WHAT THE CHILDREN OF A DEER HUNTER DO DURING OCTOBER...

BUT I DON'T AWANA.....

I have been co-leading a group of 2nd grade boys at AWANA for about 6 weeks now. This is my first year with AWANA and had you asked me during the first two weeks, it would have been my last.

Straight up truth telling time- I had no desire to work with little ones. Zip....none. However, I wanted the MCs to go, and so I figured I would serve my time as well. Well, the craziness that is the first two weeks wore on my attitude, and I apparently wore my attitude on my face. Every single time I walked past someone they would say, "It gets better....it really gets better", and every time I would think, Yes it will, next year when I am not doing this.

Round week three I became aware I needed a Holy Spirit inspired attitude adjustment. In my asking, one of the first things that I was cut to the quick with was this thought-

If you, Rhonda, esteem the Word as highly as you profess. If you, Rhonda, believe in the life changing power, the freedom and healing power scripture provides--- then why in the world would you not be thrilled to death at the chance to help get that Word planted in some little men children, much like your own. If you think enough about it to bring your kids, why do you not esteem it enough to help other kids.

That, my friends, is called a swift kick in the derriere.

Because you know what He was really saying?

Exactly what He said.

Funny thing about God, He doesn't mince words about the Word.

Needless to say, my attitude has been a little better since. Now, Wednesdays are still tough. I am tired. My MCs do their homework at some fast food joint in between school and church. Bath time comes much later than it should. We all drag a little more on Thursdays.

But for me, the investment is worth the payment.

Especially when I think of what I am doing as a form of discipleship. We aren't just listening to verses for points. We are learning how to be respectful listeners during council time. We are learning how to get our praise on during worship. We are learning how to be gracious losers and humble winners during game time. We are learning how to pray for our friends and that no prayer is too small. We are learning that we matter, we are of value, and we are worth the investment.

So no, I didn't want to AWANA.

But now,

I CHOOSE.

GOING FOR MORE THAN JUST MOORE

My sister and I are going to the SMST next January. I have been keeping up with my verses. I have them written on my official SMST set of spiral note cards. I have posted them on the blog. I have done all I was to do except one thing.....learn my verses.
It has been hard and I have been unmotivated. As I was driving to work the other morning, it struck me what was the deal was....I was literally going to see Beth Moore. I was going to get away, to take a break, and to see Beth Moore.
From what I know of her, I can tell you right now, that if Mrs. Moore read this, she would probably say,
"Sweet thang....please don't come for that. Please stay home if that is what you are coming for."
And she would be right.
It is October now. 10 months in. 10 months I have been focused on seeing the Moore, that I have missed the more God had for me.
The more of Him.
The more of me.
More truth.
More faith.
More freedom.
More victory.
As I looked back over the verses I had chosen, I couldn't help but say to myself,
"Yep, could have used that one here and that one then",for pretty much all of them.
But God is gracious to me. He let me see my folly before the year was gone and my motives had sealed my actions. I have 2 months. Two months of more before the Moore, and I plan on grabbing every single bit of it.
2 months of more God is worth the work.
Worth the fight.
Worth the more that I can give.
So, dear sweet Siesta Mama, should you ever read this, please know that while I no doubt will cry tears when I meet you face to face and ask to hug that sweet neck and take a picture, I am not coming to see you.

I am coming for M...O...R...E...

ANATOMY OF A FALL.....

We are coming out of the shoot.

We are saddled up and ready to go.

We have our hearts and our heads protected.

We have Daddy holding us so tight we can feel it.

Yep, it's all good.

Little dust....

a few twists...

won't take the smile off our face

because we can feel Daddy holding on tight.

Then we don't feel Daddy so much.

Things start to get a little sideways.

Things begin to come out from under us.

A twist we didn't expect causes us to lose our seat.

And we fall.

And it hurts.

We come up sucking air.

We try desperately to get our next breath,

feeling certain we are dying.

Tears are flowing...

we are gasping thinking we are hurt.

Wondering where Daddy went.

What we don't realize is that we were still protected.

Our hearts and heads still covered.

And Daddy, He is right there the whole time.

Picking us up....

Dusting us off....

Loving us through the fall....

So that He can encourage us to get up and ride again.

* Photos by Kay Owens photography

For the record, MC 2 said he was "done riding the sheeps!"

LACK OF CONFIDENCE....

Boys, after church we have to go by Lowe's and Wal-Mart.

Why are we going to Lowe's?

I need to get a board for the floor.

Don't we need Audie?

No.

Or Uncle Sean?

No. Mom is quite capable of going to Lowe's and buying a board.

Doubtful eye roll.....

AND THEN CAN I SAY....

taking a kid with what we lovingly have called "duck lips" all his life to the orthodontist was no field trip either. Someone will be wearing braces for a long time. Someone else thinks that alone may be the reason she went back to work. (Not really, but maybe a little).

Still kicking "destiny" around. The next section is just as convicting.....

She did not consider her destiny;
Therefore her collapse was awesome;
Lamentations 1:9 (NKJV)

First, I don't want to collapse. Second, I most certainly don't want it to be awesome!

Pastor has been very toe stompy as of late. Then he is going to have the nerve to have us read another book by Platt. I am pretty sure my nubbins of toes left from Radical are a bit nervous.

The MCs and HH have been having a Street Fighter tournament the last few nights.
Thrilling.
We are all excitement over here.
Yep.
All excitement.
All the time.
It's how we roll.

FIRST CAN I SAY....

it is not a fun task taking a child to the dentist who thinks "silver" teeth are AWESOME!

Defeats the purpose.

Second, a musing about destiny on AMH today.

Thirdly, I miss home.

Have a great Monday!