Braggin' Rights Continued...

The first installment of “Braggin’ Rights” was posted, like almost two months ago. Sorry for the lapse, but I'm picking it up again now. This installment will focus on the twinship of Lexi and Maisie, and then I'll devote a separate post later to each of them. I’ve tried really hard to not lump them together all the time, but I wanted to include a little something “twinny” because that’s an aspect of their uniqueness too.

When my girls were born, people couldn’t understand why Shane and I didn’t name them immediately. We had the names picked out, after all. But I needed to see both babies at once to know who would be named what! Because they came five weeks early, Lex had to be hooked up to a monitor for a day or so due to a few breathing irregularities. So on the day of their big debut I was able to see and hold Maisie, but Lexi was in the nursery.

Mais definitely “looked” like a Maisie Madolyn; she had light reddish blonde hair and full lips that suggested a beautiful smile would reside on them often. Her deep blue eyes set against her hair reminded me of sunshine and blue sky. The name Maisie means “pearl”—an apt description of her smooth, creamy skin, but I also associate it with a golden color for some reason (maybe because of “maize” meaning corn?). So a sunshiny, pearlescent name for this little “towhead” seemed absolutely perfect.

But I hadn’t really gotten a good look at “Baby B” before she was whisked away--would she look like an Alexandra Anne? When I was finally able to hold her and gaze upon that petite little dark-haired beauty, I knew—she was my Alexandra. Her little red lips were pursed into a perfect bow and when paired with her high forehead, gave her an aristocratic look. Yep, “Alexandra Anne” would be a perfect fit, though that was a big name for such a little squirt. “Lexi” for short worked perfectly. These days, she goes more by “Sassy” though. When Skylar was little, he couldn’t pronounce Lexi’s name—what he said sounded like Sassy, and because this girl definitely is sassy, it has stuck.

Having come in a pair, these two have always had a built-in playmate. Some of the time they can get on each others’ nerves just like any sibling can. But most of the time it's been a huge blessing. For instance, on a recent safari in the woods behind our house, the dynamic duo managed to find AND capture mating frogs--see below and yes, the small one is on the big one's back--AND furnish them with an appropriate enough environment that they'd continue to procreate!!! When the frogs finished after a few days (FINALLY--WOW!) I made the girls release them because we had enough eggs to supply frogs for the whole county.





Here are both remarkable pairs--frogs AND girls!

Don't these gals make a great team? They've been such distinct little ladies from the womb, but they're also compatible and enjoy many of the same things. God is SO good.

Just a quick follow up to my last post...
Lysa Terkeurst does an amazing job of reasoning through some of the major points of Oprah/Tolle's rhetoric. Given that she was actually on the Oprah show last year I was really interested to see how she might deal with all of this. As usual, her logic, writing, and most importantly, her heart for Jesus impressed me. If you check it out, she has spread the content out over several postings so you might want to begin with the Mon. April 21st post...Enjoy!

http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/

Jesus Still Loves Oprah

A lot of email forwarding and blogging has already been devoted to Oprah and her “new mega-church” controversy. Here’s the YouTube footage that’s making the rounds just in case you haven’t seen it...



There. Now we’re all on the same page as far as what she’s promoting. Though I’m not completely on board with the sensationalism of this video (the "scary" music, etc.), I agree that its content is a matter of huge concern to Christ followers given the enormous influence Oprah has.

So what does a Christian brutha or sista to do with all this? Actually, let’s start with what NOT to do…

1) Don’t condemn. Sure, she’s wrong, but isn’t one of our Christian precepts to hate the sin and love the sinner? We’re sure not gonna win this war by pointing fingers, calling names, and being hypocrites. If we preach Jesus and Jesus says the greatest commandment is love…well…think it through… YES! Show love, Honey. ;-) Does there come a time to fight for our beliefs? Yep, and this IS one of them. But how we fight will either accrue casualties for the kingdom, or it will attract precious souls. Don't be like the Pharisees who brought the adulteress woman before Jesus to condemn her (and Him!). As He said, “Let he who is without sin throw the first stone.” Anyone? Anyone? Didn’t think so. Me
either. ;-)

2) In the same vein, don’t forward the video along with a self-righteous rant. Your credibility is instantly shot as far as fence-riders are concerned and it wins our side nothing. I agree that awareness is important, but if you decide to forward or post the video, PLEASE emphasize love (see #1). Jesus loves Oprah just as much as anyone and He hurts just as much when she doesn’t acknowledge Him as He does when we don’t (even though we may not have a global reach or a following of millions)! He would welcome her with open arms if she turns back to Him, just as He would any of us.

