Today I helped prepare the church for the 2nd annual "Night in Bethlehem", which will take place this Wednesday night. The moment I arrived, my joyful mood was turned to sadness when I heard that one of our church families was involved in a serious car accident on Sunday. Thankfully, the family of 5 is alive and expected to make a full recovery. Still, I couldn't help but think of how the 3 kids reacted when this accident occurred and injured both of their parents right before their eyes. How scary it must have been to see daddy going off in a helicopter, and mom in an ambulance. How tragic it would be to not be sure your kids are okay. Sponge that I am, I just absorbed all of what they must have felt.
I also felt gratitude that the accident didn't claim any of their lives, especially those 3 children. I felt a great need to be of help to them however I can. I hope they allow me and others to care for them so they can see the blessing they are to us.
Anyway, hug your family just a little tighter. You never know what's around the corner. Be blessed this holiday season with the feeling of gratitude for what and who you have. Be ready to serve so you can bless others with your grateful heart!
And most of all, please pray for this family. I won't mention their name and I don't really have to. God knows who they are! Thanks!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Good Stuff
Natalie came home from school a couple of weeks ago, talking about what happened in her devotions group at lunch. She was going on about the Book of James and why they chose to study that....who was in it....when I finally stopped her and said,
"What did you just say?? Nat,that is SO cool!"
So, this group of kids, 2 boys and 3 or 4 girls, decided that on Fridays, they would have "Jesus Freak Friday", doing a study on the book of James, and prayer time. They use part of their lunch hour instead of going outside to hang out with friends. They invite kids to come each week, and while some will come, several turn them down because it's just "not cool". Fair enough, Jesus wasn't all that "cool" to some either. She takes it all in stride. Her answer to that response was, "Guys, we better pray for them."
I continue to be speechless over her spiritual growth over the past couple years, almost since the day of her baptism! She told me something changed in her that day, and I have seen it. I guess you can go on about your kids' grades, their athletic ability, and even their manners, but I am really most pleased that they love the Lord and want to please Him.
Steve and I really wanted to reward the kids' efforts to win others over for Christ, so we offered to provide full size candy bars to all the kids who show up for the study each Friday. It's not bribery, but just incentive to keep meeting together. One of the kids was quite hopeful. He said, "It's not that I think your parents are poor or anything, but that's going to get pretty expensive." Now that is Faith!!
So, if you feel inclined, please keep the kids' study group in your prayers. They are being teased by other students, but the real need is for those who are teasing to be changed by what they see!
"What did you just say?? Nat,that is SO cool!"
So, this group of kids, 2 boys and 3 or 4 girls, decided that on Fridays, they would have "Jesus Freak Friday", doing a study on the book of James, and prayer time. They use part of their lunch hour instead of going outside to hang out with friends. They invite kids to come each week, and while some will come, several turn them down because it's just "not cool". Fair enough, Jesus wasn't all that "cool" to some either. She takes it all in stride. Her answer to that response was, "Guys, we better pray for them."
I continue to be speechless over her spiritual growth over the past couple years, almost since the day of her baptism! She told me something changed in her that day, and I have seen it. I guess you can go on about your kids' grades, their athletic ability, and even their manners, but I am really most pleased that they love the Lord and want to please Him.
Steve and I really wanted to reward the kids' efforts to win others over for Christ, so we offered to provide full size candy bars to all the kids who show up for the study each Friday. It's not bribery, but just incentive to keep meeting together. One of the kids was quite hopeful. He said, "It's not that I think your parents are poor or anything, but that's going to get pretty expensive." Now that is Faith!!
So, if you feel inclined, please keep the kids' study group in your prayers. They are being teased by other students, but the real need is for those who are teasing to be changed by what they see!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
A Thankful Heart is A Happy Heart
Thanksgiving is just a few days away, but I think every day is Thanksgiving. I don't wait for a turkey-laden day to know what I am grateful for, do you??
I think we should just rename it "Stuff your face day", since come on, you know all you care about is pie. Yes, you do! That and who can make it to the couch first!
My mom is so funny, in a not so funny way. She always plans dinner for the middle of the football game. Not before. Not after, but right in the middle. It always drove Steve nuts, but you just don't mess with mom and her ideas. I guess she wants the emphasis to be on dinner and not on football. Crazy woman, huh? She's been cooking for days, up early sticking her hand in a cold bird's behind, I guess she can call the shots about dinner.
