Happy Thanksgiving 2015!

Hello friend,

Happy American Thanksgiving! 

You may wonder why in the world I am pointing out the American-ness of the holiday. Due to having lived in two other countries, most recently Canada, I learned that, of course, not everyone celebrates American Thanksgiving. Today in Canada, it's just a regular Thursday (They do celebrate their own Thanksgiving, in October.). So, for all my international friends and readers, Happy Thursday!

I hope my American friends have a fantastic day celebrating all the blessings we enjoy in this country. We are so fortunate, and even when life is hard and confusing, we still have so many things to be thankful for. Enjoy time with family and friends, celebrating traditions and making new memories. I pray we thank God every day for all He has given us. Cheers!

Blessings and love. xo

Remembering 9/11

I don't guess I will ever make it through a September 11th without tears. Today is no exception. The memories started coming back last evening. And again this morning in conversations with Bob and the kids.

Fourteen years ago, we were in Texas. Bob was a youth pastor a local church. I was a housewife with two young children. Emma had just started her kindergarten year at the elementary school which was two minutes from our house. Since everyone else was at work and school, Austin, who was 17 months old, and I were getting settled into our morning at home. I was planning to let him watch a children's show, Barney to be exact, while I cleaned up the kitchen and tidied the house. I sat him down in front of the television and turned it on. It was on one of the major networks, ABC, if I'm remembering correctly. The first tower had just been struck. I could not discern what I was seeing and was taken aback by the sense of fear and confusion emanating from the broadcasters. Many things flashed through my mind at once. Was this a movie scene they were showing? No, it doesn't appear to be. Wait. This is real? This is live? How in the world did that plane just crash into one of the towers of the World Trade Center? What is going on here? I stayed glued to the television, while turning Austin's attention to some of his toys. Shortly after, the second tower was hit, and by then we all knew, this was a very dark day in our country. 

We were under attack.

I called up to Bob's office to see if they were aware of what was happening. It took everything in me not to run up to the school and snatch Emma out of her classroom to be home with me. Bob ended up coming home, and like most of the rest of our fellow Americans, we watched the day's events unfold. Stunned. Shocked. Shaking our heads in unbelief. 

This morning I was telling one of my younger children a few more of the details of that day. She wanted to know how many people died that day. Bob and I both answered at the same time. Three thousand, we said. And I explained to her that it wasn't just the attacks in New York. The Pentagon was attacked. And a fourth plane was diverted by some heroic passengers and crashed in Pennsylvania. Her eyes were wide with the reality of this knowledge. She knows the Pentagon is not that far from where we live. Pennsylvania, too, for that matter. The extent of the attacks became more clear to her this year. 

I will share these photos with her a bit later, as I think she is ready to see what happened that day. 

My prayer and hope is that our country will be protected from any more heinous acts of terrorism in the future. We know the threats are real and imminent. 

But God. 

I also pray that even though we as a country had the chance to experience awakening and revival fourteen years ago and did not, there is still time. God is not finished with us. There is still an undercurrent of His people who are crying out to Him for the United States of America. That is why our family is here, brought back from Canada, to see His will done on earth as it is in heaven, to see revival come. 

Even in the midst of our remembering and tears, may we look to Him today. He is for us and His heart is to draw people to Himself. He does not want anyone to perish without salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ. He wants our country to know Him, to experience His unfailing love for us, and to carry out His will for our lives and our nation. Let us call on Him today in hope and expectation.

 Blessings and love. xo

Prayers for us in this transition

Good morning,

I wanted to share this letter that Bob recently sent out to all of our prayer and financial supporters regarding what is going on with us. Some of you are already aware of this and have responded with such kindness and love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We couldn't have made it through these last two and a half years without your generosity. 



Hi Friends,

I want to thank you for your financial support and prayers over the past 3 years as our family took a journey of faith to come back to America to help prepare our country for awakening and revival.  We are grateful to our American and Canadian friends during this time.

I want to let you know that I will be leaving Intercessors for America at the end of July.  I have realized that it is not the right fit for me moving forward.  The bottom line is that it is just not working, and we are honestly burned out as a family. I am currently working a part-time job and looking for another, while working on a career change for the long haul.