What CAN we do?

1) Pray! And I mean specifically. Pray that Jesus makes Himself as visible to her as He did to Saul on the way to Damascus. And that it has similar results. If those following her every move now are one day told by her, “You all, I met my Jesus face to face. I’ve been wrong…” can you imagine the fruit?! Prayer warriors, Armor up! ALL things are possible with God and He can work even this for His good.

2) Listen. At the office, club meetings, school functions, and the grocery store you may hear of people who are enjoying Oprah’s plan. If the relationship you have with this person is such that you can be frank (though sensitive), seek the Spirit’s guidance as to how you should share your concerns and follow those promptings. If you don’t know the person well or at all, lift him or her up in prayer and ask God to open a door to develop a relationship.

3) Stay grounded in the Truth. Guard your heart wisely and get your daily Bread. Wisdom comes to those who seek it if they seek it in the right place.

4) Seize this opportunity! One great thing about this whole deal is that it gets people talking about their faith. If done according to Biblical principles, this can be a great chance for you to show WHY you’re a believer and share what Jesus has done for you. For example, one of the most notable points would be the whole "empowerment" source. I see it as self-power vs. resurrection power. If I'm watching a loved one die of cancer, would I find enough power and strength in myself, or would being plugged into the same power that rose Jesus from the dead be a more reliable source? Be real, not pious. Be transparent, not arrogant. Go be the “real” light to others. And above all, pray for and hold on to the hope that God will work this for the good of His kingdom.

(An aside to Missy—I ALMOST referred to Oprah as "Okra" in keeping with the influential women/vegetable name thing! God has me thinking about her nearly all the time, just as He had you thinking about Celery. I have not yet dreamed about her and Steadmon yet, though. LOL!) ;-)

10, 20, 30 Years Ago...

My friend J. Wo (who you can access from my sidebar -->) had this meme (as if I really know what that means!) on her blog and I really enjoyed reading it, so I tagged myself and will share! Let me know if you decide to do the same...

TEN years ago...Shane and I were getting ready to move into our new house! Our actual moving date was May 5 (Cinco de Mayo!), but we had already started to organize things for packing. (What's funny about that is here we are now, ten years later, and we're just now in the process of finishing our basement! LOL!) Our awesome twin baby girls were four months old, which marked the beginning of a magical season with them. They were finally through the colic stage (PTL!) and were now vocalizing and smiling in heart-melting ways. I remember holding Lexi up and singing "Laaaaa" to her and she'd throw back her head with this gummy grin and sing it back to me. And then while her mouth was wide open she'd swoop in and try to gum my chin. Baby attack! It was so precious! When I did it to Maisie she'd just cackle at her goofy mom and then shove her fist into her mouth. (I'm thinking four months must be the period Freud referred to as the oral stage? Hmm...)

TWENTY years ago...Let's see, 1988. I was just about to finish up my freshman year of college! My man was living in Tyler, Texas at the time, so I was no doubt devising a plan for spending my summer with him there. It must've worked because I ended up doing that! Still, I remember really enjoying my freshman year of college. I was no longer intimidated by the whole "academics" thing and found out I was really pretty good at "doing college"--If there's a job that entails just taking classes and getting paid a nice salary, SIGN ME UP! I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career, but I remember taking an Intro. to Social Work class to see if I'd like that. I didn't. The 40 hours of volunteer work I did revealed that I was far too emotional to be of much help to people who needed not pity, but practical, assertive help. Fashion staples in my closet twenty years ago included really long, straight skirts worn with a big belt, granny boots, and tops or jackets with really wide shoulder pads. We also pegged our jeans (and hush!--you KNOW you did it too!). The baggier our high-waisted acid-washed jeans were at the top and the tighter they were at or above the ankle, the better! I had the same long spiral perm with big bangs that everyone else had. Bobby Brown, Young MC, Sting, Prince, and Bon Jovi played on my cassette tapes!

