Song for Sunday: Autumn

It feels like Fall!!

Even though the official start of autumn was nine days ago, it's felt more like summer here in my little corner of New England. Until yesterday. Now we have refreshingly cool temperatures in the day and need blankets at night to be comfortable. Soon the leaves will be brilliant colors. The season inspired today's Song for Sunday.

So, in honor of Fall -- Autumn, from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Enjoy!

Today is also a beginning, as I am embarking on the October 2017 Ultimate Blog Challenge. A blog post every day in October. #blogboost

Meme-ic Monday: Hurricane Katrina

New Orleans is recovering slowly from Hurricane Katrina. As of last year, the 10 year anniversary, only 34% of residents had returned to their homes in the Lower Ninth Ward, the area hardest hit when the levees broke. 

But that's pretty well known.

My family and I are in New Orleans for the first time, working with a mission team from our American Baptist region. Some members of our team have been coming for years. 

A team member, who started coming shortly after the storm, worked at school today. She said it was wonderful to see schools and children, because in the immediate aftermath there had been so few,

Two small groups worked at construction sites, helping to rebuild homes that were damaged in the storm. One homeowner is still in Texas. The other is living in part of her house, although a member of that team said it "wouldn't be livable by our standards."

Me? I encountered rats. Assigned to a food pantry, I thought I would be sorting, boxing and distributing food, and I did for part of the time. However, we arrived before the food and we were asked to clear out a room, sending some stuff to a thrift store and throwing out garbage. Rat droppings were everywhere. I found a dead rat. Other team members saw more rat bodies and a live one. They moved a huge box of popcorn kernels, the rats' main food source we think, out. 

While the room was swept, I moved over to organizing food boxes and dividing large bags of rice into small ziploc bags. 

But what really stands out about the day was the appreciation. I and another team member were introduced to the food pantry customers as people who had come down to help after Katrina. There was a wave of thanks on the people's faces. 

And then there was lunch. We had brown bag sandwiches, but Miss Brenda figured we would want New Orleans food and cooked fried chicken and jambalaya just for us. Delicious. (Alright we were a tad nervous, because of the rats. but we got over it. That stuff was cooked in boiling oil ,, and, boy, did it smell good!!)

So today's meme reminds us of the slow progress rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward. Behind it there are stories, so many stories. You should visit. These people need to tell those stories. And they are very grateful for the chance to tell them to new ears. And appreciative of whatever work you can do. 

Thoughts on a Prayer Service

I attended Evensong at Westminster Abbey yesterday. Pretty amazing, eh? I am very blessed to have this 10 days of visiting family and seeing important historical and literary places in England with my son. We will then, with my husband,  get to visit family all over England with a few more educational trips thrown in.

This amazing blessing shows how much I have. Which brings me back to Sung Evensong at Westminster Abbey.

The general confession from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer was read in unison. It goes like this:

O God, Our Father, , we have sinned against in thee in thought, word, and deed:. we have not loved thee with all our heart; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee; cleanse us from our sins; and help us to overcome our faults; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Later in the service we heard this reading from the New Testament:

The Rich Man and Lazarus

¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ²⁰ At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores ²¹ and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
²² “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
²⁵ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
²⁷ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸ for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
²⁹ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
³⁰ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”



The juxtaposition struck me, especially in light of my "wealth." (I am a lower middle class American by income.Globally, that's a lot of wealth.) From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Time for prayer and loving my neighbor more.





CYC is a two week conference for high school teens on the beautiful southern coast of Maine. August 2-15. Check it out here.

Erin Go Bragh

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I cooked corned beef and cabbage today, not because I am part Irish, but because I am part Irish-American. In the old counry, they ate pork and potatoes. Check it out on Hungry History.


For most of us, St. Patrick's Day is about wearing green, cutting out shamrocks and having a little fun with our Irish heritage. Good to pause and remember the real roots of the day, though. Here's a good story about St. Patrick -- with words about why it's relevant today.


