I love that I can record my gifts using my phone, in a way that makes sense. And that I can take pictures of the gifts and share them with others on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

(Note: due to privacy concerns, I disabled the location settings on photos, which I have done for all photo apps, as a best practice in security.)

And believe me. I need all the practice I can get!

Download in iTunes or for Android.

What about you?
How will you be counting gifts of gratitude this Thanksgiving?

Late last week I spent a couple of days with women (and a few men) at Eagle Eyrie discussing discipleship, huddle, oikos and missional communities. It was truly incredible! I heard about Ordinary Women/Extraordinary God from Jo Saxton and Sally Breen of 3DM. I enjoyed spending time with the women of Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church.

I’m grateful for  Laura McDaniel and  John Chandler, for the many ways they’ve made a positive impact on my life. And how God has granted them and John Upton favor and influence in Virginia and around the world.

I am blessed by the hard work of the WMUV team. And by a husband who held down the fort so that I could be part of something bigger than myself.

What about you?
What gifts might you number today? 

Linking up with Ann today.

Remember the way to
Overcome the enemy

Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. – Revelation 12: 10b-11

A Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the spotless Lamb who poured out His blood for us, while we were still sinners. Use the words of our testimonies, that we may no longer be defeated by the enemy. But instead, let us overcome Satan, who deceives the whole world.

When I’m drowning,
and I’ve forgotten how to swim,
friends and a husband
worth their weight in gold
help me find my water wings.

Sometimes,
without even realizing it.

Linking up with Ann today.

506. Teenage duck-duck-goose, a pile of shoes in the foyer and a family room full of Young Lifers.
507. Missing homework, less than stellar report cards and bootcamp.
512. Safe friendships…
514. Decaf K-cups
517. Flowers from Peter, just because.
524. Sleet on an October afternoon.
526. Heated car seats.
528. An unplanned phone call and the privilege to pray.
530. Date nights that begin with an argument but end with a nap in bed.
532. Friends and a husband who help me find my water wings

What about you?
When have you needed water wings and who helped you find them?

Creative Commons photo on Flickr by Asvensson.

Tonight as I was cleaning up after dinner, I had this sudden urge to take pictures of my refrigerator. Weird, I know. Except a few years ago I saw these cool photos of people’s refrigerators. Then when I was at Laity Lodge, there was a showing of refrigerator/food photos and art at the Cody Center.

So…I grabbed my iPhone in the neon green rubber case and snapped up a few photos.

I figured I might use them for a post for Ann’s Food on Fridays series.

Then the lightbulb came on!

Less than an hour before dinner, I read an email from my friend Vernon Brewer of World Help. He shared a story about a dire situation in Guatemala. You can read Vernon’s post here, but the gist of it is this: To keep Hope of Life feeding station open in Guatemala, World Help must raise $30,000 in 30 days. The center, in operation five days a week, impacts 800 children, 125 single mothers and 10 special needs adults.

In a trash dump.

I don’t have $30,000. I don’t have $1,000. I cannot imagine the extreme poverty many face in Guatemala.

But I figure, there are six of us in our family. We could give $30 ($5 for each family member) towards Hope of Life feeding station, but even that’s just a drop in the bucket. However, if each of you gave $5 for each member of your family, that might make a difference. Especially if you snapped a few pictures of your refrigerator and posted them on your blog, on Facebook or on Twitter and encouraged others to do the same.

What about you?
Will you show me yours? And will you give $5 for each family member?  Hope of Life feeding station in a trash dump? If so, please leave a comment and include a link to your tweet, Facebook note or blog post. 

Would you pray with me? 
Jesus, the One who fed multitudes with only a few loaves and fish, thank you for taking this meager offering and magnifying it so that others are blessed and You alone are glorified. In Your powerful name I pray. Amen. 

“It’s hard to believe there’s so much beauty in death.”

There’s been a lot of death lately. The day after Steve Jobs passed away, a friend from church died rather unexpectedly from complications of a routine surgery. If memory serves me correctly, Sue Nichols was just days away from turning 70 years old, but the numbers didn’t add up. She was much younger than that. The picture of health.

