The Least of These

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth--whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.'"  Matthew 25:40

The other day, I had a great conversation with my kids about Jesus.  We were talking about Mary, and how scared she must have been to have a baby in a barn on a cold night in Bethlehem.  We were also talking about how amazing God is, that He would have sent His son to earth in such a humble way.  I mean, we are talking about THE KING of the world.  No one before and no one since and no one ever to come will be as great as Jesus, yet God chose to send Him to earth in the lowliest of ways.  Surely there is a lesson in this delivery for us all?

Our second child, our only baby girl, was born in January 2004.  The Christmas of 2003 I was literally "great with child."  I remember that Christmas every year and think about how special I felt.  I spent a lot of time that year, as I do every December, thinking about Mary.  Like her, I was overjoyed to feel this special life growing inside me, the magical gift every mother has received of having two hearts beating in one body.  Unlike her, I had every physical blessing and gift I needed to welcome my baby into a safe, warm and comfortable home.  I delivered my baby in a clean, beautiful hospital surrounded by flowers, friends and family.  She delivered hers in a barn surrounded by strangers with no medicines or help or security.  I was 29....she was a teenager.  I was happily married to the father of my baby--she was married to a man who loved her in spite of her unbelieveable circumstances.

The Christmas of 2003 was a very special one for our family, and our daughter and two sons have brought us great joy every year of their little lives.  Now, our Christmases are filled with lists, late night shopping trips, hidden surprises, and lots of toys.  As these precious children are getting older, I fervently hope I can teach them the real meaning of Christmas, but the truth is, I am just learning it myself.

You see, 2011 has been a year of tremendous spiritual growth in my life.  April 27 was the day my eyes were opened to what it feels like to be "the least of these."  My safe, comfortable home was damaged in a tornado, we lost power, lost all the food in our refrigerator, and for the first time in our lives, walked in the shoes, every so briefly, of poverty.  Certainly, we had the financial resources to weather our storm.  We were blessed with family and friends who poured blessings on our heads.  But in that critical day and the weeks that followed, I saw for the first time that the Lord gives, and in the blink of an eye, can take away.

Because of that life-changing experience, I joined the Mission Athens team.  All throughout the year, we have been blessed with the opportunity to serve those who are less fortunate.  We have met teenage moms, babies with no shoes, fathers and mothers who are homeless, elderly widows who have no heat, battered women searching for a safe harbor, and even convicted criminals who are looking for a fresh start in life.  We have fed hungry people, paid utlity bills to keep the lights on, "made-over" houses to make them more comfortable, helped peole find jobs, hotel rooms, cars and shoes.  We have been amazed at the prayers that have been answered, and we have had our hearts broken by people whose lives have been so tragic.  Wives who have lost husbands, children who have lost moms, families whose houses were blown away or burned to the ground, and people with every kind of physical and mental disability you can imagine.

Throughout all of these experiences, we have grown.  We have been overwhelmed, exhausted, encouraged and discouraged, full of hope and full of sorrow.  It has been a true roller coaster ride, and we never know what the next week will bring.

What does all this have to do with a baby in a barn?  Everything.  For the first time in my life, I feel like I am finally "getting it."  Putting on Christ, calling ourselves Christians, has very little to do with putting on our Sunday clothes and sitting in a pew three times a week.  It has everything to do with using our heads, hearts and hands to serve this world.  Jesus said, "Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me."  He came to this earth in a very "least of these" fashion, and I don't think it was an accident.

When you see a teenage mom, do you think of Him?  When you see a baby who has no home, can you imagine he is Jesus?  When you hear about a lonely old woman who is using her oven to stay warm, do you imagine Mary in that cold barn?  Jesus spent his adult life as a homeless man, encouraging others to abandon all their worldly comforts to follow him.  Are we willing to give up just a small portion of our worldly possessions to share with the "least of these" in His holy name? 

If Jesus knocked on your door, what would you do to welcome Him?  Wouldn't you set the table with the finest china, prepare Him delicious food, praise Him and go out of your way to make Him feel welcome?  If we lived when He was born, would we have made room for Him in our inn?  These questions are so difficult to answer.  We like to think that we would wash His feet with our hair and that we would do all that we could to love Him, but the tough reality is, we turn our backs to Him far too often when we overlook the opportunities we have every day to help "the least of these...."

I am learning to see my Lord's beautiful face in the faces of all of these "leasts."  How can I repay the most amazing gift, the gift of Jesus's life, for my life?  I cannot.  I can only devote my life to His service.  I can only try to help these hungry children, these forgotten mothers.  I can pray for His wisdom and guidance, and I know He hears me.  I can do each day all that I can do to help those who are all around me who desperately need His love.

You see, I cannot go back in time to Bethlehem, to wrap Mary and her precious baby in the warmth of a blanket, feed them hot food, give them a new heater and safe passage.  I can only give these gifts to people here, now, who also need them just as much.  Because He was born in a barn, I can live and use my life to tell His story.  Because of His lowly birth, humble life, death on the cross and resurrection, I can have hope.  Because He was born, lived and died for me, I have no choice but to live for Him.

This Christmas, the Mission Athens team has been answering call after call for help.  There are so many in our community who are hurting.  Please share this post with your friends, and please encourage those you know to donate to help us help the "least of these" in our community.  You may send checks to Central Church of Christ--Mission Athens, 320 U.S. Highway 31 North, Athens, AL 35611.  One hundred percent of the money you give will be used to help those less fortunate.  Food, clothes, shelter--these basic necessities we give, along with prayers that He would be glorified through our actions.

Mary, how I wonder, did you know?  Did you know that your precious baby wrapped in swaddling clothes would change my life thousands of years later?  Did you know that your difficult delivery would bring me to my knees?  Oh, the questions I have for you.  Thank you so much for giving your life to bring this amazing son to all of us. 

Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, King Most High who you loved and kissed and rocked and comforted in a barn on a cold night in Bethlehem.....Lord, come quickly....teach us the lessons of Your love....help us to see You in the "least of these."

Two Great Ways to Give this Christmas

"So then, when we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people..." Galations 6:10

Are you looking for a great way to give back this Christmas, but your funds are a little low and you don't have enough cash to write a big check to a charity?  Problem solved.  The Mission Athens team is wrapping up two great initiatives that don't cost a penny, but will certainly do a world of good! 

