I hope

My neighbor saw me doing some yardwork and came across the street to talk today. He started with, "You may not be seeing me much around anymore.." my stomach dropped. As we talked I could see the devastation in his face and hear it in his voice. His wife found someone new and he is moving out.

Neither of them are Christians, but they know that we are...or at least they know that Dan is a pastor. I told him we are available if he needs us and that we would love to see him at church (he had mentioned going before). I tried to encourage him that it is important to talk about this and that he should not go through this alone. I then gave him our numbers and said goodbye.


I teared up as he drove away, not as much because he won't be our neighbor, although he was a great one, but because he needs Jesus so badly. Our world is so broken and hurt, full of selfishness, greed and evil. God forgive me when I waste time obsessing about my pet issues and any level of inconvenience that comes into my life. People are falling apart all around us. I can see why Paul was so upset in his letters to the New Testament churches. There is so much need out there and we Christians (me) waste way too much time not meeting those needs. God has established the church to reach the world, and this has strengthened my desire to serve my church and support what God is doing.

I hope he calls. I hope he finds Jesus.

germ smerm

I've been struggling with some stupid germ the past couple of days. Nothing major just low fever, yucky throat and the general feeling of ick. I like to fall into a pity party when I'm sick. It sounds something like this in my head, "Oh why oh why does my life have to suck so bad-I could be doing such great things right now, feeding the hungry, building homes for habitat for humanity, creating a economic system that will wipe out poverty-but no, instead I have this illness that keeps me strapped in mediocrity and only allows me to function at the lowest level. What a complete tragedy for the world and my life."

But I'm trying this thing where I don't whine about every situation I'm in. So here are some reasons why I like being sick.

-I don't have to workout.
-I don't have to clean.
-I get to take naps.
-I get to read lots of books to my kids (the only thing I've had energy to do).
-Since I don't have the energy to do all the things around the house that distract me from my kids, I've just sat and hung out with them while they played.
-Discovered that my kids actually like having me around while they are playing.

I'm feeling better now and the fever is gone, but Jaden and I are almost done with the Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, so between my workout and cleaning I plan on sitting down and finishing it with him.

The world will have to wait.