Ever Thought Your Testimony Was Just ... Boring?

So, obviously, it's only been a few days since my last post, maybe a week. The days start to run all together sometimes around here. See, when you're home full-time, AND you've had an injury like mine, it's easy for days to go by and things to seem mundane, at best.  So, anyway, here I still am and I'm still reading this book Glimpses of Grace.  So, while I'm still trying to find my "voice"  for writing again I'm just going to share the things I come across that are AMAZINGLY well written. 

I was reading a portion of chapter 4 (of my current read) to Anna yesterday where I had just stopped because I really got something out of what I'd read. I wanted to share it with her and take the time to ponder it myself. It wasn't until I picked the book up again today, and started reading where I'd left off, that I found an additional two paragraphs that were really the crowning sentences to what I'd read the day before!!

So, of course that means that I must share it here with you all.... :-). Please, I implore you, read all the way to the end so that you don't miss it too. 

Have YOU ever thought that your testimony was just ... Boring? Ordinary?

Think again....

"Sometimes when I hear people share their testimony of how they came to believe in Christ, they'll give this disclaimer: 'Oh, my testimony isn't anything interesting.' Then they'll talk about how they've believed in God for as long as they can remember. Or they were part of a church during their childhood and grew up trusting Jesus. Or, they testify to God's merciful providence in their never having fallen into any scandalous, family-splitting, relationship-severing, lawbreaking sin. Then they'll repeat their disclaimer as a conclusion: 'So my story is pretty average and boring.' But the Bible begs to differ;

Colossians 1:13-14

     He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 

Colossians 2:13-14

     And you, were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.

(Back to the author's words.)

Being delivered from Satan, sin, and death is anything but average or boring. Having your sins forgiven and being redeemed and made alive is mind-boggling. The idea that anyone's testimony of blood-bought salvation could be uninteresting or unspectacular is a defamation of the work of Christ. (!!!!!! Exclamation points added by me, but don't stop reading because its about to get good!!!!)

(Now I'm having to contain myself not to put this last part in ALL CAPS!!)

Your testimony may have occurred in the most ordinary of circumstances, but behind the scenes a spiritual battle was taking place. The Holy Spirit of God peeled the scales from your spiritually blind eyes, awakened your soul to the bright light of the gospel in the face of Jesus Christ, and breathed life into your lifeless soul. God rescued you from the domain of darkness -- however gilded or ordinary or innocent it seemed. Then God transferred you into the kingdom of His beloved Son.

No testimony that involves the Son of God bearing your sins on the cross in order to bring you to God could ever be mundane or boring. It's an epic birth story -- a born-again birth story."    

Abiding in THIS amazing grace,

Lori

Pondering the "Gospel"

Often times I write for the sole purpose of giving my reader something to ponder. This is one of those times. As I begin writing, I am here for the purpose of causing you to think deeply, to encourage you to slow down long enough to ponder.  So, here is our definition of the word ponder: a verb - to think about something carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.  

How does one who claims to be a follower of Christ know if in fact he/she is following Christ at all? How would one know that they have believed the one true gospel? There are many, in our nation (the US) in particular, who would consider themselves to be "Christians" and yet they never read the Bible or pray. They do not regularly attend church, engage in a small group of believers, or in any other way seek to be encouraged by or held accountable to other brothers and sisters in Christ. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

 

I'm currently reading: Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home ~ by Gloria Furman. The point of the particular chapter I'm now reading is that we must understand what it is we mean when we use the term "the gospel". Often times we have our own lingo that we use when talking with one another in our Christian circles and others outside of Christ may have no idea what we mean. What do we mean when we talk about "living out the gospel" or being "gospel focused"? The author writes, "Clarification and careful definitions are the only way we can know that we rightly understand each other. If we aren't clear on what the Christian gospel is, then what is at stake is not merely a harmless misunderstanding but eternal life and death."

So, that begs the following question... Also quoted from this current chapter,
"How do you know if the gospel you live by is Jesus's gospel? Consider how law enforcers learn to identify illegally printed money. They spend the vast majority of their training learning to recognize counterfeit money by studying the real thing. We need to examine the gospel from the scriptures." In order for anyone to know if - what they believe, what they've been taught, what they've heard said, etc., lines up with the Word of God, they must study the Word diligently for themselves and compare these things (their beliefs and their lives) against that Word. Comparison can not be against the words of others, against what others believe, or against the teachings of others about the scriptures and most certainly one must not compare themselves and their own "right living" against others they know. This surely is not a wise measurement. (2 Corinthians 10:12)  Yet the scripture often calls us to "examine ourselves". 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless you are disqualified."  Also, while referencing the taking of Communion, we are called in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, to examine ourselves before receiving the Lord's Supper, the very representation of the body and the blood of Christ, given to redeem us, which is the gospel.

You see, in order for us to know God we must spend time studying "the real thing" - His inspired Word. My words may be given some power if the Holy Spirit chooses to use them in some way to reach one who reads them, but God has promised us that His Words have already come with power (Hebrews 4:12-13, Isaiah 55:11, Romans 10:17) and that everything we need to know in order to live out the "gospel centered life" we so desire is written within those words (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We do not need devotional books and the constant teachings of others. We need only His Word. Please hear me, I am NOT SAYING that using devotionals, Bible studies, or other study tools is a bad thing to do, or that you should not use them. However, I am saying that you must study God's Word as a whole before being able to come to any solid conclusions about God and that you need to study the REAL THING before taking the words of someone else, who's perhaps written the latest fad Bible study series, as truth.

