Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Blessed....

Been thinking alot lately on how much we are blessed!  God has blessed us richly and calls us to share the blessing with others!  We are not blessed to hoard the blessing but to share it.

So, who will you bless today? 

Opportunities to bless others abound!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Power....

A friend on facebook just posted the following... "The church is without power, so we will not be holding services today at (church name)."

I quickly responded.... "the church is never without power... we just don't avail ourselves of it often."

She responded... "should have said without electricity."

Now that is more accurate!

Two problems with her post... first the church is NOT the building... WE ARE the church!  Second... the church's power is the Holy Spirit and it is never at a loss for power!  We just neglect to take advantage of the power that is made available to us.

Just some musings as I sit inside and start to go stir crazy!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Heard today...

Someone said today, about a person who is one of the greatest servants around, "even God depends on you."

It is true about that person for sure.

AND it is true about all of us who follow Jesus! 

God depends on us to love the world.... to show his love to the world!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Can't Believe it is so....

Today, a friend posted a picture of their little boy going to his first day of KG in Montana.  They used to live here and moved away when he was a couple months old...now he is going to Kindergarten.  WOW!

But even more amazing to me is that tomorrow, we take Caroline to Bridgewater for her 2nd year of college.  Say it isn't so!  Hard to believe that she is already in year two.  And right along there with that is that Emma is a junior in high school and will be taking college courses this year at Wor-Wic Community College.

Time sure doesn't stand still!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Yes 2012 is coming....BUT!

Living through my first earthquake was an interesting expereince and doing so with the benefit of Facebook has made it even more so.  It wasn't long after the house shook that people everywhere started posting about the experience.  Pretty neat!  Even heard it on FB before the news media broadcast it.

I find it really interesting that now there are all kinds of people who are saying... we are inching closer to 2012 and they better start getting ready.   True we are inching closer to 2012 but I don't think we can make any predictions about the end of the world in 2012!  Jesus says very clearly that "NO ONE KNOWS the day or the hour!"

So, I think it a total waste of time to make predictions!

However, I think it wise for everyone to consider where their relationship with Christ stands.  Are you ready to stand before him tonight and give an account for how you have lived your life?  If not, then you might want to give it some thought.  I am not saying this because 2012 is coming... I am saying this because it is a wise thing to be prepared at all times to meet your maker!

I know not when that day may be... but I know that I am ready whenever it comes.  What about you?

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Lovely day...

Spent the day yesterday with a friend getting our sika ground ready to guide hunters to that elusive stag.  What a shock when we got there and found that it has been so dry this summer that the places that always had nearly knee deep water were DRY!

Even more shocking is the fact that the misquitos are very ABUNDANT this year.  Here is some of what we saw as we rode the argo around a bit checking things out.








Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Nice Job

The building inspector stopped by today to give final approval of the ramp and to release it.  He said it looked great and NICE JOB!

AWESOME Feeling!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Finished!

A nearly three year dream comes to an end with a smile.  

A Big thanks to Beth Little at LOWES and all the associates that came to lend a hand on their off time!  Also a Big thank you to Matt Childs of MSC Construction for being our licensed contractor!  And I can't forget the folks from Community of Joy Church and our friends who gave sweat and even the ladies who brought refreshments or offered to do so!

We finished the build at 3 today and I just got home about 4:30 from getting rid of all the scraps.  Now to shower and get supper and head to Bible Study.






A great day...





We had a great day today working on the ramp.  Lowes showed up with more help than we could effectively use but in the end we got more done on the ramp than we thought we would.  Hopefully we will get it finished today, a full day earlier than we thought originally.  It will be nice to have it done and great to have another day to use in another way this week.  It is a FULL week... with no time to do much but what is on  the list.  Got friends and family in OC and hoping to get to see them, but who knows.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Today is THE Day!

Been working toward this day since April.  Can't believe it is finally here and so happy that it is.  Not sure how the rain will affect us but we will do what we can.

Today we will begin the building of a handicap ramp for a gentleman who has been working at this for 3 years.  Will post pics later today!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Looking forward to tomorrow....

Tomorrow I get to be part of helping a 3 year dream become reality. 

Mr. Dick Truitt has been working on getting a handicap ramp installed at his house for 3 years.  And unsuccessful at that.

A friend of mine was contacted by Mr. Truitt through her work (about a totally different topic - one related to her work) and in meeting the Truitt's she found out the need.  Since she lives an hour away and her church is that far away too, she called me to share the need and see if we could meet it.

