A Safe Spot

That is what I want my home to be. A safe spot. A welcome place. A shelter. I would love to be able to minister to the children that wander through my neighborhood and love them as Jesus would. I want them to see Jesus in my home. This week, both Sunday evening and this evening, two of the neighborhood girls showed up at my house. They came on Sunday to ask me random questions about a bike in my yard and about the carrots in my garden. But they came again tonight for no particular reason. And they will be back again. I have been feeling the Lord's tug on my heart to open my home to these kids and others, to be able to share with them more about Jesus and the Bible. Jesus has done so much for me and I want to share Him with others who have never heard. I can no longer deny this calling, I just don't know exactly how to go about doing it. Do I simply live and be a godly example? Or do I add structure and sit and read stories and allow them time to ask questions? Or do I incorporate Bible stories into our visits as they come? Please pray for me that I will follow God's ever-so-gentle calling on my life.

A Bible Club Finale

Bible Club ended today. But may Bible Club never really be ended... My neighbor asked Jesus to wash away her sins and give her a new heart. Another neighbor came back after club to ask me why God would want to pay for our sins, why He would die for us. Three weeks ago, my friend Cindy and I were disappointed with the low turnout of kids (or lack of any), but remained faithful to the plan. We struggled through the last weeks, but our God brought it all together today. We closed out our club with a party, but not before a very good lesson and overview of the Wordless Book. We played multiple games and crafts and even fed the five kids in attendance (including Josh) hot dogs for lunch. And then, when things were settling down and the dust clearing, we got a peek at the fruit of our labor. I wonder what the Lord will do next?

Finding the Missions Field

My friend Cindy and I have been hosting a Bible Club at my house this summer. Every Wednesday morning, my yard is open to the neighborhood kids to come for a Bible lesson, story, snack and craft. We get all ages, and anywhere from 2-7 kids. Sharing the Bible with these kids has been very eye opening, to say the least. Most of them know very little of any Bible stories and one boy admitted that his Mom said he was "going to church" when he came over for Bible Club. I know my heart has a "missions bent", but I don't need to go very far to get to the missions field. The missions field comes to me every Wednesday morning. Lord, here am I, send me.

A Yard Sale Fail

It was a sunny day. A yardsale-able day. Or so I thought. I had hung out my signs, but not until last minute. I waited all day. Not one person. Not one car. I had arranged the tables so nicely. I even hung the baby clothes on the line to attract attention. Not one bite or nibble. It was a good thing I didn't feel like it was necessary for me to stay out there all day. I was able to bake lots of pies while casting longing glances out the front door. We didn't have one person walk into the yard until it was time to pack everything away. It was about that time when the neighborhood kids started gathering across the street in their usual hangout spot. One curious girl came over to take a peek. We had already packed away the clothes and were in the process of packing up the dishes. Suddenly there were more kids. Looking in the box of books and the stack of VHS movies. I was sure a bunch of 8-11 year olds were not going to want toddler books and movies, but I told them if they saw anything they wanted, they could have it. That got them excited... And I got rid of a couple books and some Veggie Tale movies. I offered them my mugs. You should've seen the kids move then! I had just enough mugs for one for each. They were happy. And then I gave away my brother's old skate boards. Two of them.So I guess I did a little cleaning out after all. Haha, well mugs and movies and skate boards anyway...

(Photo forthcoming. Camera is charging.)

Bible Club

Tomorrow is an exciting day. We are hosting a Backyard Bible Club at our house Saturday mornings for four weeks. A friend of mine, Cindy, and I really wanted a way to reach our community with Jesus' love and the kids in my neighborhood have especially been on my heart. Cindy will be my teacher and I am the host. I plan on doing songs and craft too. And of course we will all play games and have snack at the end. But the most important part is the Bible story and telling the children about Jesus. I'm so glad Cindy is doing that part as she has a little more experience than I do. Last week Josh and I spent some time inviting our neighborhood kids and we got 13 kids signed up from ages 4 -13. It's a big age span, but I think we'll be okay. Some kids go to church and some do not. I'm looking forward to what God is going to do. Please keep us in your prayers as we venture into the unknown. Also pray for sunny mornings! I have a small house and fitting 14 kids and a few adults in it would be a squeeze........ Now what do I have left to do? The Kool-aid is made, cookies baked, craft is prepared, one song written on poster board... Everything will come together in the morning.

Two by Two

This morning we found a Jehovah's Witness tract/church invitation stuck in our door. Almost immediately I began to feel guilty because they are doing a better job of sharing their beliefs with my neighborhood than I am. I have lived here for nearly three years, have met a handful of my neighbors and have shared Jesus with only three. My first instinct when Adam handed me the Jehovah's Witness's literature was to say that we needed to go out and share the gospel right away. But a hour later Adam was called to work and I was left home with cranky Josh. In Mark 6:7, Jesus sends out His disciples two by two and I am left here alone. So is it correct, Biblically speaking, for me to wait until I have another believer with me to go door to door in my neighborhood? I would feel safer that way, especially since I don't know all of my neighbors and having someone else with knowledge of the Bible would be wonderful... But I am kind of sad that I cannot go right away, while I feel the urge. Though, to be honest, sharing Jesus Christ with others makes me nervous too, but only because I am afraid of turning them off to my Savior or not saying the right things. *sigh* So, if you all could pray that I have good opportunities to share Jesus with my neighbors and friends, it would me much appreciated.