The point I am trying to make here is that we must not take what we're told the Bible says about something and run with it without knowing 1) if it is the truth (because the world and the churches in it are full of false doctrine) and 2) if it fits in light of the entirety of God's Word. Many things can be hinged upon one single verse of scripture, taken out of context and twisted to mean whatever the person saying it wants to say it means. That is a dangerous practice and one that is becoming increasingly the "norm". Rather, we must be like the Bereans spoken of in Acts 17:11, "These were
more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

You see, we must be continually searching the Word of God - even after readily receiving a message from a pastor, teacher, friend, or stranger next to you in the grocery line, "to find out whether these things were so." Then, as we go out in our lives and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others, we 
can do so with boldness, with understanding and with wisdom, living out in the flesh the truth of the gospel we hold so dear.

Abiding in His grace, and praying for the strength to return to my writing,
Lori

Interested in pondering our (sometimes constant) need to compare ourselves with others to see how we're doing? You might like to read this article Comparing Ourselves With Others that I wrote some time ago about the verse I mentioned above - 2 Corinthians 10:12. 

That Was Then, This Is Now

This time, 5 years ago, we'd just welcomed home our precious Sarah Beth and she was celebrating her first Christmas as an American! We had no idea just how much she would change our lives. Sarah loves completely, she feels deeply, forgives quickly, and she cares about others and their needs in a way that blesses everyone around her. She has changed each of us in this family and we are so blessed that God created her to bring glory to Him on this Earth as a McGuire.

In Guatemala to bring Sarah Beth home!  December 2007

The girls and I - Spring 2008

 

Sarah's first day with glasses!!!

 

Last week we learned that Sarah needed glasses, really bad, and I really didn't have many clues to point to her having a great difficulty seeing.  She is  very proud of her new glasses.  They are pink and purple, we wore pink today in honor of the occasion of picking them up! :)

From the time we picked them up, she never took them off until it was time to go to bed!

 

Abiding in His grace,

Lori

Yearly Beach Trip Photos - Relocated

As I have looked over my blog the last few days and reaccessed, I decided I needed to move some of my photos and update some things because it's been so long since I've been here and there's a little "housekeeping" that needs to be done.

This post will include some of those older photos, to relocate them and get them out of the sidebar.

Enjoy these "oldie but goodies" things really have changed.  We've all changed. Some of us a little, some of us a LOT!

Enjoying this gift of a family, while Abiding in His grace,
Lori

These photos are from our 20th trip to the beaches of

Panama City Beach, Florida!

Anna at Sundown

 

My Bunch at Sunset

I am absent from the "beach" pictures this year since I could not walk in the sand.

 

Sarah on the Sand

 

Giann with Sarah

Todd took this one.

 

The View From Our Balcony

 

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These older photos are from our previous year's visit to the same place... Panama City Beach, FL.

Todd and I poolside. This is our 19th trip to the beach now.

We're getting old....

 

My girls and I enjoying a little shade.

 

My Big Girl!

Anna is 12 now and growing so fast!! 

(Wow, look up at the top of this post! What a difference a year makes, huh?)

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Cooling Off at the Beach

This is how you do it when you don't like the ocean!

(Sarah's 1st trip to the beach. Age 2)

Links to Older Blog Posts Regarding Money, Spending, and Stewardship

I now have the ability to post updates to the blog on Facebook, so some of you who are here may be new to my blog, .  If so, I hope that some of you have found your way here...from there.

The following is a list of older articles in a series that I wrote during 2010, about how we use our money and about stewardship in general.

If this is a topic that is new to you, I hope that you will find this to be useful information.  If this topic is one that is important to you, I hope that you will find something that encourages you to continue to be a faithful steward of what you have been given, in whatever way God leads you to save for YOUR family.  Whatever the case, I hope that these articles cause you to think about your money, and whether or not you are honoring God, who is the one who has provided you with it, with your use of it.  The articles are all listed here according to the articles original title.  Just click on the title and it should link you directly to each article.

Shopping In Thrift and Consignment Stores posted January 9, 2010

10 Reasons Why You Should Tithe posted January 11, 2010

Crown Financial Ministries Money Forms and Helps posted January 12, 2010

Some of My Favorite Millionaire Quotes posted January 14, 2010
More...Millionaire Mindset also posted on January 14, 2010

Disciplined Finances posted January 18, 2010

Never Asked to Borrow a Penny Since (teach your children about borrowing $) posted January 21, 2010

Couponing, Is It Really Worth It? posted January 25, 2010

Coupon Shopping Trip Update...  posted January 26, 2010

Coupon Trip #2  posted February 2, 2010

My Current Read(s) posted February 4, 2010

I pray that these old posts will have something in that is helpful, useful, thought provoking for you.  If so, please post a comment.  I always want to hear your thoughts.

Abiding in His abundant provision,
Lori

Hopeless Wanderer Designs

Hi Everyone:

Anna has finally gotten some of her necklace designs done, and they are beautiful!!

If you are looking for a last minute gift for someone, or want something special for yourself, this is a great option and her turn around time is really quick.

They are priced between $15 and $20, determined by whether it's one that she's made and has on hand, or if it is something customized just for you. They can be custom made using your favorite quote, a special saying, lyrics from a song you love, a favorite Bible verse, or your inititals for a monogram.  The chains are a ball and chain style, so she's even had an order for one that they cut the chain down to turn it into a key chain.

