What are we doing in Ireland?

We will be going to Ireland to serve a 2 year term (initially-then see what God wants from there) with Operation Mobilization starting this August, Lord willing. To find out about Operation Mobilization and how they are involved in Ireland and around the world, click on the Ireland links to the right of the blog.
Since 1957, OM has trained more than 120,000 people in evangelism, discipleship and cross-cultural missions. OM works in more than 110 countries and is well represented in the 10/40 Window with approximately 2000 workers there. OM is an evangelical, interdenominational mission agency. OM's role in the body of Christ is to motivate, develop and equip people for world evangelization and strengthen and help plant churches.

Ludie will be the Global Action Coordinator. He will be taking in students (age 18-25) from all over the world, including Ireland and training them and then mobilizing them into the churches in Ireland to help them with short or long-term projects. In doing so he will be developing partnerships with Irish Churches, finding the church's' needs and then placing the students with them to enable the churches to more effectively share the hope that comes only through Jesus Christ through whatever their specific needs are.

When we were in Ireland last we were talking with one of the local politicians.We had asked him about the suicide rate in Ireland. The suicide rate among young males, is statistically the highest in Western Europe. He actually added that there are more suicides in Ireland than there are deaths from car accidents. Another local politician mentioned that the younger generation has a different perspective than the older generation that lived through "The Troubles" during the 1960's and 1990's). The younger generation is currently searching for answers traditional religion has failed to answer. They are experiencing the material prosperity that has come over Ireland in recent years since Ireland has entered with the European Union, however they have become disillusioned with the church because of recent scandals. In recent years drug addiction and alcoholism have increased also. It is a great time to bring back the Good News St. Patrick brought to this wonderful land so many years ago. Now that there is outward physical peace in Ireland, there is an inward search for peace.

The lifeblood of our ministry is regular, monthly financial supporters. We have established a June 30th deadline to raise our necessary financial support of $4600.00 per month and an additional $32000.00 in initial start up costs. At this point we are considerably behind in this target.

For more information on how you can partner with us through praying, giving or going please contact us directly at blcActs420@gmail.com.

A Deliberate Choice

"When we do not make the deliberate choice to think according to the Spirit, we tend to default to the flesh...pray for a heightened awareness of the way you are thinking." -Beth Moore

I have been talking with my son about choices. There are wise choices and bad choices. Most of what happens in our lives are due to the choices we make. I realize that I have been more deliberate in planning my meetings about God than I have been on pouring time into my relationship with God. I have been living out of reaction than deliberate action. Our busy schedule between Ludie's work and meetings about Ireland partnership,and keeping the house clean for sale, homeschooling, adjusting to a the changing schedule of a baby has allowed me to make excuses for shortened time with the Lord.

I pray throughout the day. I do a 10 minute devotion in the morning and if I can get it in before the kids wake up, I read a passage out of the Bible (the genealogy of 1 Chronicles is not as exciting as the adventures in Genesis-but there are really cool tidbits within the genealogies. I have to actually read it to find out what they are). This is what I call survival mode. The only thing is, this is a false survival. I have to rely on God. I have to put on the mind of Christ or else I will slowly start to slip into a pit. Today, I am making a deliberate choice to go to bed early and put my first priority that I claim to be my real first priority as shown by my action. Forgive me LORD for taking you for granted.

God a Genie?

Below is part of my devotions from this morning. I often write so my thoughts will stay focused. I am putting it down for you to see. I don't know why, I just feel that I should. I don't like bearing my soul because that would leave it out there for others to tread on. But, I'm doing it anyway so here you go...

I often find myself treating God like a genie. I don't desire to do that but often find myself doing so. We have a lot of things going on in order to get over to Ireland at the beginning of August, including raising support by the end of June and selling a house. I find myself falling into old habits of trying to please God in order to find His favor so that he will work the way I want in my timing. Deep down my heart just simply desires to please God but that natural desire can quickly become twisted into manipulation. Thank God He can see this better than I can and will not be manipulated. I have to constantly remind myself that other than through the redeeming blood of Christ, my works are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). When God sees me He only finds favor in me through the covering of His son's blood that covers my sins. Through this covering my Father sees me as beautiful. Nothing I do will ever make God love me more or less than He does now.

