One Thousand Gifts...

Today will be a long day- Josh will be gone 12 straight hours 8:30am-8:30pm. But there is much to praise Him for.

Grateful for the gifts of:
- generous friends willing to be used by Him to provide for our needs.
- correction through His Word courtesy of Jonah 4
- two boys playing nicely so that I can blog :)
- sunshine
- reese's at 9am (thoughtfully purchased by my loving husband last night)
- friends to share our kiddie pool with (and great conversation, thanks Joanne)
- silly old women- who can rebuke one another more freely than I'd ever dream!
- fingerpaint
- big cheesy grins that make my heart happy
- deep blue eyes that captivate me

I know your willingness...

but are you ready for the next step??? Are you ready for action???

As we are praying and preparing for our week out at Delanco Camp, I've been thinking about the 5th-7th graders who may be introduced to missions for the first time. What would be an appropriate first step in their missional-living? How can we inspire them to action, and get them excited to share God's mission with their friends and their parents? And found Paul has laid out great next steps and accountability for the church in Corinth! Let's check out 2 Corinthians 9:

I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give;

I'll be the first to commend enthusiasm and eagerness! I love when people get passionate about a cause! But when that passion is all there is, I feel so let down! Passion without action is shallow and empty! Just like faith without deeds.

and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.

Can other people around you catch your enthusiasm? Do people know that you are excited about what God is doing around the world? Are other people becoming missions-active because of your passion?

But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements

And so Paul not only commends their enthusiasm, but makes plans to hold them accountable! Wow! What a challenge to me as we continue building our team! How can Josh and I be helping you on your missions journey? Could we get in touch with you and make a plan with you for how you want to grow in missions-activity this next year?

for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

We are so grateful for those of you who have joined our team financially! But there are countless ways to use the gifts and talents God has given you to get missions-active! The key is your attitude of generosity, not the size of your gift (or whether that gift is financial or some other talent or resource).

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

The harvest is great! Will you help us reap that great harvest? Will you sow sparingly, just the time and resources you can afford to give? Or will you sow generously above and beyond your means, in order that the kingdom might be generously harvested?

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Only you know what God is calling you to do. And as you pray about your involvement in the world, ask Him to give you a cheerful heart willing to give what He asks of you.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work -2 Corinthians 9:2-8

Amen and amen.

Mission Fast Monday!

Sorry I'm late today! Josh worked the early shift (4:30am-12:30pm) and so I was flying solo this morning!

Mission-Fast Focus: Matthew 19:14

We are headed to Trinity UMC, Pennsville's VBS tonight as their missionary spotlight! And since most VBS programs have a missions project I thought it would be great for us to all fast and pray for kids everywhere who attend VBS and bring their pennies to touch the world!

"Jesus, you said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." And we praise you for all the children who have attended or will attend VBS this summer! They are hearing Your Word, and making new friends and being ministered to by caring adults, and being invited to Your mission by bringing their change to change the world! God, would you call some of these children into full-time Christian service? May some of these children become missionaries because of their encounter with You this summer? Would we all be willing to GO where You send us! -Amen"

One Thousand Gifts...

Although it isn't Monday, Ann @holy experience changed her button! And I am happy to link to her delightfully inspiring and often challenging blog! I'm sorry for my recent lack of gratitude... it is partly due to traveling and not remembering to blog before we leave, and it is partially due to my not paying attention to His countless gifts! Thanks for extending grace!

Since we moved I can't seem to find my gratitude notebook anywhere- I am still grateful, just not keeping count right now! Today I am grateful for the gifts of:

- Missional churches and the people that are part of them! (First UMC and Sharptown most recently, Thanks Nina and Mike Bill!)
- Seth sleeping through the night consistently (even though last night was rough)!!!
- Uncle Mark and Caleb chilling together watching Sesame Street :)
- Parents close enough to help with the boys
- Mini ground beef and veggie meatloaves- delicious!!!
- God's Word that never fails!
- A super successful "goodsearch" find that helped me outline all my sermons for Middler Camp (August 16-22, I'll be preaching each evening at 7:30 at Delanco Camp)!
- Fresh blackberries
- Missions Marathon at Bethel Park Camp Meeting and the encouraging letter written by one of the youth campers
- a note from a dear friend

What brings you joy and hope today? How can you cultivate a grateful heart?

Thoughts on Fasting

"Prayer needs fasting for its full growth. Prayer is the one hand with which we grasp the invisible. Fasting is the other hand with which we let go of the visible. In nothing is man more closely connected with the world of sense than in his need for, and enjoyment of, food." -Andrew Murray (With Christ in the School of Prayer)

Mission Fast Monday!

