Crazy Busy.

I enjoy times of crazy busy, as long as they don't last too long. I also enjoy times of peaceful serenity, but I wouldn't want them forever.

Life is an ebb and flow. I believe Jesus taught balance, in a 100% sold out kind of way. :)

For a few weeks we had crazy busy with Movement 5280. Then we had a holiday week, and we had a few activities, but also much time to relax and rest. This week is crazy again, with jumping back into homeschooling and rehearsals for our Christmas musical.

Finding time alone with God is a challenge, but essential. After all, what is the point of all the activities if I'm not connecting with the One whom it is all about? Point well taken, cuz I'm preaching to myself here. Got it.

So, I just thought I'd drop in and say, "Hi!"

"Hi!"

Thank-FULL!

Thanksgiving is officially over, though I haven't been to bed so it still 'feels' like Thanksgiving.

It was a lovely day! And I'm thankful for much. No. I'm thankful for all.

We spent the day as a family, beginning with 'snubble-time' at a leisurely hour of the morning! That was a treat, let me tell you! Breakfast (thanks to a late night of pie baking extravaganza) was in the crock pot ready to eat. Steel cut oats ala MckMama! I finished preparations on the side dishes I volunteered to bring to our friends' house later in the day, and off we went.

Movement 5280. It's a teen drop-in center that is opening soon where I have spent a good chunk of my time in recent weeks painting and decorating. Last week was our Open House. Today we had our first outreach to the community. We offered a Thanksgiving meal to anyone who wanted or needed food. All together we served 190 meals today, about 30 were people who came in to the center and the rest were delivered to a nearby park where many homeless and needy hang out.

I had the privilege of leading worship. It was quite impromptu and casual, but I realized today that I was completely at ease at the piano, singing. Me. Who just 9 short months ago nearly ran crying from the thought of playing the piano in public. Thank God! Besides my family and friends, this is probably the thing that I am most thankful for today; that God is healing me from the hurt and damage from my past, and giving me multiple opportunities to worship Him with the talents He has given me! It's HUGE!

Afterwords, it was home to grab the [oops!] burned dishes that I had tried to cook via oven timers. Thankfully (pun intended) we had time to remake the dishes before going to our friends' home for dinner!

We had a beautiful dinner with our friends, and spent time visiting and playing with them until nearly bedtime. Ahhhh. Not just full, but Thank-FULL!

Somewhere in our day we opened and read a letter from one of our sponsored children, Kipyegon. His letters always bring me to tears because they remind me just how richly blessed we are. It was a very fitting day to read his letter.

I also spent about an hour in the afternoon, while I waited for the second batch of sweet potatoes to cook, texting most of the friends in my cell phone to tell them how thankful I am for them!

**I may or may not get some pictures added to this post later today. We'll see.

Mind Boggling.

Did you know that God created light on the very first day of creation? (Genesis 1:3) But did you ever notice that God created the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day? (Genesis 1:14)

What was the source of light the first 3 days of creation? Is that still the source of light, making the sun and stars be reflectors of light like the moon? Or did God put the light he created into the sun and stars? Or maybe he gathered up the light into the stars the same way he gathered the waters into oceans and seas.

If I think about this too long it becomes really mind boggling.

Another Year Older.

I'd like to say that I'm 25 years old today. I'm not, but I'd like to say it. I'm 25 years old. There, I said it. It's a lie, but I only feel 25, so it's not a complete lie, right?

Actually, I'm blessed to have been given 41 years of life today. I don't exactly know how I got to be this old (old being a relative term). But I do know that the last year has probably been the best, and most certainly has been the most full of growth and personal change.

God has, more quickly than I could ever have imagined, been changing me, moving me, pushing me, stretching me, growing me, and drawing me into a deeper and deeper love for Him. The things that I have learned this year have brought me to a new awareness of who I am, who God is and the urgency to step outside myself and actually spread the Gospel of Jesus. And to mentor and encourage others to do the same.

It's the speed at which these changes have happened in me that compel me to believe that time truly is short. It's time to speak up. And, I don't mean politically. It's time to get out of our church pews, to live the life we say we believe and DO what Jesus commanded we do. It is not enough to love God. It is not enough to merely study His Word. For, if we love Him and hear His Word, then we must be compelled by that love and His words to do whatever is necessary to tell others. NOW!

I'm broken. I'm flawed. I'm selfish and prideful. I'm shy. Oh my word, am I shy! I'm a mess. A big mess. BUT, I love Jesus. More. Than. Anything. Even. Myself.

