tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32298931106598087232024-02-07T06:47:07.913-06:00Selah ~ Pause. Ponder. Praise.A ministry blog committed to spiritual admonishment, encouragement and teaching for Christians. Sometimes humorous, often deep, always authentic.LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-59308190601644789682010-09-22T10:27:00.001-05:002010-09-22T10:28:29.176-05:00No, Slow, Grow or Go?Lately, while my tall, hairy son sits beside me in the car, (only in the driver's seat now), I am reminded how many times I've heard from others older and wiser than me how fast time flies. It takes experiencing it personally to grasp the truth of that. My son, a sophomore. My oldest daughter, a junior higher. My baby girl in double digits...I'm blown away, and it makes me teary-eyed, yet excited for what lies ahead.<br />
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I'm now recalling when my devo ministry began...with only six of my precious ministry teammates in drama, growing now to many I don't even know personally. Then Selah the blog was started to expand it further still. Since then, my readers walked with me through screaming toddler tantrums, revelations of being a better wife and homemaker, taking care of aging family members, numerous deaths in the family, tales of schooling my kids at home, major ministry decisions and the fleshing out of my spiritual life, growing from legalism to faith-filled freedom. From my perspective, the spiritual years have flown by too.<br />
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At the beginning of the summer, I made the commitment to take time off from writing devotionals--for my ministry edevo recipients--as well as for this blog and my lovinthearts.com website. I've used that extra time, even though there was little extra, to pray, to evaluate what I need to be doing ministry-wise, etc. My prayer team has been praying alongside me as well. I've consulted others and taken time to hear from the Lord before I made my decision.<br />
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I've decided to discontinue all 3 of these ministries, which of course puts a permanent pause on Selah. Though some have advised me that it's not wise to let go of any email distribution list or blog that is growing numerically, the Lord's work has shifted for me at this season of life. I don't want to continue something just because it gives me a larger audience, especially if I can't make it as excellent as it needs to be. The Holy Spirit has been leading me more toward article-writing and speaking. So I'm going to obey, write articles for websites and magazines and speak when it doesn't collide with the family schedule.<br />
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When I was a kids' worship leader, I used to lead the younger kids in a cool little song called <i>No, Slow, Grow and Go (Troy & Genie Nilsson)</i> in an effort to teach them about some of the ways God answers our prayers. Right now, I believe the Lord has me in a slow and grow season. These words keep repeating in my head: "Don't worry about numbers. Just write when you can write and speak when you can speak, and I'll do the rest." Over and over and over I've heard this echo, even in messages I've heard. So that's what I'm gonna do. After all, I pray to "walk by faith, not by sight."<br />
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Just as God has been changing and growing me, I'm sure He is doing the same in your life. The Lord will guide you into His Truth through whatever person, whatever means, whatever venue He sees that you need. If you have interest in reading what the Lord lays on my heart, please consider subscribing to my web blog: <a href="http://lauraleeshaw.com/">LauraLeeShaw.com</a>. I post on there 2-4 times a week, depending on time. I also post short messages once or twice a day on my <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lauraleeshaw/">Twitter page, as well as my </a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/lauraleeshaw.christianwriterspeaker">professional Facebook page.</a> Also, if you need a speaker for your moms', women's or ministry team group, please don't hesitate to contact me. All of that info is at <a href="http://lauraleeshaw.com/">LauraLeeShaw.com.</a><br />
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And because I can't help meddlin' a little, allow me to ask you one question. Do you need to evaluate where God has you in life--in family, in ministry, in recreation? Has something He originally called you to become something you need to ask, "Lord, no, slow, grow or go? What do you want me to do?" If so, don't hesitate to wait on Him to lead you right where you need to be. Let's agree together not to go even a half step ahead of him or lag even a tiny bit behind Him. Let's shoot for walking all the way in the Spirit.<br />
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Love you all, and I hope to hear from you anytime, whether by email, blog, Facebook or Twitter. Thank you so much for supporting me and praying me through all these years. It has been a sanctifying journey, and one I hope you'll continue with me at <a href="http://lauraleeshaw.com/">LauraLeeShaw.com.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-19057905577361277102010-05-05T16:11:00.005-05:002010-05-05T16:22:41.485-05:00"Break"ing News! Selah<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hi friends,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’ve got some “break”ing news for you, but first lemme give you a teeny tiny bit of background:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When my son was thirteen, we gave him a cell phone, mainly for our convenience, but he wasn’t hurting over it for sure. He was very responsible with it for the most part, and he managed to keep the unlimited texting and phone calls in balance with other life responsibilities. Something happened around a year later, however, as he grew used to the freedom. He went through some changes, more friends got texting privileges (not to mention Facebook accounts), the ministry and social calendar picked up, basketball season started, the homework got heavier, and the “unlimited” became an issue for him. Maybe this is the case with your sons and daughters. If so, read on...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Brian and I took his texting minutes back to a limited number a month, a number which we felt was reasonable. We began to take his cell phone at night and keep it in our rooms. We also began to monitor the texts to some degree, all with his knowledge. At first, it was difficult to scale back, and he kicked and screamed some. But now, he knows he has a certain number, and it has helped him to realize that life changes, our schedule changes, and when it does, we have to be willing to adjust. It’s turned out to be a beautiful life lesson. That’s God. He allows us to make corrections, even if we get a step or two ahead of Him. Love that merciful heart of His.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Those lessons have not only been for our son, they’ve been there lately for Brian and me as well. WE’ve stepped into a new season of parenting...one of taxying, hosting parties and Bible Studies, heavier discipleship necessary with life and relationship issues, larger circles of friends as our kids become older and more social, less time together as a couple at night since the kids go to bed later...all the while personally continuing to grow as a son and daughter of the Most High, who loves us far too much to let us get ahead of Him.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because of this heavier season of life, and after a great deal of prayer, my Father has led me to take a break from my devotional writing on Selah. It may be just the summer, it may be longer...it will be until the Lord gives me permission and clear vision of His calling for ministry. He is continuing to lead me to write Christian living articles and speak as I have the extra time, so I will pour what little time and resources I have left from being a wife and mama into improving and sharing in those areas. If you have the desire to keep up with what the Lord is doing and teaching us in our lives, you can follow my </span><a href="http://lauraleeshaw.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">LauraLeeShaw.com blog</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">...I will also post on Facebook and Twitter once or twice a day, or more if time allows. My writer and speaker page on Facebook is </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LauraLeeShaw.ChristianWriterSpeaker"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Lord has allowed me the blessing of some publishing opportunities this month. One is in <i>Dallas Christian Family</i>. If you are local, you can pick one up for free in a whole lotta places, or you can go online and read it here (pg. 8): </span><a href="http://www.dfwchristianfamily.com/PDF/DCF_May_Issue_Web.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dallas Christian Family May Issue.</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And in His incredible wisdom and timing, He chose to allow my “Out of Order” article to be published in J<i>ust Between Us</i> magazine for the summer edition (on shelves this month). Gotta love the Lord for leading me to do what He wants me to do through publishing this article at this time. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another remarkable choice of timing is that my mother’s tribute story, "Lessons Learned from Glory,” will be published in a book that is scheduled to be released in late May or early June...May was my mama’s birthday, and it is also the month of Mother’s Day. What a loving time and way for the Lord to give me this news in a month that is difficult for me. He is a gracious Father. I’ll post that info on my blog when it comes out. If you wish to subscribe to my blog, you can do so </span><a href="http://www.lauraleeshaw.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">here.</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, yea, “break”ing news...I’ve prayed about this for a few months, and like my son with the texting, I kicked and screamed some. But I learned when He asked me to step down from kids’ ministry leadership, that, when I obey, His fruit of peace follows. When I trust him with my time and priorities, His fruit of love and self-control are expressed in and through me. He’s also taught me that He’d rather me do a few things extremely well than to try to do a bunch of things halfway and stressed in the process.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And He’ll continue to love on me and teach me as I break away from anything that hinders me from having an undivided heart. :) Selah.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How about you, my friend? Is it time to reevaluate your time, your talents, your resources, your relationships? Ask Him...He will answer and give you all that you need to obey. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus...than to trust and obey.”</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBKajI2wYp_NWLDhZ16CmnZSU1nLsW1NRhtCec1ydLBC8dHbyASAdANeMJ_6bhGFYbB0uIM211KYnDMwt2E09K3ZViiwwpSJyYgn69sHjcViu0MDBW-kfIxkhBEZie242WMGRYtigagw/s1600/undividedheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBKajI2wYp_NWLDhZ16CmnZSU1nLsW1NRhtCec1ydLBC8dHbyASAdANeMJ_6bhGFYbB0uIM211KYnDMwt2E09K3ZViiwwpSJyYgn69sHjcViu0MDBW-kfIxkhBEZie242WMGRYtigagw/s320/undividedheart.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Selah.</i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-60148050189377274192010-04-27T09:26:00.014-05:002010-04-27T09:57:44.672-05:00Pondering A Plan That Will Stick<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Picture it with me. You’re laying in bed, or driving in the car…cooking or cleaning, exercising, whatever you do when you stew…and you can’t stop thinking about that circumstance, conflict or decision.<br />
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You think about it in hundreds of different ways. What if I did this? No, that wouldn’t be good, because then “that” would happen. Okay, so what if I asked her to talk to so-and-so…but then I’m involving someone else, and she might think bad of me. But if I do this, something will fall through at home or work. I know, I’ll tell him one thing in hopes that it might lead to the other thing.<br />
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And we just. keep. going. Plotting, stirring, stewing…on and on…coaxing with God one minute, then working to solve the equations ourselves the next minute. Maybe it’s because we’re weary of waiting, maybe it’s a habit, maybe we believe that God helps those who help themselves, and He gave us marbles, so we best use them or lose them.<br />
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Whatever the case, the Lord was ready and waiting for my attention this morning so that He could deliver a message to me from His Word. I immediately wrote it on a sticky note and slapped it on my forehead. ;0</span></span><br />
<div align="CENTER"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>“There is </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>no</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> wisdom, </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>no</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> insight, </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>no</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> plan that can succeed against the LORD.”</i></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;">Proverbs 21:30</span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Yea, um. That’s pretty clear with the three “nos” in there. I learned several things in the moments my heart was open:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px;"><ul><li>*We can’t outwit God. Yes, it’s fine for us to think through a situation, but it’s not fine for us to take matters into our own hands. He sees the whole thing. He sees ahead. He knows what needs doing. We can whole-heartedly, undoubtedly, unmistakably rely on Him to guide our decisions as we trust Him with the faith He’s given us. He’ll continue to teach us about surrendered, Spirit-filled living, and we’ll think differently as a result.</li>
<li><br />
</li>
<li>*We can’t always depend on others to counsel us. Often the second place we turn after stewing is to friends or family. While the Lord will sometimes use those relationships to guide us, sometimes He doesn’t, especially when we don’t consult Him first. Another reason to wait and rely upon Him. As we do so, He will lead us to phone a friend, or even better, He’ll lead them to phone us. (love it when that happens). ;)</li>
<li><br />
</li>
<li>*How do we know when our thoughts or the counsel of others is in line with the Lord’s? When it falls in line with His Truth. If we are manipulating a person or situation to get our way, it’s not from Him (1 Cor. 13:5). If we are losing sleep or being driven to drink/eat, etc, or having physical symptoms of any kind from worry, it’s not from Him. (Luke 12:25). If what another person tells us leads us to think ourselves better than another or more entitled and deserving than ever before, it’s not from Him. (Philip. 2:3)</li>
<li><br />
</li>
<li>*Even if we do it the “easy” way, the wrong way, the self-serving way, etc, His plan will still come to fruition. Because He loves us, and because of His grace, He will make His plan, the best plan, succeed in the end. We may have consequences from our folly, but He will still forgive us. We may have to wait longer for the good fruit that comes from fully believing, obeying and depending on Him, but He won’t let the opportunity pass without teaching us something spectacular (if we are open and listening). </li>
</ul></span><div align="CENTER"><div style="text-align: left;">Who'da thunk this passage had so much to teach us? That's His Word. That's our God. He's the kind of Father who loves us enough to instruct us for our own best. He is tall, He is tender, and He is trustworthy...in every slice of life, even the sticky ones. </div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: navy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> 2 Corinthians 10:5</span></span></blockquote></div><div align="CENTER"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests & challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open & shows its true colors. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature & well-developed, not deficient in any way. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">James 1:2-4, The Msg.</span></span></blockquote></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-87357740040576203992010-04-15T12:56:00.003-05:002010-04-15T14:18:37.048-05:00A "Tax Day" Devotional<div align="CENTER"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><u>Are You Taxed Out?</u></span></span></div><div align="CENTER"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Definiton:<b> </b></span><b><span style="color: green;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Tax,</span><span style="font-size: 17px;"> n.<i> A burdensome or excessive demand; a strain</i>. </span></span></b></span></span> </div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> <br />
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<div align="CENTER"><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Optima, 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b><i>Is this you, my friend? If you were to write a tax letter to the Lord instead of the IRS, would it be similar to this? </i></b></span></span></span></span> </div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><i>April 15th, 2010<br />
</i></b></span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> <br />
Dear Lord,<br />
<br />
I’m tired. I’m drained. I’m burdened. All the things I don’t want to be as a Christian. <br />
I am, though.<br />
<br />
What an awkward day for me to realize this, but…I’m overtaxed.<br />
<br />
Could you…wait, I know You </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><i>can</i></b></span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;">…<br />
<br />
