Clear Lake Women's Ministry

For Such a Time as This

2010-07-05T19:16:00.001-07:00

It was one of those weeks--a week where I had a carefully planned list of task to accomplished so that I could leave town the following week with peace of mind but a week where forces out of my control prevented even one item from being completed. Hurricane Alex brought massive rainfall for three days. My husband fell and cracked a rib so we spent several hours in an emergency facility. My sister called to say that my mother who suffers from Parkinson's stays in a state of constant confusion. My son finally informed me that he is unemployed but not to worry, he's joining the army. What's not to worry about there. And then I'd promised Deborah I would come and help her pack to move out of her apartment.

Deborah is someone I met at my retail job. Deborah didn't make many friends at work. In fact, she sometimes seemed to have a chip on her shoulder. She called in sick one day and checked herself into the hospital. Within a week, she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. I obtained her phone number, determined to stay in touch. During one phone call, she hesitantly asked if I could come and help her pack. In the midst of all her treatment and illness, she needed to vacate her apartment.

I'd spoken to Deborah earlier in the week to check on her and that's when we decided I'd call her after her radiation treatment to see if she was up to having me come and help on Tuesday. But the new number she gave me didn't work and the old number was disconnected. In the meantime, the rain started. Not just rain, but the torrential downpour that comes from hurricanes and floods all feeder roads and main routes of traffic around here. Even though Alex made landfall in South Texas, he was a huge storm spreading rain and spawning tornadoes across the south. Then my husband fell and cracked his rib so we spent Thursday evening in the ER, something never very quick. Finally, Saturday during my lunch break, I reached Deborah's daughter. She said it would be wonderful if I would go sort through the apartment and determine what to save and what to toss. She gave me the correct number for Deborah. After work, I checked with my husband. He'd just taken his meds and was going to lie down and sleep for awhile. We agreed that would be the perfect time to go to Deborah's.

I still couldn't reach her on the phone but her daughter encouraged me to just go on by there. Deborah was grateful, even thrilled to see me. I'd mentally prepared myself for an unpleasant situation since she'd described what the effects of daily radiation were doing to her. Her two room apartment easily qualified for one of those organizing shows. Piles of stuff covered every surface, the floor, the desk. Only the stove was clear. My heart sunk. Pre-rain and ER, I'd planned to arrive with gloves, boxes, and cleaning supplies but I had none of those for this impromptu visit.

I'm an organizing natural so I just put on my optimistic face and surveyed the situation. I found a pack of gloves, some trash bags, and a few boxes underneath a pile so I began sorting. Grandchildren's toys in one box, junk mail in the trash, a box for items to give away, one stack for current medical info, a memorabilia stack, and so we went for two hours. Deborah had lived in the apartment for seven years. And in seven year's time, she hadn't thrown away much paper. Her desk revealed a life spent surviving. There were countless slips of paper with numbers for possible job leads, old pay stubs, classifieds with jobs circled, legal papers for issues from not having enough money. I joked with her about using one notebook to write all her numbers in. She joked back wishing I'd been around for her earlier in life. We talked about all the jobs she'd had. Deborah shared that largely she just felt stupid and was treated as such. I suggested she had some learning disabilities and an inability to organized. She agreed.

Two hours later, the desk, the ironing board-made-bedside table, other side tables, the floor were clear, papers sorted into appropriate folders, dishes washed, and a semblance of order was beginning to appear. In the piles, we uncovered the cards mailed to her recently. My church sent prayer cards and there were cards from other Sunday school classes offering their prayers. But standing in the midst of the disorganization, I couldn't help but wonder, where were those people? Deborah treasured those cards and we stacked them so she could get them easily and reread them. Deborah even treasured the letter from the retail employer granting her a leave of absence for her illness believing it to be a personal letter. And then I realized: This is a woman who has not seen a lot of caring in her life.

And certainly prayer is a wonderful thing. But what Deborah needed was people. People who cared. Deborah was tired and in pain by now so it was time for me to go. She asked me to get her mail and three cokes from the coke machine to help with her nausea. She insisted on providing the quarters for the coke machine so to preserve some dignity, I took them. And then the tiny miracle happened. The coke machine provided the cokes and spit the money back on all but the last coke. It's as if God said, "Thanks. Have two drinks on me." Or maybe not. I doubt that God steals cokes but with no way to make the machine take the money and nowhere to leave the money, it felt like a gift.

I came home exhausted after eight hours of retail therapy from behind the counter and two hours of cleaning at Deborah's. I lay in bed thinking about Sunday, the next day. I need to pack my for trip and clean a little bit of my own house. But I felt a strong urge to return to Deborah's. I realized that the only furniture in her living room was a dining room chair, a side table, and a small table holding a television. I guess I missed the absence of other furniture because the room was full of stuff. One lone chair for a lonely woman to watch TV. My own worries aside, I was certain I was going back.

And I did. I rounded up a couple of friends and headed back to Deborah's. Wendy tackled the kitchen and the refrigerator with great vigor and the result was a sparkling kitchen. Julie tackled paper piles sorting current documents into neatly labeled folders, and I continued throwing away old paper, filling the give-away box, and generally cleaning. Two hours (six man hours!) later, I surveyed our work. While not completely clean, I believe we accomplished enough that her daughter and son-in-law could then move her into her new location with just a little more packing.

Why did we do this? I don't have a pat answer other than knowing that there really was no one else to do this. And as I prepared my lesson on Esther this week, I kept thinking perhaps I met Deborah "for such a time as this." Esther 4:14

Scouting the Divine - The Good Shepherd

2010-06-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

This week's study finishes part 1-- The Good Shepherd.

Through a visit with a shepherdess, Margaret Feinberg uncovers the significance of the many references to sheep and shepherds in the Bible. Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He leads me beside still waters. Thy rod and staff comfort me.

Psalm 23

Did you know that sheep cannot find water on their own? That they will not drink from rushing waters? Did you know that shepherds were the young and the old and the women? Think David, youngest son of Jesse; Rachel, youngest daughter of Laban; Moses, old when he was sent to Egypt to recue the people.

So when, in Luke 2, the angels first appear to the shepherds, they were appearing to the least of society, a group on the margins of society, unable to keep the rabinic laws by nature of their profession, unclean and smelly from living with sheep. No wonder the shepherds were terrified. But God, in his wise, generous, and loving way, asked the shepherd to go, not to a huge palace, but to a manger, a barn, a place shepherds would feel at home.