The Soles 4 Soles Shoe Drive is a great way to make some room in your closet for all those new Christmas gifts AND to help people around the world.  Simply bring your gently used shoes by the Central Church of Christ in Athens, AL, and we will donate them on your behalf.  The Soles for Souls organization provides shoes to people all over the world who have none.  Children's shoes, teens' shoes, men's shoes, women's shoes, summer shoes, winter shoes....we'll take them all and make sure they get to the people who need them!  Get those shoes over here quickly--we are wrapping up our shoe drive at the end of December.



Secondly, we are giving the gift of reading to the homeless in our community this Christmas.  Operation Page It Forward is a book drive benefiting the Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville, AL.  Our goal is to fill a trailer full of books for their library.  Children's books, Christian books, novels, travel books, school books, Bibles....we'll take them all!  Simply bring your books by Central Church of Christ in Athens, AL and help us fill the trailer by the end of December.  The Downtown Rescue Mission provides food, shelter and hope to thousands of homeless men, women and children in the North Alabama every year, and we know that these books will be a wonderful addition to their outstanding facility.

Thank you in advance for supporting these two great ways to give back this Christmas!

Thanksgiving Photos

The Masterminds of Mission Athens' Thanksgiving Feast

A Few Members of our Thanksgiving Army hard at work

Sweet girls sharing their Thanksgiving cards for each family

The Assembly Line

Who knew laundry baskets could be repurposed to deliver meals?

Loading up to share His love!

Best Thanksgiving Ever

"Give thanks to the Lord; His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Last Tuesday, the weather forecast for our area was very frightening.  There was a significant threat of severe weather, and our entire community was holding our collective breath.  As the day dawned, we all watched the radar, expecting the worst.  We are still reeling from the effects of the horrific storms in April, and I just prayed, "Lord not yet.  It is too soon.  We can't handle it all again just yet."  He listened.

Instead of spending the day in the basement, I spent the day with my Mom.  A soft, misty rain fell all day, but I never heard so much as a clap of thunder.  I so enjoyed having a long overdue vacation day and that rare opportunity to have lunch, "just the two of us."  It was such a wonderful day and wonderful way to kick off my Thanksgiving celebration.  I am so thankful to have been raised by this sweet, strong lady who taught me to love the Lord.  Thank you, Mama, for all your sacrifices for our family and for your example of grace and love.  You are a beautiful reminder to me of all that is good.

When I got home, I spent the afternoon baking a cake with my precious babies, and right after I slipped it into the oven, I got a text from a dear friend to go outside and see the amazing double rainbow that was over our neighborhood.  You see, that Tuesday, God chose not to send us horrible storms, but instead to send our community a reminder of His everlasting love for us. 

The Central Church of Christ family kicked off our Thanksgiving celebration Tuesday night with a delicious church family fellowship meal and service dedicated to praising His holy name.  At this service, we were blessed to hear from three different men who shared their perspectives on Thanksgiving and how the holiday has special meaning to all of us, for different reasons, at different times in our lives.  We sang songs of praise, prayed together, and thanked the Lord for His abundant blessings.  At the end of the night, we all rejoiced as a young sister chose to be baptized into Jesus.  What an amazing ending to one of the best days I have had all year!  God is so good!

The next morning, the Mission Athens team rose early to begin our Thanksgiving preparations.  Our vision was to prepare family-size meals to deliver to our town's homeless families with kids.  Many of these families were living in motels, staying with friends, etc.  We prepared 20 baskets for over 100 people.

We were joined by brothers and sisters from all over town who have volunteered to be a part of our team to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.  A very special sister who has a true spiritual gift of organization (and perhaps a slight case of OCD, but in a good way) :), rallied her troops and put us to work chopping, slicing, dicing, sauteeing, and creating. 

A small army worked to prepare all the Thanksgiving trimmings, including cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, pies of all varieties, green beans, corn and rolls to go along with the tea and turkeys that were donated by people from all over town.

We prepared as many of the dishes in advance on Wednesday as we could, and stored them all in refrigerators over night.  Several sweet little girls made homemade Thanksgiving "God Bless You" cards to insert in each of the families' baskets.  They also rolled up their sleeves and helped us organize plates, napkins and serving ware for each family.

The next day, the Mission Athens team yet again rallied at around 5 AM to put together the final touches.  All the food was cooked and kept in warmers, and around 11 o'clock, our delivery crew loaded up and headed out, sharing God's love with those less fortunate in our community.

What an amazing week of blessings!  We had so much fun working together to serve the world, and it was truly an inspiration to see children, teens, moms, dads and seniors all coming together to share the love of Jesus with our neighbors. 

Later that day, as my own family gathered for our Thanksgiving celebrations, I said an extra prayer of thanks.  You see, as much as I hate to admit it, sometimes the holidays can be too stressful for me, and I lose my perspective.  As I am happy to have time off from work, I also sometimes resent all the work of being a mom.  Cleaning, decorating, shopping, planning, cooking, serving, cleaning again, etc., can just make me crazy, you know? 

As I was preparing food with the fantastic Mission Athens team for moms who were going to have to eat with their children in small hotel rooms, I felt ashamed for my bad attitudes in years past.  Here my Father has given me so much, and I too often complain about it!  All of a sudden, setting my table with my wedding china that has to be washed by hand was a blessing, not a burden.  Welcoming my family and friends into my "somewhat clean" house was a reminder that I have people on this earth who love me and don't care if there are kids' shoes and backpacks by the door.  I left some toys in the living room instead of barking at the kids to "Clean UP!  Company's coming!"  Instead, I let them play and thanked God we have a safe home and toys for our kids.

As the holiday season is now in full swing, let us all take the time to count our blessings and remember to give thanks to the Lord who has blessed us beyond measure.  Let us also continue to look for opportunities to share His goodness with those around us who, just like us, need Him so much.  Praising God today for the BEST. THANKSGIVING. EVER!

The Beginning of a New Chapter

"Pure and undefiled religion before God is this:  to visit oprhans and widows in their trouble..."  James 1:27

I remember it like it was yesterday.  The day my husband had an intervention with me and told me the time had come for us to take down the baby bed.  We had three children all in a row over the course of 6 years, and during that time, we just consistently had a baby in a nursery.  How I loved those happy years!  The sweet baby sounds, the happy nursery smells of baby shampoos and lotions, the pitter patter of little feet in footy pajamas running across our hardwood floors.  I remember each of them sleeping so sweetly in that crib, the contented sighs of baby sleep.  I used to just stand there in the dark watching them breathe, loving them so much my heart hurt.  In so many ways, those were magical years in our home.

