God is an awesome artist

Let us be radiant

Camp Creative Part 1

This year, I was asked to take part in Camp Creative again.  Our church hosts this 2 day camp to offer children various ways to worship, minister, and play with their creative side.  This year we had some great classes:

wood working

science

drama

art

gardening

percussion

cake decorating

Our themes were Christmas in July/Arctic and Pirates.  I was really excited about that since I was to teach the cake decorating class again.  Here is a preview of some of our activities:

I was considering using Psalm 34:8 again for my class, but Leslie had mentioned 2Corinthians 2:15, and I just had to go with it! I spent about an hour making my banner for tomorrow.

Wednesday night the children present their activities for their families. Check back to see more pictures!

Book Review: Hurting With God

Throughout our lives, we often wonder why things happen, why we have to go through certain seasons.  Many authors focus on the whys, but Glenn Pemberton does something a bit different.

In his book, Hurting with God: Learning to Lament with the Psalms, Pemberton wants to demonstrate how we live and relate to God during life's less than ideal circumstances.  He does this by showing that the Psalms do not cover up or deny the hardships of life.  Throughout the book, the author defines lament, explores the connection between the Psalm and Protestant Hymnals, and uses the Psalms to support the fact that people of faith can and should lament.

This book is ideal for those who want to be able to help others (or themselves) live through the storms in life.  It is a great reference to using the Psalms when believers struggle.

I received a free copy of this book from Abilene Christian University Press for the purpose of an honest review. 

One Thousand Gifts

For Mother's Day, the boys gave me Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts. 

I have to say it is perhaps one of the best books I've read. 

Thought Provoking.

Self Reflecting.

Challenged.

Blessed.

Thankful.

This book has challenged me to be thankful, to look for the gifts in the ordinary.  Sure it is easy to pick out gifts on the mountaintop, but what about gifts in the valley? Gifts in the mundane? Gifts in the chaos? Gifts in the piles of laundry, messes that don't stay cleaned up, screaming, fighting kids?

Yes, it is possible to find those gifts.

A long time ago, we had Colin start a Thankful Book.  Each night we would write down something we were thankful for.  In our own way, we were finding the gifts of God in our lives. For a small child, the gifts were very concrete: my stuffed animal, my tv, my bike.  But the older we get, the gifts become "deeper:" the quietness of a blackout, the warmth of towels fresh out of the dryer, the lone cardinal perched overhead.

Since beginning the book, I have also begun my list of one thousand gifts. 

 Life isn't easy; God never said it would be.  He did promise he would always be here with us.  So each day, each sacred moment, I will try my best to remember....

I will rejoice and give thanks for the gifts My Father has given me. 

The Perfect Way to Start the Morning

Whom Should I Fear?

The other night, Colin brought a book to me and asked, "Mama, sometime soon can you and I have a private book club and read this together?"

"Sure," I replied. "What book is it?" 

He turned it toward me and the title was Share Jesus Without Fear. He then added, "Sometimes I don't talk to people about Jesus because I am afraid they will make fun of me."

As my heart began to melt, I admitted, "Me too, Colin."

I was surprised that Colin came with me out of nowwhere with that.  However, I am not surprised by what he said.

I think his admission is true for so many of us.

But why is that? Why are we so afraid to share Jesus?  Our pastor has asked, "What part of Hell are you afraid you'll offend them to?" Seriously, that is the worst that can happen, that we share the Good News of Jesus and the person rejects it. The person is then responsible for his/her decision. It has nothing to do with us.  We would have done our part, but we don't.  We take their reaction personally.

Psalm 34:4 says I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 56:4 says In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

His Word tells me that if I seek Him, the Lord will hear me and my fears will be relieved. When I trust Him, there is no need to fear anything beause He will take care of me.  I will do my best to remember that, to remember Psalm 118:6, The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

I will prayerfully begin to share Jesus without out fear.  Colin, will you join me?

His Word Wednesday

EEWWW!

Carson: "Mama, I'm firsty." (four year old talk for thirsty)

Me: "Let's get some milk."

Carson: "No, I want some water."

Me: "OK. Let's wash the donut off your hands too."

Carson: "No, I already cleaned them."

Me:  "Oh, you already washed them?"

Carson: "No, I wicked them." (four year old talk for LICKED)

Me, in my head: "EEWWW!"

Then our mouth was filled with laughter. Psalm 126:2

Vacation by Scripture

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was[a] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:1-10

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply." Genesis 1:27-28







I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Psalm 32:8

And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Exodus 18:20

Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
Psalm 126:2

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:3

Daily Chores

I received this as my email devotion today. I've gotten it through email before and love it. Hope you do too.



As King David said, Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me frommy sin. ( Psalms 51:2 *NKJV )



Monday

Wash Day

Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility through the week ahead.



Tuesday

Ironing Day

Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice I have collected through the years so that I may see the beauty in others.



Wednesday

Mending Day

O God, help me mend my ways so I will not set a bad example for others.



Thursday

Cleaning Day

Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.



Friday

Shopping Day

O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love.



Saturday

Cooking Day

Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness.



Sunday

The Lord's Day

O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please come into my heart so I may spend the day and the rest of my life in your presence.