Sunday School Picnic

A few weeks ago, Pam and I took the girls to the park for a picnic. It's such a blessing to spend time with each of the girls and to get to know them! Each one of them has a heart of gold and I just love spending time with them! We had stimulating conversation over our burgers about the message we had heard at chapel and how we can be creative in the ways we share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. These girls are amazing and it was such a great afternoon!

THE WHOLE GANG
Back row: Rikki
Middle row: Julie, Bethany
Front Row: Ingrid, Hannah, Michelle

Bethany & Michelle

Michelle & Julie

Michelle, Julie, & Me

Rikki

Rikki, Ingrid & Bethany

Rikki, Ingrid, Bethany & Hannah

Me, Hannah, Rikki & Ingrid

Special thanks to Pam
who tirelessly slaved
over the fire for our burgers!

"The Saving Life of Christ"

'Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." The One who calls you to a life of righteousness is the One who by your consent lives that life of righteousness through you! The One who calls you to minister to the needs of humanity is the One who by your consent ministers to the needs of humanity through you! The One who calls you to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, is the one who by your consent, goes into all the world and preaches the gospel to every creature through you!

If you will but trust Christ, not only for the death He died in order to redeem you, but also for the life that He lives and waits to live through you, the very next stop you take will be a step taken in the very energy and power of God Himself. You will have begun to live a life which is essentially supernatural...You will have become totally dependent upon the life of Christ within you...

**quoted from The Saving Life of Christ, Major W. Ian Thomas

Sometimes I find myself facing defeat...defeat in doing the things I do not want to do and defeat in not doing the very things God has asked me to do. As I look towards some of the upcoming events of the summer, I am wanting to find courage and boldness to proclaim the name of Christ in ways I'm not typically comfortable with, avenues I'm not well versed in. I came across these words in The Saving Life of Christ and realized anew that I am trying to find courage in myself, I am trying to find the strength in myself. I am looking in the wrong place! Where I will find the courage and the strength and the victory is in the life of Christ! He not only died to redeem me but His life saves me to a complete trust and dependence on Him...a trust and dependence for those "little" things like strength and courage and by my consent He will work through me, in spite of my short comings!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is a day we celebrate the mothers in our lives. I am so thankful for my mother. As I've watched her over the years as mother to Scott and I, and now as grandmother to Kate and Zach, I've seen her continually give of herself, being selfless for the sake of her family. I am so incredibly thankful for the godly example my mother has set forth and hope to be as selfless to the loved ones in my life as she has shown to me. Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

To all of you mothers out there...kudos to you for all the hard work you are putting into your children, sitting up with them late at night when they are sick and fussy, cooking their meals each day, doing their laundry, and wiping their noses to name a few. But your most important job as mother is diligently working to grow them up in a way that their lives might honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and that they might grow up to be men and women with a passion for the things of God.

As I was looking at verses this morning about mothers, I came across this verse in Isaiah 66 that made me realize how much a mother is a picture of our Lord. "Like a mother comforts her children, so the Lord will comfort you." (Kelly paraphrase!) Wow! I think that verse caught my heart in a special way because last night I longed for my mother, for her loving touch and most of all for her comfort. I don't care how old you get, there are moments in life that nothing soothes like a mother's comfort...and that is a sweet picture of our Savior and the comfort He offers to us.

For this is what the LORD says:
"I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried on her arm
and dandled on her knees.

As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."

When you see this, your heart will rejoice
and you will flourish like grass;
the hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants,
but his fury will be shown to his foes."

Isaiah 66:12-14