God Uses Us... Isn't that amazing???

I just finished a meeting with a team leader that is taking his group to Peru this summer. What a joy it was to talk with him about the possibility to lead his team. He had a number of questions from parents and team members. It was so cool to be able to talk from experience and not from theory. God has blessed me with the ability to take groups to various places around the world and watch them as they are challenged in their understanding of God, themselves, the body of Christ, etc.

The amazing part about all of this is that God has blessed me to be used by Himself for His glory. In myself, I have messed up enough to know that in me is no good thing. But still God in His mercy and grace chooses to use me. I am baffled by this, because I know better - If I were God, I would have discarded me a long time ago. Yet, God forgives, and graciously hands me the privilege of serving Him.

What an amazing God we have!!

Soaring like an Eagle

How peaceful it must be for an eagle to glide across the sky effortlessly. How wonderful it must seem to look down at the busyness of the world and not be impacted by it. How quiet it must sound with nothing but rushing wind to distract your thoughts. Oh to be an eagle today!


Running around, chasing the kids, keeping on top of work, balancing responsibilities, meeting with friends, caring for others, maintaining the house and cars... I need about 24 more hours in a day to do all that I want to and need to do. Or at least sometimes that is how it seems. I get aggravated with myself when I take on more than I can do, yet I enjoy the things I do (generally). I wish I could do more. I wish I were available more for friends and family. I wish I could just sit and talk a while with people, and then leave and sit and talk a while with other people. I long for a day when life is simpler, yet I know it will never come.

At times like this, I recall a verse from my youth, "They that wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings as eagles. They will run and not be weary. They will walk and not faint."

I ask myself, "are you waiting or working?" If I am honest, the answer usually is that I am working. Today I remind myself to wait!

So much to say, so little time...

Today is going to be a busy day. I have a "class" I am supposed to teach at 1:00. At 4:00 I have to be at a meeting and fill out a bunch of paperwork. At 6:30, I need to be at a dinner meeting with friends. Life is exciting and constantly moving. However, there are times I wish things would just stop for a while and allow me to catch up.

One thing I have learned recently, and continue to forget and relearn it, is that when I take time in the morning to set my day straight, the rest of the day plays out well. When I focus my energy and time on God first in the morning, and spend time laying out my day with Him, it is amazing how He takes the rest of the day and prepares me for it.

Well, much to do today, so I better get to it.

Gotta hate the road blocks!

So, last night I made my way from Chattanooga to Philadelphia leaving home at 10:00 PM. Yes, that's right - I drove all night. I realize I am getting older, but truly it is the best time to travel without much traffic. That is until I hit the snow plow brigade in West Virginia. Route 81 goes through West Virginia for all of 25 miles - 15 of them we followed this train of vehicles going 15 miles per hour. Yes it tool me 1 hour to go 15 miles!

It makes me think about the paths of life that hit us daily. With the best of planning in life, we can travel through life at 65 miles an hour - smooth sailing. Then out of nowhere, a road block stops us, or slows us down to a snails pace. We can see this as an opportunity to get angry and respond, or as an opportunity to grow and respond. The responses will be drastically different.

Thankfully, I was too tired to be angry! What is your usual response??

AMG Haiti needs your help

On February 4, 1976, the earth shook violently under Guatemala City. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake killed more than 23,000 people. In a brief few minutes, huge sections of the city were destroyed. Major landslides blocked roads, hindered rescue efforts and cut food and water supplies. Power supplies and communication links were cut completely. Thousands of subsequent aftershocks caused still more loss of life.

February 4, 1976 also marked the beginning of AMG’s ministry in Guatemala. Several years earlier, missionary Frank Waggoner answered the call to serve the poor. He and AMG had begun discussion of ways to help, but little had come of them yet. However, out of the rubble of that earthquake grew the solid ministry of AMG Guatemala that stands stronger than ever today.

Today, AMG Guatemala ministers to nearly 7,500 children, with a staff of over 500 people. The ministry feeds, clothes, educates, and shares the truths of God’s word with these children and their families. The organization is comprised of 28 child care centers, a camp, and medical and dental clinics. They are seeking to grow into other needy areas. Thanks to the work of the Dennett family and the national workers, the light of AMG Guatemala shines today as a result of the devastation of over 34 years ago.

(To see more about the ministry of AMG Guatemala, go to www.amgguatemala.org )

Why do I share these things with you? Today we stand in the face of another devastating natural phenomenon, and while the rest of the world responds with food, clothing, shelter, we realize this is a great opportunity to magnify the God we serve by meeting both the physical and the spiritual needs for years to come. Imagine 35 years from now, maybe as a result of this catastrophe, God raises up AMG Haiti to open numerous childcare centers, employing hundreds of Haitians to reach their own people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. AMG Haiti already is functioning in northern Haiti with a child care center and a health clinic, but so much more could be done with the help of people with a passion to help.

Won’t you join us as we seek to reach Haiti for God? Don’t you want your donation to reflect long term change due to long term commitment to sharing the Gospel with Haitians? (If so, go to http://www.amginternational.org/www/docs/10362/latest-updates-news.html)

Help us spread the word to others, as we seek to Advance the Ministry of the Gospel in Haiti.