I encourage you to attend even one of our Bible studies. Even if you do not have the book, you will still gain something from the discussion, and most certainly the fellowship will do you good! Join us on Mondays at 6:45 p.m in League City or Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. in Clear Lake.

Click for League City study

Click for map to Clear Lake study

The Landing

2010-05-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

As boarding time grew nearer and my 3.5 hours in Birmingham drew to a close, the boarding attendant announced, "There is weather on the way. If you do not want to be here another 1 1/2 hours, please board quickly and find your seat ASAP so that we can leave the gate." Again, I was number 3 onto the plane. I love the Early Bird boarding option. The stampede followed me.

Lightning flashed as we buckled our seat belts. Too late. The orange vest guys who push the plane back are not allowed out during lightning. But that weather cell moved on in about 10 minutes and soon we were airborne. It was a too-bumpy-to-have-refrehsments ride. But again, I had a row to myself so I did not miss the peanuts.

Most of the passenger disembarked at Louisville. Only 3 remained to continue on to Chicago. However, there were 2000 people waiting to get on the plane. Did I mention it was the Sunday after the Derby. I suppose all were heading home after a weekend, abeit a wet weekend, of revelry at Churchhill Downs.

The airport was decked out Derby-style. Pots of roses every 6 feet down the concourse. Cutouts of Derby silks (those are the shirts the jockies wear) hanging in the windows. A band playing, although the song was the Tennessee Waltz. The Southern Bells were gone. They were there the day before handing out bourbon balls.

I spoke to the TSA agent guarding the exit from the gate area. That is a lonely job. They don't care who leaves through the front door. The mad house is on the other side of the wall for those trying to leave on a plane. So I chatted with her about the Derby. Turns out she owns a box seat by the finish line which she inherited from her grandmother or her great grandmother. She decided not to attend this year and sold her seats. For $17,000. No, there's no extra 0. My great grandmother probably made moonshine. I wished her well and moved on to ground transportation.

At the baggage conveyor belt, another mob of people waited for luggage but not from my flight. The rental car lady informed me that flights from Memphis and Nashville were diverted to Louisville because of the massive floods. I got my car, loaded my bags, and headed out in the rain in search of food.

I found my sister's favorite deli and called to ask for her order. Half an hour and seven sandwiches later, the five guys behind the deli counter gladly waved me on. I headed on to Lawrenceburg. I dropped the first order of sandwiches off at my sisters, visited briefly and headed on to Mom and Dad's. Mother was thrilled to get her Mocha Frappacino. That has now become a tradion. I bring her a frappacino on my visits. She cannot do much but she can still taste. So I bring her a frozen treat. My visit and Starbucks will be a good Mother's Day for her.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Galations 5:22

--Laura

Between Jets

2010-05-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

Travel time again. Home to Momma. Although there was a time when home to Momma meant good times and good food. The food is still good, it just that now my father is the cook and, on a good day Momma can sit in her chair, Parkinson's having robber her of her mobility. I always have some trip anxiety on this journey, which I try to make every two to three months now. I'm the "glue" in my family, which many wives and mothers are. We hold it all together. So I'm leaving the boys on their own for a couple of days. But they will be fine. They always are. And my mother is excited that I am coming to visit.

When I booked my jet flight, I opted to save a few bucks and ignored the "travel time" column--not something I usually do. So here I am in the Birmingham airport with an extra 3 hours on my hands. My first mission was to find food. Airports have come along way in the amenities they offer the traveler. After exploring the one concourse, I discover my choices are the Wall Street Deli or the Pizza Hut Express. Imagine that. A New York-based deli in the Birmingham airport. After surveying the deli choices, I opt for the cheese pizza. So $72 later, I choose to believe this is an opportunity to eat a delicacy that I rarely enjoy--pizza. I note they have Freshens Frozen Treats for the two-hour mark. (OK, it was really $8.45.)

My first decision of the trip was a good one. I opted to by-pass the curbside check-in line for the inside one. In case of lines, I choose to wait in air-conditioned, exhaust-free comfort. I was first in line inside. Really I was first. There was no line. (Who else is going to Louisville via Birmingham on a Sunday morning.) But as I get to security, I discover there are a lot of people going somewhere this morning. I take my place in line.

I know this drill well and have packed accordingly. My larger-than-3-fluid-ounces items are checked in my baggage. I wait patiently as people not so familiar with the drill dig out their baggies and unlace their shoes. The man behind me comments on my luggage tags. One is bright yellow and proclaims, "This is not your bag." The other is attached to my laptop bag and warns, "This is not your black bag." My turn comes and I grab two plastic bins. My allotted plastic baggie of personal 3-fluid-ounce items is just inside my zipped luggage ready for me to grab and drop in the bin.

I slide my laptop out and put in a bin. Next goes cell phone, small over the shoulder bag which will fit in the laptop bag so I meet the required two-item carryon limit, and my sweater. I wait until the last minute to slip off my platform flip flops and put them on the belt. I remember to hang on to my boarding pass. Woe to the infrequent traveler who in their haste to strip and fill the plastic bins to keep the line moving, drops their boarding pass in the bottom of the bin. That paper with the little red squiggle blessing from the TSA agents is more important than air when you are in that line.

Shoes on the belt, I tiptoe through the metal detector to avoid full-floor contact with my feet. Bare feet on that floor. Ew. I remember seeing a lady in line wearing socks with her sandals. It makes sense now. I would throw the socks away later. I pass inspection, grab my shoes first (shoes off last but first on the conveyor--key point) and slip into them. The person in front of me is still wobbling while trying to lace shoes and grab luggage off the belt.

The airports have kindly installed seating just past the gestapo maze as if to say we're sorry you had to go through that. I sit and slip all items back into their travel homes. On to my gate. I have only about a 30 minute wait to board. I sit in a comfy chair with a plug next to the chair arm for my last minute surfing.

Southwest is my fav airline. Even though they don’t have assigned seating, your boading pass is numbered. You can even pay a little extra to hold your place in line when you book your ticket. I whooped with glee to discover that I was A18 when I printed my boarding pass. They called A1 to 30. I took my place in line between posts A16 and A20. I was alone. There were two gentlemen at A1 and 2. The next folks were way back at A25. This has never happened before.

