This Christmas, our family is trying to be intentional about Christmas. We are trying to focus more on Christ and less on us. We are trying not to shop, shop, shop til we drop. We are incorporating Matthew West's book and song Give This Christmas Away and looking for ways to give of our resources and our time and our love. A lot of them are simple...pack a shoebox, hold the door for someone, give the waiter/waitress a very big tip just because, buy a cup of coffee for a stranger, smile, and the list goes on and on.
I found this video intriguing and convicting all at the same time. If you're reading this and I'm on your Christmas list, cross my name off. Give the money away to someone in need--someone who needs clean water or a warm blanket or a month's worth of food. I'm serious. We are blessed abundantly and we need more Jesus and less stuff!
Go to Advent Conspiracy for more information.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Found!!!
Well, the pictures were found. They were right where I looked several times the night before, but I guess God needed to teach me a lesson before I could realize that they were in the stack that I looked through several times.
Something else is lost....FINALLY!!! He's 8 years old and this is the first one to come out. A big thanks to the apple in his lunch for the assistance in making this finally happen!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Lost
Stephen lost one shoe, not both, just one. We tore several rooms in the house apart looking for the shoe. I looked under furniture, on top of furniture, in bathroom cabinets, in drawers...everywhere I could think to look. So, it was missing for several days. It drove me crazy. I can't stand for something to be lost. I offered a $5 reward to the finder of the shoe. I thought if somebody had hid it, they would fess up.
Last night, I found the shoe. It was wedged between Matthew's headboard and the wall. Not sure how it got there, not sure I want to know. I was so excited!
Then I went looking for some pictures we had made last fall. I wanted to put them in the frame that I finally bought. I knew where they used to be, but they aren't there now. I tore the office apart last night and looked for over an hour for those crazy pictures. Derek joined in the search because he saw a frustrated and frantic wife. I finally called it a night and went to bed. I woke up every hour (seriously)! I don't know why I woke up, but every time I did I would think about those pictures and wonder where they could be. I woke up this morning thinking about those pictures. It's driving me bananas.
And then the conviction came, the Lord spoke in my spirit and said, "How do you think I feel about those that are lost and need a Savior? Don't you think I'm always looking for just one more person to give them a clue--to point them to Christ? You're concerned about some pictures that have no eternal value, but I'm concerned about those lost souls all around you?"
The Lord loves the lost more than I love the pictures. I'm convicted, I'll admit it. I miss opportunities each week to touch the life of someone hurting or someone lost because I'm frantically involved in things that really just don't matter. I need some priorities that line up with God's heart.
I'll look for those opportunities this week to encourage the hurting or share the gospel with the lost, still hoping though that what once was lost will be found---pictures and peoples souls!!
Last night, I found the shoe. It was wedged between Matthew's headboard and the wall. Not sure how it got there, not sure I want to know. I was so excited!
Then I went looking for some pictures we had made last fall. I wanted to put them in the frame that I finally bought. I knew where they used to be, but they aren't there now. I tore the office apart last night and looked for over an hour for those crazy pictures. Derek joined in the search because he saw a frustrated and frantic wife. I finally called it a night and went to bed. I woke up every hour (seriously)! I don't know why I woke up, but every time I did I would think about those pictures and wonder where they could be. I woke up this morning thinking about those pictures. It's driving me bananas.
And then the conviction came, the Lord spoke in my spirit and said, "How do you think I feel about those that are lost and need a Savior? Don't you think I'm always looking for just one more person to give them a clue--to point them to Christ? You're concerned about some pictures that have no eternal value, but I'm concerned about those lost souls all around you?"
The Lord loves the lost more than I love the pictures. I'm convicted, I'll admit it. I miss opportunities each week to touch the life of someone hurting or someone lost because I'm frantically involved in things that really just don't matter. I need some priorities that line up with God's heart.
I'll look for those opportunities this week to encourage the hurting or share the gospel with the lost, still hoping though that what once was lost will be found---pictures and peoples souls!!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Bent
God's been telling me something lately...we all have a bent. Some have a bent towards numbers, some might have a bent towards books, some have a bent towards people, but we all have one. It's God given.
