Marissa's Broken Collar Bone

Marissa fell off the jungle gym last week and broke her clavicle. We had x-rays and it was a clean break. She has to wear a sling for two weeks. 

Word of Life Southern Africa Staff Retreat

We had our first staff retreat in YEARS this month! There were 17 that left from South Africa and by way of Kruger National Park met up with 4 from Moçambique, and landed in Beline, Moçambique. It was an amazing trip from start to end. Everyone was so kind & considerate! Everyone worked together and played together, and we got to know each person a little better. We had an excellent time around God's Word watching the History dvd's taught by Andy Stanley and Louie Giglio. It was a great opportunity to give and receive encouragement.
I will share a smattering of pics with you. If you want to see more, head on over to facebook or multiply.

 

Palavra da Vida, Moçambique Staff

 Word of Life Staff in Southern Africa

Quiet Time

I have been so encouraged in my quiet time this month. We have been reading Judges, and the stories of Gideon and Samson have come alive to me again.

Gideon was so unbelieving - over and over and over again God gave him sign after sign! Then God says that He is ready to deliver the Midianites into Gideon's hands, BUT if Gideon is afraid (still after all those signs?) that he should go down to the Midianite camp and God will give him another sign, and HE GOES! God has so much patience with his lack of faith! And it's amazing to me that what causes him to believe that God will give the Midianites into their hands is an unbeliever's dream and it's interpretation.

Samson was so bad! He is not what you think of when you think of an example you would like to follow, yet God used him over and over to fulfill God's purposes! And yet, we are told in Hebrews 11:32-33, "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions." Here they are listed in the "HALL OF FAITH!"

This gives me hope. I don't have to be perfect. Christ has covered all my imperfections. He has set me free from the law! It's a good thing I don't have to be perfect, because I can't! And yet, in my imperfect state, I can still be considered faithful. God, you are amazingly merciful!!!

Chastening and Encouragement

While reading a book this week entitled "Disciplines of a Godly Woman" by Barbara Hughes, I ran across this quote that has really challenged and encouraged me. I almost cried.

A member of our church, Marilee Melvin, wrote in our church letter about her mother's dependence on prayer: 

I remember a night when I was asked to help get dinner on the table. Dad was out of town, and Mom, seven months pregnant and caring for five children ages two to nine, was serving my most-hated meal - black-eyed peas and Spam.... I complained loudly about the dinner, and soon Mom disappeared from the kitchen. I called to find her and got no answer.... Something drew me to the basement, and I found her at last in the furnace room. It was completely dark, and she was crying. Seeing her seven-year-old standing there in fear, she wiped her eyes and told me she needed to come pray for more strength. That early image of Mom as intercessor and supplicant fills my mind and memory now with its poignancy and truth. Instead of shouting in anger at my childish insensitivity, she withdrew to call on more reserves from her heavenly Father, abundantly available to her  for the asking. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

I met with my mentor this week (we meet monthly), and we are studying this book together. I was so encouraged after our time together around the Word of God. This month I am going to make it a point to speak with gentleness to my children and to be more disciplined in the areas of time spent in prayer and controlling what I eat and how often I exercise.

Soccer World Cup Homeschool Links

http://mysoccerblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/how-does-world-cup-work.html
http://www.e-forwards.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/popworldcup2010_wallchart_v3-13.jpg
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/index.html
http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/worldcup.php
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/soccer.php
http://abcteach.com/directory/theme_units/sports/world_cup_soccer_football/
http://www.cup2010.info/countries/countries.html
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/map
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/

I am weak, but He is strong

Well, I am thinking I need to post the good, the bad and the ugly.
I am tired. Not just physically tired, but overall tired. My house is a mess, I have 4 loads of laundry to fold and probably 4 more to wash, my daughter (7) is broken (broken clavicle), home school seems overwhelming this week, etc.... I'm tired of trying to control it all. I can't do it. I know God can do all things, but I don't see how He can do it all through me.
Why does it seem like when I am trying to surrender and run the race with self-discipline that life gets so frustrating?
I had a cup of tea, and I am going to put my "baby" (almost 3 now) in bed, spend a little time with the Lord and then turn up the music and have a crisis cleaning session.