So, here it is...
God created us to love Him, to know Him. Man sinned, disobeyed God and our sin compels us to run and hide from God. So, God sent His son, Jesus, to take our sin and disobedience away, so that we can come to God, stop hiding and learn how much He loves us, and learn again how to love Him. All you have to do is believe this, and tell God that you want Jesus to take away your sin, and He will. And in place of your sin He will give you eternal life with Him. It's that simple, but it's not a decision to make lightly. God doesn't want just part of you, He wants all of you. Everything. Your earthly life in exchange for eternal life. Think about it.

So, happy birthday to me! And happy eternity to you!

About Faith.

Faith.

Faith is not the absence of doubts, it's walking in obedience despite your doubts.

Faith is not the absence of doubts, but rather belief that God is big enough to fulfill His promises no matter what the obstacles.

Faith is not the absence of doubts, it's trusting in God's character despite physical circumstances.

And God is FAITHful!

Is God Silent?

This topic has come up a couple of times recently. A man I was talking with told me that God is a quiet introvert. And studying Genesis this week there was a 13 year gap between the time that Abram had Ishmael and when God made the covenant with him, and revealed the time line of the birth of Isaac. It was assumed by the ladies in my Bible study that nothing happened in those 13 years.

I have trouble believing that God is a quiet introvert, or that he goes 13 years without speaking to a man who is the "father" of our faith. I just don't see it that way.

In my experience the silence of God is directly related to my obedience, or lack thereof. Or even my own lack of interest in pursuing a relationship with Him. But I have found that God is a constant presence in my life, and He consistently leads me on a daily basis when I seek Him. Yes, there are times when I ask for direction and don't feel I'm given a direct answer. And, I have found that when I don't seek God, he will not often speak to me, though that isn't always the case either. Most of the time we have a quiet, private interaction that doesn't rock the world or stop the presses. And then few and far between there are those extraordinary moments when God moves in my life in such a powerful, incredible way that it must be shared with others. I guess, that's how I see Abram's relationship with God. He was a righteous man, instead of assuming that God was silent those 13 years, I assume that Abram and God walked quietly and privately together daily.

I know the biggest time I felt God's silence was after a season of sin in my life, when I had hardened my heart and twisted God's truth to meet my own agenda. After that time I walked through a desert of silence. It was a consequence of my own making. Though I was forgiven of my sin immediately, I had so tuned out the voice of God during that season that I no longer knew how to hear His voice. It was not until my circumstances broke me and I began to cry out to God in a way I never had before that I once again began to recognize His voice, feel His presence and respond to His leading. My spiritual awakening took several years, but again, I don't think God was silent, it was me who couldn't hear Him.

Now, I am a nobody of Nobodies. And that's what causes me to pause at this concept. Why would God speak to me more than He spoke to Abram, THE Abram? The Answer? I don't think He did.

If you're reading this and have a relationship with God, does God talk to you daily or do you go years and years in silence between epic events?

The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers....and Other Imaginary Characters.

We had a great time celebrating Halloween on Sunday. The weather was perfect. We carved pumpkins into some very unique Jack-O-Lanterns on Saturday night. We have fun with family and friends at the church "Trunk or Treat". We gathered and ate WAY too much candy. And we came home and crashed while our older kids had a bit more fun trick or treating in the neighborhood.

I was asked the other day by a young Christian whether it was glorifying to God to participate in Halloween. I don't really like Halloween or for what it traditionally stands. But I recently read a blog post here that both explains and helps me understand why I feel the freedom to dress in a costume, carve a pumpkin and go trick or treating with my kids. I want to bring glory to God. Our enemy does not deserve to have even one moment of the calendar or the days that my precious God has created. "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." Everyday. And I will not allow the enemy to claim it as his.

Yes, I will carve a pumpkin with each child. I will let it represent the uniqueness and creativity with which God has endowed each person. I will light a candle inside and let it represent the light of Christ in my heart that fills me and spills out into a cold, dark world through the unique design that is me. And I will find ways to turn the fun, harmless traditions of Halloween into things that represent and glorify God. And I will fight against any evil that tries to claim the day as it's own.

Friends join us as a welcome addition to the family!

Josh is carving his first pumpkin ever!

I help Luke and carve my little guys' chosen designs.

I love to see Todd helping, and we Skype in our depl*yed friend so he can watch his kids.

Heading to "trunk or treat"

Don't ask me how I got Todd into the parrot costume without a fuss!

Darth Maul.

I've seen a purple cow, but never a purple gorilla!

That's my "baby" and her friends.

Sunset on the Joker.

Todd's venture into the abstract! Surprisingly artistic!

My pumpkin spoke "Mickey Mouse" to me!

Our princess's princess.

Tadd's fire breathing dragon. Awesome design and execution!

Tim's great big happy face!

Kevin wanted Bat Man.

And Izaak wanted Superman! I absolutely had nothing to do with his choice!

All the Jack-o-lanterns at our house this year. Quite the sceen!