We will upload some pictures soon.  So keep an eye out.  In the meantime, you can visit her blog here and if you haven't already, PLEASE go like the Facebook page here.  She needs at least 5 more likes to secure her Facebook url.

Abiding in His grace,
Lori

Thoughts From the Bible and Various Quotes About Money

These items were posted back in 2010, when I was working through a series of posts about money: what we do with it, how we should use it, and how we honor or dishonor God and others through our use of it.

1/27/2010
Proverbs 10:3-4
"The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked.
He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich."
1/26/2010
"A penny saved, is a penny earned."
~Benjamin Franklin

1/21/2010
"If you make money your god, it will plague you like the devil." ~Henry Fielding
1/18/2010
The real measure of your wealth is how much
you'd be worth if you lost all your money.
~Author Unknown

1/14/2010
Psalm 24:1 (NLT)
"The Earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him."

1/13/2010The amount needed to provide basic education, sanitation and drinking water for the entire world is the amount Americans spend every year on ice cream. Source Account417.com

1/1/10
Acccording to Wiki-Answers only 8.5 percent of the earth's entire population own cars. Wow! In our mindset/society we can't image being without two!!!!

Brief Thoughts on the Connecticut Shootings and Are We Too Busy For Christmas?

It's been a few days since I posted about my return to the land of blogging.  Sorry about that, I am trying to ease back into all of this.

I have been super busy and unable to get back to it again until now, but here I am.  I see that many of you are checking in regularly.  I know you don't post comments, but I watch you on my Cluster Map and I can see you...  :)  I would love it if you would post a comment and let me know your thoughts or share what is going on in your own life.

The last 5 days have included physicals for both of my kids, corporate work for our plumbing company, homeschooling, dance classes plus dance Christmas parties (one of which was held here at our home Friday night) a second Christmas Parade, and lastly a birthday dinner for a close friend of Anna's.  It has been C*R*A*Z*Y around here, as if that's anything out of the ordinary!  I'm sure that it is crazy at your house right now too.  So, I began to wonder, are we too busy for Christmas?

I AM looking forward to the upcoming break!  I'm sure those of you who have children, or work with children are especially looking forward to the break too, just the rest that comes when children do not have a specific schedule they have to keep that starts so early in the morning and ends so late in the day seems to help relax everyone.

Even so, I am struck hard by the reality that there are people in Connecticut who would give anything to have their sweet children here with busy schedules to keep.  As a mom who's had to go through the horror of planning a funeral for my first child and living through the burial, I understand what they are going through right now.  Even still, I know that I can not fully understand their loss, because my loss was different, not caused by a senseless act but by a congenital heart defect.  In the same way, they would not be able to fully understand my loss, having walked through weeks and months of illness, hours with physicians and the never knowing what the outcome would be.  Either loss, however, is a life event that forever changes who you are.  One of the most painful things for Todd and I during that time was just having to watch others go on with their lives, go through their everyday routines as if nothing had happened, while we felt as though we might not be able to take our very next breathe because the grief was so overwhelming that we thought we would smother under the weight of it.  Pray for these families. They will need the strength that ONLY comes from knowing God, and His character, to fully heal and make it through this time of tragic grief.

This Christmas season has been a little strange for me so far.  Things seem all out of order.  We have the tree up, but the ornaments aren't all on it.  My girls were supposed to have decorated it over the weekend, but my eldest didn't feel well, and the little one will NOT be allowed to decorate by herself.  There are many reasons for that decision, the least of which is that the top third of the tree would have nothing on it!  ;)  I have purchased some gifts for my kids but honestly they haven't asked for much, in fact they haven't really asked for anything that I think they're really serious about.  Sarah B. says she wants a train... Really?!?  A train?  What?  My mom has one that she sets up around her Christmas tree and it goes around by itself and plays Christmas music.  That is what she described...one like Nana's.  Uh, NO!  THAT, is NOT gonna happen.  She's just going to have to enjoy Nana's when she's up at her house.

We only have a very brief 10 days left until we celebrate the most amazing gift ever given - God with us, Immanuel!  I pray that we are able to slow down, focus and really pay attention to what this season is all about.  Remember, it ISN'T about finding the right gift for a hard to buy for family member, or about getting our children all those things they think they want.  It's about the amazing gift of Christ.  The most amazing gift has already been given.  There's nothing we can give or receive that will ever be better than that!!

Matthew 1:23, " 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.' " which is translated, 'God with us.' "

John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

While we are taking our Christmas break, I've decided to revisit a book that I read and posted a about back in November, 2007. I read this book just a month before we traveled to Guatemala to pick up Sarah Beth and bring her home.  She came home just 3 short days before Christmas that year!  The book really meant a lot to me the first time that I read it and was a great source of encouragment to me then.  I could really use some encouragement right now ... BAD! So, I am going to be re-reading the book Passionate Housewives - Desperate for God. It was one of those books that really changed me in many ways. Right now, I'm feeling the need for some change in my life... some positive change!  When I read the book before, I wrote a post entitled "Are You Desperate for God?"  You can read that article here.

Abiding in His ever abundant, never-ending grace,
Lori

Updated Family Pictures

Anna and Sarah at the Pumpkin Patch October 2012

 

Family photo on our family beach trip July 2012

 

Sarah and I at the beach! July 2012.

 

Sarah with daddy at the beach 2012!

 

Sarah turns 6!! Happy Birthday baby girl!

