The Challenge of a New Day

This morning at 0600 hrs, my cell phone went off. It was my son and my daughter in the states calling to let us know that Julie's mom, Darlene McCaw had suffered a massive heart attack.  Now that is a wake up call.

We began to pray and knowing that we were so far away, I loved how our children stepped into roles there by mom's bed to help us feel a part as well as give direction and comfort to others that were there.

You see, the challenge of a new day starts the minute we wake up. The minute we determine to rejoice in the days events that have happened, will happen and maybe even in those that won't happen we had planned.

Well, that all said, we do rejoice in the fact that mom is still alive a the time of this writing.
Mom has labored for her Master well through out everyday of her life.
Mom has passed on to her children and her grand children and even her great grandchildren the fact that the most important thing in life is what you do with Jesus.

Just hours before mom's heart attack, she was loving on our two grandson's Garrett and Jaxon at Jaxon's 1st birthday party.  I can imagine to, mom holding Jaxon and saying, "I love you, I am praying for you and Jaxon, you are Thumb body special!"  You see, mom used that line to tell people young and old that they were someone special.

Mom has faced the past 13 years of challenges with the knowledge that God loves her, that others were praying for her and that yes, she is Thumb body Special!!!!

Mom, we love you and are honored to be your kids as well as to be Team mates for the kingdom together!

How will you face the challenges of your new day today and tomorrow?

Know that God loves you and that you are "Thumb body special!"

The 3L's...Learning Life's Lessons

Today I was working on the final touches to my sermon for tomorrow at Chapel Next on post and listening to KLOVE radio, two songs just struck me in a real powerful way.

The first one helps us recognize who we are in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.  It isn't about whether we fit the mold of the world.  The most popular or the most successful.  It matter that I know I belong to  Him and that I am His Beloved!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSIVjjY8Ou8 Song By Jason Gray, Remind me who I am.

The second one was, Your Love Never Fails.  Listening to it and then seeing the lyrics, really struck me...You make all things work together for my good! and Your love never changes!!  These words brought an ocean of joy, peace and encouragement over me.

God works all things out even though it isn't always in our time line.  Preaching last week on 1 Peter 2:4-10...I gave a one line summary..."His People and His Plan for His Purpose!"  When I place all things in that perspective, my struggles, issues and concerns, pale in what He wants of me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_2qG22SPwU Song by Jesus Culture, Your Love Never Fails

Thank you Father that you never change, move, leave, drift, wander, question, doubt or do any of the things that I do.  Thank you for forgiving me and restoring me.  Thank you that part of Your Purpose is to RESTORE!!  Not destroy but to RESTORE!!!

If you get a chance, listen to both of these songs and ask the Holy Spirit to just speak TRUTH into your heart, soul and mind.  You will find and receive strength and peace when He delivers to His Beloved!!

My prayer as you read this and listen to the songs, that the Holy Spirit will do for you what He did for me.  That He will meet you where you are and how you are and the you will surrender to Him!
May the Lord bless you as you seek Him and travel in the journey of life!

Together we can make it as we walk with and in Him together!

Fourteen Days of Dependence

Over the past fourteen days, I have found them very difficult!  It came on all of a sudden on Friday two weeks ago after our monthly CSM staff meeting.  Assuming that it was simply the usual allergies that have popped up since our time in Baumholder and now in Idstein with the pollen!  Oh no...it wasn't allergies.

Having spent the entire weekend taking allergy meds and no relief, then heading to a World Wide CSM staff conference, I was not winning the battle.  I spent that whole week sleeping every free minute I had, coughing and feeling miserable...only to find out that I had walking pneumonia! Yep...what a shocker.

Now, fourteen days later, I am at about 60 percent of my energy and the coughing is getting better. Thank the Lord for medicine and a caring doctor!  Just a few more weeks and I may be better!  Can't wait!

Now, the whining is over and the lesson is being learned.  The lesson, is I have to put my FULL dependence in the only ONE that can make a difference. During the sleepless cough filled nights, God and I did some serious talking.  The reality that I need Him and must fully depend on HIM is crucial.

I am so glad that HE is a loving and patient GOD that loves me even when it takes me a while to learn the lesson HE has for me.

After having to cancel the last several days of ministry due to my health, I asked the Lord to provide the strength to teach on Wednesday night at Refuge, (our high school ministry) and HE did. I went to the office to get final prep done and then to hang out with our students at our coffee shop, Chatterbox, and then having several of our volunteers there, they ran games, the meal and I just observed.  Then, it came time to teach the lesson...GOD was so good...Thank you Lord.  My energy came back, sustained me for the entire time and in addition, HE held of any coughing fit the entire time I was teaching HIS Word and the lesson this week on..."I AM in Christ!"  A series that I have been working through with the students for the last few weeks!

Thanks Lord for helping me learn to fully depend on YOU!  YOU are always faithful and I am grateful for that.

Time Flies Bye!

Recently we went on a day trip and saw this cuckoo clock! Hanging outside of the shop, it boast one of the largest handmade and working clocks! It was incredible.

It made me realize one thing...time flies bye quickly!

We have been in Germany almost a year at the end of March and we can not believe it.  We know that the Lord is moving and working in the hearts and lives of many of the families that we have the privilege of serving.  We have weekly been working with middle schoolers in our OASIS  program, REFUGE for high schoolers and Connect SL for our dependents that are college age.

Weekly we hang out with students with Bible studies, youth group as well as in our Chatterbox Cafe'...our coffee shop at the youth house!  It is so much fun and daily working with them we see God moving.  We see God doing some incredible things in their lives.

