Loves Little or Loves Much?

Bible study this week took me to Luke chapter 7 verses 36-50. This is the portion of scripture where Simon invites Jesus over for dinner and the woman with the alabaster jar comes and publicly anoints Jesus' feet with her hair, tears and kisses. While Jesus is receiving this act of worship he makes a teaching moment with Simon. I've never really liked this passage because I identify more with Simon than the woman in the scene and that makes me very uncomfortable with myself.

Scripture doesn't tell us Simon's motives for having Jesus over for supper, but we do know that he was a Pharisee and that carries much definition on its own.  And given the ritualistic and perfect performance the Pharisees kept, it is interesting to note all the things Simon didn't do when Jesus got there.

As they were eating, the woman comes in and makes quite a public display of affection. Oddly enough the love that motivated this act is not what upsets Simon, but rather the reputation and character of the woman is what rattles him most. He is not upset over this display so much as that "a sinner" would touch Jesus.

 I love that we don't read Jesus' tone to be an angry one. It could be that Simon's thoughts were simply what he had been taught and had never ventured away from, something Jesus has grace for. We see Jesus teach in his usual pattern of a gentle parable and leading questions. A good coach always asks the right questions that will lead you to discover the answer yourself. Jesus leads Simon to a place where he could begin to look past a person's issues and see their heart. A heart that loves much and a heart that loves little. "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven-for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little," he says. Then he speaks to the woman and tells her "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."  In the camera view of this in my mind, I see Simon sit back and take it all in and I wonder, did he get it?

 As one who knows all too well a Pharisee's heart, it completely unnerves me to think that I might be one who Jesus considers "loves little."

I wrestled this out with Jesus hard. Thank you Lord for my upbringing and your hand of protection and provision over and on my life. Thank you Jesus that my testimony is not one I will be embarrassed to tells my kids about someday. Thank you God for the blessing of a family who lead me to you early in life and a church body that kept me busy enough to not get in difficult trouble.  You put people in my life that steered me well and lead me rightly, it has shaped me into who I am today!

But does all that mean I love you little?

Have there been times I've entertained you and neglected to worship you? Have I gained your gracious attention forgetting to honor you with all I have? Have I been in your presence and considered myself....anything other than "a sinner?"


Yes.


Devastating.


A brokenness comes over me as I repent and confess my arrogance and unworthy heart. Why are you so patient with me Lord? So gentle when you coach me to see me for who I really am? So gracious as you open my eyes to see you for who you really are?

Through my tears his tender voice responds, "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace." And in this moment he shows me I have moved from identifying with Simon the self righteous to this unnamed woman, the worshiping sinner.  No longer to love little, but to go in peace and to love much.

Father, in the upbringing you allowed, somehow I picked up wrong theories and warped theologies.  Sometimes it's so hard to look past a person's issues and look to their heart, my own included. Transform my eyes Lord to see how you see.  Your kindness changes everything. I don't ever want to gain your attention again without giving you my all. May all of my days be a continual act of worship that shows you how much I love you. Your love is better than life! 

This is what you have trained for.

Two weeks ago I had an opportunity to hear pastor Wayne Cordeiro speak on sifting from Luke 22. He told a story of being on a rowing team and entering a 40 mile race.

He said everyone had a great start. He was feeling strong and performing well. At mile 10, he was still feeling good as were all the competitors. By mile 20 there was starting to prove to be a gap in those that were really able to win the race and those that were not. At mile 30 he was exhausted, spent and ready to quit.  But he said he came to realize that this was the very moment he had been training for. All the workouts, all the time and energy put into being the strongest and best rower was for this exact minute. It was here he coached himself to not give up. "This is what you have trained for!" he told himself. And he reached down to find more strength, fight through the fatigue and finish the race.

The moral of the story was that the reason you ever do any training is for the time when we are squeezed. The things we have deposited in our lives will be what comes out in those intense times in life.