 

Anna with Sarah on her birthday!

 



Daddy, Sarah and Mommy in Nashville, November 2012.

 

The whole family, including my mom, at the Columbia, SC Zoo in early 2012.

 

 

I'm Baaaack

Well, after a really long time offline, I am back at it.  I have had a few years of struggle: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  I am hopeful that those years are mostly behind me and I am ready to get back to writing as time allows and the Lord leads.  The breaking of my leg, back in March of 2010, really threw me for a loop in a way I've not been thrown before by anything else, and I have had a lot thrown at me over the years.

I hope that many of you have stayed with me, continued to check to see if there were updates, and if so...THANK YOU! Thank you for not giving up, for continuing to try to see if I was posting again, and more.  For those of you who've just checked in for the first time...my map has revealed you and you have given me the courage to start writing again.  I am amazed that after more than two years of no posts, so many people are still reading my previous writings.

So, here we go again.  I'm going to try to get this off the ground again. We'll see how it goes.

UPDATES:
Todd and I are about to begin our 10th year in business.  That is crazy!  It seems like only yesterday we were fretting, and praying and waiting for God to lead. Now, we sit on the edge of our 10th year.  The Lord has blessed each year in different ways, and continues to grow our business in ways we never could have imagined.

We proudly continue to homeschool our two amazing daughters.  Anna is now in the 10th grade and Sarah started Kindergarten this year.  Homeschooling has been difficult for me during this time of struggle, but it continues to be great fun to watch them learn and it is an incredible blessing to be with them throughout the day and to grow with them spiritually.  These girls are great friends to me already in their youth and I know that as they get older, the relationship with each of them will only become sweeter.

Our oldest is about to celebrate her 16th birthday!!!  She was about 10 when I started this blog, and she was anxiously awaiting her baby sister from Guatemala. Unbelievable how the years have flown by. For her upcoming birthday, and our plans are B*I*G!  I will definitely follow up with some amazing pictures in January, once the soiree has occurred! There are a few surprises for her and her friends so I don't want to announce it all here ahead of time. So, sssshhh.....  :)

Sarah Beth is now 6!!!  She had an amazing birthday back in November and she is having a great time doing Kindergarten this year.  I can't believe that on the 20th we will be celebrating 5 years since our adoption was final and she came home from Guatemala! My how the years have flown! 

I will try to upload at least a few up to date pictures.  The girls have changed so much over the last two years, I have changed too as I have been battling my weight following my two major injuries, Todd still looks the same to me.  In fact, when I see him, he is still the 16 year old boy I fell for over 27 years ago! His hair is just a little lighter and he no longer sports the moustache he had back then, but he's still as handsome as ever to me.

It's good to be back, I hope I am able to get back into the swing of things and that this will be a healing experience for me to get back to what I love...writing!  With that I will close with this thought...

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'"  James 4:13-15

So, Lord willing, I will continue to post.
As always, I continue to be,
Abiding in His Grace,
Lori

Mission Team Update from Guatemala

I can tell by my counter that there are some of you out there reading this, but no comments. Come on people, say something!! Let me know that you're out there reading this stuff. It takes a long time to type all of this up, I just need a little encouragement not to stop... please.



So, this particular update was interrupted by a phone call from Todd while I was typing it. So, midway through the update the update changes direction. I did not send out an update the day before and as a result some of the family members here got a little concerned and contacted me. So, the beginning of the update reflects that also. Enjoy these great stories...



_____________________________________________

Hi Everyone:



I'm so sorry that I didn't get an update sent yesterday. Everything is fine in Guatemala with the team. They've all been working steadily on the same things over the past few days.



The team had the chance to see, and receive an update from Juan Diego (the family that they built the home for last year)!! What a great experience to be able to see him and his family again.



They also had the opportunity to go to a wedding yesterday!!! Pastor Luis, and another pastor he works with, performed the ceremony and Tony played music and sang. I'm sure that the couple getting married had no idea that a team of Americans, on a week long mission trip, would attend their wedding. I'm not sure what the appropriate attire is for a wedding in Guatemala...

(Side note: after returning home, Todd told me that the couple had been living together and that Pastor Luis had spoken with them several times about their situation being against God's will and plan for their lives. So, they got married!! Hallelujah!!)



They also attended the commissioning of a new church in a city that, until now, has been unable to have Evangelical Christian Church. Up until now, the only church presence was that of the Catholic church, and they had prevented other churches from coming. Todd mentioned that as recent as 20 years ago it was illegal to have a Bible in this city. If found with one, they would be imprisoned.



When I talked with him earlier today he told me that everyone was tired. So, I would guess that the week is beginning to catch up with them. Please pray for strength and continued good health as they bring this week to a close.



Oh, Oh, Oh, Todd's just called.... (The info below was typed as he talked, but seriously, there was SO MUCH MORE!! I just couldn't listen, type and respond all at the same time. I've got a serious headache, so my brain's not really working as well as it should.)



They went back to Santa Clara today to do the Bible studies with the women and children. He said that when they arrived it was immediately obvious that word had spread throughout the town and surrounding towns. The city was packed, Todd said that there were children in the streets, children packed into the church building, children everywhere!! He estimated there were between 300-400 children!!! He said it was absolute mahem! They knew that the team was coming back to do the children's Bible study again today and they were there waiting for them when the team arrived.



