Bad Day Creates Opportunities

Like the title? Sounds like a newspaper headline? :)
Well, yesterday was just, well, rough for me. I don't know. Old anxieties and fears crept in to steal my joy. I was really in a bad place, when I remembered the new testament in my purse....it's Grayson's baby one. So I closed my office door and pulled it out and opened it up, desperate to hear a calming word from the Lord. I randomly opened the Bible up, and when I opened it I sensed that what God was going to share with me was what I needed to hear.
As opposed to what I thought I needed ( calming word).

John Chapter 21:
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah,[b] do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah,[c] do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah,[d] do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Let us deeply and sincerely pray for each other as we work together to care for and love those that need it most.

Active Prayer Requests

...I know I have forgotten some....so please send your updates via email and I'll update the blog.... and any other things you'd like posted.

Kacey - dr. appt this week
Tina - staph infection on finger
Tommy - in hospital
Auston - has leukemia, pray for God's healing
Kristi's Mom - pray for comfort during her grieving process
Amanda - baby bump doing well, keep praying!
Katie - heart surgery this summer

Thank you, Patsy!

It's so wonderful to have someone smack you upside the head with good news, isn't it? Last night, I asked Patsy Mc to be my Brazil "prayer partner." Actually, I want everyone on to be my Brazil prayer partner. :) I know Patsy has been to Brazil and she could be very specific with prayer needs (ask God to not get mosquito bit...little things). So I shared with her the struggles I have been having with going. I KNOW God wants me to go, if he were any clearer, He'd be writing on the wall. He has spoken to me over and over again when I've needed it, which is so comforting to me. So I asked her to pray that my kids would be OK while I'm gone, and that I would have the strength to focus on the job at hand. Then she said something just WONDERFUL. I realize I should have thought about this myself, but I've been so focused on "ME" that it just had not occurred to me. She said, (paraphrase), you know Jamie, how exciting it must be to have such a strong calling even thought it's so difficult, God must have something amazing in store to call you away from your kids for over a week.

WOW.

I know, I'm slow, but when she said that, it was like whoa nelly. God must have something big in store for it to be this painful.

Don't get me wrong. I am so blessed and my kids are healthy and I'm healthy and leaving my kids for a few days is not a sacrifice. He has made that clear to me also. But for me, it's a big deal, and He knows that. Also, I know this mission is no more important or difficult that the other many missions of our church (I'll take going to Brazil over staying in the nursery with more than two babies at a time for more than a few hours any day of the week.)But now, the excitement of depending on Him and seeing His work resonated in me afresh.

Maybe you're in that spot. Something is difficult and painful, and you think, what could be the point of this? Pain often gives fruit to many blessings, and we often see HIS hand in painful times. Seeing Him work is a shot of adrenaline to our faith.

Praise God for his loving faithfulness and merciful grace!

Have a blessed week.

Prayer Request

Prayer Request from Amanda Abernathy:
Her sister's husband's family (the Fords) HIS sister died yesterday unexpectedly. They have many issues to work out since she lives in Washington and they need to get the body back to here. The money has fortunately been provided (praise), but still need to talk to the children in the family (nieces, nephews). Please pray for God's comfort and strength!
Thank you!

2010 Video

I'm curious about your thoughts on the 2010 video to Leeland's Tears of the Saints? Also, don't forget about the new ACT class on Sunday night. This class will focus on micromissions opportunties (think bits and pieces of bigger projects).

Have a blessed Monday!
J

PS: The Abernathy's are going to have a BOY!!!! Coming soon (May 24thish). Keep Amanda in your prayers.

Bubbling Beneath the Surface

I dont know about you, but lately, I have sensed this bubbling right beneath the surface...a feeling I can't put my finger on, but a sense of urgency to reach my world for the Lord. One of my favorite songs talks about "I'm never going back to OK, never going back to easy...." I love those words. They are a call. There is a current calling - A God-given calling to be more urgent in our world. To step out of "tradition" and "how it's always been done" to "relevant" and "dynamic." Don't you feel it too? The Lord is moving...where will He take us?

The Best of Everything

On the way to work today, the "word on The Way" (the radio station) was (can't remember the reference I know I'm terrible) but "in all things honor the Lord with the very best of what you produce." Not only was this applicable to back in the day when Israel was growing food and livestock, but today it still very much applies.

So it got me to thinking, "What do I produce?" Well, a household, a marriage, my children, a company, my finances, a VBS production. Those were the things that popped in my head. Then I thought, do I give God the best of everything I produce?

Do I give God the BEST of EVERYTHING I produce?

All that I produce is a gift from Him...am I returning to him a portion...not just a portion, but the best of what I produce? Do I commit my children to the Lord? What about my marriage? What about my time? I fall very short. I give so much of my time, money, effort away to things that aren't eternal.....so pray for me today as I think about giving to God the best of everything I produce. And let's pray for each other. Have a lovely, blessed, victorious day!