I think her life, lived on purpose, kept her young.

Sue was all the things you read about in obituaries: a devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother. And those are all great roles, important titles. But here’s what’s caught my attention.

Sue lived towards eternity.

She taught Sunday School for 40 years, most of that time (if not all) teaching tweens (can you say Sainthood?) and sharing the love of Jesus. Many young people made decisions to follow Christ as a direct result of how Sue invested her time.

She spent her time, energy and resources in the Clothes Closet ministry of our church. She sorted clothes, organized shoes and belts and welcomed people without means. Offered them dignity and grace along with a few articles of clothing.

For the last decade or more, Sue volunteered teaching English as a Second Language. Again, touching lives. Making an impact.

Deep and abiding beauty.

Over the last few months, I’ve been wrestling with God about my need to die to self in several areas. At times the fight has been difficult because my flesh is weak. I’m desperately in need of Jesus, only I’ve been too hard-hearted to let Him fully transform me.
from death.
to life.

Just when I need it most, He reminds me.

What about you?
Do you see beauty in death? How might God be calling you to die to self?

Note: The photos above were taken yesterday, rather than on Sunday, when the sky was as blue as I’ve ever seen it. 

Know how I know?

I’m getting a fever blister. I just felt the stinkin’ thing under the surface, on the lower left side of my bottom lip.

Just.

Like, a minute ago it wasn’t there, and then, boom. Fever blister simmering. Despite the fact that I’ve applied Abreva and will continue to do so in the hours ahead, I’m guessing by morning I’ll have a butte.

Why am I stressed?

• I’m having major surgery  (hysterectomy and hernia repair) on Friday, and while I’m not worried, it’s still major surgery with a 6 week recovery period.
• This weekend I started with a bladder infection. Joy!
• Yesterday I sprained my ankle. I was running from the sprinkler and stepped in a hole. The intense pain was accompanied by a loud “Crack!” sound.
• Peter’s working all weekend. (It’s a major IT thing that was scheduled before my surgery so he’s not in the dog house.)
• After spending 8 weeks with their dad, my babies (now 13 & 15, but always my babies) come home this Saturday. I’ll either be in or getting out of the hospital. (Their coming home is a good great thing. The stress is that I won’t be in tip-top shape.)

There’s so much to do between now and Friday. The thought of my growing “to do” list causes angst to well up inside me.

My heart races and my breathing turns shallow. My thoughts jump from one thing to the next, never landing in one particular place long enough to “settle.”

You’ve had similar situations in your own life, right?
Your aging father passes away, leaving behind your mother, who is struggling with Alzhimer’s.

Your sister-in-law dies unexpectedly, leaving behind a beautiful young boy who tries to commit suicide when he’s 17.

Your wife walks out because she’s in love with someone else and the stress of raising two kids weighs so heavy on your waking thoughts that you can hardly concentrate on your work, so you’re afraid you’ll be fired any day now.

Your husband dies after a valiant fight with cancer (or your ex-husband dies from complications of a heart attack) and now you must provide for your son (or entire family) on a commission only salary (or part-time salary and a small insurance benefit).

Your mother is dealing with a chronic, debilitating illness and your father-in-law was just given weeks to live.

At times, the stress is unbearable!

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not comparing a fever blister and a sprained ankle with major life losses. It’s just that sometimes, you can hardly catch your breath from one thing before the next thing is already knocking on your door.

But this I know.
Jesus spoke to his disciples about when he said, “I have told you these things so that in me, you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Writing often helps me clarify life. If I’m paying attention, I might even catch of glimpse of God’s perspective.

A Prayer
Heavenly Father, I take comfort knowing you are acquainted with sorrow and grief. You’re not a God removed from suffering. Jesus, you are my peace and you have overcome the world. I trust You! Help me to trust you more.

What about you?
What do you do when you find yourself in stressful situations?

Creative Commons photo on Flickr by jdlasica.