As the number 3 person to board the plane on its maiden voyage for the day, I had my pick of all but two seats. My Southwest travel strategy is to head straight for the back of the plane. I pick the third row from the back. Most people grab seats nearer the front of the plane, probably fearing that they will run out of choice seats at the rear and will have to turn around and head back up the plane against the flow. No one wants to do that. I score an entire row to myself, no one in front of me, one person behind me and one person across the aisle next to the window. An excellent trip.

I enjoy reading Spirit Magazine, the in-flight magazine for Southwest. It is full of interesting articles with quirky humor and inventive ideas. Take 3floz.com. A couple of women traveled together. One carried a small bag with travel-sized products purchased at multiple locations. The other brought two bags with her regular full-sized products. Together they created a web store featuring products of all brands that meet the TSA 3 fluid ounce requirement.

I just love stories of how people take a perceived inconvenience and make a business out of it.

So I’m thinking--right now I would love to rent a bed closet at this airport for two hours. I read somewhere that in Japan, the business travelers can now rent a tube room. Think rows of large PVC pipe stacked on top of each other. The tube rooms are equipped with wifi, sound, lighting, comfy bedding. They recognized some people just need a place to sleep. They don’t need all the extra room. I need a place to sleep.

How about gourmet take-in. You place your order at your originating gate and a meal from a local hotspot is delivered to your arriving gate. I would order fried pies from the Varsity when going to Atlanta. How about a quick nail salon - Hot soak, foot massage, and polish touch up complete in 20 minutes. Travelers need their feet taken care of. Even Jesus knew that.

So here I sit in the Birmingham Airport in the MagicCity refreshment center with a view of a Delta jetway. I think it’s time for the frozen yogurt and my Chuck Swindoll podcast. Perhaps I will nap between Birmingham and Louisville.

--Laura

Spinach Salad with Orange Dressing

2010-04-28T05:07:00.000-07:00

Dressing

1 cup cider vinegar
2 T (heaping) orange marmalade
1/2 cup sugar
2 t. dry mustard
2 t. salt
1 t. freshly ground pepper
1/2 t Tabasco sauce
2/3 cup vegetable oil

Combine the vinegar, marmalade, sugar, mustard, salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce in a blender container.

Add the oil in a fine stream, processing constantly at hight speed until thickened.

Chill, covered, in the refrigerator until serving time.

Salad

4 bunches fresh spinach, trimmed
6 Red Delicious apples, chopped
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 3/4 cups golden raisins
6 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
1 pound bacon, crisp-fried, crumbled

Arrange equal amounts of the spinach on 12 salad plates. Drizzle with the dressing.

Sprinkle each serving with the apples, raisins, walnuts, green onions, sesame seeds and bacon bits.

Serve immediately.

Serves 12.

Adjustments: I did not put in green onions, sesame seeds, or bacon bits. Sometimes I mix vegetable oil and olive oil.

Greek Salad

2010-04-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

Here's the link for the Greek salad. Since I got it from someone's specific website, I thought I should just link to it. There is a button for a printable copy on her website.

Enjoy! Laura

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Kittencals-Famous-Greek-Salad-66596

Island Chicken

2010-04-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

1 can (8 ounces) pineapple chunks
2 pounds chicken pieces
2 tablespoons shortening (ok, I used oil)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) chicken broth
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1 green bell pepper, seeds removed and cut in squares
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup water

Drain pineapple chunks, saving syrup. Brown chicken slowly in oil. Add reserved syrup, broth, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce and garlic. Cover; cook over low heat 40 minutes. Add bell pepper and pineapple chunks; cook 5 minutes more or until chicken is tender, stirring occasionally. Combine cornstarch and water; gradually stir into sauce. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Serve with cooked parsley rice. Serves 4. Really serves more than 4.

Recipe from Lone Star Legacy II by the Austin Junior Forum

Spring Retreat Schedule

2010-04-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

Friday

Check-in: Anytime after 3:00 p.m.

All activities and meals are in the meeting room on the first floor of Comfort Suites.

Dinner: Buffet will be ready at 5:45 p.m. Eat when you are ready. The buffet will be available most of the evening.

Program: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

After the program: Visit, sleep, enjoy!

Saturday

Breakfast:
Hotel Guests: Breakfast provided by the hotel beginning at 6:00 a.m.
Day Attenders: Light breakfast provided in the meeting room (8:30 a.m.)

Program: 9:00 a.m. to Noon

Checkout time: Noon (I'm working on getting an extension)

Lunch: 12:15 p.m.

Program: 1:15 to 3:00 p.m.

Retreat Sign up

2010-04-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

The spring retreat is Finding Your Strengths and is quickly approaching. There is still time to sign up. Our speakers Clay and Geana Bassham will lead us through scriptures that teach us how to use our strengths - our gifts- to serve.

How do you find your strengths? Sign up for the retreat, pick up your book, take the online assessment, and come to the retreat!

April 23-24. Comfort Suites on Texas Avenue in Webster.

Friday night dinner, Saturday breakfast, Saturday lunch and snacks provided.

Don't miss this time of renewal and refreshment.

Costs:

Share a room - 4 people - $65 per person
Share a room - 2 people - $85 per person
Come for the days - $40 per person

Pay at the welcome desk and pick up your book on Sunday.

A Night of Encouragement: Sunday April 11 5:00 p.m.

2010-04-08T04:58:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder what to say when a friend becomes ill, gets cancer, is dealing with a death?

Join us Sunday evening on April 11 (that's this week) as our own Lee Cox leads us in a discussion and some exercises to develop our skills to truly encourage one another.

Snacks provided. Free babysitting.

Fellowship hall at 5:00 p.m. The program will last about an hour.

Another Retail Story: An Opportunity to Encourage

2010-04-02T21:48:00.000-07:00

A man walked up to my counter today and laid three items down: a table cloth, a cream pitcher, and a salt and pepper shaker set. I asked him as I often asked customers if he found everything he was looking for. He shrugged and said, "All I know is I suck at this." Puzzled, I asked what he meant. He explained that his kids were coming to visit and he guessed nothing would match. As I completed the transaction, I asked more about his kids. He merely said two kids were coming with their kids.

