The Car Show

Yesterday we spent the day at the car show with Hubby's parents and aunt and uncle.

A Love Letter

Last night, long after the kids had gone to sleep, I found this heart-shaped note taped to my bathroom mirror. It's from our oldest son, Little R, 7 years old.

It says,

"Dad I (heart) you

I dont now what

I wood do

with out you

your the Best

Mom I (heart) you

I dont now

what I

wood do with

out you

your the

Best

look at the

back..."

You can see through the paper the picture he drew of the three of us holding hands.

All Because She Asked

Last month Sweet Pea invited her friend across the street to go with her to my parents' church's Fall Festival (which is on the property behind our house). Hubby and I had been invited to a college football game that day so my parents had the kids. The little girl and and her mom came and while they were there, the little girl got saved.

The next Sunday (or maybe a week later) the mom and daughter visited their church and her mom got saved.

Yesterday the older brother got saved. Now we're just waiting to see if the dad comes with them. As far as we know he hasn't been to the church yet.

But isn't that exciting? Just because Sweet Pea asked a friend to a fall festival, a whole family (and maybe more) may come to know Jesus and the hope of Heaven!

Primary Ministry

For clarification of my last post, because no guilt trips were intended...

When I started having kids and retired from outside work, I had visions of volunteering at various ministries, giving my time and resources to help others. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to do that with nursing and napping babies (for 7 1/2 years I was either pregnant and/or nursing).

Every time we had a Missionsfest at church or a sermon on getting involved in a ministry at the church, I felt this great pull to do 'something' followed by guilt because I just couldn't figure out how.

Finally, I learned that I was doing 'something'. I am in the ministry of raising warriors for God's kingdom. My home is my primary ministry. There is a time for everything under heaven, and when I had newborns and toddlers to be ministered to, outside ministry had to wait.

I learned that making meals for sick friends or new moms was something I could do at home - with the kids.

Working in children's Sunday school classes when I was already at church was a way to minister without taking away from my primary ministry.

Saving change all year to give to a ministry like Wycliffe is something that can be done at home -with the kids. They helped decorate the empty oatmeal box, cut a hole in the lid, and sorted and counted up the change at the end.

They can also shop with me and pack up items for hygiene kits, Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes or pick out Gifts of Hope.

Now that the children are older I'm starting to explore outside ministries - with the kids. For example, they've memorized the Christmas story to recite and songs to sing at nursing homes this December.

I want them to experience giving in all forms. I'd love to hear what you're doing at home - with the kids - to love on others.

My point is, do not feel guilty for not doing more outside your home. This may not be the season for you. And don't compare yourself with what you see others doing. We're all gifted differently. But ask God to show you ways, in your everyday living, that you can minister to and love those you come in contact with - with the kids.

Happy Giving!

Relevancy and Love

The question was posed recently, "How can we be relevant to those around us?" Meaning: How can I relate to the lost in a way that draws them to the Savior?

Relevant means "having a bearing on or connection with."

It hit me a couple of days ago, as I was reading a friend's blog, that her husband is a picture of relevancy. Early every Monday morning he goes down to a homeless shelter and runs with the homeless men who sleep there. Every Thursday he and his family go downtown and feed, fellowship with and minister to the homeless that gather.

Jesus met physical needs as well as spiritual. My friend doesn't talk about what needs to be done, he does it. He doesn't just say he loves these lost, homeless men, he shows them. Action.

Which, of course, leads me to the greatest commandment of loving God and others.

We all hear that love is a decision. I used to think that meant you decide to feel love. On the contrary, what it means is despite how you feel, you choose to show love. You choose to be patient and kind whether you feel like it or not. You choose to not act irritable even if you feel irritable. Hard to do. Is it possible? How?

Galatians says the fruit of the Spirit is love. So it is possible but only because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

And showing, acting in love begins at home with the ones closest to us then extends to everyone we meet.

It's so appropriate that the world says in order to love others, you must first love yourself. This is one of the enemy's lies! We already love ourselves. Why else would Jesus tell us to love our neighbors as ourselves? As Reb Bradley says, even the person who says he hates himself can't stop thinking about himself. We have no trouble loving ourselves.

The truth is, in order to love others we have to understand and believe God's love for us. Then, we have to stop looking at how we can please ourselves and look for ways to love others. It's got to be a conscious effort to make a habit of looking to the interests of others - our spouses, children, grocery cashiers, homeless guys, families without food, everyone without Hope. Eventually it will be a way of life. And a way of life that pleases our Maker.

So, how can we be relevant and draw others to Christ? Love them in word and deed.

Really Celebrating Christmas

Check out this post at A Holy Experience.

After you watch the video be sure to scroll down and read how her family celebrates Jesus' birthday! A very interesting idea.

Sticks and Stones

Sticks and stones may break my bones

but words will never hurt me.

