No Future Questions

Summer camp sounds like a lot of fun to me.  Swimming, hiking, boating....all those fun things.  But then there are those things I wouldn't want to do.  Rock climbing, repelling, wrestling....I'm a little girly.  What can I say?

My middle son, Aaron, was a counselor at a Christian sport camp this summer and had a little life lesson for me when he came home.  It seems that many of the kids were constantly looking out for the next activity. All day long, they'd ask, "What's next?" or "What's the lineup for the day?"  I suppose it gets tiresome when 12 kids ask that question over and over and OVER so the counselors had a standard response.  NO FUTURE QUESTIONS.  All day long when the kids asked, they'd respond "No Future Questions....None."  Every time the future was brought up, it was shut down.  Dunzo.

He explained the reasoning.  Sometimes the kids weren't liking the activities they were doing.  Maybe it was hard, maybe it was boring, maybe they weren't good at it.  The counselors were trying to get them to focus on the here and now and do what they were trying with excellence, even if it meant a lot of attempts and a lot of hard work and perhaps very little success....and quite possibly some tears.

Am I a control freak?  I didn't think so until after Aaron shared his summer with me.  I'm all the time wanting to know what's coming next.  I don't like it when things feel out of my control.  I want to be done with this in order to get to that.  Hurry up difficult thing so we can get to the more pleasant thing.  I want to be done with the tears and get on with the laughs.  Are you like that?

Matthew 6:34 says, "Don't worry about tomorrow.  Tomorrow will worry about itself."  From the master Counselor himself, we get the word to let go.  Let ME take care of that for you.  You don't have to know because I have it all planned.  Unclench your hands, open them up, and let go of that need to know.  My dear child, No Future Questions.

Do I Really Matter?

Written with love by Kristy Babb.....

We all come into this great big world asking the same questions. Am I loved? Am I accepted? Am I secure? Do I have what it takes? Am I Significant and do I really matter?

Like you most of the answers to these questions in my life came from my parents and my early environment. In my world most of these questions were either unanswered or answered with an astounding NO. But God in his goodness revealed to me that HE alone is the only one capable of answering these questions for me.

My point in telling you this is that the questions What makes you feel significant? and what makes you significant? are two very different questions. If you are a believer you are completely and totally of great worth and value to our creator. You have great significance because God says you do. So without any hesitation to the question What makes you significant? The only answer that will ring totally true in your spirit is GOD.

I believe God allows people and relationships in our lives that allow us to feel significant and that was the question posed to me. What makes you feel significant? or Worthy or Valuable? or Important?

My answer to the question was my baby blanket that I still sleep with at night.  Not only is it the perfect temperature but it also makes me feel wrapped in love. My Mom gave me this blanket when I was very young. Through the years she has made adjustment after adjustment to make this blanket a reflection of the big life changes that have occurred for me. You will find somewhere the date December 28, 1996 and the name Chris Babb on a piece of Dallas Cowboy fabric. Obviously my wedding day. A little dog house with the name of our first born Parker. The year 1996 and the name Dawn Rose Mayer. Our beautiful niece who joined our lives in 2002.  2008 Klara Grace Babb, 2010 Aaron Alden Babb, 2012 Conlin John Babb. The three precious gifts that have been entrusted to our family. The fabrics are bright colored with butterflies and ribbons and centered throughout the entire blanket is a big red velvet cross. Whenever something new in my life happens my mom will come for a visit with her sewing kit and make the changes. If it tatters or tears she will do her magic repair work. Everyday this blanket reminds me how much my mom loves me and how significant I am to her. How very special she thinks I am and how valuable my family is to her.

I believe that my true significance is not measured by what makes me feel significant. Although an extra special blessing as much as I love my blanket if I was without it I would not think that I was insignificant. Our feelings can come and go. They are changeable often times unpredictable and can go up and down depending on the day or weather. But whether or not we are significant is unchangeable. It is a constant variable whether we feel it or not. No one or nothing will ever answer this question for you like your Father. Guess what happens when the God of the universe calls you by name and tells you that you matter? You do.

Learning How to Speak

Heat. Neon colors. That dusty, earthy smell. Dirty velvet. Cautious glances. That I-don't-quite-know-what-to-do-with-my-hands syndrome. That I-want-to-talk-to-this-kid-but-I'm-not-that-good-at-spanish anxiety. That I'm-here-to-do-God's-work-but-I-feel-inadequate mentality.

Welcome to Nicaragua.

From the moment that I stepped foot in the country until the moment I left, Nicaragua consumed me. I felt as though I was being attacked on all sides by cultural and environmental differences. Painted murals, lit trees, tethered chickens, decorated buses, crumbled buildings, rusted houses, scared faces, happy faces, tears, mangos, dirty hands. There's so much to see and hear and touch and smell that it's like being in a vortex with all of your senses spiraling out of control, but you're calm. Because time slows down in Nicaragua. No one is in a rush, no one is busy. The sun is up and the light is golden. The hot air envelops itself around you and a breeze makes your hair dance in the wind. I'm convinced that God designed Virginia's weather first because by the time He got to Nicaragua, he had perfected how to make a flawless climate.

