What if Christmas was a world changing event?

Elf Yourself

Just for fun! www.elfyourself.com

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

New Name

Simply AMAZING!

Marcy Priest~Beyond Women's Event~11.08.08

What's your identity?

Last weekend at the Beyond Women's Event, sweet Shari talked about identity. Thieves in many forms can steal it... but God creates and recreates it.

What steals your identity as you see yourself?

Sometimes I feel...
invisible, unworthy, tired, lonely, poor body image, guilty, bitter, finances, last, rejected, envious, lost, single



What is your identity as God sees you?

But in Christ I am...
accepted, friend, forgiven, comforted, adopted, called, free, loved, protected, beautiful



~Romans 12:2~
Do not conform anylonger to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Renew Me

LifeChurch.tv-SOKC Beyond Women's Event 11/07/08



Renew Me by Avalon

Why am I such a dusty window
For your light to shine through?
Why am I just a tiny star
In a sky already blue?
Why do I offer everything
With my heart closed like a fist?
I want to love You better than this

Why do I live like I'm in chains
When You have set me free?
And why do I have to break Your heart
Before I fall to my knees?
I know it's time to pray for change
Give all I have to give
I want to love You better than this

So renew me
Remake me
Undo me
Unbreak me
Come into the empty spaces
Of my broken places
And consume me
Complete me
Pursue me
Redeem me
Let Your Holy Spirit living through me
Renew me

I need Your power to renew me, Lord, yeah
I need to know You're moving through me, Lord

I need You as my refuge
My first and last resort
Be the river always running
Through my deepest thoughts
Keep me in Your arms
'Cause even when I drift
I want to love You better than this

So renew me
Remake me
Undo me
Unbreak me
Come into the empty spaces
Of my broken places
And consume me
Complete me
Pursue me
Redeem me
Let Your Holy Spirit living through me
Renew me

My life bending to Your will
Seeking You until I'm more and more like You

Henry Poole is Here

This weekend the girls and I went to the movies to see Henry Poole is Here. I honestly hadn't even heard of the movie, so I read the description online and thought, "oh, that will probably be pretty good". Pretty good? How about A-freakin'-mazing?! This was by far THE best movie I have seen in a long time. Laugh, cry, on the edge of your seat. Go see it!!

Cardboard Testimonies

After a While

After a while you learn
The subtle difference between
Holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't always mean security.

And you begin to learn
That kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes ahead
With the grace of a woman
Not the grief of a child

And you learn
To build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is
Too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way
Of falling down in mid flight

After a while you learn
That even sunshine burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden
And decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers

And you learn
That you really can endure
That you are really strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
With every good bye you learn.

by Veronica A. Shoffstall

Lucky

Makes me miss my doggies. : (

Wrinkles ~ Shadow ~ Bailey

A GREAT DOG STORY

Anyone who has pets will really like this. You'll like it even if you don't and you may even decide you need one!

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.' Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.

Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that is toys stay in the box. It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer.

Something told her she was going to die of this disease.....in fact, she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.

The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.

The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.

Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom.

Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap. Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon over came her and she dozed.

When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot.

But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned!

While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love.

Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day.

It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.

We all need to remember to live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God and never forget....the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care for us.

If you see someone without a smile today give them one of ours!Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

I Believe

I Believe - A birth certificate shows that we were born; a death certificate shows that we died; pictures show that we lived!

I believe - That just because two people argue, it doesn't meanthey don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I believe - That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe - That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe - That true friendship continues to grow, even overthe longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe - That you can do something in an instant that will giveyou heartache for life.

I believe - That it's taking me a long time to become the person Iwant to be.

I believe - That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. You never know when it may be the last time you see them.

I believe - That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I believe - That we are responsible for what we do (no matter how we feel).

I believe - That either you control your attitude, or it controls you.

I believe - That heroes are the people who do what has to be donewhen it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe - That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe - That sometimes the people you expect to kick you whenyou're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe - That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe - That maturity has more to do with what types ofexperiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe - That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe - That no matter how bad your heart is broken, theworld doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe - That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe - Two people can look at the exact same thing andsee something totally different.

I believe - That your life can be changed in a matter of hours bypeople who don't even know you.

I believe - That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I believe - That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe - The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

I believe - " The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you"

When Your Hut's on Fire

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?' Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the gr ound. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

One Lord, One Baptism, One Faith, One Prayer

What would happen if believers from all over the globe came together to impact the world like never before? By living beyond ourselves, we can change our communities and our world. It started with a vision, and a blog. By word of mouth, LifeChurch.tv is partnering with over 1200 churches world wide to unite together for a series called 'One Prayer.'