THIRTY years ago...I was nine years old. That makes me younger than my girls are now, so I'm thinking I was in third grade? If that's the case, I was sitting in Mr. Oller's 3rd grade room probably being nervous about learning long division and fractions. I remember trading posters with friends--I gave away anything that would score me a Leif Garrett or Andy Gibb poster. Shaun Cassidy hung in there for awhile but faded out after the Hardy Boys stopped airing. I remember Ponch from CHiPs being a hot item too, and at recess my friends and I played "Charlie's Angels." I always got "stuck" playing Sabrina. :-)

Happy Easter, Everyone!

Braggin' Rights, Part 1

I'm humbled when I consider each of my children and how wonderfully they are made. So I'm going to devote a post to each one of them over the course of the next few weeks (in keeping with my usual laxity in posting!) in praise to the Father for these three blessings.

In the paraphrased words of the apostle Paul, "Yeah, I'm boasting, but it's only by God's grace that I'm doing it." In other words, it's nothing I've done.

But with that said, I remember secretly hoping when I was pregnant with Skylar that he would live up to his name, which means "scholar". (It also means "protection" which was so fitting because we had some difficulties while he was in the womb, but God was so faithful in His protection over him.) I envisioned him loving books as much as I do and maybe even writing. The Lord showed me the other day that He, in that awesome Grace of His, has gifted this six-year-old boy in that direction.

Presenting...

If You Give A Lion Some Candy! by Skylar

Once upon a time there was a boy named Skylar and a forest with a lion in it. No one has ever gave candy to a lion before.

So I walked through the woods to the lion and gus what. He started to hop everywhere and asking for more.

I did not know what to do. So I ran and got mom and dad and I showed them it. They did not know what to do either.

Then I had an idiea I put candy in frunt of his face and filled a gun up with vegetadles I shot it in his mouth and I never gave a lion candy again! The End.

Applause, applause... Now, maybe I have a faulty memory, but I don't think I could string two complete sentences together when I was in the first grade. And I certainly didn't know to attribute hyperactivity (in humans OR animals) to candy or sugar!

Here's the proud author sharing his masterpiece.

Father, thank you for this boy who You've fearfully and wonderfully made. He's so precious and such a joy. Use him mightily and give his father and me the wisdom to shape him according to Your purposes. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

In the Toilet

I ran across a verse today that made me pause, re-read, laugh, and then ponder. (I love those kinds of verses!)

Check this out: “They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day.” (2 Kings 10:27, NLT). Rewind…converted it to what?! Yep, you read it right.

If I were on a quiz show and the host said, “Okay, Kathy, for $10,000…True or false… The words ‘public toilet’ do appear in God’s Word…” I would have said “False” and forfeited my $10,000!

I was intrigued and decided to see how other versions of the Bible coined the phrase. This is what I found:

The King James Version says, “…and made it a draught house unto this day.” No offense to King James and those he commissioned to translate the Bible, but that sugar- coats the new function of Baal’s temple to the point of miscommunication. A draught house to me, is a tavern. Dictionary.com agrees with me. ;-)

The New King James Version says, “…and made it a refuse dump to this day.” Well, that sounds a lot closer to the truth, but refuse could be any type of trash or waste, which still leaves some ambiguity about where Baal worship ended up.

The NIV is more specific: “…and people have used it for a latrine to this day.” And the NCV and AMP (respectively) are more vivid in their depictions with “…and they made it into a sewage pit, as it is today” and “…made it [forever unclean] a privy to this day.” Ahh…can’t you just smell it on a hot, middle-eastern day? I bet real estate downwind took a nose-dive.

The Message uses pretty much the same verbage as the NLT: “They smashed the Baal altars and tore down the Baal temple. It's been a public toilet ever since.”