I spent eight days with a team from UVA working at a church in the middle of a slum for a non-profit, Christian organization called Orphanetwork. Everyday, I would watch kids in the nursery, feed everyone lunch, and organize a craft for the older children while the local adults got lessons on how to tutor kids for the church's after school programs. One day we were able to clean this dusty, impoverished community with the kids, and another day took them to the pool to teach them how to swim.

The overarching impression that I received from interacting with this community was how much they were lacking. Lacking in money, food, education, clothes. Lacking in love, security, and confidence. The pastor said that people are unmotivated to take care of themselves. The majority of children drop out of school, parents struggle from drug addictions, and an overwhelming number of girls get pregnant before the age of 15. They have not learned to care for their environment or community as a whole and the truth of their value through Christ isn't known.

Hearing those words made my stomach churn. My work with these kids was intended to be relational, so while we did activities to teach them, our main objective was to make them feel significant. Sometimes the weight of that felt like a burden, as if it would've been easier to build a house or donate blood. Yet I found myself in the midst of sixty or so kids, hollering at the top of my lungs and swinging little ones around like airplanes. I could see them. I could see him. A 12 year old boy who wears a dirt-encrusted velvet hat and says that his favorite book is the Bible. I saw his sister who wears a Dora nightgown as a dress, and I saw his brother who draws with broken rubber bands because pencil and paper are too expensive. And I saw all these harsh realities spun around them like a spider's web, ensnaring them in lies of hopelessness and deceit, and I wanted to tell them that they are wonderful. That their incredible spunk and energy is intoxicating. That they can do important things because they are important, and that God has more love for them than they could ever imagine. But I hesitated. The words dried up in my mouth because I know english, not spanish. I didn't know how to translate my feelings into words that they would understand and I struggled with feeling as though I was failing in the very work I traveled there to do. But God sometimes has this funny little way of taking our smallest weaknesses and transforming them into some of our greatest strengths. He gave me other ways to speak to them.  He gave me laughter and silly faces. Hand gestures and staring contests. Salsa dancing and coloring books. He taught me that the language of communication isn't verbal, it's emotional. It's love.

When I came back to the States, Orphanetwork gave my team from UVA the challenge of raising $25,000 to launch a new education program in places like the church that I worked at. This program would provide kids with teachers, tutors, and school supplies to promote continuing their education. The goal is to reverse the negative effects of their culture and improve their quality of life.
I would be profoundly grateful if you allowed me to continue to love on these kids by reaching my personal goal of $900. You can donate online at http://www.razoo.com/story/To-Teach-The-Untaught-Support-Nicaragua. These donations are tax refundable and you can print a receipt straight off of the website. It's been nearly three weeks since I've returned from Central America, and I am still processing the things that I saw and the responsibility I feel like I have for these kids. It's been very hard for me to sum up my experiences to people because I've found that I can talk forever about Nicaragua. Despite the many things that I wish I could say, I'll end with this:

"No os olvidéis de la hospitalidad, porque por ella algunos, sin saberlo, hospedaron ángeles." Hebreos 13:2
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

I hope I met some Nicaraguan angels.

Helping Justice

Today's post is by Kelly Wayland

Back in early November I was introduced to someone who attended an open house that I was holding for a business I have recently started. She told me about a family that lives in Gainesville, VA who is struggling financially. A single mom and her three daughters, the youngest of which is battling a rare form of cancer called Hystiocytosis. 
Hystiocytosis is found in only about 800 people in the world. Justice, who is 8 years old, has been battling this disease since she was one year old and it has since spread to her brain. She is currently a living miracle. The disease is terminal and the family has been told that there is nothing more medically that can be offered.
Justice lives with her mom, Randee, and her sister, Taylor. Taylor is 19 years old and works full time to help put food on the table every day. She is currently taking driving classes that she was unable to take when she was in school due to a lack of money. The driving classes are being paid for by some supporters of the family. Randee, is unable to keep a full time job since she has to be around to take care of Justice. 
My company donated a Christmas dinner as well as some Christmas gifts to the family back in December. We also held a fundraiser where I sold my products and donated the profits to the family. We raised almost $400!! It was enough to pay their electric bill for the month of February, have the family vehicle inspected (and pass!) and then some leftover for anything else they needed.
The family is in constant need of basic things like food, toilet paper, money to put gas in the car, etc. as well as money to pay their utilities every month. I would like to organize a food drive for the family to start now and continue until Easter Sunday (March 31). Paula has allowed me to take donations at our upcoming Ladies Craft Night. Any kind of food is welcome! I will note that Randee is not much of a cook so anything that is simple to make/prepare is best. Cereal, Instant mashed potatoes, canned soups, canned fruits & veggies, etc… Pretty much any “heat & eat” kind of thing.
The plan is to collect donations until Easter Sunday (March 31) and deliver everything to the family sometime that week. Everything helps! Thanks in advance to anyone and everyone who participates!!"

Constant Reminders

So much sickness.  So much pain.  People without jobs and seemingly without hope.  The prayer chain email  is delivered and we're asked to pray for a family who lost their home in a fire.  How can we go on and who will help us?  I don't know about you but I find myself feeling overwhelmed and I want to throw my hands up in despair.

The other day I was in such a place and felt as though a tsunami of responsibility were washing over me and I was going to be swept away.  Maybe you've felt that way too and want to give up or plop down and bawl your eyes out.  Little things and big things combine in the perfect storm of stress, fear, and anxiety and it seems like Goliath himself stands before you and you are helpless in the face of it all.