I ran a half marathon last weekend, and I thought of that line so many times. A half marathon is thirteen miles and my training had made about eight or nine miles not too crazy difficult. On race day mile ten was pushing me.  My feet were tired and I was feeling kinda queasy. "This is what you have trained for!"  Mile eleven came and my toes were really, really sore, and I had a rock in each shoe. "This is what you have trained for!" Mile twelve was a bitter sweet mark, almost done, but somehow it seemed like it was the longest mile ever. I was reaching for every ounce of energy possible. "This is what you have trained for!" At the last half of the mile were two friends screaming my name cheering me on. What an encouragement! "This is what you have trained for!" I few steps later, one more friend yelling and cheering for me! "This is what you have trained for!" And finally the finish line. What a moment! This is what I had trained for!

A sweet friend was there to greet me and celebrate. Yes, celebrate the accomplishment, but celebrating that I didn't give up. Giving up is always the easy way out. I have so many thoughts about it all. So many spiritual parallels. I see a sifting in areas of my life and I want all the junk brought out. All the pride, all the selfishness, all the obnoxiousness. All those things that I have deposited and deposited over and over again have been coming up as I have felt squeezed in a few ways. The whole purpose of a filtering sieve is to bring to the surface all the junk and get rid of it. And I want it all up. All up and out. Then, when it's done and over with, all I want left in me is Jesus.

A few verses come to mind:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24 

I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loves me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

That is what I want my life to show I have trained for. Less of me, more of him.

These are some of pastor Cordeiro's impactful thoughts:
     ~Sifting accelerates spiritual growth.
     ~The best veggies grow in sifted soil.
     ~Sifting enables us to teach out of our scars, not our theories.
     ~If you are not on the road to the right goal, then the road to success and failure are the same road.
     ~Everything God has invested in you is for the moment you are ready to quit. It's to get you through that dark night of the soul.

 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31


He is praying for us, what do you want to train for?

Kids

Do you ever have those times when you are reading scripture and you see something you've never seen before even thought it's been there all along? This has happened to me several times in the past few weeks.

The first was when I was studying Hannah's story in first Samuel for some writing I was doing. Chapter 3 reveals Samuel's calling in the opening verses by labeling him as a young man. Many translations read "boy." This account in scripture jumped off the page at me. The dialog that takes place is incredible. Samuel hears God, responds "here I am" and doesn't wait for a response but runs to his trusted leader. (There's a blog post in itself.) Eli tells him, "I didn't call you, go back to bed." The whole thing plays out again and when Eli realizes what's really going on, he says "Oh yeah. That's God. Tell him your listening. Then listen."

Instructions that seem to roll off the tongue as if conversing audibly with God in the middle of the night is as common as taking out the trash. The details given are few, yet the message is clear. God is speaking to this child. And the child is hearing God speak. Astounding.

Then at group later that week, we were discussing David's anointing to become king over the nation of Israel in 1 Samuel 16. We considered that this happened when David was possibly as young as 9 or 10 years old. A juvenile. A preteen potentially. Anointed to be king over God's chosen people. In this year with a presidential election on the horizon, this thought is almost indigestible.

In bible study the following morning, a quick reference to Hagar's story was made in Genesis 21. She and her son are in the wilderness about to die. Verse 16 records the desperate cries of a mother begging for mercy. But verse 17 says: And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is."

Woah. Again, such few details supplied except a mother's request and God's response to an unrecorded prayer from a kid.

Wow! How many times before have I passed over these verses as if it was seemingly insignificant? God hearing, moving and providing on behalf of a boy. Jehovah anointing, what we would consider a minor, to be king of his chosen people. The I AM speaking and giving prophecy to a child that would be difficult at best for it's recipients to hear. Nearly unimaginable.

I have been thinking and rethinking about the three instances of God interacting with kids and I'm instantly reminded of Jesus saying "Let the children come to me, don't stop them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to them," and "whoever humbles themselves like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

While stewing and brewing over all these accounts, one thing is clear: Age is of no discrimination to Jesus.  That's very convicting to me as one who defines a main area of ministry life as my children. In what ways am I being diligent to show my children this quality of God? How am I leading my girls to pray and anticipate God to move and respond? Am I myself expecting God to hear and answer their prayers? Such real examples in scripture that have come alive and I can no longer act as if I haven't seen them.