He shared a particular story that was so precious... Yesterday they shared the plan of salvation and helped the children to make the bracelets with the colors that represent it. One young boy had a particularly difficult time with it (I think maybe with remembering what each color stood for). They worked with him until he knew it. Today, he was going to the other children and sharing the plan of salvation with them using the bracelet!! Truly our people have already seen the fruits of their labor in Guatemala with this one precious disciple who is reaching out now to make disciples himself. It makes me want to cry, with joy.



The team took with them 74 Spanish Bibles and they have given them out throughout the week to women at the Bible study and to the men of the churches there.



Everyone went back t Juan Antonio and Clara's house today to bring them the gifts they'd purchased in the market. He invited everyone in to pray and the team gave them the things they'd purchased for their home (plates, cups and other household items, along with some legos for the kids). Santa Clara is known for its basket making and Juan Antonio had baskets waiting for them. He had 24 to give to the group members, but there are 25 in the group. I'm not sure who gave theirs up, but Todd said sometime later, when they were in town at the church, they saw Juan walking up the road, he was carrying the 25th basket.



When asked, "How can we pray for you?" The pastor of the local church shared that they were out growing their building, would we please ask God to provide them with a larger meeting place. What a great problem for a young church to have. So, we will be praying for that need, and I ask that you all would do so as well.



They cannot go into Pajahajel to the market there this year because of the storms and mudslides. Instead they will be visiting Antigua tomorrow to do some souvenir shopping before coming home on Sunday. I can't believe the week is coming to a close already, and yet I am so glad that the other half of my family will be coming home soon. I know that you all feel the same way about your family and friends as well.



The team has some specific prayer needs. Melissa J is having neck pain, the same that kept them from making the trip this time last year. Please pray for her that the Lord will ease her pain, and help her as she travels back to the states. Also, Brian P. has come down with some sort of really bad stomach bug, so please be praying for him too.



The one thing that Todd has continued to say is this, "It's the same church!! It's the Lord's church, they just speak a different language and meet in a different country." Throughout the week, that is what the Lord has shown him as he experienced what he has referred to as "sweet fellowship" with believers abroad. I am so thankful for the time of spiritual refreshment he has experienced this week and can't wait to hear all of the stories he couldn't think to tell me in our brief chats throughout the day. I'm sure Anna will have so many of her own to share as well.



As for me, my little Guatemalan on the home front put her pajamas on all by herself tonight!!! :o) Yay!!



Love to you all, in Christ our Lord,

Lori

Guatemalan Mission Trip Update #2

This is the second of the updates sent out to the family and friends of those on the trip to Guatemala...

Hola -

Hope this evening, or morning if you're reading this tomorrow, finds you all doing well.

Today in Guatemala: the men finished the house and got it roofed!! Unbelievable! Todd said they were held up 2 hours in a horrific traffic jam because of a large rock in the road. I'm assuming from a rock slide??

The women and children continued their respective Bible studies.

Once the men completed the house they went into town to the church in Santa Clara to meet with the men of the church there. Todd said they found them discouraged. I'm unsure why exactly. They spent time with them reading scripture, praying and singing songs together. Todd said that it was such a sweet time of fellowship. He shared that it was an amazing experience to worship with people from another nation, knowing that they were all worshiping the same - one true - God.

He said that as the ladies and children begin to wrap up their studies this week , they plan to meet with the men again tomorrow to continue to build their faith and give them encouragement.

Please pray for these church leaders.
In Christ,
Lori

On Mission to Guatemala - update #1

Okay, so today's "installment" is the first communication I sent out on Monday evening(the team traveled into Guatemala on Sunday). I'll edit as possible to make more sense or whatever, just know it is penned to friends and family of those who traveled this year.

______________________________________________________

Good evening everyone:

I spoke with Todd and things seem to be going along well today. He says the weather there is beautiful, as usual. Many refer to Guatemala as "The Land of Eternal Spring" with average temperatures in the 70's.

I will share some things with you throughout the week about Guatemala as I send you all updates. If you were on last year's update list, some of these will be things you may have learned about last year.

They are working in and around the "lake region" of Lake Atitlan. Lake Atitlan is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Last year Todd learned of a lake lot for sale fore $6,500.00. He shared that here (in Alabama) this would be a million dollar lake site. We joked about buying it and retiring to Guatemala, but we do enjoy lights and indoor plumbing. Here is a picture of Lake Atitlan at sun down. They are in the Central Time Zone as we are, but do not use "daylight savings time."

Our Mission Team is working in the region of Santa Clara, located approximately 8,000 feet above sea level!!! He told me that if they were only 10' higher he was sure they could actually touch the clouds. Want to know what that looks like? Check out this picture attached, taken by Todd on last year's trip.

Today they began building the house for the family is this area. Once construction begins, the children and women of the city begin to come out into the streets to see what's going on. Todd said that our children (those who went on the trip) were playing with the Guatemalan children out in the streets, and telling them that they would be having a Bible school starting tomorrow. The ladies will begin a lady's Bible study with our women. The building of the home brings the locals out into the streets and makes it easy to begin sharing what the plans are for the women and children as the men help to build.

In one week our men will complete a home! That's F*A*S*T!!! But, their homes aren't like our's. Here's a picture of the men who went last year, and the home they built while they were there.

You may recognize some of your friends and family who were on last year's trip. The team also gave a "pounding", or housewarming, for the family, providing them with things they would need for their new home.

Two other things Todd shared with me today: Anna had her hair braided by the locals, and one of the Jones' girls (who attended a ballet camp recently) was showing the girls there how to do ballet!