As I struggled to get my things out of the car and into the house, I looked up.  I just stopped and looked up. There in the sky, on February 15th, was a beautiful rainbow.  I'm not sure I've ever seen one in the heart of winter, but there it was and it spoke to me.  It reminded me of a few truths about God and I was immediately comforted....immediately.

In our Bible study this week, Beth Moore challenges us to "Ask God to make you aware of the constant reminders of His presence in your life so that you can have His assurance no matter your circumstances."  My reminder this week was a rainbow, symbol of God's covenant with Noah.  It reminded me of His faithfulness to another, and comforted me that He would be faithful to me as well.

What tsunami is washing over you this week?  I know you have one, or if you don't, one will probably be headed your way. Not to bring you down, but life is like that.  How are you reminding yourself of God's faithfulness in the midst of it?  Join me in being aware and in asking for reminders and I'm sure God will give us rainbows in the storms.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Who Taught Me To Love?

Today's post is by Kristin Odom.

The question: Who taught me to love? The answer: My parents.

Throughout my childhood, my teenage years, and now my adulthood, I never once questioned if my parents loved me. They have never been shy about expressing their love to me, and I am so grateful for that. I watched how they loved each other and how they loved my brother and I, and have since tried to live what they taught me.

I remember realizing as a teenager that what I saw at home was very different from what many of my friends experienced at home. I learned very quickly that the loving parents I had were more the exception than the rule. They not only loved their children, but they loved each other dearly. They were the ones that always made me feel like the most popular, most beautiful girl when others might not have agreed. Yes, as a teenager, I sometimes felt like they were a bit smothering and sappy, but knew it was because they loved me. The older I got, the more I cherished what they had together. Now married, and soon to be turning 30, I find myself wanting to imitate what they have as parents and as mates.

My parents show love in very different ways, which balances out nicely. My father is the guy that still leaves my favorite candy on the kitchen counter when I go visit, and makes sure to take a day off to take me to my favorite fishing spot. I find it neat that he still wants to treat me, even if I am a grown woman with a family of my own. He takes time out of his day to make mine special and that never gets old. He now finds joy in treating my children with the same love he has shown me. We are constantly getting packages in the mail from him with an assortment of horses, which are Olivia’s current obsession. Nothing makes my heart smile more than to see my Dad make Olivia feel as loved as I have by him.

My mother is the one who gets excited when my daughter learns a new word or I find a new favorite café. She is the first person I call when Olivia learns a new skill or I need to vent about a difficult parenting day. Now as a mother, there are just some things that only she can understand. I constantly want her opinion, advice, and listening ear, and that’s because she has shown me such great love. Like everyone says, I appreciate her more and more now that I am a mother. I know that showing love as a mother means a lot of different things. Sometimes those things aren’t the most enjoyable. Diapers, meals, laundry, cleaning, middle of the night wake up calls, groceries...and the list goes on. I feel like I should tell her thank you for doing my laundry and giving me cough medicine during childhood, because I’m sure I didn’t tell her then! It’s just one of those things that make motherhood so glamorous! That, my friends, is true love.

They fill my heart in different ways, but they are equally as special.

Thirty-four years and two grandchildren later, they are still the parents and grandparents I strive to be. (Yeah, I know, that’s super cheesy..but it’s the truth).

Living, Laughing, Loving

Today's post is by Cindy Wayland.

“Would you be willing to write for the GLCC Ladies’ Blog about someone who has ‘taught you to love?’”  I immediately said, “Sure,” and considered about whom I would write.  The first person to come to my mind was my dad.  He was a police officer, but in spite of his erratic hours, he always made time for my mom, my sisters and our family.  When I was a kid and would ask if I could go with him to the hardware store, he would almost always say, “Yes.”  We played catch with a softball in our backyard on many occasions.  And although I was nearly 40 years old at the time, I saw the ultimate example of his love for my mom when she was undergoing treatment for kidney cancer.  My family and I were visiting them in Florida, and I heard her in the bathroom getting sick.  Dad dropped what he was doing to go into the bathroom and be with her.  Keep in mind that this was a man who grew up in an era when it was usually the moms who took care of the kids when they were sick, so this was not a role that my dad was accustomed to.  And the first time I ever saw my dad cry was about a month later, when Mom passed away….  True love.

But then I thought a bit further…..and my thoughts went to my mom….She was the one who WAS home with my sisters and me every day.  She told us after we were grown that she chose to be a stay-at-home mom so that she could be there in case we ever needed her.  And although we probably wouldn’t have admitted it at the time, we did need her – beginning when we were infants:  she changed our diapers, wiped our noses, tended to our skinned knees, taught us how to get along with others, nursed us back to health when we were sick, and wore her clothes until they were practically threadbare so that my sisters and I could have new clothes every once in a while.

I continued to ponder the question:  “Who taught you to love?”  My parents, as husband and wife, certainly demonstrated love to me nearly every day!  They seldom said a cross word to one another, they enjoyed spending time together, and they were the first ones to teach me about Jesus and God’s love.   After Dad retired, one of the first trips they took was to drive across the United States, from Florida to California, and back to Florida.  When someone once asked them, “What do you talk about when you spend that much time alone together in the car?”, I remembered my mom answering, “Most of the time, we don’t talk at all.”  For her, it was just enough to be with my dad and to enjoy the ride and the scenery as they drove along.  One of my favorite photographs of them (which I don’t have, but is hanging in my parents’ house), is a picture of the two of them laughing together.  They simply lived, they loved, they laughed.