God speaking to children. God hearing little one's prayers. God anointing a youth to profound leadership.

How tired God must get of the small box I keep trying to put him in? I'm so thankful for his patient grace that not only choose me and adults, but chooses children. My children and yours.

Lord Jesus, your ways are so much higher than mine. You use the things this world considers weak and lowly to display your glory so that no one can boast. Forgive me God for when I brush my kids away and am dismissive of their thoughts and actions of you.  Continually remind me of how much you treasure childlike faith. Transform my heart and the hearts of my girls into a place where your kingdom reigns. Hallelujah that you hear my children's prayers! Open their ears that they may hear from you. You Jesus, are my and my children's righteousness, holiness and redemption. All glory, from birth to death, is yours and yours alone. 

They shall be called...

Yesterday morning my bible study took me to Matthew 5:9, a familiar passage of the beatitudes. It says this:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. 

A few things jumped out at me.

I learned long ago there is a great difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. Far too often a peacekeeper isn't really keeping the peace. So much of the time in difficult situations we mistakenly think that if we don't say anything or just let stuff lie, then all will eventually be well. And, there are times that this is appropriate, however, I wonder if more often than not, this thinking proves more toxic than beneficial. It seems to me that the fear driven, forced indifference rarely brings real peace. This type of passive, responsibility-less, void of genuine love for another usually just brings a nice big pot to stew in, that eventually boils and explodes at the first stir.

To the contrary, peace making some times looks like having a difficult conversation with humility and compassion. Peace making sometimes looks like directly ending an unhealthy relationship. Peace making sometimes means standing up and speaking the truth in love with grace. Peace making is not always the most easy way out. Peace making, I believe, is often vastly different than peace keeping.

The other thing that grabbed me was the part that says "they shall be called".  I recently was taught a new to me method of studying scripture by learning how to ask questions to hear God speak. So my question is; who is going to be doing the calling? Who is it that is going to look at a person's life and say "Whoa! This person is a peacemaker. They must belong to God!"

I think there are several answers. First, I think God sees when we are living the sometimes difficult life of peace making and says "Yes! You are mine and I will pour out my favor on you!"

I also think that our christian brothers and sisters see when we are choosing to walk in genuine love for others and recognize the truth as they see it. And then the Spirit moves in them to heap blessings on us in gifts of grace and compassion, mercy and encouragement.

But the option that I felt God really impress on me as an answer were the people that have yet to have an encounter and intimate relationship with Jesus. John 13:35 came to mind which says this: By this all people will know that you are mine, if you have love for one another all the time.

It's only in walking with Jesus that we can ever have productive, difficult conversations. It's only in being led by His Spirit that we can have healthy, growing relationships. It's only by His power we can be bold and be strong in a fruitfully lasting way.

Real love for one another.
Being a peacemaker, not a pseudo peacekeeper.
Keeping in step with Jesus.

This is a life of blessing.

This is how I want to be called.

A stolen post for some encouragement

10+ Real Helps for Really Busy Moms

1. Life is not an emergency.

Life’s a gift. 
Just Slow.

2. Now is not a forever grace but amazing grace.

Do whatever it takes to wake to wonder right here.

3. Sometimes the slowest way is the fastest way to joy.

Make time today, even a moment, to read Scripture and memorize it.

Without the lens of His Word, the world warps.

{Slowest=fastest to joy}

4. Laughter is the cheapest, holiest medicine.

Preschoolers laugh 300 times a day. Aim for double that. Tickle someone, (yourself!), if necessary. This is good!

5. Motherhood is a hallowed place because children aren’t commonplace.

Co-laboring over the sculpting of souls is a sacred vocation, a humbling privilege.

Never forget.

6. Homemaking is about making a home, not about making perfection.

A perfect home is an authentic, creative, animated space where Peace and Christ and Beauty are embraced.

{Perfect does not equate to immaculate.}

7. A pail with a pinhole loses as much as the pail pushed right over.

A whole life can be lost in minutes wasted, small moments missed.

8. Believe it: I have all I need for today.

The needs of our day are great but our God is greater and we call Him Providence because we believe: He is the One who always provides.

