What I learned at camp...

...I learned 7th and 8th grade girls are smart...and curious.

One of my favorite moments (this, in a week jam-packed with fun, with spiritual challenge and insight, with intense community and sweet fellowship) came in the middle of teaching 22 7th and 8th grade girls about the Beatitudes. The girls were focused, engaged, writing down Scripture references, participating in discussion.

Then a girl raised her hand, looked me straight in the eyes and asked in a clear voice without a hint of self-consciousness:

"How do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?"

Wow. How, indeed?

I told her she was on the right track because she was asking the right questions. I told her to ask God to give her an appetite for righteousness. I told her to feed her heart and mind with Scripture, to spend time in prayer.

I think I gave an acceptable answer, but the truth is, I just felt like bursting into tears. I was overwhelmed with emotion that a young girl really wanted the answer to that question. I also felt completely convicted and utterly inadequate.

Do I hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do I really?

Almost two weeks later, I still see that little girl's face and I'm still wrestling with lessons learned from girls with seeking hearts.

Blessed...

I'm gearing up for Cross Camp '09, so I've decided to devote the month of July to memorizing our theme verses from Matthew 5 - The Beatitudes. As I've been preparing to teach these truths to 7th and 8th grade girls at camp I've been struck by how radical Jesus was - and is.
Blessed -- happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous; with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions -- are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed -- with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace -- are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed -- happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous, with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions -- are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
You get the idea (definitions of "blessed" courtesy of the Amplified Bible). Life-joy, satisfaction, happiness, favor - regardless of outward condition. I want that. I'm just not always anxious to embrace my poverty of spirit, to mourn, to be meek.
Please pray for me as I prepare to teach and interact with kids who need to grasp these truths! I'm anxious about imparting truth without apology, but also with compassion, passion and clarity!
So here's my scripture passage for the month of July:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are tbe merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets before you.

Matthew 5:3-12

Immeasurably more...

My heart is so full! I'm a little behind posting a memory verse for the second half of June, and I've decided to just continue to commit to memory one of my very favorite all-time passages. Here it is in it's entirety:

"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:17-21

I worked on the first half earlier this month, and as I work on this second half, I'm struck by how well it describes my feelings of overwhelming love and gratitude - yes, He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine - and He chooses to do it! Not only that, He does this magnificent, immeasurable work "according to His power that is at work within us!" He can do what He wills, and He chooses to exercise His power within our lives - that's amazing to me!

I love how The Message puts it:

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."

What an amazing God!

Well, this has been a full month - to put it mildly! My firstborn, my daughter, is now a married woman! If you don't believe me, check here for photographic evidence! The whole experience was beautiful and I'm eternally grateful to God for His work in her life and the life of her wonderful husband Joe, and in the lives of our family and friends.

I'm also prepping to teach 7th and 8th grade girls Bible study for a week of Cross Camp - so please pray for me! I'm immersing myself in the Beatitudes and feel completely humbled to have the opportunity to share these truths with these girls!

Meanwhile, some women are going to journey with me through the book "Me, Myself and Lies" as part of a summer Bible study orchestrated by the one and only Beth Moore - we'd love for you to join us! Check it all out here.

And, things on the farm are WIDE OPEN! Cotton, soybeans and corn are growing and we're watering around the clock until God decides to bless us with some rain!

So, that's the crazy month of June around my place! What's up with you?

It's June!

June.
My baby girl is getting married in just a few days.
It's hard to put my feelings into words.
Gratitude.
Love.
Excitement.
And just the slightest twinge of sadness.
I read something the other day that made me pause - "Raising a child is the only relationship you have where, if you do it right, it will end in separation."
I'm genuinely happy and thrilled for my daughter, and our family, and trusting that we'll navigate this new season with some grace. (Lord, let it be!)
So, my scripture memory project for the first two weeks in June is an old favorite passage which I've never completely committed to memory. It's my prayer for our family - and yours!

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:17-19

I love The Message translation of these verses also:

"And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God."

Reach out and grasp the love of Christ!

Compelled by love...

For Christ's love compels us,
because we are convinced that one died for all,
and therefore all died.

2 Corinthians 5:14

This verse became very meaningful to me last summer as I was preparing to teach Bible study during Cross Camp, our summer camp for students. I wanted then, as I want now, to be motivated, driven, compelled, controlled by Christ's love!
(Memory verse for second half of May!)

Growth...

This is a beautiful time to be on the farm...
things change so quickly...
Here's the corn in April...

and now in May...



April...
and in May...


My favorite turnrow in late March...


...and just the other day...

Yep...it's beautiful. And I'm thankful...

Dearly loved...

These are interesting days. We've been busy on the farm all week, rolling irrigation pipe across our corn fields in anticipation of dry days ahead. My part of the work is fairly simple - drive a tractor approximately 1.2 miles per hour across bumpy rows while the guys guide the plastic polypipe into the trenches dug by the tractor, securing it in place with clods of dirt. (I admit it - sometimes I sing the "Green Acres" theme song at the top of my lungs while doing this!) But, for the most part, my mind has time to freely roam - and roam it has!

I've been completely obsessed this week with the Compassion Bloggers - a team of fantastic writers who are in India to love on children and families and increase awareness of the fantastic work of Compassion International. I've cried over each post - these stories are heartbreaking, life-affirming, perspective-shifting - you name it! If you dare, check out my new friend Pete Wilson, or catch up with Angie or Melissa. Warning - you will be moved!

Meanwhile - it's MAY 1st!!! Which means it's time for a new Scripture to memorize! Here's mine for the next two weeks:

Therefore, as God's chosen people,
holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

I'm praying for a deepened understanding of the love of God - the love He's poured into my life and how I am to love Him, and how that is supposed to affect the way I love others. And as we race forward toward my daughter's wedding day (June 13th!) I want to be less concerned with things like a "mother of the bride" dress and more concerned with clothing myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience! Lord, please! Make it so!

And, just because I think they are so wonderful and adorable, let me share a link to just a few fantastic photos of the happy couple!
God bless!