The Acts Church

I survived VBS in my front yard!  God was continually faithful.  First of all, my health issues disappeared.  I had a few very rough days but after a lot of tears and wrestling it out with God, I felt a lot better.  Thank you for your prayers.

We had VBS Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  There were three separate LDS families who came with their children.  Some moms stayed and some did other things while their kids stayed and played.  We did Bible stories each day with a craft, songs, games and snacks.  One mom graciously came and brought snacks for all three days which was an answer to prayer because I did not feel like I had the energy and time to tackle that too.

But after the first day the other teachers (two other moms in my small group) stayed and I fed them (and their children) lunch to thank them for helping.  Then on Wednesday another mom decided to bring lunch for everyone.  Then again on Thursday the act was repeated!  We all sat outside underneath the big poplar trees eating at our craft tables in the shade with the kids eating, chatting, and playing around us.

It was a beautiful picture of Acts 2:42, in mini form: 'And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.' and verse 26, 'And day by day, attending the temple together and bring bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts'.  We all sat and prayed together, broke bread together, read the Word together, and taught our children how to love Jesus more.  I pray some seeds were planted among the LDS folks who attended.  An emphasis on first we are saved, then works are born because of our love for the Savior.  Jesus loved us first in spite of our sin.  We can't be our own savior!  Sigh.  It saddens me to think about the hopelessness of me being my own savior.  Especially after the last seven days when I think God really was impressing on me that I am so pitifully sinful and can't do anything about it . . . only Christ can.  Praise the Lord!  Oh, but I love Him so . . . .

Overheard

Well, I didn't technically overhear this.  I was in the room participating in the conversation.  It went something like this:

"Christian families are starting to withdraw their kids from the homeschool co-op because there are too many LDS families participating."

I was flabbergasted.  You get one guess to figure out what my opinion on this subject is.  Post your comments . . . . I would love to hear your point of view.  And my next post will be my viewpoint of this comment with nothing held back :)

Working out my Salvation

I don't want to whine.  But I don't want to pretend either.  These last few weeks have been extremely difficult for me.  There have been some wonderful things happen and some hard things too.

I'm not sure what is going on with me but to make things short--I hurt.  My chest feels like there is someone sitting on it and I'm extremely tired.  It could be a number of things but right now my first conclusion is there is some spiritual warfare happening.  Next week I am hosting a VBS in my front yard and I am stamping on my doorstep 'Not LDS'.  It's hard, but it's freeing too.  Things are coming together (I think) and I've kept it relatively simple so my few volunteers will not be overwhelmed.  I've started to invite neighborhood kids and put flyers up everywhere.  But literally, I feel like there is a mark on my forehead when I walk everywhere: 'heathen' (this is what they call non-LDS).  Please pray for a successful week.  Not in terms of number of kids but of hearts touched.  Or simply that I may be encouraged by this simple step of faith.

Paul writes:  Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

May I fulfill His good purpose! May I be obedient (and not whine)! And Lord, send me a friend.