I could certainly think of others in my life who have taught me to love – my husband, my grandparents, even my in-laws and children.  But I think the first people who taught me to love were my mom and dad!   And for that, I will be forever grateful!!

Choosing to Love

 Today's post is written by Megan Scott.

Ironically, I think I may have learned a lot about love from someone who hates me. You know, that one person in your life who you repeatedly will away and yet there they are – making situations, relationships and day to day life fairly miserable for you.

I know, I know… not a lovey-dovey Valentine’s story. It’s not a tale of romance, intrigue or star-crossed love; it’s more akin to those situations in which you would really just love to doodle black teeth and horns on someone’s picture before ripping it up and stomping on it, but then you catch a glimpse of your WWJD bracelet and go, “Oh, crap...”

Until a few years ago I prided myself on being generally amicable and getting along well with all of my friends and acquaintances – regardless of our differences. So when I found myself the object of a family member’s scorn, resentment and misguided anger I was at a loss for what to do. It felt as if this person were deliberately trying to rob me of my joy during what would be some of the most important events of my life – my wedding, my first pregnancy, the birth of my son, watching him grow and develop day by day… and to make matters worse, because this person was a part of my family I truly could not escape the situation; nor could my other family members. I remember questioning why God would allow this to happen to me… I didn’t feel as if I had done anything to deserve this person’s contempt and I found myself meeting anger with escalating anger.

I prayed that God would change this person. Apparently that wasn’t his plan. What he taught me instead was how to love when it is difficult.

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” Matthew 5:46-47 NIV

So I began to pray that God would change my heart and help me to love and forgive. To be honest, it is a daily struggle. Some days I feel nothing but compassion, others some new situation inevitably arises and it’s like salt in the wound. The good news is that God continues to encourage me through His people. One week it was Pastor Bob’s sermon on forgiveness. His metaphor about lugging around the suitcase (our “baggage”) and repeatedly choosing to drop it rather than holding onto it regularly enters my mind each time I struggle with forgiveness. Another time I was reading a book and stumbled across this verse:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 KJV

I don’t believe I had ever read this verse before and it was as though I had been waiting for God to personally tell me this… as if until he outright told me to I wouldn’t have to listen to that still, small voice. I’m pretty stubborn that way.

Again, not a romance novel, but I hope this encourages some of you to explore other types of love this Valentine’s day… not necessarily the fun kind, but rather the effortful, difficult kind of love that Jesus encourages us to pursue and ultimately modeled for us on the cross.

Whether it’s performing some random act of kindness for someone who has hurt you, letting go of an old grudge, or simply just praying for God to soften your heart towards someone, I hope God uses this Valentine’s day to encourage our hearts to love our neighbors as ourselves… even the ones who’ve installed surround sound in their living room, regularly hold band practice in their garage, and let their dogs explore your lawn.

The Best Example of Love

Sweethearts---Barbara and Jay Fowler

Today's post was written by Christian Fowler

Growing up my world was full of love. The love of siblings, the love of parents, the love of pets, and of course the love of Christ. Throughout the last 20 years of my existence my mom has been the one to show me what love is and how to love those around me. Growing up as 1 of 7 kids meant that things were usually tight financially. My mom was always making sure that we had everything we needed and giving things up to make sure we were getting the most out of life. She would help each of us with our homework to the best of her abilities, then she’d slave over the stove making food for all of us in a cramped kitchen. She’d help us pack our lunches for the next day, attempt to spend time with each of us individually, tuck us into bed one by one and yet still found time to be a wife and spend time with her husband. She raised her children in the church and made sure that we had family devotions regularly. We’d all pile onto her bed and my dad would read us a Bible story then we’d discuss it, sing a few songs, then go around and pray one by one. She made sure that we knew Christ loved each of us and that nothing we did could ever make Him love us less. She allowed Christ to shine through her in her daily life and set an example for us in more ways than she knows.

 When my dad was diagnosed with cancer she stood by him and supported him through every second of it. She knew going into it that it wouldn’t end well but she continued to pour out her love for him. She stopped working in order to take care of him. Watching through all of his pain she gave him countless shots, gave him medicine that he didn’t want to take but that she knew would help him, and made it through the sleepless nights that became a normality rather than a rarity. She slept in the floor on numerous occasions so that she could be near him and take care of him. I have never seen someone so dedicated to anything in my entire life. Even after his passing she still has a flame for him burning in her heart. The way she loved my father is the best example of love I’ve ever personally witnessed. Their love was one that didn’t need words. She’d walk into the room and his entire demeanor would change.

 She continues to be an example for us children not only in her love for my dad but also in her love for Christ. She shows us that Christ was there with us through the loss of my dad and that he was also there with my dad. She has taught us, not only through her words but also through her actions, that just because something goes wrong, we should never turn from Christ. One day I hope to be that kind of example for my children and to love the way my mom does. I want to have an undying love for my husband and an undeniable love for my God.