Sadly, there is one other thing about St. Patrick's Day. Drunk drivers make it one of the deadliest days of the year to be on the roads in the US. (Celebrating with green beer is another thing found in America, not so much in Ireland.)

Post by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).                                                                                                      

Here are a few of my posts on drunk driving:

Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving

Ending Drunk Driving

Finally:

Now go wear green and catch a leprechaun!

My Snow Banks Have Snow Banks

There is an awful lot of snow here in the northeastern US.






 The snow banks are over our heads.

Our lawn furniture is buried and our roofs carry so much weight that some have collapsed. (I raked the garage roof after this photo was taken -- but it's full again.

In fact, there is so much that some of us wonder if we'll ever see the ground again ... or at least if we'll see it before June. It feels like it will be a long hard road.. but summer will come sooner than we really expect.

And in the meantime there is beauty.. and sledding. 

Lent can seem like that, too. From this vantage point of the beginning this season of fasting and focusing on spiritual disciplines, of voluntary depriviation and self-evaluation feels like it will be long and dull. It can be a difficult time...and the deepest comes at the end, when we commemmorate Christ's death on the Cross.

But the joyous season of Easter will be here before we really expect it...

and in the meantime there is the beauty of a deepening relationship with Jesus and the wonder of increased maturity.

May your Lent be blessed and productive and may you grow closer to the one who sacrificed for you.

Clean Sheets for the New Year

I follow this tradition and I know several others who do.

We strip our beds on New Year's Eve and then put on clean sheets to wake up in on New Year's morning.

I suppose it is symbolic of a new start, a fresh beginning. New year is traditionally the time to reflect on what has gone well and what needs to change. It's a bit out of sync in some ways as nothing new seems to start in January.

For Christians, the liturgical new year is the first Sunday in advent, at the end of November or the beginning of December. That year begins with anticipating the birth of Christ and works its way through His life and on to the life of the Church.

Most academic and church program years begin in September in my area, August in other parts of the U.S.

Still, we tend to see this night as an emotional and spiritual turning point. We make resolutions, set goals or simply reflect on our lives. At my house, one thing we will do is open our gratitude jar and read about the good things that have happened to us. We'll play games, listen to music and toast the New Year at midnight. Hopefully, we'll remember to take a moment to thank God for his blessings and seek his guidance.

And, we'll change our sheets. Because that's what we do.


How about you? What are your traditions?



Blessings for 2014.......and

!!Happy New Year!! 

Thursday Craft Time: Blessing Bookmarks

These bookmarks make for a nice gift and are fairly simple to complete. Several are made at once. They also add a prayer to each recipient’s day.

To make the bookmarks you will need:  

 -three colors of cotton or similar fabric; solids,
         textured solids and small prints work well.

 -matching thread

 -embroidery thread in a complementary color

 -a piece of thin cardboard (5-1/2” by 1-1/2”.) I  
          use the dividers from boxes of tea bags.

Cut the cloth into 16” by 3” strips. Sew together strips of the three different colors on the long sides, using a 1/2 “ seam. Cut into 4 inch strips, cutting across the seams so that all three colors are in each strip.

For each strip, fold along the long side so that right sides are together. Sew along the top and down the side opposite the fold. Turn out so that right sides are facing out. Use the eraser end of a pencil to push out corners.

Write a blessing on the piece of cardboard. I also speak the blessing over it.

Some blessings:

“May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.”

“May the shalom of Jesus be in your heart.”

“May joy from God in rich your days.”

If it is a gift for a specific person, I use their name instead of “you” and include a card with the blessing on it.

Slip the cardboard into the bookmark and sew across the bottom.

Cut a length of embroidery thread (all six lengths.) With a large-eyed needle sew the thread into the top left corner of the bookmark so that half is on one side and half on the other. Tie a knot a little from the ends to form a looped tassle.

That’s it!

Hope you enjoy making a few.

What crafts do you use to make personalized gifts?




Photos by J. Parry

A Scot Blessing

A Scot's Blessing:

 

May th' best ye've ever seen

Be the worst ye'll ever see

May the moose ne'er leave your girnal

With a tear drap in it's e'e.

