ANOTHER DARN GOOD READ

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I learned about this blog from my friend, Mike. This post on prayer was very poignant.

A DARN GOOD READ

From one of my favorite blogs...enjoy and be challenged!

Image taken from here.

THE DATING GAME

I feel like I am a contestant on The Dating Game. Not in the way you probably think. We are currently without a home church. And we have been visiting. And visiting. With no clear direction as to where to settle. And I am tired of playing the field. I want to settle down.
I knew God was directing me when we became part of a church plant a couple years back. I remember exactly what I was doing and thinking when God said, "Go."
Now, I feel like I am taking a stab in the dark. Like I am guessing. And that's why I feel like a contestant on the The Dating Game. I feel like I am asking all these questions, but "don't know" more than I "do know" about the places we have visited. I feel the need to pick, to choose and then to live with my decision, even though there could be something better. But maybe not. Maybe whatever I pick is the best from God's viewpoint. But what to pick? Have I missed something? Somewhere I haven't been yet?
What I really want is an angel to appear, or a pillar of smoke or fire to follow...something that lets me know exactly where God wants my daughter and I to plug in. I keep asking Him, but I get nothing. Yet, I do believe He wants us to plug in. I think it is something my daughter really needs right now.
We have lots of friends. We know how to follow God. We are very welcome at places we have been and places we have visited. So it's not about belonging, or being part of the Body of Christ, or finding purpose, or loving His church.
And yet it is.
I guess we just want a place we can call our own.
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Image taken from here.

LOVE IS........

.....WEARING A MISMATCHED PAIR OF KNEE HIGH STOCKINGS SO YOUR DAUGHTER CAN WEAR YOUR GOOD PAIR WHEN SHE GOES OUT JOB HUNTING!

CHRISTMAS AT HOME DEPOT!

The word "Christmas" now appears on the Home Depot website! And the angelic chorus lifted their voices and sang, "Hallelujah!" Actually, if you are so inclined, please let Home Depot know that we appreciate the change!

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Image taken from here.

SOMETHING TO PONDER

I came across this post on one of my favorite blogs. This gave me some things to think about.

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"Living Soli Deo Gloria Under Obama"

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MY 18 YEAR OLD IS 14 YEARS OLD!!

Yesterday my 18 year old turned 14 years old. You see, when she was just 4, Jesus gave me the privilege and honor to pray with her as she was born into His family. Since her 3rd spiritual birthday, I have written her a letter and asked other Christ followers who were leaders or close to her to write her a letter as well. I have put them in a book. My friend, Sandy, made a cover for it and entitled it "Rachel's Journey". The past couple of years, I didn't write her a letter. I wish I had. But I am sharing this year's letter with you. If you think of it, please pray for my girl and her "journey"!!

November 4, 2008

Hello My Darling Daughter!

I bet you thought I would forget and neglect your spiritual birthday for another year. When was the last time I wrote you a letter to commemorate it? 2004? 2005? I don’t even remember. I am sorry. But today, I remembered that 14 years ago, Jesus touched your heart and soul, with the truth of His redemption. He breathed into you His very breath of life and said, “Come. Follow Me.”

You have changed so much over the past few years. Instead of a child, I have before me a young woman, who is still my baby. I remember the day that I was talking to God about you and He told me that He has adventures for you that I will not be invited to join. I could almost see a picture of me taking your hand from mine and joining it to His. I didn’t feel sad. I knew you would be safe, because He is trustworthy.

I think that is what I hope and pray for you the most right now…that God’s character becomes known to you. That it becomes a foundation for your relationship with Him. You see, I know that there will be times you face doubt, or hardship, or confusion. And it is at those times that you need to rely on what you know about God’s character and not what things look like or feel like around you. Your eyes will need to remain steady on Him to survive those times. The mother side of me wants to make it easy. The Jesus Follower side of me knows it will not be, but also knows how precious all this will become to you.

I believe God has moved me from my position of leading you, to one of walking alongside you. Rachel, there have already been times that you have led me, corrected me, supported me, times you have been the one pointing to our Savior and saying, “Look, there is where your promise and hope lies!”

Don’t be afraid of wrestling through the things of your faith. That wrestling is necessary. It won’t last forever. And you will develop spiritual muscles and a depth to your relationship with Jesus that is worth more than anything you will ever know or want!

I love you more each year. You are the best part of my life!

Mom

ELECTION DAY MUSINGS

I got up at 4 a.m. this morning, so I could vote before it was time to get my mom up. My plan was to arrive at my precinct sometime before 6:30 a.m. I figured it would be crazy busy after that. I was right. I ended up being voter number 27, I think and was out of there by 7:25, home within 10 minutes. My mom never even realized I had left. And now, I can relax the rest of the day, knowing I don't have to face a 2 hour wait to vote later.

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While I was in line, I struck up a conversation with the woman in front of me. We chit chatted about the early hour, the lack of caffeine. We guesstimated about the time we thought it would take us to vote, and would we make it to work without being late. At one point, she began to tell me about her children and their thoughts on the election. I was so sad to learn that her children came home saying that they and their peers don't think a black person can get elected in this country, and if he does, he will be shot and killed. This woman was black. I am not. As a mom, I cannot imagine how I would feel if my children felt that someone of their race would be killed if elected, just because of his skin color. Sigh, we still have a long way to go don't we?

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A local bakery is giving out two free muffins if you come in wearing your "I voted" sticker. I promised a co-worker one of the muffins. He didn't think I was serious, so his muffin was a nice surprise.

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I had a nice surprise this morning myself. After I left the bakery, I had to stop at the bank. I knew I was early but they are pretty close to each other. I pulled up to the drive through window. The teller and I have shared a number of conversations about our kids. Both of us have kids that want to travel internationally. Anyhow, when I pulled up she said, "I am sorry, but did you realize we don't open for another 15 minutes?" "Yes, I know," I answered. "I was in the neighborhood so I figured I would just wait." "You know, let me just go ahead and take care of you," she said. How nice was that? So, even with voting and running 2 errands, I got to work by 9:10!

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OK, I have to admit that I was a bit of a pot-stirrer this morning. At the bakery, they had Obama and McCain cookies. My co-workers are predominantly Obama supporters. So I bought out every single McCain cookie to take in to them. You can imagine the comments, but they did get eaten!

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You know, even though the TV and radio announcers were joking that this election would be called by 8:05 a.m. there is one thing that is really certain. Whoever gets elected is going to need all of our prayers, every day. He has a tough job ahead of him!

image taken from here.