I'll check back with you when I know anything new.
Your Guatemalan Mission trip liaison,
Lori

On Mission to Guatemala

For the last week, my husband and oldest daughter spent their time in Guatemala ministering to the needs of the Christians there, encouraging them in their faith, and sharing the Word with it's people. I haven't posted this past few weeks because I just simply haven't had a chance. Our family has a special love for the people of Guatemala because we have a daughter adopted from there. Their time in Guatemala was wonderful and I hope to share with you some of the stories from their journey.

Because of our business, Todd and I have to be in contact with one another throughout the day so that he can keep things running here by phone. I don't like for them to be gone and I most certainly do not like running a plumbing company. It's a week when the days can start out smooth and take a turn for the worse in about 2 minutes flat. Todd always leaves a schedule for the guys to know where he wants them, and when. He figures about how much time each job will take and schedules accordingly.

So, the guys arrive and load their trucks at 7, leave the shop about 7:30, and off they go. Once they arrive there are dozens of things that can go wrong, throwing a wrench in the entire day or even the whole week: the supplies that were supposed to be delivered aren't there, they don't have the right parts on their truck, the home is locked up, the job isn't ready, etc...

I can tell you that as much as I want them to go and share Christ there, I do not enjoy the week they are gone, or the few weeks preceding their departure. There are days and days and hours on end of preparation involved in leaving the country, even more so when you are leaving a business behind that's expected to run while you are gone. The items you have to pack when you are leaving to go on a trip out of the country is long enough, but when you are going to an area that doesn't have clean water, sanitation, or the basic things we consider to be necessities, the packing list gets even longer.

Their time in Guatemala is always wonderful. There are many stories I want to share with you all from this trip. Some of the stories I sent out to the families and friends of those who were also on the trip. I am always the unofficial "liaison" between the members of the mission team and those they leave here in the states, so I'm going to share with you all those emails and then I will sprinkle in a few other stories that Anna and Todd have shared with me since they've been back home.

Abiding in His grace,
Lori

I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth...

For those of you wondering, the answer to the question "Have you fallen off the face of the Earth?" is, "No." Well, not exactly anyway...

Over the last few weeks we have been on two major trips back to back. One was to the beach for a week and the other to Gatlinburg with Anna for her National dance competition. I didn't want to post about our trips, upcoming or while we were away, because I don't know who reads this. I know that those of you who know me closely knew we were away, but for the rest of the internet world I didn't wish to announce it, if you know what I mean.

So, first we went to the beach for a much needed family vacation. It took Todd about 3-1/2 days to decompress enough to relax and begin enjoying our time there. Anna was able to carry a friend with her this year, which was a first and a real treat. I'm uploading a picture of the two at the beach, WOW - what a difference a year makes! That is all I can say about that! Just scan down the page and look for the picture of Anna at the beach last year sitting in the red leather chair. It's amazing what a year can do, huh? This year, we are minus the glasses (exchanged for contacts) and braces (Nice straight teeth and beautiful smile and I have a great Orthodontist recommendation if you live in our area.). She is growing into a beautiful young lady who has such a good head on her shoulders and we are so proud of her. I stand amazed at what the Lord can do!

As for the Nexstar Nationals competition in Gatlinburg, her trio received a "high gold" award and scored 3rd overall in their age division. The girls really did a fantastic job! We were so proud of them.

Now an update on my broken leg, I have hobbled along through each of our trips. I was unable to do the sand this year at the beach, needed a wheelchair at the Outlet mall and really hurt myself on some stairs, but I am officially off crutches and using an ASO brace!! Yay! (I have the name of a really great orthopedic too should you need a recommendation. He's part of the Andrew's Sports Medicine group at St. Vincent's Hospital and he did a really good job.) My leg has healed really well, and I'm in physical therapy working to get back full use.

Next up is the annual trip that Todd and Anna go on to Guatemala to do missions work. This year Anna will be helping with the children's VBS for an estimated 225 (!!!) children and Todd will be involved with building another home. For those of you who'd like to read about their trip from last year, visit this link for more info http://homeforhim.blogspot.com/2009/07/on-mission-to-guatemala.html . Our Pastor is going with them this year and I know he will be so blessed by the opportunity. I will send updates as they arrive in Guatemala and begin their journey there. In the meantime, please be in prayer for the safe travel of their team and that the Lord will prepare the hearts of the people to receive His love as they show it to these precious people.

Our family has such a love for the people of Guatemala. We are so thankful to have been blessed by the Lord with the gift of a precious child born there. It is so sad that they will be unable to share this amazing part of our lives with so many they will meet in Guatemala because they do not understand our motivation for adopting one of their natives. Many there think that we put our internationally adopted children in the wars overseas to fight for us, some countries (though not specifically Guatemala) believe that their children are adopted by rich Americans to use as organ donors for their biological children who are ill. It is unfathomable to me the things that they have been told, the superstitions that they have been deceived by. I can not understand the evils they believe we would perpetrate against these precious children, and yet I know that evils are perpetrated against children all over the world every day. Sarah is so precious to us, I just can't imagine. Anyway, one of the things our team was asked to bring with them was a picture of their own family, this is something that they can use as they talk to those in Guatemala. It allows these people to see them with their own families, to have a way to relate and to see that they too have people whom they love dearly. Todd and Anna will only be able to share our family photo with a select few - as the Lord leads.