Last weekend Craig did a preview message setting the stage for what is about to happen. You can watch this message at:

http://www.lifechurch.tv/message-archive/one-prayer/1

At LifeChurch, Craig will be doing the first week, follwed by 3 other pastors: Jentezen Franklin-Free Chapel Worship Center, Gainesville GA; Ed Young-Fellowship Church, Ft Worth TX; and Perry Noble-New Spring Church, Anderson SC.

One Prayer serves several purposes. Specifically, we believe it will…

Promote unity in the body of Christ as we stand together like never before.

Remove geographical barriers by allowing individuals to learn from great teachers and ministries around the world.

Refocus our understanding of the Church as a body of believers instead of a physical location.

Raise money to start churches in strategic areas across the globe.

Intensify our spiritual growth as we fast, pray, and seek God in concert with more than 700,000 other believers.

One Prayer is a series that will be launched globally on the weekend of June 7/8. Most churches will participate for four weeks: one week of teaching from your pastor and three weeks of teaching by gifted communicators who will visit your church via video. In each message, the speaker will answer the question, “If God would answer ‘one prayer’ for the church at large, what would you pray?” The messages will be titled, “Make us _________.”

Check out http://www.oneprayer.com/ to see a list of the participating churches, and to get full details of One Prayer.

Check out http://www.lifechurch.tv/ to see locations and times for our experiences.

You can also join us via the internet campus online:

Saturdays @ 6:30pm

Sundays @ 10 & 11:30am

Tuesdays @8pm.

Join us for this innovative series and see what God will do when we all stand together!

You can be a part of this worldwide movement by praying for all the churches preparing to begin the One Prayer series.

What's your true color?

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Brown

You're brown, a credible, stable color that's reminiscent of fine wood, rich leather, and wistful melancholy. Most likely, you're a logical, practical person ruled more by your head than your heart. With your inquisitive mind and insatiable curiosity, you're probably a great problem solver. And you always gather all of the facts before coming to a timely, informed decision. Easily intrigued, you're constantly finding new ways to challenge your mind, whether it's by reading the newspaper, playing a trivia game, or composing a piece of music. Brown is an impartial, neutral color, which means you tend to see the difference between fact and opinion easily and are open to many points of view. Trustworthy and steady, you really are a brown at heart.

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=colorogt&c=50652

You Took My Place...

One day, a man went to visit a church.
He got there early, parked his car and got out.
Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said,
'I always park there! You took my place!'

The visitor went inside for Sunday School,
found an empty seat and sat down.
A young lady from the church approached him and stated,
'That's my seat! You took my place!'
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome,
but said nothing..

After Sunday School,
the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down.
Another member walked up to him and said,
'That's where I always sit! You took my place!'
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment,
but still He said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them,
the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change.
Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.
Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out,
'What happened to you?'
The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns,
and a tear fell from his eye,
'I took your place.'

Refuge OKC

Here is an article the appeared in the Daily Oklahoman recently about Refuge OKC.

"Coincidentally" I have a previous blog posted about my MicroMission at the Refuge titled A Light in the Darkness--posted February 7, 2008.

To be a light in darkness: Old building is now a refuge

By Carla Hinton Religion Editor Sun April 6, 2008

A downtown Oklahoma City building adjacent to City Rescue Mission has been transformed from a crack house to a church house.

The bustling effort to repurpose a squalid apartment building at 823 W California was started a year ago by the new owner, who bought it without realizing it was a notorious haven for criminal activity.

As Californian Tim Ulrich painted the walls of the dilapidated building, a prostitute hiding from a pimp crept through the filthy rooms and pointed out a putrid mattress that had been used for illicit encounters.

Desperate people knocked on the doors and windows, looking for a crack fix or other illegal drugs.

Gang members surrounded him as he sat in his car, perhaps sizing up the person bold enough to step onto their territory.

Ulrich, 32, decided to sell the place. Quickly.

But God had other plans.

Ulrich partnered with several Oklahoma City area churches to renovate the building for use as The Refuge OKC ministry.

They are intent on making the building once known as a drug house and "Satan's stronghold" into a ministry hub for churches and volunteers who want to help the homeless and indigent.
"I went from selling the building to thanking the Lord that He gave me this crazy building," Ulrich said. "Our point is to be 'the church' down here. To be a light in darkness."

