778 0 Nimcompooh-ness!!!

I don't have any idea what happened to my last video - it got cut off. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, but as usual i don't know how to fix it. ugh!!!!

Dear Lord, I am actually in the air right now – of course with my Internet turned off like the nice little flight attendant told me – flying to Corpus Christi, Texas. I looked on the map last night – like my oh so smart dad encourages me to often – to see where I was going. I had no idea I was going so far south. I don’t think I packed the right thing!! Oh well – good thing about traveling so much, most of the times the church and congregation is so forgiving of my clothing mishaps. There was even one time that I forgot all my clothes!!! I mean everything – ladies from the retreat pulled clothes from all different directions to hook me up with a pretty cute outfit. That was an act of God because there are not a lot of people that can wear my size – at least in the height department!

Lord Jesus, I am excited to deliver the message tonight. I have shared this message about living a vertical life in a horizontal world many times, but you have given me a totally new direction for tonight! I am excited to organize it all one more time before the evening!

God, you know how much I hate leaving my family – well sometimes – but especially in the middle of the night or wee morning hours – 4am! I like to kiss everyone right as I go out the door and was unable to do that this morning! I know they are in good hands though.

Father, thank you so much for this opportunity. I plan on taking some great pictures – ha ha, forgot my camera – but do have my phone. I love all the people I meet and seeing You work in incredible ways right before my eyes! There is nothing like it. I want to express Your love to them and help them to understand what a thriving relationship and one that is very active is all about. Oh Lord, help me to speak your words!! Help me to live what I speak!

God, in spite of me – in spite of my sin that you have forgiven and yet I run back to so often, in spite my fears, my pride, my inadequacies, my faithlessness, my lack of mercy, my nincompooh-ness!! God, you still love me!! And like Natalie reminded me last night as our Speaking Thru Me team prayed together, You actually adore me, are crazy about me!! God, seriously, I don’t get it, but I am eternally thankful!!!!!

Grow me Lord, Speak to me Father, Use me Jesus!! All for Your glory alone! I love u!

777 - Compassion Day 1 - Ecuador

This a bit long - under 10 minutes though - but truly worth watching. Not because of me, unless you need a good laugh, but because of the good news about Compassion International. Please let me know your thoughts!!

776 - Leading a life of Deceit!!

Do you ever say or do things just impress someone - sometimes your heart can even be good or your intentions, but yet your method was a bit deceitful... Are your words true? Can people believe what you say or do you do what you say you are going to do??? Without deceit???

Come check this out when David discovered one entangled in a web of deceit...

770 - Ecuador - home, but not settled!

Coming back home to the real world and having to process all that I experienced on the Compassion International trip is quite daunting!! It seems like for me that they may be one of those times that I am completely speechless. I have fragments, I have expressions, I have feelings, to put the whole experience into eloquent words – well, and it just may not come out that way!

Leaving on Monday morning I can honestly say that I didn’t know what to expect. The only mission trip I had really been on overseas was to Germany with Athletes in Action and we were playing tennis with those in private clubs. It was so much fun and fulfilling, but nothing that made my heart move in such ways that change was eminent! So to go to a “developing” country, as I have now learned the term, was something I am not sure anyone can really prepared himself or herself for!

There are so any things that I want to talk about.

I want to tell you about the folks that went on the trip with me.

I want to tell you about the well-oiled machine of Compassion International.

I want to talk about the Compassion staff and translators that worked with us.

I want to tell you about the home visits.

The joy and appreciation from the kids and their parents.

My feelings of how do I express what my experience has now convicted me about.

How do I bring this home and truly live it out in my house – and what does that look like?

My perception of poverty has changed so much!

My thoughts of how I accept this challenge and express it in a grace filled message and not a guilt message!

How do I deal with my own blessed-ness!

Seriously I could on and on – and I probably will over the next few days. But the hardest part for me will be that life is back – my real life with a hubby and 4 kids is back and I can not let that be hinder by my experience nor let my experience hinder my real life! What a dichotomy!

Here is the bottom line for me – you can trust Compassion International. You can be blessed beyond your wildest dreams and change someone’s lack of hope to a hope filled life just by a small donation each month. You can know with 100% certainty that you are not getting taken. You can know that I too am putting my money where my mouth is, and I don’t even know what that looks like for right now. To begin as I have told you before – I have 4 sponsored kids. I am not proud to say I sponsor those kids, I am privileged! Will you join me in this privilege? If so, click on the Compassion International Icon on the side of my blog! And then let me know!

Day 2 - Minds Boggled!!

Ecuador - Day I - Heart Exploded!!

This is a bit long, but please hang with it and then respond!!! My heart has exploded and I have to do something about it! It is not the best recording, but please hear my heart and may the Spirit speak to yours! Never be the same - never!!!!

An Ecuador morning!

Golly gee - i was unaware that my eyes at times looked in 2 different directions. My goodness - i gots to do sumpin 'bout that!! ha

Ecuador Trip - En Route! Family good-bye and I love you!

I just wanted to take a moment and say hello and good bye to my family. I am sitting in the Atlanta Airport waiting for Ginger and Shawna and others! I am so excited, but already miss my little boogers too! SJ cried her eyes out which is not uncommon anymore when I leave. The girls race me down the long driveway trying to keep me from coming! It was sweet, but makes it so hard too! Tucker hugged me softly in his manly way! Clay has graciously taken a week of vacation so that I could do this! What a man!! I love you!!!