Enjoy the beach photos to your right and thank you to our special beach guest, Giann, for taking them!!

Abiding in His grace and hoping that I'm settling back into the blogosphere,
Lori

Without further ado, here's the photo, Anna (on the left) with Giann (on the right, duh)

The Secret of Inviting His Gaze

My next installment of quotes from and thoughts on the book Secrets of the Secret Place are from the chapter The Secret of Inviting His Gaze. Words in red bold italics are from the scriptures, and words in italics only are from the book. Words printed this way, in regular font, are my own words and thoughts. The song above was contributed by Anna to go along with this. If you'd like, listen to and enjoy the song while reading this post.

"The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. (Psalm 11:4-7)

"God scrutinizes mankind with focused intensity. He cares intensely for us and about us. He studies our responses and weighs our attitudes. He is vitally concerned over our welfare and is committed to judging us justly for every word and deed."

Personally, I am very concerned about my own words. My hearts desire is that of David when he expressed "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14) I have been "accused" of being to sensitive, stuffy, or too concerned about the use of certain words. The truth is I am very concerned, very sensitive, call me stuffy - I really don't care. When I read scriptures like "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 'But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.'" (Matthew 12:35-37) I find myself especially concerned. So, yea, I'm very defensive when it comes to my own words, and the words of those the Lord has entrusted to my care (my children). And I wonder why others do not take it as seriously. The Word would seem to indicate that it IS serious to God!

Before I was born again, there was no word off limits of crossing my lips. I used them all then, prior to my spiritual rebirth, and I used them frequently. I remember when I was first converted that I immediately could not use those words. I did not even want to refer to them, and when someone else used them the Holy Spirit within me would cringe, I would be embarrassed. I couldn't stand it then, and I can not stand it now almost 20 years later. Does this make me odd? Strange? Too sensitive? Holy? Do those who would speak this way, and condemn me for being "judgemental" of their speech actually stand in judgment of me?

"The Lord has said to us, 'But on this one will I look; on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word!' (Isaiah 66:2) When I read those words my heart moves within me. 'That's me, Lord, I'm poor and contrite, and I tremble at Your word. Oh that You would look upon me in this way!'

"God is on a holy search, 'for the eyes of the LORD run to and from throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.' (2 Chronicles 16:9)"

... He is testing you to see if your heart will remain loyal to Him through the scrutiny. If you persevere, He designs to show Himself strong on your behalf.

....The Lord is patient with us, however, and He gives us time to process and adjust. Over time, the saint slowly begins to realize that the alternative is far worse.

Oh the horror of God turning His eyes away from us! It was an awful declaration of judgment when God said, "I will hide My face from them" (Deuteronomy 32:20)...

... When my mind wanders from a conscious focus upon the Lord, and I am distracted by the affairs of everyday life, upon returning to Christ in my thoughts comes this awesome realization: He was there all along, waiting for my thoughts to return to Him! He is never disconnected or distracted away from me, not even for a split second. ... THANK YOU LORD!!

What can I say to such kindness, Lord? Here is my simple prayer: "Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name." (Psalm 119:132)." I pray that as I use words that are hurtful, unholy, angry or impatient that the Lord will indeed show mercy and grace towards me. And, I pray that I too will be merciful to others when they do the same.

Abiding in that amazing grace,

Lori

"The Secret of Buying Gold"

These days nearly every television and radio channel is running some sort of commercial about how you can either sell the gold you have to make money, or buy gold to put up and save for a financial crisis. Neither of these is what this post is about. Today is our next "installment" from the book I'm reading Secrets of the Secret Place.

Today's post is from the chapter, The Secret of Buying Gold.

"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich." Revelation 3:18

"What is this gold that enriches us? It's the gold of authentically-produced godly character, it's Christlikeness. ...

To de-mistify this thing, let me describe very clearly the process whereby we buy 'gold refined by fire.' First comes the fire. By fire, I am talking about tribulation or affliction or distress or calamity or persecution. ... You don't have to wonder or imagine whether you're in the fire. When the fire hits your life, you will know it! You will lose control, your pain levels will skyrocket, and your desperation for God will intensify. Your flesh will want to collapse and give up, but since your spirit is alive to the beauties of Christ, the fire will be used of God to drive you into the face of Christ like never before. Instead of giving up, you'll run even harder! Your primary source of sanity in the midst of the fire will be your secret place, where the Spirit will soothe your tortured soul and the word will sustain your hope and faith.

... you will begin to see areas of your heart and soul that have been out of alignment with God's ways and will. As you see those things, you are so desperate for God you gladly and diligently do business with Him, repenting and considering deeply how to change and adopt new patterns of thought, behavior, and motive. As you embrace the changes that God's Spirit inspires within you, you are actually becoming more like Jesus. Or to put it another way, you're buying gold in the fire.

It says we "buy" this gold because the pricetag is steep. ...

The fire has a way of making you a doer of the word and not just a hearer only. You become desperate for a word from God, and then when it comes, you cling to it like it's your very life source. ... then something amazing happens. When you share with others how the word mirrored your own shortcomings and how you became a doer of the word in the midst of the fire, your witness will have a profound effect upon your hearers. They will be fed by your witness of what has fed you.

The secret place is the only way you'll survive the fire. And the secret of the thing is, God's word flowing into you will not only enable you to survive, it will empower you to overcome and buy eternal treasure. ... God has great understanding into this powerful little secret, which is why He is merciful enough to send the fire in answer to your prayers. If you will cry to Him from the depths of your being, He will send exactly the right kind of fire you need at this moment in your journey. This fire will press you into the mirror of His word that you might begin to buy the gold of "refined character."

