Lent -- Day 5 of 40 (Pie, ponies, and a mule)

Some insights I gained this morning from a wonderful day both at Sunday School and church this morning.

We are reading book called “OneMonth to Live” and today’s lesson talked about how we need to act the same in each and every aspect of our lives. We don’t need to compartmentalize how we act. If we are nice in one place we need to be nice everywhere. This hit home with me because of Luke’s “wanting to be nice” comment. Today when Mary Flynn wanted him to do something and he wasn’t the “nicest.” I told him (from what I learned in Sunday school) that if he was going to proclaim to “want to be nice,” he had to be nice all the time. And he is on quite the roll of being an obedient child and so super sweet. When Reed pushed him out of the car this morning in the church parking lot (opposite of being nice), and proceeded to lie about it. Then once they were both crying, I made Reed say he was sorry, and hug, and Luke (in probably the sweetest voice ever), said, “It’s okay Reed.” I still think I’m at the end of my parenting knowledge—HELP! (Reed loved me again when I gave him some new basketball shorts that came down below his knees, told me “You are the best!” Can we say love language here?)

SO back to Sunday School…at the end, Claire pulled out a pie diagram (which really make a great illustration of the lesson). One side had all the pieces of pie, church, co-workers, friends, sales clerks, family, and she asked us how we acted and how we treated people at each of these places. Then she flipped it over and all the pic pieces had God at the center, so when you took a bite of pie, God was the first bite.

And Bro. Mike’s sermon was also great! It was called “Don’t be a Mule” and I knew it would be good. I had the privilege of doing children’s church (and thought about using Claire’s pie) but decided to use one of the “My Lil Ponies” Mary Flynn and I got from my mom’s yesterday (she kept all of them, which was so much fun…brushing their hair really is therapeutic).

(insert pic of my lil pony that I cannot get to upload, but I will try tomorrow b/c it makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it)

Anyway, I focused on verses 8-9 and we talked about how if we listen to what God has to teaches, we don’t need a bridle like a horse or a mule. And then (in only Bro. Mike fashion) he came full circle and talked about how “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven.” How we need ask for forgiveness and we will have that burden lifted. And not to hold onto it like a stubborn mule. We don’t need a bridle, like a horse or a mule, we have Christ to take our sins away and to teach us and to “consel us with His loving eye.”  We didn't talk much about verse 7, but I love that David says "you are my hiding place." The book by the same title, by Corrie Ten Boom, is one of my favorites.

Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.

¹ Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
² Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.

³ When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.^[b]

⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

⁶ Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
    while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
    will not reach them.
⁷ You are my hiding place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
    or they will not come to you.
¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.

¹¹ Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart!


Now the children are off to the grandparents for spring break and I am finishing up 1/2 made sewing projects! Three pairs of shorts and 2 dresses for Mary Flynn.


Day 5 -- DONE (and made it under the wire at 11:48 p.m.)

Cross references:

1. Psalm 32:1 : Ps 85:2; 103:3
2. Psalm 32:2 : S Ro 4:7-8*
3. Psalm 32:2 : Jn 1:47; Rev 14:5
4. Psalm 32:3 : S Job 31:34
5. Psalm 32:3 : Ps 31:10
6. Psalm 32:3 : S Job 3:24; Ps 6:6
7. Psalm 32:4 : 1Sa 5:6; S Job 9:34; Ps 38:2; 39:10
8. Psalm 32:4 : Ps 22:15
9. Psalm 32:5 : Job 31:33
10. Psalm 32:5 : Pr 28:13
11. Psalm 32:5 : Ps 103:12
12. Psalm 32:5 : S Lev 26:40; 1Jn 1:9
13. Psalm 32:6 : Ps 69:13; Isa 55:6
14. Psalm 32:6 : Ps 69:1
15. Psalm 32:6 : S Ex 15:10
16. Psalm 32:6 : Isa 43:2
17. Psalm 32:7 : S Jdg 9:35
18. Psalm 32:7 : S Ps 9:9
19. Psalm 32:7 : S Jdg 5:1
20. Psalm 32:8 : S Ps 25:8
21. Psalm 32:8 : Ps 34:11
22. Psalm 32:8 : Ps 33:18
23. Psalm 32:9 : S Job 30:11; S 39:10; Jas 3:3
24. Psalm 32:10 : Ro 2:9
25. Psalm 32:10 : Ps 4:5; Pr 16:20
26. Psalm 32:11 : Ps 64:10

 

Lent -- Day 4 of 40 (StitchFix, among other things)

So excited yesterday when I pulled up from running a few errands, and the FedEx man was in my drive way. I KNEW what he had and couldn't WAIT to get it:

 

my very first stitchfix.

