Flock to the Fair

A week ago I helped with an event, "Flock to the Fair" - a carnival/fair Geyer Springs Baptist Church hosted for foster kids and their families. I was assigned to man the rubber ducky pool and supervise simple games and hand out prizes. What a fun job! :) One girl almost tumbled into the kiddie pool, but other than that, fun was had by all! What kid doesn't like water and rubber ducks?! About 100 or so kids enjoyed the games, carnival rides and hot dogs on a beautiful Saturday morning.
As the kids would come up to my area, I couldn't help but wonder, "What's their story?" "What happened to splinter their natural family?" "Where's Mom?" Where's Dad?"

The children were as little as three years old up to teenagers. Some wore green wristbands, which meant they were eligible for adoption; others wore red wristbands, meaning they were not available for adoption. There were more green wristbands than red...

In Arkansas there are 500 children in the foster care system that are waiting to be adopted - that number shocks me. I don't know if God will lead us to be directly involved with foster children, but I do know He has called me to pray. So, as the little ones (and some bigger ones too) played the games at the rubber ducky pool, I silently prayed for God's blessing on them. For protection. For their foster family. For Dad. For Mom.

He knows their story.....

Changing Hearts

The "Weekend To Remember Getaway" season has come to an end until fall, but I thought I'd share some encouraging attendee testimonies from recent getaways this spring. Only the Lord can transform a heart. Only He can restore a marriage. So only HE should receive glory!

From New Orleans: "When we came to the conference we had been separated for 9 months, filed for divorce, and our divorce would've been final in Oct. '11. At the conference we learned how to include God in our life, be the woman I need to be and also the man K. needs to be. We learned what route to take to become a Godly family, become one as a couple, and ways to handle challenges life will throw at us."

From Niagara Falls: "We were on the path of divorce. Now that path is not an option. I love my wife and can forgive her." (21 people accepted Christ at this Getaway!)

From Tucson: "...We were at a crossroads as to which way our marriage was going to go - continue or split. At the end of the weekend we had a completely new perspective on our marriage and even reaffirmed our vows at the end of the weekend."

From Fresno: "My marriage was completely transformed...when we got here on Friday we were headed for divorce and now we are so different - just in the way we talk to each other...God is good!"

It's not too early to start thinking about attending a Getaway next fall! Go to FamilyLife. com for more info...

Choosing Gratitude

"Gratitude is a gauge of the heart." If that is the case, my gauge is somewhere between 1/2 to 1/4..... I'm reading "Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Nancy gave me her book almost 2 years ago, and honestly I didn't dive right into it because I thought,"I'm a thankful person - I have other things to work on, but I've got a handle on being thankful..." I know, I know....prideful. I'm learning that gratitude is really the root of worship. I love Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anthing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus," Prayer with a thankful heart offers peace, which extends far beyond what my mind can grasp! Simply saying "thank you Lord" puts an entirely different spin on a challenging situation. Or we can try it the way which comes naturally....to be unthankful. Bible teacher and author, Beth Moore describes the way most of the population live, by substituting the well know phrases from the verse above. Notice the polar opposites. "Do not be calm about anything, but in everything, by dwelling on it constantly and feeling picked on by God, with thoughts like, "And this is the thanks I get," present your aggravations to everyone you know but Him. And the acid in your stomach, which transcends all milk products, will cause you an ulcer, and the doctor bills will cause you a heart attack, and you will lose your mind." Giving thanks is a true indicator of our true heart condition. For me, it's time to see that gauge go up to "full"!

New Year's Resolutions 2011

A couple days ago I came across a piece of paper tucked in a pile of papers. I honestly don't know where I got this, but thought it was worth passing on and pondering...