…</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><i>Would</i></b></span></span><b><i><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14px;">You please give me a tax break? Just long enough for me to come up for air? I don’t mean to beg, but please?<br />
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I do love You, Lord. I do. I have only good intentions, but I’m weary, Lord.<br />
<br />
Hangin’ by a hair,<br />
Your child<br />
<br />
PS. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I know You already know this, but the thought of no new taxes would really bring peace of mind to me right now.<br />
<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b><i>April 15th, 2010<br />
</i></b></span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> <br />
Dear child,<br />
<br />
Yes. My tax breaks are always available for you. Listen to what I’ve written.*<br />
</span></span> <br />
<div align="CENTER"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>“The Word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”<br />
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“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>He will never leave you nor forsake you.”<br />
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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, <br />
for I am gentle and humble in heart, </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>and you will find rest for your souls.”<br />
<br />
“Do you not know? </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>The LORD is the everlasting God…He will not grow tired or weary, </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>and His understanding no one can fathom.<br />
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; <br />
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>They will soar on wings like eagles; <br />
they will run and not grow weary, </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><i>they will walk and not be faint.” </i></span></span> </div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
So…yea. This was written for you, my precious child. For this tax day, and every other moment too.<br />
<br />
Holding you tight,<br />
Your Daddy<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">PS. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">“<i>I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you </i><b><i>will </i></b><i>have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”</i> **<br />
<br />
</span></span> <br />
<div align="RIGHT"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: 16px;">*Deuteronomy 30:14, 31:8, Matthew 11:28-29, Isaiah 40:28-31<br />
** John 16:33 </span></span></span> </div><div align="RIGHT"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br />
</span></div><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><i>"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span></i><br />
<i>who daily bears our burdens. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Selah</b></span>"</i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Psalm 68:19</span></i></blockquote><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-2008849662361492682010-04-13T09:31:00.000-05:002010-04-13T09:31:57.196-05:00Unfulfilled Expectations at the Internet CafeI'm serving at the Internet Cafe today. I hope you'll come by and chat with me:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://internetcafedevotions.com/2010/04/getting-there/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"Getting There" at the Internet Cafe</span></b></a></div><br />
Thanks for your continued encouragement!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-80345546339545660252010-04-06T10:47:00.002-05:002010-04-06T11:06:18.888-05:00Are you a good witness?<i>"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven."</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Matthew 5:14-16</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuV7uD5A4iKOBO8_ScaWdlFtChbKq8WkJcHlCkfAcah13hStdrLVRKyBnZLIESEGIrzLliKl3m8box9Xl6rwU824sJmV-LeN4FCFB6p3oD80iraJTYaaGkfaQ6Vfnos9Hs6bHlyOti7c/s1600/stained+glass+cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuV7uD5A4iKOBO8_ScaWdlFtChbKq8WkJcHlCkfAcah13hStdrLVRKyBnZLIESEGIrzLliKl3m8box9Xl6rwU824sJmV-LeN4FCFB6p3oD80iraJTYaaGkfaQ6Vfnos9Hs6bHlyOti7c/s320/stained+glass+cross.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">"You are..." You ARE. Believer in Christ, His light is what you are. Because Jesus has conquered the dark grave of sin and death, and because the Holy Spirit has been given to you, lives inside of you, works through you, you are the light of Christ.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">You don't have to pray to have enough light for today or tomorrow. You don't have to pray to do "light" things. You don't have to worry about the darkness taking you over. As you abide in Him, you walk in the light and it beams for all to see. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">You don't get credit. You don't get a medal. You often won't receive any praise or applause at all when its His light shining through you. Because when others see His light in your attitude, your actions, they will see Him and praise HIM. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Selah.</span></i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I know many of you reading know <i>Whose</i> you are...but do you know who you are in Him? Do you know that you are a new creation and that in Him you live and move and have your being? Do you realize that Jesus Christ is your life and that your life is now hidden in God? (2 Co 5:17, Acts 17:28, Col. 3:3) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The more I cease praying about being a better Christian and witnessing more, asking instead that the Lord live through me...the more He shines. I can't explain it, but it is so.</div><br />
I love the way John White puts it:<br />
<blockquote>"Has it never dawned upon you that the essence of witnessing is just plain honesty? You are salt - whether you feel like it or not. You are not told to act like salt but to be what you are. You are a light. God has done a work in your life. Don't try to shine. Let the light that God put there shine out. It demands no more than honesty. It demands honesty before unbelievers. In fact such honesty is ninety per cent of witnessing. Witnessing is not putting on a Christian front as to convince prospective customers. Witnessing is just being honest, that is, being true to what God has made you in your speech and everyday behaviour." John White</blockquote><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Selah.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>What verses have shown you who you are in Him?</i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>How is your life different when you cease self-striving </i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>and let Him live through you?</i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>What does it look like to live "honestly before unbelievers"?</i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-30201032439845206292010-03-24T11:04:00.001-05:002010-03-24T11:54:00.092-05:00Unsinking FocusChristians, what is our purpose here on earth? To glorify God. To hope in Him. To share Him. To worship Him. No matter our circumstances.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I had a couple of hours when I forgot this truth. My first day back in the swing of things from a glorious vacation, I was facing some uncomfortable moments of anxiety. One was relational, the other was in the headline news. Yuck. My stomach started to hurt, I felt drained and tired. My thoughts went awry with introspection and analysis. Then anger...<br />
<br />
I didn’t even pray for several hours. Instead, I allowed my mind and heart to stay right there. And I was miserable.<br />
<br />
As I drove to pick my kids up from school, the Lord, in His gracious mercy, brought a well-known story from Matthew 14 to my mind:<br />
<br />
Jesus was walking on water, and it FREAKED the disciples out. I have to say, I’m with the disciples here...that would be over the top crazy. They wanted proof that it was the Jesus they knew. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>“Lord, if it’s You,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>‘Come,’ He (Jesus) said.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid...” </i></div><br />
Yup. Good ole Peter. Had Jesus right there in front of Him, and He noticed the WIND? Crooked finger circles around and stops right on myself. I was Peter yesterday. I had spent time in His presence earlier that morning, and I saw Him in all His glory. But the wind of worry came and took my eyes off of Him only hours later. And I kept my focus there until my attitude began to sink...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘Why did you doubt?’”</i></div><br />
I can picture Peter, his eyes having zoomed back in on the Savior, stuttering...”I-I-I-I don’t know actually. I have no idea why I doubted You, of all people. What was I thinking? Thank You for saving me from sinking.”<br />
<br />
Can any of you relate to this? Maybe it’s a problem child or a rocky marriage or the news of public healthcare...uncertainty for the future, a loss of income, conflict with a family member or friend. Maybe your circumstances are so overwhelming that you feel you are sinking under them. Perhaps it’s a bunch of tiny annoyances combined with hormones and stress, stacking up to steal your joy. And even though you have experienced His provision, His peace and His presence in the past over and over and over again, here comes that new wind from a different direction, and you start to sink.<br />
<br />
Take a moment to think about the wind of worries in your life. Many of us don’t like to call worry what it actually is...an online dictionary defines it as “to be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy.” In other words, all the feelings we experience when we take our eyes off of Jesus. Truth is, we are all subject to it.<br />
<br />
He understands that we will and even why we lose our focus, but He challenges us to do the opposite.<br />
<blockquote>“Why do you doubt? It is I!”</blockquote>So my friends, my prayer for all of us today is that no matter what or who has blocked our view of the One who does miracles, who provides for every single need, who holds all things together...no matter the care or worry...that we will take the Messiah’s hand and turn our eyes upon Him.<i><b> “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for HE who promised is faithful.”</b></i> Hebrews 10:23.<br />
<br />
He is sovereign. He is faithful, and I will never EVER sink when my heart’s focus is fixed on Him.<br />
<br />
Sing with me:<br />
<br />
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! So turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”<br />
<br />
~Helen H. Lemmel, 1922<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-12892955325835145702010-03-08T14:04:00.004-06:002010-03-08T14:08:50.266-06:00A Promise of Potential at the Internet CafeI'm at the Internet Cafe today! Please come by and leave your thoughts by clicking here...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://internetcafedevotions.com/2010/03/potentially-possible-promise/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Potentially Possible Promise</span></i></span></b></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-27526539299357117932010-03-02T11:21:00.002-06:002010-03-02T11:32:16.409-06:00The Lying Truth<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few years ago, I had gone to my dr. for a checkup on my thyroid. I was so excited to get on the scale (for once), because all that working out and healthy eating was surely going to reap for me the joy of good numbers. You can imagine the huge load of disappointment as I saw that my load had not lightened at all—there was actually a gain. I ranted emotionally to my doctor about how hard I had been working and how healthy I had been eating as she looked at me with pure skepticism.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She didn’t believe me!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few days later, I found the humility to mention this scenario to my close, no-nonsense friend, who also happens to be a nurse. She always has a way of getting me to look at myself honestly without hurting my feelings. (It’s a gift!) She suggested that I try an online fitness diary to track what I was eating and what activity I was doing. That way, I would have something to take to the Dr. and show her so that we could get to the bottom of it. I mulled it over for a few weeks, then decided to try it. After just a few days of tracking, I realized that I had not been doing as well on my calorie intake OR burning as I had previously thought.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Was I mistaken before, or had I just convinced myself that I was doing it all right?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OUCH! The truth hurts sometimes, doesn’t it? It hurts, but it can help as well. The Lord took this one scenario and reminded me to apply it spiritually.</span></div><center> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><blockquote><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Psalm 119:29a (NLT) says:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>“Keep me from lying to myself.”<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"> </span></span></i></span></span></span></div></blockquote><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></center><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What wisdom this Psalm writer was given to pray for this! Many lies told outwardly start with believing them in the first place, don’t they? It may be to cope, or to hold on to pride, or to stay comfortable with our routine. Regardless, the Lord wants us to examine this regularly. Every time I do, He shows me the little extra calories of falsehood I’ve put into my mouth, and I’m so thankful He loves me enough to do so.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here’s the challenge:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let’s take some time today and ask if we have been honest with ourselves about where we are with the Lord. Do we think we are closer to the Savior than we actually are? Do we think we are living by the Word, when in fact, we've hardly been meditating upon it? Are we open to examine suggestions from others and align it with God’s Truth?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or in the opposite case, have you allowed someone who loves you to make you believe untruths about yourself? Do you repeat over and over that you're nothing, when in fact, in Jesus you are a capital "S" Something?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When we allow lies to become truth to us, then we begin to tell lies to others, and maybe even to God. When the lying truth becomes comfortable to us, life itself can begin to weigh us down… Check out in Psalm 119 how many times truth is mentioned. A LOT! Notice as you read your Bible, how often the subject comes up as well. A TON!!!! Jesus is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life, right? The TRUE truth matters, so let’s read it, think it and live by it as His Spirit has the ability to do through us. Let’s weigh ourselves in the light of His truth today.</span></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jeremiah 17:10, NLT</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"But I, the LORD, search all hearts</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and examine secret motives.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I give all people their due rewards,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">according to what their actions deserve." </span></i></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: italic;">Father God, All-Knowing, All-Seeing Mighty One, I am in awe of Your awesomeness. The fact that You know how pitiful I am, yet You love me anyway. I can fool others. I can even fool myself. But I can never ever never fool You. Thank You. Thank You for loving me in spite of myself. Thank You for knowing just how to handle this fleshly daughter. Thank You for setting me free from so many things. Lord, please help me to live and walk in Your Truth, to know how much You desire it from me. Strengthen me, I pray, in the name of Jesus, my Redeemer, Amen.</span></div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-11055431058216995422010-02-23T12:56:00.002-06:002010-02-23T13:05:25.826-06:00Upon Reflection...For Women to Ponder<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrWEpGSPswb5KlAzKAoxDPq-29deRq57F4cJuu6kGcP-8YddBaIAPINb4rDXnq9Q_LEITpZYueEEI4-yR1ULP1O4LCePcG_fhdITDdaaTGQr_yn0Utdtnpl_4q4GzzV5CFP4jMlWdrQo/s1600-h/woman+looking+at+mirror.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrWEpGSPswb5KlAzKAoxDPq-29deRq57F4cJuu6kGcP-8YddBaIAPINb4rDXnq9Q_LEITpZYueEEI4-yR1ULP1O4LCePcG_fhdITDdaaTGQr_yn0Utdtnpl_4q4GzzV5CFP4jMlWdrQo/s320/woman+looking+at+mirror.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441516587164668930" /></a><div><p class="MsoNormal">It was a transforming day at the gym that day, but it didn’t start out pretty.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ugh. Why do they have to have mirrors in here? There’s no way I can make it through this. Little Miss Skinny Winny is right in front of me in her ‘lil piece of material disguised as FIT to wear in public! Now I get to stare at BOTH of us in the mirror. YUCK! You’re too out of shape, Laura. It’s disgusting.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Yes, I actually have these thoughts sometimes…and one day in my FLEX aerobics class, they were running rampant through my head. And continuing…<i>I used to be “one of them,” you know. Well, with the exception of the skimpy clothing. But now? Now I am a red-faced, hyperventilating, under-confident, thrumpy, almost-forty something someone.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Obviously my body wasn’t the only thing struggling with a much-needed workout. My spirit was too. Praise the Lord He spoke straight through the booming music and into my heart by the time class ended. He reminded me that, with Him, all things are possible. That nothing is too hard for Him. That He wanted me to persevere and love these people while I’m at it. That He’s more concerned with the state of my heart than the image in the mirror.