HP Women have been gearing up for this night for months...hours of planning and organizing, all to provide "services" that are not a part of the regular routine of most women. Fabulous food, manicures, pedicures, massages, facials, the atmosphere was that of a high end spa. Now...I'm not a very primpy person...I don't spend too much time on my makeup, hair, or clothes. I'm most comfortable when I'm in a pair of old, comfy jeans and a t-shirt.
My friend, Bert, encouraged me to come to Pamper Night. I told her that I really didn't get into all that...but I would love to come help out. So I arrived last night and was greeted by wonderful women who wanted to show me the way to the services that were provided. I quickly told them that I was here to help out, to work wherever they needed me. They led me to a person who was "in charge" and she said that they needed someone in the "pedicure" area to remove the toenail polish from the feet of ladies who were waiting to get a pedicure. Man...was God checking my heart! Here I was desiring servanthood...and He places me at the crusty feet of women who had come expecting pampering...OK, now was the time for me to place the towel on my arm; or better yet, a nail polish remover soaked cotton ball in my hand and get to work. In a day of "me-first mentality" it is beneficial for us to be called back to a heart of service to others.
One of the funny things about this job was the look on some of the ladies faces when I told them to sit down and let me remove the old polish. They were shocked..."you're going to touch my feet? Are you sure you want to do this? Really...I can do it myself." I had a time convincing some of them that this was part of the "pampering!" Just sit back, enjoy your chocolate covered snacks, and let me prep you for your pedicure!
But the highlight of my night was when this elderly lady sat down with her plate of scrumptious goodies, looking a bit like a "doe in the headlights." I knelt down at her feet, introduced myself, and ask her to remove her sandals do I could take off her old polish. She immediately looked embarassed, and starting apologizing for her feet. I tried to get her to relax...and allow me to do this, and then she started telling me "her story." It was fabulous...she was 75 years old, had never before in her life had a pedicure, and her feet were calloused and cracked because of years of working barefoot in a cotton field. She was one of 13 children who's father was a plantation foreman and everybody worked from dawn to dusk in the fields...even the children. She was so excited about the night, she said that she felt like a queen, something that she had never experienced! What an incredible time for me...for HPC...I can't quit thinking about her! I believe that, through service, God wants us to make an impression on our community, a mark on the lives of His people, He wants us to leave His fingerprints everywhere we go.
I had an awesome time last night...and from the toenails of many women, God gave me some new insight into the heart of His Son...who came to earth as a servant!
Have a blessed day -
Love,
Momma Moose
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Saturday, June 9, 2007
God's Response To Crying Out
We are involved in a slamming Life Group for "mature" (no...not old!) married couples called Homes By Jesus. This group has been meeting well over a year, and in this time God has surrounded us by people that He knew we needed...and, in turn, needed each other! Our time together once a month has been many things...1) educational from the biblical standpoint - constantly stretching our knowledge, understanding, and application of the Word, 2) encouraging - just by the sheer fact that we are not alone - we're "doing life" with others who believe, and 3) emotionally strengthening as similar people share similar "storms" and more importantly, the response from the "Calmer of the Storms."
Last night I received a phone call from one of my closest friends, who is a member of our Life Group, with some disheartening news. Her son-in-law and grandson were involved in a serious auto accident, they were at OLOL Emergency Room, but she believed things were going to be OK. I asked her if she wanted me to come up there and she said no, just start praying. I contacted several Life Group members to relay the news and we began the prayers! About 45 minutes later another phone call came and through her tears and choked words about "bleeding from the brain" and "neurosurgeon" I realized that this was a time to cry out to our Lord! I told her that I was on my way, jumped out of bed, got dressed, and was at OLOL in about 25 minutes...calling the other Life Group members on the way with the update. When I arrived I was told that her 13 year old grandson had a blood clot and bleeding on his brain and that he was waiting to go into surgery to relieve the pressure put on by the bloodclot and fluids.