This is so fascinating to me! Not that I’m obsessed with bathrooms (ancient or modern) at all—in fact, if you visit one of mine you’ll probably see that I should be a little more obsessed with them, especially cleaning them. But what is so interesting to me is the fact that Baal worship was so entirely detestable to the Lord, and therefore to Jehu (the one doing all the remodeling) that it wasn’t enough to merely destroy the temple. What Jehu did was to ensure that Baal worship was thereafter associated with such a lowly position that it was “in the toilet”—literally.

I know I’m dangerously close to crossing a line here, but I can even imagine the soldiers “writing their names” on the pillar in a kind of a “Take that, Baal!” sort of gesture.

Wow. It’s hard to take a god seriously that you can do that to! God made clear in no uncertain terms that He is the only God, the One True God, and all others--even our 21st century idols--are just… well, worthy of a refuse dump.

Lunar Eclipse

Did y'all catch that beautiful eclipse last night? I couldn't get our camera to "find" it, but a google search turned up this picture, which is exactly what the one last night looked like.

I had just gotten the kids to bed and sat down to get online for a little bit, when I learned that there was a total lunar eclipse going on right outside and I wasn't even aware of it! I went outside and looked. Even though "totality" was still 20 minutes away, what I saw--pretty much exactly like this picture--was breathtaking. I went back in, told the kids to get their socks, shoes, and coats on (and believe me, once they're in bed, I RARELY do that!) and come see something special. Of course they were all over it. We took blankets out to help deal with the 13 degree temperature and sat on the porch marveling at this cool thing God lined up. Shane had shorts on, getting ready to start a workout, so he didn't stay out quite as long as the rest of us, but it was so cool!

We came in to warm up briefly a few times, finding new facts on the internet. Did you know that the outline is called a penumbra? Neither did we! Did you know that the next time we'll be able to see another total lunar eclipse here in the states is in December of 2010? Neither did we! And did you know that in the past year, there have been two other ones? Neither did we! (They must have occurred while we were snoozing.)

It was quite educational and very awe-inspiring. After the kids were in bed for the second time, I decided to check a concordance to see if the Bible mentions eclipses. I knew there were instances of darkness during the day, but I was curious about whether they were noted specifically as eclipses. They weren't. But what I did find was that whenever the moon "turns to blood" or "will not give light" it was usually mentioned in warning or sign of "horrible days". But everything else was dark too. No stars twinkling like there were last night. No peaceful stillness where your breath steam froze in the air like last night. No giggles and delighted shouts of, "Mom, get back out here! It's almost done!" like there were last night.

Just like we need water to live but too much can kill, or fire sustains life and takes it away, God uses these amazing cosmic events to forwarn, to be a sign, or just to bless. And blessed we were. Thank You, Jesus.

In...all.

When I started this blog just a shade over 13 months ago, the main purpose was to use it as a discussion forum for our Read the Bible in a Year group. While the blog itself didn’t really turn out to be very useful in that capacity, I’m happy to say I DID finish the plan! On December 31, 2007, through God’s grace, I read the last word in Revelation: all. And 364 days earlier, I’d started Genesis with the very first recorded word of scripture: In.

“In…all.” Reminds me of a song we sing telling Jesus He is our all in all. I seriously doubt that the very first and last words in the Bible were randomly chosen. To me, this appropriately conveys to us that whatever we need—direction, discipline, encouragement, examples, insight—it’s all in there. We can find all we need in these wonderful pages. Amen!

So what have I learned or gained from reading the Bible in a Year? Here are some highlights…

*People have been as messed up as we are today ever since the fall. Injustice, incest, child sacrifices, greed, murder, adultery, unspeakable violence and war, deception, and numerous other vices are recorded throughout the ages. Gives a whole new irony to “the good ol’ days” doesn’t it? And it highlights the depths of God’s mercy and grace in providing a Savior.

*I’m amazed at how some of the Old Testament rituals, which honestly, before, I thought had no relevance whatsoever to me today, really can be illustrative under the New Covenant.

*God’s timing is just…PERFECT. I can’t even begin to list here how many times that the reading for a certain day was clear direction, affirmation, or conviction for me.