I commented that I was sure they were coming to see him and that what he had picked out would look just fine. He didn't know what he was going to do with the kids. I suggested a train ride at the Kemah Boardwalk. I suggested he take them to McDonald's for Happy Meals and time on the playground. I suggested he just keep things simple and they would think he was a hero. He seemed a little relieved. So tonight I am wondering about that man. I wonder how long since he has seen his kids. I wonder that he was concerned that he should have items that matched. I hope I offered encouragement.

Earlier this week, another man purchased bath accessories, clearly preparing to redecorate or fix up a new bathroom. Yes, he said. He was starting over. Again. But he was hopeful about the future. "Sometimes," I offered, "a fresh start is good." He agreed.

Everyday, we encounter people who are facing difficulties. They have their own private pain as they move through their day. And they need encouragement. We may not know the details. They may not want to share the details. They don't necessarily need advice, just encouragement.

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. --1 Thessalonians 5:10, 11

Happy Easter

--Laura

Join us Sunday night, April 11, at 5:00 p.m. as Lee Cox leads us in exercises and discussions on how to encourage. Fellowship hall.

How to Post a Comment

2010-03-31T06:02:00.000-07:00

I borrowed the following section from Beth Moore's Living Proof Ministries blog. That is why it starts at B.

B) How do I leave a comment?

Step 1) Look at the bottom of whatever post you'd like to comment on. It will say something like this:
Posted by Amanda/Beth/Melissa at 7:00 p.m. 77 comments

Sometimes it will not say that. In that case, you'll see all the comments from that one post listed beneath it. Scroll to the bottom and look for it to say this:
Post a comment

Step 2) Now click on the word "comment(s)" and it will take you to the comments page.

Step 3) Look for the text box on the right side of the page under the words "Leave your comment." Type out your comment. (If it's really long or contains a question, then please go to our contact page and send us an email.)

Step 4) Choose an identity. If you have an account with "Google/Blogger," then click on that option. ("Blogger" is the free blogging service we use. Blogger.com is part of the "Google" network.) If you have an account with another blog service like Live Journal, Wordpress, TypePad, or AIM, click on the "Open ID" option. If you want to type your name and a web site that is not in one of those categories, choose "Name/URL." Just want to type your name and no web site? Simply leave the URL part blank. If you want to be "Anonymous," choose that option. You can include your name in your comment if you don’t really want to be anonymous but want to post using the “Anonymous” identity choice.

*To set up a profile or your own blog with Blogger, go to www.blogger.com and follow the directions on their home page.

Step 5) Click "Publish your comment." Or you can click "Preview" if you'd like to see what your comment will look like when it's published. If you don't like it, then you can click "Edit." If you're ready, click "Publish."

Step 6) Wait for your comment to be moderated by me. Comment moderation protects us all from unwanted spam and other tacky comments. We do reserve the right not to read every single comment. Please be aware that anything you do send us could possibly be published in that case, even if you say "Please do not publish this comment." We may not see it. If you have something to share that you do not want the public to read under any circumstance, please go to our contact page and send us an email.

Step 7) If you have a Blogger/Google account and you later decide you want to delete your comment, you will see a little trash can icon next to what you wrote. Click on the trash can and it will let you delete it. If you don't have a Blogger/Google account, you won't have that option. Please know that we are not able to edit your comments - only approve or delete them.

*You can find a ton of helpful info in Blogger's Help Center.

*

The Race: Staying Strong

2010-03-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

Nearly two years ago, I began my running “career.” At first, my running playlist was three songs long. Walk the first song, run as much of the second song as possible, and walk the third song. I clearly remember the day I ran four songs – a lovely fall day in the rolling Virginia Hills. And so my runs were measured by measures of song rather than miles.

Almost exactly one month ago, as I ran my first race, several thoughts came to me as I ran. That is the greatest thing about running—it frees your mind and the thoughts just fill your head.

Wendy Harrison encouraged me to sign up for the Houston Rodeo 5k fun run. I signed up in the fall when I’d been running 3 or 4 times a week but after the cold, wet weather hit, I did not go run much but I’d been running regularly for about a year so I felt I was somewhat prepared.

Thousands showed up in downtown Houston to run the race. 12,500 was the reported number of runners.

The excitement was palpable. The call came to take our mark and the starting horn blew. My adrenaline was pumping as I pushed off with the other runners. And as I ran, I experienced several things. First, there were people along the sidelines cheering. They rang bells, they had signs, they whooped, they yelled encouragement. And none of them knew me but I felt that they were there for me. So I ran with my head high.

But then there were stretches where there wasn’t anyone cheering. But I wasn’t alone. I was with the other runners. And I didn’t know them but we were in it together so I kept going, running along with them, all for the same purpose.

And then there was the finish line. I still had a few blocks to go but the extra burst that came when I saw the end was a great feeling so I kept going strong to the finish. And crossing that line was great – it was the feeling of having run a great race.

Many of you are facing your own race right now. You have a lot on your plate – you are dealing with illness, aging parents, rebellious children. And even without anything extraordinary in your life, as women, raising children in this world where boundaries are diminishing is tough. We work, we are wives, we are mothers.

Our theme this year is

Staying Strong

§ Relying on God

§ Recharging your strengths

§ Refreshing your relationships

Strong women make a huge impact.

In Deuteronomy 31, Moses goes out to speak to the people. They are finally headed into the new land promised many years earlier. Joshua is going to be their leader. And here’s what he tells them. He would not be going with them But God himself will cross over ahead of them.

“Be strong and courageous,” Moses told them. “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

And Moses told Joshua, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them . . .”

And Moses further advised Joshua, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Later, Joshua gives that same encouragement to the people. Be strong and courageous. And later David tells Solomon: Be strong and courageous. I found that encouragment given eleven times.

Our theme has three parts – God, you, and your relationships

Strength training takes practice – and there are different aspects of strength training – there’s bodybuilding, there’s increasing your endurance, and there’s toning.

Let me compare that to the women’s ministry and how you can tap into strength training.

Bodybuilding – our retreat will be focused on finding your strengths which will help you serve and help you build better relationships. We will have some socials to help you build your relationships.

Endurance – Bible studies, prayer groups, our equipping sessions will provide the skills you need to keep going.