And we have been diligently working at getting all the partners together for months.  Lowes will supply the lumber, Jim Replogle (from Community of Joy) has drawn the plans and will oversee the project on site.  Matt Childs, a contractor here in Wicomico County will be the licensend contractor that Lowes needs to oversee the project.  And together with associates from Lowes and Community of Joy, on Monday we will begin the construction of the ramp.

A long journey but soon it comes to an end with a new ramp.   All praise to God!

Friday, August 12, 2011

FINISHED!!!

I am happy to say that I am done with my remodeling project.  Pictures are mostly hung and furniture is in place.





Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Likewise Grace....

Been thinking alot about Grace these days!  Especially as we see it in the story that Jesus tells about the loving father with two sons... one wayward and one loyal.  And how the loving father throws a party and extends grace to the wayward son when he comes back home.  But the loyal son is offended by the show of grace and refuses to particpate in the party thus misses out.

The question this left me is... Can we find oursleves outside God's Grace?

And the answer as far as I am concerned is yes we can!  But not by God's desire or design, but by our choosing.  The loyal son refused to go in... the loving father came out and begged him to come in, but he didn't.  It was his choice!

So often we are like the loyal son... we like to have grace extended to us but we struggle to extend grace to others or see it extended to others who we deem unworthy.  Yet Grace by definition is unmerited favor.  Something we get but don't deserve.   We would rather spend our time pointing out how people are outside God's grace.

Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 18:21-35 in response to Peter's question, "How many times must I forgive a brother?"  Seven times?  "No" says Jesus, "seventy times seven times."  His point is that forgiveness (which is a form of grace) is unlimited.  Then he tells the parable of the "unmerciful servant".   At the end of it, Jesus says that if we refuse to extend forgiveness to others God will not extend it to us.  

I think the whole point of Jesus' parable is not to point out who is in and who is out... but to remind us that we all are able to recieve God's grace in our lives and LIKEWISE we are to extend that grace to others.   That is likewise grace!  And it is why Jesus came ... to show us likewise grace and to call us to extend grace likewise to others.

Imagine what a different world we would live in if we all worked more at practicing likewise grace than outside grace!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

AWESOME DAY!

Today we had lots in the works at Community of Joy... a Free yardsale across the street from God's Kitchen on Church St.  Filled 9 tables piled high with good gently used clothing at 8 and by 10:30 we had one item left!

It is a lot of work, but I so love this blessing outreach!  Had a lady tell us today that "Before today, we were poor, now God through this, God has blessed us and we are rich."  Another told her daughter who was picking up lots of clothing... "Don't take it just because it is free, but because you need it... If you can't use it leave it here for someone else to use."   And two ladies wanted to make a donation.  We told them thanks but no thanks... just pass on the blessing!  God has blessed us to bless others... you can do that too!



And while that was going on outside, others from COJ were inside Grace United Methodist preparing to serve the people who come to God's Kitchen, usually upto 150 people.

Friday, August 5, 2011

A Great Conversation...

Did something yesterday that I am glad I did!

I posted a question related to my sermon and got LOTS of response to it.  It was very helpful to have an electronic conversation on this topic.  Several pastors and a few layfolk joined in the conversation.   Would love to do this weekly. 

The only thing that would be more fun is to each preach the same topic and then share our sermons afterward.

A night's work...

Worked hard last night... from just after supper to 11:30 or so.   And here is my progress.  If I could have the miter saw in the room, it would go alot faster.  But to keep dust in the house down, it is in the garage. 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Home Stretch...

I am coming down the home stretch on my remodeling project!  What started out to be a new floor in one room became a new floor in two rooms. Which became a remove the wall paper in one room, paint two rooms.  And finally became a paint all the trim in both rooms too!  WOW! 

Last night, I began the process of laying the floor.  Tonight and tomorrow, I hope to finish both rooms or be very close! 

I had a week's vacation in the midst of it... but it has been a little over a month project.


Monday, August 1, 2011

Grace....

Yesterday was filled with illustrations of grace... that was the topic of the day... The Trouble with Grace... looking at the Loyal Son's struggle with his loving father's grace extended to the wayward son in Luke 15:11-32.  

The trouble with grace is that we all want it extended to us but then struggle to extend it to others!  That keeps us outside the party!   The reality of grace is that no matter where we have been or what we have done, we can find forgiveness in God's arms. 

Grace is the opportunity to begin again... to have a fresh start...

Thank God that he is filled with second chances!