orphan children

James 1:27 "This is pure and undefiled religion in teh sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Last night the staff of our church and the missions team met with a representative from Buckner Child & Family Services. All I can say is that I am left with a heavy heart. He shared 5 different areas of the world where Buckner is involved with orphanages. We are trying to determine where and how to lead our church to be involved....beyond a single mission trip, more than just giving financially....but investing in the lives of these orphans for a long-term, committed relationship.

I know that God has been preparing me these past few years to be ready for a trip like this. I've been thinking a lot about what life must be like for these children. What emotions they feel the freedom to express? What dreams do they have? Are they even able to be emotionally open to others to receive God's love? Will they see as "those American tourists"? Those questions open a whole other set of concerns for me. Will I be willing to get out of my comfort and do what is best for them? Will what we offer be pleasing to God? Will it seem like we are there simply for the sake of saying, "I've been there and done that." I don't want to go if we're only looking to check it off our list and feel good about what we do. If anything, my prayer is that those who go will come back and be worse for it. That it will mess us up in a serious way. That we will be passionate about what we can do and plead to our Father for intervention. That this will stir some HOLY DISCONTENT in us that is the motivator and driving force behind our lives.

What does it mean when James says "to look after widows and orphans" AND "not be polluted by the world"? Does one come before the other? Does one experience such a change when building relationships and serving widows and orphans that they don't want to be polluted by the world. Or, is it in our desire to not be messed up by the world that we are drawn to minister to orphans and widows?

Whatever our decision about where to go, what to do and when to go....I am there! I continue to pray for discipline with my finances so that money is not a hindrance. I continue to pray for my own emotional healing so that I am able to face whatever situation awaits us. I need self-control and wisdom in choices so that my physical health is not an issue. And I pray that God give me a big vision for what this means for the future. Until then, I wait on the Lord.

one year

The Song of Solomon sermon series by Neil continues to provide encouragement and hope for a future relationship. I am understanding more and more of the nature of a marriage relationship - the way God intended. The sermon was out "Essentials of Intimacy". One essential being PREPARATION ... to 1) WISE UP (get out of debt, take responsibility for your situation and change it 2) GROW UP (don't act like you're in your 20s forever) and 3) SHAPE UP (your personality, your body, your life)

Here's the question for thought and reflection:
For the single person: IF YOU KNEW FOR A FACT THAT YOU WOULD BE MARRIED IN ONE YEAR, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO BE PREPARING AND BE READY FOR THAT?

That question left me....well, speechless! I know that he didn't mean it in terms of the wedding, but in terms of personally - what would I be doing today and in the days ahead that would allow me to be vulnerable and honest and willing to be intimate with someone?

I just hadn't thought of it in that way before. I am beginning to realize how the things that have been on my heart and mind for a while now are the very things that God is using to prepare for that day - whether it is one year or whenever. What do you think?

R & R

Rest & Relaxation (also known an "Rain & more Rain"). I look forward to vacation with great anticipation (see previous post). I pack too much. I stress about all the things to do before I can leave on vacation.

And then vacation starts: turn off cell phone, don't check e-mail, sleep, read, play games, eat and laugh, wash/rinse/repeat

In the midst of of the things I love about vacation and some things I don't, I remember that I really like being alone and had that fleeting thought of just packing it up and going back home. But what's a single girl to do in the midst of a big family?

So, here's the things that I really enjoyed about vacation:
* the rain - it seemed to make everything slow down
* the 2nd cabin - and yeah for me being in it
* the food - coffee from Bucee's on the way, drinks at Johnny Carino's & Rudy's BBQ and creamed corn AND all the snacks....yummy!
* the quiet - sitting a tube, floating on the river, listening to the bugs and birds
* seeing my dad get a little excited about floating on the river
* watching Elyssa play in the river
* holding Emily (even in the midst of her ear screeching cries)
* not wanting to and not having to do ______ (fill in the blank with anything) because "it's my vacation and I can do what I want" (what brilliant person said that?)

This was vacation #2 for 2007. I end it by just sleeping and reading and staying at home - talking to as few people as possible. What am I planning for vacation #3? In my dreams...it is a cruise! But, in reality...there's school and a budget that have priority in my life right now. Which means that extravagant spending is the $5 I spent on the movie Saturday. But, I get the strange feeling that some time in the near future (probably around September/October), I'll hit the road in search of some more R&R. I'll take any ideas you have about inexpensive vacations.