A Country Church Memory

May 30, 2010 by 4 Comments

6012664637_419206d01f_z

On this Memorial Weekend, as we remember loved ones who’ve gone on before us, I’m reminded of both sets of my grandparents. They lived on neighboring farms and attended the same little country church.

My cherished memories of their church inspired the following poem. Some of you may have read it earlier this month in my Life Notes newsletter, but I thought I would share it here again in honor of Memorial Day — in honor of my grandparents. Hope you enjoy!

Country Church Comfort

Country church painted white
Each Sunday morning comes alive,
Trails of dust converge into one
As faithful neighbors begin to arrive.

No big parking lots here
Just pull onto the grass,
Like everywhere the talk is weather
And will it ever pass.

Across the way the cemetery stands
A wealth of history under the trees,
Happy times are remembered here
And with heaven’s hope, sadness flees.

Seasons come and seasons go
A country church weathers them all,
As favorite hymns fill the air
Hear country church comfort call.

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1 KJV

*Flickr photo by p medved, Creative Commons License

*It’s not too late to receive the latest issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter. Sign-up is free and to the right!

Filed Under: church, family, memories, poem

I’ll Do It!

May 2, 2010 by 3 Comments

Ever need someone to volunteer to help out with a task or project you can’t accomplish on your own? I’ve been in just such a position the past several weeks and am happy to report God has provided the volunteers. (No, the baby above is not my volunteer, but she’s sure a cute example, isn’t she? :) )

Many of you will remember that I became our church’s Angel Tree coordinator about a year ago. Most folks associate Angel Tree with Christmas, but many Angel Tree programs offer outreaches and ministry to prisoners’ families at other times during the year as well. For example, we sent Mother’s Day/Father’s Day cards to the prisoners last year and also offered Angel Tree Camping and Back to School ministries for the children. This year a few ladies are also sending birthday cards to the kids throughout the year.

Since right now I’m in the thick of helping my daughter plan her wedding, I needed volunteers to step up and take care of this year’s Angel Tree summer outreaches. I knew if I tried to stuff any more organizational details or tasks into my mind and life, I just might burst. Definitely not a good idea. After all, the mother of the bride needs to be able to hold it all together come what may.

So…several weeks ago, I asked my friend Lisa if she’d be willing to be in charge of the Mother’s Day cards, and she said “yes” right away (thanks, Lisa!). Early this year, I began praying for someone to volunteer to do Angel Tree Camping and have been making the need known in our church for the past couple of months as well. The weeks went by with no one offering to take it on (it’s a big commitment, by the way).

With the time growing ever shorter to be able to pull it off, I felt awful (and guilty!) to think we might not be able to offer camping to our Angel Tree kids this year. Just this past week, however, Melissa, one of our missions committee members, stepped up to organize this vital ministry to the hurting kids of prisoners in our area. Thank you, Melissa! An eternal difference might be made in the lives of some of these precious kids because of your willingness to serve!

I wonder — is God calling you to step up and fill a needed ministry position or perhaps lighten the load of a friend? Are you ready to say, “I’ll do it!”? Believe me, you might be just the one who helps someone hold it all together. You might be just the one who makes an eternal difference.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

*Flickr photo by superhua

*Don’t forget to enter the Extra Sweet Giveaway!

*Also, the current issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, is coming out this week. Sign-up is free and to the right!

Filed Under: church, help, missions, team, thanks

Church in My Backyard

March 28, 2010 by 3 Comments

I’m not the most observant person in the world. Case in point: We helped move our daughter and son-in-law to a townhome in a new city last November, visited them on New Year’s weekend, and then again over spring break, and it wasn’t until this last trip that I noticed they have a church in their backyard — or side yard or whatever you want to call it. The point is it’s right there.

Imagine my delight when I looked out the upstairs bedroom window early one morning before anyone else was stirring and saw a church tucked behind the stand of trees lining their development. Wow, I thought. They’ve got a church right in their backyard! I could feel a blog post coming on so I grabbed my camera and started snapping away.