{And when God provides, He should be praised, and if God always provides, shouldn’t praise always be on the lips?}

9. Slow. Children at play.

The hurry hurts the kids.

Time’s this priceless currency and only the slow spend it wise enough to be rich.

If we had to actually buy our time, would we spend it more wisely — spend it more slowly?

{God’s Word never says Hurry Up. God words only whisper: Wake Up.}

10. Love is patient.

Parenting’s this gentle way of bending over in humility to help the scraped child up because we intimately know it takes a lifetime to learn how to walk with Him.

Patience.

Love always begins with patience.

11. The art of really celebrating life isn’t about getting it right — but about receiving Grace.

The sinners and the sick, the broken, the discouraged, the wounded and burdened — we are the ones who get to celebrate grace!

Regardless of the mess of your life, if Christ is Lord of your life, than we are the celebrants out dancing in a wild rain of grace — because when it’s all done and finished, all is well and Christ already said it was finished.

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Related: 10 Point Manifest for Joyful Parenting (free printable)
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A busy Mom looking for real Help? Looking for a moment with Him who calls Himself our Helper?

Don’t Make Me Come Up There!: Quiet Moments for Busy Momsmakes me cheer! And it makes me get down on my knees and thank Jesus for this vocation of mothering. Because Kristen Welch is a Gospel-centered woman with a take on motherhood that has fresh honesty, a real sense of humor, a deep humility, and always has Christ firmly at the center of it.Highly recommended for busy Moms who want the relief of a smile, real encouragement — and more Jesus.

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All’s Grace,

You can read more of Ann’s inspirational writing at A Holy Experience.

Known and Loved

I watched a chick flick this weekend and at the "You complete me" guy-wooing-the-girl-part, I was reminded of this video we saw at Trinity a few weeks ago while studying John chapter 4.  I'm so thankful for the real love story of a Saviour who knows me and loves me.



Heres a link to the video.

Advent

Last year we started a new tradition in counting down the days till Christmas.  The whole purpose is to make sure we are connecting in this busy season and remembering why we are celebrating.  This year we made our countdown from toilet paper rolls the kids painted and stickered. I saw this idea last year and copied it. Here is our finished product.

Each day has an activity for us to do as a family. This year, our schedule is a bit different as Thursdays Mike works late. So the girls and I set off to make cookies last night as a treat for daddy when he got home.

Stinky Pete, as usual, is fabulously dressed for the occasion. 

This is a long standing tradition with Meema, smashing cookies and adding sprinkles. 

 Success!

Some of our other Advent activities include some new things this year like building a snow man and ice skating. We are loving experiencing a real winter here! I LOVE this advent calendar. We may try to make it next year, and here is a good idea list if you need some help to get the creative juices flowing.  Happy counting!

One Thousand Gifts

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie

"If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get." -Frank A. Clark

145-173

my husband having a job

my husband having a good job!

my husband doing what he loves!

glimpses of my child's heart from a friend

a new printer!!!

buying our first Christmas tree

the gift and fruit of accountability

Zumba!

my girls doing what I asked, when I asked

clean sheets and a freshly made bed

a day filled with sweet friends

SNOW!!!!!

A garage!!! (for my FL friends, this is fabulous when it's 25 degrees out and snowing!)

driving through town with the kids enjoying the fresh dusting of snow

a great night at group with some amazing friends who love Jesus.....what a blessing!!

fried plaintains  :D

decorating the christmas tree with the girls

reading the first little book out of our advent calender and Stinky Pete telling us with such excitement "That's my verse Mommy, that's my verse!"

a handyman friend who fixed some essentials

a girlfriend who continually blesses Lucy

making Christmas ornaments with friends

FRIDAY!

the anticipation of more snow!! :D

dinner with great people

my health

shopping!

grace and freedom

snow angels

Trinity Church...great leadership and an amazing vision for people to meet, get to know and love Jesus

First Snow

Out the front door.

A tiny snow drift on the front step.

Out the side door.

Lots of flurries.

First snowball.

"Watch this!"

"It's cold!!"