We have a few smokers in our family, and of course, they can't smoke in the house, so they stand outside and freeze!! I have no sympathy for them. I hate smoking and I tell them so. I'm sure I'm the favorite sister and aunt, aren't I?? Oh, not really, but at least my lungs are clean. And I'm younger. Much younger.
Thanksgiving goes really well unless the marshmallow topping on the sweet potatoes catches on fire again. Now, that is hilarious, although the smoke alarm and hearing aid combo---not that funny. Well, kinda. Almost as funny as the time the pepper lid came off while seasoning the gravy and mom and I had to put the gravy through a sieve. Someone at the table had the nerve to compliment the gravy and we busted out laughing. Crazy women, all of us.
My favorite part of these family get togethers is when one of my siblings brings up those lovely childhood memories. Funny how everyone has a different memory of the same event, isn't it? Well, they're all liars and I was a perfect child. Enough said.
We don't fight over the wishbone because it could easily turn into hand to hand combat. It's bad enough when there's one last piece of pumpkin pie. U-G-L-Y!! Of course we all fight over who "gets" to do the dishes. Mom never wants help, and my sister used to take her up on it and go take a nap. I have a solution to that. All the women will retreat to the living room, put their hand in the waistband of their tight pants, flip on a Hallmark movie, belch and make the men do the dishes. Yeah!!
I don't know about you, but I can't wait for Thanksgiving. I just love family get togethers. Just a second, I am laughing so hard I'm in tears and I can't see! Okay, I'm kidding a little. I do like some parts of getting together, but really, I just love the food. And the pie. Okay, and the family time.
I am thankful for my family, warts and all, and for the time we are able to get together, tease each other, complain, and fight over the last piece of pie. I am most grateful for mom, who sticks her hand in that gross turkey, pulls out his little "lunch" and cooks it up for the dogs. That woman just rocks.
Happy Stuff Your Face Day, and Happy Thanksgiving!!
I think we should just rename it "Stuff your face day", since come on, you know all you care about is pie. Yes, you do! That and who can make it to the couch first!
My mom is so funny, in a not so funny way. She always plans dinner for the middle of the football game. Not before. Not after, but right in the middle. It always drove Steve nuts, but you just don't mess with mom and her ideas. I guess she wants the emphasis to be on dinner and not on football. Crazy woman, huh? She's been cooking for days, up early sticking her hand in a cold bird's behind, I guess she can call the shots about dinner.
We have a few smokers in our family, and of course, they can't smoke in the house, so they stand outside and freeze!! I have no sympathy for them. I hate smoking and I tell them so. I'm sure I'm the favorite sister and aunt, aren't I?? Oh, not really, but at least my lungs are clean. And I'm younger. Much younger.
Thanksgiving goes really well unless the marshmallow topping on the sweet potatoes catches on fire again. Now, that is hilarious, although the smoke alarm and hearing aid combo---not that funny. Well, kinda. Almost as funny as the time the pepper lid came off while seasoning the gravy and mom and I had to put the gravy through a sieve. Someone at the table had the nerve to compliment the gravy and we busted out laughing. Crazy women, all of us.
My favorite part of these family get togethers is when one of my siblings brings up those lovely childhood memories. Funny how everyone has a different memory of the same event, isn't it? Well, they're all liars and I was a perfect child. Enough said.
We don't fight over the wishbone because it could easily turn into hand to hand combat. It's bad enough when there's one last piece of pumpkin pie. U-G-L-Y!! Of course we all fight over who "gets" to do the dishes. Mom never wants help, and my sister used to take her up on it and go take a nap. I have a solution to that. All the women will retreat to the living room, put their hand in the waistband of their tight pants, flip on a Hallmark movie, belch and make the men do the dishes. Yeah!!
I don't know about you, but I can't wait for Thanksgiving. I just love family get togethers. Just a second, I am laughing so hard I'm in tears and I can't see! Okay, I'm kidding a little. I do like some parts of getting together, but really, I just love the food. And the pie. Okay, and the family time.
I am thankful for my family, warts and all, and for the time we are able to get together, tease each other, complain, and fight over the last piece of pie. I am most grateful for mom, who sticks her hand in that gross turkey, pulls out his little "lunch" and cooks it up for the dogs. That woman just rocks.
Happy Stuff Your Face Day, and Happy Thanksgiving!!