Just last week, one of the students came to me and said, "I am so glad that you, Melanie and Mama Shack are here! You have helped me and my family out in ways you will never know!" "Thank you for coming and obeying God!"

Time is is precious and we are thankful for the time we do have with each of the families and students. Thank you for taking time to pray for us regularly as we minister to our friends.  It is make an eternal difference!

Hard to say GOODBYE!

Two weeks ago at the end of Refuge, our high school ministry, we had to say goodbye to yet another one of our students.  This is something that is all to common in ministry to the military.  You see, having grownup as a military brat, I am somewhat used to it.  Although, it is still tough.

When you invest your heart and life into working with people, there is always the heart strings that get attached.  When the heart strings are attached, there comes a time when they are stretched, wound so tight as they join you close. They are interconnected with others.  They strengthen you when you are down and sad.  They hold you when you are discouraged. They are tightened during adversity and tough times.  They spring and bounce when joy and happiness is celebrated.  You see heart strings are the binding agent that connect us with people.

Well, on that night of Refuge, our heart strings were pulled on hard.  You see, "G" was leaving and moving back to the states. (the term is PCSing/Permanent Change of Station).  He would no longer be there on Wednesday, at the Christmas Dinner, at Spring break camp...and you see for us, spring break camp was big...that is where "G" met Jesus for the first time in a real and personal way.

He simply trusted Jesus with his life and gave control of his life over to Jesus.  "G" began to grow in his relationship and sought to understand the Bible and learn about his new friend, Jesus.  Their heart strings were eternally connected!

"G" also was connected with the other students at Refuge and his high school.  They enjoyed hanging out with him, playing video games, talking and just spending time with "G".  You see, "G" was connected.  His heart was attached!

When someone leaves our youth group, we take a time at the end to have them sit in the middle of the room on a chair and we speak words of life to them.  We share with them what they have meant to us, how they impacted us, how they changed us and how we will miss them.  Of course, it is tough and yet, it is a heart felt time of investing and encouraging.  Tears flowed as friends and classmates shared of "G"'s impact in their life.  When we were all done, "G" said, "Can I say something?". Of course I said yes and as he spoke of how he would miss all of us, he challenged the students that were there to stay in youth group, grow in Jesus and me an encouragement to each other.

WOW!!!  What a powerful thing to say to his peers and friends!

So you see, it is hard to say GOODBYE and yet, knowing that lives are being changed and impacted and that they will go out and make a difference after leaving here, well, the goodbyes are a tad bit easier.


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A bit of NW Humor

THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAS TO SAY ABOUT ‘LIVING IN OREGON’…

• If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you live in Oregon.
• If you’ve worn shorts, sandals and a parka at the same time, you live in Oregon.
• If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Oregon.
• If you measure distance in hours, you live in Oregon.
• If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Oregon.
• If you have switched from ‘heat’ to ‘A/C’ and back again in the same day, you live in Oregon.
• If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Oregon.
• If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Central, Southern or Eastern Oregon.
• If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a 2 layers of clothes or under a raincoat, you live in Oregon.
• If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow and ice, you live in Oregon.
• If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Oregon.
• If you feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash, you live in Oregon.
• If you know more than 10 ways to order coffee, you live in Oregon.
• If you know more people who own boats than air conditioners, you live in Oregon.
• If you stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the “Walk” signal, you live in Oregon.
• If you consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain, you live in Oregon.
• If you can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, and Dutch Bros, you live in Oregon.
• If you know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, you live in Oregon.
• If you know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Clatskanie, Issaquah, Oregon, Umpqua, Yakima and Willamette, you live in Oregon.
• If you consider swimming an indoor sport, you live in Oregon.
• If you know that Boring is a city and not just a feeling, you live in Oregon.
• If you can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food, you live in Oregon.
• If you never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho, you live in Oregon.
• If you have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain, you live in Oregon.
• If you think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists, you live in Oregon.
• If you buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time, you live in Oregon.
• If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your OREGON friends, you live or have lived in Oregon.

A new church adventure

Today the three of us had a new adventure!  The entire garrison closed chapels due to the snow fall that hit early this morning dropping 4 to 5 inches of beautiful snow on the ground.  Making the road conditions to RED.

So, instead of driving in to post for chapel, we walked about 30 steps from our front door to the door of the local evangelical church right outside our windows.

We had been there before mid week to view the architecture and the beautiful murals that are on the ceiling.  The church dates back to the 12th century and is pretty impressive.  Marble columns, stained glass windows, cathedral altar area gated off to the public, preaching points where even Martin Luther is to have visited and preached.

As you can imagine, it doesn't look anything like the churches in the states or even on post here. It is unique and beautiful.

Well, part of the adventure was that the entire service was done in Deutsch including the 6 songs we sung. It was interesting trying to catch words and phrases we know and understand but the fun was the hymn numbers. Instead of saying one hundred and sixty two, they say the two then the sixty then the hundred and by the time my mind reversed it all, I forgot the number...oh well...thankful for the Rosetta Stone we were blessed with and need to keep working on it.

The other interesting adventure was we were never verbally greeted by anyone there. When we walked in, we were handed a hymnal and a song sheet. We greeted them with the standard, Guten Tag, meaning Good Day. No response back.

We made our way to three seats and sat there. No one greeted or acknowledged us. When we left, no one thanked us for coming except for one man that I approached and initiated a conversation in some Deutsch and mostly english.  Even at that, it was all business about the question I asked.

My take away from this adventure, it is crucial to greet people, welcome people and engage them in conversation when at church.  The isolation that I felt in a church that didn't speak my native tongue and did things differently, was very not inviting or welcoming.  That makes me aware of what I need to do when I see someone at chapel that I don't know or have never met.