So… there has been a very big decision that has been looming upon me recently. I got married, I am making steps toward some career changes, and now I have to decide…. what to do with my hair. Lol, I realize this is an extremely serious subject matter. But. Short or long?

Seriously, I love my hair when it is short, but it is right past my shoulders now, longer than it has been in years, so what now? Cut it off, or let it keep growing??? I need your help!!!

There was a time when I admit I scoffed at the idea. I really thought that people who called themselves by this name were liars, worse sinners than I for trying to feign spirituality. I now know that my own cynicism was the worst of the whole idea. Remember me writing about judgment?? Yeah….

God draws us to Him. Our prayer life is contingent on our own willingness to either respond or seek Him out in the desert. Lately I have felt that perhaps these prayer warriors were seeing right through me to the cynicism, praying me right out of it. I say all this quite wordily to say that lately I have been more convicted than ever to pray for something, and surprisingly it has nothing to do with my life or the education system, curable diseases or minorities. Perhaps this is because these things, my passions, are all desirable to be prayed about, but I can act on them, so somehow this excludes them from “warrioring.” I know this makes little sense when written out, but I am being honest. This is how my mind works.

But now I am encountering a situation that I feel on my heart, night and day, to pray about. Friday I went to the school where I used to work full time. Although I ocassionally still work there I had not spoken with a certain friend of mine in several weeks. Last year this woman taught me, helped me, and steered me, sometimes forcefully, into teaching better. We collaborated and found solace in being the put- off-grading, do-something-crazy in the classroom teachers. She taught me, most importantly, to have high expectations for my students while remaining realistic, a hard balance I might add. I began to pray for her as she sorted problems in her marriage and tried to remain a mom to four, one of whom was planning a wedding. In the case of her seventeen year old, she was planning for a bright future. This is a kid I knew. A kid who was honestly, as cliche as it sounds, a good kid. He would laugh at my stupid jokes and comment to me about the music on his Ipod (straight rock by the way). He was an avid wrestler as well as taking Honors and Gifted courses. His plans were to join the army and attend military school when high school was over.

One day he had a seizure. Two days of tests in the hospital proved inconclusive and back to school he was sent. Two days later I saw him in the hallways looking for his mom. His sentences were jumbled, incomplete, and virtually incomprehensible. Back to the hospital, more tests, more random seizures. This seeming random seizure quickly turned to a serious brain injury. Cognitive function was…and is, significantly impaired. Transferred to a pediatric hospital with more tests and some hypothetical, but never conclusive, reasons.

This was nearly eight months ago. He spent all summer in the hospital and now lives in a rehabilitation facility. This would-be senior never completed his junior year and spent his summer chained to a bed. For most of it, he rarely spoke and was easily angered. Finally, now, there are slow progresses. He has begun playing games and can write short messages, albeit in a kindergarten like script, without capitalization or punctuation. All this I had seen, and prayed for at times.

Then Friday, sitting in front of me, I asked his mother about it, and she started “He made a 720 on the Math portion of his SAT, did you know that?” And then tears welled up in her eyes. And tears welled up in mine. And I realized, this was effecting not only her, and her family (especially her younger daughter who is a rockstar in every aspect of her personality) but his future and all their dreams as a family. With NO explanation, and no doctors giving them any hope or promises for the future.

And, I felt like I should pray for them, and fervently, and because this conviction was so strong, I felt that I should share it, because I do believe in miracles and recovery and the power of prayer. And this young man, he still has everything to live for, and he has a family that is very confused and losing steam on the toll on their lives (each parent switches off days spending til after work to bedtime with him). But I know his mother has faith, and I know who he is without the brain injuries, and I just feel I should pray. Will you please join me in praying for this family?

It seems that everyone around me is getting the message. What’s the message? Well, we are. It’s strange, I imagine Jesus is somewhere saying “Finally people are getting it.” I admit it seems about time. For the longest it seems that some people wanted to rise on their own airs of religion, thinking that perhaps this gave them some entitlement that was shielded from others.

But now, everywhere I turn and with many, the message seems to be give. We are supposed to be the givers, we are supposed to be the light. Give it away, share, love, smile. Live like it’s not your world, but it’s everyone. Pay attention to what you spend and the corporations you are giving your money to. Hold others responsible when you see people being wronged. Set the example yourself. Many years ago, before a lot of us started to get the point and perhaps try to wrench ourselves out of our own selfishness, praying for God’s guidance and the courage to be love to everyone, Mother Teresa spoke these words. The message, you see, has been around for many years. Perhaps now more of us are listening. Amen? Amen.

