He makes all things new

I love old things, especially things that other people might throw away.  I can't resist slowing down to see if the junk someone left on the side of the road might be a treasure waiting for me rescue.  The Salvation Army thrift store calls my name each Wednesday for half-off day.  Yard sales feel like an adventure.  Throwing away an old coffee can seems like betrayal. And my grandmother's basement feels like a treasure trove.

Why? 

All these discarded items are just waiting to be redeemed, reused, repurposed, restored.  To be made beautiful again.

I long for God to do the same in me.

Finity

I am not infinite.  I do not have unlimited wisdom, power, knowledge, ability, resources or time.  The funny thing is that this is a new discovery for me; perhaps I have been in denial or just did not recognize the symptoms of my own finitude:

Thinking I can cram dozens of activities into one week and I discover that no, I cannot actually teleport to make it to each of them in time, or have the energy to interact with other human beings once I arrive.

Racking my brain I try to reason through/figure out/predict the future.  Oh, you can't do that either?

Wishing I was someone else who is more organized, more punctual, more thoughtful, more insightful, more, well everything, I find I am still just myself and my wishing hasn't changed a thing.

Each time I arrive at the end of my own strength, I beat myself up for not being more.  But in my lack is where God's grace is seen.  He is Creator, I am created.  He is infinite, I am finite.  He is eternal, I am temporal.  He is more, I am less.  He is enough, more than enough, and His strength is made perfect in weakness.  In fact, my finiteness is His grace teaching me to invite Him in, to know Him, to see His strength, to truly walk with Him and through Him.  It is a sweet invitation and calling.  It is a call to prayer.  He loves to answer prayer!

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 
- John 15:8

11. Train Mia the Dog

Well, I don't know if I have quite trained Mia the dog, but at least I am on my way!  Thanks to Cesar Millan's dog whispering techniques, I should have her bringing me Starbucks by sometime late this summer.

Actually, the best thing I learned from Cesar's book is that I must be the boss, the pack leader, the one in charge.  Which means that I go out the door first on a walk.  She stays beside or behind me the whole time.   In fact, leading her on a walk is the best way to teach her who is in charge!

I also learned that dogs need three things with the first being the most important (somehow I have had this backwards the whole time):
1. Exercise
2. Discipline
3. Affection

Finally, dogs are not people (who knew!), so don't treat them like they are.  They are animals first, dogs second, breed third, and name last.  What does that mean, exactly?  Too much to explain here....read the book! 

30. Weekend getaway with Mom!

My mom and I went to Charleston the first weekend in May!  Our adventures include, but are not limited to:
- Walking over the Ravenel Bridge and seeing a HUGE container ship
- Walking around Battery Park
- Taking a Carriage Ghost Tour
- Viewing the gardens of some house/museum we didn't want to pay an entry fee to
- Getting lost on the way to kayaking
- Getting stuck in the mud while lost
- Being attacked by mosquitoes while stuck in the mud
- Kayaking through the blackwaters and seeing lots of birds and one gator
- Seeing the Citadel

The words I speak

The words I speak are not my own
No wisdom Can I give
But come and look upon the cross
Come, believe and live!
His grace sufficient is our hope
His mercy calms our fears
Wrath and judgement borne in love
Life bought with blood and Tears

Minutes

Minutes by trishjackson

Minutes gone passed
like dead men sleep
never to rise
never more to speak.
Why among the dead
do the living you seek?
Why look back
when there is now to see?

Do You Know?

Do You Know by trishjackson

Do you know just how the wind blows?
Have you heard what it says?
Can you see as it blows through trees?
Calling all God's people to their knees

Singing, ooooh

Do you know just how the waves roll?
Have you heard what they say?
Can you see the mighty, mighty sea?
Calling all God's people to their knees

Singing, ooooh

Do you know how Jesus saved your soul?
Have you heard what He said?
Can you see how He loves you and me?
Calling all God's people to their knees

Good Morning from Ica!!

Good morning :) it is our last day in Perú. It is hard to think about
saying goodbye to the boys that we have been with here in Ica.
Yesterday we ate with them, played soccer with them, sang with them,
and ended the day watching a movie.

Time and love invested are always good seeds. We pray that God would
take our little seeds and let them grow.

Today we are giving out water in the desert. Pray for our eyes to be
opened and our hearts to be broken with the things that break our
Father's heart!

Goodbye, Kusi!

Friday afternoon we said goodbye to the children at the kusi home and
took an overnight bus ride to Lima for a day of touring and shopping.

Today we are at the Kawai boys home on the coast, one hour south of
Lima. We will be leading the church service this morning!

Today was the last day of VBS! The culmination of our three days was
a giant tree to represent being planted in Christ, growing in Christ
and bearing Fruit in Christ! The leaves on the tree are the kids'
handprints :)

Beautiful feet

Today we washed the feet of over 70 children and gave out seventy
pairs of shoes (provided by Samaritan's Feet). What a humbling and
sweet time with each of the children!

275 adobes on the first day!

Planted in Christ

Today in VBS we talked about being planted in Christ! We want our
hearts to be good soil for the good news that Jesus came to give us
life, and life to the full!

The kids made little cups and planted seeds!

Adobes

We will be making adobe bricks from mud, straw and water!

Kusi School

The cornerstone of this school was laid by SLCA in 2004, our first
senior trip to Perú. Today we will be doing VBS here!

Breakfast day 1!

We are safe here in Perú! Today has been a long day of bus riding.
Tomorrow we begin with VBS and construction!

Peru Trip 2011: Itinerary

Here is our itinerary with links with information about each place we will be visiting!  This is SLCA's 8th Senior Mission Trip to Peru!

Sunday, May 22: Leave for Perú
Monday, May 23: Travel to Kusi by bus
Tuesday, May 24- Thursday, May 26 VBS in Kusi school; Construction
Friday May 27: Lake Llanganuco / Evening bus to Lima
Saturday May 28: City tour of Lima, shopping / Travel to Kawai
Sunday May 29: Church in Kawai / Travel to Ica
Monday, May 30: Street Boys home in morning, Dune buggies in afternoon
Tuesday, May 31: Give out water in the desert. Travel to Lima, fly home

15. Learn how to make tilapia

Why in the world was "make tilapia" on my list of things to do this year?  After making the tilapia and eating it I remember that I don't really even like fish.  Well, at least I tried!

I asked the Lord

One of my favorite songs:

I Asked the Lord

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He’d answer my request
And by His love’s constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest

Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part

Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low

“Lord, why is this?” I trembling cried
“Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?”
“Tis in this way,” the Lord replied
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”

“These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou may seek thy all in me.”

Righteous One

Righteous One by trishjackson


You hold the nations in your hands
Kings and kingdoms obey your command
Alone your throne will stand
Held firm by your strong hand.

Bow down and kiss the son,
You are the only righteous one
Every tribe and tongue
is your possession
 
Arise, oh Church, Arise
Beloved, chosen ones
Behold the Crucified Son
He calls you by His name
He's risen, and He comes again

Oh, do you hear the mountains sing?
Praises resound across the sea.
What great news they bring
of our strong God and King!

He rides the ancient skies above
His voice like thunder shouting of
His heart for His beloved
Bought back with His own blood!

Arise, oh Church, Arise
Beloved, chosen ones
Behold the Crucified Son
He calls you by His name
He's risen, and He comes again

Arise, oh Church, Arise
Behold the King is coming soon
Prepare the Bride for the Bridegroom
Arise, oh Church, Arise