LITTLE SISTERS

Overseas Little Sister: Just know you are being prayed for. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10. God is so in love with you. He is watching after you. His Spirit will guide you. The rest of us will love and support you!

At Home Little Sister: Can I tone it down for you? ABSOLUTELY! You are important to me. Please be gracious if I forget. Sometimes I do get swept up in the moment. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethern to dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1

IF I COULD, I WOULD...

I read Wally's post yesterday http://pittswork.blogspot.com/ and he pondered what would it look like if people used their talents, gifts, abilities, passions to direct their service to God rather than fitting people (sometimes despite their talents, gifts, abilities, and passions) into existing church programming? (My paraphrase, so please read Wally's post.) He really got me to thinking about a number of different things...some serious and some silly. Like, how could an expert hot air balloonist fit into the scheme of church programming? Personally, I would put that person's talents to use in the area of evangalism. Can you see it? Taking a person high, high up in a hot air balloon and then asking, "So, if you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity?" Couple that with a sudden descent and I am sure the conversion counter would be spinning. Now, I KNOW that wasn't Wally's point, but I sure had fun thinking along these lines for awhile!

Some areas of service are just necessary. Once, I helped clean the bathrooms at my church. Nothing that required much skill. But I learned so much from Paul Cullen, the pastor in charge of bathroom cleaning. He has the heart of a servant. He taught me about attitude and obedience.

Recently, someone close to me was asked the same question by two different leaders...what is your passion? One leader listened and then moved this person into a role that didn't fit, but was in an indirect way, connected to her passion. The other leader listened and then said, "It is our job as your church and my job as your pastor to help you develop ways to serve God in the area of your passion." Same question. Totally different responses. Guess which one has this person excited about serving God?

So, this brings me back to the question that Wally's post left me trying to answer....If I could do ANYTHING for the kingdom of God, what would it be?

GOTTA LAUGH SOMETIMES

Around the time my husband moved out, American troops were being sent into Iraq. I joined the many who tied yellow ribbons to trees and porches to show support for the troops. I also had a friend who had a son on the front lines, and I decided that every time I saw a yellow ribbon, I would pray for him, the troops, and the people of Iraq.

The first time my husband came to pick up our daughter, he spied all those yellow ribbons on the porch. When my daughter got in the car he said, "Tell your mom to take those down." He thought I had put up those ribbons because I was waiting for HIM to come home!

For months after that, every time we saw a yellow ribbon we would laugh and one of us would say, "Wow, those people miss your (my) dad!" It always cracked us up.

I am sure someone is horrified that we laughed about this. But there are so many things you cry about in a divorce that at some point...you just gotta laugh!

Please be praying for the divorce recovery group I am a part. For the old wounds, the fresh wounds, the lost dreams, and the broken hearts. Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Switch the flip"

and nooooo...I didn't say this one.

BOOK REVIEW

" 'For these nuns, the habit is a wearable sacramental with a supernatural character that cannot be replicated in secular clothing...The sighting of a nun in habit remains for most of us a notable event, because what the habit proclaims is something so countercultural and so radical, we cannot help but to react with awe and reverance or with suspicion and disdain.' (The Habit: A History of the Clothing of Catholic Nuns by Elizabeth Kuhns)

This is the kind of Praise Habit I wish to pursue...In our encounter with Christ we, too, have been laid down devastated by His grace. We have been covered by this grace. We have been taken from death to life by this grace. Our identity is changed. What was before this new beginning has vanished. We have been given new clothes. We have put on Christ. We are found dressed in His rescue, redemption, and righteousness and, aware of this rescue, we spew forth praise...To wear the rescue of Christ into every moment is for every moment to become alive with the possibilities of revelation. With the awareness of rescue, things unsuspected will begin to revelate redemption....

A nun does not get up each morning and go to the closet and think to herself, Hmmmm, I wonder what to wear today. The habit is what she wears. It is what covers her. It is what identifies her. Our condition is the same. Our habit is the Christ. He is what covers us. He is what identifies us. We wear Him into every moment, and when we live with this awareness, we PRAISE CHRIST." (excerpt pages 38, 39)

PRAISE HABIT: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi by David Crowder. Get it! Read it!

THE WOODSHED

Passage Ephesians 5:13-17:
13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

I am still broken from the woodshed experience I had this morning. Every single thing You pointed out to me, I had to say, "Yes. Guilty." I know You have forgiven me. I know You will provide me with whatever I need to change. I know You love me.

Magnificent Holy Father

I stand in awe of all I see

Of all the things You have created

But still You choose to think of me

Who am I that You should suffer

Your very life to set me free

The only thing that I can give You

Is the the life You gave me to me

This is my offering, dear Lord

This is my offering to You, God

And I will give You my life

For it's all I have to give

Because You gave Your life for me

I stand before You at this altar

So many have given You more

I may not have much I can offer

Yet what I have is truly Yours

This is my offering, dear Lord

This is my offering to You, God

And I will give You my life

for it's all I have to give

Because You gave Your life for me

*Offering by Third Day

ON C0MMITMENT

About the middle of my missional camping trip, I awoke thinking about commitment. The truth is, I am a horrible camper. The only reason I camp, is that I am committed to the people I love and camp with. I am committed to them, they like to camp, therefore I camp. But, they are also committed to me. A few of us usually convoy to our campgrounds making sure everyone arrives safely. Then as soon as I roll in, a few of the guys come over and set up our tent. If it rains, we get offers to stay in trailers and pop-ups, everyone checking to make sure we are ok. This trip, my tent was set up between raindrops because I insisted that I had to be in my own tent and not share quarters with anyone else. One of my brothers bought me a camp stove so I could actually try outdoor cooking. Others have paid for our campsites so we could go. So, I woke that one morning thanking God for how committed these folks are to us, how we wouldn't have these shared experiences if they weren't, and how amazed I am at the lenghths they will go to for us.

