Love Mercy, A Mother & Daughter’s Journey from the American Dream to the Kingdom of God. written by Lisa Samson and Ty Samson

Product Description

In Love Mercy: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey from the American Dream to the Kingdom of God, having lived a life of plenty in suburban America, Lisa Samson and her eighteen-year-old daughter, Ty, thought they were traveling to Africa to minister to the people and chronicle the AIDS crisis devastating the continent. Their trip, they assumed, would be missional, merciful, giving. Instead, they experienced a life-changing, soul-rattling journey. As mother and daughter are confronted with incidents of child prostitution, preventable illness, poverty, oppression, abuse, and death so prevalent it leaves no time to mourn … their journey takes a decidedly different tack. Love Mercy confronts us directly with the AIDS crisis in Africa—in particular Swaziland, which has the highest AIDS rate in the world and where the average life expectancy is thirty-two years of age. Offering two unique perspectives, Lisa and Ty share the questions they encountered on their journey and tell the stories of those they met along the way—from the children themselves, to adult AIDS victims, to the compassionate mercy-givers who seek every day to alleviate their suffering. Smiles in a place of aching sadness. Mercy in a place of heart-wrenching poverty. Two people transformed by God in ways, and places, they never expected, discovering that even in a land riddled with heartache … Christ’s love and redemption are ablaze.
 
 
So I’ve been slowly reading through Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp, and I took a little sideline to finish Too Small to Ignore by Dr. Wess Stafford.  And then I was sent Lioness Arising by Lisa Bevere, after which I stumbled upon Love Mercy.

A theme of poverty, abuse and neglected children, AIDs devestation of the guilty and innocent alike slams right up against my own past, as an abused neglected daughter who grew up to be “one of those girls” until God took my hand and heart in his hands and began severe mercy surgery.

And here I am, now, a child of the Most High God, redeemed, forgiven, much loved wife of one and mother of many precious daughters.  And I want to know, how to make my life count?  And how to lead my daughters to this question.  Love Mercy caught my attention.

The subtitle of this book is what really caught my attention, A Mother & Daughter’s Journey from the American Dream to the Kingdom of God. That is what I want, to pursue the Kingdom of God, and to show my daughters the way.

While this story was written about Lisa and Ty Samson’s trip to Swaziland, Lisa takes the reader to the beginning of the story, the place where God began to make her uncomfortable and moved her family from their home, to the place HE chose for them.  Lisa and Ty are each honest about their desire to follow God, but the pain and struggle involved in giving up those things that get in the way.

The story of the journey in Swaziland is beautiful, heartbreaking, hope giving.  It is beautiful to read the perspective of mother, then daughter, side by side.  Different, yet the same.  Thrilling to read between the pages of the life the FATHER is breathing into them as they seek to find where HE is in these broken, seemingly hopeless places.

This story ends with such honesty.  I appreciate this most about this story, the honesty that bring comfort to me that I am not alone in these struggles to find God in the broken places, and then to find that the broken places are so big and vast, and I am so limited and small.

What a gift that this mother and daughter were able to go on this journey together, and that they were able to find the words and courage to share it with us.

linking up with Life as Mom

I don’t have any “before” pictures, just these “after” shots.

We have always had larger outside dogs, but Shiloh is a different story.  She’s small, snuggly and pretty much likes to hang with us.  Since moving back to the city we’ve noticed she looked kind of rough and shaggy so Builder suggested I take her in for a bath and grooming.  Now, I’ve never taken a dog to be groomed, and didn’t think it would make much of a difference!

What a funny surprise to have them walk out this shiny, pretty, pup, with a pink bow in her hair (she promptly rubbed her head on the ground and removed it)…and she smells “good” too!

Imagine all the coos and awws and “pretty dog” chatter that flew around the van on the way home!

Mae has an indoor herb garden.  She is studing Botany this school year, using Exploring Creation with Botany by Jeanne Fulbright.  This has fueled an intense interest in gardening, especially herb gardening.

During Christmas break Builder took Mae shopping and came home with great shelves, that sits in the south facing picture window, and a lot of herbs, plants, pots & dirt.  Builder also installed a light fixture and put it on a timer.  He is a wonderful dad!

Last week Mae started our Tomato, Celery and Bell Peppers. Exciting!  Garden plans are starting…

And Mae made fresh mint tea for my upset tummy (lactose intolerant people should really avoid ice cream, even if it is her daughter’s birthday and a stop by Cold Stone Creamery was part of the celebration).  The tea was delicious and we’ve made many more cups!

Last week March strolled in, sunny, warm, wonderful!  I remember many sunny warm starts to March, releasing us from the deep chill of winter with a good dose of Vitamin D.  A kind gift from the Maker of all seasons and weather.

to climb high,

swing high

and higher still

and even to balance your sister on your arm


counting the love gifts of our Father with the gratitude community #418-440




Tea with my girls, made by my girls
Lemon cookies
Chicks in the sunlight
Pink sky
In like a lamb.
Sunshine
Girls on the monkey bars, playing hand clap games.
Card love from a much loved fun Aunt Heather (would you say a prayer for my sis and her family?  Such challenging times are upon them)
Morning doves calling
Sunshine through all the windows
Daughters, Sisters who love much

2002.  There once was this sweet little lady…

and she grew!

and there are days…
when I realize just how fast the days, years are running by.  Petal Rose has a tender and adventurous spirit.  She’s faced challenges in learning, and we are so proud of her hard work and the way she has cheerfully faced those challenges.  This year Petal Rose has tried some new things and will be performing in the musical Mary Poppins this spring!  And she is thoroughly enjoying a Karate class.  We are delighted to see the sparkle in her eyes and that great big smile everyday as she continues to pursue life with cheer, tenderness and a sense of justice.

Last week we celebrated our Petal Rose as she turned 10.  With my younger two it is harder and harder to believe how old they are now.  When I look at their eyes, I still see those pudgy little faces…

but, in reality, their faces are thinning and maturing and here we are again…double digits!

Felicity is modeling the new apron sewn by Mae.

Daddy Builder took Petal Rose out for breakfast, and for a special purchase.  Petal Rose has requested a pocket knife for a couple of years.  She now has one.  I’ve been requested to pick up a block of wax soon, so she can start whittling/carving.

Can I tell you how much I adore that smile and love that girl?

After an afternoon of swimming & playing with her kindred spirit and good friend Rebekah, we had Builder’s wonderful fried chicken, mashed potates with gravy, asperagus and sliced cucumbers.  Petal Rose had requested that I make a High Rise Glorious Skittle Skat Roarious Sky Pie Angel Cake.

The very important writing in the sugar step.

We trimmed it with Freshly whipped Cream and Strawberries.  It was a very good, no bad, wonderful day.

When I look in the mirror I see…

Silver highlights that I once somewhat feared would be gray.  More laugh lines around my eyes than the frowns I used to wear.  A softness that most days has replaced the bitterness that lived in my heart and on my face.

In the mirror I am learning to see beauty, not as the world delcares, but as the fearfully and wonderfully, much loved daughter of the Creator, Most High God.

Occassionally when I look in the mirror, in the glaring overhead light I forget to see and instead only look at  the lines, the duller hair and the hair that now grows in the wrong places, the lack of beauty and walk away downhearted at my worldly unworthiness.

Thank God that He will take me back with quick reminders from the people around me.  The people He has placed in my life, that becuase of His love stilled in their hearts, only see the beauty.

Linking up with The Gypsy Mama