Breath of Heaven

Luke 1:26-38

Breathing is a natural thing.  We've been doing it since we came into this world.  What happens thought, when events or life circumstances stop you in your tracks and suddenly breathing becomes something you have to think about?  I know what that feels like-stress and anxiety and what once was natural feels a little unnatural.  Think about it.  How often do you find yourself stressed and you realize you may have been holding your breath or you're at the doctor's for a checkup and he says, "Breathe naturally".  When I begin to think about it, I can't breathe naturally anymore.  It's funny how breathing, just breathing becomes difficult to do, especially when our world turns upside down.

In Luke 1:28, Gabriel says to Mary, "The Lord is with you," and Mary was greatly troubled.  Imagine being by yourself, quietly involved in something and being visited by an angel.  He tells her something that is beyond anything she has ever dreamed.  She hears the news that she will give birth and Gabriel tells her the baby will be Great, Son of the Most High, and His kingdom will last forever and ever.  I call that life altering, don't you?

Confused, Mary asks, "How can this be?" and Gabriel explains how she will conceive and her response is simple.  Verse 38 says, "I am the Lord's servant.  May your word to me be fulfilled."  Such momentous news and such humble acceptance has inspired many over the years to look at Mary in awe and wonder.  How could such a young girl be so mature in her faith.  How amazing she must have been.....how woefully inadequate I am in comparison.

Amy Grant's song, Breath of Heaven, is the songwriter's interpretation of Mary's thoughts as she awaits the birth of her son, Jesus.  Here we see someone who is questioning why she was chosen, how she will cope, and what it means for her future.  Look at these words....

I am waiting in a silent prayer.
I am frightened by the load I bear.
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now.
Be with me now.

Breath of Heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of Heaven

Yes, Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant.  May your word to me be fulfilled."  But, that didn't mean she wasn't afraid and that doesn't mean she didn't question her part in God's plan or feel inadequate and unworthy.  We can only imagine her thoughts and her worries since they are not written down for us.  We can put ourselves in her shoes and think how we might have felt....how we might have responded.

The song continues....

Do you wonder as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place,
But I offer all I am,
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong.
Help me be.
Help me.

Sometimes our cries to the Lord don't go beyond that.  Help me.  Help me.

Last week, I had news that two of my high school friends have breast cancer.  Got the word on the same day and my heart broke for them and their families.  Their lives are changed and perhaps they are having trouble remembering to breathe right now.  Some of you reading this have had similar conversations with your doctors recently.  News that has cut right to your heart in its immensity and meaning for your future.  Perhaps your response, like Mary's was, "How can this be?"

Gabriel says THIS to Mary in verse 37.  "No word from God will ever fail."  I have read this chapter over and over since I was old enough to read and I don't think I've ever really let those words soak into me before.  "No word from God will ever fail."  The King James version says it this way.  "For with God nothing is impossible."  God keeps his promises....to Mary and to us here 2000 years later.  He promises to never leave us and forsake us.  He promises to walk with us through the fire and the floods so we won't be burned and we won't drown.  He promises to be the right hand that holds us up when we can't go on....when we forget how to breathe, HE will be our breath.  Job 33:4 says, "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.  Gabriel says, "No word from God will ever fail."  Ever!

So, as you face your life changing news, whatever it is or is to be, remember the words of Mary and the angel Gabriel and find the hope and the courage to go on.

Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me,
Breath of Heaven

http://youtu.be/oecH-V9RkQg

Renewed Health, Renewed Strength, Renewed Faith!

Today's post is by Suzanne VanDyke.

In the spring of 2009 I had just come out of one of the toughest seasons of my life. After struggling through a rare gynecologic cancer, I was finally cancer free! The chemo drugs had worked and I finally felt like I had my body back. I felt like I could be a wife and a mother again without my health holding me back. I also found myself yearning for a way to honor my faith and thank God for bringing me through this trial. This is when God brought Body & Soul fitness into my life. God showed me a renewed strength as my body felt stronger and my faith grew stronger at the same time. I also found a way to spend time with my Mother and sister outside of a traditional "health club" where everyone can participate. Regardless of fitness level, or where you are in your own faith, Body & Soul has something for everyone. We are blessed with one of the most caring and challenging instructors, Mrs. Linda Seagears. Linda has a God given ability to challenge individuals at their own unique levels in both faith and fitness. Many bonds and lasting friendships have formed and have made Body & Soul not just an exercise class, but a true blessing in my life. Last week we talked about the scripture, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). No matter where you are God desires for you to experience joy. Body & Soul has been a joy to me and I'm so thankful for the continued blessings of this ministry. P.S. Come give Body & Soul a try at "Turkey Boot Camp" this Monday, November 19th at 7pm. Regular classes meet every Monday at 7pm and Wednesdays at 5pm in the Grace Life Community Church Gym:)

