Sunday, November 18, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Buzzard Bat Bumblebee
I got this email this week that just rang so true, so I thought I would share it.
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly,but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air,
cannot take off from a level place.
If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and,
no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air.
Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out.
It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out
through the sides near the bottom.
It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee.
We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!
|
That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem...
just look up!
Sorrow looks back,
Worry looks around,
But faith looks up!
Live simply,
love generously,
care deeply,
speak kindly, and
trust in our Creator,
who loves us.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A Great BIG Problem!
Session Two of Rock the Block in Choctaw County concentrated on " A Great BIG PROBLEM" - S.I.N.
Every one of us has S.I.N.N.E.D and fallen short of the glory of God. This problem began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were disobedient to the Lord our God. They were told not to eat from the from "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but the Serpent convinced them otherwise. We now live in a fallen world and this is a great big Problem.
The children loved eating apples for snack and playing with plastic snakes.
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Every one of us has S.I.N.N.E.D and fallen short of the glory of God. This problem began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were disobedient to the Lord our God. They were told not to eat from the from "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but the Serpent convinced them otherwise. We now live in a fallen world and this is a great big Problem.
The children loved eating apples for snack and playing with plastic snakes.
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Prepare your Hearts
To prepare to go on a Mission trip you must prepare your hearts for His Ministry and unexpected challenges. You must be flexible, flexible, flexible. If you have never been on a short-term mission trip, please consider going - It will CHANGE your life forever!
Jack Hempeling wrote the following in his book, Before You Go:
We must prepare our hearts. Our long term impact depends more deeply on our heart preparation than our technical preparation. We must prepare to stay focused, to be unified, to be positive, pure, humble and submissive and full of faith and praise. All of this combined with practical and technical preparation is what will allow us to make a greater impact and touch people's lives.
We are to throw out pride, rebellion against the team or leaders, division and strife among the members, complaining about circumstances, negative attitudes, course language, inappropriate relationships and impurity. We must be vigilant to keep them away from our hearts.
Expect the unexpected. God has set this trip in motion and He may choose to use you in many different ways. Maybe witnessing to someone in a crowded airport or in the seat next to you. He may intervene and create a greater plan for you in the field, one greater than you had planned. Be open to His plan and be flexible.
We are to not allow anyone, even ourselves, to limit us from fulfilling God's call for us. He has set us apart for His purposes and He creates a stir in our heart to respond to that calling. He put in our hearts the desire to go to the mission field so we need to resist the temptation to focus on our personal limitations.
Jack Hempeling wrote the following in his book, Before You Go:
We must prepare our hearts. Our long term impact depends more deeply on our heart preparation than our technical preparation. We must prepare to stay focused, to be unified, to be positive, pure, humble and submissive and full of faith and praise. All of this combined with practical and technical preparation is what will allow us to make a greater impact and touch people's lives.
We are to throw out pride, rebellion against the team or leaders, division and strife among the members, complaining about circumstances, negative attitudes, course language, inappropriate relationships and impurity. We must be vigilant to keep them away from our hearts.
Expect the unexpected. God has set this trip in motion and He may choose to use you in many different ways. Maybe witnessing to someone in a crowded airport or in the seat next to you. He may intervene and create a greater plan for you in the field, one greater than you had planned. Be open to His plan and be flexible.
We are to not allow anyone, even ourselves, to limit us from fulfilling God's call for us. He has set us apart for His purposes and He creates a stir in our heart to respond to that calling. He put in our hearts the desire to go to the mission field so we need to resist the temptation to focus on our personal limitations.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Potter's Hand
The last few weeks have been really tough for Rick and I. Just to be honest we feel like the world is crashing down around us.
My sweet husband was fired from his job by his oldest son (hurt & dishonor is an understatement). We have until August 31st and are praying for God's direction. Thankful that God is sovereign and sits on the Throne!
We received a water bill for several hundred dollars (surprise), we called the plumber - no leaks in the house, we called American Leak Detection (several hundred more dollars) and with nitrogen and a headset they searched for a leak. They listened for hours and reported the leak was under the rose bushes right outside the garage door. Next we called the plumber to come back and fix what nitrogen assured us. Plumber dug up rose bush and tossed onto driveway - no leak - its under the driveway no less - We didn't have to dig up driveway Thank you Lord - copper pipe was rotted and we lost over 49,000 gallons of water - pipe replaced. Whew!, but Thankful for running water.
We receive word that our Sudanese children do not have enough money to continue their education and they are still in South Sudan visiting. Thankful for brown children that we have adopted into our family.
Several days later our toilet in guest bathroom ruined the hardwood floors - seal is broken - call plumber to fix (another hundred dollars). Thankful for toilets and floors, our children in South Sudan have neither.
Our oldest son finds out they are expecting a precious new baby! Praise the Lord, He is good and gives us new life.
We travel to Choctaw County Alabama to help a new church plant with Rock the Block. We return on Sunday night late and Monday morning I have ringworm! You have got to be kidding me. Lotrimin and I are spending our nights together. Thankful for the opportunity to serve in this rural community.
Our youngest son's TB test for school shows up after 36 hours as a positive. It was a False Positive. Thankful and Praises to You our King!
