Thursdays

I don't like them much.

Josh goes to class on Thursday nights. I love that he's learning things, but I sure miss him even if it is for one evening a week.

Haiku for the Night:

icky away-ness
helplessly, hopefully, yes...
i am longing him

Prayer - Working Method

3. Pray that by God’s grace, prayer will remain at the center of our lives and ministries.

“We are a praying ‘league’, a community of men and women who are committed to prayer as a key methodology for advancing the Gospel of Christ. Prayer is the working method of our mission.”

(flickr.com)

(To see first post and description click here.)

No need to explain

Vince Lombardi

Probably the greatest football coach in all history, Vince Lombardi (1913-1970) expected dedication and effort and reaped the rewards. He has been honored since in many ways. he Super Bowl trophy was even renamed the Vince Lombardi Trophy!

Although I'm not interested in becoming a hardcore football fan, there are some lessons that I'm learning from Lombardi when I apply his approach to football to my approach to Christianity...

Prayer - Counting the Cost

2. Pray that we will know the peace of God as we count the cost of discipleship in all humility.

“We understand that this commitment exacts a cost – and we purpose to bear it, by the grace of God. We will ready ourselves for suffering. We will turn away from costly comforts, a larger income, material possessions, and places of personal privilege or honor. We will choose instead to embrace the way of poverty, loss, suffering, and humiliation – whatever it takes to bring the Gospel of Jesus to as many people as possible.

“An underlying principle of life and fruitfulness in the Spirit is the way of the Cross. As the Savior poured out his soul unto death as an offering for sin, so his disciple—indwelt by his Spirit—is likewise poured out in self-giving, sacrifice, and loving service that others might know and believe in him as their Redeemer and Lord.”

(flickr.com)

(To see first post and description click here.)

Boyfriend

I can't help it! I have to repost my sister Mary's latest blog post. It's a conversation with my nearly 5-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew. They were just in my wedding. Hahahahaahahah.

Lily: Someday I am going to have a boyfriend.
Jake: No you are not Lily.
Lily: Yes I am Jake. That is the way life works.
Mary: Lily, do you know what a boyfriend is?
Lily: Yes, but I'm not going to tell you.
Mary: Why not?
Lily: Fine...A boyfriend is a boy that loves you.
Mary: What are you going to do when you have a boyfriend?
Lily: I am going to marry him.
Jake: I am going to keep him away.
Mary: Where are you going to put him?
Jake: Under my bed.
Lily: That's not nice Jake.

Prayer - Steadfast Devotion

Over the past couple weeks, our Personnel Director Chris B. used the Mission Handbook to lead us in prayer, and I would like to share the points with you. These communicate the heart of our (WMPL's) mission, God's mission. Prayer is our heartbeat. I would like to ask and challenge you to go through these with me for ourselves, each other, and more specifically, missionaries with WMPL.

1. Pray that each of us will remain steadfast in devotion to Jesus Christ, living lives worthy of the calling.

“We are committed to the Person and the Cause of Jesus. We believe that committed lives are indispensable for authentic and compelling witness. Missionaries are possessed of an absolute devotion to Jesus Christ. ‘Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,’ Ephesians 4:1-3.”

(from CreativeCommons)