He's Working On It

Today's post is by Alana Bell

I was in a funk. I knew it and I was sure everyone around me knew it. I was constantly irritated by people in traffic, at the gym, at the bus stop, at home. My attitude toward my daily routine and responsibilities was becoming increasingly negative. Any little thing that went wrong had me cursing the situation under my breath. My patience for my children being children was next to nothing and I found myself shouting and losing my temper constantly. I had been trying to fix it, but it just wasn't working. Every morning I would wake up and remind myself to try to do better, but I just kept failing. One evening after a particularly bad day and a rough bedtime routine that left me feeling like a mean mommy, I sat down and cried. "What is wrong with me?? Why can't I snap out of this??" Usually a few hard workouts, an evening out with my girlfriends, or a drop-everything-and-just-play-with-them session would do the trick. But I had tried all those things and I continued to feel terrible. That evening I heard that ever quiet voice whisper to me, "Proverbs 31." I could've gone straight to my old fashioned paper bible, or to my Bible app on my iPhone, but instead I plugged it into Google. I had heard of the "Proverbs 31 woman" and was a little unsure if I was ready to read a passage about everything I was not but should be. So instead of looking it up directly, I thought, let me get a little background on this. What I realized was that was exactly what God wanted me to do! The first link that came up was for the Proverbs31 Ministries. "Articles and Resources to Encourage Women in their Everyday Lives." Wow, God! That's totally what I need! I quickly came across a series of power verses that spoke to me and I felt led to write them down and meditate on them. My husband saw them sitting out on the counter the next morning and asked me if I was okay! To him the verses sounded depressing because the writers were coming from such a bad place. But in them I found hope. God was there with me and would help me to endure and become stronger. I also found a link to sign up for daily devotions and have found them to be a blessing every morning since.

That Sunday, by the grace of God, we had an easy morning getting ready for church and were actually running early. Everyone was in a good mood, and as we listened to WPER on the way to church, I was able to focus on God instead of the usual, "hurry up and turn green!! We're already late!!" A song came on that I had probably heard before but didn't notice, and it was like God said to me, "Hey, I've got something for you today, so listen up!" The girls and I belted out the song and truly worshiped the Lord on the way to church. When Kayleigh and I got into service and that very same song came on, we audibly gasped. God was really laying it on me thick. The sermon was the first half of the Fruits of the Spirit mini series. Love, Joy, Peace, and Patience. All the things that were so sorely lacking in my life. Pastor Bob really emphasized that these are not things that we can create or strive for. I realized that because of the love of Christ and grace of God, these things already exist in me. It was my flesh preventing them from growing. My own selfish tendencies and desires for everything to be my way were drowning out my ability to enjoy the multitude of blessings in my life. I left church that day actually feeling changed. The song played again on the way home, and I thought, I've got to remember this so I can tell someone, or play it at home. For the life of me I couldn't remember the title or artist after that day. It was like God was reminding me, it's not about the song. It's about you and me. I'm working on you. That's what you can tell people.

I felt that God wanted me to share my experience on the ladies blog, but I was afraid. What if I put myself out there and don't improve? What will people think? I procrastinated a bit, until today. I opened my daily devotional from P31 Ministries and it was entitled "Surviving Mommy Stress." I knew my friend was struggling after the birth of her baby and decided to forward it on to her. I had never shared anything like that with her before and was a little nervous about how she would receive it. Almost immediately, she responded to me, "You have no idea how much I needed that today." No, I didn't, but God did. He's working on it. He's working on me, and I'm learning to trust His direction, accept His grace, and let His fruit grow in my spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

-- 

                     

Get Plugged In....Family Festival

Today's blog post is by Hannah Montgomery....the illustrious leader of the GLCC's Family Festival.

The yearly Family Festival never fails to excite and bless me. To many it’s just an event the church has to bring in some community people and show everyone a good time. To me it’s a chance to put my all into creating a fun and safe place for our church members and our community to come together and have fun. It’s a time to connect people who may have never met before. It’s a chance to offer a good time for free to some families who may not have the money to go to Chuck E. Cheese or House of Bounce. It’s an opportunity to collect food for our food pantry, to offer a warm and inviting smile to a child or parent who just needs a moment of being happy. It’s being real, authentic, community minded, carefree, and just plain crazy!

You can’t downplay how much of an outreach it is. I used to wonder what kind of impact we were actually having with this event. I mean, there is no preaching or curriculum or anything like that. But there are smiles given out at every booth, there’s a puppet show sharing about Jesus, there are prizes given out that make a child feel special, there is an invitation to come in and see our church without the uncomfortable feeling of being out of place. There are so many people that come through our doors on the day of the Family Festival that would have never come here on a Sunday. It’s our chance to show them what we have to offer and then in the long run, what God has to offer. It’s getting our foot in the door. An opportunity to make a little crack so that God can step right in and continue to work in those lives.

The one thing that does put a damper on things for me each year is the lack of our own church community at the Festival. We scrounge up volunteers and the majority of the people enjoying the games and events, I have never seen before. This is a great thing, don’t get me wrong, but I wish more of our own church family would join in on the fun… on the opportunity to connect with others in the community.

I always struggle with the sign up part of this planning process. Not trying to guilt anyone or anything, but we have upwards of 600 people in this church. We advertised via bulletin, a movie clip and a long announcement on Sunday and we had about 10 people sign up… 4 of which are teens. What in the world?! One day of the year… 2 ½ hours of your day, actually… and out of at least 600 we get 10. I honestly just don’t get it. What does it take to interest people? To pull them in to this great opportunity? I have so much passion for this event and I so badly want to be able to transfer that to the rest of the congregation. I want to throw it out there and have God put that desire to be involved in your hearts.