May your lum keep blithely reekin'

'Til ye're auld enough to dee

And may ye aye be just as happy

As I wish ye now tae be.

 

 

"Translation"

 

 

 

May the best you've ever seen

Be the worst you'll ever see

May the mouse ne'er leave your pantry

With a teardrop in it's eye.

May your chimney keep blithely smoking

'Til your old enough to die

And may you always be as happy

As I wish you now to be.

 

 

This blessing was read at a beautiful wedding this past Saturday. The groom was of Scot heritage and wore a kilt. The favors were shortbread cookies, tea and honey. They were adorned with the family's clan crest which bears the words "Commit they work to God." This family, and the bride's as well, exemplify that.

 

I wish these two amazing young people a blessed marriage.

 

And I offer you the above blessing.

 

 

What is your favorite blessing?

 

 

 

 

I am participating in the October 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

 

 

 



 

 



Blessings for Baby Things

"Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve."

~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 (I've mentioned before that I am seriously considering writing a devotional booklet for Christian knitting circles and individual knitters. Today's post is a set of blessings and prayers for baby items that I am thinking of including. I would love feedback.)

Baby Things

Often we knit blankets for family or friends who are having a baby, perhaps even for our own little bundle of joy. Sometimes, we knit for a baby we know will be ill or disabled. Maybe, as a service project, we knit for babies who will be taken immediately into foster care or for those who are orphans in far away places. It is good to bless these items. Here are some suggestion for prayers to say as you knit and when you send the item. Feel free to adapt them to your own needs.

Dear Lord, May this blanket be a blessing for warmth and comfort for this baby. In Jesus name, Amen

Father, grant a special measure of your grace and help to this little one. May this gift symboize your love to the baby and her family. In Jesus name. Amen

Gracious God, grant strength, healing, and hope for this child and his family. Let this gift remind them that they have friends and family ready to help. In Jesus name, Amen.

Lord, place this baby in the perfect family to love and cherish her. Until then, when she faces hard days, may this (item) remind her that she is not forgotten. In your son's precious name, Amen.

Creator of All, as this blanket is wrapped around the baby, may he know that he is surrounded by your love. In Jesus name, Amen.

"Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I am participating in the January 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

Do You Have Other Children?

It seems to be happening more right now. People have been asking, "Do you have more children?" "Is he your only?"

I struggle with answering that. 

I am raising one child. However, I have five. Four are in Heaven, having died before they were born, for reasons the doctors haven't been able to figure out. 

So when I am asked, "Do you have other children?" I want to say, "not living;" or "yes, waiting for me in Heaven." 

Sometimes, I do, if the person asking seems to be genuinely interested in my history.   

Usually, though, it's easier to answer as if I am the mom of singleton. It requires less explanation and I don't want to seem as though I am being overdramatic or making a bid for attention. Certainly, I don't want to make someone who has asked an obviously friendly question feel upset or ashamed. It's not a bad question either, I don't think people should stop asking it of others. 

It's just that, sometimes, I feel a bit like I am betraying my other children when I don't mention them.

              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One year, I lost a baby in March that would have been due in August. This was my third miscarriage, and I had carried halfway under the care of a specialist. We discovered that the baby had died at the twenty week ultrasound. I had already planned not to attend CYC, the conference of the youth ministry I volunteer for, because I was supposed to be on the maternity ward. This wonderful community not only made room for me but surrounded me with a depth of love and care that still amazes me when I think of it. Everyone -- yes the men, too -- offered support, prayer, hugs and extra childcare for Jordan without my ever asking. I was afraid to approach one woman, who had lost three babies after birth, feeling she had suffered so much more. On Commitment Night she was a prayer partner. When I went over to her, she threw her arms around me, reassured me, and prayed fervently, fully understanding my loss. 


At times though,I feel as though there are people who just want women to "get over" miscarriages quickly. I have known of groups where they were considered unimportant, basically something to be ignored. If there is a point of education to this blog, it's this: When you have carried a life within you, however briefly, it's loss brings real grief. 

