His Love Never Fails

I looked around and saw many macadamia trees hitting the horizon.  I was tired, sweaty, and sick of grafting healthy shoots to each tree in order to produce a more abundant crop.  I wanted to do something more important.  Something that would make a bigger difference to the kingdom of God than just allowing a few more nuts to be produced.

That night,  27 children came in to sing at our chapel at the orphanage where we were staying.  They sang in pure sweet voices about a God that loves them no matter what.  They praised the Holy Father that cares for them, lifting their sweet faces to a Savior. 

They sang of a love from far above this world:


You, Lord, will always
treat me with kindness.
    Your love never fails.
You have made us what we are.
    Don’t give up on us now!
Psalm 138:8

And then the pastor came up after and told about how each nut that they can sell brings money into help these children. Each. single. nut.

The money helps buy food, clothes, bedding.  I think of the multiple sets of sheets that I have at home, and I die a bit inside.  I die to myself and I start over with Christ.

I want to continue to make a difference.  In the lives of these orphans, in the lives of everyone who I come into contact with.  In the life that God has given me.

The next morning, I look at all of those macadamia nut trees

and smile.


~~~~~~


That was many years ago, a moment in time where I chose to put Him first.  And I try to do that daily.  I mess up daily.  I tend to really like myself and want to make myself happy, but once in a while, God's Spirit will touch me and He will move.  I chose to become a Compassion Blogger because of this touch. I chose to teach Sunday School because of this touch.  I choose to write because of this touch.

I know that His love never fails. Whether it is a love for me, the children, or a simple tree.

His love never fails.

Do you have any verses that have transformed you that you might share with us?

  I would love to hear about them...

Link up and share with others.

Help a Child

A Second Call from the Lord Jesus

Many people between the ages of thirty and sixty - no matter their place in the community and no matter their personal achievements - undergo what can truly be called a second journey.

In his book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning describes this second journey.

A person gets to this stage in life and looks at all he or she has done and asks, "Is it all worth it?"

A dear friend of ours realized this with a health scare that brought him face to face with the possibility of meeting his Creator sooner rather than later.  It does not have to always be a life threatening event.  It can be good or bad.  A mom turns into Grandma and celebrates this gift. A thirty-five year old teacher gets smashed in a car wreck.  A fifty year old man decides to choose a church position over the offered, coveted CEO position. After retirement, a sixty year old woman finds herself living with a man she loves yet never had to spend this much time with.

Brennan Manning sums this up, "These people are dragged away from chosen and cherished patterns to face strange crises.  This is their second journey."

He goes on to describe the wisdom that comes from a person expereiencning the second journey,
"It is a wisdom that gives some things up, lets some things die, and accepts human limitations."

And for Christians, this journey can often start with a second call from the Lord.  In the examples above, our friend found saving grace in the love of his Savior.  The fifty year old man was my father who gave up that CEO position in order to be the Church Chairman of the Board.  These second calls summoned both of these men to a deeper commitment of faith.  And I love this part of Manning's description:

      "The call asks,

Do you really accept the message that God is head over heels in love with you?"

That is what the second call is asking me now.  DO I really accept that message of love and grace?
Oh, I can say it and even tell people about it, but do I believe it? Do I embrace that love?
The confidence that the same God who raised Jesus can raise me?

Manning says that Faith means you want God and want to want nothing else.

And with a faith like that, every day will be new because God will show me in amazing ways his love for me and I in turn will desire to live out this crazy love for Him in order to bring Him the glory He intends for us to give Him!

I will have more joy filled MOMents as a mom because I will radically love my children.  I will let go of the little things (like the Mickey Mouse Lego set we lost) and focus on the big thing of God.

I will rest in these sweet times when my children are home and trust in the times when they are away from me.  Without fear.  Without despair.

I am starting to hear this call.  Oh, I plead with Him to allow me to hear and follow.  May I feel His love penetrate to every part of my soul so that with every breath, I know that God can scarcely be without me his love is so great!

Are you hearing the second call? 

Summer Tips and Tricks for Keeping Kids Busy

Hey Friends!

Some people say July 4th is only the beginning of summer.  For me, it seems like the middle of the summer and I only have a few more weeks until I have to start thinking about school.  That means only a few more weeks of a less hectic and more relaxed schedule for my children!

But look at the calendar...  it's past July 4th, July 18th to be exact, my daughter's 12th birthday, and I am determined to make the last half of the summer even better than the first.

The middle of the summer means bringing out the special things to keep the kids busy and not whining the ever popular summer mantra, "Mom, what can I do?  I'm bored!"

I hope this encourages you to put  joy into every MOMent you have this summer!

Here are Three "Ps" to Beat Summer Boredom Blues: 

Physical Activity

Nothing gets a mind off boredom more than using your body!

Try these healthy body activities:

1.  Obstacle Course - whether it is run around the outside of house three times, do five jumping jacks, and touch a tree or even better have your kids make one up for each other, this will get the blood pumping and the boredom blues go away.

2.  Take a Family Fun Walk - Walk around the neighborhood and alternate between skipping, jumping, hopping, and even walking backwards.