You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not sharing.
Jesus made it very clear. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.
Give a glass of water, you give it to me. Receive a little
child, you receive me.

Guess what? Today I am going to give you 2 ways to have a little compassion. What?! 2 ways. I know, that pretty much makes it the best day ever for Have a little Compassion.

1. Soles 4 Souls. Just $5 buys 2 pairs of shoes for someone who goes without any everyday! This is a big challenge and the days are counting down. Think of how much it would mean to you if you lived without shoes, and someone travelled just to bring them to you. Let’s be honest, the economy might be bad, but most of us can afford $5. IF you can, please go here.

2. Here is Ajit from Bangladesh, made known to us by Compassion International. Ajit might be looking for you today…I don’t know. Please pray about making the difference in Ajit’s life. Your sponsorship could open doors for him spiritually or emotionally that might never be known otherwise. Here is some info about this adorable four year old.

Personal and Family Information:
Ajit makes his home with his father and his mother. Running errands is his household duty. His father is sometimes employed as a laborer and his mother maintains the home. There are 3 children in the family.

Ajit is not presently attending school. Running is his favorite activity. He also attends Bible class regularly.

Please remember Ajit in your prayers. Your love and support will help him to receive the assistance he needs to grow and develop. To sponsor Ajit, please click HERE. To sponsor another child from Compassion, please go here.

IMPORTANT: A CREDIT CARD IS REQUIRED as payment because this child has been classified “HIGH PRIORITY”. This child has been waiting more than 6 months for a sponsor. Help make a difference in the life of this child, who is anxiously waiting for a sponsor.

This is something I wrote a while ago, but similar thoughts have been surfacing in my mind. Oh the woes and struggles of so many offerings in front of me…

Is there anything for us to do about the state of the nation? With church change almost becoming chic, I wonder if we will lose touch with what everything is about in the first place. I hate that the images I see around me are almost high school-esque. Cool kids and cool churches, the not cool ones being the ones that aren’t listening to Jesus.

What the???

I don’t know when the heart of it all got left behind but it feels like it sometimes. I know it is difficult, so difficult sometimes, to not get caught up in ourselves, but if we start listening to Jesus I think we can make it. If we just read his word and follow his laws, not the laws of man, listening to our hearts conviction from the movings of the Holy Spirit, we will get by. I have been up and down, learning and growing. I have been cultivated, drenched, and starved. The drought never lasts long enough for death, and the rain and sun visit me often. There are blessings all around, there is God among us.

So our responsibility to our nation lies not in the duties of that nation, but rather to the one in which we were called most resemble.

Movements or allies, enemies and politics, why do we cling to you? Or…why do I? What am I looking for that Jesus does not already offer me? Nothing. That is why offering myself to others is the greatest way I can love Jesus. Simply one of the only ways we can love him here on earth. Yes, we honor him with our lives, and we honor him with our specified acts of worship. Yet how many times do we mess up, sin, live for ourselves, have our minds completely wander off to that new CD or where we will visit for lunch in our supposed “worship moment.” If we are serving others in the midst of our flaws and messups and hang-ups, is this not far better than having the same flaws and messups with a totally self-serving attitude. Belief that loving Christ is separate from how we treat others? He made us all. He MADE us ALL. The cross was for us all. Yes, it was for us all.

All: lovers and haters and fighters and Germans and and artists and Fascists and Socialists and Chinese and Buddhists and Catholics and Reformed whoevers and Eckists and saints and sinners and Jews and actors and the poor and the rich and the Gentiles and the Colombians and the Canadians and the hunters and the writers and the teachers and the Swiss and the chocolate lovers and the immigrants and the Americans and the George Bushes and the Tom Cruises and the minimalists and the anti-Semitics and the anti-Gays and the unionists and the Belgian and the Soviets and the lesbians and the Asians and the whites and the atheists and the Satanists and the crazies and the killers and the rapists and the child molesters and the young and old.

And in His way, let us not only love but reach out to and care for the poor, oppressed, the homeless and the widows. Lest we will stray too far from our calling.

So…the Bible says “worry about nothing, pray about everything.” I wonder how many times we forget to do this…in the little things especially. The things we think we can take care of on our own.

