Jude 1-2

I first submitted my life to Christ at age 17. Granted, I had no idea what it was all about...I made sure I was seen with my Bible, I tried memorizing scripture for memorizations' sake, and I continued living like a heathen. Definitely immature. At the height of immaturity, I firmly believed that if I had a question or a problem, I could simply open the bible and the first verse I laid my eyes on...that was my answer!! Oh, what a shame in reducing our Mighty God to a genie in a bottle. Thankfully, I grew up...took me a while...but I'm a work in progress.

Well, as only our Mighty God can do....yesterday we had some time to kill before my son had to go to the boarding gate, so he took the opportunity to take each of his brother's and sister's aside to have a little pep talk. He spent the longest time with his bio-brother, encouraging him to be the "oldest" and to take up the slack around the house. Seeing them sitting outside in the atrium together, laughing and joking, really touched my heart. Anyway, I was holding my son's bible, he has an NIV/Message parallel bible, and as I was trying my darndest not to cry, I opened his bible and the verses my eyes fell on were Jude 1-2 of the Message, which read:

1. I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James, writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. 2. Relax, everything's going to be all right; rest, everything's coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!

Oh, what a mighty God we serve! That He would allow my eyes to fall on these two verses, at the exact moment that I was breaking down...I now have the verses posted on my pc, and when I start to feel that "anxiety" creep up, I will re-read the verses until they are memorized.

God was able to turn a childish notion of mine, over 20 years later, to comfort me when I needed it most. Best of all, when I opened the my son's bible, I wasn't even looking to read anything, I just needed to look away from my boys sitting outside....it was too poignant for me to intrude on their conversation by even just looking at them!

Thank you God, for being faithful even when I am not!

The Difference

He's Off!!

My son left today to Peru...actually, he will be in Dallas until 6/25; that day they will fly to Miami, then on to Peru. His schedule is pretty booked until he returns on 7/22. He will spend 2 days in Dallas winding down, then fly home on 7/24.

I was thinking today about the differences between my son and I at the same age. At 19, I was a wild-child (nothing to brag about) who fled to the military...I marched into the Army during an inevitable war-time (Thank God I didn't have to go)....I flew from my hometown to Lubbock, TX, to Atlanta, then to Columbia, South Carolina. To this day I don't know how I made it, since I'm from a one-horse town and had never been inside an airport, let alone an airplane.

My son, at 19, is marching into a different war, one that is a lot more subtle, but its leader, our enemy, is so much more crafty. My son has flown before, but only as a small child...because of 9/11, we could not go with him to the boarding gate. It was difficult waving good-bye from the escalator, and I could hardly see through my tears.

The difference between us in our respective ages is enormous. I went with "war-time" heels; he is going in peace and hope. I went as I was running away; he is going because he is running "to"...the call of his God. I went with a rebellious heart that was full of hopelessness; he is going with a full heart that is overflowing with the knowledge of his Savior's love.

I don't blame anyone for my past; my parents were very dedicated and did what they could with me...I listened to the world-system. Thank God, He didn't let me go even though I made a commitment to Him at the age of 17 but did not honor until I was 37.

So, my lovely son...I will see you in 33 days....counting down day by day until you return full of stories and a love for the Peruvian people....Until then!

Peru Missionary Trip

My oldest son will be leaving in a little under 2 weeks for Peru on his first missionary trip. Although I know it's his destiny, and although I trust God, I am still nervous about him going. Not so much because it's a missionary trip, but because for the first time in 7 years, he will not be here with me every day.

Yes, selfish, I know. He's been homeschooled since he was in the 6th grade, so I am more than used to him being home. So, like I said, it's selfish on my part.

He's prayed for direction in his life for several years and for a long time his goal was to join Master's Commission, but when he dissected his reasons for wanting to be in MC (MCAustin, to be exact), he realized his heart was drawn to the mission trips.

So, after reading I Would Die For You by Brent & Deanna Higgins last September, he decided to go straight into missionary work. I recommend that book to everyone to read. It is excellent!

He will be going to Peru with the organization Awe Star Ministries. And...the country coordinators this year will be Brent & Deanna Higgins! That is such a God-Thing!!!! My son is super-excited about that alone!!

I've posted a link to the organization he'll be going with, and also to Brent Higgins' blog. Muddle through the sites...you're sure to be inspired!!!

http://www.awestar.org/
http://www.prayforbj.com/

Daily Christian Dying

I'm plagiarizing today...I copied this off of my son's myspace blog...thought it would be a good post.