I am volunteering on staff at a church here in the Northern Virginia area.  For those who are interested in continuing ministry support, please let me know.  I am working with our sponsoring church, Ridgecrest Baptist in Greenville, Texas, to best facilitate this accordingly.

We appreciate your friendship, thoughts and prayers during this perplexing and challenging time.

Bob Royce
bob.royce7@gmail.com



We would appreciate your prayers as we continue to seek the Father for His next step for us. So far it's a blank slate, and we are eager for Him to start writing again. Thank you!

Blessings and love. xo

Ebates

Do you do any online shopping? 

If so, you will want to know about Ebates! 

You can earn cash back on your online shopping purchases. If you shop at Amazon, Macy's, Groupon, Kohl's, Walgreens, Omaha Steaks, Clinique, Walmart, and many, many other stores, check out Ebates today and start earning cash back on your every day purchases!

If you are ready to start buying all the items on your Christmas gifts list, there is a holiday sale going on now that you won't want to miss. Sign up is free and fast and you will be on your way to making money on your Christmas gift purchases. Check out Ebates today!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

Happy Fourth of July!

Our day involved watching the annual parade, playing in water, eating good food, being blessed by hugs from sweet friends, and viewing multiple fireworks displays from our mountain. 

Happy 4th of July from our family to yours, American friends! xo

Don't miss this important message! Elbert Guillory

Wow! I just saw this last night and was moved to tears. I showed it to the kids just now and was moved to tears again. 

I have not heard anything so encouraging or inspiring in a long time!




God bless you, Mr. Guillory! You will be in my prayers.

Today at Harpers Ferry

We have so enjoyed the plethora of American history field trip choices we have in our area. Harpers Ferry has been on our "to do" list for a year now and today we took advantage of Free Admission Week and made it happen.

xo

This Is Our TIme DVD {Review + Giveaway}

I had the opportunity to review This Is Our Time over the weekend. At first, I admit to thinking it was a little "cheesy," but that soon changed. Though the story is about five recent university grads, I found myself to relating to them in several ways, even though I am well passed {ahem} that age. I originally thought I would love this movie because I love university students and did life with so many of them in Canada. But because this movie included so many just regular life events, that we all do or could do at any point in our lives, it struck me as very believable and relate-able. 

I cried through several sections of this movie (don't worry, no spoilers). It was very touching. I certainly know God's call on my life and have heard Him clearly many times. We have recently been through a major change (moving back to the States) due to hearing His call and responding in obedience to Him. But since being here, I have greatly struggled with the purpose for His moving me here. Why am I here? What is my purpose here? I don't have any definitive answers quite yet, but I trust Him and know they will come. I know He has led us here for a specific reason (and probably multiple reasons), so I continue seeking His face and waiting on Him. 

And whether you are in high school or university, have recently graduated or are even older than I am (haha!), I recommend this movie. See below for giveaway info.

About the film:

This Is Our Time, distributed by Pure Flix, follows the post-collegiate lives of five friends connected by their strong belief in God who all long to make a meaningful difference in the world. But when tragedy strikes the close-knit group, their friendship and their faith are tested in ways they never imagined.

This Is Our Time releases on DVD and Blu-Ray on April 16. It will be available nationwide at Family Christian Stores and most Christian online and brick-and-mortar retail stores nationwide.

                              

This Is Our Time has received The Dove Foundation’s Family Seal of Approval (earning the highest rating of five Doves) and is recommended for all ages. It also features appearances by Hollywood veterans Eric Roberts, Erik Estrada and Dawn Wells.

Coinciding with the movie’s DVD release, Pure Flix is teaming with Family Christian Stores and other Christian retailers to award eight $2,500 college scholarships through registrations submitted through FamilyChristian.com and other websites representing more than 2,000 retail outlets nationwide. Participation eligibility and rules can be found at www.thisisourtimemovie.com.