When faced with "storms" many people react in many different ways. Some people get mad, others yell, some retreat to their 'own little world', emotions like anxiety, frustration, and anger surface. We find out that these emotions won’t solve our problems, and they won’t make us any closer to the Lord. Most of the time they make us fog out as to what our response should truly be...a time of crying out. When we cry out God listens...believe it or not, God is already on the scene. He is expecting us to respond appropriately with our emotions to what He has planned for us. How amazing is that? His response is directly related to our response!
After all, He is the One Who gave us our emotions. He knows best for us. Human emotion is perfectly normal as long as those emotions are used for God’s Glory. Sound too technical? Not at all...we prayed with Austin before he went into surgery, we cried out to God to relieve his fear, to bring comfort and peace to his worried parents, and that we believed in the promises of the Word! The surgery went fine and he was in ICU by 2:00 a.m. Today, another CT scan was done and guess what? No more bleeding on the brain - I'm reminded of this verse that has been with me for about a week now from Isaiah 65:24 which states, "Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear."
What a great day it is...I give Him the glory for His power, mercy and grace!
Love,
Momma Moose
Last night I received a phone call from one of my closest friends, who is a member of our Life Group, with some disheartening news. Her son-in-law and grandson were involved in a serious auto accident, they were at OLOL Emergency Room, but she believed things were going to be OK. I asked her if she wanted me to come up there and she said no, just start praying. I contacted several Life Group members to relay the news and we began the prayers! About 45 minutes later another phone call came and through her tears and choked words about "bleeding from the brain" and "neurosurgeon" I realized that this was a time to cry out to our Lord! I told her that I was on my way, jumped out of bed, got dressed, and was at OLOL in about 25 minutes...calling the other Life Group members on the way with the update. When I arrived I was told that her 13 year old grandson had a blood clot and bleeding on his brain and that he was waiting to go into surgery to relieve the pressure put on by the bloodclot and fluids.
When faced with "storms" many people react in many different ways. Some people get mad, others yell, some retreat to their 'own little world', emotions like anxiety, frustration, and anger surface. We find out that these emotions won’t solve our problems, and they won’t make us any closer to the Lord. Most of the time they make us fog out as to what our response should truly be...a time of crying out. When we cry out God listens...believe it or not, God is already on the scene. He is expecting us to respond appropriately with our emotions to what He has planned for us. How amazing is that? His response is directly related to our response!
After all, He is the One Who gave us our emotions. He knows best for us. Human emotion is perfectly normal as long as those emotions are used for God’s Glory. Sound too technical? Not at all...we prayed with Austin before he went into surgery, we cried out to God to relieve his fear, to bring comfort and peace to his worried parents, and that we believed in the promises of the Word! The surgery went fine and he was in ICU by 2:00 a.m. Today, another CT scan was done and guess what? No more bleeding on the brain - I'm reminded of this verse that has been with me for about a week now from Isaiah 65:24 which states, "Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear."
What a great day it is...I give Him the glory for His power, mercy and grace!
Love,
Momma Moose
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Finding Faith
Last night Pastor Johnny Green preached the first of the new Life U series on "Networks." His material was fantastic, his delivery was awesome, but most of all...his message was annointed! One story he shared was about this young lady from his seminary days, who was searching for answers. According to Johnny, he thought he had all of them, and then she posed this question, "How do I get faith?" As Johnny fumbled for a spiritual response, he soon realized that this was a question that would puzzle even the greatest theological minds.
First of all, let me say how much humility was displayed by Pastor Johnny...he didn't have to share this story...a story of failure, early in his pastoral career, which could have affected his confidence and courage to continue to answer God's calling on his life. But there was some "meat" to this story...as well as a happy ending. About a week later the young lady told Johnny that she had "found" faith, by asking Jesus into her heart, alone in her apartment, without witnesses, without the heralding trumpets, without pomp and circumstance...just she and Jesus...it's as simple as that.
I've been pondering this question myself since last night. It's a valid one, but a tough one. According to the bible, - Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen… to clarify this statement it is the reverse order of natural law, seeing is believing, into believing is seeing. Pretty mysterious...but with words like "substance" and "evidence" you think that we would have the answers in some sort of logical and reasonable way. When in fact we're not dealing in the realm of the natural, with faith we're dealing in the realm of supernatural. It's tough to explain, even tougher to live by, but truly the basis for our beliefs in the promises of our loving God!
