"The heritage of those who fear your name..."

I am awed at the words that David wrote in Psalm 61 some 3,000 years ago. They are words that echoed the cry of my soul also on some of my life's most difficult days. Word pictures that helped me to hold on to God.

Verses 1-3: Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,

(the beach is the end of the earth, right???)

I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher
than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the
foe."

Psalm 61:5 "For you have heard my vows, O God; you have
given me the heritage of those who fear your name."

And this cry from verse 5 was also on my lips--a prayer for my children from a broken home to come to God; to devote their lives to Christ; to give their all for the Kingdom of God.

Too many people today think of heritage as wealth or property passed from generation to generation. I know my parents wanted to "leave me something", and they did. They were people of faith and lived out their lives faithful to God till the end. I have the sure faith that they live eternally in heaven. That is the heritage I pass on to my children. I go back to that cry from scripture that my children will hold fast to God's hand when their difficult days come, when they need a strong tower. I believe that their faith can grow deeper and stronger than mine. That God will lead them to places I have not yet seen, and multiply their influence for the building of the kingdom of God. God is allowing me today to see that happening in their young adult lives. It is a gift; an answer to my cries from 10 years ago.

Your children may be young. But it is not to early to pass on to them your stories of faith and your prayers, that they will follow your heritage of honoring Christ whatever comes and that they will choose to invest their all for His Kingdom.

Easter reflection and invitation

Easter is always a holy day for me. Resurrection is a keystone of my faith. The message of easter is true year-round, but to celebrate Easter is to reflect on how my faith is a story of my relationship with someone who is alive. I don't follow a historical figure--I have a growing spiritual journey with a God who understands what it means to be human, and is alive to walk with me every day I live!!!

Every year at Easter that truth is magnified again for me. And I don't want the resurrection truth to just be a one day event, so I look forward to it --- for weeks! To think about Christ's sufferings for humankind, his betrayal, his love and forgiveness poured out for those who beat and humiliated him causes wonder in my heart. I have heard it every year, yet I hear it as new again.

Easter is about losing life to find life; offering forgiveness for the undeserving; going through death as the doorway to new life. Easter is faith, hope and love. What words do you use to describe what Easter means in your life?

Puzzled? HOPE lives!

I love puzzles! I like soduku and jigsaws and computer timed puzzles too! Unlike my friend JS I find them relaxing. One reason may be that I remember as a child that our family often pulled them out of the closet during snows or in the summer during afternoon rain storms at the lake. It was something we could do as a family and often we would do the large ones and leave them out for a week or so until we finished. I've had some awesome moments already this month working on puzzles with some of our kids at church! We are using puzzles to talk about HOPE.

Here are some things I have learned about puzzles:
1) sometimes walking away is a good thing. Eye strain and brain strain dictate a break! And so often after walking away you can come back and the very piece you searched in vain for earlier will be the first thing you see upon returning! It is as though your brain actually worked on finding it while you were away!

2)Things can change fast. I have often looked for what I was sure was a dark blue piece to finally try an indigo piece that was an exact fit. When it comes to hues and blends one can't always know how quickly things can lighten (or darken) up!

3) The picture on the box is not always in proportion to the puzzle. "But the building is taller! It's not time for sky yet!" I have often been perplexed when the picture doesn't meet my expectations. It can be a source of anger for me!!! The only solution is to keep working it out!

Puzzles are frequently like my life experiences. I need to walk away from frustrating situations to get perspective. Some good sleep can often helped me see the solution I formerly missed.

Often, just when I think things will never change--light breaks through. God often surprises me with a beautiful color I didn't expect.

And my expectations can keep me from seeing the answers right in front of me. God is not limited by my expectations. My limited vision is in stark contrast to His creativity.

God promises that He is at work around us--we just aren't always in tune with the colors with which He chooses to paint. Or we are looking too hard for what WE expect. I am relearning Romans 8:28 which I summarize in my brain as "We KNOW....God works for the GOOD..."

love gifts

A mother's journey of 25 years

1st Child--It was 25 years ago today you were "due" to arrive
After 2 "false starts" to the hospital you finally came 10 days later; some of the longest days of my life!
Everything was amazing and documented in your life--there are loads of pictures and notations of every "first" thing you did
We were learning together you and I; my life totally adjusting to your needs
I saw myself as your protector
Adults were your role models; you were always watching and copying me
Through the years your path has expanded with many friends to learn from and travel with

2nd child--Your life was barely announced, then snuffed out
There was silent pain, not well understood but never forgotten

3rd child--Your birth was easy as soft snow fell in the early morning hours
Your brother was fascinated with you and he was the model you followed after
I was a mom of experience now and didn't push you to perform or be perfect
The pictures were fewer, but your birth position was probably easier
You may have been compared to another, but you always proved your uniqueness
With you I was trying to be Supermom--work, home,church, sports, clubs, travel-- always in a rush
You've always dreamed big, but you knew where home was

4th child--Your life here was a slow loss
There was painful knowledge that your future here was questionable
So sure you were my daughter it was a desperately sad time and too often it was an unspoken sadness

5th child--Your arrival was joy! You were the center of all attention
Yet it was you who did the adjusting to life in a busy family
I had the experience to let you be yourself; to struggle, fail and get back up
There were hectic times and yet now I knew how to build in times to relax as well
You always had to share my time and there was guilt for me with that
But you have kept me young, still make me smile and laugh and teach me much
I have let you see more of my limitations

To each of you I had differing gifts to offer. Yet to each of you I gave my best in love.
Yet all I have given is unmatched by the richness your lives have woven into the weaving of my life, and continue to blend into the stories I both share and silently treasure. To be a mom, is a gift of immense joy.

Preschool Training

Here are the details for January 25th's Preschool Training.
4:30-6:00pm, Lower Level Preschool Area, Multi-Purpose Building
(Training is for current teachers and hopefully a whole bunch of new ones, especially parents who are currently not serving in any other area of ministry on Sunday AM's.)
Email Gaylin at gaylinstewart@northstate.net
or Bob James at bjames@northstate.net

Christmas Eve with the family

A New Year, not a totally clean slate

Reflecting on 2008 I see many blessings and opportunities I had to grow spiritually. Some lessons I have had to relearn, recycle, review; God takes me through remediation with Him often. There are spiritual truths that I can quickly state--but struggle to live out. This year gives me a new year to live out my faith--but it's never a clean slate; there's too much I have already learned!

I want to brag on my hubby Tim, because one of the great reminders about my priorities came through my husband's unselfish action at Christmas. He asked everyone in our family to invest the money that would usually buy him a gift into helping someone else or donating to a worthy cause. Because of that here's how the world is a better place: donations were given to a ministry to the homeless in Charlotte, NC; money was given to TOMS SHOES helping provide shoes to people in third world countries; a gift given to support the International Justice Mission that rescues victims of violent opression around the world; a gift to aid in the providing of fresh water in Africa; and two gifts to ministry in Kenya. One person's unselfish act can make a difference! This year I want to be that kind of unselfish person! THANKS TS