I am overwhelmed at the task before us. I have to remind myself that it is God that called us to His work and therefore it is His responsibility that He provides for us. We just have to be obedient to His calling. I have to rely on Him and trust Him so that I can have peace(Isaiah 26:3)...so that my life can glorify Him. Deep down that is my desire. I don't know how or when He will move, but I trust that His plan is better than mine. I praise God in advance for the work He is going to do in the perfect way He always does.

Lord, have your way in my life. Let it not be my will but Yours. Show me what you would have me to do today. Help me to die to myself. Whatever it is You want me to do, my answer is Yes. Help me to obey your will. I believe in You, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24).

Cagle's Dairy

We are so excited. We as a family are going to Spring Farm Days this weekend at Cagle's Dairy. They are having the Dixie Master Cup Stock Dog Trials (right up my alley), along with arts, crafts and exhibitions. Something new that Cagle's is doing that I just love is home delivery of their dairy products to homes within a 5 mile radius of the farm. We live farther than that but what a cool idea. When we lived in NY as a child I vaguely remember the milk man coming and delivering milk in glass jars. Oh what a great memory. I am excited as to what God has waiting for our children's memories in Ireland. What memories even through the small things are you creating for your children that you may not even realize?

Dealing with Anger

Have you ever been spending time with the Lord, reading your Bible or a devotional book and it is so amazing that what you are reading is exactly what you are struggling with? Well this week we have been working with Griffin on how to properly deal with anger. Lo and behold, that is what his devotions were on this morning. It is even cooler when you see God work in your child's devotional life and in God's perfect timing. I do not know what I am doing as a mom half the time and I was just praising God that He gives us the right resources and the right people around us in the right timing. And He did it again. How absolutely amazing He is. I confess I have no idea how to deal with anger properly other than stuff it-which is not good, so how am I supposed to teach my child? Well he showed me during a playdate with my accountability partner when she had to work with her own child on it. He brought up this devotion today that walked us through it and he gave me my mentor mom, Suzanne Miller that I had to call on Tuesday when I did not know how to properly respond to Griffin's anger and it was making me angry. Praise God for His provision and perfect timing.

Squirrel at the Door

This morning, Griffin and I were eating breakfast and we kept hearing a tap tap tap. We looked out the back door and there was a squirrel tapping on our window trying to get in. It kept on for a minute or two but when I moved to get the camera it ran away. Griffin and I found this picture instead.

Parenting -I am trying to learn.

"We are not raising children. We are raising adults." -Suzanne Miller.

Suzanne is a wonderful mentor mom for our MomCare group that meets on Wednesday nights. She is a great example of a Proverbs 31 woman and the Lord has used her to bless my life. She has taught me many things but one thing that will stick in my mind forever and that I will be forever grateful for the perspective it gives is the quote above. When my child/ren roll their eyes at me, throw fits or do anything else that their sin nature causes I approach it as: is it acceptable for them to do this as adults. When they don't get their way at the office as an adult would it be better for them to talk back disrespectfully as adults or use their minds and words to express themselves for a better outcome. The Bible teaches us to die to ourselves, our fleshly desires and to put on the mind of Christ, to be equipped for battle and to do His will (paraphrasing and putting parts together). What better time to learn now while their minds are able to be molded and before it is too late. They may not understand all of these truths now, but it is better to start explaining it now so it can sink into their hearts before their hearts are too hardened and set in their ways to accept it. It is our job as parents to teach God's ways. Jesus has a plan for us as parents. A lot of our homelife depends on us and has an effect on eternity. Anyone can be a good Christian at church, but do we model being a biblical Christian through our actions at home when little eyes are watching and learning most?