Today I hope I get, or should I say recognize, an opportunity to share my faith...to tap into a network...to fulfill my part of the Great Commission!
Blessing to you,
Momma Moose
First of all, let me say how much humility was displayed by Pastor Johnny...he didn't have to share this story...a story of failure, early in his pastoral career, which could have affected his confidence and courage to continue to answer God's calling on his life. But there was some "meat" to this story...as well as a happy ending. About a week later the young lady told Johnny that she had "found" faith, by asking Jesus into her heart, alone in her apartment, without witnesses, without the heralding trumpets, without pomp and circumstance...just she and Jesus...it's as simple as that.
I've been pondering this question myself since last night. It's a valid one, but a tough one. According to the bible, - Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen… to clarify this statement it is the reverse order of natural law, seeing is believing, into believing is seeing. Pretty mysterious...but with words like "substance" and "evidence" you think that we would have the answers in some sort of logical and reasonable way. When in fact we're not dealing in the realm of the natural, with faith we're dealing in the realm of supernatural. It's tough to explain, even tougher to live by, but truly the basis for our beliefs in the promises of our loving God!
Today I hope I get, or should I say recognize, an opportunity to share my faith...to tap into a network...to fulfill my part of the Great Commission!
Blessing to you,
Momma Moose
Friday, June 1, 2007
Happiness is ...
I'm so pumped about this Sunday, our Homes By Jesus group (hosted by the fabulous Yvonne & Parnell Bourgeois) is looking at happiness. What makes a person happy? What makes a marriage a happy one? Why do some people find happiness so easily and others seem to be constantly searching? In doing my "homework" for Sunday I found this by Max Lucado on the subject:
“We are not happy here (on earth). We are not happy because we are not supposed to be happy here. ‘We are ‘like foreigners and strangers in this world.’ (I Pet. 2:11) And you will never be completely happy on earth simply because you were not made for earth. Oh, you will have moments of joy. You will have glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace. But they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead.”
When I read this it gave me the same feeling as the excitement and anticipation before going on a trip. You prepare ahead of time, making reservations for flights/hotels/rental cars, getting the laundry done so you can pack the suitcases, farming out the children/grandchild to various relatives, making arrangements for the dog, mail, etc., going to the bank to get cash. It's all necessary for the success of the trip...and the night before your departure you're so fired up you can hardly sleep!
But how do we prepare for eternity? Have we researched the best travel options to get to our heavenly home? Have we packed the right stuff in our luggage? Have we taken care of the little details so that everything will go smoothly? Preparation for our destination...that's what it's all about...but that's not enough...we must realize that only by the grace of God will we arrive at the place where we will find true happiness! I guess we should enjoy the journey, but stay focused on Jesus, His Word, and His grace!
Are you packed, yet?
Love,
Momma Moose
“We are not happy here (on earth). We are not happy because we are not supposed to be happy here. ‘We are ‘like foreigners and strangers in this world.’ (I Pet. 2:11) And you will never be completely happy on earth simply because you were not made for earth. Oh, you will have moments of joy. You will have glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace. But they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead.”
When I read this it gave me the same feeling as the excitement and anticipation before going on a trip. You prepare ahead of time, making reservations for flights/hotels/rental cars, getting the laundry done so you can pack the suitcases, farming out the children/grandchild to various relatives, making arrangements for the dog, mail, etc., going to the bank to get cash. It's all necessary for the success of the trip...and the night before your departure you're so fired up you can hardly sleep!
But how do we prepare for eternity? Have we researched the best travel options to get to our heavenly home? Have we packed the right stuff in our luggage? Have we taken care of the little details so that everything will go smoothly? Preparation for our destination...that's what it's all about...but that's not enough...we must realize that only by the grace of God will we arrive at the place where we will find true happiness! I guess we should enjoy the journey, but stay focused on Jesus, His Word, and His grace!
Are you packed, yet?
Love,
Momma Moose
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