Then, one day, we turned around and our baby was three.  He was too big to fit in that baby bed anymore, and after a complicated third pregnancy, we knew we were done having children.  I was in major denial.  For me, taking that bed down was symbolic of a chapter closing, and it was such a happy chapter I didn't want it to end.  But, end it did, and the bed came down, life moved on, and now we are in another happy chapter of little league, school parties, sleepovers, and prime time kid years.  What a fun, busy, crazy chapter this one is, too!

This week, the Mission Athens team was blessed to meet to precious children, a very funny and friendly 7-year-old boy and a precious baby 1-year-old girl, who are going to have to live with their grandparents for a while.  Unfortunately, their parents are unable to care for them for the time being.  You can imagine that this situation is incredibly stressful for all involved.  The grandparents love these children, but they were not equipped with all the necessities it takes to care for a baby and her big brother.  A very special family at Central donated their son's baby bed to this family, and the Mission Athens team provided bedding, a few toys for the kids, food, diapers, wipes, and several items to help this family get started in this new chapter of their lives.

Also this week, members of the Mission Athens team had the opportunity to participate in the first Pack and Pray day for the Full Tummy Project group.  This is the group of moms here in town who provide food bags for kids in our elementary schools who may not have enough to eat on the weekends.  You can learn more about this organization by clicking on the link to their website here on our blog.  As part of that day, we were blessed to work together and take some of the donated items that would not work for the backpack program--large boxes of cereal, canned goods without pop tops, etc.  Our goal was to donate it to LCCI or get it to people who needed it.  Within just a few hours, we received phone calls about kids and their families who needed food to make it through the rest of the week.  In just one day, a member of our team was able to distribute this food to hungry kids and their families.  God is so good.

God saved the best blessing for last this week.  A member of our team was visiting her daughter in Hendersonville, TN.  Her daughter has a co-worker who was crying at her desk.  When her daughter asked her what was wrong, she discovered that this poor woman has 3 children and her husband had recently lost her job.  They were struggling to make ends meet, and she did not have enough food to feed her growing kids. 

Our Mission Athens teammate sent an email to us asking if we knew anyone in Hendersonville.  Guess who's sister lives right there and attends a church waiting to meet the needs of those hurting in her community??  That's right, the same big sister who taught me to read taught me another great lesson this week.  She dropped everything she was doing and went to visit and help out.  Now, this woman knows that there are Christians all over the place who are willing to help her.  Her immediate needs have been taken care of, and my sister's church has plans to help them through the holidays as well.

As we reflect on the week's work, we hope a new chapter is beginning in each of these precious lives.  We pray that the sweet kids who are living with their grandparents will know the love of Jesus as demonstrated by the strangers who brought them a baby bed, warm blankets, some toys and food.  We pray that the hungry souls who were nourished this week with food donations will learn that Jesus fills us up in ways that food cannot and that true manna comes from above.  And, finally, we pray that this special family in Tennessee whom we will never meet will feel the comfort of the prayers being offered up for them from the Mission Athens team, and that God will supply everything they need for the next chapter of their lives together.  God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.

Operation Page It Forward

"For this reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and with virtue, knowledge."  2 Peter 1:5

When I was 4 years old, my big sister was 8.  For the first few years of my life, she spent a lot of time asking my Mom and Dad if they could take me back where they had gotten me, and she tried to convince them that the family was fine with my older brother and her and no baby sisters were needed.  But, by the time I was 4 and she was 8, she had accepted that there were no return policies on baby sisters, and I was here to stay.  She took me under her wing at that point, and I have happily stayed there ever since.

Thank God for big sisters!  During that year, my sister found her calling as a teacher.  I used to sit in my window seat in my room watching for her to get home from school in the afternoons.  She would come straight in the house, up the stairs, and my "school" would begin.  We even had a real elementary school desk from a school my Daddy had gotten us somewhere--you remember the metal and wood kind with the desk attached to the little chair?  I would sit reverently as my hero wrote letters and words on our play chalkboard, and I always completed the homework assignments she gave me.  Very soon, my big sister had taught me to read.

My brother, sister and I were blessed to be raised in a family of educators.  Both our grandmothers, one grandfather, two aunts, and our mother were all school teachers, and our house was always full of books.  Our sweet grandmother helped each of her 7 grandchildren make it through countless research papers--this woman has a deep and abiding love for Shakespeare, and even at 84, she can still not only recite sonnets, but write them herself in perfect iambic pentameter.  We all wore out her dining room table, sitting patiently while Mammaw struggled to instill her passion in our thick heads.  A few years ago, she and her sister finally wrote a book of their own called "Memories," and the whole family enjoyed accompanying her with great pride to local book signings.

To this day when our family gets together at holidays, we spend the better part of our time together talking about books, swapping books with each other, arguing about authors, and making our "wish list" of the next books we want to read.  Whenever we call each other, we talk about the kids, the husbands, the jobs, and the usual, but we never get off the phone without the question, "What are you reading?"

I can't imagine how different my life would be without books.  From my earliest days, I have loved first listening to stories, then reading them, then writing some of my own for our school newspaper.  Reading is like milk and honey to my soul, and it continues to be a respite for me in the midst of our chaotic, hectic lives.  What could be more nourishing at the end of a long day after tucking in all the kids than to curl up in your PJs by a warm fire with a great book?  There have been many nights when I just couldn't put it down, and I would stay up late into the night turning the pages, eagerly anticipating where the story would take me next.

Even now, I could spend hours in a Barnes and Noble.  When I travel for business, I often spend my evenings in a bookstore.  I love to grab a Starbucks and....meander.  Slowly, slowly, I make my way through the store, soaking in all my options, making lists of all the books I can't wait to read next.  I even love the way the bookstore or the library smells, and no matter where in the world I may be, that smell feels like home to me.  I can't wait to hear the "crack" of the spine of that fresh hardcover book when you get it home and sit down to dive in.

Through the years, I have learned how to cook, how to write a proper thank-you note, how to survive pregnancy, how to raise a child, how to train a dog, how to end a friendship, how to fall in love, and even how to say goodbye to a lost loved one through the gift of books.  The gift of reading is the gift of life, and when you open up a book, you unlock the door to countless answers to a million questions, some of which you didn't even know you needed to ask.  The Bible encourages us to add knowledge to our virtue and our faith, and the path to knowledge is paved with books.