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> My attitude had been placed into submission with my Savior, and it was a good thing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been prepared for what I walked into next. As I entered the ladies’ locker room, I walked straight into an older teenager with a perfect body in her teeny tiny bikini. She smiled at me big and said, “Hi.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I looked straight into her eyes, faked a smile and said “Hi” back. I made my way to my locker and grabbed my things, because I certainly was not changing my clothes in there now.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> As I was about to leave, teeny weeny bikini girl’s (let’s call her “TWB Girl” for short.) friend came out of a draped dressing area in absolute distress. “I can’t do this!” she said to TWB Girl.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “You look great, Jody!” TWB Girl said back, “You do, I promise.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Then the unthinkable. TWB Girl involves ME.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “Ma’am (ugh), tell her how great she looks.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> What I wanted to say is, “What are you two young things doing running around in skimpy bikinis? You need to cover up now, you hear!?! Got a t-shirt in that locker?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The mommy/discipler in me took over instead. I forced myself not to look down at her body, but straight into her eyes. I thought, <i>okay, if you tell her not to worry about it, she’ll think she looks bad. If I tell her she looks good in it, I’m feeding the wrong part of her.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> “Sweetheart, you are so beautiful. Don’t cry, okay? God has made you such a beautiful young lady.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">My heart broke in two as I watched Jody go over to the sink, look in the mirror and rinse her tears. I wanted to continue our conversation, clarify a few things about "true beauty," but I felt led to stop. As the two of them left, saying their polite goodbyes, I sat down on the bench and prayed, crying silently in my soul for this girl, for today’s generation, and for the woman in our aerobics class fussing in the mirror over her body just an hour earlier.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Oh wait, that was me!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Are you ever “that me” or “that her” in the mirror?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> It may not be your appearance, or your weight, or your age. For some of you, it’s your talent, your spiritual giftedness, your domestic abilities or the lack thereof. Maybe it’s your personality, your spirituality, or some other stark reality.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Why do we do this? Talk down to ourselves, compare ourselves, wish ourselves away?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Blame it on the media, the devil, “the flesh,” the end times, whatever—but what matters most is what God has to say about us. He tells us to think on <i>“what is true,”</i><span style="font-style:normal"> (Philippians 4:8a) and to </span><i>“take captive every thought,”</i><span style="font-style:normal"> making it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5b). He is very clear that He is more concerned with what He sees in our hearts than what we look like. (1 Samuel 16:7b)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style:normal">Here’s Truth:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>* You are beautiful to the King. (Psalm 45:11)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>* You are His perfect creation. (Psalm 139:13)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>* You are radiant when you look to Him. (Psalm 34:5)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>* You can live life to the full if you believe what God says. (John 10:10)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>* You are dead to the old flesh, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3:3)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>* You are not to compare yourself to others. (Galatians 6:4)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Ladies, I could go on and on. This is not about whether or not you should lose weight or improve on yourself, or about strongholds or habits you may or may not need to change. I truly believe that if you don’t understand God’s perspective of you and how to think rightly on it, then it will be impossible to change anything about yourself you need to change anyway.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Look to Him today. Seek His face. Dig into His Truth. Pray for change in your thinking about who He made you to be. And I’ll meet you there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i></i></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>Now the Lord is the Spirit, </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i>which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">2 Corinthians 3:16-18</p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-19888924515601470902010-02-18T14:47:00.004-06:002010-02-18T15:00:15.344-06:00Walkin' in Circles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCJ4gMR1H5BeMPnLO_-4mNvtUQ1yIdpBQBlHEV2eGa2mJLqfsM_-57iMJ_Np4bP3k0hQOg3n_cDDzvC2ARpuLddxG4PyOpSg_xfL1kEx7U2-9cPKq-hYLIBSzl9108l5gpI2ey_KQWHA/s1600-h/footprints+in+circle+graphic.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCJ4gMR1H5BeMPnLO_-4mNvtUQ1yIdpBQBlHEV2eGa2mJLqfsM_-57iMJ_Np4bP3k0hQOg3n_cDDzvC2ARpuLddxG4PyOpSg_xfL1kEx7U2-9cPKq-hYLIBSzl9108l5gpI2ey_KQWHA/s320/footprints+in+circle+graphic.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439688190638763346" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Walking down a shady neighborhood trail not long ago, I breathed in the air of a refreshing seventy degrees. Starting slowly, I took some time to praise the Lord and enjoy the peace and alone time. I quickened my pace, and anxious thoughts began to jog alongside me. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">God, please help my Ally on her tests today. Don’t let her fail again. She studied so hard. I’ve got so much to do. I shouldn’t be walking. I’m going to get behind on everything else. Why am I always a step behind on everything?</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br />My worries completely took over my steps, and I’m sure my heart rate went off the charts. Ministry at church. My son’s issues. Not meeting people’s expectations. Emails and phone calls to return. Decisions my husband and I needed to make. Kids and families my heart is grieving for. Not enough hours in the day…<br /><br />Then, one thought hijacked the others: I remembered something that had recently hurt my feelings. I didn’t think my legs could go any faster, but they did. I bit back at this person in my mind. I defended myself. I informed this person through telepathic communication that her actions were immature and hurtful.<br /><br />Huffing in mind, spirit and body, all of a sudden, I noticed that I’d passed my starting place and was walking around the same trail again, by a long ways. The thought of going around a second time was quite an exhausting one, so I stopped for a moment, leaned the weight of my body via arms on my knees and caught my breath.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><i><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Do you really wanna walk down this path again?</span></blockquote></i></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">This was the thought that stopped my elevated “worry pulse,” and I’m positive it was from the Lord. He had my full attention, seeing as He had given me a real-life scenario to think it through (not to mention, plenty of time).<br /><br />It took the rest of the trail (a second time) home to allow the Lord to do some counseling with me. He gave me incredible insight into just how far He had brought me down the path of anxiety. He reminded me that I struggle with it so much less than I ever have before. He recounted instances of situations past where He has worked out each and every problem, hurt, fear or disappointment for His glory. He testified of all the ways He has worked in me to grow me up spiritually.<br /><br />By the time I got home, my hurts and “But hows” had taken a hike, and the Lord had carried my numb legs through the door. I was where I needed to be: in the hold of His strong and capable arms. That’s when my prayers and praises started me down a new trail—the one they should have veered on about an hour earlier. I had gone full circle, and now it was time for His Truth to speak. <br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.</span></span></div><i><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">and pure, and lovely, and admirable. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">everything you heard from me and saw me doing. </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Then the God of peace will be with you.”</span></div></i><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Philippians 4:6-9 (NLT)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />What trails keep you running around in circles? Are there any issues in your life that you need the Lord to “stop you in your tracks” over today? Take a few moments to remember His faithfulness on the treaded trails of your yesterdays. Do any of those give you hope for your footsteps today?<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">because he trusts in You.”</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Isaiah 26:3 NIV </span></div></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Lord, we praise You, for You are true and honorable, most worthy of praise. I pray that You would work Your Spirit in and through us, helping us to put your Word into practice on our faith walks. Guard our hearts and our minds with Your perfect peace, I pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.</span></i></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-83153594261445963582010-02-15T15:29:00.005-06:002010-02-15T17:04:24.732-06:00Giveaway of "Thin Places: A Memoir"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8RQ6C3fWrcj9iTd-h7mkmjP0xCC0QQyeF0CxHbeesqPGpBU_3sNseDjXZkvRi-ciJdxjAP8A-BgNh9Xw329cjd9pLYxDOySSlVU79WESayZRYLDf9ysEj4QXhoALlPpca0g7iXXEwWY/s1600-h/517VUZvuJOL._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8RQ6C3fWrcj9iTd-h7mkmjP0xCC0QQyeF0CxHbeesqPGpBU_3sNseDjXZkvRi-ciJdxjAP8A-BgNh9Xw329cjd9pLYxDOySSlVU79WESayZRYLDf9ysEj4QXhoALlPpca0g7iXXEwWY/s320/517VUZvuJOL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438587179179997282" /></a><br /><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "><i>"The greatest success stories are written by people who, against seemingly overwhelming and often insurmountable odds, have accepted their trials and turned them into opportunities for personal growth and stepping stones on their pathway to success. With God's help you can do the same. Trust him and choose friends who will empower you to do so."</i></p> <p color="#0000ff" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><a href="http://www.actsweb.org/rwi_bio.php">Dick Innes</a></span></p><p color="#0000ff" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "></p></blockquote><p color="#0000ff" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></p><p color="#0000ff" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;">I saw this quote the other day and thought of Mary DeMuth. She has spent her writing career showing how God has turned her trials into triumph. Because I deeply believe in her latest project, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031028418X/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Thin Places: A Memoir, </span></i></b></a>I'd like to give one away. </span></p><p color="#0000ff" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></p><p color="#0000ff" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;">If you are interested, click <a href="http://www.lauraleeshaw.com/2010/02/review-of-mary-e-demuths-thin-places.html"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">here</span></i></b></a> to read my review of her book on my new personal blog, and be sure to leave a comment over there. You might share how God has rescued you from a difficult past or circumstance, or you can take a moment to encourage Mary or another commenter.</span></span></p><p color="#0000ff" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></p><p color="#0000ff" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Trebuchet MS'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you've read the advance copy of her book, feel free to leave the link to your review as well. Anyone who leaves a comment </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;"><a href="http://www.lauraleeshaw.com/2010/02/review-of-mary-e-demuths-thin-places.html"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">here</span></i></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">by <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">March</span></i></b></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> 1st</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is eligible to win this giveaway.</span></span></span></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-60385532021978562672010-02-11T08:51:00.002-06:002010-02-11T09:00:46.216-06:00Be His, A Valentine's Day Devotional<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii236/lovinthearts/?action=view&current=conversation_hearts.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii236/lovinthearts/conversation_hearts.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I’ll never forget receiving the candy hearts on Valentine’s Day when I was in middle school. You know, the ones that taste like Pepto-Bismol? My friends and I would tear open our itty bitty envelopes (if we got any) to see which hearts someone put inside with the generic card. Reading into every phrase, we fantasized of that special someone spending tireless efforts to make sure he delivered the perfect message and emotion to each of us. It was dreamy.<br /><br />It didn’t take me too many years to realize that the boys’ mamas probably just threw them in an envelope for them, OR worst case scenario, picked out the girl SHE wanted for him to like via pepto-heart-a-grams. So much for dreamy.<br /><br />The reality of the analogy the Lord laid on my heart was not so dreamy either. He has written His message on my heart. It is forever inscribed and perfectly perfect, which is a beautiful truth. But when others look at my heart, so often I have covered up His words with my own unintentional messages.<br /><br />Sometimes my heart begs, “Be mine,” when it really should cry out, “Be His.” Often it shouts out, “Love me,” when God begs me to “Love them” or “Love Him” instead. The mixed messages my heart delivers to others can leave them with mixed feelings about the heart of God.<br /><br />Luke 6:45b says, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“…for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”</span></span></span> It’s saying that the ‘stuff’ we stuff into our minds gets stored in the treasury of our hearts, and eventually it begins to flow out of the heart via tunnel of the mouth. Then it is spread to others, and “round and round it goes, where it stops…?”<br /><br />When I complain frequently, I have probably listened to a bunch of complaints. As I throw out a zinger in the name of humor, I realize I've maybe seen a few too many sit-coms. During those moments of pouring out flattery to others, could it be that I have enjoyed the empty, false praise that I have indeed received myself? What ‘line’ do others see displayed on the tablet of your life?<br /><br />All the static this world has to offer us can cloud the message he has carved on our hearts:<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: right;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hebrews 8:10b<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“I will put my laws in their minds, </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and I will write them on their hearts.<br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I will be their God, and they will be my people.”</span></i></span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Do you see His Valentine’s message for us? </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">♥BE MINE♥</span></span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Make </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">HIM</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> our True Love. Let’s not mix His message with overflow from the world’s waste. Instead, let’s spread His Word, the Word that He has written front and center in bold letters on our hearts—the Word that we have fallen in love with so that we could keep from sin and love others God’s way.<br /><br />Sometimes we only need to be reminded, friends. I know I do. The way we spend our time matters. The people we allow to rub off on us are important. The shows we watch and the websites we visit and the novels we read—it has an affect on us. Pray about it, allow the Lord to lead and guide you into the perfect balance of freedom and works. It is then, and only then that our hearts—the new ones He gave us when we became a Christian—will show the world that we are His.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Psalm 86:11<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“Teach me YOUR way, O LORD, and I will walk in Your Truth;<br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.”</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></blockquote><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-2997899976915597522010-02-05T09:07:00.075-06:002010-02-05T16:56:00.591-06:00All the Way to Cambodia, Part 5<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Wae_0-PlQPEcBCp_9Z9ndQD5N7Q4PzQVO_dn1jxVMAwA30qF1oP8_Jswh80zFoMumM7UqOuIfuGs87kmRTphNPPU9WRHri8XY2DTRvFULgWIQ1k-BL6UA5yvE_Xre2tCngHLvGAm6mc/s1600-h/conference+brighter+view+of+pool+and+ocean.