Mission Fast focus this week: Matthew 9:37-38

"God, the harvest is truly plentiful, but the workers few. Would you, Lord of the harvest, send out workers unto the field! May our ears be open to hear You calling. Would our hearts be obedient to going where you send us. Would you faithfully provide for the needs of those who are ready to be sent! God, there are 14 men and women ready to serve You in Uganda. Would You bless all of our interactions with Your people, and provide a way for us to go into the harvest field You have called us to! Thank You for all those willing to forsake home, country and comfort for Your sake. Continue to raise up more workers for the harvest- for You are worthy! And we long for every person here on earth to know You and love You like we do! May each of us be able to echo Isaiah and say, Here am I, Lord, send me."

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As you fast and pray today, consider how God may be asking you to be the answer to your own prayers!

Mission Fast Monday!

Mission Fast Focus: I Cor. 1:1-10

As you fast and pray today, would you lift up the church around the world? WGM Uganda specifically, other WGM fields and other agencies are training local pastors to build the local church, and Satan is fighting hard against the saints!

"God, we pray today for Your church, who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. We thank You, God, for the grace You have poured out on Your people by Christ Jesus. We pray that they would be enriched in everything in all utterance and all knowledge, so that they come short in no gift, eagerly awaiting Your revelation of Jesus Christ. We pray that Your people would be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are faithful, Who calls us all into the fellowship of Your Son! And now we plead, that there would be unity and harmony among Your people- that there would be no divisions among us, but that we would be perfectly joined together in the same mind.

Protect Your church from the evil one, and guard Your Bride from any spot or blemish. Be with the missionaries training pastors- sustain them and equip them for every good work. Be with the pastors- may they passionately love You, and eagerly serve You- may they rightly divide the Word of truth and shepherd their flocks with joy and integrity.

May Your people today know You better, love You more, and serve You faithfully!"
-Amen
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If you want to pray for a specific local pastor, check out Billy and Jo's blog

If you want to connect with others who are taking the Mission Fast challenge, visit our Facebook group: Mission Fast Challenge

Coming to a Blog Near You!

Mission Fast Monday!

Are you looking for your next step in leading a missional life? Are you wanting to do something meaningful and full of life and power? Perhaps you feel like you have been praying and praying, yet nothing is happening. I'd like to challenge us all to a weekly fast on behalf of what God is doing around the world. And so instead of a mission-fest, we'll be having a mission-fast!

Hungry???? Tune in tomorrow for a focus for our fast.

Feel free to fast one meal, or all day, fast from facebook, or tv- and make sure to spend that time in fervent prayer for missions.

Leave a comment if you are joining our fast- the prayers of God's united people are powerful and effective!

Prayer, Holiness and Love

It amazes me (but shouldn't) how God orchestrates experiences and lessons to make one point loud and clear. Last week at Delanco Camp Meeting God had my attention (despite the fact that Seth wasn't sleeping well, I was very ill with a sinus infection, two toddlers at camp is just a dirty exhausting experience, and I didn't make it to many sermons).

As I sit and reflect on what God is speaking to my heart one thing is clear- holiness is less about me being a perfect person (always doing the "right" thing), and more about me loving others perfectly (i.e. selflessly). Darryl made that abundantly clear in his class each morning. One thing he shared that I am still pondering is that the quality of my relationship with God is in direction proportion to the quality of my relationships with others. Chew on that for awhile.

And I also re-read a chapter in my constant companion, With Christ in the School of Prayer, titled: Love and Prayer. Interesting.

"Not as a result of what I try to be when praying, but because of what I am when I am not praying, is my prayer answered by God... The right relationships with the living God above me and the living men around me are the conditions for effective prayer" No wonder we don't see as many answered prayers as we would like! There is a real disconnect between the lives we aspire to lead, and the way we actually treat the people around us.

Murray exhorts: "View each wretched one, however unloveable he is, in the light of the tender love of Jesus the Shepherd searching for the lost. Look for Jesus Christ in him and take him into a heart that really loves, for Jesus' sake"

Enter real life: a one year old who wakes up crying in the night, a two year old who is every bit of two, a husband I don't get to see as often as I'd like to with his new work schedule, living with Josh's parents, brother, and grandmother- all with various needs, preferences, personalities, and schedules... and God's current assignment this year to deny self. Recipe for disaster- or recipe for my growth in holiness. I choose the latter!

Who does God want you to love more perfectly today? How are you growing more into His likeness? I believe this year of HMA is the perfect training ground for the mission field, where we will need to love our fellow teammates, those we serve, and those who are different from us with His love. May He continue to perfect your love and my love for those around us as we minister where He has placed us.

We have returned!

We spent one gorgeous week out at Delanco Camp, the greatest place on earth, and have returned home exhausted and happy. The boys had a great time meeting new friends and spending time with their cousin, "Baby Tim". There is much to say, much God is saying, much I want to share... stay tuned. Just wanted you to know we're back "home" at Grammy and Poppy's :)