Toning – First Friends, join in the planning for our events, and join in the opportunities to serve.

The women’s ministry team desires that each woman here have the skills and the relationships to run strong, to finish strong.

Back to that race. And so here are some lessons I pulled from that race.

1. To stay strong, we all need encouragement. Even just a little atta girl, “a you can do it” is an immense encouragement when you are in a race. We need to do that for each other – even those you don’t know very well. Find a way to encourage someone. And the women’s team is here to encourage you. We hope we have planned studies and events that will be an encouragement to you to stay strong.

2. Preparation is key to staying strong. Those who trained for the race finished strong. Those who were less prepared finished but it was tough. They straggled across the line. Prepare now for the challenges that will surely come. Prepare by coming to the studies, by coming to the fellowships, by making a new friend. Again, the team hopes that what we have planned will prepare you to be strong.

3. Even when there is no one cheering, you are not alone. You may not know them, but there is always someone going through the same thing that you are going through. It is a comfort knowing that someone else is right there with you.

No matter what, run with your head held high.

Be strong and courageous. . . Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31: 7-8

--Laura

Spring Retreat April 23-24: Finding Your Strengths

2010-03-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Retreat Moved to Local Hotel

As registrations have come in and as the women’s team has had conversations with many of you, we concluded that to move the retreat to a local location would serve more of you.

We have selected the Comfort Suites on Texas Avenue in Webster. Comfort Suites has a lovely l

obby with elegant seating and a waterfall. Slate floors lead down the hallway to suites containing two queen beds, a sitting area, granite counters in the bathrooms, and a mini refrigerator and microwave. The meeting room is large enough for us to have meeting and eating space!

Dinner will be provided by us on Friday night as well as lunch on Saturday. Comfort Suites provides a breakfast buffet on Saturday morning.

By moving the retreat, we have lowered the cost, included more meals, and added an option to attend the sessions without spending the night.

Cost per person for 4 people to share a room: $65

Cost per person for 2 people to share a room: $85

Cost per person to attend the sessions only: $40

Our Retreat Speakers

Clay and Geana Bassham are the dynamic duo that will be leading our Strengths Quest. Clay and Geana met on a blind date at Abilene Christian University in 1978 while she was a freshman and he was a senior. They fell in love and were married in 1981, and Clay claims Geana has been chasing him every since!

Clay became a Christian while attending the University of Wyoming. His passion for his new-found faith led him to Abilene Christian University as a senior to discover more about the church. Clay completed his B.S. in Range Science and earned a Master’s in Wildlife Biology while at ACU. After a brief stint teaching biology in Miami, Florida, Clay returned to Bryan-College Station with Geana to pursue his dream of teaching at the college level. Little did they know the dream of getting his doctorate degree would not come about for 25 years. But with patience comes blessings. Clay was the oldest doctoral student in the Agriculture, Leadership Education and Communications program, finishing his doctorate in August 2009. Being the oldest student does have its perks, he got to dress up for Halloween as a house fly and no one said a word:)

Using Strengths Quest by the Gallup organization, Clay integrated Biblical principles to develop a unique program geared toward helping students –and others—find their strengths to be a leader in life.

Clay has presented his program for various departments at A&M, at marriage retreats, churches, and for students at Bandina Christian Camp. Geana is a speech/language pathologist and they have two sons.

Upcoming Dates

2010-03-03T13:00:00.001-08:00

This Week: Kickoff Lunch and Meeting

Sunday, Noon(ish), Fellowhsip Hall

It's not too late. Buy a ticket on Sunday for lunch. We will have childcare available for free and we will feed the children. We will "eat and meet" to get you home ASAP. Come here plans for 2010 - Bible studies, the Spring Retreat, and participate in a round table discussion to express your thoughts.

Menu: Salad, Lasagna, Vegetable Lasagna, Baked Eggplant, Baked Chicken, Green Beans, Rolls and Assorted Cheesecakes

Tickets are only $5. Don't miss this fellowship.

Sunday, April 11, 5:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall

A Night of Encouragement

Do you ever wonder what to say when a friend becomes ill, gets cancer, is dealing with a death?

Join us Sunday evening on April 11 as our own Lee Cox leads us in a discussion and some exercises to develop our skills to truly encourage one another.

Snacks provided.

Spring Retreat: April 23-24 Columbia Lakes Resort

Clay and Geana Bassham will help us discover our top five strengths out of a possible 34 and how to use our strengths to improve our personal relationships, our business relationships, and ourselves. Strengths will be determined through an online assessment that each attendee will take before the retreat.

Clay will guide us through a discussion of how our strengths relate to Biblical teachings and how knowing our strengths prepares us to serve.

The cost is $99 for a four-person room and $129 for a two-person room and includes 2 meals and snacks.

Make plans now to join us for this time of refreshing and recharging.

New Bible Study: 30 Days to Taming the Tongue

2010-02-13T23:08:00.000-08:00

“I can’t believe I just said that!” Who hasn’t struggled with saying the wrong thing at the wrong time? A slip of the tongue can cause problems in personal and business relationships. Moreover, how difficult is it to “erase” words once they are said. James 3 is full of admonitions about the tongue. James points out that by putting a bridle on a horse, the entire animal can be controlled. Join us as together we learn to bridle our tongues and gain control of our words!

Beginning on Sunday in the ladies class in room 14 at 9:15 a.m., the study will focus on three to four “tongue topics” a week, moving a little bit slower pace than 30 days. During this class, we will examine the 30 topics, discuss strategies for overcoming tongue problems, and offer each other support as we strive to let our conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

Can’t attend the class on Sunday mornings? An online study will be posted. Simply purchase the devotional book and follow along with the class through the daily postings. Together we can learn to bless each other and encourage each other with our tongues.

The Grocery Store and Other Related Thoughts

2010-01-31T18:05:00.000-08:00

"Mommy! I don't want that lady looking at me!" loudly proclaimed the child sitting in "car" part of the grocery cart in the dairy section, finger pointing at me. "Sweetie, she isn't looking at you." "Yes, she is and I don't want her looking at me." I saw him but I wasn't "looking" at him. Thankfully, they headed down another aisle.