Annamarie Slater is director of Bridgeway Church, one of the ministries partnering with Ulrich. She said The Refuge fits with the mission of her church at 228 W Hefner Road to meet people where they are.

"Ten months ago, it was a crack house. There was gang activity," Slater said. "God's just redeeming it and bringing it back so that it can be a refuge from the storm."

Many weekends, volunteers from churches like Bridgeway, LifeChurch.tv, Mars Hills, Wildwood Calvary Chapel and New Covenant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) visit The Refuge to work on restoring the building. Ulrich said some church groups have "adopted" rooms in the 25-unit building, refurbishing the floors, cleaning, installing cabinets and doors.

He said eventually he and others will live in the building as on-site "disciplers."

"We are so excited, we can't see straight," said the Rev. Tom Jones, president and chief executive of City Rescue Mission, 800 W California.

"Right up until Tim bought it, that building was one of the biggest crack houses in the city. We really believe in what Tim's doing and support it."

Jones said the building's proximity to City Rescue Mission previously proved tempting for people living at the faith-based homeless shelter and struggling to break free from drug or alcohol addictions.

"We were working diligently to get people off drugs, and they could go right across the street and get anything they wanted," Jones said.

The Rev. Ronald Scott, pastor of Serenity Outreach Ministries, said he visited The Refuge after hearing about it from people involved with his ministry's center for people recovering from substance abuse.

Scott said he was surprised and delighted that The Refuge had drawn young ministry-minded believers downtown.

Oklahoma City police Capt. Steve McCool said criminal activity at the building appeared to increase in 2006, based on the types of calls received. He said in 2005, there were five police reports regarding the address and in 2006, there were 24 reports. He said 18 police reports were made in 2007. He said the reports described problems such as public drunkenness, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, robbery and drug offenses.

Scott said after touring the building with Ulrich one day, he and the young minister prayed together.

"It really gave me a lot of hope," Scott said. "My prayers are with him."

Financial loss; spiritual gain.

Ulrich said before visiting his Oklahoma investment property, he was a youth pastor at a church in Yucaipa, a small town in southern California. He said the biggest problem he helped solve was youths struggling with the breakup of their boyfriend or girlfriend — nothing of the magnitude of the types of crises that awaited him here.

Ulrich said it was several months after he had met and prayed with many of the transient occupants of the supposedly vacant apartment building that he and his wife decided to heed the Lord's call and move to Oklahoma City. People from different congregations heard about the couple's move of faith and helpers began arriving.

He estimates he's lost about $200,000 in what he had initially hoped would be a lucrative endeavor. However, he said he's gained so much more than money — new friends, a new city and a new purpose.

"It's important that we are a light and as the light we're to go to dark places," he said. "This seems like this will be a place where Jesus would have hung out. He didn't come for the righteous, He came for the broken, and there are lot of them down here."

The Refuge is not ready for ministry efforts in the building, but churches have not let that stop them from using the site to offer a variety of services.

In November, LifeChurch.tv held a block party outside The Refuge, offering hot meals, tents, bedding, haircuts, shopping excursions and a worship experience to homeless people. In January, volunteers from New Covenant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) converged on the building to clean and help with renovation.

Students from Oklahoma Christian University also have been involved in the restoration and two college students from the Dallas area showed up one day during spring break to clean and perform other rehab tasks. Ulrich estimates about 3,000 people have walked through the halls since he bought the building.

Looking out a window on the building's east side, Ulrich pointed to street corners where he hopes to hold prayer gatherings early each month, when drug and other criminal activity seem to increase.

Much of the work of The Refuge is simple, he said. Church congregations must come outside the four walls of their church building where the need for ministry is strongest, instead of waiting for people to come to them.

"The Lord was wanting to do some rescuing," Ulrich said.

Are we on hidden camera?!

So Tracey and I went to Bricktown tonight to hand out flyers for the CD release. As we were walking back to the car... we were stopped by 4 young girls. They asked if we had a minute to answer a couple of questions. If we could answer 2 questions in 1 minute, they'd give us $20 and we could help each other answer the questions. Easy enough right? First question... name 10 sodas. We got this one. But I began to wonder if we're on some hidden camera show! LOL. 2nd question... name the 10 Commandments. Not so easy on the spot! We actually had 8 of them. But kind of ashamed we could not come up with the other two. Definitely one of the most creative evangelistic techniques I've seen.

So... The Big 10:

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultry.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false withness.
10. Thou shalt not covet.