Website:  http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4565# 

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmjQe2onm6s

About Pure Flix 

Pure Flix- Pure Flix is a Christian movie studio that produces, distributes, and acquires Christ-centered movies for the sole purpose of changing our culture for Christ, one heart at a time. Our mission since day one has remained the same and we continue to strive to make a difference for His name. Learn more at www.pureflix.com

Giveaway

Please leave a comment with whatever you want to tell me . . . about you, your family, what you're hearing from God, what you are praying for but don't have an answer to yet, or anything else (family friendly, of course). Please include your email address, so that I have a way to contact you if you win. One entry per person, please. This giveaway is open to anyone, including international readers! Giveaway will close at 11:59pm (ET) April 30, 2013. Winner will be chosen by random.org.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Knowledge Quest - Sacagawea {Review}

I was recently given the opportunity to review a product for Knowledge Quest, which is a family-owned business run by the Todd and Terri Johnson Family (see below). 

Knowledge Quest offers many products for the homeschooling family, specializing in history and geography curricula. They also now offer a Homeschooling ABC's for new home school parents and a Upper Level Homeschool Mini-Course, the latter of which I plan to check out soon. Included in their history offerings, is an ebook titled Sacagawea (Brave Explorers Every Child Should Know) by Karla Atkins.

Sacagawea (Brave Explorers Every Child Should Know) is a living book, which we love at our house, and is an "interactive historical novel". Since being back in the States, we have been focusing on American history and this was a perfect book to go along with our studies. Sacagawea is a beloved, but what I would call a mysterious character in American history, at least in my mind. This book gave a much clearer picture of her life, her struggles, her strengths and the role she played in the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Corps of Discovery. 

The story was easy to read and very interesting. We all looked forward to our reading time every day at lunch, when I read this aloud to all five of my children, ages 16 down to 6. One fascinating aspect of this ebook is that it included interactive links within the story. We could click on the links to learn more about the characters, the places, the animals, the foods, etc. which were mentioned. The story alone is worth reading, but the links added even more depth to our study of Sacagawea and the role she played in our nation's history.

You can buy the complete set of Sacagawea ebooks on Amazon for $4.97, or each ebook individually (prices range from $0.99 to $1.49). The complete 16 chapter book is worth more than the $4.97, in my opinion, so I consider that a bargain.

To read more reviews on this product or on the Knowledge Quest TimelineBuilder iPad App, click the banner below.

A New Strategy - The Journey To Transformation

For 15 years George Otis, Jr. and the Sentinel Group have researched stories of transforming revival from around the globe from both a biblical and historical perspective.  These are amazing stories of where the Lord’s presence comes and not only changes lives but impacts the social fiber, the government and even the ecology itself.  For example,

·         Almolonga, Guatemala – Jails closed because crime has decreased; carrots the size of a person’s arm are being harvested.

·         Cali, Colombia – The world’s largest drug cartel is dismantled through the prayers and fasting of the church of Jesus Christ; in restaurants, press boxes and newsrooms, residents are hungry to talk about God stories . . .  they can’t get enough.

·         Fiji -  Villages repenting of idolatry and darkness invite the Lord’s presence to come down and heal relationships and the land.  Once dead coral reefs suddenly spring back to life, and fish that have been gone because of the oppressive weight of sin on the environment return in abundance.

There are 800+ stories like these that the Sentinel Group has documented.  The curious observation is that only 2 communities are recognized in North America.

So we at IFA want to humbly ask the question, “Lord, if there,  then why not here?  Would You come to our community?”

George’s research has discovered predictable patterns and principles that make communities attractive to a touch from heaven.  In fact, in Scripture we are invited to seek the Lord and ask Him to come down . . . but on His terms . . . 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Two weeks ago we started training 16 coaches from across the U.S. to walk with communities through a “Journey to Transformation” by learning the biblical, current and historical findings that the Sentinel Group has compiled through the years.  We believe that there are friends gathering around the country who are longing for this transforming revival to touch their own neighborhood.  These current day experiences are grounded not only in biblical hope but present, life-giving reality. 

My role as a coach is to come alongside community leaders in 25 states to help cast vision, teach and prepare for this kind of spiritual awakening.  This is humbling and awe-inspiring for me personally.  I have experienced some similar miraculous stories and heavenly invasions both in North America and internationally, but I have never lived in a community where the pervasive presence of the Lord is so tangible.  We are walking and preparing with friends here in northern Virginia for this kind of spiritual awakening.  We believe this grass-roots strategy is the Lord’s heart to help bring some healing to our fractured, imploding nation.