I don't normally shop on Sunday nights. And I wasn't really "shopping." I was picking up a few random things. But there were more people in the store than I anticipated. I was without a list so I was foggily trying to remember what I shouldn't forget and wandering the store. If you were a shopper on a mission tonight, I was one of those people you wish had stayed home. Clearly the little boy wished I was not in the store.

There was another lady there with her coupon book open, coupons tucked inside trading card holders, seriously shopping. I have one of those notebooks. Mine is filled with expired coupons.

My focus this week is my trip to Kentucky to visit my mother--and my father and my sister and her children. I visit them, too. They are neighbors. As usual, even though I've been planning the trip, I'm faced with a full schedule and many things to do--both to prepare what I need to take and prepare the rest of my life to be without me for five days. So I was thinking about that in the grocery store.

And it's 10 degrees in Kentucky right now. It's been cold here this week, but in typical fashion for South Texas, it could be 65 tomorrow afternoon. Not there. If it warms up, it will be 22 degrees.

So I have to go through my closet and select from my "moderate-temperature Houston wardrobe" those items that will work in 10 degree weather. Flip flops won't do.

But some how it will happen. I will get my stuff together and get packed. What doesn't get done at home will be here when I get back.

But I am thankful for the time I will get to spend with my family. As those with aging parents know, time with them is precious.

The funeral for Ken's second cousin was Friday. I sat there during the mass thinking about all that that extended family had lost during the years. Many of the parents of the cousins died prematurely from heart disease. And several of the cousins' children (the second cousins) have died prematurely from auto accidents and illnesses. Yet there they were, grieving for the latest loss, still expressing their faith, loving each other.

My mother is deteriorating physically. And it is sad for me to see that. But she is a remarkable woman. She does not complain. She is cheerful. She is hopeful. She is faithful. In fact, I don't know anyone who has met my mother that doesn't love her. Even her caregivers love her. They even shop for her - I saw this robe and thought you would like this. They come back to visit her even when they no longer work for her.

I wish I were like her.

So I thought about today's sermon on Job. Will we still believe in God when the benefits are gone--when our health is gone, our families dead. Job doesn't answer the question, "Why do we suffer?" And that's the question we want answered when we lose friends and relatives prematurely, when we watch our parents health fade, when we suffer. We want to know why. But Job was never told why. He just remained faithful.

I wish I were like Job.

So think of me this week as I try to be kind to TSA agents. I hope there is not one of those new x-ray machines at the airport. That would be an unkindness for the TSA agent.

“You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.”- Psalm 86:5

Have a blessed week.

--Laura

Upcoming Dates

2010-01-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 11

2010 Women's Ministry Kick-off dinner, 7:00 p.m.

Mario's

618 W NASA Parkway, Webster

$13

April 23-24

Women's Retreat

Columbia Lakes Resort

West Columbia, Texas

Details coming

Extreme Blessings from The Extreme Home Makeover

2010-01-20T14:08:00.000-08:00

Last week I had a chance to participate in a great volunteer opportunity – I was a ‘blue shirt’ volunteer for Extreme Home Makeover in League City. I’ve always loved this show, so when my employer sent out a request for volunteers, I quickly emailed my name, then waited with giddy anticipation to hear my assigned date and time.

When I arrived on Tuesday, construction on the new house was proceeding at a feverish pace. One hundred blue shirts bustled here and there, carrying supplies, trash cans and tools. Crew leaders shouted instructions over the sounds of heavy machinery while bystanders leaned against the fence posts to get the best possible view. Everywhere you looked there was work being done, beautiful things being built, and underneath it all ran an almost tangible current of excitement.

What I loved most about that day was talking with all of the different people, the unskilled workers like me from our community, the design team, the plumbers and the electricians. Despite our backgrounds, professions and motivations for volunteering, the comments were so similar:

“That is so beautiful – they are going to love this!”

“Did you see that playhouse out back? I can’t wait to see those kids’ faces when they see it”

“That’s amazing – I wonder how they did that?”

So many people, so much work and time and effort, all focused on an extreme blessing for one family. As I did various jobs (serving drinks, carrying wood, collecting trash) I kept thinking about what Jesus said: “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).

As I imagined these preparations I thought how, as amazing as this house is we’re working on, this work will pale in comparison to what Jesus is doing for us who believe in Him. I wondered if the angels who are watching and serving our Lord feel as excited as I did, and I wonder if they aren’t just saying the same things that we were on Tuesday:

“That is so beautiful – they are going to love this!”

“Did you see what Jesus did – they’re going to be amazed when they see that!”

“That’s amazing – HE is amazing”

-Wendy Harrison

A New Week

2010-01-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

This last week was tough. Ken's cousin's son declined rapidly after the stroke. The family is making the tough decision to stop the ventilator today.

We went to the hospital yesterday for support. I hugged this man's mother and said I wish I had a pearl of wisdom for you but I got nothing. There really is nothing to say. What words do you say to a mother who lost one son in a tragic motorcycle accident several years ago and now has to make the decision to pull the ventilator on her only other child?

Sometimes, it is best to say nothing. Our presence, our hugs, our tears were all we could give. Anything else is just hollow.

Even David, a man after God's own heart, wrote no less than four times, "Do not hide your face from me." There are just times when we feel like God is hiding his face. We want answers and we want them now.

And sometimes we never get the answers. Do you know that Job was never told, at least in the narrative, about the cosmic war of which he was central? His troubles ended and he was blessed. So there may be things for which we never have the answers on this earth.

Still, in the face of despair, the psalmist still turned to God, and so should we.

Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

⁹ Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.

¹⁰ Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

¹¹ For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

¹² In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.

--Psalm 143:7-12

Blessings.

--Laura

A Bizarre Accident

2010-01-12T08:37:00.001-08:00

I was pulling my new sweater over my head and the zipper scratched my eyelid. While it hurt at the time, I could see no visible injury so I finished my makeup and went on with my day. Last night, I realized there was a painful scratch there. So I dabbed it with antibiotic cream, I'm sure not meant for eyes, and went to bed hoping for healing overnight. It is still there this morning although less painful. So, today, it will be about neutral eyes and vivid lips. Ok, maybe not vivid. But definitely neutral eyes. So please don't ask me if I forgot my makeup today. Or if I feel ok. I feel fine. Just can't have the full make up on -- which maybe says something about my makeup routine. Hoping for a good hair day!

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:29-31

Have a blessed day.

--Laura

New Year - Time to Organize: 15ers

2010-01-11T05:39:00.000-08:00

At the retail shop, we've been selling lots of closet supplies: slimline hangers, hangers that hold multiple garments, drawer dividers, under-the-bed storage, shoe holders. Seems everyone is thinking about getting organized.

But sometimes that thought can be overwhelming. Piles are everywhere. You may have a "domino" effect: Before you can clean the clothes closet, you need to clean the bathroom closet. Before you can do that, you need to clear out the hall closet. Before you can do that you need to pay the bills. Before you can do that you need to sort the piles of junk mail (and maybe not some junk mail). Before long, you just want to go back to bed.

Perhaps you don't have a day or even a couple of hours to devote to a project right now. Here's a quick way to get started without overwhelming yourself. The technique is called 15-ers and you'd be surprised at how motivating implementing it can be. Get a pen and paper. Or click open your word processor. Go ahead. I'll wait. Ok, got it?

Now, number one to fifteen. Now, look around. Fill the list with tasks that can be accomplished in 15 minutes or less. Once you really evaluate a task, realizing it will only take you 15 minutes to do it is extremely liberating! And once you get through that list, you will have accomplished 15 tasks! All of us have 15 minutes here and there.

Now, you may have to revive your multitasking skills but who of us is not used to doing 10 things at once anyway. Maybe you are on hold waiting to make an appointment with a doctor. You are probably going to be on hold 15 minutes anyway. Empty that dishwasher. Fold those towels. Even tackle that junk drawer. Personally, once I realized that emptying my dishwasher was really only a five minute job, the dread of the dishes went away. I spent more time thinking that I need to empty the dishes than it actually took to do it. (That is a huge tip to motivate your kids also. Use a timer to demonstrate the point.)

Here. I'll get you started.

1. Sort the junk mail.

2. Clear one shelf in the refrigerator.

3. Sort that utensil drawer.

4. Clean out a sock drawer.

5. Get all the pens and pencils out of the junk drawer. Throw out the ones that don't write.

6. Clean out one side of the cabinet under the sink.

7. Clean out the other side of the cabinet under the sink.

8. Alphabetize your spices.

9. Write a thank you note.

10. Send a sympathy card.

Ok, get it now? You can divide a lot of jobs into small chunks. Even if it takes you two weeks to get through your first 15 items, you will feel a sense of accomplishment when you are done. Then build your next list.

Oh -- post that list somewhere prominent and keep a good, black marking pen handy. Cross off those items boldly. This list is not a chronological list. There is no need to go in order. In fact, just list tasks quickly. Like brainstorming. Then pick whichever task suits the moment.

So here's my challenge for the week. Build your list. Share with us what you put on your list and how many you crossed off.

Have a blessed day.

--Laura

The Fallen World

2010-01-09T22:04:00.000-08:00

I've been robbed twice in my life -- that I knew about. Once was October 2008. My suitcase was stolen out of the rental car trunk. Yes, the trunk. I was in Utah and super excited to spend some time alone in the beautiful outdoors before picking up my daughter at the airport. We were meeting there to attend a friend's wedding and have a fun mother/daughter weekend.

Apparently, I didn't lock the car while I ran in a restroom to change clothes at a park and ride. The thieves had just time to pop the trunk, lift out the main suitcase and abscond with it before I came out. They left behind the electronics, coats, cameras. They got all my clothes, which was not really a great haul. More of a loss form me as I lost a couple of new dresses I'd just bought. But I'm not even a common size so I doubt much of what they got was usable for them. I assume they were disappointed, which was some consolation.

But I felt terribly violated and disconcerted that I couldn't get over it quickly. It's the sort of thing that you go to your closet to look for something and then think, "Oh, I don't have it. It got stolen."

And then there was tonight. At my retail job. I was given fake currency which I didn't recognize and gave change for it. I was furious. Again, I felt violated. It is a theft that hurts all of us -- those working, those shopping, those living honestly.

And then when I got home, I found out that a son of close relatives had suffered at stroke tonight. If not life threatening, certainly the outcome will be life debilitating. And so my own experience of the evening is overshadowed by something much more serious.

This is a fallen world. There is no good explanation why people are willing to take from others. There is no good explanation why a healthy man in his forties with two young children is stricken with a debilitating stroke. His parents have already suffered from the loss of one son several years ago.

And so tomorrow (well, by now I supposed it is today) I will go to worship and lift up my eyes to God and I will lift the thief up to His judgement and ask for the healing only He can give for my friend and I will ask for comfort for the parents who are faced with yet another tragedy.

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

--Isaiah 40:28 NIV

We may not understand, but He understands us.

May tomorrow be better than today.

--Laura

Friday Morning - Brrrh!

2010-01-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

It's 25 degrees here in H-town. It was great to see everyone at Kroger last night, and I mean everyone! I guess we were all stocking up for soup and chili.

This is very nostalgic of my Kentucky winters. My senior year in high school, the weather was so bad school was closed for over 30 days. Now, you might think that would be great--but it was my senior year. I wanted to graduate and move on to "real" life. Grown up life. I was headed to college and a big career somewhere farther south. I did go to college and I did move south to Houston. As for the big career, well it's been varied but I am thankful for most of my experiences. Although I've had a charmed life by some standards, it has not been devoid of struggle. But like the butterfly that will die without the struggle coming out of the cocoon, each struggle adds to our strength and our ability to cope with the next trial.

As for that grown up life, I got it. Today's grown up life meant getting up at 5:30 a.m., getting my son's lunch made and him out the door for his shift, washing the dishes left over from last night, putting the still up Christmas decorations at the back of my mind because I simply can't do anything about them for awhile (hey, it's really only 10 months until I need them again anyway), starting a load of laundry, and getting myself ready for work.

Still, I am thankful that our heat is working, that I own at least one sweater, and that I have employment. My heart goes out to those without such blessings. The shelters are calling for extra supplies -sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothes. Share if you can.

Have a blessed day.