3.  Roller Derby - Get those wheels a running!  Skate, rollerblade, ripstick, or even big wheel between marked lines with a finish line!

4.  Dance Off - Even your boys can get into this competition of turning up the music and dancing until the music stops.  If you catch someone still moving, they are out until the next round.  Winner gets to show off a new dance move!

5.  Hard Labor - Okay, maybe not so hard, but definitely some work...get the kids involved in washing the car, mowing the lawn, weeding the garden.  You will get some chores done while giving the child a sense of accomplishment.

6.  Summer Olympics - Get your kids involved with their own version of this summer's biggest event including synchronized sprinkler routines, tennis ball balancing, or gymnastics by moonlight.  Tell them to be creative and you will be sure to be a good audience for performance time!

Prepare for Fun

The summer months can seem long, but it can be the perfect time to get some creative projects done for the rest of the year when it seems too busy to complete craft time!

1.  Make Christmas gifts - Get your list made and make gifts this year.  You will cure the boredom blues AND get your Christmas gift getting done early.

Ideas:

Creative Paper Bookmarks

Wooden Block Photo Frames

Scrapbook for the Grandparents

Photo Calendar

Bead Necklaces, Bracelets, or Earrings

Assembled Bird Houses, Garden Planters

Here are some Craft Project Sites to get you started:

1. EnchantedLearning.com – extremely comprehensive list sorted by holiday, theme, materials, or topic
2. The Best Kids Book Site – also has a huge crafting section
3. FamilyCrafts.About.com
4. CraftForKids.com

2.  Make a meal together - Double the recipe and bring a blessing meal to someone who is going through a tough time or even just another mom who needs a break.  Your children will learn math through measuring, a life skill of cooking , and more importantly, the character shaping skill of serving another family!

3.  Make your own vacation itinerary -   Get your kids involved in deciding what to do on your next vacation. Have older kids plan out gas stops or souvinier costs.  Have younger kids look through pictures and pick where they want to  visit.

Complete the activity with your own travel guide or animal pamphlet. Younger kids can get stuffed animals involved in this part!

Bookmark these sites for quick exploring!

1. National Geographic Kids
2. NASA Kids Activities
3. Animal Planet
4. Discovery Kids

Practice Perfect Presentation:

Okay, this one has three "p"s all by itself, but the philosophy is still the same.  This is all about making the ordinary special and making the kids do it!

1.  Snack Time turns into Happy Cafe - Have your kids make menus, signs, and even prepare the snacks to turn an everyday detail into something fun!

2. Have Breakfast Outside - Not just the eating part, but finding it!  Hang tiny cereal boxes in the trees, hang small spoons, and cartons of milk from individual branches.  Set your children out to find their own food!  Older kids can prepare this for the younger ones.

3.  Lemonade Stand - This is a classic  time waster fun activity for children.  Add homemade brownies, cookies, and even give some of the profits to a special charity.  The research in finding the charity will be more than an educational learning tool..it is a chance to teach generosity to your children!

4. Campouts - Whether it is a real tent in the yard or a sheet hung between chairs in the basement, have the kids set up "camp" with blankets and books to read by flashlights.

5. Dessert of the Day - Give each child a chance to pick out and create a special dessert with mom.  This not only gives needed intentional time with one child, it also gives a little variety to the standard popsicle dessert of summer!

This is just the beginning in Summer Tips and Tricks!  I know you have some to share as well.  I would love to hear your creative ideas!  

And if you want to read even more...head on over to Hearts-At-Home where my blog will be linked today and other Hearts-At-Home bloggers will be sharing!

Just click here!!

Hopes for Infinity and Beyond

Well, Hello My Friends!

I have been off for a bit and I am so sorry about that!

I have been thinking a lot about goals and dreams. The fact is that I have my list of what I want to accomplish...a bucket list of sorts...but I am often reminded that God has a plan for my life that might not be exactly what I desire, but it is always best.

He promises that to us in Jeremiah 29:

"For I know the plans I have for you..plans to prosper you and give you peace."

So I write this list with
a little hesitancy,
a little humility ,
and a lot of humor!

Goals and Dreams For My Life

Top 25 Things that I Want To Do
Subject to change Daily...

1. Run a Marathon.
2. Go camping with all four of my children and husband.
3. Go to Disneyworld (again).
4. Clean out my closet.
5. See my children get married.
6. Go on a vacation with just my husband.
7. Go on a cruise with a fun couple we know.
8. See Wicked.... is it really that good?
9. Play drums for the GoGos (Some dreams I kept from my childhood...)
10. Write a book.
11. Love Jesus with everything I have.
12. Go to the beach.
13. Make a perfect Danish Layer Cake.
14. Grow more than just tomatoes in my garden.
15. See the Holy Lands.
16. Get up early to read the Bible for more than 21 days in a row.
( 'Cause doesn't it become a habit, then?)
17. Watch one of my children in a musical or play.
18. Finish a triathlon ( half or whole...I'm not choosy)
19. Speak to women about the changing love of Jesus.
20. Finish our Master Bathroom.
21. Teach my children to be confident and kind.
22. Write a Mother/Daughter Bible Study Book.
23. Read the whole Bible.
24. Teach a college course on anything.
25. See my children walking in the Truth.


Another goal is to write and encourage people so that everyone might be able to find a little joy in their lives - whether it is making cake pops with their child or going on a 16 hour in one day road trip only to come back 2 days later! And that is the purpose of this blog. To encourage joy in the midst of the daily events we all encounter. Whether it is something on our list, or just dropping the kids off at school, you can find joy and ways to share joy.

Because if you look at my list, in the whole realm of life, not a lot will be important. But a few are eternal. I would love to hear about a few of your dreams, hopes, or goals...

Blessings,
Angie