After I filled out a forever long survey about my size, shape, fashion likes, dislikes, preferences on dresses, skirts, pants, scarves, etc., etc., etc., and I was finally ready for my "fix" to be shipped the week of March 3rd! You have your own personal shopper -- mine's name is Katie. She sent me 5 items: a scarf (black and white polka dot), 2 tops (both dolman sleeve which I loved, but wanted more springy type things--Hello Mississippi heat will be here soon, won't it?), a sweater (see below), and a pair of peach skinny jeans (now we're talking). They also send a "how to wear" sheet that shows each item and how to wear it! Please and thank you very much!

These are the "how to wear" cards for the two items I'm keeping

MY KEEPS!!

 

So I am keeping 2 and sending back 3. I get on their site, fill out a survey on what I did and didn't like about my shipment and let them know what I will be keeping. They included a postage paid envelope for me to send back what I didn't like! Easy peasy and so much fun!

 

 

Lent -- Day 3 of 40 (Books on my Nightstand)

I was joking with some friends on the way to the beach last weekend about how I was reading 3 different books at the same time. In all seriousness, I am, but there are a few that I want to remember:

“THE ANTELOPE IN THE LIVING ROOM” by Melanie Shankle

As I have stated on this blog before I love Sophie Hudson, first of all because she is hilarious, second of all she is from Mississippi, and third, she is a State fan. (“A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet,” is so good!) (And she loves to write in parenthesis.) When I saw that she was recommending the book by Melanie Shankle, “The Antelope in the Living Room,” I downloaded it immediately (thanks mom for the itunes giftcard you gave me for Christmas!!). And let me just say, married, not married, dating, or single, this book is hilarious. She mixes her faith with her funny and throws everything in between. The story about the actual antelope her husband hung in their living room was so something that would happen at our house. Great easy read!!! Here are 2 excerpts that I can’t stop thinking about (the first) and laughing about (the second).

#1

“I think Anne Lamott said it best in one of my favorite quotes: “I do not at all understand the mystery of grace—only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” There’s something about grace that makes us want to do better, be better, because we know we’ve been given a pardon.”

Yes, yes, and yes!! Isn’t grace great!

 #2

Her daughter is telling her she can’t be in her club, “because it’s a club for four-year-olds, and you’re not four.”
And since I am very, very mature and have read many parenting books that are chock-full of parenting wisdom, I replied, “Well, that’s fine. Daddy and I have our very own grown-up club.”
Perry (Melanie’s husband) piped up from the living room, “That’s right, it’s called MARRIAGE, and there’s no escape. It’s like being part of a street gang. You have to die to get out.”
He is hilarious.

 

I think I relate because this is exactly something Rob would say. Loved it! A book, as Sophie said, “will have you laughing and crying at the same time!”

 

“BUT MAMA ALWAYS PUT VODKA IN THE SANGRIA” by Julia Reed

When we were at the beach, we went into the best bookstore ever -- Sundog Books -- in Seaside, Fla., where Julia Reed has a home. I have loved Julia ever since I read her first book, “The House on First Street,” about the renovation of her house in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina AND I always love her “High and Low” article in Garden and Gun Magazine. AND she is (yet again) from Mississippi! Greenville to be exact, which has a special place in my heart – lots of my favorite people (I even took one of these people’s last name) hail from this Delta town. I saw this book and realized it was filled with recipes and picked it up. Julia was also featured in the November issue (I think) of Southern Living and I have made her recipe for Roasted Pecans at least three times now (I crave them and its super easy!). I love all of her stories about growing up in the Missisippi Delta and her life working as a writer for Newsweek, Vogue, and now Garden and Gun. Another quick and fun read (that I am keeping in my kitchen). We will certainly be trying the Roman Steaks, Green Goddess and French dressings (I love a dressing/sauce), warm field pea and shrimp salad, ooh, and crabmeat bruschetta. All of these are perfect (and fairly easy) for spring or at the beach!! Hurry July!! Can’t forget the Black-Eyed Pea Salad, and Judy’s slaw!