A little park down the road.

"I am well pleased"

This morning in my study time, my devotional prompted me to read Matthew 17:7. But my eyes caught this part of verse 5 first which says this: This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.

I wondered if I'm not the only one who needed to know this today. I want to encourage you in what I felt Him say to me;

In Christ, you are His MOST precious, beloved child, and with you He is well pleased! There is no need to perform, worry or be anxious. 'Rise up dear one, and have no fear.' (Matt 17:7)

He is pleased with you and I! Lets get up in the knowledge of that and leave the dismay behind! We have the approval, admiration and acceptance of the Most High. What more is there? I pray you feel His face shining on you today, you are the apple of His eye!

WAAAAAHOOOOOOOO!!

I'm sooooo excited right now I just have to tell somebody how fun God is. And lucky for you my story is to long to text to anybody, so you get first dibs on the scoop! :)

Several weeks ago I was heading out of town with a girlfriend. We passed a yard sale that had an old one seat, arm desk chair. I jumped out real quick and asked the lady about it. She wanted $30 for it and immediately said she'd sell it for $20. I hesitated because I REALLY wanted the desk, but I thought that was a ridiculous amount. Normally I'm a haggler and love to bargain, but for whatever reason I didn't, jumped back into the car and went on my way.

Since then I have kicked myself a thousand times regretting not buying that thing. And equally as often I have tried to comfort myself by convincing myself she would not have sold it for under $10, which was at the high end of what I wanted to pay for it. So I have been faithfully asking (read begging, whining, complaining, and lusting) God for a desk for cheap (read under 10 bucks!).

So now your up to speed save the last 24 hours. This week I joined a local homeschool group and got registered in the Yahoo email group. This morning an email came through from said group with a post about a yard sale for this weekend and some of the treasures that would be available. Well, you can guess what one of the items was! YES! A desk! I quickly emailed the lady back questioning the specifics. And it sounds to be the exact thing I'm looking for! And the best part is she only wants $5 for it!!!! Yipppppeeeeee!!!!!! I feel like a kid on Christmas morn! I can't tell you how happy this makes me!! I'll repent later for lusting, coveting, finding my joy in stuff and all that jazz. ;) So, I'm heading out in a bit to go pick it up and I'll show what it looks like when I get back!!

You can't convince me God doesn't care about the little things!! He knows, my friend and sometimes He just like to show off!! This was one of those fun times!! Thank you Jesus!!!

10 Things That Make Me Happy.

Here is a challenge to look on the brighter side of things today. I saw this idea on a fellow blogger site and I thought it's be fun to share here. Here are mine in no particular order.

- Hearing my girls giggle and play together.

- Cinnamon Granola Bites

- Studying the Word with fellow study-ers.

- Exercising first thing in the morning.

- Latin music!

- Lightning bugs.

- Finishing my "to-do" list.

- Tapatios' salsa and Chevy's guacamole. (Two answers, I know.)

- Date nights with my man.

- Sunsets.

What about you? What things that makes you happy? What's on your brighter side?

The Trinity Campus

I thought you might like to see some pictures of the church building so here is another tour.

View from the street

The front door. There is a huge parking lot over to the left.

The mud room. (I'm sure we will figure this one out real quick this winter!)

The main foyer/coffee bar.

Same space from the other side of the room. Off to the right is the nursery area and to the left is the worship space.

Nursery hallway.

Check in counter. I LOVE how the walls are painted! So cute!

Downstairs space for elementary kids.

Prayer room.

Foyer from coffee bar into the worship space.

Sanctuary.

Blogger is giving me trouble with the rest of the pictures (teens space and kitchen) plus I forgot to take a picture of Mike's office. It's a mess in there right now anyway. I'll get it together and show ya next time. Isn't this place beautiful?! I'm so glad we're here!

It's the little things

I hate spray deodorant! It lingers in the air forever. Whenever I smell it, it makes my nose sting and I always feel like I can taste it. I just don't like it.

Sunday morning I got to sleep in while Mike had to get up and get ready before me. After he took his shower and came into the bedroom to get ready I was still laying in bed. He stopped his routine, went into the living room, sprayed his deodorant, then came back to the bedroom to finish getting ready. How sweet is that?