A few weeks ago, the Mission Athens team had the opportunity to tour the Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville, AL.  You can learn more about this amazing organization by visiting their website at http://downtownrescuemission.org.  The Downtown Rescue Mission is the area's largest homeless shelter, and they provide both drop-in services and long-term residential programs for North Alabama's homeless men, women, children and families.  They provide hot showers, warm beds, home cooked meals, and love for all the people in our area that have none.  It is truly an inspirational facility, and I am so thankful for the wonderful work they do. 

As we toured the Mission, we had the opportunity to meet some of the homeless residents.  Now, I am not sure what you think of when you think of a homeless person, but if you are like me, you picture someone who is uneducated who is wearing a heavy winter coat and may have a substance abuse problem.  Let me assure you, we have it all wrong.  There are people from all walks of life who for whatever reason, whatever series of horrific life events, bad choices and even worse luck, have ended up homeless.  We met a former New York model, a former mechanic, and we heard stories about former teachers and even physicians who have been helped by the Mission.  No one, and I mean no one, is immune from hardships in this world, and but for God's grace go I.  That tour was yet another moment, like so many others I have had as part of the Mission Athens team, when I had to stop that night and hit my knees thanking God for his abundant blessings in my life.

As part of our tour, we took a moment to stop in the Mission's library.  This library is a cavernous room, and a local team has painted wonderful murals and colorful illustrations all throughout the space.  Another local business has provided a bank of the latest and greatest computers.  There were even a great variety of toys in the children's section.  The only thing missing from this library is.....books!

They have a few shelves with a small selection of books, and one resident at the mission has even taken it upon herself to organize the meager titles using the Dewey Decimal System.  However, even despite the best efforts of the employees, residents and volunteers, I couldn't help but be saddened by the lack of books in the library.

A friend of mine and another member of the Mission Athens team had the opportunity to tour the Downtown Rescue Mission on a separate day when some of our team volunteered to serve a meal, and she left with this same sinking feeling.  A few days later, we were talking in the hallway of Central Church of Christ, and we both agreed we must do something!  "Operation Page It Forward," our holiday book drive, was born.

Now through the end of December, we will be accepting book donations for the Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville.  We will place a bin and poster in the hallway at Central, and we are asking all our friends to please donate gently used books of all kinds for the library.  Reference books, inspirational books, business books, children's books, travel books, cook books, Bible books, spiritual books, how-to books, self-help books, novels of all kinds, and even Shakespeare's sonnets are acceptable.  We want to give the gift of reading, to share the joy and inspiration that escaping in a good story can bring, to all who pass through the doors of the Downtown Rescue Mission library.

We know that our brothers and sisters at Central always respond abundantly to these calls, and we are asking you to do the same now.  We will happily fill as many trucks as it takes to fill up that library so that it will become the place it should be--a place overflowing with books!

I will certainly never be able to repay my big sister, my mother, my grandmothers or the countless teachers who have blessed me with a love of reading, but I can Page It Forward and hopefully make a difference in the lives of those who may stay up late into the night, turning those same pages of beloved books that have spoken to me through the years.  Won't you join me and Page It Forward, too?

Mission Athens: Extreme Home Makeover Edition Take 2

Full Tummy Project

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  1 Corinthians 10:31

A sad but true fact of life is that there are children all over the world who do not have enough to eat.  An even harder fact to swallow is that many of these kids live right here in Athens, AL, and are in class sitting right next to our kids.  As the economy continues to struggle, so do many parents struggle to make ends meet, pay the bills, and put food on the table.  Unfortunately, many cannot do so.

To that end, a new initiative has been started in Athens by a concerned Mom and her friends to help keep these kids' tummies full over the weekend.  Many kids benefit from a free breakfast and lunch at school during the week, but over the weekend, they do not have enough to eat.

The Mission Athens team is committed to helping spread the word about this wonderful initiative called, "The Full Tummy Project."  If you would like to help, you can click on the link to their website from right here on our blog at http://www.fulltummyproject.org/ for a full list of items that can be donated.

The Full Tummy Project team is working to create bags of food to send home in kids' backpacks on Friday afternoons.  They are collecting foods that do not require any preparation.  For example, ready to eat, easy to open items that require no cooking are perfect for these kids. 

For health and safety reasons, all items must be single serve/individually packaged items.  Items such as individual servings of healthy cereals, granola bars, peanut butter crackers, 100% juice boxes, Chef Boyardee pop-top meals, ready to eat soups (not condensed), spaghetti-os, applesauce cups, trail mix, etc. are all great donations.  For a complete list of items needed, please see the "shopping guidelines" section of their website.

Donations may be dropped off at Julian Newman Elementary School, Brookhill Elementary School, or Lindsay Lane Baptist Mothers' Morning Out Program.  As the temperatures drop and utility bills rise, tight family budgets get even tighter, and each week we are identifying even more children who can benefit from this program.  Thank you in advance for donating and helping keep kids' tummies full right here in Athens!

False Fairytales, Interrupted Lives, and Second Chances

"Then the word of God came to Jonah a second time."  Jonah 3:1

I was in kindergarten when Princess Diana and Prince Charles got married.  I remember waking up way before dawn to watch the royal wedding and being awestruck at the beauty of the young princess.  It is still a sweet memory when I think about how much I loved that wedding.  My Aunt Carolyn even got me Princess Diana and Prince Charles dolls that I still have somewhere at my Mom's house.

How I loved that fairytale wedding!  I used to take my Holly Hobby bedspread off my twin bed and my sister would take her matching yellow bedspread off her bed.  We would take the bedspreads downstairs where we had a long hall.  We would go out into the yard and pick bouquets of weeds.  Then, we would line our dolls up on the staircase as if they were sitting in pews watching the ceremony, and we would take turns tying our bedspreads on our heads to make veils with long trains, holding our bouquets as we walked down the hall "aisle" to become a beautiful bride.