 

Roasted Pecans (from Southern Living article)

 4 cups pecans

¼ cup of butter, melted
½ tsp of kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper

 Toss the pecans in butter. Lay them out flat on a cookie sheet. Bake in oven for 25 minutes at 325 degrees. Turn over ½ way through baking. Remove from oven and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Devour!!  

 

“THE CIRCLE MAKER” by Mark Batterson

My sweet friend Alison and I love to talk about books we are reading and a few weeks ago she mentioned reading “The Circle Maker” and wanted to know if I wanted to read it, then do a 40-day prayer challenge. So we are currently reading this book. It teaches us how to draw circles around our prayers and not to stop until it’s been answered. How many people in the Bible had faith and drew circle around their prayer requests and God honored their requests. I’m hoping to finish this weekend! We are meeting for lunch Monday to discuss, set/compare our life goals (fun and scary at the same time), and get started on the 40-day prayer challenge. I’m so excited to see what God does with us and how He uses us during this time!

 Frankly, I could have just highlighted and posted the entire book, but here are just a few excerpts from what I read today that I don’t want to forget – EVAH (my Luke was home sick so I got some reading in):

 When talking about the prophet Daniel:

“The thing that impresses me about Daniel is that he knew his prayers wouldn’t be answered for seventy years, yet he prayed with a sense of urgency. As a procrastinator, I would have been tempted to wait until the last week of the sixty-ninth year to even start praying. Not Daniel. He had the ability to pray with urgency about things”

 This passage it me square in the face because I love to sleep and love to sleep late:

“We love a good night’s sleep, but sleepless nights are what define our lives. If you’re going to bring kings to their knees or shut the mouths of lions, sometimes you need to pull an all-nighter. I’m more and more convinced that the biggest difference between success and failure, both spiritually and occupationally, is your waking-up time on your alarm clock. If you snooze, you lose. But if you pray through, God will come through as surely as the sun will rise.”

 

“In the circle of successful living, prayer is the hub that holds the wheel together. Without our contact with God we are nothing. With it, we are ‘a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor.”

 “Turn a commute or walk or workout or meeting into a meaningful spiritual discipline. Though I advise against the actual shooting motion, it’s a great way to pull the trigger on 1 Timothy 2:1: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.”

What if we stopped reading the news and started praying for it? What if lunch meetings turned into prayer meetings? What if we converted every problem, every opportunity, into a prayer?

Maybe we’d come a lot closer to our goal: praying without ceasing.”

 When the people marched around Jericho to take the city:

“God said He had already given them the city, past tense. Do you realize that the victory has already been won? We’re still waiting for its future tense revelation, but the victory has already been won by means of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is finished. This isn’t just when God made good on grace; it is when God made good on every promise. Every single one is yes in Christ. Past tense. Present tense. Future tense. The full revelation won’t happen until His return, the return that Daniel prophesied, but the victory has already been won, once and for all, for all time.”

“Destiny is not a mystery. For better or for worse, your destiny is the result of your daily decisions and defining decisions.

Daniel made the decision to stop, drop, and pray three times a day. Those daily decisions add up. If you make good decisions on a daily basis, it has a cumulative effect that pays dividends the rest of your life.”

 “What I love about Brian is that despite repeated failures, he kept trying. Most of us quit trying after six circles or twenty days or two failures. In case you missed the message the first time, if you keep trying, you are not failing. The only way you can fail is if you quit trying. If you’re still trying, even if you’re failing, you’re succeeding. God is honored when you don’t give up. God is honored when you keep trying. God is honored when you keep circling.”

 “This is why goal setting is so important. It creates a category in your reticular activating system, and you start noticing anything and everything that will help you accomplish the goal. Prayer is important for the same reason. It sanctifies your RAS so you notice what God wants you to notice. The more you pray, the more you notice.”

 “Maybe we need to change our prayer approach from as soon as possible to as long as it takes”

 

Can’t wait to finish “The Circle Maker” and see what God does in this little life of mine!

 

Night night – be back tomorrow for Day 4 of 40…(and praying a circle around this blog and my 40 day commitment!

Lent -- Day 2 of 40 (Happy, good, Grace, God, and Waterlogue)

I can still see my eyebrows in that Senior video. For the LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND KIND in the world, why did no one tell me to get my eyebrows waxed. They were curly and about 3 inches thick. We had been asked where you saw yourself in 10 years and in my 18 year old mind, I thought I had most everything figured out, as most 18 year olds do. “I just want to me happy!” I wish I could find the VHS copy so I could watch it.