*His Word is new and fresh every day. Even familiar verses take on new meaning depending on your circumstances when you read them. His Word is living and active (Heb. 4:12).

*I don’t have to fear Revelation! I always used to avoid reading Revelation, or at least large parts of it together. It was just too scary and confusing to me. But this time around was different in a way that I can only attribute to the Holy Spirit. I actually found myself reading more than I was supposed to on several occasions this time because I was riveted—couldn’t wait to see what would happen next! I still don’t understand it very well at all, but it was just “less scary” to me.

Even though I’ve read it all, I’m clearly seeing I didn’t retain it all! For example, just last week at Bible study, Lisa Gard and I were whispering about Sara being Abraham’s half-sister. I couldn’t believe it! So I looked it up in the verse she showed me and not only did I know this at some point, I had even underlined it!!! (I do that when something’s shocking or impactful.) And less than a year later, it had slipped through one of the holes in my colander-like memory.

Maybe doing this plan EVERY year wouldn’t be such a bad idea!

Ward Off a Cold?

In the past week, I've shared the following information with two friends, so I thought I'd go ahead and post it here too. It seems a bit "cooky" and I may sound like "one a' them thar voo-doo nutjobs who don't bulieve in drugs" but, come on! Who wouldn't choose a cheap, safe alternative over an $80 trip to the doc if it works?

Here's something easy and readily available at home that may help ward off or shorten a cold: put hydrogen peroxide in your ears!

I've done it several times this winter and have so far avoided a cold. Lexi, who is very susceptible to strep throat came down with a sore throat a few months ago. I put peroxide drops in her ears and she awoke the next day feeling well enough to go to school. Her sore throat was gone (I was fully prepared to take off work to take her to the doc--I was sure she had strep!) Shortly after that, I developed a sore throat and saw a few white patches in the sore area. I gargled with peroxide a few times throughout the day and had the same result. Maisie and Skylar have both developed coughs so far this winter, but both of them were very short-lived (like a couple of days each) when we did the treatment.

I believe that God can use whatever He chooses to heal us and help us maintain our health. Doesn't it fit into His character that He'd provide simple home remedies? If you're interested in reading more, check out the following link, which also provides specific instructions. Also, if you do a "peroxide" search on Dr. Mercola's website, you'll find testimony after testimony from folks who've had success with it.

http://www.mercola.com/2002/mar/13/hydrogen_peroxide.htm

As a side note, this treatment is kind of fun! I love hearing the kids talking loudly over the fizzing in their ears telling me how it's tickling! :-)

Missy Started It!

Missy shared, I enjoyed reading her answers, and I had the time. So here goes...
BTW, I kinda dig doing this via blog. That way, whoever wants to respond--great! But there's no guilt for those who don't (as opposed to email).

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Fortunately, no. My brother wanted to name me Frankenstein.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? A few weeks ago when I heard a woman speaking very harshly to her kids in a store.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? It’s pretty bad. (I’ve heard that bad hand-writing is a sign of intelligence, though, so I’m runnin’ with it…)
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yep--three
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Honestly, I think I might get on my own nerves (those of you who claim to be my friends, THANKS!).
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Uh, sheah!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Before kids, you bet. Now? Nope.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I don’t know! It has almond slivers, clusters of oats and stuff, and a honey flavor. Is that Honey Bunches of Oats?
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If possible.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STRONG? No. (But I do seem to have a high pain threshold!) ;-)
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? DQ plain
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Whether or not they look friendly.
15. RED OR PINK? pink
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Many age-related changes.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My buddy Tricia
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? N/A-- but I would love for them to post their answers on their blogs!
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Brown and brown.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Scrambled eggs and an orange.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The hum of my space heater and the clicking of the keyboard.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Indigo or magenta
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Freshly mowed grass in spring and in the winter, something warm and delicious cooking or brewing.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? A judge from Coles County
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Of course!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Basketball and anything my kids are playing
27. HAIR COLOR? blond
28. Eye color? Dark blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yep
30 FAVORITE FOOD? I love it all! (which in part pertains to #16)
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? At the theater, International Treasure. At home, Ocean’s 11.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? red
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Fall.
35. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cheesecake or brownies. Or cappucinno w/ biscotti.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? N/A but leave a comment if you put it on your blog
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? N/A
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? I’ll soon be reading Bad Girls of the Bible and I can't wait! I've wanted to read it for awhile now. Liz Curtis Higgs rocks.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Some ugly internet solutions ad—I inherited it with the office.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV.Late LAST NIGHT? Nothing.
42. FAVORITE SOUND? The sound of my mattress and bedclothes when I’m snuggling into them. I also love the sound of wind and rain when I don’t have to be out in it.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Maui.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can do this thing with my arms I learned from watching “Zoom” as a kid. (Remember that song? Oh yeah, I also have a talent for remembering worthless information.)
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Shelbville, IL
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Any and all who care to or have time to.
48. IF YOU COULD HAVE (OR HAVE HAD) ANY PROFESSION WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would only be totally happy doing whatever it has that God has for me. I’m not exactly sure what it is right now, but probably something to do with speaking/training.