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Wae_0-PlQPEcBCp_9Z9ndQD5N7Q4PzQVO_dn1jxVMAwA30qF1oP8_Jswh80zFoMumM7UqOuIfuGs87kmRTphNPPU9WRHri8XY2DTRvFULgWIQ1k-BL6UA5yvE_Xre2tCngHLvGAm6mc/s320/conference+brighter+view+of+pool+and+ocean.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434838358481569954" /></a><div><span style="font-family:Optima;">I could hardly believe my eyes. <i>THIS</i> is in Cambodia? And <i>THIS</i> is where we would hold our retreat? As we walked into the huge, high ceiling, marble floored lobby of the Koh Kong Resort, I joked with the rest of the team. “Okay, this picture is NOT going in the supporters follow-up letter. They won’t believe we were on a missions trip.” I walked, wide-eyed, to the huge bay of windows at the back of the lobby which overlooked the Gulf of Thailand. Its beauty took my breath away.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJMWZqJXrFfrTB61uj64Z-fQ8r6y5nTq9raF7uwqGRMJMO4kPiO11Lvw9W-QaULKL_2zi_8I6FPgsvCOlieqnz9vxb_8YqABah6-DfQHsYdWKD8kqcDHDnSlO7GWBEy13RtuHa9V8vQY/s1600-h/conference+outside+view+of+Koh+Kong+resort.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJMWZqJXrFfrTB61uj64Z-fQ8r6y5nTq9raF7uwqGRMJMO4kPiO11Lvw9W-QaULKL_2zi_8I6FPgsvCOlieqnz9vxb_8YqABah6-DfQHsYdWKD8kqcDHDnSlO7GWBEy13RtuHa9V8vQY/s320/conference+outside+view+of+Koh+Kong+resort.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434838040702905650" /></a> It was one of the most extravagant hotels I had ever seen, and I had to go all the way to Cambodia to see it. The irony.</span><div><span style="font-family:Optima;">Then we received our room keys, which led us right back out the front door and across the street. To the “economy” rooms. That was more what I had expected. Though the space itself was more than suitable, the smell of mildew filled the hallways and rooms. It was strange to think that the rooms in that beautiful hotel across the street were probably extremely luxurious and these were, well, not so much. Not a complaint. Merely observation. I actually felt better in my spirit about being in the more humble accommodations anyway. (Oddly enough, one of the World Relief leaders pointed out that this was a perfect picture of Cambodia...the rich living large next to the poor...she also observed that those mainly enjoying the casino inside the marvelous hotel were poor as well. Left something tangible in my mind to remember).<br /><br />It was time to get to work. We went back over to the “marble museum” hotel to set up the meeting rooms. As we spent our hours unpacking and sorting for the conference, we were excited to think about the families coming to enjoy such a nice environment for the next three days, hoping it would be a treat for them.<br /><br />Our team was out in the parking lot when the World Relief bus arrived. The families, especially the children (SO many children), were glad to be at their destination after the long, bumpy drive. We found out later that the air conditioning had gone out in the bus, and it was so hot that a few people had vomited along the way. What a horrible start to their break, but we were determined to make them comfortable now that they were in our care.<br /><br />As we showed the families to their rooms, also in the economy section, they were incredibly grateful and complimentary. It was obvious that it was a special privilege for many of them to be in a hotel. That humbled me as I remembered my earlier thoughts.<br /><br />Throughout dinner and then as we began the conference that evening, I studied the families since it was difficult to hold on a conversation. They seemed close knit, eager to serve one another and us as well. The kids were curious but would not come close. They, I’m convinced, were studying me as much as I was them. I felt small, but in a good way. “Dependent on God” small.<br /><br />In the days to follow, our team would provide refreshment, teaching and encouragement to 120 men, women, youth and children, but as it was, I would end up being refreshed, taught and encouraged even more by each of them. They would cause me to worship when they sang out wholeheartedly to the praise songs in their own Khmer language. They would teach me how to pray—personally, passionately, powerfully—out loud and all in unison. They would inspire me with their stories of sacrifice and service on the mission field each and every day.<br /><br />Yes, I dare say, I was the one who was changed. I’ll walk you through some of the pictures at the conference, and you’ll better understand why.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vj7D_EGsJIfYg7wRAg9x0n25xLswaA5L25IE4b2UIRXxkKNG0DsMmdQA6YYnRT58II-fruamLDy2v1HutKQQkIxvf7QlbhQqDOK22m_RjVdebgUHwdL3rt1f5oNsg4hyphenhyphen76AY_B1d0zI/s1600-h/Conference+Tony+%26+Amy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vj7D_EGsJIfYg7wRAg9x0n25xLswaA5L25IE4b2UIRXxkKNG0DsMmdQA6YYnRT58II-fruamLDy2v1HutKQQkIxvf7QlbhQqDOK22m_RjVdebgUHwdL3rt1f5oNsg4hyphenhyphen76AY_B1d0zI/s400/Conference+Tony+%26+Amy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434826158098467442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our godly and fearless team leaders, Tony and Amy</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb31AWAsRQ4FMCJnu5eHs-QdQT9N38gtwipEA77i1zIaMNLY9zW0w7_8J9j3DHq8tYxSximCMtaAeLZMGm3-7DaK3RAAWnjbFqhFiBwAs5aQPWaS399qrU8QapJUe0wQlYJTyjhVfYk8/s1600-h/Conference+JoAnn+teaching+.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb31AWAsRQ4FMCJnu5eHs-QdQT9N38gtwipEA77i1zIaMNLY9zW0w7_8J9j3DHq8tYxSximCMtaAeLZMGm3-7DaK3RAAWnjbFqhFiBwAs5aQPWaS399qrU8QapJUe0wQlYJTyjhVfYk8/s400/Conference+JoAnn+teaching+.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434826036366453906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>While Engchy translated, Pastor JoAnn taught on the love of the Father from 1 John 3:1-3, the theme for our retreat. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbm76fXZdC5uPdK8AEDECXh29srHGZnHDVZfYheAwXyrmpHoe7nZWydYKVqLmJ2AjdwsKbQhNU1LY-prix8gmneH4SGv-SBLIK9242-oIuFZos-gqVpMr655Ts2wjXS5h_kvel9ssI14/s1600-h/conference+downpour+worship+with+cambodian+team+leading.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbm76fXZdC5uPdK8AEDECXh29srHGZnHDVZfYheAwXyrmpHoe7nZWydYKVqLmJ2AjdwsKbQhNU1LY-prix8gmneH4SGv-SBLIK9242-oIuFZos-gqVpMr655Ts2wjXS5h_kvel9ssI14/s400/conference+downpour+worship+with+cambodian+team+leading.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434825907317215826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>World Relief team members led worship after training breakouts with Matt and Wayne</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOocgIzcUkxuOFaEcrnGW3uk3CD8ydDg9xcrj7BSjMx-E6XkmafcwZ6Gy2DoYmCo2Gta3kk07DvA2WrU1bJ5e7Cxhz9d3ZGGZ-GhL2E1SMnfYjmbXT7In3wtEuXFHcXPRx2rUQljoJ-pE/s1600-h/conference+downpour+worship.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOocgIzcUkxuOFaEcrnGW3uk3CD8ydDg9xcrj7BSjMx-E6XkmafcwZ6Gy2DoYmCo2Gta3kk07DvA2WrU1bJ5e7Cxhz9d3ZGGZ-GhL2E1SMnfYjmbXT7In3wtEuXFHcXPRx2rUQljoJ-pE/s400/conference+downpour+worship.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434825842921443298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Evening worship was on the floor with pillows and blankets, an intimate time cherished by all</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCcdRTxEG7XwYl1VTZ5FNTVSnQcf_ocPPBg5nMOeFh8AitgEpq0Ij4erCY3k6doBFp6TLnK9XVcHcbc-lyZACAiA0E4DNoUrrZUseK_xFmtlUfgTfMsuDLYT4-ZaO40-7RDyu3-IHL3Y/s1600-h/conference+small+group+discussion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCcdRTxEG7XwYl1VTZ5FNTVSnQcf_ocPPBg5nMOeFh8AitgEpq0Ij4erCY3k6doBFp6TLnK9XVcHcbc-lyZACAiA0E4DNoUrrZUseK_xFmtlUfgTfMsuDLYT4-ZaO40-7RDyu3-IHL3Y/s400/conference+small+group+discussion.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434825751281176642" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Small groups met to discuss the teaching after each large group session</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6VSPFa2NPTQIdw3sqiKQ0IIt0Tln2Sodx2JssD6ugjQgoyp2BKkS1enyQ9lGFTC3GmCRhxUHjCg1W1_8T81cuihaPfEygcfXVmUTY4kP4AE6cCH0RghuHfKd_G2pzCMf1FgiB6yhAcg/s1600-h/conference+teen+group+doing+some+team+building.jpg"></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Optima;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6VSPFa2NPTQIdw3sqiKQ0IIt0Tln2Sodx2JssD6ugjQgoyp2BKkS1enyQ9lGFTC3GmCRhxUHjCg1W1_8T81cuihaPfEygcfXVmUTY4kP4AE6cCH0RghuHfKd_G2pzCMf1FgiB6yhAcg/s1600-h/conference+teen+group+doing+some+team+building.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6VSPFa2NPTQIdw3sqiKQ0IIt0Tln2Sodx2JssD6ugjQgoyp2BKkS1enyQ9lGFTC3GmCRhxUHjCg1W1_8T81cuihaPfEygcfXVmUTY4kP4AE6cCH0RghuHfKd_G2pzCMf1FgiB6yhAcg/s400/conference+teen+group+doing+some+team+building.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434825670466050978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Matt and Emily led the teens in some team building games</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWKqV_4UyE2i6N0_P0cDs4y_lAfpTt5GE8_P9Cd-W49vjCWwFzC3a8Xt1zsXowN0aCazknJAHQ4UZEr2cSunBqDD2X6uvO188LD71ulCtPeosT2jKnJGnltJcj5F6MhCbTO6pek1bvc8/s1600-h/conference+kids+doing+crafts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWKqV_4UyE2i6N0_P0cDs4y_lAfpTt5GE8_P9Cd-W49vjCWwFzC3a8Xt1zsXowN0aCazknJAHQ4UZEr2cSunBqDD2X6uvO188LD71ulCtPeosT2jKnJGnltJcj5F6MhCbTO6pek1bvc8/s400/conference+kids+doing+crafts.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434825557448338434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The kids loved craft time with the creative and organized Lynn</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNjZjaKUsZSnoIbeLDAWFtgqarp1wBTLmxe8ytbdSzdKhyphenhyphenpYFfRSJ-KdEmrvhDcQzAX4ahRIp2fIVo2g7SaxzW9u6z74RRu3B1X3I3k_xQf-dzCwhVzAt9uNV4xosMIrLjcqzdaeQk-I/s1600-h/conference+laura+reading+story+to+kids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNjZjaKUsZSnoIbeLDAWFtgqarp1wBTLmxe8ytbdSzdKhyphenhyphenpYFfRSJ-KdEmrvhDcQzAX4ahRIp2fIVo2g7SaxzW9u6z74RRu3B1X3I3k_xQf-dzCwhVzAt9uNV4xosMIrLjcqzdaeQk-I/s400/conference+laura+reading+story+to+kids.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434825470610343874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The kids scooted closer and closer to see the pictures at story time.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuWBxaL47am8vT-FVEfjpy85RJFSZGs9I0PeUQTSZEysJIH6Sdva72Nv_LqPjiNFvy3UPcv7pj7lcTlSNcG32tTP6uyBD0MKMM8LDGqKrg07PwdBs0GBRSUCL-kY_ltblHjIOyNEGOlY/s1600-h/conference+nail+painting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuWBxaL47am8vT-FVEfjpy85RJFSZGs9I0PeUQTSZEysJIH6Sdva72Nv_LqPjiNFvy3UPcv7pj7lcTlSNcG32tTP6uyBD0MKMM8LDGqKrg07PwdBs0GBRSUCL-kY_ltblHjIOyNEGOlY/s400/conference+nail+painting.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434825369397754770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We did some afternoon breakouts that were for fun and relaxation: mani/pedi being one of them</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM03tKCP0PVIyoUlRb135TvWqqKmBKKn3yeYjWBXGhTg53M99GgR5po_OAOadLMmZfJSEvq21s4JC0R59inI_bbPStsZaO1ApUYPFEq9L-lB8hTA1zoJlQup7sVLHDvI6vkFBxcWC5Hc/s1600-h/conference+victor+leading+lego+class.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM03tKCP0PVIyoUlRb135TvWqqKmBKKn3yeYjWBXGhTg53M99GgR5po_OAOadLMmZfJSEvq21s4JC0R59inI_bbPStsZaO1ApUYPFEq9L-lB8hTA1zoJlQup7sVLHDvI6vkFBxcWC5Hc/s400/conference+victor+leading+lego+class.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434825220711291026" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our youngest team member, Victor, led the kids (some big kids as well) in a lego breakout session</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNZVb_CJCBao2xggQS6kqdwaVmUv2Dlk3Zg4DrOMbjO7R_Gp2UHC3klNFxftiNiZDN2ZSQwzrUuhrID_YLjHdZ21xtN7VyzqcyliWK2C-mvbOUmmpWi1BbYrhGhoiBD_5-92wEC96Ql0/s1600-h/conference+playing+with+legos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNZVb_CJCBao2xggQS6kqdwaVmUv2Dlk3Zg4DrOMbjO7R_Gp2UHC3klNFxftiNiZDN2ZSQwzrUuhrID_YLjHdZ21xtN7VyzqcyliWK2C-mvbOUmmpWi1BbYrhGhoiBD_5-92wEC96Ql0/s400/conference+playing+with+legos.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434825139911776770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Okay, some big girls too...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEfsz6igNmbOJCAgaCp7HdeKyTjvy6WARZmvydUYVYNdFPDsFqk3I0XbKcj2JbBTLVyLjl7yLgRIfqmMtz1EpcrhhvtngnzzwQMjF_4aZMZCa4XG6egElaKrR1ScaAjqea85kPGCi6fc/s1600-h/conference+picture+of+Lynn%27s+jewelry+making+class.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEfsz6igNmbOJCAgaCp7HdeKyTjvy6WARZmvydUYVYNdFPDsFqk3I0XbKcj2JbBTLVyLjl7yLgRIfqmMtz1EpcrhhvtngnzzwQMjF_4aZMZCa4XG6egElaKrR1ScaAjqea85kPGCi6fc/s400/conference+picture+of+Lynn%27s+jewelry+making+class.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434824604301464194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Lynn led a jewelry making session for kids, teens and adults. This was a VERY popular breakout</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0EB5IhrcfNHcY5aDtbALU3jBwIaaYJIrnwFPdSoA-FJL10jzUSYIUnqwRz-Fyxs912A49HV69yVj_J2uy-xG6un4DdOqPQOSrnD_7tLiSd9pCnEjq5jMcuky8O_q51PEnr1tHMuMgi8/s1600-h/conference+kids+playing+games.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0EB5IhrcfNHcY5aDtbALU3jBwIaaYJIrnwFPdSoA-FJL10jzUSYIUnqwRz-Fyxs912A49HV69yVj_J2uy-xG6un4DdOqPQOSrnD_7tLiSd9pCnEjq5jMcuky8O_q51PEnr1tHMuMgi8/s400/conference+kids+playing+games.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434823982470775810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The kids couldn't wait until game time with Mr. Tony and Victor</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3qX7sDN7iYjD0p9xUP_D6tdCW63mkA-VOfYytfL1c2MKbD2s0Fmsq36Rl09Rm8IJxb3YfHP8dxRE5C8X1b7conwAaF709ED8vZVs0UzDv7o9JcYUm1jajiJprfrqT62G-5Y23J7xuks/s1600-h/Conference+Eli+and+Mrs.+Laura.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3qX7sDN7iYjD0p9xUP_D6tdCW63mkA-VOfYytfL1c2MKbD2s0Fmsq36Rl09Rm8IJxb3YfHP8dxRE5C8X1b7conwAaF709ED8vZVs0UzDv7o9JcYUm1jajiJprfrqT62G-5Y23J7xuks/s400/Conference+Eli+and+Mrs.+Laura.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434823886723256658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Eli the Eagle was glad to come out and play after that long trip. And the kids welcomed him whole-heartedly</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5s1ppViSDkk9nfEcuPBLqWmUBnchQt1JDMyoRjUpXcfDI_fzVBKmCaXhPd8Zjs3jK_fY6kQnnLQhGM1z_iNcQQlvQxMnD7IRBg1RfTOLH7LbDEo571qqIa-jH9Lv08n92rz2KnBNkuc/s1600-h/conference+me+leading+worship.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5s1ppViSDkk9nfEcuPBLqWmUBnchQt1JDMyoRjUpXcfDI_fzVBKmCaXhPd8Zjs3jK_fY6kQnnLQhGM1z_iNcQQlvQxMnD7IRBg1RfTOLH7LbDEo571qqIa-jH9Lv08n92rz2KnBNkuc/s400/conference+me+leading+worship.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434823706974991570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We had a blast and definitely got our exercise as we praised to "Father Abraham/The Lord's Army," "Making Melodies," "Great, Big Love," "Your Love Is Deep," and more...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZBkUBTL55kewrNwtge44Hzw9TBES2x8HZ3TZSxDXsYmVJ-igoi3d6UeseZuEvXe-iR1LuEsYdUR6bJMXkKt94O2D9bwr1arRR_gztULv0fuNrEwPZ-Z_50b-IgxG__Ge65GulxNgxZE/s1600-h/Conference+more+kids+worship+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZBkUBTL55kewrNwtge44Hzw9TBES2x8HZ3TZSxDXsYmVJ-igoi3d6UeseZuEvXe-iR1LuEsYdUR6bJMXkKt94O2D9bwr1arRR_gztULv0fuNrEwPZ-Z_50b-IgxG__Ge65GulxNgxZE/s400/Conference+more+kids+worship+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434823476308181714" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm pretty sure their favorite song was "Making Melodies." </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kEXYTkDaNUR3OyptsyFBkQDkuQT0z0_r5lS2k15HVwd-UC9DvLll664qKor4KthRPdFHosUtvqglKW2GnPGQndoDerdry3yZw3Ue7OZ8oHH5QWyTv5l7HtQEquNnPlu9a_KK3ZuOC1k/s1600-h/conference+gathering+for+baptism.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kEXYTkDaNUR3OyptsyFBkQDkuQT0z0_r5lS2k15HVwd-UC9DvLll664qKor4KthRPdFHosUtvqglKW2GnPGQndoDerdry3yZw3Ue7OZ8oHH5QWyTv5l7HtQEquNnPlu9a_KK3ZuOC1k/s400/conference+gathering+for+baptism.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434866107959635890" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>On the 2nd to last day of the conference, we held a baptism service on the beach for Victor. Two other teens joined in and made it one of the most moving and touching highlights of the week.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYAvjch1qt1MPGYUdk772aN4RFahRjOatgGTS96pFigI9X9f4nlIfRJaKn7sewtbR0HjQaY6yPxYDSQ8zpXDp63fXnGLx6tF7dJxVuzk89rVaAY1BpJ7013JFoxe5GdeC_IPJ9jwJYiY/s1600-h/conference+victor+embracing+lewis+after+baptism.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYAvjch1qt1MPGYUdk772aN4RFahRjOatgGTS96pFigI9X9f4nlIfRJaKn7sewtbR0HjQaY6yPxYDSQ8zpXDp63fXnGLx6tF7dJxVuzk89rVaAY1BpJ7013JFoxe5GdeC_IPJ9jwJYiY/s400/conference+victor+embracing+lewis+after+baptism.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434822854071140226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Victor and his father Lewis embrace after his baptism. I cannot think of a more beautiful example for the Father's Love. Not a dry eye on the beach.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BBrGXbWzimoQYN_n36xP-GQb7QhXd2Yl7vcw4s4zrCtQ-kri7t6nzzMxbE2Y8243TBQSvs-M0cabIyALI0tM2wZ9IA2kXTZYumBJqsuAQ2V3lNnRLgJCD0hBBW_MXqnycGv-lm1aFZI/s1600-h/conference+Mark+carrying+Heng+after+baptism.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BBrGXbWzimoQYN_n36xP-GQb7QhXd2Yl7vcw4s4zrCtQ-kri7t6nzzMxbE2Y8243TBQSvs-M0cabIyALI0tM2wZ9IA2kXTZYumBJqsuAQ2V3lNnRLgJCD0hBBW_MXqnycGv-lm1aFZI/s400/conference+Mark+carrying+Heng+after+baptism.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434822705824830738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The tears kept coming as we watched beautiful Heng crawl out into the water, get baptized and allow Mark to carry her back onto the beach. This precious teen may not have the use of her legs, but she has an active and powerful heart for God.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFURpQGtZLNFbbiw9mj7eVt_fiswkLbSoL3kWsHbDl7l7fwSclxPnYl_-DMfYbrruDVzsQoPiJSk3EJ4-0KNsDSRVu16wCqHu9nFig5c9ZfvNcyv5RHiL5e7MCd3pk1x41oSK-nTEPrs/s1600-h/conference+baptism.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFURpQGtZLNFbbiw9mj7eVt_fiswkLbSoL3kWsHbDl7l7fwSclxPnYl_-DMfYbrruDVzsQoPiJSk3EJ4-0KNsDSRVu16wCqHu9nFig5c9ZfvNcyv5RHiL5e7MCd3pk1x41oSK-nTEPrs/s400/conference+baptism.