// May 29th, 2011 // No Comments » // Loux Family News
A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl.
Stephan Hoeller
// May 28th, 2011 // 8 Comments » // Loux Family News
Our Telma, working with orphans in Rwanda
Our beautiful daughter Telma was 11 when she came into our lives. She is now 20 and is a vibrant, compassionate young lady, filled with the love of Jesus and moved to make a difference on behalf of the orphan. Recently, Telma shared her story in a published article for Orphan Justice Center, the organization that Derek and I founded together several years ago. I’d like to share her story with you because it’s a reminder of what God’s redemption looks like.
My Story: By Telma Loux
My biological father left after getting my mother pregnant. I was born with severe scoliosis, having a 115 degree curvature of my spine. My mother couldn’t handle the stress of taking care of me. After being passed around to several different people who provided shelter, but were not able to care for a child, I ended up doing whatever it took to survive. Alone and unprotected, I learned how to fight on the streets. Looking back, it is hard to believe the situations I was in, as I defended myself and searched desperately for food.
The one room house I lived in was often used as a place for people to have sex. I would get paid a soda or a bag of chips to be a lookout while various sex acts were taking place right in front of me.
One day, I met twin girls that told me about this missionary guy named Derek Loux, who had really cool hair and was leading worship in my own language. I felt compelled to go hear him. As I sat with his wife Renee’, and their family, I found out that they were planning on adopting the twins. To the majority of the Marshallese children, all Americans are rich movie stars and I wanted to be adopted too. Two days later before the sun came up, I knocked on the door of the apartment they were staying in and asked if I could play with the twins. Not only did I get to play, but Renee’ welcomed me into their apartment the whole week they were there. When they had to leave the island, I was devastated. Renee’ held my face and wiped my tears promising me that she would find me the help I needed. I didn’t really think it would happen but Renee’ kept her promise. Six months later, I was part of Derek and Renee’s family. The missionary guy with the cool hair and the beautiful mom were now my very own parents.
It took awhile for me to realize that I did not have to be in charge of me anymore; there was actually a family that wanted to take care of me. It took a little bit before I felt free to be me, free to hope for my future, free to feel loved, secure, and blessed. There are so many kids that live on the streets in the Marshall Islands, but God knew me and rescued me through two very loving and Christ like people.
When I was adopted by Derek and Renee, I began to experience what it was to be loved, cherished, and valued. In the past few years, God has given me a greater revelation about who He is, as my friend and my Father. God allowed me to experience His amazing love as a daughter and feel the joy of being loved!
Telma, with her new little brother Judah Justice, who we added to our family one year ago
// May 26th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Loux Family News
Our sweet Leeann in the Marshall Islands, just shortly before she became our daughter
As many of you may remember, Leeann became a part of our family just two and 1/2 years ago. We have been so blessed to have her in our lives. When Leeann first came to us, she was incredibly fearful and was struggling with many things that were very normal for one who had been through the trauma she had experienced.
Leeann has gone through so much healing and is beginning to really grasp more understanding of how much God really loves and values her. This new revelation has brought much freedom and wholeness to many areas of her heart that were so broken and hurting. Leeann loves to share her testimony with others and gets so excited when she talks about all God has done and is continuing to do in her heart.
Leeann has given many different invitations to be a part of programs and internships that are taking place this Summer. As she prayed about what to get involved with, she felt a real tug on her heart to be part of a 2 month training and outreach program called, “STEALTH.” This training will begin here in Kansas City, ending up with an outreach to Europe. The training focus’ on discovering God’s original design in your identity, understanding the Father Heart of God, hearing his voice and sharing his love. Leeann will also be taking part in tracks that will help develop her musical abilities, as well as training in her cultural dances and sports. This is an accredited program with the University of the Nations, College of the Arts and Sports.