PS... I'm not telling you the 2 we missed.

Amazed by Desperation Band

You dance over me

While I am unaware

You sing all around

But I never hear the sound

Lord I’m amazed by You

Lord I’m amazed by You

Lord I’m amazed by You

How You love me

How wide

How deep

How great

Is Your love for me

I decided to do a playlist of worship music to go on my blog. I found this song. A song and band I was introduced to on our mission trip to NYC last September. Oh how I miss our morning worship time. It's so easy to get up early and do these things when you away doing "His work". Why is it so hard to get up early to do them in "real life". Each day we get up no matter what we are set out to do, in some way we are a part of "His work". Why should we not be fully prepared for our day by first being consumed with Him?

Lord I pray that you will give me that unresting deisre to be at your feet each morning to start my day.

Still He Walked

He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"...
He could hear the hatred in their voices,
These were his chosen people.
He loved them,
And they were going to crucify him.
He was beaten, bleeding and weakened... his heart was broken,
But still He walked.

He could see the crowd as he came from the palace.
He knew each of the faces so well.
He had created them.
He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear,
But now they were contorted with rage and anger...his heart broke,
But still He walked.

Was he scared?
You and I would have been.
So his humanness would have mandated that he was.
He felt alone.
His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed him.
He searched the crowd for a loving face and he saw very few.
Then he turned his eyes to the only one that mattered,
And he knew that he would never be alone.
He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting
At him, throwing rocks at him and mocking him and he knew
That because of him, they would never be alone.
So for them, He walked.

The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd.
The sounds of his cries echoed even louder,
he cheers of the crowd, as his hands and feet
Were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow.
Loudest of all was the still small voice inside his
Heart that whispered "I am with you, my son",
And God's heart broke.
He had let his son walk.

Jesus could have asked God to end his suffering,
But instead he asked God to forgive.
Not to forgive him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting him.
As he hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,
He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,
But also, the face of every person yet to be,
And his heart filled with love.
As his body was dying, his heart was alive.
Alive with the limitless, unconditional love he feels for each of us.
That is why He walked.

When I forget how much My God loves me,
I remember his walk.

When I wonder if I can be forgiven,
I remember his walk.

When I need reminded of how to live like Christ,
I think of his walk.

And to show him how much I love him,
I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to him,
And I walk.

-- Author Unknown

You say... But God says...

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 3:34 )

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

What's Your Birth Verse?

Click on the title above to go to the website.

My Birth Verse:

~James 1:17 NIV~
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

What's yours? Post a comment and let me know. : )

Captivated

Carrie sang one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard yesterday.
It's currently the profile song on my myspace page.

Captivated by Vicky Beeching

Your laughter it echoes like a joyous thunder
Your whisper it warms me like a summer breeze
Your anger is fiercer than the sun in its splendour
You're close and yet full of mystery
Ever since the day that I saw Your face
Try as I may, I cannot look away, I cannot look away…

Captivated by You
I am captivated by You
May my life be one unbroken gaze
Fixed upon the beauty of Your face

Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my gaze
I become more like You and my heart is changed
Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my view
Transform me into the likeness of You

This is what I ask, for all my days
That I may, never look away, never look away…
No other could ever be as beautiful
No other could ever steal my heart away
I just can't look away…

Breaking the Chains

I was listening to a podcast today from Ed Young-- pastor of Fellowship Church in Ft Worth--called Pronoun-Us. ( you can get it on iTunes) Part of his message really made me think.

A man walking to a circus saw an elephant chained to a stake with a flimsy bicycle chain. He asked the trainer how the little chain held the big beast to the stake. The trainer laughed and said, I've had the elephant since he was a baby. When he was a baby, he didn't have the strength to break the chain. Now, if he wanted to, he could break it like a thread. But the memory keeps him teathered to the stake.

Why is so many times we are like that elephant? We've been tied to things that have had strongholds over us for so long. We have grown so accustomed to the things that tie us down, that we don't even try to break free. We just believe that where we are is all we're ever going to be. If we could only believe, if we only had faith, if we only had complete trust in the One that can break any stronghold... how much more fulfilling could life be?