God, You are everywhere. No matter where I am, You are here.
God, You are self-existent, no one made You.
God, You are huge. You hold the whole world in Your hands.
God, You are eternal, You have no beginning and no end.
God, You are all powerful, nothing can hinder of stop You.
God You are in control, You always get what You choose.
God, You are mysterious, no one can understand You.
God, You are creative, You imagined everything before You spoke it into place.
God, You are unchanging, everyone else changes.
God, You are better than everyone and everything in life.
God, You are enough, it is true whether it feels like it or not.
God, You are glorious, I can't imagine the impact it will have on me to see You someday.
God, You are faithful, everyone else will let me down.
God, You are unlimited, everyone else is limited.
God, You are forever, everyone else will die.
God, You are complete, everyone else is needy.
God, You are unchanging in nature, yet unpredictable in what You do.
God, You are more beautiful than everything You have created.
God, You are bigger than_____________.
God, You are better than_____________.
God, I choose You over______________. (what you love most)
God, I submit to You in______________. (a difficulty you are facing)
God, You can't be threatened, overwhelmed, thwarted, intimidated, manipulated, predicted, controlled or overcome.
You are God and You can do whatever You want with my life. Have Your way.

I'm not much for New Year's resolutions, but I thought the above "declaration" sums up what I want my attitude to reflect - to just fully acknowledge the Lord for who He is and worship Him and rest and trust Him whatever 2011 holds for us.

Thanksgiving 2010

Philippians 4:7 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done...
I find it easy to thank God for His grace, salvation, blessings, etc., but much harder to find a thankful heart during disappointments, frustrations, loss, and hardships. It's my human nature to be thankful when things are going my way. That sounds so juvenile. Yet, I am certain God is stretching me to be thankful "for all He has done."
Joni Ericson Tada says of her quadriplegia," It's a bruising of a blessing. A gift wrapped in black. It's the shadowy companion that walks with me daily, pulling and pushing me into the arms of my Savior. And that's where the joy is."
What perspective! To be able to embrace hardships, knowing there is purpose in moving closer to the Lord.
Thank you Lord, for new opportunities You've given me to lean closer to You this past year. You are good.

Strain & Strength

Exercise and me have never been friends. I don't like to sweat. I don't like sore muscles. I think running shoes are ugly. (Ok, maybe not ALL running shoes are ugly. I just got a new pair and they are kinda cute.) But I don't like my jiggle-ly thighs either...so despite my distaste for exercise, I know it's necessary. I've been ramping up my walking/running routine the last few weeks. No one will be impressed by my "ramping up", but for me it's a stretch (literally).

The other day I was reading Oswald Chambers: "God does not give us overcoming life; He gives us LIFE as we overcome. The strain is strength. If there is no strain, there is no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty and joy? He cannot unless you accept the strain."

I'm feeling the "strain" when I run....in difficult relationships...in my selfish tendencies...

But there is good that comes from it! Paul says in James 1:2-3, "Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

I've been listening to Fireflight when I run and I love the song "For Those Who Wait", especially these lines:

The pressure makes us stronger

The struggle makes us hunger

The hard lessons make the difference

And the difference makes it worth it.

I doubt if I'll ever like to run for miles and miles. I know myself well enough that I will not jump at the chance to suffer or be in a hard place. But if that's the "strain" that I need to be stronger in HIM, it's worth it.

Andrew Peterson: "Dancing in the Mine Fields"

Andrew Peterson is a wordsmith. A poet. A musician. We love his music! We anticipate another great offering with his upcoming release on July 27. I'm already hooked on this song about staying committed....especially when it's hard.

"it was harder than we dreamed, but I believe that's what the promise is for..."

"Dancing in the Mine Fields"

Father's Day

Of course I'm remembering my Dad today - my first Father's Day with him in heaven. Even though it's been 7 months, it's still kind of strange thinking that I can't call him or send him a card. For my 42 years Dad's always been there. In church today I got to thinking how many times does God use the word "father" to describe Himself? Many, many times. He uses other words to describe Himself, but today I'm pondering "Father". Since Dad's homegoing I'm viewing this fact of God as my Father in a new light.

"Father to the fatherless, defender of widows - this is God, whose dwelling is holy." Ps 68:5

Yes, I miss my Dad. There is a "missing" in my heart for him. But knowing he is in the same place as my Heavenly Father makes me smile.