6
September
2006
We’re all sinners in desperate need of a savior. We need the grace of God every single day. Nobody’s perfect. But everyone needs friends. Someone to talk to face-to-face, to laugh with, to cry with.
I am blessed beyond measure to count two best friends, the kind I could call at 3am if I needed to. These two gals have been with me through it all. They stood by me through a painful betrayal by someone I counted a friend (causing me to have some trust issues, which is why I am careful about what I post about myself and my family online), as well as through my parents’ divorce a few years ago after 36 years of marriage. They met through me and decided they are twins separated at birth. We’ve laughed together and cried together, volunteered at Women of Faith together, and consumed lots of coffee together.
I tend to have trust issues, as I mentioned before. I hold back and focus on the surface stuff. Easy stuff. Stuff that doesn’t take much sharing. However, a Bible study a couple summers ago on John Ortberg’s If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat really changed my thinking about Trust. Walking on water means you have to get out of the boat, even in the storm. The ladies from my home church are much different from the ones in the previous church who betrayed me and my trust. These ladies, of all ages and walks of life, build each other up. One lady whom I now count as a good friend even shared how God provided for them through a devastating house fire and subsequent rebuilding and birth of their fourth child. It was so neat to hear her be vulnerable and share how much she depends on God. THAT is friendship. Trust. Love. Hugs and kleenex.
As I begin again to learn to trust new women in our new congregation in the Air Force, I am reminded of these lessons I’ve had to relearn my whole moving life.
Who would like to walk on the water with me? Hop on out of that boat and let’s Trust.
Written By: Pattie
Posted under: Women's Voices . 
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5
September
2006
God’s Vast Prairie
by Kathleen Marie
Resting on the pebbly sand watching God
comb his fingers through the ocean…
I pondered upon the artless plains
in remembrance.
The vast prairie: God’s hands raking
Through the loam of the land
With each stroke my essence becomes freer,
with each swell, each sigh, I am delivered.
Seeds planted with grace,
fertilized by His breathe
Prairies blush into greenness-
My soul grows into Who created me.
The Land is emblazoned with fruit
My heart aches to put forth
The sunrise smiles upon the freshness
Of His land.
Written By: Kathleen Marie
Posted under: Women's Voices . Email This Post
1
September
2006
I don’t know about you, but as Latino parents, who came from poverty and are raising children in middle class America, we struggle with two things:
(Well, actually we struggle with a lot of things, but today I’m only going to address these two.)
1. How can we help our children become bilingual, and therefore, pass on to them the wealth of speaking, reading and writing in two languages?
2. How do we help our children become sensitive to those who don’t have all the comforts they enjoy?
I don’t want you to think that my husband and I have resolved this struggle. Actually, we’ve realized it is a continuous struggle, one we tackled daily by our choices. But a recent decision, seemed to be, the ‘kill two birds with one stone’, solution.
A missions trip to Nicaragua.
1. They’d get to practice their Spanish.
2. They’d get to see poverty, up close and personal and have a chance to positively contribute. Although, they’ve had limited exposure to poverty in Manhattan, we thought the distance and exotic location might have a greater impact.
What does the Bible say?
His ways are not our ways; His thoughts are not our thoughts.
You betcha!
My husband and son, just returned from seven days helping a missionary couple (Tony & Ginny Morales) in Matagalpa, Nicaragua.
They have been transformed.
In seven days, the team of 16 ordinary American citizens, built a basketball court for a local Christian elementary school, ran a free dental and health clinic, conducted street outreach with puppetry, human videos and skits, gave a pastoral conference on marriage counseling, ministered to youth groups and even did a bit of shopping.
Did my son practice his Spanish? Yes.
Did he see poverty? Yes.
Did he come to appreciate his comfortable, blessed life here in the States? Yes.
But he wants to go back.
He wants to spend a whole year in that third world country.
My fourteen year old, i-pod loving, X-box maniac, computer addict, is willing to give it all up, because God opened his heart to see a need. A need he feels led to meet.
That was really my heart’s desire.
And God knew it.
More important than becoming bilingual. More important than relating to his parents’ childhood economic circumstances. More important than having a new experience.
A changed heart–that longs to do God’s will.
Every Christian mother’s desire for her child. Rejoice with me.
Written By: Vasthi Acosta
Posted under: On Being a Parent . Email This Post