A Light in the Darkness

Jesus said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." ~Luke 14:12-14~

When throwing a party, for eternal reward, you need a guest list full of the least likely people you can imagine, people who can never pay you back, never make you fell cool for inviting them. Sounds crazy, huh? Jesus' way of doing things was often hard to accept.
One night in Phoenix on out way to a sleeping spot we liked, Sam and I passed a five-star hotel with well-dressed people milling about in front of the entrance and luxury sedans pulling up to drop off more partygoers.
Sam and I walked across the red carpet at the entrance, trying our best to be invisible (it didn't work). Then we stopped to look thru the window into a beautifully decorated ballroom packed full of people. Toward the front of the room a large sign read, "Happy Birthday!" Waiters dressed in white tuxedos passed through the crowd carrying silver platters heaped with expensive appetizers.
We stated silently, separated from another world only by a window.
A waiter passed by with a full platter of baked chicken dripping with rich sauce.
"Sam," I said, only half-joking, "I'll bet we could run in there, grab one of those trays, and be back outside, no problem."
Sam laughed. "Check out the security over there!" Two very large and intimidating guys were checking people's coats at the door. Any dreams of tender baked chicken evaporated.
We felt like kids pressing our noses against the candy display at an old-time country store. Everything we so badly wanted was just out of reach.
Just then an older gentleman right in front of us grabbed a glass of champagne from one of the waiters. He tilted his head back for a quick drink and noticed us standing outside looking in. With a warm smile he raised his glass towards us in salute.
Sam and I gave an embarrassed wave, nodded, and walked away.
"That was awkward, " Sam said.
"Sure as," I said.
We walked away in silence. We needed to stop drooling, find our sleeping spot for the night, roll out our bags, and forget about birthdays, banquets, and chicken on a silver tray.
Just as I was about to drift asleep, I reached for my Bible. I remembered reading about Jesus' party tips.
"Sam, dude, listen to this," I said, and began reading in Luke 14 where Jesus talks about how to throw a party of eternal proportions: "When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
"Have you ever seen anything like that?" I asked when I was finished. "I mean, what would that kind of party look like today?"
"Dunno," said Sam. "I've never even been to a party with appetizers on a silver platter! But imagine-a whole ballroom filled with the weak, the drunk, the blind, the homeless. Let's do it!"
We both thought for a moment. The more we thought, the better the plan sounded.
"But maybe we shouldn't serve champagne," I said. We both laughed. We agreed that instead of party favors, at our banquet we'd hand out groceries or new sleeping bags.
Just before we dropped of to sleep, Sam asked the obvious question, "Do you think anybody would be willing to do what it takes to throw a party liek that?"
Probably not, we decided.
You have to ask, though: Why not? Why not throw a party Jesus' way? Why do thousands of Christians read this story every year but never actually do it?

We either add to the darkness of indifference... or we light a candle to see by. ~ Madeleine L'Engle, A Circle of Quiet

**Taken from My 30 Days Under the Overpass Devotional by Mike Yankoski**

In November of 2007 I sat in the experience room at the SOKC Campus of LifeChurch.tv as this was read before we went on the Block Party MicroMission. It moved me in a way I can't explain. I was about to be a part of something big, something life changing... not just for the homeless of OKC, but for me. Life Church in conjunction with Love Is An Action, Refuge OKC, and other area business set up a "party Jesus style"-- one that Mike and Sam believe no one would do. With donated food to feed 2000, 3 semi's full of clothing donated by many, people who donated their time to cut hair, take family portraits, and hundreds of volunteers that sacrificed their day to pour into the life of someone who may not have had a meal, much less a simple conversation with some one in quite some time. During the day, my sweet friend Marjorie and I along with a few others decided we were going to walk downtown and tell people about this party going on! We met up with a sweet couple in the Myriad Gardens and walked back to the mission sight with them. Joe had been in Vietnam, he's an alcoholic, we had a hard time communicating with him b/c he was pretty drunk that day. Bertha, his wife of 2 years was in a wheelchair b/c of her bad knees, and had the mental capacity of a small child. You could tell they really loved each other. Marj and I spent most of the day with Joe and Bertha--getting them food, and clothes to take with them. As we were sitting talking to them, a kid walked by with balloon he had gotten from the kids area they had set up. Bertha was intrigued by this. She asked where they got it, and I told her they had some stuff set up for the kids. She smiled and said I can be a kid! I told Marj I'd be right back, and slipped off to the kids area and got Bertha a ballon animal. She cried. Of all the things we had to offer that day, this simple balloon animal made her more excited than anything in the world.