To find out more about the Journey to Transformation, go to

http://www.transformingamericathroughprayer.com/

Thanks for your continued prayers and partnership.

Bob Royce

Mobilization Coordinator

Intercessors for America

PO Box 915

Purcellville, VA 20134

800-USA-PRAY

540-317-2097 Direct

GetAmericaPraying.com

Brigadier General and Financial Appeal

Friends,

This week I had the privilege of meeting one-on-one with a decorated Brigadier General (Ret.) here in the nation’s capital.  For an hour and a half, I listened intently to his wartime experiences, his coming to faith in Jesus Christ, and his perspective on what is happening in our nation politically, socially, spiritually, economically.  His wisdom on having lived in DC for 30+ years is a valuable resource to me on how the culture operates here in the area.

I shared my heart for spiritual awakening and revival for our nation.  He frankly disclosed his observation, “Bob, if you have faith for it, I will hang on with you, but I really don’t see it.”  He did confess that we are way past the point of trying to fix this ourselves and only an invasive touch from heaven can bring what we need.

He prayed Numbers 6 for me and our family as we closed our time together.  What a gift.

From a fiscal perspective, first, I want to say thank you to our donors for your generous and sacrificial giving in 2012.  Through both one-time and monthly donations, you helped to literally lay the financial foundation for us to live and work here.  

Here are a few stats I want to share:

2012 Giving

45 U.S. Donors

12 Canadian Donors

 2 Organizations

Second, we are behind in financial support for 2013.  We are appealing this month and beyond to build on what has been started.  You can help in three ways: 

1.       Pray for financial breakthrough for us to continue to move forward.

2.       Connect me with others who might be interested in joining our support team.

3.       Make a donation today by clicking on Field Staff Support below.  We need a significant boost by Wednesday, March 27:

https://www.ifapray.org/donations.php (Click on Field Staff Support and then my name.)

Thank you for partnering with us!

With deep gratitude,

Bob

Bob Royce

Mobilization Coordinator

Intercessors for America

PO Box 915

Purcellville, VA 20134

800-USA-PRAY

540-317-2097 Direct

GetAmericaPraying.com

Why Not Here?

Friends,

In my last update I briefly shared about a time of repentance on Inauguration Day here in DC, and the sobering, passionate message by Jonathan Cahn inviting us as a nation to look at what is happening in our country and seek the Lord in fasting, humility and brokenness.

Now, I want to share with you a story of hope from Thailand that started in 1996 when people across that nation started doing what the Lord is inviting us to do here in America.

“Imagine a school where children are more eager to enter into the worship of the Lord than to play on the playground. Where revival is led by four-year-old children who rise at 4 a.m. to pray and meet with their Lord. Where the land is producing an increased harvest, and new species of fish are appearing. This is no fantasy story, but the reality of what God is doing today in the Omkoi Province of Northern Thailand. The story of God’s work of transformation in Omkoi is a story of persistence, sacrifice, and committed leadership.”

Click here to read the full article from The Sentinel Group:

http://sentinel.ctvportal.com/Home/TransformationInOmkoiThailand/tabid/2608/Default.aspx

If there…then why not here?

I believe the Lord is eager to do similar things here in our country…community by community.  We at IFA are putting some things in place right now with The Sentinel Group to start coming alongside and walking with friends who want to seek the Lord for His invasive, transforming, loving Presence in their town.  More details to come in the next several weeks.

In the meantime, thank you for your prayers and financial partnership.  I need your help to continue casting vision, travelling and consulting across the country.  To join with us, please click Field Staff Support below.  We need your help.

https://www.ifapray.org/donations.php

What will it look like in your community when the Lord comes with healing in His wings?  Let’s find out together.

Thanks so much.

Bob

Bob Royce

Mobilization Coordinator

Intercessors for America

PO Box 915

Purcellville, VA 20134

800-USA-PRAY

540-317-2097 Direct

GetAmericaPraying.com

A Thankful Heart

I have been intending to sit down to write a thankful post from the past week. All seven of us share a laptop so I am grabbing the opportunity now before someone needs it for school!