Paulo and June Mataia are the leaders of this program and have served internationally with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) for 25+ years. Both have served on the YWAM Kona, Hawaii base through the College of the Arts and more. They have run many schools, seminars & workshops all having to do with use of Arts & Culture to advance the Kingdom of God.
Leeann is raising support right now to cover the cost of the training and outreach. She will need $875. by Monday, May 30th. This will cover the cost of the first 5 weeks of training. The cost of the outreach to Europe will be $2750. and will cover airfare, ground transport, food and housing.
Leeann has sent out some support letters but we wanted to highlight her needs in this post and ask if any of you would like to consider sowing into Leeann’s life by partnering with her in this exciting opportunity? If so, please contact me at reneeloux@orphanjusticecenter.com, or you may mail your gift (payable to Renee’ Loux, with “Leeann” written in the memo of your check) to Renee’ Loux, PO. Box 47, Grandview MO 64030.
We are very aware than many of you get multiple requests from friends or family, asking you to sow into missions trips, internships, adoptions and other exciting opportunities that they’ve been given. Please know that we are humbled and so appreciative by those of you who have so graciously extended yourselves and your resources to help make it possible for our children to take part in opportunities they have been given. Thank you!
We would so appreciate your prayers for our precious daughter as she continues ahead in her pursuit of Christ and all he has for her life during this important time.
Thank you again for considering this need.
Much love!
Renee’ and tribe
// May 23rd, 2011 // 15 Comments » // Loux Family News
Our daughter Teyolla with her fiance' Shawn Crow
Our daughter Keyolla with her fiance' Eric Crow
1 Corinthians. 13:4-13
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
And now faith, hope, and love abide, but the greatest of these is love.
We are so excited to announce the wedding of our twin daughters Teyolla and Keyolla to twin brothers, Eric Crow and Shawn Crow! They will be having a double wedding on July 2nd, 2011. We would so appreciate your prayers and support on this very special day.
Much love,
Renee’ and tribe
// May 17th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Loux Family News
(Photo of our Sasha and Sophia, courtesy of Shelley Paulson at www.shelleypaulson.com)
David wrote in Psalm 39:4-7
4 “Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.
6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.
We should live our short todays in light of what A.W. Tozer called “the long tomorrow.”
Randy Alcorn says in his book called, “If God is Good,” We can deny death, but we can’t avoid it. Wise people live in light of death’s certainty. The last thing people want to think about is the last thing they’ll do: die.
In the oldest Psalm (90;10,12) Moses wrote, “The length of our days is seventy years-or eighty, if we have the strength, yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away….Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Randy Alcorn goes on to say, Christians get two opportunities to live on Earth. This first one begins and ends. It is but a dot. The second opportunity will be an infinite line, extending on forever. We all live in the dot. If we’re wise, we’ll live for the line. “In keeping with God’s promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).
Two things stand between where we live now and that amazing world where we’ll live forever; death and resurrection. If we never died, we’d never be resurrected. We’d never enjoy eternity with Jesus. So, while death is an enemy and part of sin’s curse, because of Christ’s death and resurrection, it’s the dark passage through which we enter the brilliance of never ending life.
My family’s grief is very real and very deep and yet I have to say this for sure. Knowing Jesus transforms it and gives me hope. I think of the loss of Job’s ten children (Job 1:20; 2:13). It says in the Word that Job grieved unbearably at his loss. Mine and Derek’s precious firstborn son, Josiah Samuel died when he was 2 and 1/2, after a long period of extreme suffering. Our grief drove us to our knees and in the middle of that, Jesus produced more of himself in us. My amazing father, Sam Sasser, had gone to be with Jesus only 9 months before Josiah. I had never dreamed that 16 years after my father and son’s death, I would be burying my precious husband Derek as well.
In a portion of an article written by Paul David Tripp, he says this:
The experience of loss is powerful. The circumstances around death are individual and unique. It is normal to feel as if no one has been through what you now experience. People surround you, yet you feel like you are all by yourself. Feelings of separation and alienation accompany grief.
