Let the Games Begin

I know this is not a Summer Olympics year but it is summer or soon will be come June 21. The calendar is filling up quickly. Bonnie's summer is crazier than mine which is not unusual. We need your prayers all the time but summertime is critical. The biggest prayer is for lives to be changed, the second (at least on my list) is for safety. Bonnie will be taking our van with 5 or more girls in it across Central Missouri, up to Hannibal, down to Branson, up to Oswego, IL & up further to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada over the next 11 weeks or so. They will be sharing the Gospel with children through 8 - 10 local Vacation Bible Schools, a Pastor's Conference, Sports Camp and Backyard Bible Club on an Associational Mission Trip, and Vacation Bible School and Backyard Bible Clubs on an International Mission Trip. If that doesn't make your brain spin, maybe you should reread it a couple of time. God is doing great things in and through the high school and college-aged girls Bonnie has the blessing of mentoring. She is truly a blessing to me and although I may not see her much over the summer, I love watching what God does through her. Bonnie, I love you and want you to know that I'm praying for you every time I think of you, which is a lot throughout my day. God, please watch over her and the girls and may this summer be indescribable as You show Your love, mercy, grace, passion, compassion and strength in and through their lives. AMEN!

Familiar Territory

     We had to put our dog, Captain, down last night. He had congestive heart failure and when we got to the vet, we discovered he also had a large tumor hidden under all his fur. It seemed like he went downhill in 12 hours or less. OK, let me get this out upfront, the death of a pet is not the same as the death of a person. But it does hurt. It does bring back reminders of past losses. We've all cried and are sad. I think that's normal. I know pets are important. They become part of the family. We had Captain for 10 years. We still have Whiskers, our cat. Can't believe she's outlived them all. She'll be 14 this summer. I know some people love their pets as much if not more than their children and definitely more than their spouse. (: Death hurts. Whether it's a family member, a friend, or a pet. 
     This weekend we remember those, most of whom we don't know, haven't met, who gave their lives for freedom's sake. As we look back through time, over 1.3 million have given their lives in American history wars from 1775 - now. Now follow me here, I don't wanna make anyone mad. Any number is too large a count for war. But if you look at our present US population (307,006,550), 1.3 million is only .28% of our population. This doesn't cheapen the price paid for our American way, in my eyes it makes it even more precious. 
     Then we look at the Cross and one man, Jesus Christ, who died for freedom's sake. "If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed." (John 8:36) One man's life for almost 7 billion people (estimated world population today) to experience freedom from the bonds of the slavery of sin and to have a real relationship with their Creator, their Father God.  Thank you so much to all who sacrificed their lives for freedom. I am even more thankful, beyond words, for the extreme love and sacrifice of God, to give His "only begotten Son" not only for the whole world but for ME.

In Christ Alone

You never can go wrong with this song.

Another Day

Why is it that lately I am on the verge of tears? Life gets a little busy and all of a sudden I am overwhelmed. This is not impossible but it seems improbable. I just need to remember to breathe. That's the advice I give everyone else, now it applies to me. I feel like King David sometimes...How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him," lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD,because he has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13) Maybe I haven't fully trusted in God's love. Although I want to be like David, I'm far from that. I am supposed to imitate Christ but I'm farther from Him than David. So maybe David is a good start. I believe that this is the key...Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-8) Gotta submit, resist, draw near, cleanse and purify. Why do these things seem so scary? I think it has to do with control. It may not seem like much but it's my own little world. It's a little chaotic but it's familiar. Why do I like the familiar so much? Why do I color inside the lines; think inside the box? It all stems back to the familiar. Contentment and complacency are not the same. Unfortunately, we have blurred the lines between these two or at least I have. I gotta let go. Why is it so easy to pray that for someone else and so hard to do myself? I pray that people will let go of whatever they are holding on to and cling fully on God, yet I keep clinging to the good things and putting off the best. God, please help me.