Fast forward 30 years--I have now been a "bride" for 13 years, and while it hasn't always been a fairytale, and I certainly haven't always been beautiful, I have been richly blessed with a happy marriage and incredible husband.  I remember just like it was yesterday running down the stairs from my childhood bedroom in my sock feet, running through that same hall into the kitchen on the morning of our wedding and asking my precious parents, "Who wants to see me get married today??"  That night, for the first time in my entire life, my face hurt from smiling literally all day long.  It was a magical day, a fairytale wedding, and we were blissfully in love.  The next day on the plane ride to our honeymoon, we both fell asleep.  When we woke up, the flight attendant stopped by our seats and asked if we were newlyweds.  We asked, "How did you know?" She said, "Newlyweds are the only people on these planes who smile in their sleep."

Three kids, a mortgage, and juggling dual demanding careers later, needless to say we don't always smile in our sleep, and while we are happy, I don't think it would be fair to say all our days have been blissful.  Just like all couples, we argue about really important things like toothpaste tubes and the right brand of ketchup.  Sometimes, we absolutely drive each other crazy and want to scream.  But at the end of the day, I don't tell him enough how much I appreciate him as a father, as a partner in our crazy life, and, most importantly, as my Prince Charming, and I was reminded this week about what a blessing he is in my life.

The Mission Athens team very often works with single moms.  This week, we have met several moms who are struggling to make ends meet for their young children.  We have also met grandparents who are now faced with the daunting task of caring for their grandchildren.  I am quite certain that many years ago, these same families' faces hurt from smiling on happy wedding days, days these young women had dreamed about since their childhoods, days when it all seemed so full of hope and possibility.

As we all know, life is not a fairytale.  Just today, we met a mom who has escaped a violent situation, moved her family across multiple states with just the clothes on their backs, just to find a safe harbor from her interrupted life and false fairytale.  How terrified she must have been pulling out of the driveway, racing through the night, praying for a second chance!

In the book of Jonah, God provides us with a powerful example of His blessing of second chances.  As we all know, Jonah DID NOT want to go to Ninevah.  He had his own plans, his own dreams, his own fairytale.  God had a different plan.  Jonah made a series of bad choices that left him in the belly of a fish.  I can't imagine how terrified he must have been.  He must have truly felt he was finished, out of chances and out of hope.  And that is exactly when God blessed him with a second chance.

Perhaps the most wonderful blessing that has happened to the Mission Athens team this week is the opportunity to work with people who are not homeless, who are not destitute.  This week, we have helped families who are working, who are actively seeking work, and who are willing to study the Bible and learn about how God can offer them hope.  Even after their best efforts, it is still impossible to make ends meet and pay for housing, food, clothing, gas, and bills in this difficult economy.  Many of these people are working in jobs for which they are overqualified, but that job is the only one to be had.  It is an all too important reminder of how close we all are to needing a helping hand, a renewed hope, a second chance.

While I know that life is not a fairytale, I am so thankful for the gift of hope that God has given us and the comfort that we can be redeemed and saved by His powerful mercy and be granted an eternal home in heaven with Him.  Because I have been forgiven, my life is no longer my own.  My prayer is that my life will be a wonderful romance with Him, and that He will welcome me home at the end of my journey with open arms. 

While the Mission Athens team cannot heal the hurt that comes from broken promises and betrayed trust, we can pour ourselves out at the feet of those hurting to show them His love and the grace that He gives to those who fall in love with Him.  Tonight, my prayer is that just as He did for Jonah, God will reveal His second chances to these families who need His guidance, and that He will bless them richly as they recommit their lives in service to Him.  I hope that in the coming days and months, these special children of God will go to bed with sore faces, not from crying tears of desperation, but from smiling all day as they count their blessings, and that they, too, will fall asleep smiling, looking forward to the brighter futures God has in store for them.

A Virtuous Woman--You Surpass Them All

"Who can find a virtuous and capable woman?  She is more precious than rubies...She is energetic and strong, a hard worker....She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy...There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!"  Proverbs 31: 10, 20, 29

There are so many special friends who dedicate so much of their personal time, money, prayers, and talents to the Mission Athens team.  These people are truly servants of our Lord--they wake up each day searching, seeking, and yearning for ways to serve Him and be his lights in this dark world.  It is truly a blessing to work with this team, and they are all a true inspiration to me.  Each week, our team is growing, crossing traditional congregational barriers, extending down the street and across town, and watching it grow is a testimony to the answered prayers of our group.  As we grow, we are finding more and more people to help and more and more ways to serve.  It is a beautiful thing to witness.

But there is one very special member of our team, a truly virtuous woman who surpasses us all.  This woman gets up at 4:30 in the morning, and she takes care of her husband and two children.  Then, she goes to her job, which is dedicated to helping homeless children.  All day long, she works with special kids and their families, trying to help them improve their situation.  After work, she volunteers countless hours with the Mission Athens team, and many of us may never know all that she had done in service to our Lord.

"She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her household and plan the day's work."  Proverbs 31:15

Many of us who are working in dual-career marriages and who are trying to raise kids often say, "If only I had the time."  "If only I had the time to help those in need, but I have so much to do with my job and my kids.  I will try and make some time next week."  This woman never says those things, but if you say them to her, she will smile and nod and ask you about your kids.  She will try and find a way to help you with your busy week, and she truly listens to you as you go on and on about your work and your kids' sports.  During the week, you may receive an encouraging text message or email from her, as she has thoughtfully remembered your big presentation or your child's big game.  She just finds a way to make time to make everyone feel loved and appreciated, all the while going about her business, letting her light shine for all to see. 

"When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instruction with kindness."  Proverbs 31:26.

She will never tell you, but she may be found on any given day hanging out in the projects playing with some kids who have no one else to love them, waiting to meet some one who needs food at a drug infested hotel, or picking up a man who just got out of prison who needs a ride.  When we are asked to go out and help some of these people as part of our Mission Athens work, I have felt uneasy at times, even worried we would not be safe, but not her.  She just smiles, opens her car door, and says, "Let's go." 

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future."  Proverbs 31: 25. 

Her husband and children are among the most generous people I know.  They will free up their schedule, cancel their plans, fill up their truck with gas and bring their chainsaws and strong backs if you are in need.  On the morning after the tornado in April, they were the first to arrive at my house, clearing my driveway of the trees that were blocking it, climbing dangerous ladders to get trees off my roof, and then going on down the road to help even more people.  They didn't call first to ask if there was anything we needed because they knew we would say we didn't need help--they just showed up and got to work.  So many people worked so hard in those weeks following the storms, and these men were at the forefront, generously supplying money, strong backs, and helping hands.