Over the years, I have thought (so proud of myself) what a good answer that was. And how “good” I was. Now, don’t get me wrong, I did PLENTY of things I shouldn’t have done, but on the outside, I appeared like the “good” girl I was supposed to be. Looking back I am realizing that I was being good for myself, so I would look better and be liked by others. I have been doing this my whole life.

I hope that my focus is shifted to do things pleasing to God, and a lot of these “things” aren’t wrapped up perfectly and pleasing as far as worldly views go. I shouldn't care, but there I go trying to please everyone again. But Jesus, while on Earth, didn’t aim to please. Each and every step he took on this earth was to teach his disciples about His father in heaven and how we should love others and follow Him – ALL OF US following ALL of HIM. He didn’t mean for me to pick out my favorite verses in the Bible that make me “happy” or “feel good.” He invited prostitutes, tax collectors, and all types of lowly (i.e. homeless, drug addicts, that person I just DID NOT want to talk to today) into His inner circle. Matthew always referred to himself as the “publican,” identifying himself as the tax collector he once was – as a constant reminder of his past and humbling himself. I guess I could call myself many things: Melanie Yates, gossip, Melanie Yates, coveter, Melanie Yates, selfish person (not sure what word ending in –er that would be), Melanie Yates, judge, Melanie Yates – plain ole sinner!!

The older I get, I realize that being happy is fun, but life isn’t centered on that and “we of little faith” better have something bigger to fall back on than creating our own happiness.

A recent struggle has been how to stress this to our children.  We want to please and make people happy, but in the long run, we need to be pleasing God. We try to hard to love all people, especially our children in BIG ways and say yes more than we say no. We try to protect and expose—how much is enough? We want them in a constant state of happiness so we, as their parents feel like “we” have done a good job raising them and teaching them.

I read on Sherry Burgess’s blog (wife of Rick of the Rick and Bubba show) that we are not always going to be happy and neither are they. Our walk with Christ will be filled with heartache and trials. Our goal should be to want them (and ourselves for that matter) to be HOLY. When happiness isn’t there, we are to be Holy, and to honor our God, and the JOY that He gives will sustain us.

We want them to always be good, do good, look good, and feel good. And let me just tell you, this is EXHAUSTING (I can vouch for that tonight when a meeting at my house turned into me going nuts on my 3 for acting a fool while I was "trying to have a conversation with an adult!!!!"). We just need to guide them and let God be in control….SOOOO HARD!!!

This list I found list hits the nail on the head:

1. Don’t take too much credit for their good.

2. Don’t take too much credit for their bad.

3. Don’t try to raise a good child. Raise a God-following adult.

Amen and Amen…

Pictures from today via waterlogue app:

 

 

 

My front door (newly painted Benjamin Moore’s Sullivan Green 560)

Found this on Pinterest – 12 Best Colors for your front door from House Beautiful

Selfie requested by this guy – my sweet Luke. Who yesterday when his big brother pulled his ear and I told him to pull Reed’s back (nobody said I was getting mother of the year), he said, “Well I want to be nice!” S.O.S. I’m at the end of my parenting skills!!

 

 

Our house via waterlogue – all that needs is a frame!

Arm candy from Noonday Collection– loving these new bracelets! They are making my day!

...only 38 more to go!
AAAAHHHHHHH!
MMMEEENN!!!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lent -- Day 1 of 40 (Repenting and I can't believe I just wrote that number)

Since today is the beginning of Lent, and of course it’s here and I have been left wondering what to do. Well tonight at our Ash Wednesday service, I was inspired. First of all to repent. For many things, but for one, my lack of repenting, and my lack of spreading the Word of Christ with others. Each and every day I am given opportunities to share my faith and I fail.

·        He gives me opportunities to wake up early and read my Bible, and I sleep in.

·        He shows me ways to serve Him and I look away.

·        He gives me lots of chances to love others and I chose to judge them.

·        He blesses me and my family with abundance and we are steady asking for more, not satisfied with what we are given.

·        He leads me to speak up for His kingdom and I am silent.

·        He wants me to BE BOLD (the most bold statement up in here is the "1 of 40" in the title), and I am a wall flower, watching and waiting for the unimportant to grab my attention.

