Mt First Youth Trip

I am in a large van on the road towards Chicago, IL with my churches youth group. The group consists of 2 of my children-one in 10th grade and the other in 8th, 2 college age children, a senior, another 8th and 10th grader and our 2 young and corageous fearless leader's - a couple who have plead to lead our church youth towards the saving hope, grace and mercy of God. And me, well I am the only crazy parent able to come along! The past few days have been filled with really beautiful sites of the ocean sized Lake Michigan. The sites were complete with lighthouses being pounded by the crashes of waves, sandy beach like water entrances, and blue sunny skies. The sites were truly spectacular.

In Michigan, the lake front is cold. Only the craziest of youth chldren actually swam in the 60 deg. chilly water only to air dry in the very cool breezes that swoop over and off the tops of the waves. Some chose to dry off while playing a make like game of hand Volleyball our youth calls "Lana Schism". I, however, located a row of old fashion swings and swang facing the beautiful Michigan Lake and small red lighthouse which stood at the end of the nearby peir.

Now, nearing Chicago, I am reminded of the many years back when my husband, my daughter and I lived here. We will enjoy some of what the "windy city" has to offer today. We are hoping to enjoy Chicago style pizza for lunch. The weather is warmer here and will be nice as we walk around the city.
Here we come Chicago! I am sooo tired!

Understanding Refugees

Understanding Refugees that are brought into the United States has been something I've been trying to do. There is no way I could possibly grasp the hurt and struggles so many of the famlies have dealt with. Each time I see a new face, I wonder what the pain behind their eyes entails. Could someone have beaten them? Were they searching for food for their children and themselves? How many pairs of clothes do they have? Were they woman who have been severely abused and mistreated? Were they sexually abused? Did they separate from their family? Do they have children; do they know where their children are; did they lose their children to death? Do they have AIDS or are they HIV positive? What kinds of work do they know how to do? How long were they forced out of their homes and into a refugee camp? What was the refugee camp like? Do they speak any English at all? Are they afraid here? How many people do they know here; do they have relatives with them?

For many cases, the answers to my questions are typically very haunting. Sometimes Americans wonder why I have a heart to want to help people from another country when there are so many people here in America that need help. I believe that God has called us to go into ALL the nations helping ALL people, not just Americans. And for the most part, it seems to me that the needier of people are not always right here in America. The refugee situation affects so many countries. The refugee situation is affecting the United States now because so many of the refugees are fleeing from their own countries in hopes of being free from the political and religeous pressures in their own country.

I don't feel like it is my responsibility to ask, "Why they are here and who do I help?" My plea from the Lord is only TO help ALL. The families are here and I don't believe it is by chance. For whatever reason, I believe God allowed these families to come to America and my responsibility as a Jesus follower is to love them. My love for the Lord will spill on to them and will cause me to want to help them. I'll need to help them in many ways. And, I can't do it alone! In Christ I can do ALL things...but won't you come along and help me help them?

Here are some things we can do to help our local refugee famlies at Catholic Charities:

• Sponsor A Family (with prayer, financially, and through building friendships - giving time)
• Help find them a job
• Help them learn English (help with ESL classes)
• Bring them clothes
• Bring them food
• Donate Money to Catholic Charities
• Provide ESL teaching supplies
• Come along side of them and teach them our culture (paying bills, grocery shopping)
• Encourage them through building a friendship
• Help w/ their entry into the US by setting up their Apartment, furnishings, kitchen supplies, toiletries, etc.
• Teach them necessary healthy habbits: Brushing Teeth, Washing Hands, etc.

The needs of the displaced families in our Memphis area is huge. Once meeting a few of them, you will better understand how great their need is. Please consider going with me on Mondays and/or Tuesdays to Catholic Chatities to see how you can help.

There is Always Tomorrow

Think, think. As I sit at my kitchen table in front of my lap top and next to my window, the sights are much the same as I've seen many days in a row. It is raining again. The window pictures the flood of water running through a small dip that is stretched across my backyard. There wooden fence hides much of the forrest that I wish I could see. There are still, however, lots of green treetops surrounding my back yard. The trees make for a great hiding place for all of the birds I've enticed to come into my yard. Since I've added a couple of bird feeders, I have enjoyed watching colorful birds share the seeds and sweet syrup I've found.

My energy level today seems to have depleted. I'm more comfortable sitting still in the quietness of my home writing. I've gone this way and that way for so many days that my body is begging for some rest. More than I want to admit, my body is also begging for some exercise. Almost daily, my body fights for my attention wanting exercise and my mind fights for my attention wanting to be still. Thinking on this, I am sure that the two can win. Through exercise, I can surround myself with peaceful things such as nature. If I could force my body out the door to take a walk, run or a bike ride - I might discover that I can also allow my mind to rest.

I've had visions of redesigning my backyard. I want to make my yard friendlier to some of the birds. If I could get a bird bath and a few more bird feeders and houses, I could watch more of the colorful birds. I could take more pictures of the birds that visit my back yard. Maybe tomorrow or the next day or next weekend I could do it.

