Disaster Relief

Jason and I had the honor a few years ago to work with the Salvation Army in Greensburg Kansas after the F5 tornado ripped their town apart. When I say apart...I mean A PART! We have a heart for really wanting to be in the thick of it helping, but right now that is not a possibility for us. Jason was reading their website today and this picture is on the front page and I wanted to share it with you: 

Roads of devastation. It is such a sobering thing to see and it puts your world into quick perspective. But sometimes our lives feel like natural disasters. Sometimes we feel like every direction we turn there is a problem or one other thing that is falling apart. Our marriage. Our kids out of control. The church we attend is doing more harm to it's members than good. Our friends are toxic. The list could go on and on and leave us feeling like we don't have much left. 

I love the caption the Salvation Army put here: We combat natural disasters with acts of God. If this were a picture of my life, I think I would want the caption to say: He combats my life with acts of grace. 

Is your life in ruins today? Would it be nice to get some rescue work in your world? Numbers 10:9 God is talking to Moses and He says: When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies.

Go into battle today confident that God is ready to rescue you! Luckily for us, we don't have to carry a trumpet around and freak our co-workers out when we give out a big 'ol blast! Call on your God to rescue you! 

Psalm 145:17-19

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
       and loving toward all he has made.
 ¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
       to all who call on him in truth.
 ¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
       he hears their cry and saves them.

Hold on to your hat sisters..

This post is going to knock it out of the playing field...and in case you were wondering...yes I REALLY make myself laugh. Okay..I know two posts in one day is REEEEAAALLY extravagant for me, but I've been dying to post this so you guys could join in. 


So I have to tell you that I was reading an email from a new friend, who ROCKS I might add...and she mentioned she is clumsy! Which made me laugh because I have done some wild clumsy things in my life, one of which I will save for further revelation momentarily.  Anyway, it got me to thinking about how we share our stories of clumsiness and how we get a good laugh out of each other...THEN in some weird train of thought that my brain is equipped and wired for...I started thinking about the game CLUE. Don't ask...just follow me there. So here's how this interactive post is going to go:


State the worst injury you ever gave to yourself using a character from the game of CLUE, the room you were in, the weapon and a small description. I would LOVE for you to pass this on to your friends so we can get as many responses as possible! I think it will be a blast. So I'll start:

Miss Scarlett, in the bathroom with the cabinet door. I  gave myself a 3rd degree concussion and whip lash one morning after a shower. I flung my head up after running my fingers through my hair and gracefully...in a very harsh completely ungentle way, whacked my head on the cabinet door and knocked myself out....there you have it...now the world knows. 

You're next! Here are the Characters from the board game in case you need a refresher:


Miss Scarlet
Colonel Mustard
Mrs. White
Reverend Green
Mrs Peacock
Professor Plum

Words of petition

As is custom on the nights I'm exhausted and believe I might actually get to sleep...Biscuits...my sweet boy who is 18 months old today...decided he would not. I got up several times throughout the night to take him what I thought he needed, or find his papo (otherwise knows as passy) but nothing seemed to work. I was thinking how crazy it was that the Bug was speaking in full sentences at this age, and it was SO much easier. He has a LOT of words and more than ever they are starting to take literal flight, but he's still just our baby...and I like that.  At about 2:30 in the morning though...we were on round 4 or 5 getting up...which I have to tell you before you all start giving me parental advice...I don't do often. I had a feeling that something must be wrong, so I was being extra attentive. So just know I'm not an overrly protective, give my baby anything, jump at every noise mama! Anywhoo...I was laying there listening to him A - GAIN...and all of a sudden...there it was "Baba...baba...mama...baba" I couldn't believe it! He was asking for a bottle! I could HELP! Whoohoo! I flew down the stairs and loaded a bottle with milk, warmed it quickly and ran back up the stairs to rescue my sweet boy who was obviously hungry...don't even start on me about the fact that he's 18 months old and is still drinking out of a bottle...


Later in the morning as I was resting my head on my pillow, thinking the night away...I started to wonder about our first words of petition. When we prayed for the first time...did our Father just jump up and down for joy! Was He elated when He heard us speak to Him for the first time...even if it was for a Pretty in Pink Barbie? Or for the boy that we so wanted as our boyfriend and were certain we would die if God didn't force him to fall in love with us right there on the spot! Whatever the first time we've prayed, or even now when we pray,  words of petition bring so much more to the table. I have to believe that in some way...even if we aren't on the right path...or if we're asking for something that isn't what we need...or if all we EVER do is ask...I have to believe that somewhere in the heartbeat of Heaven there is rejoicing because we haven't given up acknowledgement of our Creator. 


There are times too when, as I said Biscuits doesn't articulate his words well...eh-hem...and I would give anything to have someone say...listen lady...he is sick and tired of being in the house and is requesting you get him goldfish crackers and take him on a walk...something like that. Do you remember that scene in Up when they realize the dogs can talk through their voice boxes? I need one of those for him! There are times when we ourselves have this ongoing thing in our heart that we can't verbalize. We know the bulk of our request, the pain surrounding it...but we just don't know what to pray for. What then? Our hope is this..the Spirit intercedes for us in prayer and takes everything our heart would verbalize and lays it at the feet of the Father. He is our translator giving God the whole of what we request and what we seek.  Romans 8:26 says In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. I love that 'with groans that words cannot express'. I have to tell you I have spent plenty of time on my face, tears soaking the carpet, and no words can fill the room...only sobs. There is such peace in knowing, I don't have to verbalize it because the One Spirit who is active and living in me is at that moment, racing to the thrown room to lay my heart at the foot of the king, and He in turn will quiet it:


Zephania 3:17 says:
The LORD your God is with you,
       he is mighty to save.
       He will take great delight in you,
       he will quiet you with his love,
       he will rejoice over you with singing."


Are you feeling lately like you just don't have much to say? Do you feel like a parakeet constantly repeating the same thing? Say it again. He WILL take great delight in you. It doesn't say He DID...it says He will...


I know from emails and comments and women at church...there is so much pain painting the skies of this world. There are petitions to be made. Don't think for one second our Father is too busy, not interested, or hasn't heard you because He hasn't answered. He rejoices over you. He will calm your heart, and I promise He is mighty to save. But don't take my word for it...ask Him yourself.


I love you,


Sara