so faithful.  I have determined in my heart to do a better job also in keeping up with my blog.  So keep looking out hopefully you should see more being updated.

Addition

Kevin & Danielle + Kassi & Karli = Our Family!

On Wed. April 15th (tax day) Danielle and I became proud parents of two incredibly beautiful baby girls.  Blonde hair and blue eyes.  They are truly amazing.  Some of you know our story of the years of trying and praying along with crying.  We've been open to sharing our story in services etc..  The many doctors visits and procedures.  The many miscarriages.  The many many prophetic words.  Well, dreams truly do become the reality of your life when your faithful with God.  I have always asked and pleaded with the Lord to have twin girls.  Once we began pursuing the adoption process we thought it would never happen.  Then Monday we get a call.  How would you feel about adopting twin girls.  Danielle asked me and I said absolutely yes!

We drove Tuesday night to Jacksonville to meet them for the first time.  We were supposed to bring them home on Friday.  Well, when they said we could bring them home on Wed. instead we went out and purchased car seats had family pick up the cribs and got it done.

I've been sleeping a little bit less the past few days.  But it's worth it.  Our story has so many ups and downs along the way the past few years.  Ever since Danielle and I were married nearly 8 years ago I had always told her that I wanted to adopt and felt that the Lord was wanting us to.  We thought o.k. after we have kids naturally then we will do it.  Well, I knew we needed to do it first because I knew as did God that Danielle probably wouldn't think we needed to once we had our own kids naturally.  I've always known and preached that God gives you the desires of your heart and I'm telling you he truly does.

There is so much to our story that I dont have the time to write it out.  However, on Mothers Day May 10th Danielle will be speaking in both morning services sharing our story of the past few years and how we never doubted God.

Monday when we received the call from Glenda the adoption agency we were an inactive profile.  We had not even completed our personal profile.  We figured that we would take the 2 weeks after Easter and work on it.  God though showed us favor and leaped us ahead of how many other waiting people so that we could have our girls that He intended for us to have.  Kassi & Karli have brought us such Joy in 1 week.  Sunday was a blast surprising everyone.  Frist bringing out Kassi everyone was excited but then when a second baby Karli came out.  Wow what shock for so many people.

Come on out on Mothers Day Sunday May 10th to hear Danielle share the entire story of our journey of faith and believing and the result of God giving us the desires our heart and more.

Will Post Pictures Soon - Dont worry we want to show them off they are beautiful

Celebrate 09

This is probably the most exciting time in the history of River of Life Church.  This Sunday is Easter Sunday we're calling at Celebrate 09.  We're doing something a little different this year.  We are relocating for Easter Sunday services.  Rather than doing 2 services in our own facility like we do every Sunday we are doing 1 large service.  We're doing it for a number of reasons.  First we would not have enough room in our building in 2 services to hold everyone.  Second, the Lord told us to move out in faith and prepare for 1,000 people.  We have relocated to the Oviedo High School Performing Arts Center for our Easter Service where we are believing God for over 1,000 people.  We are believing for such a response to the call of salvation.  The service will be at 10am filled with incredible worship, live drama and an illustrated message.  We look forward to seeing you there for this incredible day.  visit www.celebrate09.com for more information or call the church office at 407-365-5557!

Resonate

  Each of us through our lives need to resonate into the lives of others.  This Sunday I am going to be sharing in 2 part series called Resonate. 

With Celebrate 09 just around the corner from there is an open door for us to reach the masses.  Rather than hold our regular multiple services on our campus this Easter we are relocating the Oviedo High School Performing Arts Center where will hold 1 service and host Lord willing over 1,000 people.  Be praying with us as we prepare for this opportunity the Lord has given us. 

Between now and then however, you and I must all come together that we might reach as many as possible.  On March 28th we will hold a large Reach Out day.  Everyone will be involved from our children, youth and adults.  This is an exciting time but I trust this message series is going to empower you to reach more people for Christ daily!  Especially right now with Celebrate 09 just around the corner!

Guatemala Update

We are working to updat you with what is happening here in Guatemala this week.  You can see along the side left top a link to Guatemala pictures.  We will continue to update more thoughout the week. Also, tonight I will be updating about our 2 services so far. 

Man 2 Man

 

I want you guys to do something.  Click on the comment section today and reflect some thoughts on this subject matter.

