August 11 2006

Updating every 8 months sure could make for a lengthly blog . . . so I'll restrict the current events update to this week.  School started and so did the schedules!  But that was a good thing -

It's too hot to run past 8 AM, so trying to fit that in before then is a little tricky.   But being out when the stars are still out in the morning is beautiful, too. 

Much time spent in prayer about the coming year.  Took all summer praying about where the Lord would want me!  It seems Ephesians 5:16 always wins out when given different choices and "redeeming the time" for what Jesus would want consistently rises to the top.  So . . . this year is something new for me.  I will be involved in a ministry called "Morning Break" at our church.  It's for females :) and the Lord kept impressing on my heart the words "deep and wide".  Outreach and depth.  So Tuesday we had our first meeting, and like most things done by faith, I had no idea who would come to help organize this ministry!  We decided on 2 + 2, two weeks committed to outreach efforts, two weeks committed to the teaching of the Word.  Not sure which I am more excited about!  Both, that settles it. 

This week our youth group also "kicked off" again.  Last year I had 9th grade girls and it was a "God thing" to see how God grew everyone.  When our youth pastor asked for students to make committments to doing Quiet Time/being in the Word this year, several of them signed up right away.  Redeemed time!  Brian (youth pastor) asked me to do 9th grade girls again this year, and so for 20 minutes Wednesday night there we were, starting at square one again.   It'll be good, 'cause God is in it.  We call the little teeny tiny library room we meet in Holy Ground.  Well, we don't call it Holy Ground yet this year, but as He visits with us each week, we will!

A bit of the creative this week - did up the promo material for the Superbowl on Nov. 3rd and did up a piece for something else God has put on my heart - a girls night out called "B.A.B.E.S".  It will be April 20th and I'm praying for 200 students/girls.  It's an all night event and our themes are "Body, Boys, Beauty, Brats and Be-loved" - just want girls to know how much Jesus loves them! We will be having special speakers and lots of fun communicating God's unchanging message  - "I love you and I showed it through Jesus Christ."

Another HUGE development in my life this week.  A gorgeous cat named Grover.  Long story, hope is no longer deferred.

Which brings me to the best part, Colossians has been awesome.  Just awesome.  " . . . all things were created by Him and for Him . . . "  Wow.  ALL things!  Knowing why we're here on planet earth, knowing Him, enjoying Him (even when times have not been "enjoyable").  On top of that dwelling on what it means to be stedfast . . . stationary . . . sit . . . in other words "don't move, Jane" stay right where you're at doing what you're doing.  For years God has impressed on me a phrase from Luke, the parable about the four seeds.  The third seed was the saddest to me, because it was growing, but got choked out by the "cares, riches and pleasures of this world."  Ouch.  Here's an even sadder phrase, only recorded in Luke's gospel  "and brought no fruit to perfection."  Dagger.  I call it ADD Christianity when we don't stay in one place long enough to see fruit, when we (me) get distracted by the glitter (and glitter isn't always material goods, it could be ANYTHING that distracts from what Jesus wants me to be doing). 

Okay, it's enough for a first entry since November.  Get in the Word.  A story Jack Wrytzen usually told in giving his conversion experience was that he "tore up the first scriptures" someone gave him.  The person gave him another copy, and this time as he sat and read the 2nd copy  "the scriptures tore him up."  Isn't that the way it is . . . Hebrews 4:12.  Sometimes they comfort, sometimes they tear you up, but either way, they are doing a precise work in our hearts.  Stay in the word and stay at what God's given you to do. 

It's been a l-o-n-g time!  November 17th, almost two months  Well, two months came and went and lots of great moments.  Mike finished an awesome football season, as the Jenkins coach replied to this question:  "Who were the 3 best players on the team?", Coach said, "Mike Van Camp:  He was always disruptive in the backfield for the other team."  That's what I'm talking about!  Yeah!  Daniel is causing a similiar ruckus on the soccer field, we're loving the games and still enjoying the parents.  Always looking to share Christ whenever we can.  Sam is about to bring home 10 students next week for turkey day.  Did I mention I love to cook?  Can't wait till everyone is hear and laughing. 

Went out with my 9th grade huddle group last night.  They are great - can't wait to see what four years will produce.  Came home and called Toni - just wanted to hear her voice.  Talked to Sammy Jo, too -

Well we are off to Philadelphia for another Superbowl.  Sometimes when you see all those students respond you think, "Is this for real?"  But at the Orlando Superbowl I ran into Anthony who received Christ a few years ago. (At that after school club we ran.  Do you remember?)   There is no explanation for Anthony still being tied into the Lord except God keeps on putting Anthony in the right places.  This year a neighbor of his asked him if he was a believer.  Anthony said yes, and the neighbor turns out to be a youth pastor and now anthony is plugged in again to a good church.  Praying he will work at the camp this summer.  He was a sight for sore eyes.  Reminded me of God's faithfulness to his children. 

Okay - off to the plane and Philly Superbowl and family.  Love you all.  

For those in the Psalms today - the word "seed" was in our quiet time - Psalm 126:6

"He that goeth forth and weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubless come again with rejoincing, bringing his sheaves with him."  Following that thought around, led me to Luke 8 verses 14 & 15.  The seed is the word of God (8:11) but the part that grabs me is the last two phrases of 14 & 15.  The folks in vs. 14 "bring no fruit to perfection"  while the folks in vs. 15 "bring forth fruit with patience".  Ah . . . some clues . . .

vs. 14 folks . . . seem to have "attention deficit" spiritually speaking.  Start stuff, don't finish . . . don't stay with anything long enough to finish.  Get sidetracked.  (Easy to do!)  vs. 15 folks . . .  hear the word and "keep it", but that word didn't mean "obey it" . . . it meant to "retain in their memory" because it is used again in 1 Corinthians 15:2.  In that passage what we are to "retain in our memory" is Christ.  And these folks are patient - fruit takes time.

Bottom line?  Keep on keeping on! How?  By keeping Christ in my mind, patience, patience, the fruit will come!   

tonight I connect to the outside world.  Strange.  Mainly to keep in touch with all those people I already love.  Bekah, Rebecca, Sam, Nikki and the rest of you - this will be good, I promise.  Xanga advice. Free.  No charge.  :) 

Started over discipling a new group of girls - they are gonna be great -

Sam leaves tomorrow for the BI. A ready next step -

Mike has football - go Jenkins.

Thoughts on Psalms, anyone?