My mom and uncle drove up from Texas and spent a few days with us. Mom got sick before they came and didn't feel well the entire time they were here, so that was a bummer. But I was thrilled to have them here again and so very thankful that they made the very long drive. And the reason they drove was that they were bringing a wonderful gift.

Mom had recently had trouble with her car and after a time of researching vehicles, bought a new one. I knew that she had found someone to put a new motor in her old vehicle and just assumed that she traded it in on the new one. But at Christmas she said she wanted to give us her old vehicle, now that it was repaired and in good working condition. What a surprise!

So she and Gerald made the long journey to bring us our second vehicle (which we actually bought from her). It's been ten years since we've had two cars. We did not need two vehicles in Canada due to living in a very pedestrian-oriented community. There were only a few times when we had to rent a second car, in the event that we needed to have more people riding with us than just our family of seven.

Of course, that has changed being back in the States and in a non-pedestrian culture. It's kind of sad for us in a way and one of the biggest adjustments, but we are adapting and it has been part of the journey and adventure to try to make one vehicle work. Bob and I have been having 10 "mini dates" every week whenever I drove him to and from work. I have enjoyed listening to several audio books as I taxi him and everyone else to their necessary destinations.

It has been an adjustment (although this one won't take too long, I think) to realize I don't have to run him to work in the mornings or be ready to go and get him in the evenings. What a great freedom having a second vehicle is giving us.

Thank you to Uncle Gerald for giving up your time and making the effort to do all the driving on the way up. And thank you to Mom for your continuous generosity and sharing. I am thankful, thankful, thankful!!! xo 

And thank you, Father, for Your provision and continual love and blessings in our lives. I am amazed, once again.

Balancing Grief and Gratitude

I haven't been able to bring myself to write anything or blog in the past five days. I have been weeping and weeping with those in Newtown, Connecticut who are weeping. I am just so heartbroken for each family. And then this morning there was the story of the one child who survived the attack because she had the wherewithal to pretend she was dead. Oh, mercy. And the faces. The fresh, sweet, innocent, smiling faces. I just don't have it in me right now to say much. I have been spending more time with my children (yes, I'm home with them already, but you know, really being with them). We've played games and baked and watched movies and read books. We were going to do all those things anyway, but it's been in a different atmosphere than I had planned.

So, I am still weeping and thinking of those precious people who are starting to hold the funerals for their loved ones. I am praying and speaking the peace and comfort of Jesus over each one. I can't, maybe it's won't, get back to life as usual quite yet. I refuse because there is no "normal" for them anymore. Their new normal won't come for awhile. It will come. God has a plan to bring good out of this tragedy. He always has a plan, even in the midst of evil. I don't believe He "called" those children home, in the sense that He planned for or wanted them to be murdered on Friday, but I know that He loves each one and welcomed them into heaven. But I will not go on with business as usual out of honour and respect to the town in Connecticut that is still reeling from Friday's atrocities.

God is blessing me in so many ways right now. It feels like such a dichotomy...the grief and the gratitude. I'm just giving it all back to Him. He can handle it all.

Have you seen this yet? It's a beautiful song (I've always liked CeeLo). The gritty imagery just seems fitting...

 

American History - Cool Video

Since we're back in the States, we've been concentrating a great deal on American history this year. When I showed my children this video in order to learn the state capitals, well, I saw quite a bit of eye-rolling...



I can't really blame them, can I?


Thanks to a tweet by Molly last week, I found a more interesting and more modern state capitals song. I think this one will go over much better! Very cool!!!



Kudos to Marbles The Brain Store for this much more relate-able (ooh, is that a word???) lesson in learning the state capitals!  It's a hit!

Thanksgiving Favourites

Happy Thanksgiving week!

I wanted to share a few of our favourite Thanksgiving books for the upcoming week. My little girls and I have already started "rowing" our Five In A Row book (with several big kids listening in and remembering years past). They are so excited to make Cranberry Bread in the next few days!

Others that we are perusing, most of which are coming from the library...

The Thanksgiving Story

N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims

A Holiday Book: Thanksgiving

Squanto, Friend Of The Pilgrims (Scholastic Biography)

I hope those of you who are fellow Americans have a blessed week celebrating our Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends!