Thursday Thanksgiving

"This service that you do helps the needs of God’s people. But that is not all your service does. It is also bringing more and more thanks to God. This service you do is a proof {of your faith}. People will praise God because of this. They will praise God because you follow the gospel of Christ—the gospel you say you believe."
II Corinthians 9:12-13

For God's illustrations of marriage.

For instant messages from Thailand.

For 122% of the people reading Luke in Malaysia showing up.

For my incredibly wonderful PH.

That my mom is doing better.

For my boss--I think she may be the best in the world!

For opportunities to serve.

For crape myrtles in summer.

For hope.

Our study today was such an incredible blessing--I am so amazed what God can do when we dig in His word! We didn't come close to getting finished--but I am excited to get back into this study after today.

The thing that has really impacted me this week--is a principle that totally applies to marriage--but most any relationship in my life as well.

I've always thought of the giving mentioned in II Corinthians 9:7--to only be monitary or physical things. Even though it seems that was the primary thought here--I wonder how it would be if I applied giving in different ways.

How if I applied it to how I serve my husband, my children, anyone else God puts in my path to serve. How much of the time do I serve cheerfully--giving of myself--just because Jesus washes my feet? Does it do any good really if I serve--or attempt to give of myself if I have a crummy attitude about it? I am afraid too often--I might serve someone--but I do it just because something has to been done--or perhaps I feel I am expected to do it.

I am trying to change my attitude--if I serve--I want to do it with joy--and if I can't do it with joy--I need a heart check as to why. Perhaps I do have a heart problem--or perhaps I'm doing something God really didn't ask me to do--either way--I want to stop--and serve with joy as much as possible.

(I am afraid to many of you this will be a duh! post--please bear with me--I am going to try to live this one out and get back to you!)

"You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully."
II Corinthians 9:7

Not just another post on submission--Part 3

The way I read Ephesians 5--wives are supposed to submit to their husbands. I think submission is supposed to come with a cheerful heart, just like any other kind of giving.

However, I believe the real point of this passage is to show how Christian marriages are to be a visual example of how Christ loves the Church. Submission is not the main point, but just a part of the picture. To complete the picture here you will find mutual submission between husband and wife--you will see the husband has even a bigger, more difficult responsibility--because he is reflecting in his love to his spouse what it might look like for Christ to love His bride, the church.

I believe this passage shows a picture of an ideal marriage. We live in a real world. I don't think any of us can live up to our parts of the deal perfectly. How does submission look with your particular circumstances? I think it will be different for each of us. However, the outcome should be the same--one of a marriage that mirrors a relationship of Christ to the Church--one that brings glory to God.

I think it's at least intellectually easy to submit to Jesus--he's perfect--and will always do what He knows is best for me. It's harder to submit to someone that's not perfect. I believe if we trust the Holy Spirit to show us how--in the midst of difficulty and trial--we can submit in a way that is not demeaning and is glorifying.

Marriage is not all about me. I might have gotten married because I found someone that made me feel good and enjoyed the same things I did. What I have learned (and am still learning) after marriage is that God wants me to put what makes my spouse feel good, what he likes way ahead of what I want and like. Marriage is an opportunity to learn some intense lessons in serving.

God designed marriage as a part of his bigger love story of Jesus. If my response in my marriage is one of love, grace and mercy back to my spouse--I think not only will I be amazed at the wisdom of God and how I am blessed--but if another person observes--s/he should understand a little more of THE love story.

Not just another post on submission--Part 2

Ephesians 5:21-32

²¹And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
I would have loved to have heard the discussion about this when the Ephesians first read this. The way I understand Roman culture at this time, men didn't submit to women--so just as Galatians 3:28 could be shocking news--this would be also. I think it's interesting that Paul starts his discussion here with mutual submission "out of reverence for Christ".

²²You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; he gave his life to be her Savior. ²⁴As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.
Interesting point, the word submit is not in the Greek here. In my opinion it is implied, and it actually is used at least a couple other places (Colossians 3:18, 19 and Titus 2:5). The Greek Lexicon defines the word for submit (hupotasso) as "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden". I would say from this submission is something as a wife I choose to do. So much negative about submission is that it is an forced or assumed attitude. Submission is not something I am stuck with as a wife--it is something I graciously give my husband.

The other interesting thing here is we see the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. Christ loves, protects--does not take advantage of us as we submit to him as head of the church--isn't this what God expects from the godly husband as well?

²⁵And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word. ²⁷He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. ²⁸In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife. ²⁹No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for his body, which is the church. ³⁰And we are his body. ³¹As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." ³²This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.
Most of this passage is written to men and how they are to treat their wives. It talks in depth of a comparison of marriage and Christ and the church. The wife's behavior is not specifically mentioned in these verses.

³³So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
The word respect is not the same word as submit. Respect here means "reverence".

Other related passages:
I Corinthians 7:12-16
¹²Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a Christian man has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. ¹³And if a Christian woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. ¹⁴For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not have a godly influence, but now they are set apart for him. ¹⁵(But if the husband or wife who isn't a Christian insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the Christian husband or wife is not required to stay with them, for God wants his children to live in peace.) ¹⁶You wives must remember that your husbands might be converted because of you. And you husbands must remember that your wives might be converted because of you.

I Peter 3:1
¹In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands, even those who refuse to accept the Good News. Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words. They will be won over ²by watching your pure, godly behavior.

³Don't be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. ⁴You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. ⁵That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. ⁶For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, when she called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
These passages help me understand what submission could look like. They are especially encouraging for a Christian woman with an unbelieving husband.

I would like to wrap this up in one more post--then go back to the book of John on Tuesdays!

Not just another post on submission--Part 1

The crape myrtles in Texas are just gorgeous right now! I don't think there's anyone that's seen one that would argue it either.

I wanted to start this with something pretty non-controversial. For someone who tries to stay away from controversial blogs--I've done a pretty good job lately of finding controversial stuff. I am outside my comfort zone!

Last Tuesday at our Bible study we got off on marriage--the old question: what does it mean to be a submissive wife? The ladies want to go back there this week--and of course, I don't feel qualified to teach it. I have been studying to try to see what the Bible says. It's been debated for years--and I doubt I can answer all questions in 45 minutes.

I wanted to run my thoughts past you all. Before I get started--I don't expect everyone to agree with me. I would consider it a privilege for you to politely give me your point of view. If I don't agree with you, I won't write a new post about how incredibly stupid you are. If I do use something of your comment in another post--I will ask you for your permission. If you have something you would like to share off-blog--I have finally enabled an email address in my profile.

To get started I would like to say I don't believe the Bible is a rule book. I believe the Bible is a love story--that includes lots of grace and mercy. The Bible demands a response. I can choose to not believe it and live my life as I please. (I don't recommend this--eeekkk). I can believe it--and the Bible will call me to live a life of selflessness and holiness--that brings glory to God in all that I say and do.

Much of the time, I will have to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit to know what the specifics of how to live out that call is. For instance, in Ephesians 5:21-33--how does submission look in these different cases?

CASE 1
The husband is a spiritual giant--he loves his wife following the example of Christ loving him and loving the church to the best of his ability. However, occasionally he gets caught up in a bit of selfishness and pride and starts in a direction that's against God's plan. What does submission look like in this case?

CASE 2
The husband would not miss church on Sunday--don't even think about asking him. He supports his family, too--he allows his wife to NOT *work* because she did have triplets one year and twins 14 months later. None of the children are 3 years old yet--but his woman better have his Pepsi and the remote ready when he gets home at night. What does submission look like in this case?

CASE 3
The husband allows his wife to practice what he considers her "new nonsense religion" by going to church on Sunday morning. He even allows her to write a small check each week for *her* church. He's not so sure about Jesus and the Church and all that though. He's decided for now the life he wants is watching adult tv, getting drunk a couple times a week--and using his extensive vocabulary of profanity on his wife and their children. What does submission look like in this case?

Since this is long--I will continue with another post soon--looking more directly at the scriptures that could apply here.