"Daily Christian living is daily Christian dying...what does it mean to give it all for God?

Die daily, to things that snare us, things that are not in line with Him, thoughts, words & actions; be aware daily that without Him, we are but a mere speck, a gnat on an elephant in a galaxy of Africa's.

To die is gain, to get past me, to know we were made to glorify Him. It's not enough to live it only on Sunday or Wednesday, we must live it DAILY.

To rescue the perishing, knowing that without Him, I am at the top of the list.

Do you want to live? Then today, choose to die.†"

Pretty strong words, huh?

Here I Am

"Here I am Lord, have your way in me, use me for You, let all people see, that You are the Son, the Son of God."

I've worshipped to that song so many times that I can recite it without trying. Today, however, I realized, as I was hurrying the kids up, irritated that one of them had wet the bed, again, that I haven't really been living it. I've griped about the weather, been tempermental, gossipped...to name a few. I certainly have not "let my light shine so the world can see, let my light bring glory to Your name."

But in the mist of my self-condemnation, I call to mind (or does He?), that, "now there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 is my mantra, when the enemy continues to stab me with guilt--that he would I, too--I recall the precious words Paul was inspired to pen.

Growth always comes with some discomfort; am I willing to grow despite pain? I pray it is so. I also need to daily surrender my life, rather than try to follow my own will and then try and squeeze God into that will.

So, Here I am Lord, have Your way in me. Gut my heart, clear the cobwebs, re-shelve the west wing. Without total remodeling, I can never hope to be what I sing so loudly in service.

Happy Birthday!!

(always had to nap hugging his pups! 7 years old)

Well, son, you are one year closer to being a "man." But...didn't you already decide that you were going to put away childish things? I remember clearly our conversation about there not being any "teenagers" in the Bible. I pray you keep true.

It's been tough watching you grow up, trying to cherish each and every moment, one minute wanting you to grow up and the next wishing you were still a little guy crawling in my lap. I will ask for your forgiveness now, as I am sure to get even more clingy with you now as your big brother prepares to head off to Austin in less than one year.

I pray that you continue to look forward to 180. I pray you grow strong enough to lead your own destiny. I pray that the God you seek so often will start reflecting in your daily decisions, in your relationships, and in your everyday walk.

I cannot thank Dad enough for finally bringing you home. And even though there are many times that I know you hate being homeschooled, I can also see that it's now an internal struggle, and that your good days are outnumbering your bad. I cannot thank God enough for speaking His wishes so clearly to have you home.

Most of all, I love you deeply, son. I know that God has given you to me, and that you are His and are simply on loan to me. I pray that I make the decisions He would have me make, and that it brings you joy in the process.

Happy birthday, my love!

(the b-day boy...not much has changed in 8 years!)

OBAMA WINS!

Got your attention?

Now I'm not going to use this as a platform to spew politics, that's one area I don't usually touch unless face to face. But...what does a win for Obama mean?

First, let me say that the way the campaigning has gone for several months, you'd think the decision made on November 4, 2008 would herald in a utopic state, regardless of who was chosen to run this country. Will it?

The gloom & doomers would predict one thing, the hopefuls another. What's changed?

Okay, far be it for me to say that last night's victory for Obama was not significant...it is. I am going to go out on a ledge now, but he erased the excuses. No more minority "boo-hoo," no more majority "ha-ha." No longer can we as minorities state that we don't have a fair advantage, no more can we say poor me. The bar has been raised for some, and for others, higher still.

But does November 5, 2008 and on have the sun still coming up in the east and setting in the west? Yes. Am I still a homeschooling mama? Yes. Does my Lord and King still reign? Certainly. I can't help but wonder if the 1st Tuesday of November, every four years, has people thinking that God steps off the throne. The way some of the people were carrying on for the last few months certainly did make me pause!

I am an American, first and foremost. I claim my roots to Spain & Mexican-Indian. My biological children can claim Spanish, Mexican-Indian & Italian to their roots, plus they were born in Germany, which means they can also claim German citizenship. My adopted children are anglo, anglo mix, African-American mix, and Mexican descent. They are all, also, American's.

After American, we are Monarchists. We honor only One King, One Ruler, One God. He is a respector of no persons, but deserves all of our respect. We allow Him to rule our lives, not always without a struggle, as the enemy wanders around, seeking whom he may devour.

We struggle, we fall, but with His Grace, we can get back up again. As we head in a four-year "new era," let's not forget that God is still God, He is still on the throne, and He remains as always unchanged. Trust, and He will lead....regardless of who is the White House!