·        He listens to my prayers, and wonders if I really want to see how much He loves me and what a mighty God He is.

Which reminds me of Brother Mike’s first sermon of the year, he challenged us with this:

“You need to be sure NOT to make the urgent things IMPORTANT, and MUST make the IMPORTANT things urgent.” A lot of the things in this age of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Netflix, emails, phone calls, texts – I could go on and on with different apps., etc., that vie for our time. It’s staggering. And sadly we make these seemingly urgent “updates” important. As our children, husbands, parents, Bibles, Bible Studies, prayers -- our “IMPORTANTS” – wave at us from the sidelines, waiting for their turn, which seems like an afterthought. I am feeling guilty as I write that…

So, with all of that said, I am committing each day (or more likely night…the waking up early is going to be a  struggle) during Lent, to start writing on here and sharing something or some way I have seen Christ move during that day. I am going to be more aware of the important and pay less attention to the less important momentary “urgencies.” I am going to look for opportunities to love, to be thankful for blessings, to speak up and be bold. I want to pray prayers that are sincere and real and not vague. Prayers with purpose, prayers with direction, and prayers with confidence.

I’m going to hold my babies, I’m going to really talk to them, not just ask them if they put their clothes up or did their homework. I am going to rock them (even the 7 year old). I am going to be intentional about the time we spend together as a family and not pawn them off on the TV or their Ipods. I’m going to try to say, “Just a minute,” and “Let me just finish Blah, Blah, Blah…” much less frequently.

This can only be done with concentrated prayer and Bible reading. And hopefully the next 40 days of Lent will be filled with the things of this life that are important and the things of the heavenly realm that are of Him. This writing project is going to hold me accountable. I’m excited, nervous, scared (did I really write 1 of 40), and that is just scratching the surface.

 And I’m going to only think about the things mentioned in Philippians 4:8-9 and I am going to do my best to put them into practice as Paul is telling us.

   ^“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

 …and if I get all that done (whew!) I’m going to do my best to catch Jimmy every night on the Tonight Show! YAY for 10:30!

 (I’m also going to do my best to post some of my “loves” of the moment each day too!)

 Should be FUN!!!

The past several weeks have been filled with ups and downs (for many in my little circle of the world) – kinda like a roller coaster! But I have found its TRUE – our joy comes from the Lord! JOY!!! JOY!! JOY! Thinking I may try out that "pick a word for the year" deal and my word for 2014 will be JOY!

Here are some things from the past few weeks that are making me smile (and giving me JOY!) – and a couple that are making me think and taking my focus off of the things of this world and turning it towards Him and the true JOY from heaven!

1)      Jen Hatmaker – God love her (and I know He does)! For so many reasons I love this chic – so funny and so real and so in tune with God’s heart for His people. Not only have I (and am in the throws of) tackled her book “7” and have been living it out one week (not month as Jen did) at a time, I just read this blog post from several Christmas’ ago. A friend asked me at church if I was ready to ruin Christmas, and I *think* (AAAAHHHH) I might be leaning in that direction. IF we are to practice what we preach, I feel very strongly about the message she puts out there (in a way that only Jen can do). Lots of prayers will be going up to try to decide what is best for the Yates family – God knows (and I am afraid of where I am being led – is that bad? EEK!).

2)      And this jewel of a Blog post from Ann Voskamp's A Holy Experience blog. What a great message for women and one I will hang on to FOR. EVER. As I told a sweet friend who messaged me with reassurance that I should never compare myself to others, I must admit, I, more often than I would like to, am the one trying to build MYSELF up and in my mind, bring others down. That was very hard to write --- but it is sadly the truth and my eyes have been opened and again, am praying that I can remember, if I “Walk through life with a measuring stick – my eyes get so small I never see God.” I certainly don't want to live a life like that.

3)      And last Sunday night was such a highlight to be in the presence of such AMAZING talent as the girls (and guy on stand up bass) from HighRoad III. What a blessing for our church! Got the new CD as well as the Christmas one. Kids can’t stop singing Hold me to the Rock and Lamps a Burning has become my new fave, as well as the version of Revelation Song, that only they can pull off! LOVE! IT!

4)      Enjoyed an awesome time at Mistletoe Market place, working in the booth of my friends at Ala Carte Alice (we sold lots of soups, y’all)! I also got to see a good friend from college who has a new (to me) jewelry line called Gemily (friends and family can expect goodies!) and a new friend Kristen at Thimblepress in Jackson who went back to her studio to get me her LAST individually wrapped cowbell print! Again, couldn’t resist a few handmade happies! (Trying to only buy handmade and give-back products as Christmas gifts this year!)

5)      Also at Mistletoe I pretty much made a spectacle of myself when none other than Sophie Hudson (AKA Boo Mama) who was signing books down the way, walked up to our booth to partake in some Ala Carte Alice dip goodness and I went “Oh my Gosh -- HHHEEEEYYYYYYY!” – just like we were the best of friends like we are in my mind ever since I read her book “A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet” – except I forgot the fact that we aren’t. Anywho, she didn’t report me to the Mistletoe police as a potential stalker, and graciously signed my book as well as two I am giving as Christmas gifts! Love her and we can still be best friends in my mind!

6)      During our Thanksgiving service, Becky Smith delivered a beautiful message from Philippians 4:4-8 (which just happens to be my life verse). The verse tells us not to worry but "with Thanksgiving" make our requests to God.

7)   Reed lost his first tooth this week (finally) so we are starting the year's of the snaggle toothed look! He and Luke were using a stick horse as a telescope (the imaginations of these two) and Luke pushed the "telescope" right into Reed's mouth and out popped the tooth!

 

8) Since we were sending out the group message and picture of the said lost tooth, the other two had to have their picture taken as well (hope to write later about the "real" drumsticks Luke is holding!

 

 

9)  I walked into the living room as Lilly sat down on her bed with a balloon attached to her collar -- not sure how long she had been doing this, but I swear, Luke will be the death of her. But it is sweet and hysterical to watch!

 

10)  My brother-in-law's mom passed away this week and the pastor focused on the verse from Phillipians 1:21 -- "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is Gain." Although I didn't know her extremely well, the times I was around her she was just a breath of fresh air and had such a warm spirit -- always smiling and asking about children and what we were up to." She loved Jesus and lived as Christ in the world. One thing the preacher said that Paul said, was "For me" -- Paul's personal relationship in HIS life -- it must be that way for each individual person -- our personal relationship with Christ. And now that she is healed and is in heaven, I just keep thinking about ALL (that my mind can comprehend--I know there is WAY more than I can fathom) she is seeing and experiencing. But most of all, she is sitting at the feet of Jesus...talk about GAIN!

Excited about the upcoming Thanksgiving week! We have so so so SOOOO much to be Thankful for! Having my family in my home for Thanksgiving will be a first and we are going to have a wonderful time. Then off to Starkville for the Egg Bowl! Hail State! Maybe we can pull it off but I will be thankful to spend time with family and many friends -- win or lose!

Haiti -- the long version

My dear friend Laura Walton asked me to write a post for the HMM (Hispaniola Mountain Ministries) blog to talk about my experience in Haiti. They are the group who organized our trip and many others to the Dominican and Haiti and Laura is their Director of Communications! I jumped at the chance -- then she said (those dreaded words that I am never good at) it can be short -- EEK!! So I gave her the short version, but wanted to share a little bit longer version here for my peeps who keep up with us on the B.L.O. double G. So, without further ado: HAITI

As I looked back through my journal from our trip, there were several things that stood out to me.

In the weeks leading up to our trip, we prayed weekly (and some weeks twice a week) for our trip…..we became so close as a team and it was beautifully covered in blankets of prayer. During these prayer times our team grew closer and closer and I could always feel God’s immediate presence in our midst. It was beautiful! I would continue to feel Him as our journey truly began!

Many times people will tell you that when you go on a mission trip we ourselves are changed just as much the people we serve, and I would have to agree.  Upon our arrival, one of the first things I remember us doing was going over from the Dominican into Haiti. It was Sunday, and we got to experience a church service in the church on the Promised Land Compound. As Tim told us many times, Pastor Vilma is so important in his community and I can see why. We saw the church building where they had been meeting, which was little more than a thatch shack where they were now holding Children’s Church. About 20 little children from 3 to probably 15 were reciting Bible verses aloud that they had memorized. This was amazing. We then went to the church building where the people were meeting and although we could understand very little of what was being said, Jesus Christ’s presence was felt inside the four walls of that church. As the people sang, it was such a beautiful testimony of their faith. The words they sang came alive and you could see what strong faith they had in their Lord and Savior. They didn’t have other distractions getting in the way of that and it was beautiful. And when they prayed, they prayed out loud all at once, and it seemed to me God met those prayers before the sound reached the roof – yet another a beautiful sound (might be something we want to try here at our church sometime).  

One of the first mornings we were there as we were preparing for our first day of “work,” God spoke to me through the devotional book “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. Here is a part of what I read on May 27^th: “Seek My Face at the beginning of your day. This practice enables you to “Put me on” and “wear me”….Thus you are well equipped to face whatever people and situations I bring your way. Clothing your mind in Me is your best preparation for each day. This discipline brings Joy and Peace to you and those around you.” NOW, since we were coming into contact with people and situations that we had NO IDEA how to handle – like poverty, starvation, sickness, and on top of that we were physically and emotionally drained, this devotion was just what I needed to hear. I have never seen a lack of basic human need as I saw in Anse A Pitre. There was a house on the compound that was only straw and the people living there had no possessions. There were several babies and a mom, dad, and grandmother. Even under these conditions, there was no sadness in their eyes. All the people and children we were with each day were happy. And this happiness wasn’t worldly happiness but joy. Part of this was because they didn’t know a lifestyle any different, and part of this was because they knew Christ and were taught about Him in their church and school.

We were around the school children each and every day. All the teaching is oral, very few had money to buy paper and pencils. From tiny little ones to High School age, it was a joy to hear them speaking and reciting their lessons. As we held them, played with them, and loved on them, we were showing them Jesus, and we let the little children come to us, jump on us, play with our phones, and gave them all we had.

As we interacted with the people of Haiti, DR, and each other, So much love could be felt. And as I said earlier, I feel confident that Jesus was among us. Hopefully instead of playing with us, they saw Him in our eyes.

In Haiti, I pray that I left joy, love, and hope.

In Haiti, I know that God turned it into a joy and hope that these people know only He can give.

In Haiti, our doctors in literally saved lives of many of the people they treated.

In Haiti, God saved lives of the spiritually sick, who will now spend eternity with Jesus.

In Haiti, we saw poor and poverty like never before.

In Haiti, God saw rich and strong faithful who put EVERYTHING in Him and this will continue to grow like never before as these people are witnessed to through words and actions and see our God at work in their lives.

In Haiti, we heard the voices daily of many crying out to be healed of their suffering to the only One who can heal their broken spirits and their country.

In Haiti, God hears the cries of His faithful, and answers them, and blesses them with lives where TRUE FAITH is alive and strong. Their faith is in Jesus Christ and in Him alone.

In Haiti, God worked through our mission team to do some great work. But the greatest thing He did was to let those people meet Him through our actions (because words literally meant nothing) while we were there. We came home, and He stayed.

He is creating beauty from so much brokenness. And in a country ravished with poverty and sickness and corruptness, I saw SO MUCH BEAUTY. The people, the children, the land, THE WATER (PTL!!), the animals. Many people could look at this and see ashes, but God has consumed this land, these people, and turned them into such beauty. Made me think of one of my favorite songs, Something Beautiful, by NEEDTOBREATHE. Listen here!  If you don't have time to listen, it says,

Hey now, this is my desire
Consume me like a fire, 'cause I just want something beautiful
To touch me, I know that I'm in reach
'Cause I am down on my knees, I'm waiting for something beautiful.

Coming home was hard, because it seems like there was so much to do. Like we did so little. But Tim said this on our last night there: “Even if you start something, God can finish it.” I know God has some very special things in store for the people of Anse A Pitre, the DR, and other cities in Haiti through the work of HMM. Many lives have been saved for eternity. I feel extremely blessed to have been a part of this trip and hope that when these beautiful people of Haiti think back to our time there, and all the other people who have visited them and shared God’s love with them, that they don’t see us, that they see their Savior, with whom they will one day live in paradise and have beautiful crowns of righteousness for the suffering they endured while on earth.

Like, 1 Timothy 6:17 says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” I learned the true meaning of this verse from the people of Haiti. They live it out daily. I have never seen this more clearly! My hope is, God willing, I can continue not only to be a part of this great mission to Haiti, but here at home too!

No matter where God calls you to serve, in your home, in your church, in your community, in a foreign country, do it! Each person who “Goes into all the nations,” no matter what nation (home or abroad), is doing great work for the kingdom.