We had a fun trip to Oklahoma--my mom is almost back to her perky self. Just another way I think my mom is wonderful--she still works in VBS--AND loads her car up with neighborhood children to take part in VBS. It was VBS week for her--and I think she was having a great time.

The trip was made much better for me because Aug took off a couple days and went along. She did all the driving--and we got to have some great theological discussions and listened to two Beth Moore CD's from her Daniel study. One of the CD's was about walking through the fire--and I got some new, good thoughts from it--the other was on prophecy. I didn't get much from the prophecy one--I don't understand much about prophecy--I have bought huge books explaining end times and prayed God would show me how it's all going to happen--and He hasn't yet. Right now I believe God is in control--He knows what He's going to do--and I am just going to be in awe however He does it. Some people really get excited about prophecy, though, and I wish I could, but I am just not there yet--but I will keep an open mind.

I was so thrilled to meet Niki while I was there. I've been reading her blog for quite a while--so I knew I would love her--but she was more wonderful than I could have ever imagined. She was beautiful--had such a sweet spirit--and gorgeous smile. In our short time together--I learned we had much in common--we both are very passioniate about what we believe--but we believe that on many issues God has different plans for each of us--so if you are listening to God and not just like us--that's good, too. Bottom line, I admire her and hubby Benny--they work with street kids in Denver--they share the love of Jesus with young people that have had difficult lives--how cool is that? BTW, I am not certain if anyone else has this problem, but when I meet friends now, my family says "is this a blog friend or is this a real friend?" Hmmmm...I consider my blog friends my real friends, too--some of you I just have not met--yet.

I got to drop in on a very interesting session on blogging for God--done by Brock. He was really doing this for high school students-but I didn't find a thing he said that would not apply to anyone that has a blog. He did use the word "dude" at least 50 times and I have caught on that high schoolers love to be called dude--so I think many of them got it! At the first of the session, he asked how many of them had blogs-and about 100% of them did. He approached the topic from a very positive direction--telling us how blogs can be used for the glory of God--spreading the gospel--encouraging the discouraged--and getting to know people better--'cause we all know we say stuff on our blogs that we might not say in person. He encouraged us to use our blogs as an opportunity to do good. It was excellent stuff!

I also got to meet Miss Natalie Brook, Angi, and Sarah--they were each real and really wonderful!

Then we ate a Ted's. I didn't want to eat for 20 hours after that meal--it was so incredibly yummy I might have stuffed myself. I brought PH home about a third of my platter and he enjoyed it as his very late dinner last night!

Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Thursday Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful:

That I can take any question I have to God--and He will listen to me (in my confusion even).

That God looks beyond my sin to see who I can be in Him.

That God gives me second, third and 103rd chances.

That God is Holy.

That Critter and her team have been blessed with some amazing lessons on grace.

For (relatively) cool mornings when I can sit on my patio and read--and study--and hear only a few birds and a gentle breeze.

For time with the Oklahoma relatives the last couple days.

That Aug came with me to Oklahoma.

That I got to meet Niki--and I loved her more than I thought I would!

That I got to hear Brock teach on "Blogging for God" (excellent stuff)

For Ted's.

For the public libary only a few minutes away during my time of computer troubles at home.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Colossians 4:2

WWJD

I think it might be Gay pride month at my office. Christians get Christmas and Easter time--other religions and groups get the days around their special times. I suppose June is for Gay Pride.

All the groups put up displays in the lobby--most explaining about their beliefs--some with decorations.

There is a display only right now. My really condensed version of it is: why hate me because I am different?

Every time I walk past this display I wonder if Christians loved like Jesus loved--would there even be a need for such a display? I truly do have to ponder whether or not homosexuals would have felt hate in the presence of Jesus.

I don't see unbelievers hating them either--most of them believe they can live their lives however they want--especially if whoever will return the favor and let them live as they want. Who do they feel hate from?

I struggle with judgment. Even if I believe something is wrong in God's sight--with all the sin in my life--I am not sure I can be the first one to pick up a stone and throw it at whoever I have judged wrong. If I only understand a bit of my sin--I am so humbled--because I know someone could judge me wrong and hurl their stones at me.