"Her children stand and bless her.  Her husband praises her."  Proverbs 31:28

Over the past few weeks, unbeknownst to any of us working with her, she has been lovingly caring for her mother as she was in her final days of Alzheimer's.  This special lady never asked for help, never let on what she was going through, but simply kept smiling, kept working, kept loving all of us.  She would work all day, host our Mission Athens meetings in her own home, cook us food, love us all, and sneak away in the night to sit by her mother's side at her sickbed. 

"Her lamp burns late into the night."  Proverbs 31:18

As we begin a new week, this special, special child of God will say her final goodbyes to her mother.  Yet in the last few days of her mother's life, she continued to find time to serve her Father.  She worked tirelessly over the weekend preparing a home for a family who would surely have been homeless without her help, slipping away to go visit her Mom, and then coming back with a cup of coffee and a smile and cheery words of encouragment for the team. 

"She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy." Proverbs 31:20

A few weeks ago, several of the members of the Mission Athens team were talking about how to define success of the work we are doing.  Sure, it would be great to keep a scoreboard of the number of people who have committed their lives to God and have begun to walk anew, but it just isn't that simple.  We may never see many of these people again, and we are OK with that.  We want to plant seeds, to demonstrate God's sacrificial love in action by sacrificing for those who need our help.  We trust that God will bring those seeds to harvest in His perfect time.

But one of the greatest blessings of this Mission is the change that is happening in each of our own lives.  God is working in us, and He has certainly changed me.  He has blessed me with this beautiful friend whom I have grown to dearly love.  He has shared one of His most special angels to shine her light and show all of us the kind of woman, the kind of Christian, He is calling us to be. 

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."  Proverbs 31:30

This week, our hearts are broken for her as she says goodbye to her Mama, and we know she will tell us she is OK and change the subject to ask us about our project, our kids, our lives.  She will work late into the night on her computer finding resources and houses and jobs for people who truly need them.  She will love her husband and her children, and she will be strong for her sisters.  She will go on being the amazing inspiration that she is because she knows no other way to live.  We thank God for her, as she is a living example of His most beautiful creation--a woman who has truly, completely, and fully dedicated her life to serving Him.  We are praying that He will comfort and bless her family this week and that she will know she is loved by all of us who thank God for her each day.

"There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!" Proverbs 31:29

Extreme Makeover Mission Athens Edition--Episode 2

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

This weekend, we have the opportunity to help another family who is on the verge of being homeless.  We have found this family a rental home that they can afford, but they must move in over the weekend.  This house needs some work, and that is where all of you come in.

We must act quickly, and we need all hands on deck.  The address is 205 4th Avenue, Athens, AL.  We are coordinating both a cleaning crew for Friday, October 21 and a painting crew for Saturday, October 22.  If you are available, please contact Paul Dobbs at 256-777-2389.

On Friday, please bring cleaning supplies with you--cleaners, paper towels, gloves, trash bags, brooms, mops, buckets, etc.  On Saturday, please bring painting supplies with you--brushes, old clothes, etc.

As we saw last week, great things can happen when we all work together in the kingdom!  We are reaching out to Christians from all over town, so this will be a great way for us to display the unity Jesus prayed for as well as to help a family who could really use the love of Jesus.

We also need some donations for this family.  Specifically, they need large area rugs or carpet for 2 or 3 rooms--the floors in this house are cold.  We also need dressers, window treatments, a 6-feet-long closet rack and whatever else Paul Dobbs says we need!  Cash is always king--that way we can run to Wal-Mart and buy what we need.

We realize that this alert is going out with short notice, but we believe in our army, day and night, and we know you all are willing and able!  Thank you in advance for helping us make a big difference in the lives of this special family this weekend!

Entertaining Angels

"Do not forget to be hospitable to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without knowing it." 

Hebrews 13:2

In early February of this year, I was traveling home from a day of meetings in Gadsden when I got stuck in an ice storm on I-65 North just south of Cullman.  In hindsight, some of my choices that day were really bad.  For example, just before lunch, I saw the radar and heard the predictions of icy weather, but I thought, "Oh, these weathermen always exaggerate.  I will be fine."  Then, when I got to Birmingham to pick up my car where I had left it earlier in the day, I called my husband who advised me to get a hotel room and wait until the next day to drive the rest of the way home.  "Oh, Honey," I said, "I can make it."

Bad choices lead to bad consequences for me.  The darker it got, the harder the ice fell.  Finally, traffic came to a complete stop in the middle of nowhere.  There were no exits, no hotels, no way out.  I felt totally helpless.  I called my company's emergency travel line and begged for a hotel room in Cullman.  My husband searched every travel website for me to no avail.  There were no rooms in any inns. 

After literally crawling for hours on I-65, I finally made it to the Cullman exit shortly after 10 pm after about 8 hours in the car.  I made my way to the Waffle House, laid my head down in the booth, cried my eyes out and did what any good Southern lady would do under the circumstances.....I called my Mama.

As a part of the Mission Athens team, we have the opportunity to meet lots of people who have made bad choices that have lead to bad consequences.  In some cases, people never thought through those choices and never anticipated those possible bad consequences.  In other cases, people acted hastily or on impulse.  Sometimes, people just make bad choices for no really good reason.  In any case, bad things ultimately happen and people are then stuck between a rock and a hard place, and that is when they call us.

We have met people who were broken down, beat up, or just plain broke.  We have met mothers with hungry children, fathers with no gas in the car trying to make it a few more miles down the road, and grandparents who are taking in their children's kids, trying to right a wrong.  A few weeks ago, we helped a man who had just gotten out of prison.  He couldn't read or write, and he had no real plan for his future.  He thought if he could just make it to Florida, he might could get a job on a shrimp boat or help some fisherman down there.  He had no family, no friends, and it turns out the crimes he had committed that had landed him in prison were great examples of really bad choices.  He told us he had recommitted his life to Christ in prison, and he just needed someone to help him on his way.  Sounded good to us, so we helped him get a bus ticket to Florida.

This week, we met a mom and her 14-year-old son.  They are homeless, down on their luck, no income, no real friends, and very few prospects.  She has a grandmother who lives in Evergreen who is willing to take them in and help them get back on their feet.  I am quite certain this mom has made some bad choices that have lead to these bad consequences, but I am also certain she needs someone to show her Jesus.  Jesus surrounded himself with people who had checkered pasts and who had made plenty of bad choices.  Jesus didn't care--he loved them anyway and encouraged them to walk in a new life.