Tomorrow I say. So many times I complain about others who say, "tomorrow". And here I am saying, "tomorrow". Not just with regards to exercising, but so it is with me. I'm praying for moments solitude and rest in my head. I'm praying for moments of joy as I do step out in order to make use my talents and gifts. I'm praying for moments of satisfaction as I allow God to motivate my body to move physically.

But today, I know that there will be tomorrow. And just who am I to think that there is going to be a tomorrow? Tomorrow is never garaunteed. Maybe, I should start today. I couldn't hurt.

On Promises...

I researched the bible passages today on what Gods word says about our promises to one another...

(P) Proverbs 19:1 and (L) Leviticus 27:9-10

(The Message)
P - 1 Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust.
L- 9-13 "If he vowed an animal that is acceptable as an offering to God, the animal is given to God and becomes the property of the Sanctuary. He must not exchange or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one.”


(New Living Translation)
P- 1 Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.
L- 9 “If your vow involves giving an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the Lord, any gift to the Lord will be considered holy. 10 You may not exchange or substitute it for another animal—neither a good animal for a bad one nor a bad animal for a good one.”


(King James)
P- Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
L- “And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy. He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good one.”

With help from Diana Gray Ministries:

God classes Integrity more valuable than the riches of this world. He classes Integrity more valuable than anything that we could ever own. Cheating, stealing, lying, breaking one's promises, withholding tithe money out of greed or spite is the world's way but not what the Lord desires a Christian to be. We are required to live a higher standard of living by holding our integrity dear to ourselves. When people of the world look at you as a Christian do they say you are no different than them or do they say they really respect you? Poverty if far better if a person has integrity and honor than all the riches that every existed throughout time. What is your life worth? Can you take any material thing with you when you die? We all need to get our priorities straight and realize that keeping our word is important to our self-respect as well as our integrity.

God spoke the world into existence and promised to save us from our sins by sending us His son to die on the cross. If we repent asking Jesus to come into our heart, God will keep His word to save us! God keeps His word; does He expect us to keep ours?

Keeping promises demonstrates our “True Inner Self.” It shows whether or not we have corruptible or incorruptible morals (fruitful seed) inside of us. Integrity, Honor, Self-respect and Honesty means everything to man and to the Lord! What kind of Christian walk does the Lord desire us to have? Is keeping one's word really important or do we have the right to alter and change it? Does the world respect people who break their promises? A broken promise means a broken trust and relationship. Trust and respect as well as one's honor is the basis of our relationship with our Lord. He expects us to keep our word, (vow, oath) to others as well!

When you give your word to someone you are also giving it unto the Lord. The Lord teaches us in the Bible that we must not go back on our promises even if we have to pay a higher price to keep them. Our promises are taken seriously and we will be held accountable for them. Changing our minds is not acceptable to the Lord!

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Lord, today I pray that we remember how important it is to you that we keep our word with one another. Help us to understand the value that you put in us to do what we say we will do. Lord, forgive us for the times we’ve been dishonest to one another which in turn makes us dishonest to you. Help us to faithful work on repairing the brokenness of trust and our own inside image so that others will know that we are yours and may come to you also. Lord, help us to never, ever, cause another person (including one another) to stumble because of our untruthfulness and dishonesty.

In Jesus name, clean us from the inside out and make us new. In our newness, allow us please Lord, to share the kind of integrity and honesty that you hold. May we part from our old ways and follow you with every bit of our being. Thank you for the promise that you gave of your son Jesus. I thank you that your character (all of the past things you’ve done hold true still today) as we can know without a doubt that your promise in your son will hold true for eternity. May we be more like you.

I Don't Want to Go Through the Motions

I woke up this morning to a song that repeats itself in my head. It greatly reflects my emotions and feelings. Lord, I don't want to go through the motions. I found the lyrics to the song and listened to it on You Tube. Wow, my heart is wide open with tears. This song so very much depicts my heart. Lord, I pray this song for my family - help us to not go through the motions and to be all that YOU want for us to be.

Matthew West - "The Motion"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHmiFaX_pk

The Lyrics:

This might hurt
It's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care
If I break
At least I'll be feeling something'
Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming
Passion inside of meI don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions?

No regrets
Not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your loveMake me wholeI think I'm finally feeling something'
Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

‘Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming
Passion inside of meI don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions?

Take me all the way (take me all the way)
Take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)
Take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)
Take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming
Passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
What if I had given everythingInstead of going through the motions?

Take me all the way (take me all the way)
Take me all the way (I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)
Take me all the way (through the motions)
Take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions

---

And the Matthew's story behind the song, here is what he says:

I don’t always feel it. Sometimes my faith seems stale. Numb. Sometimes I pray, but I don’t feel connected. I sing, but my song sounds empty. I write, but my words sound cliché. I ask God questions, but I don’t hear answers. I could try to act like I am always so spiritually refreshed and thriving in my relationship with God. But that wouldn’t be honest. That wouldn’t be me.