I am thankful Jesus sees me for what I can be, that He offers forgiveness, compassion and unconditional love.

For the record, I believe homosexuality is a sin. I also believe pride, selfish ambition, over-indulgence--anything that keeps me from a pure and holy life before God is sin.

I think Jesus tells all of us "go and sin no more". But I still sin. And He still loves.

Last week in our Bible study one of the ladies had a very good question. She asked how we could know Christianity was the one true religion. She had read a bit of the Koran and then the OT the Jews believe and thought perhaps they were all the same God. She said she wanted to understand about how Jesus was the only way. She was concerned because if she made a mistake it would be an eternal one--and obviously that was quite scary to her.

I've actually thought around something like this question for years. When I was just 10 or so I remember questioning why God had allowed me to be born into a family that taught me about God, Jesus, the Bible from the time I was born. If Jesus was who I was taught he was--this just didn't seem quite fair to me--I had opportunities others didn't have.

As I got a bit older, I wondered if I had been born into a Muslim family--how difficult would it be for me to believe in Jesus. Would I ever get the chance to even hear about Jesus? Like my friend questioning--I knew it was a question too important to be wrong about.

I don't have all the anwers--I do believe Jesus is the only way. I base my belief mostly from the Bible, some from historical records, and a lot from what I believe is confirmation of the Holy Spirit. I believe Jesus lived a perfect life, died for my sins, and was resurrected. I believe it strongly enough to trust God for my eternal salvation because of it.

The part I don't know about is the other religions. I will just have to let God be God for all those people. I know He has extended more grace to me than I ever deserved. I know I have heard about Jesus and what He did for me. I have been enabled to believe in Jesus. I am certain I want my life to be all about Jesus.

Weekend Wrap-up

We got back to Texas in time for some rain. We needed the moisture; the temperature dropped; and since Aug was down and didn’t want to drive home in the rain; she spent the night. I am really thankful for the rain!

I finished “And the Shofar Blew”. I am with Karen, I would love to meet her contemporary characters. The reason I enjoy Ms. River’s books are they are good theology. Applied theology. I get hooked every time and can’t put the book down.

What should I read next? “The Atonement Child”, “The Scarlet Thread”, “The Last Sin Eater” or “The Shoe Box”. Has anyone read the Lineage of Grace series?

I found this quote in Beth Moore’s study “Daniel”:

“My young adult daughters bring me indescribable joy. Hangeth thou in there, ye mothers of preschoolers! Ye weary wardens of teenagers! Ye washers of PE uniforms! Groweth not weary in well doing! The harvest cometh! The days seem to pass slowly, but the years fly like the wind. I enjoy so many things about my daughters—but nothing more than sharing our individual walks with Jesus. Their ages, different roles in life, and polar-opposite personalities add all sorts of angles and perspectives to the journey.”

I say AMEN!!! The years we had children at home were busy, but very happy. When I thought of them leaving home, I could not imagine how I would survive. What I found out is, having young adult children is wonderful, too. In fact, I’ve told you, I think each stage of parenting just keeps getting better! Like Beth, I love sharing our walks with the Lord. We are all so different! I really think some of those times of sharing are just about as close as we get to heaven here on earth!

And…I am really missing Aggie-ed. Yes, I love to share his walk with Jesus, too. However, right now we are having a major computer problems and he’s our on-staff computer engineer. I am trying to take directions from Thailand, but so far have not solved our issues. How did we ever get so dependent on a machine?

Hope the dad’s reading had a GREAT Father’s day!!

Father's Day Tribute

Probably since our culture has a wonderful tradition to take a day to honor dads--I've been thinking about some of my best memories with my dad.

The first thing I figured was--I had the first third of my life with my dad--and the last 2/3's of my life without my dad. He was such a strong influence in my life--I rarely go a day without thinking of him--I am sooo thankful for the 17 years I had with him.

He was supportive of me in whatever I liked-I've been thinking the past couple days of how I always loved to travel--and some of the trips my dad took us on.