Even though Kristin and Shawn don’t attend this particular church, I’m still excited to think they have a church — such a visible reminder of God — standing tall and strong so close to their home. A picture of God, if you will, living in their midst, watching over them, inspiring worship and peace for any who will open their eyes and see (the way I finally did!).

Believe it or not, I have a church in my backyard, too. No, it’s not a beautiful building made of stone and brick. It’s simply my yard. But it’s filled with visible reminders of God. The trees, the grass, the birds, the breeze all point to Him and remind me that He’s living in my midst. He’s watching over me, and yes, inspiring worship and peace when I take the time to lift my eyes and turn my thoughts toward Him.

Amazing, huh? I can’t help but proclaim, “Wow — I’ve got a church in my backyard!” How about you?

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song…” Psalm 98:4

*Are you one of my Facebook friends yet? If not, connect with me today!

*My photo

Filed Under: church, creation/creative/creator, home, worship

Beautiful Feet Revisited

January 24, 2010 by 4 Comments

Since we just got back home from our weekend mission trip to Beautiful Feet, I thought I’d just share a photo and re-run the poem I wrote a few years ago about the Feet (as the locals call it). I didn’t take my camera along because I didn’t want to risk losing it, but someone took this shot on the trip a couple of years ago.

If you look closely, you can see members of the construction team working on the outside of the building, but on the inside you might see meals being served, clothes being sorted, worship services in progress, people praying together — in other words, the body of Christ at work.

As you read the poem, I think you’ll get an even better picture of what Beautiful Feet is like. Enjoy — and praise God with me for this beacon of hope in inner city Ft. Worth!

Beautiful Feet

There’s a place in Ft. Worth called Beautiful Feet
A place known by all who live on the street,
A hot lunch for free can be found there each day
After food for the soul is served up some way.
You see it’s not just a place, instead it’s a church
Where many find themselves beginning their search
For some shred of hope, a way out of their pain,
For love and acceptance instead of disdain.
Beautiful Feet is a light in a dark lonely world
A beacon of hope like a flag unfurled
For God’s people show love to one and all,
For Jesus is the One upon whom they call.
There are those who serve faithfully day after day,
And those who come yearly to work, share, and pray.
Each one sees God’s power heal and redeem,
The lost and the hurting become part of the team.
Each year Kansas comes the talk is who is blessed more
Those in Ft. Worth or the Kansans galore.
They truly feel like family, the bond is oh so sweet
For God is the Father at Beautiful Feet.

“As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'” Romans 10:15b

Filed Under: church, comfort, fellowship, help, missions, poem, team

Sanctuary and Shelter

January 20, 2010 by 8 Comments

With life on a more even keel for us this January than the last, Don and I will be joining others from our region this Friday on a weekend mission trip to Beautiful Feet, a church that ministers to the homeless and inner city population in Ft. Worth, TX. For nearly 30 years, Beautiful Feet has offered a welcoming and safe haven to many needy and desperate souls. We feel blessed to be a part of their ministry every now and then.

Even though Beautiful Feet is a church and not a homeless shelter, it provides sanctuary and shelter in both physical and spiritual ways. Years before I became acquainted with Beautiful Feet, I wrote the following poem one winter as I thought about the plight of the homeless. As you read it today, please pray for the homeless — and for those who serve among them. And pray for our team this weekend, please!

Sanctuary and Shelter

Cold winter night
And I’m in my home,
Warm sanctuary and shelter.
Snow slashes through biting winds
While darkness drives the temperature down,
I look outside and shiver.
Oh God, thank You for my home.
My thoughts then fly to those
Who have no home,
Those living in the streets.
Real people, real suffering,
Real needs too many to number.
Lord God, help me to know
What I can do,
How I can give,
Where I can be Your servant.
And in Your faithful servants, Lord,
May they see You
And find
True sanctuary and shelter.

“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.” Isaiah 25:4a

**The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early February. Sign-up is on the sidebar.

Flickr photo by RodneyRamsey, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: church, missions, poem, team, travel, winter
« Previous Page
Next Page »