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434822613871588850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Joke & Marganne baptize Mary, who prayed to receive Christ on the beach only moments before...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW8SGN6MPKeLwS6NIp53lg_hq3gdIN1jTuGiVc0k5TvpzCN_APb2zGcMZIvbAmXx0HqiLCFQnhvuxX26teFdBrrAHDF0NuGRMLGpAIl2JBKNhsgfTChXXXVoBdTM2_A7a1W__jTzi7Gk/s1600-h/conference+Em,+Laura+%26+Amy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW8SGN6MPKeLwS6NIp53lg_hq3gdIN1jTuGiVc0k5TvpzCN_APb2zGcMZIvbAmXx0HqiLCFQnhvuxX26teFdBrrAHDF0NuGRMLGpAIl2JBKNhsgfTChXXXVoBdTM2_A7a1W__jTzi7Gk/s400/conference+Em,+Laura+%26+Amy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434832004807282994" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sidara won over all of our hearts with her sense of humor and engaging stories. I will never forget her.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkoe1ZOsLGrWJJp56NylhbK85e7Co3y4FsCst39xmhKM3UjkycKZeT-gaMbjlXCIsnTyaQNaeFyYX97R2ZsMGNeji5ILRie6lf_0M_zk9Ib2Ex8dEmS-SXHk0VPYUhMEd6VRYAgsg5Iw/s1600-h/conference+katie+and+kerstin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkoe1ZOsLGrWJJp56NylhbK85e7Co3y4FsCst39xmhKM3UjkycKZeT-gaMbjlXCIsnTyaQNaeFyYX97R2ZsMGNeji5ILRie6lf_0M_zk9Ib2Ex8dEmS-SXHk0VPYUhMEd6VRYAgsg5Iw/s400/conference+katie+and+kerstin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434828390728175746" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our two hostesses from World Relief, who thought of everything way before we did and worked tirelessly to make us and the staff comfortable. Their hearts are as beautiful as their beaming faces, even more so.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvatH78RXYKcecqP9z12Hc18uktMER1TBvb5E_weUK9nOIVlvdZ_8G4o2YWlIKE8cL5r2Xg4Bg_fhmv82J0jsXUmLfdqyJLL2I9u-SNE5qmG2anwDTQwVxag9yR64-Pp9u0iwjruwWbwk/s1600-h/Conference+laura+at+sunset+5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvatH78RXYKcecqP9z12Hc18uktMER1TBvb5E_weUK9nOIVlvdZ_8G4o2YWlIKE8cL5r2Xg4Bg_fhmv82J0jsXUmLfdqyJLL2I9u-SNE5qmG2anwDTQwVxag9yR64-Pp9u0iwjruwWbwk/s400/Conference+laura+at+sunset+5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434832161247501490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Everyone took turns getting their pics taken in front of the magnificent sunset. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkx3JzEUwcamEwu8cQa6bknhRMO5gPP1wa5y06v4rOkaXB4BK2XyAIlugbBKfeyofRoEAevhfwuyu68NCRctjvo7qBwwAIOj7dZ6EiCdyZB4Mdz706KR3ZDG5lTLhXmq6XbC5RqKc3nA/s1600-h/Conference+kids+meet+eli+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkx3JzEUwcamEwu8cQa6bknhRMO5gPP1wa5y06v4rOkaXB4BK2XyAIlugbBKfeyofRoEAevhfwuyu68NCRctjvo7qBwwAIOj7dZ6EiCdyZB4Mdz706KR3ZDG5lTLhXmq6XbC5RqKc3nA/s400/Conference+kids+meet+eli+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434832806926934818" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>On the last day, Eli came out to meet the kids. After all, he would be living with them in Cambodia from now on...Don't tell anyone, but I think he was the most popular person there.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aRgEz6xTwwtS4ZLzR_n2PMf0MfTk19MN8juirvAzwYw1616l71BUj66Clfb2rVJXbk5qqejcEMbGcetxfXRRHjeGg_e5wJvNIY2qBGtqYj9lT2GiWrguyT6GMeM4MA3O6J4spobiJkw/s1600-h/conference+kids+doing+bible+verse+for+parents.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aRgEz6xTwwtS4ZLzR_n2PMf0MfTk19MN8juirvAzwYw1616l71BUj66Clfb2rVJXbk5qqejcEMbGcetxfXRRHjeGg_e5wJvNIY2qBGtqYj9lT2GiWrguyT6GMeM4MA3O6J4spobiJkw/s400/conference+kids+doing+bible+verse+for+parents.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434822071864868242" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Before the conference ended, the kids went into their parents' teaching session to give them a surprise. As they shouted out their Bible verse with motions and sang "Your Love is Deep" with all they had, their parents beamed from ear to ear. Treasured memories.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUTtS99lBKwT1HnWoYu32yZ_dxJDKyvUYKpNUidX79nIV_iph4oTnVWelUDJhUiuC_eOtlQIqXxDFB7uXlHDmuTxpEDJUUbsZOpeXEe5v1Jg3x3LU5kDX_GEI3_h6N81qtn6WIbnIUg4/s1600-h/Conference+kids+wave+goodbye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUTtS99lBKwT1HnWoYu32yZ_dxJDKyvUYKpNUidX79nIV_iph4oTnVWelUDJhUiuC_eOtlQIqXxDFB7uXlHDmuTxpEDJUUbsZOpeXEe5v1Jg3x3LU5kDX_GEI3_h6N81qtn6WIbnIUg4/s400/Conference+kids+wave+goodbye.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434821460576258162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By the end of the conference, we had earned the kids' trust and respect, and they would hug and interact with us like family. No matter where I was in the building or on the property, I could hear them calling "Teacha, teacha," then smile and wave. Melted my heart. If I could say one thing about these children it would be that they are the most polite and well-mannered kids I have ever seen or taught. They show incredible respect for adults and are very patient. I love the way they are grateful for the smallest of things. Absolutely precious.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAIWLcuYVvtl5-z6sIPWRhR6SfEfnWiQZKTpY4lz5P93otd4QfjL5tBt8W1xbs8IL21U_K63X0MXDiGTTdvapjia6_gBFO_94dEuhhIPpSOVL7HY3sk2ksoWnotre9UZOOjtT0FQIIRA/s1600-h/conference+laura+and+moses.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAIWLcuYVvtl5-z6sIPWRhR6SfEfnWiQZKTpY4lz5P93otd4QfjL5tBt8W1xbs8IL21U_K63X0MXDiGTTdvapjia6_gBFO_94dEuhhIPpSOVL7HY3sk2ksoWnotre9UZOOjtT0FQIIRA/s400/conference+laura+and+moses.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434833251726331970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Bible says we are not to show favoritism, so I waited until all the kids had left to snap this photo of Moses and me. Not a day has slipped by when I have not thought of or prayed for him. I have no idea why the Lord chose Moses to snatch my heart, but I'm determined not to waste it. I pray that Moses grows up to be one of the spiritual leaders in Cambodia or wherever he finds himself living.</i></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mzbfL_QQcK8LfijGIcIYhEsV-R_kswjUN3N5yrfqEuDKGuzBbo5XJX2-PF6Yxzb44yanDLG7AwMNtiIarE8RV8P0VKDS0FlVWn23GQaCA6kUlygD8R3CRFzhd8W5IkPgDGh2i0rQaPE/s1600-h/conference+whole+group+picture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mzbfL_QQcK8LfijGIcIYhEsV-R_kswjUN3N5yrfqEuDKGuzBbo5XJX2-PF6Yxzb44yanDLG7AwMNtiIarE8RV8P0VKDS0FlVWn23GQaCA6kUlygD8R3CRFzhd8W5IkPgDGh2i0rQaPE/s400/conference+whole+group+picture.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434821110016545570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Before it was time to go, we got a group picture of all of us together. It's an amazing thought to imagine being together again in Heaven one day.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKswutPtaVDaoGxwdKenyhP4j88yDoNsG3RohASsw5FaoRWJXwwPP77Y82oEL2d2cv0KEF45yCXA46eOpSrIwveEOtk8YLckR81GhG4OP0kX74GdQkVeMWWhyphenhyphenwBsOYvnprYhCBjXjI22Q/s1600-h/conference+team+picture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKswutPtaVDaoGxwdKenyhP4j88yDoNsG3RohASsw5FaoRWJXwwPP77Y82oEL2d2cv0KEF45yCXA46eOpSrIwveEOtk8YLckR81GhG4OP0kX74GdQkVeMWWhyphenhyphenwBsOYvnprYhCBjXjI22Q/s400/conference+team+picture.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434820938241584722" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our team, unified in the beginning and even more tightly so in the end, praised the Lord for His accomplishing more than we could've ever asked or imagined. Not only in the hearts and minds of World Relief's finest, but also in each of our own lives. The Love of the Father has no limits, and He demonstrated that faithfully and powerfully over and over again...all the way in Cambodia.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>that we should be called children of God! </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And that is what we are!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 John 1:3</span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">IF you missed part one, two, three or four, click here: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2009/11/allll-way-to-cambodia-part-i.html"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Allllll the Way to Cambodia, Part 1</span></i></b></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2009/11/all-way-to-cambodia-part-2.html">All the Way to Cambodia, Part 2</a></span></i></b></span></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2009/12/all-way-to-cambodia-part-3.html/">All The Way To Cambodia, Part 3</a></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2010/01/all-way-to-cambodia-part-4.html">All The Way to Cambodia, Part 4</a></i></b></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></span><br /></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-81817643803749368892010-01-26T09:12:00.005-06:002010-01-26T09:27:19.486-06:00Socks and Other Stockpiles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6EJ-bqOqQYJa5QaR56_p8HPc7_7yE89v8nJB8LXynLGih09M0NkiMir7_gXuAbbhBrEVw4X0-MvD5Ix8ASUVe7HFcD1OJ1PExaWQWGXQkgq0OC_zgFKx5YYHLhPjk1ruuxtvvdiSCCA/s1600-h/dreamstime_8148753.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6EJ-bqOqQYJa5QaR56_p8HPc7_7yE89v8nJB8LXynLGih09M0NkiMir7_gXuAbbhBrEVw4X0-MvD5Ix8ASUVe7HFcD1OJ1PExaWQWGXQkgq0OC_zgFKx5YYHLhPjk1ruuxtvvdiSCCA/s320/dreamstime_8148753.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431070405776340850" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Most of my good friends know a dirty, little secret about me: that is, I have a stockade of freshly laundered socks in my house almost all the time. We call it the “SOCKade”! Unfortunately, this is not the only stash of uncompleted tasks in the Shaw home, but it is the most frequent irritant to us when we need to get out the door quickly. The truth is that I am one of the queens of unfinished business domestically speaking. While I’m usually eager to serve my family in this way, good intentions do not always give way to finished results. I feel quite certain that I’m not the only one who struggles with this…<br /><br />While I can have a huge laugh over this “flaw” in my personality, all joking aside, I know the Lord wants me to do better in this area. It has caused me to take a look at the spiritual areas where I do this as well. I’m always amazed when I open up this conversation with the Lord. He showed me this verse this morning as I did so. It made me chuckle at first, because I could almost visualize Paul talking directly to me:<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b></b></span></i></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">“And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Last year you were the first not only to give </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">but also to have the desire to do so. </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">may be matched by your completion of it according to your means.” </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">2 Corinthians 8:10-11</span></b></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><b></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"> Paul was talking to the Corinthians about an offering they started, but because of problems and challenges that had erupted among the church, the giving stopped. How this very principle can apply to our own lives, too--about money, about our gifts and talents, about a new relationship we’ve started, about housework, dieting, sin struggles, spiritual disciplines, work and family goals, etc.<br /><br />The Lord loves our desire to please Him and others out of the right motive. And, oh, how He must love it when our eager willingness is matched by our completion of it with the means that He gives us. Sometimes it is simply a matter of discipline and priorities, like the SOCKade; other times, it is the deeper sacrifice of surrender to Him, you fill in the blank.<br /><br />Let’s ask ourselves some questions:<br /><br />• Are we eager to start the projects, tasks & missions that the Lord lays on our hearts? When we start them, do we persevere and finish?</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br />• What challenges and obstacles get in the way of our “almost accomplishments”?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br />• Do we also have the desire to work through the buildup of anything hindering us spiritually? What stuff have we let build up in us that needs to be put away?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br />• What “means” would it take to finish what we’ve started?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br />• Read the following verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:24 & Philippians 1:5-6---If the Lord asks us to do something, will He give us what we need to finish it?<br /><br />So, as the kids and I (yes, they're the kids' socks too!) work on depleting the stockade of socks and other stockpiles of things, I pray that all of us would take this challenge from Paul to sort through our own unfinished-though-it-began-in-eagerness offerings to the Lord. It will take perseverance, but along the way, it will help us become “mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:4) </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">May we eagerly begin to allow Him to be a Finisher in us today!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-35797377281836575182010-01-18T09:46:00.004-06:002010-01-18T09:51:22.514-06:00A Special Tribute & I'm At The Cafe Today...I posted a very special tribute on my personal blog. If you have 10 extra minutes in your day, please take the time to read. Your heart will be moved:<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lauraleeshaw.com/2010/01/carson-leslie-his-story-will-live-on.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Carson Leslie: His Story Will Live On...</span></b></a></div><br />I'm also at the Internet Cafe today with a good sense of humor. Well, sort of...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.internetcafedevotions.com/2010/01/quick-wit-and-stiff-neck.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A Quick Wit & A Stiff Neck at the Cafe</span></b></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-75081934761805018202010-01-14T14:03:00.004-06:002010-01-14T14:06:28.823-06:00Pondering Devastation in Haiti through Faith-Colored Glasses<div>The Lord led me to post some thoughts about Haiti on my personal blog: </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.lauraleeshaw.com/2010/01/haiti-through-eyes-of-his-disciple.html">Haiti: Through the Eyes of His Disciple</a></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-50533629830790072452010-01-12T13:48:00.006-06:002010-02-04T08:42:11.505-06:00All the Way to Cambodia, Part 4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-L2fILjrc3uPLbs9oa_uaGWnA4PcIKCODeoKapp0xqJHkXsKHRAPTmlCopkYr9lZFUx6eQHxO2UHdGzd5MY9tsmxscNTJolQWmqq9_1KegEKdwGiMDFwOmZ5Y5hbKpA0AEgIUYKKXezU/s1600-h/16269_1288120168141_1384297748_855187_3320227_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-L2fILjrc3uPLbs9oa_uaGWnA4PcIKCODeoKapp0xqJHkXsKHRAPTmlCopkYr9lZFUx6eQHxO2UHdGzd5MY9tsmxscNTJolQWmqq9_1KegEKdwGiMDFwOmZ5Y5hbKpA0AEgIUYKKXezU/s400/16269_1288120168141_1384297748_855187_3320227_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425947363911571442" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "></span></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">"From the east I summon a bird of prey; </span></div><i><div style="text-align: center;">from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. </div><div style="text-align: center;">What I have said, that will I bring about; </div><div style="text-align: center;">what I have planned, that will I do."</div></i><div style="text-align: center;">Isaiah 46:11</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"></div>I woke up a mixed bag of emotions. Here it was, finally…the day we were to travel to our conference spot for World Relief…and I was weirded out. I felt excited and nervous, but more than anything—homesick.<br /><br />Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a pretty independent person, and though I love my family and miss them when we’re apart, I’m not normally needy of them after this short length of time. But I was all the way in Cambodia, and I guess that changes things.<br /><br />By the grace of God, He gave me a gift, and I’m sure it was a gift to many others too. As we were waiting for the shuttle bus to pick us up, we waited in the hotel lobby, our load of suitcases with supplies and the like nearby us. Our two worship leaders on the team pulled out their guitars, in the name of practicing for the conference, and began to sing. Well, there’s a reason they are called worship leaders, because it wasn’t long before our entire team was worshiping alongside them. The lobby clerk did not ask us to be quiet, and neither did the random spectators looming around to observe. I wondered what they were thinking as we sang “God of the City” over Phnom Pehn that morning. Did God give them the ability to understand our language?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA4Q_apre8o5T-ms-61MzVi5CY_TrjwMRpNbgj1_iiCSCk4URrvj8YcFbvMJ2t1k9ZgSJy2ZIqB7EyGzzmojOJ0y2MLvizJ5G9fJUOWQK5m_BsZBySAVWV6c69uUSFKaop-F7gPO99h4/s1600-h/matt+%26+wayne+leading+worship+in+hotel+lobby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA4Q_apre8o5T-ms-61MzVi5CY_TrjwMRpNbgj1_iiCSCk4URrvj8YcFbvMJ2t1k9ZgSJy2ZIqB7EyGzzmojOJ0y2MLvizJ5G9fJUOWQK5m_BsZBySAVWV6c69uUSFKaop-F7gPO99h4/s400/matt+%26+wayne+leading+worship+in+hotel+lobby.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425943241471799426" /></a><br /><br />I wanted to cry, but that would be silly. Everyone would turn their attention to me, and I didn’t want them to…it was so great knowing that the focus was on the Lord in those moments. He could handle me, and I would let Him, as big a job as it would be.<br /><br />The bus came, and Katie, the World Relief hostess with the mostest, brought us lattes from the local coffee place to be. (I know, HUGE suffrage for Jesus on this missions trip). They don’t have Starbucks, but they have this place. I don’t even remember the name, but it was gooooooooood. They had the round ice cubes that we could have in our drinks and not worry about…Starbucks could learn a thing or two from this shop. Or maybe it had something to do with withdrawals…but whatever the case, yuhh—um---eeee.