I don't think my dad ever had more than 2 weeks of vacation--yet, for most of my memory--he took one of those weeks to take our family somewhere. I loved to plan the trips--I would write for months ahead of time and get literature--and plan a itinerary for us.

We visited every state that bordered Oklahoma--once we walked from El Paso to Juarez, Mexico--but other than that we were in a border state. I don't know if my dad ever went any further than those states.

I have so many incredible memories from our trips. I know that normal, regular days keep life together. If every day were vacation--then I doubt we would enjoy vacation time as much when it came. However, from all the regular days of growing up--I have limited memories. Yet, I have all kinds of fun memories from our trips!

I am thankful for father's day--because I have taken some time to think about so many of those memories--laugh some--cry some--and be grateful for the dad God blessed me with.

YAY for public transportation!

When we travel--if it's at all possible--we don't rent a car. This is mostly in cities of course, where driving the unknown is adventure we would rather not have--and public transportation will do all that for you. Rental cars are so expensive--we can rent a car for $25 a day--but then you have to pay another $25 a day for taxes (usually to pay for the new sports facilities)--not to mention gas is almost $3 a gallon and in cities you can pay another $30 a day to park it.

Soooo...
We tried New Orleans public transportation yesterday. It was a very good price--free. (In the "there's no such thing as a free *ride*" category--FEMA is still paying--so in a way--I guess we're all paying!).

We rode the ferry to Algiers--great to be out on the Mississippi--and great views of the New Orleans skyline.

We rode the vintage street car all over. (Vintage means NOT air conditioned!) Very nice driver even stopped just to pick us up once. What service at this price. This was way hot--but a fun nevertheless.

We rode an air-conditioned early 90's style bus all over. We got to see the garden district--lots of the southern architecture--great fun--we got a real feel for the city like we had not before.

We found the people here quite friendly and polite. We experienced several young people (high school agish) that were extremely helpful, respectful, polite--IMHO just all around great kids. If you were one of those kids--or you are the parent of one of those kids--you rock!

Today, PH is working all day--so, alas, I am going to be spending my time reading and studying. (I am almost half-through "And the Shofar Blew"--and I really like it-very different from the other Rivers stuff I have read--and I am doing Beth Moore's new study Daniel--excellent study!)

Thursday Thanksgiving

Things I am thankful for today:

Critter and Aggie-Ed got to spend time together in Malaysia

Times of refreshment and rest with God

Prayer--even when I don't understand everything about it

Young people sold out to the Lord--I see lots of 'em!

Young parents raising children that honor God--gobs of those, too!

Francine Rivers

Hawaiian shave ice with Aug and PH

VBS

Great Doctors

Marriages that honor God

Anyone--of any age--sold out to the Lord

Crickets that sing at night (or are they cicadas?)

Really good air conditioners in New Orleans--it's REALLY hot here :-)!

Great comments from that last post—it’s like those commenting knew me or something! Some absolutely great and fairly diverse thoughts—should add some depth to my thinking and praying. I love this blogging thing!

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I got my first credit card offer in Spanish today—I’m trying to analyze why?

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Does anyone know how much the Hawaiian shave ice place makes every time I pay them $1.75 for a small cup? And why there’s always a long line? It’s just water and strong kool-aid. Anyway, that’s where Aug and went tonight—right after we went to the Library to check out “And the Showfar Blew”.

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VBS surely has changed since I was a kid—we used to look forward to kool-aid and store bought cookies. (everybody had those homemade kind). Who knew church buildings could be transformed into Alaska or Jericho? I am praying that lots of seeds will be planted—lots!

Does anyone have a thought about this verse?

"So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them."
Psalm 106:15

If you want to read the chapter in Psalms it will put it in context--if you read Numbers 11 you might get the background.

From what I get the Israelites wanted meat--they didn't consult God on what He wanted for them--—they just wanted meat. So, God gave them what they wanted--—then struck them with a disease and many of them died.