Erma Bombeck was an auther and comedianne. She could find humor in almost anything, but this is what she said of her miscarriage:

           I lost the baby.....

...As I lay there mumbling “I am so sorry,” the guilt was unbearable. Feelings of self-recrimination came and went like waves of nausea. 

I had now joined a group of women who had to give a child back. They look like other women and they function like other women. But there is an emptiness inside of them that never goes away. At any given time of year when no one knows what they are talking about, they will look wistful and remark that the baby would be three years old today, or five, or ten. They play with the probabilities...the would have beens...could have beens... should have beens... and forever question, "Why?"

The babies would have been 12, 11, 8 and 5. I know they are waiting for me in a perfect place, but I really wish they were here.



Do you have a story of loss to share?







I am participating in the January 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

Help from an Unexpected Source

The other evening, I was driving to my friends' house to stay for a bit, teach the kids and rest my foot. I was in the HOV lane when the driver's side heat shield (which was jury-rigged, anyway) came loose and started flapping around and hitting the car. There was nowhere to pull over, even after I left the HOV lane, so I took an exit.

At the bottom of the ramp a man, obviously indigent, called from across the road:
 "Do you need help?"
"I need a place to pull over."
"There is a shelter just there on the right. Go in the parking lot."

You know, I was in an unfamiliar inner city neighborhood and a complete stranger was giving me directions. I am unable to walk without aids, I had my 13 year old son with me and it was dark.

 It probably would have been wisest to find a well-lit parking lot at a fastfood joint, lock the doors and call AAA. Usually, I err on the side of safety.

Not this time. I pulled into that parking lot. Didn't even think about it.

It was fine, of course. The man approached. I told him "I can't walk" and Jordan got out to help. The man used a cane himself. He pulled off the heat shield, not an easy task, and put it in the trunk. There is a little damage to the paint on the car, but otherwise all is well. (Except that the heat shield needs to be replaced.)

"I am a veteran, Ma'am. God bless you!"

I gave the man the $3 I had in my pocket, wishing I had more cash, rather than just a credit card and thanked him.


"Take care of your Mama, kid"

And we went on our way.

I truly believe that God put that man in our path and prompted me to follow his lead. I am really grateful for his help.


Have you ever gotten help from an unexpected source?




I am participating in the January 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

Song for Sunday: The Rainbow Connection

Maybe on this birthday Sunday of mine, I am feeling nostalgic about my childhood.

Maybe I just love the Muppets.


Anyway, today's song for Sunday is that lovable frog singing "The Rainbow Connection."

Enjoy!

What's your favorite childhood song?








I am participating in the January 2013 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

Gratitude Jar

This picture showed up on my cousin's Facebook page. 

I believe I will institute this at my house next year.

It will give us a chance to consistently reflect on our blessings and cultivate gratitude.. and we have plenty to be thankful for!

It will also, I think, keep us focused on the positive. That can only be a good thing. 

Have you ever tried anything like this in your home?

How'd it go?

Do you think you might try this next year?

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whateveris lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Phillipians 4:8

How I Spent Mother's Day

This Mother's Day was different.

First, of all, I wasn't home. I woke up in Ocean Park (which is my favorite place on earth). A bunch of us, from Oceanwood and CYC spent the weekend getting the facility ready for the summer camping season. Yesterday, we had a morning worship service and then cleaned up after ourselves and took leave.

My son and I had lunch at Rapid Ray's, a favorite hotdog stand. After that,we built a water diversion system that Jordan designed at the beach.

We headed home and Jordan took care of supper, because everyone up at camp kept reminding him it was Mother's Day and he had to do something nice for me. My husband took us out for ice cream. Then we played Pitch Six, a game that we used to play with my late mother.

It really was a nice day and I feel very blessed to be a Mom.

How was your Mother's Day?

Wednesday Encouragements: Being Perfect

Today is the first day of Wednesday Encouragements: A Christian Blogging Challenge. The idea is for Christian bloggers to write posts to edify other Christians. Cali  Villanueva started us off with a great idea for an activity -- Youth Group Game: The Lost Sheep. Now's it time for me to write mine, so here goes.