Tonight I’m headed back to the Blue Ridge Regional Jail to meet with a small group of woman inmates. Two other women and I will be facilitating a session on communication, based on Biblical principles.

I knew it would be a long week, so I set aside several hours this afternoon to review the material (I’ve participated in this particular session several times), prepare my heart, and pray.

However, sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is listen to your body, and rest. I took some Aleeve and a nap, and woke up refreshed, but feeling pressed for time. Instead of doing the logical thing, getting out the material and making notes, I opened my journal and began to write.

…”I’m not feeling very prepared.

“Lord, what can I share about communication? What truths have I learned? What do You say about communication? What do others say?”

I began to write. God brought to mind the story of the woman at the well. I turned to John 4 in my Bible, read, then wrote pages of notes. In this passage, Jesus was after intimacy. The woman was more interested in putting up walls. Jesus persisted. He asked questions. Listened. Saw her fear, her need and her heart.

Every single thing I wrote in my journal dovetailed beautifully with sections 9-13 that I’ve been asked to facilitate. Everything.

I’m not going into the jail tonight as an expert on communication. I’m going as a woman who said yes, who’s put up my own share of walls, but thankfully, found Jesus to be persistent.

And I’m counting on God to show up because He alone is faithful.

Would you pray?
Would you pray that the three of us leading will be effective and in unity? That we’ll be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Would you pray for the 3-10 women involved in Interfaith Outreach Association’s Progressive Release Program? That God will tangibly reveal truth to each of us tonight, and in the days to come? Pray for each of the women to be encouraged this week and to be able to share what they’ve learned with someone else in the coming week.

What about you?
When have you said “yes” to God and felt like you weren’t at all prepared, only to discover God was the One equipping?

Creative Commons photo on Flickr by 710928003.

Armed with vinegar for the windows, Pine-Sol (my favorite clean house scent) for the sinks, toilet and floor and Bar Keeper’s friend for the shower, I went straight to work. I even pulled out the bleach and toothbrush for those once-white-but-now-pinkish-mold-colored crevices on the shower door. Disgusting, I know.

But finally, it’s clean, decluttered and orderly. (Except the quarter round on the side of the bathtub, which still needs to be trimmed out from this winter’s bedroom/bathroom remodel project.)

I can breathe deeply.

Inhale. Exhale.

I present to you, the bathroom. (You can click each photo to enlarge if you so desire.)

Too bad I can’t stay in our bathroom until the contractor completes the post-flooding basement remodel. They’re set to be finished by the end of the first week of June.

For today, there’s a fine layer of drywall dust to vacuum.

There are walls to be primed this weekend.

There’s laundry to be done. Always.

Oh, and there’s flooring to consider for the kitchen even though it’s not part of the original flood from late March. No, the flooring issue occurred when we were at the beach over Spring Break and even though we turned the water off this time, somehow water managed to find it’s way out of our dishwasher and onto the kitchen floor. According to our very kind neighbor who cleaned it up in our absence, there was a lot of water.

So, Peter ripped up the old, ugly vinyl (which were planning to do at some point, just not now, in the middle of all this) and replaced part of the subfloor.

A Prayer

God, you alone are the One who holds and sustains all of creation. You alone are sovereign and good. In the times when I’m feeling completely stressed and out of control, especially then, let me remember to hide myself in you. May I hide your words in my heart, so in the midst of my anxiety, I don’t sin against You (or my family).

What about you?
Where do you turn when life is out of control?

Unfortunately, sometimes I’m like this with God as well. I have my own words, ideas or agendas as I approach a Bible story or passage of Scripture, that the voice of God falls upon my own deaf ears.

So for the next couple of days, I’m choosing to be silent. Not in the literal sense. There’s too much parenting to do, though I wonder what would happen if…

Simply silent here on the blog, and on Facebook and Twitter, in order to more fully hear the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. And maybe, just maybe in my silence, I’ll make room to really hear the voice of God.

Won’t you join me in reading about Jesus’ death and burial found in John 19?

May God use His word to speak to us, afresh this Easter weekend.