Consider the times when you moved full speed ahead into something and your wife said to you wait.  Let's not do this, or lets be cautious about this.  I cant even tell you the number of times that my wife has told me Kevin maybe we should do this instead or should wait on God.   However, I in my own simple wisdom thought I could or had the smarts to do something.  I can look back over the course of 8 years of being married and find several times where I wish I had listened to my wife.  It could have saved me alot of hassle.  There are times where my wife has warned me about people and I was wrong.   There is a wisdom that comes from our wives that we don't always recognize.  We need to stop take a minute to pause and listen to the council of our wives.  There is usually some great wisdom in what she has to say.  Typically as men we like to think we have all the answers.  There are many times where I wish I could go back and take the advice my wife gave me and use it.  Well, I cant go back and change past mistakes, but I can do a better job in the future of listening to her and hearing what she has to say about where we go in the future!

(some have mentioned they have had trouble commenting, you will notice some commented on last weeks.  All you need to do is click on the comment button.  Sorry for being a day late on this one.  Blessings)

Man 2 Man for Tuesday 1-13-09

First let  me thank all the men who joined us this past Sunday evening for our first Man 2 Man group.  I truly believe this can be if we allow it to be a powerful tool in our lives to begin rebuilding us, rebuilding our marriages and families as well.  Please know that daily I am praying for each of you men as well as your families.  If ever you need to just share something or send me a message please don't hesitate in doing so.  You can call me at any time.  You can send me an e-mail at pastorkevin@drinkattheriver.com and know that you will always get a reply.

 

Relationships

Quote "If you don't have enough time for your family, you can be 100 percent certain you are not following God's will for your life."  (Pat Morley)

Relationships are not always easy for men.  We can be one way at work and a complete different person at home.  We have our public persona but then there is the way our wives and children know us.  Usually the way it works is those who don't live with us have a glowing perception of us then when our family is asked who we are it seems to give a different insight and it doesn't look quite as nice.

So often we are consumed with the next step or two that we are going to take looking down at the walk way that we never look up to see if we are going in the right direction.  So we keep taking these steps and great strides in so many areas of life while we sit still and stagnant in our relationships.  Especially the relationship with our wives and our children.  Can relationships be restored once broken?  Absolutely, YES they can!  Lets take a relationship with Children to start with. 

Every child wants quality time with their father.  Time spent with their mother is wonderful but can never replace time spent with their fathers.  It doesn't matter how old they become.  They want to simply sit there and talk, express themselves etc...  However, as children get older and if there has been a lack of a father presence in their lives they may want the relationship but anger, and emotions and pride will cause them to resent or act in ways of anger.  Even though what they long for is some attention and caring from their fathers.

I just read an unbelievable statistic that says the average amount of daily time a Dad spends with his kids was 37 seconds, an average of 2.7 daily encounters of ten to fifteen seconds each.  Then we ask the question why fathers and their children are having tough relationship.  I am not saying that simply starting to spend time with your children will be an end all fix all solution to all the problems one might be having with their kids.  However, its a good place to start. 

A few good ideas might be if you have a daughter at home taking her out on a daddy daughter date night.  If you have a son at home find what he is interested in.  If its sports than taking him out to a sporting event or to a movie.  Something that is between father and child and begin to earn their trust.  If you give them your word then at all cost follow through with your word.  So often we as adults can forget the things we say or even the promises we make.  Children never forget a promise made and even more so they never forget a promise broken.  Keep your word to your children.  Find something to encourage your children about.  Whether its music, sports, grades find a way to encourage your children and let them know that you are proud of them and are pleased with their accomplishments.  Don't let the only time you communicate something to your child be when they are doing something that displeases you but when they do something right that makes you proud.  Let them know that you are proud of what they are doing.  All children want the recognition of their fathers.

One last thing I want to mention in this time of writing to you is always pray for your children, and make sure they know your praying for them.  Whether its at night prior to their going to bed or before they start out there day take a moment and pray over them.  A spiritual bonding will be stronger than any emotional bond you can create.  A spiritual bond will strengthen over time any other bond that is lacking in relationship with your children.  One thing you will see happen as the relationship with your children strengthens your wife will respond differently towards you.  She will be happier seeing you take an active role in the lies of the children and taking the time to concern yourself with their well being.  You will see yourself winning over the love and affection of your wife through this.

I encourage you this week to spend more time with your children and to find something to encourage them about.  Find some time this weekend to spend a couple of hours together with your kids playing a game or doing something they like to do.  And if you don't already do it stop what your doing and pray over your children before they go to bed at night.  You will see a relationship with your children begin to transpire and build.