Max Lucado talks about this in his book, The Cure for the Common Life -- Living in your Sweet Spot. My sweet spot is not anyone else's. God intended it just for me. He also talks about our children and how they have a bent and to be quite honest, I haven't always liked the bent one of my children has, but there's no denying that it's God given. We are complete opposites -- this child of mine and me. Sometimes I wonder if God just wasn't playing a big joke on both of us. Let's see if these two can get along! I drive him crazy and he drives me crazy. But I know that God is going to use his bent and it's our job to help develop and refine it.
This pastor talks about knowing your child's bent on his blog. It's a good little read reminding us..."don't try to make your child into something they're not". I need that reminder daily because the two of us are like sandpaper rubbing each other smooth. But maybe that's been God's plan all along to refine both of us into a better image of Christ.
Max Lucado talks about this in his book, The Cure for the Common Life -- Living in your Sweet Spot. My sweet spot is not anyone else's. God intended it just for me. He also talks about our children and how they have a bent and to be quite honest, I haven't always liked the bent one of my children has, but there's no denying that it's God given. We are complete opposites -- this child of mine and me. Sometimes I wonder if God just wasn't playing a big joke on both of us. Let's see if these two can get along! I drive him crazy and he drives me crazy. But I know that God is going to use his bent and it's our job to help develop and refine it.
This pastor talks about knowing your child's bent on his blog. It's a good little read reminding us..."don't try to make your child into something they're not". I need that reminder daily because the two of us are like sandpaper rubbing each other smooth. But maybe that's been God's plan all along to refine both of us into a better image of Christ.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
How Many?
Too many.
Too many what?
Orphans. There are over 140 million across the world. Today is Orphan Sunday. Several of us sported our baseball 147 Million Orphan tees. You can buy one here . Part of the proceeds go to feed children in Uganda.
My Matthew (8 yrs. old) told me that my shirt should say 147 Million plus one. He was being funny, but I want it to say 147 Million minus one or minus two or minus five hundred.
I hope our church explodes with hearts that decide to rise up and care for the orphans...not just feed them, not just visit them, but make them part of our forever families.
If you want to know about orphan awareness, you can go to this site.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Proverbs 31:8
Too many what?
Orphans. There are over 140 million across the world. Today is Orphan Sunday. Several of us sported our baseball 147 Million Orphan tees. You can buy one here . Part of the proceeds go to feed children in Uganda.
My Matthew (8 yrs. old) told me that my shirt should say 147 Million plus one. He was being funny, but I want it to say 147 Million minus one or minus two or minus five hundred.
I hope our church explodes with hearts that decide to rise up and care for the orphans...not just feed them, not just visit them, but make them part of our forever families.
If you want to know about orphan awareness, you can go to this site.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Proverbs 31:8
Friday, November 6, 2009
Seven Dollars
$7 can do a lot in Africa.
What is $7 to me?
Two trips to Chick-Fil-A
Two trips to Starbucks
7 trips to McDonald's for an unsweet tea
Less than the change I probably collect in a month
One trip to Pancho's Mexican Restaurant (my favorite)
Very little clothing is $7 or less, but you get the point
So, I joined Mocha Club. $7 in Africa feeds one person for a month, educates 2 children for one school term, saves on person's life from malaria, and provides clean water to 7 Africans for one year.
What is $7 to you? Maybe this is something simple you can do to give away out of the abundance we have been given. I can do without any of those things listed above.
If you join the Mocha Club right now, you can get a free tshirt (I need Africa more than Africa needs me) and a free cd download. Click on the link below if you're interested in giving $7 a month to help a brother or sister in Africa.
He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done. Proverbs 19:17
http://mochaclub.org/joinme/tsclovingothers/14
What is $7 to me?
Two trips to Chick-Fil-A
Two trips to Starbucks
7 trips to McDonald's for an unsweet tea
Less than the change I probably collect in a month
One trip to Pancho's Mexican Restaurant (my favorite)
Very little clothing is $7 or less, but you get the point
So, I joined Mocha Club. $7 in Africa feeds one person for a month, educates 2 children for one school term, saves on person's life from malaria, and provides clean water to 7 Africans for one year.
What is $7 to you? Maybe this is something simple you can do to give away out of the abundance we have been given. I can do without any of those things listed above.
If you join the Mocha Club right now, you can get a free tshirt (I need Africa more than Africa needs me) and a free cd download. Click on the link below if you're interested in giving $7 a month to help a brother or sister in Africa.
He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done. Proverbs 19:17
http://mochaclub.org/joinme/tsclovingothers/14
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