School starts in two weeks here.
Usually, I would be scouring the office supply stores to snatch up deals on classroom supplies. But, this year my students need prayer even more than they need 10 cent notebooks.
It's been true every other year, sure. Students need to see healthy relationships, at home and at school. It's an opportunity not every kid gets. So, I'm praying for their communities. I'm praying for my students to see Jesus in real, tangible ways through His people. I'm praying for my students to be surrounded with neighbors who love God and His children.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
burning
My state is literally on fire.
North Central Washington has been burning all summer. Ellensburg and Cle Elum erupted into flames this week. Just last night, the national park in my backyard finally caught into flames.
Our world is on fire, too.
Military conflicts, diseases, and hopelessness are plaguing the planet I love.
Jesus, restore peace. Give us strength to praise You. Multiply our hallelujahs.
North Central Washington has been burning all summer. Ellensburg and Cle Elum erupted into flames this week. Just last night, the national park in my backyard finally caught into flames.
Our world is on fire, too.
Military conflicts, diseases, and hopelessness are plaguing the planet I love.
Jesus, restore peace. Give us strength to praise You. Multiply our hallelujahs.
Monday, August 11, 2014
drama
"
the quality of being dramatic"
dra·ma
[drah-muh, dram-uh] Show IPA
noun
1.
a composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue orpantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character,especially one intended to be acted on the stage; a play.
3.
the art dealing with the writing and production of plays.
4.
any situation or series of events having vivid, emotional,conflicting, or striking interest or results: the drama of a murdertrial.
5.
--Dictionary.com
I tried to step out of the drama this summer. It was easier. It was really fun.
However, it wasn't real.
Life is full of emotion. Life is full of struggle. Life is full of challenges. Drama.
Life is far more complicated than a play. The story is deeper and richer.
As before, the problem is sin and the answer is Jesus. Always.
The unnecessary drama filters out. The real story, struggle remains. Pain. Heartache. Big issues and small, global or local. Drama in our own stories, in the global story, in the BIG story.
"Wake up O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you." --Ephesians 5:14
Friday, August 1, 2014
pre-gaming
The last camp of the summer is almost here.
Of all the camps this summer, I'm most excited about this one! To focus my excited heart, tomorrow is a day of prayer and fasting. Anyone in town is welcome to come to the prayer retreat tomorrow evening. Everyone else is welcome to send requests and join us from wherever you are.
God hears us every moment. In concentrated moments of prayer, we remember He has always been listening. I so look forward to camp weeks, when students and staff alike recognize that God has always been listening. He genuinely cares.
Praise the Good Father who loves and cares for us so deeply. Thank Him for His compassion. Thank Him for His goodness. Beseech Him for peace. We all need peace.
And please, pray for camp.
Of all the camps this summer, I'm most excited about this one! To focus my excited heart, tomorrow is a day of prayer and fasting. Anyone in town is welcome to come to the prayer retreat tomorrow evening. Everyone else is welcome to send requests and join us from wherever you are.
God hears us every moment. In concentrated moments of prayer, we remember He has always been listening. I so look forward to camp weeks, when students and staff alike recognize that God has always been listening. He genuinely cares.
Praise the Good Father who loves and cares for us so deeply. Thank Him for His compassion. Thank Him for His goodness. Beseech Him for peace. We all need peace.
And please, pray for camp.
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.