Be perfect, therefore, as your Father in heaven is perfect.

                          Matthew 5:48

I had a friend -- he's since died -- who used to try to be perfect on Wednesdays. That was his goal. He based his idea of pefection on Jesus, certainly, using the "four absolutes" as a guide. The four absolutes are absolute love, absolute unselfishness, absolute honesty and absolute purity. This friend of mine would set out each Wednesday to live these ideals. He would fail - he said making it twenty minutes was good-- and start over repeatedly throughout the day. He never gave up. 

Maybe I should tell you a little more about this friend of mine. His name was Rev. Robert E. Baggs, but we just called him Bob. As a Baptist pastor he inspired many with his teaching, sacrificial service and love of youth. He was over 80 when he died and well up into his 70s he actively volunteered with the New England Baptist Youth Conference, now known as the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park.  He was a passionate teacher and spoke with directness to his students. He was both respected and loved -- I once saw a roomful of teens give him a standing ovation when, at 75, he was introduced as the vesper speaker.

But back to his habit of trying to be perfect on Wednesdays -- a habit he tried to get us all to emulate. I always assumed that the purpose of such exercises was to help us realize that we couldn't be perfect on our own and show us our need for Christ. I suppose that is one purpose. At our faculty retreat this year, though, we were discussing Bob's habit. One of the teachers talked about how such an exercise would help us to identify with Christ, who was tempted in every way but never sinned. By trying to be perfect ourselves, we could understand a little more of what Jesus went through for us. I'd never thought of that, but it is very true. 

Godly conversation can lead us into new ideas, help us to see from new perspectives. It is a holy gift and a real blessing. 

I think I might try being perfect once in a while. To remind me I can't do it on my own, to help me identify with Christ and to develop good disciplines.

Your turn:

Who has been a role model of Christian living for you?

When has Godly conversation brought you new insights?

Have you ever tried to be perfect? How'd it go?

I am participating in the Ultimate Blogging Challenge. This is post #11 of the 30 I need to do in April to meet the challenge.

A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the LORD.

This was part of my daily reading today and I just thought I'd share it. Perhaps it will encourage someone.

Psalm 102

    A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the LORD.

 ¹ Hear my prayer, LORD;
   let my cry for help come to you.
² Do not hide your face from me
   when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
   when I call, answer me quickly.
 ³ For my days vanish like smoke;
   my bones burn like glowing embers.
⁴ My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
   I forget to eat my food.
⁵ In my distress I groan aloud
   and am reduced to skin and bones.
⁶ I am like a desert owl,
   like an owl among the ruins.
⁷ I lie awake; I have become
   like a bird alone on a roof.
⁸ All day long my enemies taunt me;
   those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
⁹ For I eat ashes as my food
   and mingle my drink with tears
¹⁰ because of your great wrath,
   for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
¹¹ My days are like the evening shadow;
   I wither away like grass.
 ¹² But you, LORD, sit enthroned forever;
   your renown endures through all generations.
¹³ You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
   for it is time to show favor to her;
   the appointed time has come.
¹⁴ For her stones are dear to your servants;
   her very dust moves them to pity.
¹⁵ The nations will fear the name of the LORD,
   all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
¹⁶ For the LORD will rebuild Zion
   and appear in his glory.
¹⁷ He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
   he will not despise their plea.
 ¹⁸ Let this be written for a future generation,
   that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
¹⁹ “The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,
   from heaven he viewed the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners
   and release those condemned to death.”
²¹ So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion
   and his praise in Jerusalem
²² when the peoples and the kingdoms
   assemble to worship the LORD.
 ²³ In the course of my life^[b] he broke my strength;
   he cut short my days.
²⁴ So I said:
“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days;
   your years go on through all generations.
²⁵ In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
   and the heavens are the work of your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you remain;
   they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
   and they will be discarded.
²⁷ But you remain the same,
   and your years will never end.
²⁸ The children of your servants will live in your presence;
   their descendants will be established before you.”