I haven’t been able to control that frustration yet. My flesh gets frustrated every time. I never understand the lack of volunteers. But I constantly try to let go and give the frustration to God. I pray that He will move those in the congregation to sign up. To take action. To give of their time for God and for others.  In the end, I want others to volunteer for that reason. For God and others. Not because they feel guilted or because they want some credit for volunteering. It has to be a God thing. But that doesn’t mean I’ve come to terms with that yet… my controlling flesh wants to guilt you like crazy!! J

I do still want to challenge you. Is God asking you to become involved? To take action? Maybe not even in this event (though I hope he is!!) There are so many places in our church where we need volunteers and it seems like we get the same handful of people every time. How awesome would it be for everyone to be plugged in somewhere. Just one place. Receiving and giving. I mean, that’s what it should be. So what in the world is holding us back…

RGIII or Tebow? Wear Your Sign

I was trying to make a turn at a stoplight yesterday and there was this man in my line of sight.  I couldn't see around him to save my life.  He was wearing a sandwich board with instructions to "Follow Me to the New Car Wash-------->"  I craned my neck, inched out a bit in the intersection, but no luck.  Finally he moved and I could see, so went on my way.

A bit later I was listening to ESPN radio because that's what I like to do occasionally.  The topic of conversation was RGIII.  We are in the suburbs of DC so who is NOT talking about RGIII?  This conversation gave me pause for thought and maybe you'll think along with me.  The commentary guy said this...."Tim Tebow is a crap quarterback.  There's no two ways about it.  All the hype, all the promises, and we are left with the truth that he simply can't throw.  Besides that, he wears his faith around like a sign...in your face with all of this God stuff.  Now, RGIII, he's a good guy.  He likes God too, but he doesn't wear it around like a sign, like Tebow does".

Hmmmm.....I had just seen this man with a huge sign on, walking up and down the street in order to be noticed.  I noticed and maybe other people did, too.  That was the purpose.  I got the impression from the sports guy that RGIII was somehow better because he didn't advertise his faith and that Tim Tebow was somehow a lesser man because he did.

I know neither of these young men....surprises you, doesn't it?  I know what everyone else does by watching a Sunday game or looking them up on Wikipedia ( I did to see what RGIII's faith was before I wrote this.)  My conclusion is this.  What God has given them to do and the way God has given them to do it, they are doing.  If Tim feels like he should be out in public in a very obvious way, then he seems to be doing more of that.  John 3:16 on the eye black during a game is his thing....or at least used to be his thing.  Robert Griffin may be called to be more quiet about his faith, less talk the talk, and more walk the walk.  Whatever they have been asked to do, they might very well be doing that.

Back to my sign guy.  His job was to wear that sandwich board and walk down the street advertising the new car wash.  He did it and I suppose people will get their car washed because of his hard work.  It made me think....What am I willing to do for Christ?  If I was asked to wear a sandwich sign advertising new life in Christ, would I?  If it advertised the message of hope in a risen Savior, would I be bold enough to do so?  Do I walk with God every day, in such a way, that others know my faith and are pointed to Christ through me?  Thoughts to ponder, for sure.

Tomorrow we'll watch two young men on different teams, in different towns doing what they do best and what they love to do.  I trust that when the Lord moves them, they wear their "sign" in whatever way they are asked, not for what glory it might bring them, but for the glory it might bring to God.


Now, go watch some football.

The Grass is Growing

Note: This was written last fall during a rainy spell, but never posted and still applicable, in spite of not having an abundance of rain.
 

The grass is growing!! “Well, of course it is,” you say. “What did you expect with all the rain we’ve been getting?” Honestly, not much. You see, I’ve been pulling weeds for a year with visions of grass dancing in my head. Even when I’ve put down grass seed, not much has happened. But I’ve learned a lot.

§  Years of neglect will turn a yard into a haven for every known weed in the region.

§  The yard can look good from a distance and still be full of weeds…they’re green, too.

§  Some weeds are more troublesome and relentless than others.

§  Some seasons are better for eliminating weeds than others.

§  If weeds aren’t deliberately and swiftly replaced with something else (like grass seed) they will return with a vengeance.

§  The more established a weed is, the harder it is to get rid of.

§  Grass seed needs to be nurtured in order to take root and thrive.

So why am telling you about the mess of a yard that came with the house we bought two years ago? Because the Lord has been using the weeds to speak to me about the difficulties of life…sins, wounds, lies, and labels to use the *Soul Restoration vernacular.

Another way to tell you what I’ve been pondering is this:

§  Years of neglect will turn a heart and mind into a haven for every lie or label known to mankind.

§  We can look good from a distance and still be full of sin and wounds…we know how to smile, too.

§  Some sins and wounds are more troublesome and relentless than others.

§  Some seasons are made for dealing with sin and wounds. Sometimes God lets us avoid these things and sometimes He won’t let loose.

§  If sins, wounds, lies, and labels aren’t deliberately and swiftly replaced with something else (like honesty, grace, forgiveness, and truth to name a few) they will return with a vengeance.

§  The more established a sin, lie, or label is, the more entrenched it is in our hearts and minds.

§  Our relationship with the Lord needs to be nurtured in order to take root and thrive.