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif83pt5v7Y7a2WGiTxDxxD-YBqil4bpNjzt5wKv2Yl9oxt32IB4vSZ7_LAPHC0LHrx8zZanaNEAsKrxDfYuyMTovZGc1wfQCSBhA7RW7MQUw_GePj0gAJTESAoM08cRT9xIGxacxHKc9o/s1600-h/11449_10100100223303559_6826760_55085105_7747937_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif83pt5v7Y7a2WGiTxDxxD-YBqil4bpNjzt5wKv2Yl9oxt32IB4vSZ7_LAPHC0LHrx8zZanaNEAsKrxDfYuyMTovZGc1wfQCSBhA7RW7MQUw_GePj0gAJTESAoM08cRT9xIGxacxHKc9o/s400/11449_10100100223303559_6826760_55085105_7747937_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425942865192967938" /></a><br /><br />So, with a quad shot added to my see-saw of emotions, we began the long drive to our conference spot hours away. Not long into the drive, the team games began. For hours, we rhymed and reasoned trying to figure out mind-puzzling games such as “Johnny Whoop, Black Magic, the Umbrella Game, some crazy Pictionary Telephone game and others. I was HORRIBLE at all of them, but they were great fun.<br /><br />After a few interesting “pit stops” (I will spare you the details on the inside jokes here), Katie put a movie on for us. Did I mention it was a looooooong drive to the Koh Kong Province? All the way to the Thailand border!<br /><br />While my teammates enjoyed “UP!” I took the opportunity to shut my eyes and pray. And cry. Some of the tears slipped out, but luckily everyone was looking “UP” and didn’t notice.<br /><br />In a way, it’s embarrassing for me to admit the pleads and whines I was praying to the Lord, but it was a huge part of my missions trip experience, so I can’t skip past it.<br /><br />I asked Him what His purpose was for bringing me all the way to this place. I hadn’t had a single connection to call my family or email them, (as if I should’ve expected such a thing). I kept thinking I would never be able to share all that I’d seen and experienced with them when I got home. For the very first time, I admitted to the Lord that I wanted to go home, but also that I didn’t. I asked for His peace, His provision, His strength to consume me in my weakness. I begged Him to help me appreciate this opportunity and rejoice in these moments of struggle.<br /><br />It took the rest of the way there, but I began to experience His presence and His calm. With His tender mercy, He began to pick me up from the pit of my pitifulness.<br /><br />Though my emotions would continue to be shaken in the days to come, I would have a new resolve as I allowed Him to unpack His purposes and plans…all the way in Koh Kong, Cambodia.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone."</span></i></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Ephesians 1:11-12, the Message</span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">IF you missed part one, two or three, click here: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2009/11/allll-way-to-cambodia-part-i.html"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Allllll the Way to Cambodia, Part 1</span></i></b></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2009/11/all-way-to-cambodia-part-2.html">All the Way to Cambodia, Part 2</a></span></i></b></span></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2009/12/all-way-to-cambodia-part-3.html/"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">All The Way To Cambodia, Part 3</span></b></i></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-58520884558290812182010-01-08T15:11:00.002-06:002010-01-08T15:16:29.304-06:00Pause for a Faith-Filled Giveaway with FOUR winners!Will you help me spread the word? I'm having a giveaway on my new personal blog. Click here for details!<br /><br /><a href="http://lauraleeshaw.com"> <center><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii236/lovinthearts/eyeglasses3-1.jpg"/></center></a> <br /><br />Thank you so much!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-77621881872209738622010-01-04T10:29:00.002-06:002010-01-04T10:38:27.221-06:00Most Responded To Post of 2009//Out of Order<blockquote>I didn't post this devo here on Selah, but I sent it to my <a href="http://www.lovinthearts.com/">website edevo recipients</a> and posted it on the <a href="http://www.internetcafedevotions.com/">Internet Cafe</a>. The Lord's conviction in and through me struck a chord with many, and I'm so glad He did. May we all keep things in In His Order this 2010:<br /></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Out of Order</b></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz9361_-F1MJ5TRjzi7qeoeA7l3V8OLLxY5rCs-YNJLlWNe65PSJ4fqteiRTZG5RHl-h_Rohx4Y6JOj7_zCwx_b5FvX-TV17xSsx5Cg3rzSVXrl65Iwz9xOejhewgleAPt-NIX4RLzfnL/s1600-h/thoutoforder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz9361_-F1MJ5TRjzi7qeoeA7l3V8OLLxY5rCs-YNJLlWNe65PSJ4fqteiRTZG5RHl-h_Rohx4Y6JOj7_zCwx_b5FvX-TV17xSsx5Cg3rzSVXrl65Iwz9xOejhewgleAPt-NIX4RLzfnL/s400/thoutoforder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280056276895284738" border="0" /></a><div>Recently, I began to feel pretty flat spiritually. Okay, really flat. With little inspiration to write, to read or even to pray, it was all I could do to keep from sinking into depression. When the Lord led me to search my soul about it, an unsuspecting thought surfaced.</div><div><br /><i>No, THAT is not the problem. Next thought, Lord.</i><br /><br />No matter how much I tried to deny it, the Holy Spirit kept bringing the same subject up in my heart and mind--through devotions I would read, sermons I would hear, songs that left a thick lump in my throat, and through conversations with my friends and family.<br /><br /><i>You haven’t been putting Me first.</i><br /><br />That’s the thought that kept coming. I asked Him to show me what I was doing out of order, and He began the process of revealing it to me. I feel led to share one moment in particular with you.<br /><br />That morning I was sitting in “my chair” (the one I sit in to read my Bible). I had just checked my email and commented on a few blogs, when I got up to get my second cup of coffee. As I looked over at the side table, the image I saw froze in my mind:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0TpPpJz-2SHlVoYbjzoR8JL-dcVUCqz4pJMOjgJJO3T_Mtil-idaG177hs1NAmJ2aDQEjKwj8neiv9zzZEKZXuEzoup5Cxf8FESsBq6iIpKHbQeFH2IuVU3S6-F10xGTLvA3WOkOVJkt/s1600-h/laptop+on+bible.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0TpPpJz-2SHlVoYbjzoR8JL-dcVUCqz4pJMOjgJJO3T_Mtil-idaG177hs1NAmJ2aDQEjKwj8neiv9zzZEKZXuEzoup5Cxf8FESsBq6iIpKHbQeFH2IuVU3S6-F10xGTLvA3WOkOVJkt/s320/laptop+on+bible.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280048331067087506" border="0" /></a>It was my laptop sitting on top of my open Bible. You see, when I first sat down that morning, I had opened my Bible up to the Psalms, which is how I’d jumpstarted my morning for several years. Then I thought I would take juuuuust a second to check my email before the kids got up. <i>After all, I’d rather them see my face in the Bible instead of my computer first thing in the morning,</i> I concluded.<br /><br />While my rationale seemed justifiable at the time, the Holy Spirit put a check in my heart, pointing out that I’d been doing this more and more lately….the end result being less and less time with the Lord. I was getting into a habit of coming before Him distracted and half-heartedly.<br /><br />I hadn’t been putting Him first. (Gulp)<br /><br />Embarrassingly, I had become more excited about checking my email and my blog in the mornings than I had about checking what He had to say to me through His Word. No wonder I was to the point of depleted. I was pouring myself out to things that couldn’t fill me back up.<br /><br /><center><b><i>It wasn’t that I had been intentionally walking in a life of sin or anything, but I hadn’t been intentionally guarding my time with Him either.</i></b><i></i></center><br /><br />His Word reminds me:<br /><center><blockquote><u>Romans 12:11 (NIV) </u><br /><i>“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”</i></blockquote></center><br /><br />I like the parallel that can be drawn from this OT passage:<br /><br /><blockquote><center><u>Deuteronomy 11:16-17 (The Message)</u><br /><i>“But be vigilant, lest you be seduced away and end up serving and worshiping other gods and God erupts in anger and shuts down Heaven so there's no rain and nothing grows in the fields, and in no time at all you're starved out—not a trace of you left on the good land that God is giving you.” </i></center></blockquote><br />Friends, this applies to all of us. When we let the “things,” good, bad or in-between, woo us away from our One and Only, then our spiritual growth stops. He’s a jealous God, and He simply won’t stand for it. If we don’t stop and repent, turning our face to Jesus, we’ll waste away to nothingness spiritually speaking, bearing little fruit to offer anyone.<br /><br />Is there something sitting on top of your Bible? Is there anything sapping the life right out of you? Are you being honest with yourself about this issue?<br /><br />The reason I ask that last question about being honest with yourself is because I wasn’t. My husband asked me several weeks ago if I was becoming overly dependent on my laptop, and I gave him the most defensive “NO” I’ve given him in a very long time. That should’ve been the first clue.<br /><blockquote><u>Psalm 119:58-60 (NIV)</u><br /><i></i><center><i>“I have sought Your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise. I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to Your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey Your commands.”</i></center></blockquote><br />So sisters, in Spirit and in Truth, let’s repent and turn, moving forward in His order and seeking His face more than any other. It is only with Him in full view that we can experience His life in full measure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yxOZ6XJDIL6KxZshsPuCxVfYoGRvsKhvHtUnbvlSF0R_-qJ_Bb1iXa7txWpNItfW-c34E8xcGk98y52jPLGaAdzVFaj_96OmNqmUkd4yAgiYMmozFUtu1zCsu_Sw57CUPWoDIBRHIMEJ/s1600-h/bible+on+laptop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yxOZ6XJDIL6KxZshsPuCxVfYoGRvsKhvHtUnbvlSF0R_-qJ_Bb1iXa7txWpNItfW-c34E8xcGk98y52jPLGaAdzVFaj_96OmNqmUkd4yAgiYMmozFUtu1zCsu_Sw57CUPWoDIBRHIMEJ/s400/bible+on+laptop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280049667882519266" border="0" /></a><br /><center><i>Lord, I’m so sorry for putting You out of order. You have made the choice so simple for me, yet so often I seek other pleasures to give me abundant life. Thank You for Your forgiveness and mercy and for putting me face forward in the right direction again. Help keep my wandering heart focused solely on You, Father. I pray for my sisters in Christ who also struggle with getting their priorities out of whack, and help them to seek You, accepting Your perfect correction and direction for their paths in the meantime. You are so good, Lord, and I thank You for being a God of perfect order. Help me to follow Your example, I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.</i></center><i></i><br /><br />In the Key of HE,<br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/263/B1FA1CD88D86DBA7B810910C6592361E.png" style="border: medium none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; position: relative; left: 28px; top: -27px; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a></div><br /><br />Did you know you can sign up to receive edevos at my ministry website:<br /><a href="http://www.lovinthearts.com/"> <img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii236/lovinthearts/mainlogo-1-2-1-1.png" /> </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-28929314607079456982010-01-02T00:59:00.004-06:002010-01-02T01:13:13.411-06:00Pausing to Share my 2010 Verse and my New Personal BlogI'm so excited about the verse the Lord laid on my heart to ponder and flesh out in 2010:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">2 Timothy 1:7:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."</i></div></blockquote><br />Wow, He knew I needed this verse. As He helped me work through focusing on Him with an undivided heart last year, He now has my full attention. But with that, He's begun the process of altering my confidence in Him--the kind that will produce a deeper, Spirit-filled love and discipline in me.<br /><br />I'm so excited, and a little timid (admittedly), to begin praying and applying this verse to my daily life, but here I go. Thank goodness "The One who calls" me "is faithful, and HE will do it." Otherwise, I wouldn't have a chance! After all, the key to every resolution kept is the power of His Word released in and through my life. That's why my New Year's resolution is always something from His Word...because the Living Word in me can make it happen as I surrender myself to Him.<br /><br />Have you considered praying for a verse for the Lord to flesh out in you this year?<br /><br />And one other exciting thing, at least to me. I've been working on a new personal blog for months, and it is finally up and running! Wanna have a look-see? I hope you will!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lauraleeshaw.com/"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">LauraLeeShaw.com</span></i></b></a></div><br /><br /><div>Happy New Year!!!!</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-3639676262842902102009-12-22T00:59:00.006-06:002009-12-22T01:07:32.457-06:00Does Authenticity Have A Limit?<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Sometimes I just can’t blog about it…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">That thing, that person.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Those people, those things.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Sometimes authenticity has a limit…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And the only one who can hear my thoughts</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Is the only One who knows my heart.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><i>Deeply. Intimately.</i></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Sometimes I just can’t blog about it…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">That burden, that opinion.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Those opinions, those burdens.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Sometimes authenticity has a limit…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And the only one who can see my point</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Is the only One who knows my mind.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><i>Unconditionally. Perfectly. </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Sometimes, it’s just between me and my Saviour…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">And the only one I need to show and tell</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Is the only One who can restore, replace, repair.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b>Now is one of those times.</b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Lord, You know my heart and my mind.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b><i>With You, authenticity has no limit. </i></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><i></i></span></p></div><blockquote><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><i>“</i><i>God, investigate my life; </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, serif;"><i>get all the facts firsthand.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><i>I'm an open book to you…"</i></span></p> <span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">Psalm 139:1, the Message</div></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-19764231871514768192009-12-17T15:00:00.009-06:002009-12-18T08:14:09.475-06:00All The Way to Cambodia, Part 3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Life continues to be a whirlwind, but I wanted to continue the series on my time in Cambodia. As I went back to read some of the journaling I did, the memories came in like a flood. I'm going to type out what I scribbled in my journal and then add photos with commentary at the end.</span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">IF you missed part one or part two, click here: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2009/11/allll-way-to-cambodia-part-i.html"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Allllll the Way to Cambodia, Part 1</span></i></b></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2009/11/all-way-to-cambodia-part-2.html"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">All the Way to Cambodia, Part 2</span></i></b></a></span></span></div></span><br /><br />This would be our 2nd official ministry day, and it was as packed as the first. I actually didn't even finish writing about the first day, but I plan to incorporate some of those memories in a future post with a bit of a different theme. So, on with the next day according to my journal with a few little notes added in parenthesis...</span><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">"Friday, October 30th<br /><br />My word for the day--overwhelmed. So tired. I feel numb and nauseous...drained. It's not as much physical tired as it is wiped out, though my legs have been throbbing in a funky way since the long airplane ride.<br /><br />The day started out with "candy in a cup," Tony's word <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">(our team leader)</span></span>. The hotel coffee tasted phenomenal, but how could extremely strong coffee mixed with sweetened condensed milk be anything but wonderful? It sent us all soaring, so getting on a bus for a long drive was probably not the best use of caffeinated energy, but that was the order of things, so...<br /><br />Our destination was World Relief's CREDIT offices, and from there we would drive to another village to see what that organization is doing there. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(I'll tell you more about <a href="http://www.kiva.org/about/aboutPartner?id=9">CREDIT</a> later in the post)</span>. The drive there and then to the villages, completely overwhelmed me, both good and bad. To see allll the people, the traffic again and a great deal of poverty nonstop for miles...then to drive into the lush rural areas, only to see skinny cows (I could see their bones!) and young kids bathing in dirty water--overload.