I am so excited as I type this that I can barely sit long enough to do it! It doesn't hurt that I have a Clint Brown praise CD playing, but that's not the biggest reason! (I hesitated to share this at first because the Word encourages us to give in secret, but I really feel led to because this is such a "Glory to God" story--I actually had very little to do with it; it was all Him!) Let me start at the beginning...

Some of you know that I have a special burden on my heart for sexually exploited children. I was raised in a very sheltered environment, where adults could be trusted for provision, safety, and love. I really had no idea how cruel the world could be until I left wide-eyed for college, and even there the world's evils were sugar-coated.

When I began teaching college, however, my students' research projects taught me a lot. My eyes were opened to a lot of shocking realities that people face daily, especially women and girls, on a global scale. As I read the harsh, often personal accounts of victims, saw images of their living conditions, or evidence of unimaginable abuse, I would often just crumble and begin to sob at the injustice of it all. How can this kind of stuff happen? How can people be so filled with hate and utter disregard of others?

Anyway, a few months ago, I received my World Vision gift catalog in the mail. I love getting it every year because you can choose very specific donations to make in someone's name—their gift. Every year I think how much I'd like to do it, and every year I don't. It seems so stupid, but I just let it fall by the way-side because the Christmas lists given to me by family don't include things like “a goat for an impoverished family.”

So I'm flipping through the catalog, occasionally throwing observations up to God like, “Oh, Lord, it would be so cool to donate a home for a family in the Honduras” or “Oh, MAN, would I love to help drill a well for this kid in Malawi, Father!”

And then I got to page 27. If it had been there in years past, I hadn't seen it. In bold white letters, against a black and gray background of the silhouettes of three young girls in dresses and high heels, were the words Sold. Trafficked. Abused. Then in smaller black letters underneath, “An estimated 2 million children are enslaved in the global commercial sex trade—most of them girls. You can give them hope.” (You can see the catalog for yourself at http://www.worldvisiongifts.org/).

Friends, the Holy Spirit stirred in me in a way that I can't fully explain. My stomach turned, my heart rate increased so rapidly that I felt pain in my chest. And my eyes filled to overflowing in no time flat. God made it very clear to me right then and there that this would be the best present I get this year—giving hope to girls in this situation, being Him to them.

I shared with a few folks that this was what I wanted for Christmas, but I received traditional gifts instead. So the crisp new C-note my mom gives us “kids” every year was the answer. Usually, that cash is my “fun” money and I dream about the new boots or clothes I'll get with it. But not this year.

Hallelujah!


I just donated on-line and as I did so, I prayed that God would multiply the donation and use it to bless the precious victims beyond my wildest dreams and to protect them from evil. You know what God did? Just as I finished my prayer, Clint Brown sang, “Satan's defeated. The enemy is under our feet!” AMEN!!! Now, I know that my meager donation won't save them all, and from human perspective will hardly make a dent, but if the enemy is defeated in ONE girl's life..., well, I don't have words for how awesome that would be. And I felt like that's exactly what God promised me as I hit “submit”. What a privilege!!!! What a gift!


A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR, Y'ALL!!! May God's presence rock your world in 2008!