--Laura

Thursday Evening - Hope

2010-01-07T20:11:00.001-08:00

Well, all across the South tonight--at least in Texas and Alabama--eyes are glued to the television. I'm not a football fan. Yes, I know, it's heresy for a southerner. But I do love sports movies. Miracle, Glory Road, Remember the Titans, Chariots of Fire, Rudy, The GridIron Gang. Ironically, I have never seen a Rocky movie. But all of these are stories of hard work paying off, stories of the underdog triumphing, stories of lives changed, stories of hope. Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to circumstances in our lives. Hope is a spiritual grace, a gift of God. Hope keeps us from despair, keeps us from giving up, keeps us going. "What if this is as good as it gets?" asks Melvin Udall in a movie of the same title, a comment devoid of hope. Fortunately, this is not as good as it gets. No matter what happens here on earth, there is something better waiting for us. And congratulations, Alabama fans. Texas can hope for next year.

Have a blessed night.

--Laura

Tuesday - A Humbling Reminder

2010-01-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

I finished my retail shift yesterday around 5:00 p.m. and was looking forward to an evening watching TV, piddling in the kitchen, working on a few other projects. But upon turning my phone back on, I received a text message from my husband asking me to call his cell. My husband never texts. Or rarely texts is more correct. So, I anxiously called him. Seems our power had been turned off at 4:00 p.m. and the expected low for the night was 28 degrees.

Yes, it was turned off for non-payment. Except that I had paid the bill. I looked online and verified that I had paid the bill but then I noticed that the payment was "undone" a few days later. The power company's billing office was closed and I couldn't resolve that question until morning. We made our emergency preparations, found the candles, turned on the gas fireplace, put on our long underwear and settled in for the night.

We awakened to the chilly morning and began the phone-calling regime to find out what had happened and when it would be turned back on. It seems that the payment was "undone" because I had entered an incorrect digit in one of the account numbers to pay online. A typo. We did not get the message that was reportedly left for us. I did get a followup bill that I glanced at and made a mental note to find out why the payment wasn't listed but it was the holiday season, the retail schedule was exhausting, company was coming. In short, I forgot. But after listening to the customer service rep list all my wrong doing and telling me for the umpteenth time that I was freezing because of my inability to type correctly and my "own doings," I lost my cool. (Losing my cool while freezing is an ironic comparison, I suppose.) I did end the call by apologizing and telling the lady I hoped this unpleasant phone call did not ruin her day.

And then I began thinking about grace, again. How blessed are we that our God does not list our "wrong doings" and remind us that the mess we are in is because of our own "doings." In fact, our own "doings" are washed away by an ultimate sacrifice: His life for our sins. So customer service rep that listened to me yelling this morning, please forgive me. And may my mouth once again become a resting place for the praises of God.

Have a blessed day.

--Laura

Dinner Help for the New Year

2010-01-04T05:39:00.001-08:00

It is the first Monday of the New Year. School is starting back for many of you--both for your children and for you! For the rest of us, we are getting back to the regular routine of work or housework or both, now that company is gone and the holidays are over. Your holiday leftovers are probably gone so now what?

This morning I put the remaining half bag of chicken tenders in an oven cooking bag and poured in some olive olive oil. I squished the bag around to spread the oil over the chicken, sprinkled in some Italian spice blend, added a splash of lemon and about 1 3/4 cup of water. Oh, and I cut a sprig of rosemary off my rosemary plant and put that in. I put a twist tie on the bag and dropped it in the Crockpot, set on low. I'm also cooking mac and cheese (yep, from a box).

So dinner is done for a couple of days - or as long as the chicken lasts. My husband will put the chicken on his salads, my son will eat chicken with mac and cheese, and then I will use any leftover chicken to make chicken in tortillas or maybe chicken turnovers. And all this before 8:00 a.m. The chicken part took 5 minutes. The mac and cheese a little longer because it must boil for 6 minutes.

We are planning cooking part 2 for you. I'm busy collecting new recipes to help you plan easy, healthy meals for your family.

In the meantime, may your first Monday of the New Year flow smoothly and without stress - remember DESSERTS if it gets too crazy!

Later, this week, we will start organizing our homes together!

So for today, do what the Lord requires of you: "Act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”- Micah 6:8

Have a blessed day. --Laura

Retail Therapy

2010-01-03T11:42:00.000-08:00

On a whim as somehow many major decisions in my life have been made--but that's another topic--after purchasing a bridal gift at a popular kitchen and bath retail chain, I inquired about seasonal employment. The interview was brief as was the second interview and in short, I got a job. I enjoy the job. I enjoy talking to people. And I enjoy being nice to people.

But this was my first experience in retail during the holidays. I got to see what people were giving for Christmas. If you did not get a Snuggie, it's probably because we sold out. Most others got a Snuggie for Christmas. Perhaps your neighbor will have an extra you can borrow. Zebra Snuggies were especially sought after. Coffee makers were next in line. Did you know there is a coffee/beverage maker that uses a unique single-brew system with patented mini cups containing the precise blend of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for the perfect cup! Bath salts, socks, picture frames, valets, diffuser sets, martini makers all were purchased as the perfect gift.

I saw the eagerness and delight as shoppers purchased a highly sought after item such as an In-Styler (as seen on TV) or a Chi flat iron. I saw the disappointment when the perfect item was not available.

And now return season has started. Husbands have returned items that just weren't exactly what the wife wanted. Wives have returned items that the husband just didn't want. Products did not work just exactly as envisioned (or as seen on TV.) Disappointment was evident. And so I began to think. Do we expect too much from things? Do we not know each other well enough to give the perfect gift? Or, on the receiving side, are we so picky that we overlook the intent of the gift and see only the thing?

I was particularly struck by one father returning a very nice kitchen appliance he'd bought for his daughter. She used it once and just didn't like it. He shared with me that he had tried to give her a nice gift but had failed once again. He said he supposed he should just give her money and be done with it. Of course, I do not have insight into the layers of their relationship. But the sadness he conveyed at having failed with his gift was heartfelt.

This all came home to me this morning in church as we sang an old song, Years I Spent in Vanity and Pride, a song I grew up singing, a song I've sung so many times I scarcely think about the words. Until this morning. Mercy there was great and grace was free. What better gift than grace? Free grace. Things will not satisfy. We may never be able to give the perfect gift to someone. And to be honest, I often have a hard time wrapping my mind around the gift of salvation—that we have a God who became man and was crucified for us.

Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan! 

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! 

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

Happy New Year. May you experience God’s grace in 2010.

--Laura R.