<br /><br />Right before we were to cross the Mekong River, hoards of people were selling whatever they had to sell to the long line of vehicles waiting for the ferry. One person after another surrounded our bus, pleading us to buy from them: watches, sunglasses, fish, fruit, fried crickets...all kinds of snacks and goods. Young children tapped on the window and begged for money. Older kids held up younger kids, pointing to them and then to their mouths showing how hungry they were. It absolutely broke my heart. Not in a describable way either. It ushered in a great big bag of mixed emotions and questions (some of which I'm still processing).<br /><br />We finally crossed the river, and it was disgusting. So dirty. Made me sad when I saw all the shacks on the side with laundry hanging out to dry, I'm sure after having been washed in that water. "Why is the water so dirty? And why can't someone clean it up?" I thought.<br /><br />Then it was the same scene on the other side of the river with more desperate sales and pleas. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(We even gave into one, which I'll tell you about in a bit).</span> It exhausted my senses. I wanted to just stop the day right then, go back to my room and try to make some sense of things. But we'd only just begun.<br /><br />After we got to the CREDIT offices, we were desperate for a restroom. Well, the staff was so incredibly courteous, and we were under a time restraint, so they led us all to different bathrooms. Unbeknownst to me, not all "bathrooms" are "restrooms" in Cambodia. I stood there, mouth gaping open, looking at this porcelain hole in the ground, and I thought, Okay, no way. I thought maybe he guided me to the men's room, but I later learned after some chuckles from a few teammates that this would be the norm when we were out and about, and I was ever so blessed to have a "squatty potty" this nice to behold. Luckily, by that time, the type of toilets I was accustomed to became available, so I took full advantage. That would at least give me some time to adjust to the thought of the other, seeing as it was a new concept for me. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(I promise I'm not a prima-donna, just not very adventurous. As many would see this is a cool, adventurous thing to experience...me, not so much.)</span><br /><br />From the offices on, the roads were too bumpy to reach the province we were visiting, so the team split into two trucks to face the terrain. The men on the team got in the back, and the staff would only allow the ladies inside the cab. So cheek over hip, we cooperated. Thank goodness, we are a close knit team! The roads were so rugged, we could not feel our bumpies or our legs after about halfway there. I'm sure the guys on the back got a good workout as well.<br /><br />We finally reached the Prey Veng province and as we walked into the village, we were greeted with applause and cheering. Not because we were rock stars, but probably because they had been waiting on us to get the meeting started. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(Not only that, it seemed to me that Cambodians are very hospitable).</span> While they were incredibly good hosts to us, most kept their distance. I didn't find out until we were on our way home that we were the first Westerners most of them had ever seen. Lots of staring, looking, searching to see who we were, seemingly to see if we were trustworthy or not. I don't know. It was so unbearingly hot and sticky, mainly sticky, and it sapped the energy right out of us. The kids in the village were so shy, maybe even scared, but they seemed to enjoy the young ones, especially Matt <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(young college guy)</span>, and Victor, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(our one youth traveling with us).</span><br /><br />As we were leaving, it felt awkward. A few kids came up to me and started to talk. I thought they were finally warming up to me, because I had been smiling at them the whole time <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">(the kids were so cute, I could hardly take my eyes off of them)</span>. Our interpreter told me later that they were hoping I'd give them money, understandably so, because begging is a way of life for many of them. CREDIT staff members told us that this is one of the issues they cover as they go into villages...training them not to beg from others, but to work and budget instead.</span></i><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">We had lunch in town and were greeted with many stares from the townsfolk. The food had a REALLY peculiar smell, a smell unfamiliar and unpleasant to me. But I had determined I would try whatever I was served (other than insects) and was glad I did. Wow, it was fantastic, so good, and it left me feeling healthy. The smells were probably some type of seasoning that I'm not used to. If it was something bad or gross, I DON't EVER want to know about it.<br /><br />The drive back to the hotel was more of the same emotion, only with extreme drain...same scenes, different observations. I wanted to crash, as I felt like it was time to go to bed. But we still had one last stop for the day: Toul Sleng prison. I'll have to write about it tomorrow, because I'm too tired now. In just about 6 hours, it will be time to get up again, and that's when the work we came here to do will get started. I feel like so much has happened already. What else, Lord?"</span></i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUmqAlUGNJcUQdSo8rhf8JkhyYI9eld5s2Ooep1B3wEUGuz7ejXDuPSLsT8nYwbzkgJHnARAUEKjRJSDKFPs_mb7LRABawqz-AU7sMstT-czzwayhjwHtB6CCcaR_OA6s8h4RKFYL7Kc/s1600-h/Getting+ready+to+board+Mekong+river+ferry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUmqAlUGNJcUQdSo8rhf8JkhyYI9eld5s2Ooep1B3wEUGuz7ejXDuPSLsT8nYwbzkgJHnARAUEKjRJSDKFPs_mb7LRABawqz-AU7sMstT-czzwayhjwHtB6CCcaR_OA6s8h4RKFYL7Kc/s400/Getting+ready+to+board+Mekong+river+ferry.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416292673148980354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Our team on the bus as we approached the ferry to cross the Mekong River. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I'm in the back hidden somewhere. ;)</b></div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCLFKVe6Otz7L-PALhg8RUVhDIevjy8l-NYYUVW46A9snETNga9AVKjFdTgdFT2L35lB_CKI7CPRb-XaAGOWIpVhIersArYCIHEdYAiINJmILv7zAtXgaUcR94_AL5kW3Hn9zx80jIpA/s1600-h/vendors+as+we+wait+for+ferry,+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCLFKVe6Otz7L-PALhg8RUVhDIevjy8l-NYYUVW46A9snETNga9AVKjFdTgdFT2L35lB_CKI7CPRb-XaAGOWIpVhIersArYCIHEdYAiINJmILv7zAtXgaUcR94_AL5kW3Hn9zx80jIpA/s400/vendors+as+we+wait+for+ferry,+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416287194050907666" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Vendors galore braving the heat...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnoTDoaAdJKNT7FVXhHLh31pn8UDLuFMjHd8VVqgmCscApzLODOJbsCgrCaH8bkaBnS7wQ6a7JZD1Z2O3ViS5XnN2F5EvAm7SAgrSmOiNguPAhaLF0VWHzSHpkVcChirPHJqxPam4VIw/s1600-h/vendors+as+we+wait+on+ferry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnoTDoaAdJKNT7FVXhHLh31pn8UDLuFMjHd8VVqgmCscApzLODOJbsCgrCaH8bkaBnS7wQ6a7JZD1Z2O3ViS5XnN2F5EvAm7SAgrSmOiNguPAhaLF0VWHzSHpkVcChirPHJqxPam4VIw/s400/vendors+as+we+wait+on+ferry.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416287080490450818" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjBPJ8ioESguI93SrJEonSuOVaZChSCZvVcBRIC6HTWOUz_EI64mhbMyuVqzt0w96dvZ9PV0DUuQvUcmNuvMiEylu3IksQekAwcShfPLPyQugcFF_e0GN9MBN1lF_Q9zWb1sVdyVqvB4/s1600-h/fried+crickets+for+sale.jpg"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjBPJ8ioESguI93SrJEonSuOVaZChSCZvVcBRIC6HTWOUz_EI64mhbMyuVqzt0w96dvZ9PV0DUuQvUcmNuvMiEylu3IksQekAwcShfPLPyQugcFF_e0GN9MBN1lF_Q9zWb1sVdyVqvB4/s1600-h/fried+crickets+for+sale.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjBPJ8ioESguI93SrJEonSuOVaZChSCZvVcBRIC6HTWOUz_EI64mhbMyuVqzt0w96dvZ9PV0DUuQvUcmNuvMiEylu3IksQekAwcShfPLPyQugcFF_e0GN9MBN1lF_Q9zWb1sVdyVqvB4/s400/fried+crickets+for+sale.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416292888719857362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Yes, these are the fried crickets I was telling you about...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>They must be popular, cuz lots of vendors were selling them.</b></div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcYSwBSf-HljsYzTujbSID-VAANDCyDjLEG5c-3xs_6Y7Dd1-GViQZfhdkYGMA7BHYLxOVmFxRhRiPJcYKHEj2qjsRbOYvwqi5EHsurTPMbdm9vpiOq8JRHsb5_7xAIWE4zv1l0ku3VM/s1600-h/vendor+sellingcrickets.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcYSwBSf-HljsYzTujbSID-VAANDCyDjLEG5c-3xs_6Y7Dd1-GViQZfhdkYGMA7BHYLxOVmFxRhRiPJcYKHEj2qjsRbOYvwqi5EHsurTPMbdm9vpiOq8JRHsb5_7xAIWE4zv1l0ku3VM/s400/vendor+sellingcrickets.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416286964223353826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Our youngest member of the team asked to try one, so we bought a bag full.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The smell in the bus was never the same after that. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOw_yUiJeT5gD5dwfDQXVSU6HcWGjmV3UgciU3m54re4dbYukUYQkuCAUGxb6_fCUXgb7X2XvscL0KF_MImaMjMyFszGodzEPPfsgEf4rb_nE_ztSPzvCV22iONgavHvT_r1ZSmebTPc/s1600-h/victor+eating+cricket.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOw_yUiJeT5gD5dwfDQXVSU6HcWGjmV3UgciU3m54re4dbYukUYQkuCAUGxb6_fCUXgb7X2XvscL0KF_MImaMjMyFszGodzEPPfsgEf4rb_nE_ztSPzvCV22iONgavHvT_r1ZSmebTPc/s400/victor+eating+cricket.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416293151281021714" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Here Victor goes, and with a smile on his face. Several of our team members followed suit. Gives whole new meaning to the Scripture, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"And a little child shall lead them..."</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I do not regret even in the teeny tiniest least that I was not one of the team members to try a fried cricket. Besides, fried foods are fattening, and a woman my age has to watch her figure, right? :D</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bVLvg7d03BEK8t7MREBhiUIvkMe2UGMafM-QdEX_1H8BL8M-VqXMUEzq64VWg7FNOrmphyphenhyphencPeOiNA0nxXyi_OwkRfva1CNXp2P7LG2bbtmWbGqgg5KahTlYdVq_6jlV9YR7hNMAQmvQ/s1600-h/boy+showing+us+dead+lizard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bVLvg7d03BEK8t7MREBhiUIvkMe2UGMafM-QdEX_1H8BL8M-VqXMUEzq64VWg7FNOrmphyphenhyphencPeOiNA0nxXyi_OwkRfva1CNXp2P7LG2bbtmWbGqgg5KahTlYdVq_6jlV9YR7hNMAQmvQ/s400/boy+showing+us+dead+lizard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416294098970774482" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>This young boy went to every window in the bus showing this dead lizard. Then he would point to his little brother's mouth. I don't know if he was trying to say that he was going to have to feed him that if we didn't give him money, or if he was offering it in exchange for money. His eyes looked straight into my heart, piercing it in a way I've never experienced before. Still makes my stomach ache to picture the scene, and not just because of fried crickets and dead lizards.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKXzixh0iLcubKhxRUzlKnMW3HGtC-ocW_5MIbcrFAWFLHEJGCKBKqEVObkV1-2GeHLifeiyUaj_p0Gy2mJkTIlH-JPRZcstit1kcN2RhMMh1C_pt6LWfZ-Yl3ff-RWk1Rn3t4T4p1eE/s1600-h/fruity+hat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKXzixh0iLcubKhxRUzlKnMW3HGtC-ocW_5MIbcrFAWFLHEJGCKBKqEVObkV1-2GeHLifeiyUaj_p0Gy2mJkTIlH-JPRZcstit1kcN2RhMMh1C_pt6LWfZ-Yl3ff-RWk1Rn3t4T4p1eE/s400/fruity+hat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416294014610396370" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>This "fruity" hat amazed me. I can't even balance a book on my head!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJLL2OrFcP1ABEWpRWaestDqQTQr_hvxqdeLDwlKI301ktKOvahhicFqv31SKqRC4P6PzoPXYth6_kP9YTNqNvwExE2DxBRedrHva5wxq_s75NkrKzg28r6QFhvcMLoCJ1V96StMiOoE/s1600-h/closer+view+of+houses+on+mekong+river.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJLL2OrFcP1ABEWpRWaestDqQTQr_hvxqdeLDwlKI301ktKOvahhicFqv31SKqRC4P6PzoPXYth6_kP9YTNqNvwExE2DxBRedrHva5wxq_s75NkrKzg28r6QFhvcMLoCJ1V96StMiOoE/s400/closer+view+of+houses+on+mekong+river.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416293518457871474" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>This was the view of the homes as we crossed the Mekong River.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhmvUHDjF5-fEISn-YFM_QtXouuIIfsw2fyHDZvq34k8hokAvTOhF80Y4uPWauETBBH84g2SdKgucS2ucRRsQQRZm7alaor488J-OriIkPp4vXOV5SpZcXdMJG82FbwyGNOtyBhK-WfI/s1600-h/bumpy+roads+on+way+to+CREDIT+village.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhmvUHDjF5-fEISn-YFM_QtXouuIIfsw2fyHDZvq34k8hokAvTOhF80Y4uPWauETBBH84g2SdKgucS2ucRRsQQRZm7alaor488J-OriIkPp4vXOV5SpZcXdMJG82FbwyGNOtyBhK-WfI/s400/bumpy+roads+on+way+to+CREDIT+village.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416286782517129250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>After we divided into the two trucks that would transport our team, this is a taste of the road conditions the whole way to the village. My friend Jackie wrote that the "potholes were so big the pigs could bathe in them."</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V6Qzq1o7KbpolQoiQ2pa7oTqKasbOzq5cds7rDDbrmCa_UEd7YLQiDGhisewsvRx1FtwBQO0sS9Xzu2yqQ9OML-mEG8lnALKUTnhyphenhyphensb7cgaJVE9pVzW-U5w-83qOHdHcPgVkcrPy_xc/s1600-h/on+the+way+to+CREDIT+village.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V6Qzq1o7KbpolQoiQ2pa7oTqKasbOzq5cds7rDDbrmCa_UEd7YLQiDGhisewsvRx1FtwBQO0sS9Xzu2yqQ9OML-mEG8lnALKUTnhyphenhyphensb7cgaJVE9pVzW-U5w-83qOHdHcPgVkcrPy_xc/s400/on+the+way+to+CREDIT+village.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416286680212431218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL9m4Tt21PuUzX-ZpTCO1swadAAOAx0RionilqM5WwaA7XWizL-7vv6LZ_TgXMDHB8Q7DNKQXmyaHeD_ShlMqk84QrE0CYjKrjCvypK7rBkGvVkGF9F7VbB6vhQl5ACSUT4pZRjt4TBc/s1600-h/CREDIT+village,+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL9m4Tt21PuUzX-ZpTCO1swadAAOAx0RionilqM5WwaA7XWizL-7vv6LZ_TgXMDHB8Q7DNKQXmyaHeD_ShlMqk84QrE0CYjKrjCvypK7rBkGvVkGF9F7VbB6vhQl5ACSUT4pZRjt4TBc/s400/CREDIT+village,+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416286574399820978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>This is the villagers as they waited for us. They had chairs set aside under shade trees to help protect us from the heat. I'm sure they sacrificed and squished more than usual under that one tree to accomodate us.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniwwKR9atDQBWGSTuYjvRMwHDFVlGf6Dn5uu6mr9JQdguc6N_CBe5fNHA_BmlKp91zqvUb6GMvHMXsgenOLIkmjDI1deuTf-s7iPiaiMGIuMX_vOSQofaF36JVKbmercHaxAmnnT5eAQ/s1600-h/CREDIT+village,+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniwwKR9atDQBWGSTuYjvRMwHDFVlGf6Dn5uu6mr9JQdguc6N_CBe5fNHA_BmlKp91zqvUb6GMvHMXsgenOLIkmjDI1deuTf-s7iPiaiMGIuMX_vOSQofaF36JVKbmercHaxAmnnT5eAQ/s400/CREDIT+village,+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416286493429647154" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Marganne & Jackie were not shy. They took off their shoes and sat right next to their sisters in Prey Veng.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-Ss2_OVB2ZkGYh0RTXCl2nsG6ZnJDuFyCk_mfH3f480qtvI0hb1PY0kZDHezFcYosqTNU2UUPjq8CiUX0HwmHCwRshna9HWAvtJNmxXC55J-N92ucntsUyDtL8_51MsM3xpk26ni6wY/s1600-h/CREDIT+village.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-Ss2_OVB2ZkGYh0RTXCl2nsG6ZnJDuFyCk_mfH3f480qtvI0hb1PY0kZDHezFcYosqTNU2UUPjq8CiUX0HwmHCwRshna9HWAvtJNmxXC55J-N92ucntsUyDtL8_51MsM3xpk26ni6wY/s400/CREDIT+village.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416286397241580130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WsEuWW9EUQgK1BxZ8oDJwOf_A9ZAq7R9J8ccwwYKqs6GCekdABGSZHAEqmfUmdclUx0sqNT4so6UGQpFHBmc9tGQ826Z_pYFb692OWgbA2KPREtayigj-ElrBGhtw_2lKME6tLiNvHw/s1600-h/Credit+teaching+in+village.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WsEuWW9EUQgK1BxZ8oDJwOf_A9ZAq7R9J8ccwwYKqs6GCekdABGSZHAEqmfUmdclUx0sqNT4so6UGQpFHBmc9tGQ826Z_pYFb692OWgbA2KPREtayigj-ElrBGhtw_2lKME6tLiNvHw/s400/Credit+teaching+in+village.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416286265301532514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The villagers stayed engaged as the CREDIT staff taught them about such things as credits and debits, luxury items vs. necessary items, etc, applauding them throughout the presentation. This is the description of CREDIT from World Relief's website:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;">"An essential mandate of World Relief is to relieve poverty.<span> </span>To achieve this goal, while ensuring sustainable economic development, WR Cambodia supports CREDIT, a licensed micro-finance institution established by World Relief.<span> </span>By providing small loans to clients across the country, as well as financial education and training, WR Cambodia is able to support cottage industries and alleviate poverty while ensuring dignity to those we serve."</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTyp-JvRj7JEvUFpjBUCte_46OWg0Ky7Ts0tweuUqmSUXvmLSkCM05r0cut2d5VenEGKlgaRFA92MdgNlzUFZXym9ffGFG45Bi9SHNoweCGr5KXHHRn6I_geowSpHJogJtTB-D5EPUyk/s1600-h/villagers+listening+to+credit+training.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTyp-JvRj7JEvUFpjBUCte_46OWg0Ky7Ts0tweuUqmSUXvmLSkCM05r0cut2d5VenEGKlgaRFA92MdgNlzUFZXym9ffGFG45Bi9SHNoweCGr5KXHHRn6I_geowSpHJogJtTB-D5EPUyk/s400/villagers+listening+to+credit+training.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416295116675887314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINZ4KrkdmJXrIkZg99Sest7jT7Aabva1MO3spPtlVrboGq42vT0af8-jMpknjRQXWAg_C5QKV9tN7KY5PvScwhO0xUJ7ut6XDxTjKbCln4qCjnRkkvtmizUXMxPfhY2Ka8c11adWPp5U/s1600-h/sweet+women+listening+to+training.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINZ4KrkdmJXrIkZg99Sest7jT7Aabva1MO3spPtlVrboGq42vT0af8-jMpknjRQXWAg_C5QKV9tN7KY5PvScwhO0xUJ7ut6XDxTjKbCln4qCjnRkkvtmizUXMxPfhY2Ka8c11adWPp5U/s400/sweet+women+listening+to+training.