If I could Cha-a-a-nge The World (think...Eric Clapton)

So, my post has nothing to do with Eric Clapton, but when I began to write, his song is what popped into my head!

Last August, I was blessed to attend the MOPS (Mother of Preschoolers) National Convention in Orlando. I went to a class called, "Serving the World with A Toddler on Your Hip," by Hayley DiMarco. I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I figured it had something to do with service. I long to serve. It is a passion of mine, but has fallen to the wayside since we moved to Florida. I have looked into a few things, but nothing seems to work out....or what I should say is, I haven't worked hard enough to get them worked out.

Haley told us about her story. She was a writer and her husband was a successful business man. They had a heart for service, but like many parents, felt as though they could only do so much with the toddler to tow. However, they challenged themselves, moved out of their big Nashville home, bought an RV, and lived on the road. Their mission: visit homeless shelters all over the country, recording men reading the Bible. They, then, took these readings and composed an audio Bible, which they later used in future missions, including Hungry Planet.

She had several major points which stood out to me. I had forgotten about this class, until today. I started thinking about where we will be next year. Will we make lots of money? Very little money? Have a nice house? Live in an apartment? There are so many uncertainties about our future, but today, I was imagining that we made lots of money, and how, when we do, I will hire a personal masseuse to come to my home once a week. Then, I stopped in my tracks, and was reminded of this class I had attended.

So often we focus so much of our energy on money and what we will do with it, if/when we have any. One of the major things that I took from this class was about this very thing. She asked us the question (worded from memory, so it's not exactly the same), "How many of your luxuries are indirectly causing someone else to miss out on their needs." BAM! Slap in the face. Now, clearly, you purchasing a new Porsche does not mean someone's food is being taken away from them. Or does it? We could go crazy with this, but let's look at a few examples....and I will use myself, because I do not want make you think I've got it all together. One of my "luxuries" is that I can go to Chick Fil A pretty much whenever I want. What if I took all the money I spend at Chick Fil A and, instead, saved it up and sent it to Africa. They could probably feed 10 starving children for what my one meal cost. Another example: What if I traded my Odyssey in for a car, that would be safe, but was not as new or as nice....then I could use that extra money on a child's education expenses in Russia, or even in here, in our own back yards!

There are so many ways that we could live without our luxuries so that we may give more to the less fortunate. Matthew 25:40 even says, "The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of min, you did for me. "

I am going to challenge myself and YOU to find at least one luxury you could do without, and find a place to give. Bear in mind, that a great luxury you "own" is the ability to do with you time what you choose. What if you took some time out of your day to help someone in need, serve at a local mission, etc. That is also a great luxury to give up!

This brings me to my next point....or, I suppose, Hayley's next point. Because we were discussing how to serve the world with a toddler on our hips, she challenged us to think about this: Are you children your idols?

Wait, what??

She actually made a very valid point. God said to put no gods (idols) before Him. Do we use our children as a crutch? Do we idolize our children more than God? Her point was, God should be number one...not the normal things us moms think about--not our children's safety, not their health, not their naps, playgroups, sports, etc. No....GOD! I know for sure that I use my children as a crutch. "Well, Parker and Savannah are too young to be exposed to that." Or, "If we take them on a mission trip, they may get sick or hurt." HOWEVER, we must remember God comes first. Yes, lets be reasonable, but lets not idolize these children. We should never make their needs greater than God's need for us to show His love.

She gave an example of a family of five who moved to Africa to support a mission there. Their families gave them a very hard time because it wasn't safe or sanitary. Yet, they went. While there, their little tot got very sick and died due to the lack of medical care. However, instead of dwelling on the "what if's" or the "how could you have done this to him's", they moved on because they knew God had called them to do this....and God is supreme...even over our children.

Yes, I know....this is a VERY hard concept to grasp. We, especially as mother, are to take care of these children, not putting them in harm's way, etc. So, to be able to accept that their needs and desires, etc. should not be our greatest concern, is no easy task!! It is definitely something I am still trying to wrap my head around.

I truly want to serve as a family. This may not mean going to Africa, but I would love to find a place for us to serve as a family and stop letting the "luxuries" of my life control it.

I ask that you pray for me, because even though I love to serve, I often have a hard time giving up my luxuries and handing over my fears to the Lord.

Take small steps....ease into it...

This is my challenge to myself and to you....

Are you up for it? Are you ready to get off that comfy sofa or soft bed, and go be the light that God calls us to be??

Can I get an Amen?

Well, I turned 29 Thursday. I don't know what I am supposed to think of that. Some people get really unhappy with age, however, for some reason, that depression hasn't taken over....yet ;) Are there things about getting older that I do not like? Of course. Do I wish little wrinkles weren't appearing, things weren't sagging, brain cells weren't frying, fat weren't lingering? Sure. However, I do know that with each day, I strive to grow in wisdom. I have made plenty of mistakes in my 29 years, and I love that the Lord has given me another day to redeem myself and bring Him glory.

I was reading another devotion this morning titled, "Rebuilt."

The writer talked about how she used to have so much self confidence as a teenager/young adult. However, with age and because of some of her circumstances, she had lost a lot of her confidence. It made me think of Savannah and how confident she is. She is about to be five. As far as she is concerned, she is a princess, everyone wants to be her friend, she is smart, etc. I am not looking forward to the day that she comes home asking why someone wouldn't play with her, or when she gets a bad grade on a test. And, Lord help me the first time a boy breaks up with her. So, even though we may gain wisdom, we also lose our innocence.

The writer (of Rebuilt) talked about how moves, failed friendships, finding her place in new churches, etc. had caused her to lose confidence in herself. She went on to say how some things have to be torn down before they can be rebuilt. She asked if it were God's plan to bring these struggles into her life, which she quickly answered "No!" However, God does use the low points in our lives to guide us to a better place.

2 Corinthians 3:4 says, "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God."

Instead of trying to get through life chanting "I can do it!," we should get getting through saying, "He can do it through me."

Philippians 4:13-" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

So, it may be hard to have confidence in ourselves, but remember our confidence should come from Christ.

So, as I reflect on the fact that I am getting older, I want to grow in wisdom and confidence (in Christ) so that when the reality of life catches up with me, I will be ready to take it on!

Where are you?

The other night, I was laying in my bed unable to sleep from the soda AND the chocolate I had for dinner. Since we got rid of cable, I have no tv in my room to help me fall asleep. So, after much tossing and turning, I decided I should give up trying to sleep, and I pulled out my phone. I have just started reading posts from the Proverbs 31 ministry's website. Well, I pulled up a few daily devotions and just started reading them. One of them really stood out to me. It was titled, "weak places, Strong Places."

It starts off with this:

We all have them. Weak places. Places inside that make us wonder if we’ll ever get it together like the “together people.” Places that make us feel less than. Less than victorious. Less than a conqueror. Less than strong.

Who doesn't feel this way?? One thing I am learning real fast is that even those "together people" do not always have it together. As much as I want to have it all together all of the time, that kind of lifestyle is not nearly as fun :)

It goes on to talk about how we often times wallow in our weakness. Then they say:

Maybe we need to sit still for just a moment or two today. Quietly sit without the weight of condemnation or the swirl of trying to figure things out. Quiet, with nothing but the absolute assurance the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

Well, it was VERY quiet while I was in my bed at 12:30 that morning, so I decided to do just as she said and just be still....just lay there, calm, peaceful...and y'all, let me tell you...that is NO easy task. There are so many things going on in our life to lay and think about. Thoughts constantly rushing in and then right back out. It is often hard to make sense of all the things going on, and feels as though I can never find a good place to start. So....I continue to lay there, trying to "be still" but I kept finding myself thinking about what the best way to "be still" would be ;) So...after I failed at that, I continued to read:

He understands our weak places. He knows what to pray. There is a purpose to this weakness. Though it doesn’t feel good, things will be worked out in a way that good will come from it (Romans 8:28).

Something that I have reminded myself over the past little bit is that even in this weak place, God is working. I cannot really understand what it is that I am supposed to be learning, but I think that is where prayer comes into effect. I think that if we constantly seek Him, His answer will eventually be revealed. There is definitely a purpose to all the weakness, even if it takes time to see God show us that purpose.

So, then I read on:

In that quiet stillness while the Spirit prays for us and we just simply soak in truth, there will be a flicker of light. A slight trickle of hope. A grace so unimaginable, we’ll feel His power overshadowing our weakness.

We aren't weak......

We are dependent.

Dependent on the only One powerful enough to help us. The only One sufficient enough to cover us in grace throughout the process.

Our relationships may not be sufficient. Our circumstances may not be sufficient. Our finances may not be sufficient. Our willpower may not be sufficient. Our confidence may not be sufficient. But He is and has been, and forever will be.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

All I could think to myself after reading this was RIGHT ON!!! Man oh man how powerful that was for me to read in my moment of weakness. I feel as there is NO better way to phrase what I had read. It could not have come at a better moment. Once again, I see God reveal Himself to me and show me that there is purpose in EVERY SINGLE TINY thing that happens to us. Many of these things lack in sufficiency, yet God is sufficient. He is there to cover us with His grace so that we may better conquer all of the insufficiencies in our life. I cannot tell you how powerful this was and how PERFECT it was for me to read in that very moment. This, my friends, was no coincidence...it was GOD!

It finishes up like this:

So instead of wallowing in my weak place, I will let the Spirit reveal the one positive step I can take today. I will wash away the condemnation with the warmth of His grace. I will receive His power. And I will rename the weak place, my strong place. “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10b).

PERFECT! Perfect words, perfect timing....just perfect!

We are made new by His grace EVERY MORNING!!!

I hope this devotion encourages you like it did me.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

I had to privilege to volunteer at the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition house here in our local community. It was a real honor and I loved every minute of it. All of the volunteers were super nice. I helped with the food, which meant I served the volunteers, ran errands between the catering tent and the VIP tent, and ran errands to the house for the workers who were too motivated to stop working long enough to eat :) The food donations were much appreciated and came from some amazing places. The night I was there, we served food from Beef O Bradys and Tropical Smoothie. Later that night, Texas Roadhouse was coming in to grill up a whole bunch of yummy food. We also had a Ben and Jerry's booth where you could go and get ice cream for free!! Lots of local groups have also donated TONS of baked goods. These volunteers are being treated really well. I was shocked to see TWO massage tents when I walked up. They were for the volunteers to come relax if their backs were sore, etc. Like I said, we were treated great!! I am sure hoping to get back down there for the MOVE THAT BUS ceremony Friday, but haven't found a sitter yet, so I am unsure :(

Here is a link to the story about why the family is getting the house done for them:

http://www.extrememakeoverspacecoast.com/the-hurston-family/

Here is a link to a live feed where you can watch the progress:

http://www.extrememakeoverspacecoast.com/live-video-feed/

They aren't sure when it will air, but I heard sometime in February.

Here are a few pictures from when I was down there.

Michael from Extreme Makeover!!

Christmas Morning-Take 5/Mamaw's House

Savannah and Mamaw

Boys will be boys

Uncle Matt and Savannah

Christmas Morning-Take 4/Morrisons House

Riding their mustang from last Christmas

Savannah's paparazzi

Savannah's new best friend Rapunzel

Helen reading Thomas to Parker

Helen with the lake house sign we gave them

Savannah getting tired of presents? No..

Uncle Matt giving Parker his Toy Story watch

Parker loved his personalized bean bags

There are no words

Mom and her dishes we gave her

Playing the Kinect. Volleyball....almost turned deadly ;)

Boxing...

Track anyone?

Mom shaking her groove thing

Sweet kiddos

Savannah and Katie chowing down

All the friends

Some of my besties...however, it would have been complete with Sara, Hannah, and Will!!!

Love my friends