Ironically, one of the best things I learned about commitment was from my ex-husband. We were engaged, and he said, "Love is not a feeling, it is a commitment." That didn't sound right to me....love is a great feeling!...but the more I thought on it, the more I realized he was right. Feelings change. But a dedication to our commitment will provide a lasting and strong foundation to every relationship we have.

Since then, I have been thinking about the commitments I am making. Like deciding to buy books with a group of people. Or deciding to follow God's leading to join a pastor planting a new work. Or saying "I love you" for the first time to people who have been friends but are becoming something more.

My heart is overflowing with gratitude most of all, for the commitment that God makes to me. Through His Son, the Sacrifice...to have an omniscient, omnipotent, almighty Creator say to me....Want to know how much I am committed to you?

LOVE LETTER

My Dear and Precious Lord,

I just want to say that I love You.

Throughout my day, You fill my thoughts. Whether I am working or goofing off, busy or still, You are there...with me. In my disappointments, my fears, my sadness I run to You and hide in Your Word.

In my excitment and happiness and joys I bend my knee to You because I know You are the Provider of every blessing I receive. How grateful I am that You have called me to Your family.

You are Goodness. You are Mercy. You are Justice. You are Truth. You are Joy. You are Hope. You are Beauty. You are my King and Creator.

I love You. I need You. I want You. You are mine and I am Yours.

I can't say it enough...I love You. I love You. I love You!

MISSIONAL CAMPING

GOALS FOR MY WEEK OF MISSIONAL CAMPING:

1. Sleep in every single day.
2. Finish Luther's Commentary on Romans.
3. Have Darryl's blueberry pancakes for breakfast.
4. Hang out w/ my friends.
5. Take naps.....many....daily.
6. Finish Stetzer's Planting Missional Churches.
7. Don't cook if I don't feel like it.
8. Spend at least an hour w/ my "brother" Rob, just catching up.
9. Stay up late around the campfire.
10. Read just for fun.
11. Talk to a bunch of people I don't know.
12. Daydream.
13. Start using my brand spankin' new ESV Bible.
14. Play w/ all the kids.
15. Hang out w/ the teens for as long as they tolerate me.
16. People watch.

FAMOUS ARTISTS QUIZ

Answer Key:

1) DaVinci

2) Van Gogh

3) Picasso

4) ???? YOU TELL ME! WHO IS THIS FAMOUS ARTIST OR ARTISTS?

PAINTING DONE ON SUNDAY, JULY 9TH SOMETIME AFTER 9 A.M. &

BEFORE 11:30 A.M.

QUOTE OF THE DAY**

"Each parking space has it's own climate!"

**Concept stolen from Vicki Sue

CHALLANGE 4

Do we so appreciate the marvelous salvation of Jesus Christ that we are our utmost for His highest?--Oswald Chambers

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
--Romans 12:1

GIRLS! I SEE A PATTERN!

BROKEN CAR + IMMATURITY = DRUG STORE MELTDOWN

RHINO LOVE

BLACKBURN? NO! BLAACKKFOOOTTT!
CAKKKKK!

INCOMPLETE

I was talking recently with someone who was struggling to get through the holiday now that she is divorced. The traditions, the places they would go, they people they used to spend the holiday with are all gone. Divorce is "a tearing apart, ripping assunder, severing" something that once was. That leaves one incomplete. Not whole. Changed. Handicapped.

A person needs a healing and adjustment period. A time for God and others to step in and minister. You can't rush that. You can't just get over it. You have to walk through it. It takes time, longer than most of us prefer. And then there is adjustment...learning to do new things and learning to do old things a new way, learning to do without, learning to function, and most of all, to learning to live despite the loss. Imagine, if you will, a person who has had an arm amputated. There will be the time needed to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There is also the relearning of simple things like how to eat, and dress, and drive. It is the same for divorce, only you can't see the injury.

There are usually two responses I see to this. One, we want it fixed. Two, we don't want others to know so we hide our handicap. But there is a third response we need to consider....living wholly and wonderfully incomplete. The reality is--I have never met a complete person. I have only met people who are marred and scarred by life. So, what if we learn to embrace our incompleteness? What if God is glorified and it falls within His plan for us to remain incomplete?

Here is what I mean...I watched a show once about a woman who was born without any arms. She cooked, took care of her baby, drove a car, did all kinds of things by using her feet. She caught my attention and I was amazed and inspired by her life. So, what if you and I catch the attention of broken people everywhere, by living wonderfully incomplete, causing them to ask "How do you do it?" We can point them to Jesus Christ and help them learn how to live an abundant life, gloriously and wonderfully incomplete!

God promised that one day we would be perfected. When we are in His presence. That is His promise and our hope. But until that day comes...if you can't see...I will be your eyes...if I can't walk...can I lean on you?

Please be praying for the divorce recovery group I am a part of! Appreciate it!

MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA...

...and may America bless and serve Almighty God! Amen

16 AWESOME THINGS ABOUT YOU!

1. God and your mom are your best friends.

2. You have the best smile.

3. You can play the piano and flute well.

4. You are kind.

5. You are a voracious reader.

6. You are creative.

7. You are an incredible artist.

8. You love deeply.

9. You are sensitive to those around you.

10. You are a faithful and loyal friend.

11. Your laugh is contagious.

12. You are a deep thinker.

13. You march to the beat of a different drummer.

14. You are generous.

15. You color your hair wild and awesome ways.

16. God is in the center of your hopes and dreams for the future.

I am your biggest fan!!!

love,

Mom