Yet the sadness of losing a loved one is a universal experience. A company of mourners surrounds you. Their lives have also been touched by the pain of death. Yet there is an even more powerful way in which you are not alone. Your Savior has taken the name Emmanuel, or “God with us.” This name reminds us that, as you came to Christ, you literally became the place where God dwells. You have a powerful Brother, Savior, and Friend who not only stands beside you, but resides within you. That hope will help you make it through your pain.
Psalm 88 says, “You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend” (v.18). Psalm 88 begins and ends in darkness and isolation. Where is hope in the hopeless cry of this psalm? Psalm 88 gives us hope in our grief precisely because it has no hope in it! It means that God understands the darkness we face. He is right there in it with us, “an ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). The Lord of light is your friend in darkness. The Lord of life stands beside you in death. The Lord of hope is your companion in your despair. The Prince of Peace supports you when no peace can be found. The God of all comfort waits faithfully near you. The Source of all joy is close by when death has robbed you of joy.
There are some of you who might be in a place where you are confused or even angry with God. You want to complain about his sovereignty. It is an act of faith to bring that complaint to him in the pattern of these psalms. Your faith in God should never silence you in the dark hours of your grief. Instead, this is when we begin to understand how deep, rich, and sturdy God’s love for us really is. He will not turn away from your questions or be surprised by your grief. He will not be repulsed by your anger or turn his back on your pain. He understands the darkest moments of human existence and enters them with boundless mercy, unending love, and amazing grace.
Those of us who grieve seek comfort. But where do we find it? The Bible reminds us that all true comfort has its source in the Lord (2 Cor. 1:3-4) In grief, we often seek out other comforts: memories, material things, distractions (TV, CD player, exercise, reading, crafts work, food, people). They all provide some measure of comfort but none can fill the one place where grief causes us to feel so empty – our hearts.
Only one Person can provide the comfort that restores your heart – the source of all true comfort, Jesus Christ. He knows your pain. He went through death himself. He is able to touch you where you most need to be touched, in your heart. In all the things you do to get yourself through the shock and grief of loss, don’t forget to run to the one place where true comfort can be found. He will always hear. He is committed to comfort you and to love you through your pain.
Lean into Jesus, remember that he is a righteous God and he loves you and will never abandon you in your time of sorrow. I pray that you are blessed in the knowledge of that today!
Blessings and hugs to each of you!
// May 12th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Loux Family News
A couple nights ago, I was thinking about how blessed I am to have so many of you precious ones in my life. Some of you I know personally and others I’ve only met through emails and facebook, yet my heart is so thankful for you…for your prayers and your encouraging words of love. I am so blessed that in the midst of your own trials and hardships, many of you have remembered us in your prayers. Thank you more than words can express for your support and your love. I wrote the post below on my facebook page two nights ago and I wanted to share this with you as a reminder that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Jesus is with you every moment of every day and his plans for you are greater than you could even begin to comprehend.
1 Cor. 2:9: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
What is your heart hoping for today? Whatever it is, keep hoping and keep trusting because Jesus cares and you are not alone!
You are NOT alone! You have been bought with a price.
You have not been forgotten on a back shelf somewhere.
You are precious in God’s sight. His eyes are always upon
you. You are priceless to Him. When he looks at you, it’s
with eyes of love, not condemnation or disappointment.
God is with you, for you, behind you, and ahead of you.
And even if you lose your way for a bit.. even if you grow
weary…even if you don’t know which direction to go at times,
His purposes will prevail. Take that step, child of courage,
and know that love goes with you all the way. Be wrapped
in a blanket of His most precious love tonight and remember
that each of you has been created for a beautiful purpose.
His plans for you are so much bigger than you could even
begin to dream for yourself. Let go of the fear…come out of the
shadows and into the light of His love!
(Photo of our precious Michaela courtesy of Shelley Paulson at shelleypaulson.com)
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