I think I struggle with this a lot. Not worry per say, but this business about the little things getting done. You know Monica from Friends? Well, I’m not that neurotic, but sometimes I get in these little modes that can be similar. I HAVE to do the dishes, I HAVE to move all my stuff now, I MUST finish A,B, and C projects. I am really trying to get better. I heard a sermon once about being a Mary versus a Martha. I want to be able to sit at Jesus’ feet. Not always thinking of what I have to do next, but enjoying my time with Him. Do you stuggle with this? Perhaps we can form a support group….

Did you know that some children have never had even one pair of shoes? Well, Soles 4 Souls is making an effort to change that, and you can help. Just go here and a $5 donation will buy 2 pairs of shoes for 2 kids. Furthermore, when that recipient gets those shoes, they will know they are cared about, maybe in a way they never have before.

This is a chance to be a part of something. Each person who donates will be entered into a chance to deliver the shoes yourself in Mexico, so this is a chance to not only impact a person’s life but perhaps see their face when they recieve the gift that you and so many others will give. Please give, and then tell your friends. Just think for a moment….what if you didn’t have a single pair of shoes??

Last Saturday as I was getting ready to walk down the aisle my friends crowded around me smiling, inundating me with love and smiles and a last “single” cup of coffee, and then they did something cruel- they reminded me suddenly that now I was going to be a “smug married.”

I informed them that was impossible, only thirty somethings can be smug married, we have a couple years yet before that happens! I hope to NEVER become one, and can only say, I have respect and liking for both marrieds and singles. I will always remember the disdain at the smug marrieds and how they can treat the less than so. Always, I promise!!!

But God has blessed me. I think for me… I struggle with thinking okay, what next?!? Hopefully not kids right now1, lol. Although I did announce to my mother upon arriving home, there could be a baby in here right now. Needless to say, she had a bit of a moment. Unhappy, she is one of those I am too young to be a grandma types, not the when are you going to pop them out type.

However, since that is hopefully (God willing of course) not the case….I still wonder. I poured a lot into not wasting money, having a nice wedding, and thinking of my next career move. Those things are settled and now I am a married woman. So, thank you Jesus. Married life so far is wonderful. Only one notable argument on the honeymoon and it was the last day, had to happen right???

Any stories….smug married? Inevitable? Not? Fighting? Inevitable? Not?

Here is Idrissa, a six year old beautiful little boy from Burkina Faso.

Idrissa lives in a family of five and his mother and father are sometimes employed. He is not presently in school but he enjoys playing soccer and playing with marbles. Around the house Idrissa helps in the kitchen and runs errands for his parents. You, yes you!, could make a huge difference in Idrissa’s life by sponsoring him, praying for him, and loving him. It is a commitment to be proud of, a little way to show the love of Jesus to someone far away who might not know or have the same luxuries we do.

To sponsor Idrissa, please click HERE. Or, to sponsor another child from Compassion, please click here.

Because of your sponsorship, Idrissa will have new opportunities to learn and grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Thank you for your concern and prayers.

This child lives in an AIDS affected area. In Africa, the disease has impacted the entire continent, creating a generation of orphans and vulnerable children. God can use you to help ease the pain of a child in desperate need.

IMPORTANT: A CREDIT CARD IS REQUIRED as payment because this child has been classified “HIGH PRIORITY”. This child has been waiting more than 6 months for a sponsor. Help make a difference in the life of this child, who is anxiously waiting for a sponsor.

Sorry that we cannot send you any cake, but I thought that since I am so busy running and not being able to sit down and write, I would share a little piece of our wedding with some that we love who are not able to be there. I was driving down the road one day and heard this song. The lyrics, the music, everything reminded me of what God had done for me and Andy, while reminding me He is the only one who saves. I think that Andy and I had our separate experiences of going to God like this- realizing He was going to get us through- and it has made us so much better together. So this will be the song we take our first communion as husband and wife- You Alone by Casting Pearls…

I’ve come to Your throne here so cold and alone
I’m calling on Your name
I lift my hands to the sky open wide and I cry Lord take me away
Take this heavy heart and this weary soul and set them free
Remove myself till there’s nothing left but You alone in me
I’m letting go of all that I know
I’m holding on to You alone
I lay it all down down here at Your feet
I want You alone You alone
If I go to the heavens above Lord I know You are there
If I make my bed in the depths lord I know You are there
If I rise on the wings of the dawn or settle on the far side of the sea
Even still Lord I know You will, You will always be there with me
I’m letting go of all that I know
I’m holding on to You alone
I lay it all down down here at Your feet
I want You alone You alone

Can I get an Amen?