Sunday, June 28, 2009

FIREWORKS


I can't believe that I never went to the fireworks and viewed them FROM the mountain. It was so fun. The girls and I had a great time. It did make me miss Eric a ton, because they had a blast. I even got an unsolicited thank you when we got home. Ellie loved the "rides" and we just had a perfect evening.

It made me think of things I want to do before we leave in December. I was mentally making a list as we listened to the performances and waited for the fireworks. The things that I have always said.."We should do that some time, or next year we should go here or go there." ... Now that I know my days here are "numbered" my urgency to complete these tasks is greater.

On my drive home I was thinking...wouldn't it be cool to live with that sense of urgency with other things too? Like ministering to that person who you have been burdened to call or talk with. It would be a lot easier if I knew I only had a certain amount of time to do something ...my urgency would be greater. It doesn't usually work that way. There is so much around me that I could be doing on a daily basis that would minister to others.

This morning at church we talked about being a church who is not mission minded....but mission engaged! What a concept. Not to just think and support the mission of the church but to be an active part in that mission, in our neighborhood, at our workplace.God has placed us in a perfect place right where we are. I think we get caught up in our small circles of friends and are super comfortable ministering to each other. That is certainly great...we are told to do that... and I have most certainly been the benefit of that. But our ministry needs to go beyond that, doesn't it? I really want to be able to be mission engaged. I will say, I am a little scared about what that means, but excited about how that would change my life.

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Now....to make that list!

Friday, June 19, 2009

MOVING


We're moving....I have found myself saying that a lot lately. I have repeated the story over and over. My children at times have even sounded like me as they tell people about our move. It certainly has been an interesting 6 months. I remember telling people that my goal was to "make it to June".

Moving is not all that fun. But what a great feeling when it is all done! It has amazed me what I have let accumulate in certain areas of the house. It has astounded me what I have decided I can do without! It has humbled me at how many people gave of their time to help us pack and move. It takes someone pretty special to offer to come and clean out the nooks and cranny's of your house. I often thought that if I had only been more diligent in the past three years! :) I could have saved so much time. But the move has been made, and I am content.

I have had a "moving" within my own heart too. Though it has not always been fun, it is such a good feeling to have experienced it. I was amazed at what had accumulated within myself and astounded with what I finally realized I could do without. I was also humbled by how the Holy Spirit so gently helped me clean out the nooks and cranny's of my heart. I thought often I could have been more diligent over the past years to not allow so much clutter! But the move has been made, and I am content.
" Create in me a clean heart O God. Create a right Spirit within me!"