Could the Lord be calling you to take a closer look at your life and relationship with Him? If so, you may want to consider coming to the Soul Restoration Open House on Sunday, September 9 at 6:00. It will be a great opportunity to learn more about an opportunity to more freely and fully live the life you’ve been created for and to talk to people who’ve been through one or more seasons of SR. Hope to see you there.

*Click here for more information about the Soul Restoration ministry.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Wait For Me

I watched the two women make their way to the entrance of the store, one taking small halting steps, the other taking more deliberately slow steps.  Ever so painfully they inched toward the automatic doors and I could feel myself wishing they'd go a little faster, move a bit more quickly.  I watched the younger of the two...maybe the daughter...firmly hold her mother's arm and very patiently wait for her.  Step...step....step...until finally they were by the carts.  I took a breath for them and remembered my own times walking by my mother.  I had not been so patient with her.  There were times my hurried steps had gone ahead and her little voice had to remind me to wait for her.  "Please slow down" she would say, "I can't keep up with you",  and I would hold myself back while my mind whirled ahead to all of the things I needed to accomplish.  Please slow down.

In our Christian walk, God  has placed us alongside individuals who may be taking faltering steps toward Him.  He has given us the role of supporter and encourager and we are holding the arm of someone who might be a bit more fragile than we are, a bit more hesitant in their steps.  We might be walking by them thinking in our minds, "I wish they would hurry up already and mature in this area or the other."  "I wish they would quit fooling around and get a bit further down the Way than they are!"  "Why do they keep on doing that THING that is so destructive in their lives or that THING that slows us down?"  "We seem to have to revisit that same old spot again and again and again.  I am then convicted of how often I have to revisit that same old spot again and again.  Of how often I stumble on my Way and how the Lord picks me up and holds me fast.

I was reminded today, as I watched the patient younger woman walking with the frail older lady, to take time.  Be patient.  Lend an arm...an ear...a shoulder...and thank God that we are in a position of strength that we may help others.  Listen to the little voice when it very quietly asks, "Please slow down....wait for me."


The Lord says....

Isaiah 41:10  Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

A Fresh Start

One of my fondest memories of starting school was buying a new notebook.  I loved the kind that had 5 subjects and had pockets on the dividers....suited my inner organized girl.  I would get that notebook and sit with it for a bit.  Call me strange, but I would almost talk to that notebook. This year I promise I will write neatly in you.  This year I promise I won't have big scribbles and big mess-ups.  This year I won't have to tear out one page due to my lack of effort and self control.  I will NOT doodle while the teacher is talking, honest!

Reality hit hard and it hit fast.  The first day of school would arrive and I took out that notebook. I opened it with fine intentions and took a breath and wrote my name.  ARRRGHH!  I hated the way I wrote my name. I messed up on it and it was the only thing written in it.  What a failure to mess up before I had even had an assignment.  Rip....out goes the page and a fresh one was there for the using.  Get it right, girl!

Think I'm extreme?  Maybe...but I've talked to other women who had the same ambitions on the first day of school with the new notebook.  I think there are a bunch of us out there, desiring perfection....even in a notebook....and having to rip out and start fresh over and over.  Or....I'm crazy and I'm the only one who talks to their notebooks on the first day of school.  Help!

All of this makes me think of God's mercy and forgiveness.  Every day is a brand new page in our notebooks.  We get up early and say, "Today, I'm not going to mess you up."  "Today, I'm going to live right and be kind to others."  "Today, I"m not going to yell at my kids or argue with my husband."  The alarm rings....our feet hit the floor....and before we know it, RIPPPP, there goes our mouth or our mind or our wayward flesh.  Today's page has a big scribble on it and we've messed up.

I'm so thankful we serve a God who is all about mercy and grace.  We don't have to live with our heads hanging down in shame or beat ourselves up.  God has forgiven us our transgressions and every day is a new beginning a new page with all the lines clean and waiting for what we will write on it.  Take heart!

Lamentations 3:22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.

Ladies Game Night Part 2

We had such a fun time at our most recent game night.  God blessed us with some new faces and some "old" friends, too.  It was awesome to see how the Lord mixed us unto seating arrangements that were just perfect for getting to know others.  Carol and Sue learned they both had lived in Germany for a while!  Imagine that.  

 We had some young ones join us this time and in the above photo, we see Kelly Wayland wearing a big smile.  She's blogged for us occasionally here at Grace-Lifeline, so it's neat for me to be writing about her!

 Sarah, in the above photo, is saving money to travel with her husband as a missionary in the group Cadence http://www.cadence.org/.  The mission is to be support for chaplains in understaffed US military posts.  I so enjoyed getting to know Sarah and look forward to great news of how God is providing for them!

Jessica Kolbe was our official youngest at 16.  We're thrilled that our younger ladies are getting to know our older ladies.  We are sisters in Christ and there are many more things we have in common than not!  We can learn so much from an inter-generational gathering like this.  

A little chatting....

....... some story telling and some game playing and I do believe some new friends were made.  We're all looking out for each other on Sunday!  Game night has great benefit in allowing us to meet new friends and find them again at Sunday services.

Snacks....yum!

Next Ladies night is September 28th.  It may be something completely different....you'll have to come and find out.  Stay tuned for more announcements, and for emails from the Women's Ministry gals.   

Proverbs 17:22  A cheerful heart is good medicine!