Saturday, January 24, 2009

Friends on the Field

I love teaching Missionettes and that joy continues here in Jamaica just in a different format! I have one student and we meet on Saturday mornings at the dinner table. How fun is that, we can come in our pajamas if we want to.

The dinner table is mine and so is the student! Renee was crowned an honor star in October 2007 and after that accomplishment she was in the "Friends" group at church. They had tons of fun, Renee misses her friends at Oak Grove. In her new class we are completing the lessons so that she can become a Friends graduate. She has a goal to be awarded the highest medal of honor when she finishes "Girls Only".

How I appreciate her dedication to the Lord. Not one day goes by that she doesn't read her Bible. How I appreciate that discipline in her life. If you need someone to pray, ask Renee!Missionettes has played a huge role in her Christian growth.

Just today we studied "Making Right Choices" and the curriculum is wonderful. The writer uses the text from Joshua, Achan's story. The writer of the "Friends" lessons writes, "As a result of his greed and desire for material posessions, Achan brought death to his entire family. Few people are as close to you as your family members, specifically your parents. When you make poor choices, they feel the pain and shoulder some blame. But when you make smart choices, they share the joy and lead the cheering section." Isn't that a great picture? Can't you see all these wonderful senior citizens (your parents) on the sideline cheering you on! I am so grateful that my parents are still on this side of heaven being my cheerleaders, my husband's cheerleaders, my children's cheerleaders!

Sometimes life gets a little difficult. I know about that! What a difference a phone call makes, when you call your greatest cheerleaders and hear their support, kinda gets you through the moment and gives you confidence to go on or when you get the phone call and it is required of you to start cheering! I think the Bible has alot to say about lifting people up so today I am going to cheer~

Friday, January 16, 2009

Just doin' his job

News reports have reported that "Sully" the famous pilot would be humbled at the praise he is receiving for ditching the plane into the Hudson without catastrophe. Some reported that he is the kind of guy that would respond with "I was just doing my job."
We have seen, probably more times than we can count, someone who went beyond the call of duty run to the camera, live in the limelight, glory in the praise and then collapse in devestation because of pride ultimately.
How does one stay humble? How does one stay content in "just doing their job"? Why does the camera corrupt? How can one start out on this journey with such a sweet spirit and then travel into arrogance and settle into an "entitlement" attitude and feel good about their state?
Beats me! I reflect on the scripture that says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. I would suggest that if you need grace today in whatever situation you find yourself in, put on humility. Put it on like a garment. It just might look good on you!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

A Full Memory Box!

During this month of Christmas holiday we have had tons of island fun!
The four of us spent last summer together 24/7 itinerating to come to Jamaica dreading the day that we would leave Ryan in the states at VFCC. When we left him there in August all we had were tons of memories and emails to last till he joined us here in Jamaica on December 8.
Now that his time of departure is very near we have filled that memory box again! Enough till we see him again! Renee is back in school and the Jamaica A/G Bible College classes are quickly approaching. It is a new year with new hope, new dreams and new classes for everybody, Renee in Belair, Ryan in VFCC and us in the college!
God has given us a wonderful holiday in a wonderful country! We are so grateful!