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416295052074429234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>As you can see, a good majority of the villagers listening to the presentation are women and children. This is partly because many of their husbands are working, but also because many of them are single mothers providing solely for their families. This particular day is a Cambodian holiday, so even some men are present, and of course, the kids are out of school.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8G3c8-LEt-k3XuNvfuslnMH2UR9Sci1W4IQFk8h2LVKMrmtVfrrlDYweY1m13qsYmFtD9sCPvYwj1p53P60s_fvRwXKYJW1XPdMiQ2FxulcLQcLUTZD3cib18iJHNsHtScOe3E188iK4/s1600-h/crowd+around+matt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8G3c8-LEt-k3XuNvfuslnMH2UR9Sci1W4IQFk8h2LVKMrmtVfrrlDYweY1m13qsYmFtD9sCPvYwj1p53P60s_fvRwXKYJW1XPdMiQ2FxulcLQcLUTZD3cib18iJHNsHtScOe3E188iK4/s400/crowd+around+matt.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416294969513656914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>As the presentation is going on, many of the children and men became interested in Matt, and we almost had to peel him away from the crowd at the end.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQeUx7kAUt1lgRmlQynJstMbVAezFEfx-BucJq2Ex8NpblrYnh_5dKjfZF9yH3lLf9VLY8ZTpNwTLmEMSjI9FD1OSgWbnmwy22-EuQ2oPxnATi8vpuNjFNKDE91kS0tVjMPsHHyJ-cVc/s1600-h/credit+teachers+up+close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQeUx7kAUt1lgRmlQynJstMbVAezFEfx-BucJq2Ex8NpblrYnh_5dKjfZF9yH3lLf9VLY8ZTpNwTLmEMSjI9FD1OSgWbnmwy22-EuQ2oPxnATi8vpuNjFNKDE91kS0tVjMPsHHyJ-cVc/s400/credit+teachers+up+close.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416294571049150162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>These young men teaching on the CREDIT staff were so well-trained at keeping the attention of the crowd, and they used good visuals to help illustrate the new concepts.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8zzxfTT0_e_E_nFiGVM6f2_xnXojZKgLITzkz0h4-cCNSRAnhINkuAikvBUVe-rQNBeshotQm0moguyD76c7ufDR6mDV3PwRY5oCZdrugFLYcuaj5_IUYQVKIlOKx-nN2KuwWz7PScg/s1600-h/lunch+on+the+road.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8zzxfTT0_e_E_nFiGVM6f2_xnXojZKgLITzkz0h4-cCNSRAnhINkuAikvBUVe-rQNBeshotQm0moguyD76c7ufDR6mDV3PwRY5oCZdrugFLYcuaj5_IUYQVKIlOKx-nN2KuwWz7PScg/s400/lunch+on+the+road.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416286166903711426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>LUNCH! (fish soup, rice, fried fish, chicken, yum!)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElTFMOa5yujjfM5D7gVsKJJcx-GyapJJjWCOK1QxUPM0HjavD4uvVZoGNKYccYRS1LibR1lXJ7z5L0JI0Se2oG1UeaQ6e6hGqy-XHY7wcP4guaMCB7Hp9UBNCL4CPPwZK9rG-a1d_wNI/s1600-h/outside+tuolsleng+prison.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElTFMOa5yujjfM5D7gVsKJJcx-GyapJJjWCOK1QxUPM0HjavD4uvVZoGNKYccYRS1LibR1lXJ7z5L0JI0Se2oG1UeaQ6e6hGqy-XHY7wcP4guaMCB7Hp9UBNCL4CPPwZK9rG-a1d_wNI/s400/outside+tuolsleng+prison.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416286088259175538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>On our way into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuol_Sleng_Genocide_Museum/"> Tuol Sleng Prison, </a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>where I would never have guessed what I was about to see & feel...</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpEBntlaTz4T47acyH49TXLMmg6lvLwv9lOvg_YGhrluQgJ3aWQVICdZ2M4SpV1Zntj3Ga39VTOewkWQiepdR8kiSFIc1CvDnDIu0iF29dTFSrKpQHEJLNNiWRAoBQVBVI3o_OWVfE0I/s1600-h/tuol+sleng+prison.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpEBntlaTz4T47acyH49TXLMmg6lvLwv9lOvg_YGhrluQgJ3aWQVICdZ2M4SpV1Zntj3Ga39VTOewkWQiepdR8kiSFIc1CvDnDIu0iF29dTFSrKpQHEJLNNiWRAoBQVBVI3o_OWVfE0I/s400/tuol+sleng+prison.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416285670830487042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We wanted to visit this museum so that we could better understand the Cambodian culture, as well as be able to relate to the brokenness the World Relief staff bears on a daily basis. To learn that a body of buildings which used to educate high school kids was later used as a security prison to hold over 17,000 men, women & children in a 4-year period blew me away. The tour guide showed us how the prisoners were enclosed with electrical barbed wire fences, and the old classrooms were used as torture chambers. We saw the various torturing methods used, and I became so sick to my stomach, I thought I would vomit. The cabinet of broken skulls about did me in, as well as walls of pictures of those who were held captive (lots of children) and later killed</b>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>As I said at the beginning of this post, overwhelmed and drained could not even begin to describe the way I felt this day. I could not even imagine taking in another sight, smell or sound, or even processing another thought. But, this was only day 2 of 7 more to come...God's work in and through me would continue in unexpected ways.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;">***Most photos taken by Jackie Mosley & Marganne Pearce. Thank YOU!</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-27272592883573845392009-12-15T09:29:00.003-06:002009-12-15T09:34:11.619-06:00Christmas Devotion at the CafeI'd love for you to come by the Internet Cafe and chat with me about Christmas...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.internetcafedevotions.com/2009/12/ornamental-occasion-december.html">Ornamental Occasion at the Internet Cafe</a></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My next Cambodia post is coming later today or tomorrow, so please come back to visit! </span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3229893110659808723.post-83453968421336642002009-11-30T00:02:00.032-06:002009-12-17T21:41:20.664-06:00All the Way to Cambodia, Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">If you missed part one, click here: <a href="http://lovinthearts.blogspot.com/2009/11/allll-way-to-cambodia-part-i.html"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Allllll the Way to Cambodia, Part 1</span></i></b></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><blockquote>Proverbs 13:12 says,<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Hope deferred makes the heart sick,<br /></span> <span style="font-style: italic;">but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."</span></blockquote> </div><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Surreal Beginning</span></span><br /><br />My first night's sleep was comfortable and deep in our clean hotel, but cut short. My head sprung up from the bed at what I thought was a man's voice singing at 5:15 am. Actually, I thought it was our worship leader in the room next door, and if so, team unity was about to come to a quick halt. ;) Imagine my surprise when I realized it was a man chanting across the street from our hotel (no offense to our worship leader, I was in a reeeally deep sleep). Apparently, a funeral was going on, and the ceremonies in Cambodia are conducted out in the open. Through a loud speaker. At 5:15 and continuing...<br /><br />My roommate opened the blinds all the way, and it was the first time I had seen Phnom Penh in the daylight. As I looked out the window, I had mixed feelings. Cars, motos, trucks filled with men, people hanging laundry on their balconies, bustle all around. And the honking. So much honking...with chanting and lamenting in the background. The scene was chaotic and orderly at the same time. Surreal really.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBsxfLszRhYfPEDQudpM5hNMyE3ahIDpbFQyvDKWHF-4OC3N4z20j-NK0SjjVJlHVAjrbpz-U6RtMiuC_o80BEEHoyZrI_eiOYEUBVgojKmjeN6IMJveKfDIwUlfBOJeEM5Bm7sXYM5E/s1600/view+from+hotel+room+of+city.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBsxfLszRhYfPEDQudpM5hNMyE3ahIDpbFQyvDKWHF-4OC3N4z20j-NK0SjjVJlHVAjrbpz-U6RtMiuC_o80BEEHoyZrI_eiOYEUBVgojKmjeN6IMJveKfDIwUlfBOJeEM5Bm7sXYM5E/s320/view+from+hotel+room+of+city.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409773803731688850" border="0" /></a><br />After a jolted start to the morning, it was time for our mission to begin. Though our team was in Cambodia to put on a conference/retreat for the leadership of World Relief, we thought it best to see what the organization is doing there. So we hit the ground running. Riding in a shuttle bus, to be exact.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWnC9xsOkmMRW7C3Rue1H0LpbC7BvsddB0nHFwJFomN1GMVi-XoFVEhpgk9kU5qUcy9_slPijqJtiITS9pTiSNGGLmcUB66uMTq1f9pJFCwa_tW0uoK0WqSbMIRuzVUxnjz9zjIS7u7I/s1600/Phenm+Penh+traffic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWnC9xsOkmMRW7C3Rue1H0LpbC7BvsddB0nHFwJFomN1GMVi-XoFVEhpgk9kU5qUcy9_slPijqJtiITS9pTiSNGGLmcUB66uMTq1f9pJFCwa_tW0uoK0WqSbMIRuzVUxnjz9zjIS7u7I/s320/Phenm+Penh+traffic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409774014191559698" border="0" /></a><br />It was one thing to see the traffic out the hotel window, quite another to be in the mix of it. We were so close to the vehicles next to us that I could look the drivers in the eye and exchange a smile. Not kidding. I will never complain about my husband's driving again. ;0 After quite a drive out of the city, we made it to our first destination. Phew.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">HOPE not deferred</span></span><br /><br />It was here I saw "Hope" in the form of community. <a href="http://worldrelief.org/Page.aspx?pid=1583">World Relief's HOPE ministry</a> is anything but "hope deferred." As I watched this ministry in action I witnessed "longings fulfilled" (including some of my own). The Lord wasted no time grabbing my heart's strings and playing a new tune.<br /><br />A group of teenage girls sat in a circle as their volunteer leader discussed choices with them. They learned of biblical sexuality and marriage fidelity, as well as the many myths, lies and superstitions spread throughout their culture about HIV/AIDS. The leader threw out questions that the girls were encouraged to answer. My impression is that this was a whole lot more than an education group. It's a source of accountability and Christ-centered community.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbx1GgzxHHs4bDOL74J61jFq6xaE6NtqCB06NupY9Kf0WAhscrWFgaefyhP-iwEbTAahNm6OJfBlD4zX5Bi_wMEUEGaVpzZ7fM-W1fAp4CCVZVi_FG3ZI-jFDgONJVp_pCWzEqHIttzk/s1600/Hope+Village+Teen+Group.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbx1GgzxHHs4bDOL74J61jFq6xaE6NtqCB06NupY9Kf0WAhscrWFgaefyhP-iwEbTAahNm6OJfBlD4zX5Bi_wMEUEGaVpzZ7fM-W1fAp4CCVZVi_FG3ZI-jFDgONJVp_pCWzEqHIttzk/s320/Hope+Village+Teen+Group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409774574529729458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaqlKeJPz77bAH-7YBw116ElQRb2AbZPsAxfqCWgDkDPaodYKK8YOaDAuQbFZrIxTki4iXi5HjZ0Gy8OMydSAxggezxBATne0RmADSMzPagvjNTMrZAlvVq2MYdB0Q0O0phWUz0kwhI8/s1600/Playing+games+with+the+teens+at+the+HOPE+village.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaqlKeJPz77bAH-7YBw116ElQRb2AbZPsAxfqCWgDkDPaodYKK8YOaDAuQbFZrIxTki4iXi5HjZ0Gy8OMydSAxggezxBATne0RmADSMzPagvjNTMrZAlvVq2MYdB0Q0O0phWUz0kwhI8/s320/Playing+games+with+the+teens+at+the+HOPE+village.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409774818981128802" border="0" /></a>I was impressed with how intentional the planning was...even the games were integrated into the day's theme. And it only continued from there. A teenage boys' group was held down the road just a bit with the same discussion material, though in typical boys' form, a bit more animated.<br /><br />As the teen discussion groups were coming to a close, the children's programming was beginning. And wow, Wow, WOW. Kids were rushing to catch the best view as the staff set up its puppet screen. Older kids came with younger brothers and sisters in tow by arm or on a hip. They were <span style="font-style: italic;">EXC<span style="font-style: italic;">iiiiii</span>TED</span>. The teens came running as well, though most of them stood in the back. Moms were off to the side and in the background, but I sensed they were happy and curious to be there too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T1wgQk1XQLT4Zp_z7r32TonRvUxI55e6YIxxxSiKQbbMoB4G7-fdO23EKRwOPpFkvTe2-dO-gzj9ksNhhWPRDWpKydf0ZDIUrCdqFN8_95Qkn24dtx-KODs4KO-0rM2LTAsfBppJ7BI/s1600/Children's+show+in+Progress+at+HOPE+village.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T1wgQk1XQLT4Zp_z7r32TonRvUxI55e6YIxxxSiKQbbMoB4G7-fdO23EKRwOPpFkvTe2-dO-gzj9ksNhhWPRDWpKydf0ZDIUrCdqFN8_95Qkn24dtx-KODs4KO-0rM2LTAsfBppJ7BI/s320/Children's+show+in+Progress+at+HOPE+village.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409775358713511474" border="0" /></a>I'm ashamed to admit this, but I didn't expect the program to be as excellent as it was. The leaders were extremely enthusiastic and animated. The crowd was completely enthralled as they sang songs about Dengue fever and cleanliness set to familiar kids' tunes. As the puppets came out, the kids learned lessons about washing hands and stopping the spread of germs and disease. Not only were the kids entertained, but they were also engaged...I'm guessing more than they are in any classroom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi193kadKWOFQ6iUjr64c-SgisrRRfJeQlIZoEjQmyn5voZ6RsYq3fnaRm_49vZ2OwkpLsAf2S-O12R2pDh4xE7Exn8Rd7_0DOh30jS6WXJ9OR7xgcSnNOV0QfsqQtw-ALa36RLBJdq5s0/s1600/Children's+ministry+in+HOPE+village.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi193kadKWOFQ6iUjr64c-SgisrRRfJeQlIZoEjQmyn5voZ6RsYq3fnaRm_49vZ2OwkpLsAf2S-O12R2pDh4xE7Exn8Rd7_0DOh30jS6WXJ9OR7xgcSnNOV0QfsqQtw-ALa36RLBJdq5s0/s320/Children's+ministry+in+HOPE+village.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409775101716497762" border="0" /></a><br />At the end of the show, World Relief gave each of our team fingernail clippers, and the kids crowded around us to have their nails trimmed. Then they washed their hands in anti-bacterial soap. What a perfect conclusion to an fabulous show. I'll never forget how the kids' faces beamed with excitement as they showed off their germ-free hands. It was a special moment to be a part of...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6ISxQsQEvc6IjfUuirYxb9VQ9eBpIeBzvI03ihjU6PSkRpRejCgQuC5iRujei0nDuFcskPE6lWaRL-Q9XsgRrJ5mtmmvsdVIwPNrTKOQcQT42VCWw4r6zxq9L-SnFPYX6vtrydAk40s/s1600/Cutting+Fingernails+in+HOPE+village.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6ISxQsQEvc6IjfUuirYxb9VQ9eBpIeBzvI03ihjU6PSkRpRejCgQuC5iRujei0nDuFcskPE6lWaRL-Q9XsgRrJ5mtmmvsdVIwPNrTKOQcQT42VCWw4r6zxq9L-SnFPYX6vtrydAk40s/s320/Cutting+Fingernails+in+HOPE+village.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409775653854154626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmHg0NrqQ4FSyz9FUBoP9fPhdVfOWxC_5u20lu0w57lx87U4V0KR5FFpD_7iH_AV9W0eoG1YDDvsObmcUTMoWrNWDNqjvuRfkVEDvJQJgHSD4xhxMdNve0SzMB2PWvd8McqWao6rrMpE/s1600/Me+with+a+couple+of+the+teens+in+the+Hope+Village.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmHg0NrqQ4FSyz9FUBoP9fPhdVfOWxC_5u20lu0w57lx87U4V0KR5FFpD_7iH_AV9W0eoG1YDDvsObmcUTMoWrNWDNqjvuRfkVEDvJQJgHSD4xhxMdNve0SzMB2PWvd8McqWao6rrMpE/s320/Me+with+a+couple+of+the+teens+in+the+Hope+Village.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409775806829867010" border="0" /></a><br />During the puppet show, a few of the girls from the teenage group came to stand beside me. Before long, we were arm in arm. Their smiles completely captivated me, and I'm so glad one of my team members grabbed this picture of us.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">HOPE through Hardship</span></span><br /><br />We loaded back into the bus and drove down a few roads to a different kind of meeting. It was an HIV/AIDS support group that meets regularly, where those with the disease come to find hope and help. Each person in the picture below is infected, (other than the volunteers), including the young boy in the front.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzo80Fcle2yC06PITi3BQJOgYwRkakSHi5HqLTvhs7XW-vqVR3Eb846UboVH3p0Ergvnaqlr14wmozjfHicOqRhZH9MsvjgCWZkPdQe56KEZ0Qw9mLllWSyrxEnU1oAqIOlM9VK3cVxU/s1600/AIDS+support+group.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzo80Fcle2yC06PITi3BQJOgYwRkakSHi5HqLTvhs7XW-vqVR3Eb846UboVH3p0Ergvnaqlr14wmozjfHicOqRhZH9MsvjgCWZkPdQe56KEZ0Qw9mLllWSyrxEnU1oAqIOlM9VK3cVxU/s320/AIDS+support+group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409774257886601538" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"></span></span><br />During our brief time there, several members of the circle were eager to share their stories, how Jesus Christ had given them hope to deal with their hardships. Many had lost husbands, daughters, mothers, fathers and children to AIDS. Though most of these ladies had been cheated on and infected by their husbands and/or worse, they still gave testimony of the Lord's faithfulness and love toward them.<br /><br />As if my heart had not been stirred enough, a woman who had been coming to the group a few times gave her life to Jesus during this group's meeting. I could NOT hold back the tears. It was one of the most moving salvation experiences I've ever witnessed. At the end of the meeting, we all gathered around one another, praying out loud in our own languages. When I look at this photo, I don't see a group of HIV-infected Cambodians, I see my brother and sisters in Christ infecting each other with the love of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />It's hard to believe that this was only half of my first day in Cambodia, but it was a <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOPE-filled</span></span> one. These are once in a lifetime, special slices of life that I will savor forever, ones that continue to reach down and leave marks of change on my heart as I ponder them.<br /><br />And I'm only getting started...<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">"For it is for this we labor and strive,<br />because we have fixed our hope on the living God..."</span><br />1 Timothy 4:10</blockquote><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/86/CE9D3A90BAF86EBFDF84B3F6480830FC.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><div style="text-align: right;">***Most photos taken by Jackie Mosley & Marganne Pearce. Thank YOU!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?rss=418053</div>LauraLee Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06092672958394657296noreply@blogger.com13