So often, we as Christians are so quick to judge people who are not like us.  In many cases, we think to ourselves, "I would never be in that situation, because I make good choices.  People who fall on these hard times need to make better choices and then they won't get themselves into these messes."  It is so easy for us, who are not homeless, to point our fingers and point blame.  We haven't walked in those shoes.....unless we have been stuck on the side of the road in Cullman in an ice storm.

There I was in my business suit with a purse full of money, an iPhone, a laptop, a nice car full of gas, and no place to lay my head.  To say I was humbled is an understatement.  For all purposes, I was homeless that night.  And that's where my Mama came to my rescue.  She called my big brother, who would never have let his little sister spend the night at a Waffle House.  He remembered an old friend of my father's who lived 3 blocks away from the Waffle House where I was crying in my coffee.  He called him, and in about 30 minutes, I was embraced by Leonard and Patrina, who graciously let me, a person they hadn't seen since my father's funeral 11 years ago, into their home for the night.  They gave me their guest room, warm blankets, and even a new toothbrush.  Thank God for their goodness, and thank God for my wonderful family who can see me through any tough time I seem to get myself into!

You see, God has blessed me with this loving family.  But for His grace go I!  What a valuable lesson I learned that night!  I walk around with the delusion that I am invincible--I am competent, I am capable, I am IN CONTROL.  How wrong and how arrogant of me!  GOD is in control, and sometimes he uses ice storms and Waffle Houses to remind us to open our eyes and help those other wayward travelers who need a second chance, a helping hand, and maybe a bus ticket so that they can have a prayer for their future.

Today, I was traveling north on I-65 again, and as I approached Cullman, I saw a Greyhound bus headed south.  On that bus was a Mom, just like me, with a son she loves, just like me.  She was on her way to her Grandmama's house, and I pray she is embraced and loved there and that her future is bright.  We will probably never see her again, but it is great to know we helped her get a few more miles down the road. 

She is leaving Athens with the knowledge that there are people here who believe in God and who believe in His goodness.  She is leaving perhaps with a little more spring in her step that there really are people who don't just talk the talk in the pews on Sunday, but who will actually walk the walk and help you out on a Tuesday.

Who knows?  Perhaps she is an angel like the one referenced in Hebrews, and we have entertained her on her journey to get her new wings.

Extreme Makeover Mission Athens Edition

Why Do Bad Things Keep Happening?

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the Law of Christ."  Galations 6:2

Imagine you are an 8-year-old little boy.  Last year, your stepdad was tragically killed in a car accident.  Your mom is working 12-hour shifts to try to make ends meet for your teenage sister and you.  It's a Sunday night, and your big sister is helping you get ready to go to church.  A nice man is coming by to pick you up and take you to services, and you feel somewhat excited to have a nice place to go.  Your sister and you are cooking hamburgers on the stove.

After church, the nice man drops you both off and pulls out of the driveway.  As you approach the house, your sister and you realize that the house is on fire.  In a hurry to make it to church on time, you have accidentally forgotten to turn off the stove.  Your exhausted mom makes it home from work to find your sister and you devastated on the curb, fire trucks and police in the yard, and all of you have the sick realization that your cat was inside the house.

"Mom," you ask with tears in your eyes, "why do bad things keep happening to us?"

Unfortunately, this scenario is a true story, and this tragedy played out right here in our community.  But the story doesn't end there.....

Upon hearing about this special family, the Mission Athens team went into overdrive.  Within a few days, a rental home had been secured for them.  Through a series of announcements, emails, phone calls and text messages, a full Extreme Makeover Home Edition team had been built.  In one day, the entire house was scrubbed by a team of about 10 Christians.  From the floors, to the walls, to the ceilings, to the windows, that house was sparkling in just a few hours.  The next day, another team of Christians painted the house, installed new lighting and flooring, and some very great ladies decorated the rooms so nicely that HGTV themselves couldn't have done it better.

You see, when we become Christians, we are not promised that bad things will not happen to us.  Bad things do happen.  Fathers die, houses burn, pets are lost.  Cancer strikes, jobs are "downsized," disappointments break our hearts.  The difference for Christians is that we know no matter what trial or tribulation befalls us here on earth, we have a heavenly Father who cares for us.  He listens to our prayers, and He knows what we need. 

He has also blessed us with each other, to lift each other up, to bear one another's burdens, to love each other through our dark days.  If God brings us to it, God will bring us through it.

Through the experience of helping this precious family, the Mission Athens team has had the opportunity to work with Christians from several different area churches.  So often, Christians debate doctrine, focus on what divides us, spend time on our soapbox picking out the specks in each other's eyes.  This week, it was a tremendous blessing to focus on what unites us--the love of Christ--and to share that love with a family who desperately needed comfort and peace. 

As we start our week on this Monday morning, let us all open our eyes and see the people in our lives who may be asking, "Why do bad things keep happening to me?"  We can be a blessing to these hurting souls, and we need to seek out those opportunities to bear one another's burdens.  Let us not focus on our own small problems but instead look outward into a world that desperately needs our light and love.  As Jesus said to us, "For when you see Me, you see the One who sent Me.  I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who trust in Me will no longer dwell in darkness."  John 12:45-46. 

My Own Little World - Matthew West Official Music Video

Mission Athens Projects in October

^"12 When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."  John 13:12-17

In the month of October, there are several ways you can help the Mission Athens team.  First, we will be placing a bin in the Central Church of Christ building on Sunday, October 16 to begin a shoe collection for the organization Soles4Souls.  This organization has a very simple mission:  to provide shoes for people all over the world who have none.  It's that simple.

Our challenge to the Central family is this:  donate one pair of shoes for each member of your family.  Simply bring the shoes to the church building and place them in the bin.  If you are reading this blog and you live out of town but would like to help, there are two things you can do.  First, you can visit the Soles4Souls website to find out how to help at http://www.soles4souls.org/.  Second, you could ship your shoes to Central at Central Church of Christ, Attention:  Mission Athens, 320 US Highway 31North, Athens, AL 35611. 

Can you imagine the delight of the person receiving a new pair of shoes?  What a relief to have this simple layer of protection, and what a gift to be able to provide this blessing that we so often take for granted!  Thank you in advance for participating.  We look forward to seeing that bin overflowing!