We've heard this a million times, right? But it's far from true. Words do hurt. Some so deeply the scars last a lifetime. Even after forgiveness is offered, we can't help but remember.

Sometimes words shape us, mold us into what we are today. It seems the ones who make the biggest impact on us are those closest to us - specifically family. There are few words from others that I remember. And even if I do, they didn't make me who I am today.

How will I affect my family? Do my words build them up as Ephesians 4:29 tells me?

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Do I speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15)? Or do I criticize?

Do I correct and discipline because it is in my children's best interests? Or because it is in my best interest or out of frustration? Or do I correct at all and instead ignore issues of the heart because it's too much work and I'm busy with something else?

What about my husband? Do I bring him good and not harm (Prov. 31:12)? Am I a suitable helper to him (Gen 2:18)? Suitable with my attitude and words as well as with my actions?

What about tone? What do I convey in my tone of voice - love and patience or aggravation and selfishness?

I have been hurt with words (mostly unintentionally) far worse than I've ever been hurt physically. I too have hurt others with my words. Which is what has shaped my view of the importance of teaching my children not to hurt others with their words.

Part of my action plan is teaching them to appreciate each others' differences. God made everyone with different personalities, temperaments, gifts, talents, abilities, likes and dislikes. And how creative He was! I point out how great it is that we are all so different and how boring it would be if we were all exactly alike.

I do not allow name-calling at all or allow them to criticize or make fun of each other.

Bad attitudes are not allowed to linger when an offense has occurred and been "worked through." Forgiveness is grudgeless.

I encourage them to build each other up with praise, encouragement, appreciation and kind
words.

I want to teach them to evaluate their words themselves. They can ask themselves if what they want to say is true, kind and necessary. If not, it's probably better left unsaid. If we all did this, how much better off would we be?

Which leads to the most important point...I have to lead by example. This is the hardest part. I fail, a lot. And so I apologize, a lot!

My children are way ahead of me in this area. I encourage you that the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience of addressing this issue in your home.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Help Others This Christmas - Updated Again (Due Mid December)

I got this email today from a friend with regards to helping others out this Christmas. I've edited it a bit just to give you the facts. Please let me know if you would like to help out.

I happen to know of a group of about 350 men who will be sleeping in a screened-in pavilion on a concrete floor on little mats for Christmas. They will have no family, no gifts, and no hope.

I have personally committed to the Coalition to come up with 350 hygiene kits. If you and your family can commit to make up a few (or a lot), please let me know. You can also put an encouraging letter in them if you want. You can be assured that I will personally make sure the pack finds a needy man this Christmas.

Help me give some hope this Christmas. And spread the word! If nobody else does it, I’ll have to get 350 on my own! But, I’d feel almost guilty to keep all those blessings to myself. ;-)

Here's what the hygiene kit should include: Take a gallon size Ziplock bag and fill with a toothbrush in a toothbrush holder, toothpaste, a pair of socks, a pair of underwear, a washcloth, deodorant, a small bottle of shampoo, a bar of soap, a razor, a comb and a small tube of hand lotion.

That doesn't sound too hard does it? This would be a great thing to do with the kids. And if you don't want to do the shopping, but would rather me shop for you, I can do that, too.

UPDATE:

I went shopping this morning for our kit supplies. The bags will average $7-10 each. Also, trial size toothpaste is the same price as some of the regular size tubes, so I opted for that. The toothbrush covers were 2/$.50 in the travel section of Walmart. They also sell washclothes in packs of 18/$3.96. Razors 12/$6. Combs were in a pack 8/$1.96. Equate toothbrushes 2/$1.

My sister is the deal finder. She found a toothbrush with holder and toothpaste in a travel pack at Target for 99 cents, and shampoo and conditioner for .30 cents at Big Lots.

She also had a suggestion that if you have extras of anything (like you made 5 bags but bought a 6 pack of combs) someone else could use those to finish their packs. So let me know if you want to do that.

"Woe to You, America" and "Father, Forgive Them"

These are two of many thoughts that keep running through my mind this morning: "Woe to you, America" and "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."

What I just don't get is those who claim to follow Christ "putting aside" their religion to give power to this man who thinks it is okay to slaughter unborn children. They allowed charisma and money to master their decision.

Sunday, in the church parking lot, I saw a car with 2 stickers. One said, "Vote Yes on 2" and the other "Obama". Are you kidding me?

What kind of faith is that, that you can set it aside like a jacket only to put it back on when it suits you? It's unbelievable to me.

Now, does this mean I doubt God's sovereignty in this election? Not in the least! My comfort today as I wrestle with the news I woke to this morning is that I can rest in the security of knowing it doesn't matter who is president, because God is King. He's all I need. He's all I want.

It does remind me, however, that sometimes, He gives us just what we ask for.