It's because he knows I hate it.

It's because he loves me.

It's because it's the little things that make life treasured.

What little things does your significant other do for you?

One Proud Momma

Yesterday my dad came up from Miami to visit and celebrate my firstborn’s 9^th birthday (Wow!!!! I can hardly believe that she’s 9 already!) While he was here he asked her about school and what she was studying. This week was on hold and she proudly announced it (enter homeschool shame). However, I encouraged her to show granddaddy her bible verse box that contains all her verses that we are working on. We try to learn one a week.

Now, it played out in my mind like this: her snuggling up next to him and them reading the verses together. (read- she could read the verses and cause no embarrassment to her teacher! HA) But what happened was, she handed him the box to look through on his own and she went back to playing on the floor. Then my dad decided to quiz her on the verses in the box. I held my breath hoping that she has really learned the verses we have been working on. Verse after verse he gave her the first couple of words and she knew them again and again and again.

Yes the teacher in me was beaming! And the momma in me was ecstatic, but as I took the moment in, it was an eternal joy that took over me. You see, my number two homeschooling goal is for Lucy to learn to love God’s Word. My Jesus says that in the beginning was the Word and then He became flesh among us. My Sustainer says that His Word is delightful. My Provider says that a young one can keep her way pure by hiding His Word in her heart. The Giver Of Life says that His Word is a lamp to her feet. The Lover of her soul says that His Word achieves His purposes.

To me there is no greater legacy I can attempt to offer than to help plant the seeds of His Word into her soul so that later the Holy Spirit can use it to help her, to heal her, to guide her, to sustain her, to give her freedom, and to enable her to live the abundant life she was created to live.

So if I never have another lapbook, science experiment, math test or handwriting sheet to show for her school work (God forbid!) but she has the Word in her heart and on her mind, then I can rest in that. For truly, He is The Teacher and He is enough.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35

Happy birthday Lucy. You are among God’s most precious gifts to me with highest responsibility and greatest rewards. I am so excited to see all that God has for you. You are an amazing young lady, treasured and chosen. I love you!

A New Philanthropist

Several weeks ago at The Roots Community we brushed the topic of philanthropy. Someone gave a great definition of a philanthropist as a person with a lot of resources that supports a mission, ministry or cause.

Webster gives this definition:

one who practices goodwill to fellowmen; especially : active effort to promote human welfare; one who dispenses aid from funds set aside for humanitarian purposes

So, to combine both definitions, a philanthropist is someone with resources who gives to humanity.

The next question at Roots was "Who in the room is a philanthropist?" No one raised their hand because we were all thinking in terms of money (All of us at The Roots fund raise our salaries). But Jesse made the parallel of Jesus being the real philanthropist and how He has given us the opportunity to be the same. Jesus had everything available to Him from the Father and we are given that same access. God blesses and gives to us so that we might bless and give to others (check out Gen 12:1-3). It is also a definition of community and of love. The following scripture was mentioned, which I thought was perfectly fitting:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The final question asked was this: "What has Jesus blessed you with so that you can be a blessing to others?"

Great question!

After thinking about it for a bit I have an answer. I have recently figured out some things about myself. I took a strength finder test and empathy was the top result. A love language test found words of affirmation to describe me. Finally, a spiritual gifts test showed a high score in exhortation. A lot of things make much more sense to me now about why I think the way I do and I happen to think that is a pretty specific combination that Jesus has put together!

I feel like Jesus blesses me with words of encouragement for a positive mindset and I want to give that away! I want to do that by texting and twittering. I am really excited about this and think it will be a cool way to give away what's been given to me. So, if you need some empathy, words of encouragement or exhortation, you can follow me on twitter or you can email your name and phone number to freedomrach@yahoo.com with the subject line "encourage me" and I'll text you. I promise I won't bombard you...in fact it probably wont even be daily. But I will pray for you and as I feel led, share some thoughts and scriptures to hopefully bless and encourage us both.

So how about you? What has Jesus blessed you with that you can give away?