Does your faith journey ever have these desert seasons? I think one of the greatest challenges in actively living out a relationship with Christ on earth is to avoid the trap of simply going through the motions. I know what a “Christian” should say. I know how to act. I know how to put up a spiritual front, even if I’m not passionately seeking God.

That’s why I wrote this song. I was frustrated and tired of that constant settling for a stale faith. God is a God of passion. His true plan for our lives is anything but boring. Every day, the God of adventure beckons his sons and daughters to quit going through the motions and walk into a life filled with passion and wonder.

The last line of the chorus strikes me every time I sing it:

I don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions?

My surgery and silence really brought this song to life for me. Trials force movement. Pain makes you feel. I’m thankful for the difficult time I had to go through, because God used it to remind me that going through the motions is not really living.

"Still"

Still am I in a place where there are no answers.
Numb am I to the hurt that has no end.
Unsure am I as I walk towards the unseen.
Speechless am I while I hear wise words.

Warn out is my body.
Shakey are my emotions.
Weaker is my mind.
Broken is my spirit.

The wait is too long.
The pain is too deep.
The sorrow seems forever.
The battle seems lost.

Much prayer on my knees.
Many tears on my cheeks.
More forgiving from my heart.
Might end up flat on my face.

Over and over I try.
Over and over I cry.
Over and over I fight.
Over and over and again tonight.

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If anyone can, you can.
If anyone will, you will.
If anyone cares, you do.
If anyone loves, it is you.

Praise to you...
...on top of moutnains.
...in the valley's.
...through deep waters.
...and in the storms.

It is dark.
But you bring light.
It is confusing.
But you give wisdom.

Show me the way.
Carry me there.
Deliver me please.
Hold me, Lord, still.

Just Do It

In life, I've noticed that so many people know what to do, but they just don't do it. Most people know how to lose weight but just don't do what they should to lose the weight. It is crazy to me that most people know what is good and right to do but do not always choose it. We know how to be the best husband or wife, child, parent, employee and friend but we don't always pull through. We know to help those people who are in greater need than we are, but we don't always choose to do it. Why?

It is the same with God in many ways except maybe there are many people who do not "know" the Lord and may truly be a bit confused. But, I believe there are many people who claim to be Christians who have been taught how they should walk their life in love and just don't do it. I actually love the old Nike slogan, "Just Do It". Often times though"just doing it" is not easy.

How do we stop eating large amounts of food that we know is too much for us? How do we fit in our day exercise? How can we choose to stay in a marriage that seems hopeless? How do we forgive someone who has hurt us continually? How can we continue working for a company that has it's own interest far above ours? How can we justify helping someone who does not seem to help themselves? How can we nurture and provide for children and widows who are too far away to reach? How do we find time to build relationships and let people know that they are important to us? How do we train our children with the right morals? How can we not watch our favorite TV shows and games so that we can have more time for getting out face to face with people or in the faces of our own family? How do we step out and do something that we know will make a difference in our own life or someone elses? How are we going to make efforts to know God deeper?

Can we not "just do it"? Why is it so hard to do what we already know is right and good? We are born sinners. Why are we so defiant and unwilling to step up to the plate and just do what we know is right? I'm speaking to myself too...I am no angel. :0) I too am weak in myself. I too am selfish in my ways.

Sometimes I think we are just lazy. We may consider ourselves not lazy because we get up and pack our days with work followed by many selfish kinds of things. It is okay to do something for yourself, do not get me wrong! But are we truly stepping outside our own interest and standing beside someone else in greater need? Are we showing up for purposes that are greater than seeing our ownselves rise to the top? Are we literally unable to do things out of ourselves most ALL of the time? Without God, I bet we are seriously handicapped in this area. But. if we are born sinners and selfish, are we defeated before we ever pick our heads up off of the pillow in the morning then?

I believe that In Christ We Can Do All Things. The Lord is waiting on us and is waiting with us when we wait. I believe we very much have the ability to love others and help others. Not only do I believe it, I know it and know that that is what we should be doing. But why are most of us not doing it?

What are we waiting for? Are we scard that we aren't good enough for the task? Are we afraid of missing out on something for ourselves? Are we too caught up with our own struggles in life? Are we afraid of what others will think of us?

Interesting thoughts on waiting.... I learned today that the Lord is actually waiting with us! There is something that happens in our waiting! We learn things while we are in our waiting stage and the waiting must happen for our own growth! Isaiah 30:18 says, "The Lord LONGS to be gracious to us!" He longs to release good into our hands and why? According to Isaiah, for His glory.

While there is something in the waiting that we must live through we must pick our selfish and lazy selves up and "just do it". "Do" what we already know is good and right before the Lord. The Lord is longing to deliver to us good and gracious things.