If I am praying for about a sin problem I have, if I am praying for someone's salvation, if I am praying for our children to be sold out to Jesus--I am learning to pray boldly. Anything that is explicitly in the Bible--I know I am praying God's will. But what if I am praying about whether or not I accept a responsibility, about whether or not our children get married, even about physically illness? I absolutely KNOW God cares about all these things--—but I am more timid--I don't know that God's plan is--and I want what He wants in these things. Take the physical illness thing--wha—t if I want a person healed, but God knows a bigger purpose. If it can be God'’s will at all I will usually beg God for healing and relief--but I try to pray so that I don't pray over God'’s will.

I don'’t know if I am making any sense here--but if I am praying for something--something that looks like it would bring me closer to God--where He would be glorified--but it's not happening--I wonder how intensely I should pray for what I think I want?

Or is this verse just from the OT and not applicable to our lives today?

Sabbath Rest

For several years now, I have struggled with the concept of applying the OT principle of Sabbath rest in our NT times. I have come back to it several times, but never really have had any peace as to how to apply it to my life. It's one of those OT principles that although not repeated exactly in the NT, I have had a sense God had a purpose for in OT times and might have a purpose for it in my life. After all, if God *rested* after He created the world, should I not have some planned times of rest in my life?

I have tried to call off everything on Saturday or Sunday and just rest. I admire people who have been able to do this--but it'’s never worked for me. When our children were little, I didn'’t have the supernatural manna--and even if I planned ahead--—they got hungry and I ended up feeding them. We seemed to always get a birthday party or a reception on those days that for whatever reason, I felt we should attend. We'’ve always lived several miles from the church building, so we had to drive at least that far. It could be me, but it just didn'’t work..

Several weeks ago, I listened to a Beth Moore lesson online and she was teaching on this subject. Her interpretation (if I can relay it adequately) was not that every Saturday or Sunday would be observed in NT times, but the principle. She identifies the principle as being one of rest and worship following the completion of something God has given us to do--just as the Israelites did, indeed complete something every week, and they *rested* each week.

I've started trying to apply the Sabbath rest in this way in my life--and it has been a blessing to me. There's a couple ways how I have used it and been blessed by it.

God is still blessing a Bible study at my office on Tuesdays. As the week rolls towards Tuesday each week, I get more an more intent to prepare for my lessons. I end up pushing myself most of the time just to get what I believe the basics are done to be ready for that time. I have begun to give myself a *rest* on Tuesday evenings. I am trying to reflect and see what God is doing during that time--worship Him--and I try to get to bed an hour or so early. If I had something come up on Tuesday night that I really believed I needed to do--I might do it--I am not legalistic about this time--but for the most part as long as the Tuesday study happens, I hope to have a *rest* time on Tuesday evenings.

Also, we had a least one and some of the time all three of our children here for most of 3 weeks in May. They are huge blessings--—but I push hard to keep up when they are here. They are good to pitch in, but there's extra cooking and cleaning--and lots of late nights talking--—and not sleeping. I love their time here, but when they leave I am tired. So, this time, I had most of a day that I was able to rest and reflect once they left. I came out of that time refreshed both physically and spiritually.

This is new to me, but the little I have observed the Sabbath rest in this way have been rich spiritual times. Right now, I work half time and have no children at home--so there are times when I can take several hours and have this kind of rest. However, I have to believe that if God has this kind of rest for us--then He probably gave me time all through my life and I did not recognize it. I think of nights when *mysteriously* all three children slept nine straight hours in one night. Could that have been the rest time God had for me?

The other thing I have not completely processed is this: applying this works for me life--but my life is not all about me--—am I trying to apply this principle to my life and not my life around the principle? I do believe I need to adjust my life to God--not have Him adjust His plans to mine. I continue to process and pray about this.

I do believe our bodies need physical rest. I believe God knows that and that'’s the reasoning behind the Sabbath rest. In our hectic, too busy world--I have not always taken the rest my body needs.

I also believe the OT Sabbath includes a time of worship, praise, and acknowledging what God is doing/has done in our lives. I may write on this in a different post.

I would never force what I believe I am learning here on someone else--this is where God has me right now. If you have thoughts about the OT Sabbath principle--I would love to hear them--—I still have so much to learn on this (and so many other things!)