There are days when I feel as if surely I must have a stockpile of gold simply because of the troubles I've seen in my own life. Then I think of those who live in persecuted nations of the world, those who were burned alive or otherwise martyred for their allegiance and faith in Christ. I think of those who this very moment are starving to death while I just finished eating plenty for dinner and will later on enjoy some cake I made today. I think of those who've lost multiple children, not just one - though even the one is a horrifying event in one's life.

Most of all I pray that, as I go through the fire, I will throw myself into the arms of my God, cling to His word, press myself into Him, that I may be changed. I desire to be transformed into something that brings glory to my God. I pray that I will not become embittered because of the trials, but that as I share with others how the word mirrored my own shortcomings and how I became a doer of the word in the midst of the fire, that my witness will have a profound effect upon my hearers. That they will be fed by my witness of what has fed me.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

I hope that you all are enjoying these segments from this book. I'm surely enjoying reading it. Please leave your thoughts and comments. Next up, The Secret of Inviting His Gaze, and Anna has another song to go along with that one.

Abiding in His grace,
Lori


Hola, everybody! Here's a song to go along with THIS post (sorry I couldn't find a video, you'll just have to read the lyrics)...

"Consume Me" by Tenth Avenue North:

Walking down the dusty road
Though weak I thought I was so strong
Trying to make it one my own
I keep tripping on my clumsy feet
Look here at the mess I made of me
When you pulled me from the mud and clay
Yeah so you fill me anyway
But you hold me anyways
And I said...

Consume me with your fire
Cleanse me with your rain
Bring and purify me let me glorify your name
Until only your love remains

Consume me with your fire
Cleanse me with your rain
Yeah wash away my empty past
Until only your love remains
Love remains ... 'til only your love remains

22 years passed me by
22 years I sat and cried
Living by sight and not by faith
Oh Lord you wont despise
Forgiving me so many times
When I turned and I walked away
Yeah but you turned me around when I humbled myself to pray
And I say...

Consume me with your fire
Cleanse me with your rain
Bring and purify me let me glorify your name
Until only your love remains

Consume me with your fire
Cleanse me with your rain
Yeah wash away my empty past
Until only your love remains
Love remains... Only your love remains

Amazing grace just rain on me today
Yeah forgive me as I'm giving my heart
To you to you to you
Yeah

Consume me with your fire
Cleanse me with your rain
Bring and purify me let me glorify your name
Until only your love remains

Consume me with your fire
Cleanse me with your rain
Yeah wash away my empty past
Until only your love remains
Love remains... Only your love remains

I hope y'all like it!
Anna McGuire/marryanna

Chris Tomlin - Holy Is the Lord

This song goes with my mom's latest post. Enjoy!
~Anna McGuire

Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge

Hello Dear Readers,

Before I start tonight, I'd like to bring your attention to some things that are going on in Guatemala currently. Over the last week or so, they have experienced the eruption of one of their many volcanoes. Homes, business are closed if not totally lost. This is also the rainy season in Guatemala. So, they are also experiencing mudslides, flooding and other horrific circumstances.

The Lord alone knows their needs and will prick the hearts of His people to care for the people of Guatemala as we are able. Part of my family is planning to return to Guatemala on a mission trip in late July, so we are praying that much clean up effort has been done so that they can get into the towns and villages to minister to these hurting people.

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

I shared earlier some thoughts and quotes from the book Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge. I am continuing to read through the last half of this book, and every day I come across thoughts that make me think, "Oh, that's good. I've got to share this!"

So, here I am, to share some more thoughts. I decided that I would post them as I read through the book and come across things that really give me pause to think, or that I wanted to return to and read again sometime. I highly recommend this to any of you who have enjoyed the quotes I've shared from this series. This is a devotional type reading book, and it is not gender specific so you guys our there should like it just as well too.

Enjoy...

From the chapter, "The Secret of Holiness" -

"'The Lord has said, "He who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me' (Psalm 101:6) This is not referring to sinless perfection, but rather to a blameless lifestyle that is not subject to reproach or criticism by those who live closest to you.

... Holiness is not an inherent quality we carry; it is a derived quality that we take on. Holiness has but one source, the Holy One. Holiness has to do with proximity to the throne. The seraphim are called "holy ones," not because of who they are but because of where they are. They are "holy ones" because they live in the immediate presence of the Holy One! I am holy only to the extent that I abide in His holy presence."

Anna selected the above video from Chris Tomlin singing Holy is The Lord. I hope that you will enjoy it.

Will share more again soon,
Lori

Things that make you go hmmmm...

I received this link via email from a friend who spent time living in the middle east with her husband who is now in his 80's. They have experienced the Muslim country as residents.





It includes frightening "snipets" that make you go hmmmm.... why did people elect him as our President? I can hardly bare to utter his name after that title... President _______________.





http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28





I know that the Lord is in command of our leaders and their election, but I can't help but ask Him, "Why Lord?" In scripture it shows that the leaders are at times appointed in judgement of a country. We are certainly worthy of His judgement, and yet instead He continues to lavish His grace and mercy upon us.



In the time of King Nebuchadnezzer, Daniel 4:32b and 35 says, "'The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.' All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him 'What have You done?'"





Holding my breath until the next presidential elections, and still waiting on my leg to heal,

Lori