Second, you can volunteer to help the Mission Athens team serve dinner at the Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville on Saturday, October 29.  We need a team of at least 12 people to help us.  The Downtown Rescue Mission is a Christian homeless shelter that serves men, women and children, and they provide hundreds of thousands of meals all throughout the year. We will need to be there at 3:15 p.m. as dinner is from 4-6 p.n.  If anyone is interested in helping, please email Beth Patton at beth.patton@acs-k12.org.  You can find out more about the Downtown Rescue Mission by visiting their website at http://downtownrescuemission.org/.

Stay tuned for more ways you can help in the weeks to come.  We are making plans now to make a BIG difference for our community as the holidays approach, and we will need lots of help to make it all happen.  Please take time each day to pray that God would open our eyes to the ways we can best serve Him, and that He would lead us to those who need His blessings in their lives.  Please also continue to pray for the families we are helping, that they would be lead to commit their lives to Him.

 

 

Remember the Tornado?

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."  Colossians 3:23

On April 27, 2011, our community was dramatically changed when over 100 tornadoes ripped through our state leaving behind destroyed property, mangled heaps of debris, and broken lives.  Our neighbors grieved the loss of their loved ones as well all came together to do what we could to put the pieces back together for our friends and those hurting in our community.

As horrible an event as it was, it was also strangely beautiful as well. As we "pass through the valley of the shadow of death," we are reminded of God's goodness.  His love was all around us, as we witnessed strangers dropping everything and running to help.  Our church family embraced those hurting in our community, and everyone had time, had money, and had the motivation to do all we could to help those who needed us.

It is amazing to comprehend the amount of damage that the storms created in a matter of seconds.  In about 12 seconds, two-story houses were leveled, cars were swept away, trees snapped in half, and lives were forever changed.  The U.S. Government declared it a Level 1 Natural Disaster, on par with Katrina.  In fact, we now know that the storms of April 27 marked the fifth worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

But the storms could not take away the things we treasure most--friendships, family and faith in our Father.  In fact, the storm revealed these priceless gifts to be in full force; it brought out the best in us all.  Neighbors who hadn't spoken in months were suddenly hosting cookouts together in cul de sacs, sharing the food they had before the lost power could spoil it.  Complete strangers from other states took vacation days to come with their chainsaws and help cut trees and haul limbs.  Everyone opened their pockets and donated money to help us first survive, then clean up, and now rebuild.

By no means are we "back to normal," but we are back to reality.  The power came back on, workplaces reopened, the kids starting playing ball again, and life moved on.  We have all gotten caught back up again in the whirlwind of our daily life, and it is easy for us to forget the life-changing experiences we all shared just a few months ago.

I think it is important for us to stop, take a moment, and REMEMBER THE TORNADO.  A few weeks ago at Central, our wonderful preacher challenged all of us to remember what our lives were like then.  We flung ourselves into the work of our Lord, and we loved every minute of it.  We truly felt as though we were His instruments, working to help those around us and praising our God for the blessing of the gift of lives spared.  Let us all remember the tornado and the lessons it taught us.  In case you need a reminder, take a moment to re-watch the video attached on this blog.

Reflect on that time in our lives, and think about how it changed your family.  If you feel so compelled, reach out to a member of the Mission Athens team, and talk to us about joining our group.  We would love to have your help, and we believe that the work we continue to do for tornado victims and those in our community who have been broken by other catastrophes need us now more than ever.  Remember the tornado, and remind yourself of all the gifts you have to offer in service to our Lord.

Limestone County Storms 2011

"Somebody Like Me" by Jason Crabb

Are We Called to Go to Church Or To BE the Church?

"Spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."  Isaiah 58:10

How many years have you been a Christian?  If you are reading this blog, you are probably someone who has been richly blessed and who has been "saved" by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Praise God for His blessings in our lives!

In the years since you have been a Christian, how has God's grace changed you?  How have you become new?  Perhaps your answer to that question is that you are in the "good person" camp.  You are a good provider for your family, you love and honor your parents, you do your best to avoid sin and repent when you make a mistake.  You try to be a good example at work and at your kids' sporting events.  When someone is sick, you take them a casserole and a cake, and you pray most days.  You try to remember people's birthdays, and you pay your taxes on time.  You take your family to church every Sunday morning, and even sometimes on Sunday and Wednesday nights.  At Christmas time, you donate to a local charity, and you may even adopt an angel to help a child have a nice holiday.

All these things are good--they are important, and they are wonderful.  But do you ever find yourself asking the difficult but all too important question--when I stand before my maker on Judgement Day, what will He say?  Have I done all I can to be His disciple?  Have I spent my life serving Him each day, sharing His love not just with my friends and family, but with complete strangers who need Him, too? 

I ask myself these questions a lot.  I know that I will never deserve God's grace, and this conversation is not about "Works vs. Grace." 

It is about ME--have I been so transformed and consumed by Jesus that I am "spent" each night because I have been "pouring myself out" as an offering to glorify Him in a fallen world?

I have been a Christian for over 20 years.  In those years, I have gone to college, gotten married to a wonderful man, buried my father, given birth to 3 precious children, built a house and a career, but I can't quote a statistic on how many souls, if any, I have played a part in bringing to Jesus.  Sure, I haven't strayed from the "good person" camp, and I hope most of my friends and family would say that I am more of a blessing than a burden in their lives, but have I really used these 20 years of Christian life LIVING for Jesus? 

I can't do anything about the past, but I can make myself "new" now.  I want to live my next 20 years "spending myself" in His service.  I want to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself to share the Gospel.  That commitment is the reason I joined the Mission Athens team and the reason I am writing this blog.  God has been so good to me, and I want to share Him with the world.  I want as many people as possible, as many people as I can touch, to share in His grace.

A few weeks ago, a very kind man challenged the Mission Athens team with this question, "Are we so busy GOING to church that we have forgotten to BE the church?" 

What a fantastic challenge!  Mission Athens is dedicated to "being the church" in our community.  We are not perfect, and we don't always get it right, but we are trying.  Each week, we reach out to the hurting in our community and try to bless them in some way.  Sometimes our projects are big, and sometimes they are small, but all of them are designed to share Jesus with our neighbors.

The purpose of this blog is to share our thoughts, the lessons we are learning, and to provide a place where we can list any needs, prayer requests, or ways you can help us in our mission to share the love of Jesus as we serve the world.  Thank you for reading our blog and for supporting the work of the Mission Athens team.