.FEED THEM.

Sunday night, God showed up. I had a chance to partner with kingdom workers from Calumet Street Christian Church (where I work), Greenview Christian Church, Fouts Christian Church and Christ's Church of Effingham. Andrew Bloemker (co-founder of Feed the Crave Ministries) gave a presentation explaining the need for food to be prepared and taken to children and families in places like Costa Rica and Haiti... and God's people responded with an incredible outpouring. Precisely $2296.26 was given that evening, including $1.26 in change. That $1.26 may not have seemed like much next to the generous checks and $20 bills, but $1.26 meant four more meals. Four MORE meals!

So, we went to work. That $2,296.26 (which has since grown) meant we could package 7,654 meals. Over the next hour and a half, we gave it our all. Tubs of soy, rice, dried vegetables, and flavoring were scooped into bags. Bags were then heat sealed, then boxed up. Boxes started to stack up. Then we ran out of soy. Once all the dust cleared, we had packaged somewhere around 6,400 meals. Or enough for over 200 people to eat for a month. Pretty cool, but definitely not the end of it. People wanna do more. We need to keep praying for what God is going to do through us next...

God did not create for himself a human body, in which he had to grow, live, struggle, love, share, hurt, and die... for us to "play it safe." He intended for us to take risks, step out of the easy into the battle zone.

So let's go. Your challenge is to FEED someone. Give a chance to a child that might otherwise die without ever hearing the message that Jesus Christ loves them and can give them glorious eternal life in Heaven. Check out some of the links below for God-centered charities that provide love, hope, food, and water for children in need... and get plugged in with one or more of them.

Feed the Crave
World Vision
Compassion International
Active Water
Angel Tree / Prison Fellowship

Got another one that you know of? Let me know. And maybe sometime when you come over to the house, ask us about William, someone we've gotten to connect with because of World Vision. Let's get to work.

.SOME DAYS.

Some days... there just isn't enough time to do everything on your list.

My mother taught me a couple verses from Proverbs 3 when I was a child. They say "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Those verses have stayed with me for many years. And as is often true with the Word of God, I can come back to them over and over. Isaiah 40:8 says the word of our God stands forever. I guess that's why some verses just never go away.

Some days... there just isn't enough time... so when those days come, I have to look to the Lord for guidance. What would He have me do today? It may not be the same as what I think. And those beautiful words from Proverbs poke back into my life. So I ask... and maybe you can ask this of yourself too... How can I trust Him with all my heart? How can I lean on HIM instead of my own understanding of how things should be? How can I acknowledge Him in everything I do? And has He made my paths straight?

...Leaning on the Everlasting Arms...
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

.FAILURE.

Sunday, I had a chance to go up the "pamper pole" at Oil Belt Christian Camp. A pamper pole is a 23 feet high "telephone pole" which has rungs on the side for you to climb it. You get into a harness and there are people holding a support rope which keeps you from falling once you get up high. Then when you get to the top rung, you're supposed to stand straight up on the top, turn around, and jump off. I had been "supporting" all weekend and was asked if I wanted to climb... so I gave it a try.

I didn't make it.

And it bothered me. It REALLY bothered me. I blamed my shoes, but I still really don't know for sure if it was just stupid fear that made me think they were too slick on the bottom, too worn out. I wanted so badly to go back and say I've got to try this again. To attack that challenge head-on and accomplish the simple objective. Instead I just complained about my shoes, and my lack of willingness to finish what I started. Well, maybe next time... right?

Mike Ditka said "You're never a loser until you quit trying."

So, here's your assignment: do better than I did! Choose something you failed at before, and TRY AGAIN. Give it another go. Win or lose, at least you can say you gave it your best. And for God's sake, don't ever let those past failures keep you from going out, here and now, and accomplishing something for His glory!

PS later that same day, I got on a mechanical bull, and got slung off just like everyone else. That's not failure, that's just fun.

.SPA DAY.

Welcome back to SEVENS.

Tonight my wife is going to have a spa day with a friend who also has little kids. I don't even know what that is, but apparently it will be good for her... I think I will take this as a reminder that we gotta treat mommies special. They deserve a break.

Mommies are a major influence on young ones!!! They pour their lives into raising the kids well... teaching them about God and life and love and so much more. Let's give 'em a break and do a little extra to lighten their load.

Give 'em their spa day. They've earned it.

It's easier to sit at the computer, but it's better to go outside and push my kids on the swing. I'm gonna tell them how great their mommy is. So... see ya!

God, you...

Would you pray this prayer with me?

Father,
I'm amazed by you today.
You created me.
You know me.
You see me.
You hear me.
You sought me.
You bought me.
You want me.
You help me.
You lead me.
You call me.
You equip me.
You strengthen me.
You aid me.
You teach me.
You chose me.
You change me.
You redeem me.
You rescue me.
You push me.
You guide me.
You direct me.
You use me.
You break me.
You heal me.
You hold me.
You purify me.
You forgive me.
You move me.
You sustain me.
You comfort me.
You fulfill me.
You quiet me.
You fill me.
You keep me.
You show me.
You pursue me.
You're with me.
You're for me.
You save me.
You LOVE me.
You love... even ME.
And I love you too.
You're simply amazing.

.PRAY.

Yep... PRAY. That's the clever thought. That's the simple idea. That's it.

Did you know that today is the National Day of Prayer? (the other 364 days can be, too...) Well for this SEVENS, I couldn't ignore that fact. So here's what I want us to do. On the official National Day of Prayer website, they have something called 7x7, which stands for seven points of prayer, seven days a week. Check it out here.
That's what I'm encouraging you to do today. Read some of the prayer aids on each of the seven topics, then PRAY. Spend some time in prayer with your loving Father who knows what you need (Matthew 6:8). Remember, He created you, He loves you, He knows you. So do your best to push all else aside and give some undivided time to your Heavenly Father.

.HOPE.

.HOPE.

People of the world have no HOPE of heaven except through a saving relationship with Jesus.

What if you knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow? Or in a week?

What would you do differently?

Since we don't know when - He MIGHT even return today - why aren't we doing those things?

As we prepare for Easter, we expect a lot of people who don't normally attend church to be coming. What will you do differently this year? Will you be the reason someone attends (have you asked them)? Will you be a part of the reason someone comes back (greet them warmly, help them find a class, a seat, a friend)? Will you welcome them to the family of God (offering them a place to feel valued, a place to serve, a place of acceptance)? Will you be the one God uses to give them the ONE TRUE HOPE - a saving relationship with Jesus?

Let's make this Easter count.