As we were walking through downtown that day, we walked thru the library and around the office buildings nearby, I remember wondering what it would be like to work in that area, and what kind of opportunities it could open to make a difference being in that area daily. I really hadn't thought much about it since. Shortly after, I felt like God was telling me that I was supposed to make a change in my job... I wasnt' sure what, but I knew something was to come. At the end of this month, I am leaving my job of 12 years, and am going to be starting a new job, in one of the very office building that I wondered about... maybe there are bigger reasons, other than just a job change, I am supposed to be downtown? Maybe this is God's way of placing me in the area that I am supposed to be making a difference in? My eyes were opened big time when I went on my mission trip to NYC (see my blog at www.myspace.com/disneygirl17 posted 09/25/07), and again doing the block party. I really didn't realize the amount of homeless people in OKC. They are people just like everyone else. Some homeless by fault of their own, but others by unfortunate circumstance. Honestly as most of us live paycheck to paycheck. We literally are 1 or 2 paychecks away from homelessness ourselves. Some are only out for money for drug/alcohol. But most really are out for a caring smile, or a warm meal. So maybe this is my opportunity to be placed in an area to be a light. I don't know... just thoughts running thru my head.

Magnolias

I spent the week before my daughter's June wedding running last-minute trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away. As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle ... So many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son Jack was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she was about three years old!

To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church.

After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception - and especially the flowers - would be remembered for years.

The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiancé Tim walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.

I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding.

Tim turned to me. "Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements."

I mumbled, "Sure," as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff links.

Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling. "Lord," I prayed, "please help me. I don't know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers - in a hurry!" I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of white magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a shotgun when I asked to cut his tree to shreds.

As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house... No dog in sight. I knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good . . . No shotgun. When I stated my plea the man beamed, "I'd be happy to!"

He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, "Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today."

"No, Ma'am," he said. "You don't understand what's happening here."

"What?" I asked.

"You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday . . . He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. "On Wednesday I buried her." He looked away. "On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday - yesterday - my children left."

I nodded.

"This morning," he continued, "I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody!' I began to cry louder. 'Nobody needs me!' About that time, you knocked, and said, "Sir, I need you."

I stood with my mouth open.

He asked, "Are you an angel? The way the light shone around your head into my dark living room..."

I assured him I was no angel.

He smiled. "Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?"

"No."

"I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!"

I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy's wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have said, "Forget it! It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness' sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today."

But God found a way. Through dead flowers.

Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true.

One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped . At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

The Mousetrap

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to seethe farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed thewarning. "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house! "The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence tome. I cannot be bothered by it. "

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house! "The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers. "

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in thehouse! "The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose. "

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in thewall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

REMEMBER:EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY; OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.

Rich vs Poor

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered:
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

On His Plan for Your Life

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone -- to have a deep soul relationship with another; to be loved thoroughly and exclusively; but God, to a Christian, says:

"No, not until you're satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone; with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me; to having an intensely personal relationship with me alone; discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be planned for you.

You will never be united with another until you are united with Me -- exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I Am. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.

You just wait. That's all.

Don't be anxious; don't worry. Don't look around at the things that others have gotten or that I've given them. Don't look at the things you think you want. You just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you. And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would ever dream of.

You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready (for I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time), until you are both satisfied and exclusively with Me and the life I prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and thus the perfect love.

And, dear one, I want you to see, in the flesh, a picture of your everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love that I offer you with Myself. Know that I love you utterly. I AM. Believe it and be satisfied."

When I Say I am a Christian...

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin."
I'm whispering "I was lost,"
Now I'm found and forgiven.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need HIS strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace, somehow.

Author ~Maya Angelou~

Do you see?

If we don't see God working in our lives, there may be a problem with our spiritual eyesight.Have you ever wondered why we go through the things we do?God said:

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I'm a Healer?
If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I'm a Deliverer?
If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an over comer?
If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I'm a Comforter?
If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I'm forgiving?
If you knew all, how would you know that I will answer your questions?
If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?
If you never were broken, then how would know that I can make you whole?
If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them?
If you never had any suffering, then how would you know what Jesus went through?
If you never went through the fire, then how would you become pure?
If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?
If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?
If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me?
If your life was perfect, then what would you need Me for?

Maybe...

Maybe...God wanted us to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Maybe...when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us.

Maybe...it is true that we don't know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Maybe...the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Maybe...the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

Maybe...you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of and want to do.

Maybe...there are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real.

Maybe...the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

Maybe...you should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.

Maybe...you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.

Maybe...giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.

Maybe...happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.

Maybe...you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

Maybe...you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

And the last maybe.....when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Maybe...you should try to live your life so that when you die, you are the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying