Scripture Only Sunday

Something BIG

Seven girls, four boys, five chaperones, and luggage loaded into three vehicles which caravan 5 hours to Student Life Camp.  Four days filled with laughter and learning about the Lord.  Heads are dipped into 55 gallon trashcans and then wrung dry over 5 gallon buckets, children’s ministers take a run then slide down, what else, the slip’n slide, and dodge ball is played while sweat soaks. 
Worship, Bible devotions, and an encouraging word is shared as the church lifts up the name of the Lord and the seeds of God’s Word are planted in young hearts. 
In the dorm rooms kids push leaders to write songs about how a certain young man “wants his Red Bull, but he ain’t gonna get” and seven girls video a silent movie, “Button Eye Bear Takes Over the World.”  Relationships are strengthened and challenged. 
Through it all God is…
BIG – with His big arms outstretched – with me through all the problem places life presents.  Just ask the boy Joseph whom God carried when his dreams seemed shattered.  God caused him to shine and save many – including those brothers who hated him.

BIG – with His big grace – to cover my big mistakes (aka-sin).  Just ask that little man Zacchaeus who went from being greedy to giver because of The Grace Giver – Jesus.

BIG – with His plan for my life – just ask the girl turned queen, Esther who was placed in a palace for such a time to save her people from total destruction. 
Each of these individuals were placed in dangerous positions.   Bigger purposes than they could ever imagine were at work in their circumstances.  They could see God through their circumstances or see their circumstances through God.
Do I have the faith and courage of Joshua and Caleb to stay close to God and lead a BIG life following God’s BIG plan – no matter what obstacles, delays, or giants stand in the way?  God has a promised land for me – will I allow circumstances to defeat me or drive me closer to deliverance?  How will you answer the question?
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Big ideas taken from the teachings of Student Life Kids Camp – themed “BIG” and the preaching of David Rhodes. Thank you for all that you do to plant the seed of God’s Word in young hearts and minds.   I am grateful to have had the privilege of hanging with the kids and adults who made the trip to this conference.

Scripture Only Sunday

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Psalm 18:19

Strong and On Time…

It begins to rain when the 15-year-old son comes rushing in the door, “Get in the truck, Katie is having her kid.”  The little one is born before we can make it back up the hill.  We sit, watching and waiting to see if she has more than one, if the one will nurse okay. 

It is a stressful afternoon.  We have had two other does deliver earlier this year and not one of those kids survived.  We are still learning about raising goats.  One of the does delivered too early and her little ones were not ready. 

As he finds his way to mother’s milk I breathe a sigh of relief.  This little boy is born strong and on time.







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I am linking to Graceful Summer, a new link-up community on Fridays at Graceful through the end of August. Sharing stories about the smaller, quieter moments of summer - will you share yours, too?
1. Write a post about a quiet summer moment and link it up on Fridays.2. Visit someone else and leave a little comment love - you might get a new creatively quiet idea!
3. Please include the Graceful Summer button or a link in your post, so people can find us if they want to join in.

Slow Intention

Several days a week for the last month they play and I read.  Reading nothing of significance, just fiction, for relaxation and enjoyment.  I occasionally slip into the water to cool off then stick my nose back in the book of the day.

Their faces glow from the summer sun and water fun.  Normally this time of year has me pouring over curriculum for the coming school year.  As my classroom size has shrunk over the last four years so has my planning.  Down from five to two students I choose to breathe.  I allow the hot summer days to slide by with as much slow intention as I can. 

I want to relish these days with no plan – they are rare and end too quickly.  I close the book breathing in the scent of chlorine and sunscreen.  

Scripture Only Sunday

Worth the Heat

It is HOT.  The temperatures have soared over the 100 degree mark for almost a week now.  The bugs and weeds threaten to take over our bit of garden that hasn’t seen any rain in over three weeks now.  But still Sensitive Son helps me out but searching among the leaves for the hidden treasures of okra. 

He gathers enough for me to fry like my grandmother.  I pull out her black cast iron skillet, mix okra with green tomatoes and cornmeal, then slide the mixture into the hot oil.  The temperature soars in the little kitchen as we have only one window unit for this farmhouse and it is in another room.  

The reward is worth the heat.  We will look for more okra tomorrow morning.  



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I am linking to Graceful Summer, a new link-up community on Fridays at Graceful through the end of August. Sharing stories about the smaller, quieter moments of summer - will you share yours, too?

1. Write a post about a quiet summer moment and link it up on Fridays.

2. Visit someone else and leave a little comment love - you might get a new creatively quiet idea!

3. Please include the Graceful Summer button or a link in your post, so people can find us if they want to join in.

Stretched Spaces

Days and weeks go by and I wallow in defeat.  Life’s challenges swamp me – parenting, friendships, gardening, animal care – feeling rejected at the places that fill life.  So I wrap up, cocoon myself, in my own little corner of the world.  I try to insulate in order to not feel the hurt and disappointment.

Unfortunately that does not work, the pain it sits here with me.  Daily I turn to God’s Word and plow through – seeking solace.  It has taken weeks of silence for me to finally hear past the pain. Psalm 33:13-14 speaks…

The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees every human being.
From his dwelling place God observes
all who live on earth.

The Lord sees me and observes not just the outside, but also the inside.  Flipping through a few online devotions I read from a favorite since I was a teenager…

”We have all been in places where it seemed as though
we were defeated, and the enemy rejoiced.” 
Streams in the Desert

Yes, feeling defeated these long, hot summer days.  I feel like a slug on the sidewalk slowly sliding along.  The Word that God sees me here in the place of defeat and waits.  Waits for the heart to be ready to hear His Words.  Waits for brokenness, cracks in the cocoon, spaces for His loving care to seep in and encourage to break free.

Clicking on a devotion website that is new to me I read the title and grin - “Recovering From Rejection”… 
“He gently reassured me of my worth in His eyes and reminded me that my value wasn't based on man's approval, but solely on His……As a result, I was able to take my focus off of my rejecter, and instead focus on my approver - Jesus.” 

It always comes back to that – where is my focus.  God from heaven sees, observes, watches over me with faithful love.  He alone is able to deliver me from this dark cocoon – He is also willing to deliver and even create something of beauty.  From the same Streams in the Desert link a prayer, words of hope and help…”sorrows come to stretch out spaces in the heart for joy.” 

"Defeat may serve as well as victory
To shake the soul and let the glory out.
When the great oak is straining in the wind,
The boughs drink in new beauty, and the trunk
Sends down a deeper root on the windward side.
Only the soul that knows the mighty grief
Can know the mighty rapture. Sorrows come
To stretch out spaces in the heart for joy."

Persistent Prayer

Scripture Only Sunday

 

“We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
Our heart rejoices in God
because we trust his holy name.
Lord, let your faithful love surround us,
because we wait for you.”
Psalm 33:20-22