Have a blessed day and may you know the presence of God in any affliction.

Fall

Fall came late this year, but it came with startling beauty.

At least that's how I see it. It actually seemed that there would be no "peak" this season, no time when everything burst into color. In fact, just yesterday there was green mixed in with dullish autumn colors. But today.... bright and glowing with the light just perfect for viewing.

It was so beautiful that we gave up lessons and went to look. I have a feeling that this will be a short autumn as the trees are literally raining leaves.



Jordan brought along his camera,and these are his pictures I am posting.


I wonder if maybe it's because we had to wait so long for it that it seems so much better, so much more vibrant this time around. It's like that with some things, isn't it? I think maybe that's sometimes why God's answer to our prayer might be "wait".


Anyway, today has given us an unexpected blessing and I'm grateful we got to enjoy it.

                           


What's your fall looking like?

Update on Home Maintenance

I have new windows!!

They are great. They are the energy efficient ones and they cover up the crumbling lead paint. We tried several solutions to get rid of the paint, but no one wanted the job and I was uncomfortable doing the removal myself, so we ended up replacing all the windows. From what I hear, we'll save a ton on our heating bill as well. Hopefully,the windows, will pay for themselves completely in about 10 years.

I am very pleased.

This is the follow up to:

Home Maintenance Confusion

and

Putting it in God's hands


God is good, all the time!

Have a great day. :)

Kirill's Adoption Approved!!

A while back I posted Kirill's Story. Kirill is a young Russian orphan who had been denied the chance to be adopted by an American family because the judge felt that his Down Syndrome would make it too difficult for him to adjust. Many people have prayed and, finally, Tesney was able to post this:


GOD OF MIRACLES
WE ARE NOW THE PROUD PARENTS OF GREGORY KIRILL DAVIS. HE IS OURS. THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED THE JUDGE'S RULING. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, HIS NAME IS GREGORY KIRILL DAVIS AND WE WILL GO PICK HIM UP IN JUST A FEW SHORT DAYS AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE OFFICIAL COURT DECREE IN HAND. I WILL POST THE DETAILS WHEN I KNOW THEM. RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A FLURRY OF TEARS AND EXCITEMENT AND WE WON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW OUR NEXT FEW DAYS WILL GO UNTIL TOMORROW WHEN WE MEET AGAIN WITH OUR FACILITATOR.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT. MAY YOU SEE THAT GOD IS THE GOD OF MIRACLES AND THAT HE IS FAITHFUL TO COMPLETE THE WORK HE HAS STARTED IN YOU.

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW. PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW. PRAISE HIM ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS. PRAISE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST!



To read more of the story, scroll through Tesney's blog "Our Eyes Opened"

And praise God for such a happy ending!!

What teens think about serving

Following on from yesterday's post, I have a few quotes from some of our students at CYC who participated in Ventures service projects. They were asked, "What's good about Ventures?"

The first two comments:
"We get to spend time helping the community."

"Helping others."

This, of course, is the essence of serving. It is, ultimately, why we should do it. Jesus told us to serve, to help.

Another person said:

"Knowing the caring presence of Conference would linger in OP [the town] after our two weeks were over."

Building bridges between people, between our teens and the community, is part of our purpose. Service is a good way to do this. It also helps the community at large to gain a postive impression of youth and their potential.

"Finding out what kind of missions you have a passion for; exploring the possibilities for service in the future."


This is an awesome outcome of service. Helping kids to find their gifts and how they can use them for God should be a real focus of youth ministry. Providing opportunities to serve is a great way to accomplish this.

All of the above are true. As a leader I am glad that students are thinking about their service's effect on others. Or about the ways that serving will help them to minister in the future. This is why Ventures is such an important part of our program...and will be for years to come.


Blessings on your day!






Christian youth Conference at Ocean Park is a two week ecumenical conference for high school students held in August on the beautiful southern coast of Maine. The theme for the 2011 conference is "Face to Face" and will look at restoring relationships between God and individuals, and amongst people. Click here for more information.