We are packing to take our youngest back to college and find out that our storage room is full of water. OK - at this point we might drown in this house. We call the plumber - hot water heater regulator is broken (few more hundred dollars). Thankful for our home that the Lord has provided.
Our yorkie of 9.5 years decides that her hip doesn't work anymore, so she is limping around the house on 3 legs. NO we are not having surgery and she will have to just limp, but we carry her when we can and baby her continuously.
Our friends from Troy deliver a new baby - Henley Brooke Yarbrough - She is born with OI - brittle bone disease. She lives one week - Thank you Jesus for this wonderful week and Your love for Henley.
Rick went to cut the grass on Friday - lawn mowers wheel came completely off and is beyond repair. Rick tries to cut the grass with a three-wheeled mower by holding up the mower and cutting, impossible, Rick drives to borrow mower, returns and cuts grass, returns mower, gets weedeater out to finish the yard, gas line breaks into and is non repairable, goes to Lowe's to purchase new one and 6 hours later he has finished our small yard! Thankful for resources and our abilities.
As I was working today, God provided this Hillsong song to give me comfort!
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful savior
I know for sure all of my days are held in your hands
Crafted into your perfect plans
You gently called me into your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life
Through your eyes
I'm captured by your holy calling
Set me apart. I know you're drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord. I pray
Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the potter's hand
Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the potter's hand
You gently call me into your presence
Guiding me by your holy spirit
Teach me dear lord to live all of my life through your eyes
I'm captured by your holy calling
Set me apart. I know you're drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord. I pray
Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the potter's hand
Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the potter's hand
Pray with us........ The Mitchell's
My sweet husband was fired from his job by his oldest son (hurt & dishonor is an understatement). We have until August 31st and are praying for God's direction. Thankful that God is sovereign and sits on the Throne!
We received a water bill for several hundred dollars (surprise), we called the plumber - no leaks in the house, we called American Leak Detection (several hundred more dollars) and with nitrogen and a headset they searched for a leak. They listened for hours and reported the leak was under the rose bushes right outside the garage door. Next we called the plumber to come back and fix what nitrogen assured us. Plumber dug up rose bush and tossed onto driveway - no leak - its under the driveway no less - We didn't have to dig up driveway Thank you Lord - copper pipe was rotted and we lost over 49,000 gallons of water - pipe replaced. Whew!, but Thankful for running water.
We receive word that our Sudanese children do not have enough money to continue their education and they are still in South Sudan visiting. Thankful for brown children that we have adopted into our family.
Several days later our toilet in guest bathroom ruined the hardwood floors - seal is broken - call plumber to fix (another hundred dollars). Thankful for toilets and floors, our children in South Sudan have neither.
Our oldest son finds out they are expecting a precious new baby! Praise the Lord, He is good and gives us new life.
We travel to Choctaw County Alabama to help a new church plant with Rock the Block. We return on Sunday night late and Monday morning I have ringworm! You have got to be kidding me. Lotrimin and I are spending our nights together. Thankful for the opportunity to serve in this rural community.
Our youngest son's TB test for school shows up after 36 hours as a positive. It was a False Positive. Thankful and Praises to You our King!
We are packing to take our youngest back to college and find out that our storage room is full of water. OK - at this point we might drown in this house. We call the plumber - hot water heater regulator is broken (few more hundred dollars). Thankful for our home that the Lord has provided.
Our yorkie of 9.5 years decides that her hip doesn't work anymore, so she is limping around the house on 3 legs. NO we are not having surgery and she will have to just limp, but we carry her when we can and baby her continuously.
Our friends from Troy deliver a new baby - Henley Brooke Yarbrough - She is born with OI - brittle bone disease. She lives one week - Thank you Jesus for this wonderful week and Your love for Henley.
Rick went to cut the grass on Friday - lawn mowers wheel came completely off and is beyond repair. Rick tries to cut the grass with a three-wheeled mower by holding up the mower and cutting, impossible, Rick drives to borrow mower, returns and cuts grass, returns mower, gets weedeater out to finish the yard, gas line breaks into and is non repairable, goes to Lowe's to purchase new one and 6 hours later he has finished our small yard! Thankful for resources and our abilities.
As I was working today, God provided this Hillsong song to give me comfort!
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful savior
I know for sure all of my days are held in your hands
Crafted into your perfect plans
You gently called me into your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life
Through your eyes
I'm captured by your holy calling
Set me apart. I know you're drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord. I pray
Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the potter's hand
Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the potter's hand
You gently call me into your presence
Guiding me by your holy spirit
Teach me dear lord to live all of my life through your eyes
I'm captured by your holy calling
Set me apart. I know you're drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord. I pray
Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the potter's hand
Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the potter's hand
Pray with us........ The Mitchell's
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Mama Mary!
This makes my heart sing! I am filled with joy to see Bullen hugging his mama for the first time in 4 years. I know that Mary's heart is full of joy too and that she is so proud of her son. What a feeling to have your son lay is head on your shoulder. Thank you for sharing your son with me Mary!
Below - Bullen with his Sister on the left [orange] and Mama Mary is in the green.
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