"God finished the work he was doing. So on the seventh day God rested from his work. God blessed the seventh day and made it a holy day. God made that day special because on that day he rested from all the work he did while making the world."
Genesis 2:2,3

Thursday Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful:

**EDIT** (Thurs eve) I am thankful to be home from the hospital--and all went "better than expected" today. I am sure I know why that is. Thank you so much for your prayers! God is so good.

That God gives purpose and meaning to life

For God'’s love and acceptance

For God'’s patience with me

For friends that pray for me

For unexpected joys in each day

That God is able to teach me at least some compassion and understanding through my experiences this week

That Critter is safely in Malaysia

For the website where I can see pictures of Aggie-ed's group

For good doctors

For good books

For Starbuck's frappuccinos

For air conditioning

"Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes - these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God." Ephesians 5:4

Stuff

It's been a busy week!

I am working on some thoughts to blog--that don't actually have to do with my kids mission trips--but that's pretty much what I have today. Here are the new pictures of Aggie-Ed.

Aggie-Ed is signing autographs--this might be a new experience for him--he looks like he's enjoying it!

Here he is with his conversation partner--I am not exactly sure what this is--but it looks like they are having a GREAT time!

Here Ed is preaching--I am sorry I had to miss this!

We heard this morning that Critter and her group have made it to Malaysia. Aggie-Ed and his group are currently working at a camp in Malaysia--so she thinks she might get to see him tomorrow--I think that's pretty incredible--they are 6000 miles from home--with different groups and are in the same country right now!

Part of the reason I have been busy this week, is I am having a little surgical procedure tomorrow. I've had all my pre-op stuff now--and I really don't think it's a big deal--however, I do believe in the power of prayer--so if you think of it--please say a prayer that the doctor will be successful--and that I will heal quickly. Lord willing, I will be home tomorrow night--then have a few quiet days here.

A mother's prayer

I am a weeeee bit emotional today--Aggie-Ed is half way through his trip to Asia today--and Critter leaves on her trip to the same part of the world tomorrow. So here's my prayer for them (and their entire teams) today:

I pray that God will use them to show the people they come in contact with the beauty of being in love with Jesus.

I pray they will not be seen as American tourists--but a people with love and compassion for each individual they come in contact with.

I pray they will have humble spirits to learn about the culture and the people they are there to serve no matter how different it is from what they are comfortable with.

I pray God will use them to plant many seeds, and water seeds that have already been planted.

I pray God will provide for their physical needs, dealing with exhaustion, different foods and any pain they may experience.

I pray they will be of great encouragement to the Christians in the places where they serve.

I pray they will learn how God loves red, yellow, black and white--that Jesus is not just for Americans--that He died for all the world.

I pray that God will bring them home safely--and when they are home they will have a changed world view--they be passionate to help, to share to love of God with anyone it is within their abilities to help.

I pray for God to light a fire in them that will continue to shine brightly through them long after they return home.

I know many of your have done trips like this--most of you have someone you love that is on foreign mission field or has been--if you have any ideas of how I can better pray just now--I would appreciate hearing them.

As I close here--it occurs to me that all of us live on a mission field--our neighborhoods, our jobs, our families, the grocery store--everywhere we go there are people that don't know Jesus--most of the things I have mentioned here can be readily adapted for all us--no matter we are.

Thursday Thanksgiving

"Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done."
Colossians 2:7

I am thankful that God sacrificed His son for my sins.

I am thankful as things change around me, God does not change.

Since one of our children is in Asia and another heads that direction on Monday, I am thankful God can be everywhere guiding, using, protecting and blessing.

I am thankful for prayer--and God's answers that are above and beyond my abilities to even think.

I am thankful PH loves me no matter what.

I am thankful for emails from Thailand.

I am thankful for family and friends that encourage me.

I am thankful for the rain falling outside right now.

I am thankful for good health.

I am thankful for fresh strawberries and corn on the cob.

I am thankful my friend Ann is going to Brazil for the summer.

Whew--I am thankful I finally made it to the computer to write just some of the many reasons I am grateful today!