Au Revoir

This past week we had to say farewell to Jenny, my trusted Jetta.

It was her time, and some were glad to see her go, as she was becoming slightly unreliable.  But even through the hard times, she always got me where I needed to be!

I will never forget the day that I got my car, my senior year in high school. I had been driving a salmon colored Escort, and dreaming of the day I would have a different car to drive.  My dad surprised me with my graduation gift early-he gave me his car! I drove that car around until midnight that night, showing it off and making it "mine".  We have gone to Arkansas, west Texas, south Texas together and I have so many great memories in that car.

(And yes, I know, this post is way to long---about a car! But...I cried for hours when my fish died, so that should tell you something about how sentimental I am!)

So, in memory of Jenny the Jetta, (and for a good laugh!) I thought I would close with a list of everything that was wrong with her when we gave her away:

*Back left door would only lock once in a blue moon. And when it did lock, you couldn't unlock it.

*Trunk would not close or lock, and flew up when you hit a bump

*Back spoiler light was duck taped on

*Inner console was broken off

*Passenger rear-view mirror was broken

*Needed brake pads, shocks and struts, and timing belt, alternator and harnesses

Now on to the fun of finding a new (old) car!

My Heart

Did you know that I was a mom?

Don't freak out, we are NOT pregnant!

Meet a few of my kids:

 

These smiles MELT my heart! The kiddos above are just a few that have been coming with our bus ministry! They are such a blessing to me.  And then you mix in all of my other kiddos, and you have a heart that could explode because it getting filled up with so much love! One of the beautiful joys of my job is that I get to be mom sometimes.  I get to give hugs, and bandaids. It means spit up, torn shirts, and sore feet. There are awkward moments, hard moments, tears and lots of laughs. And recently, that role has taken on a new meaning! It means sitting with 40 of them in church, making sure they don't throw things over the balcony and being mom to five "tweens" on a Sunday night.

And you know what--I wouldn't change it for the world. Because I also get to share with them the greatest story they will EVER hear.  I get to show love to those who have never seen it , and I get to teach them  what it means to show respect and love. 

 

I could fill up paragraphs with how much I love every single child that walks through my doors, and is a part of my ministry.  In all reality, whether they come on a bus or ride with their parent, I feel in some ways like they are mine at times! I pray for them and their futures. When I sing worship songs and spend time in scripture and, I plead with the Lord that those songs and His Word would be truth in the hearts of every child, that they may know the meaning. My heart breaks for every child who is living in darkness.

 

 I heard a song on the radio the other day. This line jumped out to me:

"But most of all I'll want to know you're walking in the truth"

And that is my prayer. That the children of FBC Malakoff, of our town, of our area are reached. That they know Christ, that they are walking in the truth.

Attitude

Yesterday, I attended the funeral of an incredible man.  It was truly a celebration of life.  His name was Joe. Joe had cancer for many, many years.  When he was first diagnosed, he was given only months.  Yet, he  chose to live. Most people that met Joe never even knew that he was sick.  He gave his life 100%, so that he could enjoy each moment, and most importantly so that others could see his Savior through his life.  

The following poem was shared at the service. It speaks so truly to Joe's life, and opened my eyes to the kind of attitude that I have about both little and big things. If I learned one thing from Joe, it was that you gave the Lord 100% of your life and your attitude-no complaining, no whining....just lots of loving and laughing.

~Attitude~

Charles Swindoll

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

Haiti

Shaun Groves has written today about the great need in Haiti due to the earthquake. The Compassion International schools and resources in that region have been devastated.  Click here to read his blog or on the Compassion link below to see how you can help.

And most importantly-->PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for these sweet children, their families, and rescue workers who are working round the clock to help those in need.

40 days

Yesterday, along with many others in our church, I started a journey.

It began 2 weeks ago. We received a challenge from Nathan- to begin praying about something that we could fast from for 40 days.  We were to begin yesterday,  January 11, and fast for the 40 days before Radiate 2010, our revival.  This will be 40 days of fasting and praying for God to move in mighty ways in our church and in our lives.

I can't even begin to explain how my heart desires to see what God has planned for our church in the next 40 days. But beyond that, I am pleading with Him to change my life and my family in radical ways and to open my eyes to new things about who He is, and what plan He has for our lives.