Weaknesses and Graces

I love my BFG. Bible Fellowship Group. It is the "new" title for Sunday School. Don't know why they changed it. I will concede and call it our BFG YC3 (young couples 3...yes somehow I'm still in the young couples class) but it will always be Sunday School to me.

Our BFG is great, we study, learn, laugh and cry. It is a wonderful, sincere group. A real mix...a potpourri of folks...SAOMs, students, teachers, an attorney, fast food workers, waiters, jail commander (not sure of his actual title, but his job is important and dangerous), the "bug" guy who also has to be there when a meth lab is busted, an engineer...I could go on. It is a great mix. We are from many different states, some have kids, some don't, some went to college, some did not. One thing we have in common. We love the Lord and seek to live lives that glorify him.

Anyway, our lesson today was in Micah. Didn't know too much about the book but man does it apply to my life today. Amazing how scripture written several thousand years ago to a population of Jews who had forsaken the Lord can be so relevant in my life today. Only the Bible.

Weaknesses...the things we don't do so well. For me it is playing the piano in front of others, remembering dates and numbers, thinking on the spot-especially in times of stress, and there are many more. We all have weaknesses. It is easy to go to God and ask Him to help me in these areas. And He will. But what about my strengths, the things I do well? Like talking-to friends, in front of others, or complete strangers; organizing and planning, multitasking, or cooking. How often do I ask God to help me in those areas? Don't need it, after all I've got that under control, right? No, I only have the strenghts because He has "graced" them to me. Stay humble here...I like what a friend say, we have weaknesses and graces. Hopefully I will remember that.

What happens when I "forget" and become self-sufficient in life? When I have it all under control? When my strengths are strengths and not graces? Faithful husband, great careers-good salary, healthy kids, families in town, wonderful place to work my 4 hours/week, fabulous schools for our children, beautiful home...the front porch of my dreams, book club, a solid church, and friends-real friends-ones you don't have to clean your house for.

Honestly, there isn't too much I have to trust Him for when you look at all that.

Micah 1:10 Tell it not in Gath, weep not at all.
In Beth Ophrah, roll in the dust.

What happens when my house is sold, my kids have to change schools, my family is no longer in town, I have to leave my job...our church...book club, what happens when I say good-bye to those friends? What now?

Trust.

Christmas Party

Samaritan's Purse (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/) is a Christian organization ran by Franklin Graham that provides international relief for those around the world who are suffering secondary to natural disasters, corrupt governments, and other situations. One of the most well known relief efforts of Samaritans Purse is Operation Christmas Child. Each Christmas millions of shoe boxes are shipped to countries all over the world. The shoe boxes contain items such as soap, combs, toys, hard candy, and hair clips. Typically a family will fill a shoe box and drop it off at a collection location.

This year Steve and I hosted our First Annual Operation Christmas Child party. Each family brought 12 of the same item and worked together to fill 12 boxes. We chose to provide for 6 girls and 6 boys ages 5-9. We had the boxes placed on the table and one at a time families came in and the children distributed the items they bought.

We had more kids in the house than we could count...somewhere around 27, which by the way is just the way I like it! We talked with the children to make sure they understood why we were putting the boxes together. Our children know absolutely nothing of poverty and can not even conceive of not having a single toy...comb...or crayon. In our age of wealth and excess we as parents must be intentional in teaching our kids to practice generosity and to develop a compassion and concern for those less wealthy (about 99% of the world right now).

Most importantly, each box contains literature about the Greatest Christmas gift of all, Christ, in the child's native language. Many children hear about and experience this love for the first time when they open their box.

Our good friends, Matt and Sarah with their son Isaac and daughter Gracie, placing items in the boxes.