YOU MIGHT NOT FINISH THIS CHAPTER:

YES!! Back to posting about this amazing book, CRAZY LOVE! I must be honest, I read chapter 2 a while back, but I wanted to continue along with our weekly posts. Bible study was actually canceled tonight – but I couldn’t WAIT another week to tell you all about this chapter titled: You Might Not Finish This Chapter.

I thought Chan was going to say something I didn’t like or maybe it was the LONGEST chapter and I wouldn’t finish it, but he didn’t do either. He meant that I may not finish the chapter, because I could infact die before reading the chapter! While I agree that is a rather RADICAL statement – his point rings true. None of us really know how long we’ve got here on earth!

Listen to what Chan has to say:

He goes on to share an amazing story of a precious young girl:

“Brooke Bronkowski was a beautiful fourteen-year-old girl who was in love with Jesus. When she was in junior high, she started a Bible study on her campus. She spent her babysitting money on Bibles so she could give them out to her unsaved friends. Youth pastors who heard about this brought her boxes of Bibles to give away.

Brooke wrote the following essay when she was about twelve; it will give you an idea of the kind of girl she was.

"SINCE I HAVE MY LIFE BEFORE ME"

By Brooke Bronkowski

I’ll live my life to the fullest. I’ll be happy. I’ll brighten up. I will be more joyful than I have ever been. I will be kind to others. I will loosen up. I will tell others about Christ. I will go on adventures and change the world. I will be bold and not change who I really am. I will have no troubles but instead help others with their troubles.

You see, I’ll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age. Oh, I’ll have my moments, good and bad, but I will wipe away the bad and only remember the good. In fact, that’s all I remember, just good moments, nothing in between, just living my life to the fullest. I’ll be one of those people who go somewhere with a mission, an awesome plan, a world-changing plan, and nothing will hold me back. I’ll set an example for others, I will pray for direction.

I have my life before me. I will give others the joy I have and God will give me more joy. I will do everything God tells me to do. I will follow the footsteps of God. I will do my best!!!

During her freshman year in highschool, Brooke was in a car accident while driving to the movies. Her life on earth ended when she was just fourteen, but her impact didn’t. Nearly fifteen hundred people attended Brooke’s memorial service. People from her public high school read poems she had written about her love for God. Everyone spoke of her example and her joy.

I shared the gospel and invited those who wanted to know Jesus to come up and give their lives to Him. There must have been at least two hundred students on their knees at the front of the church praying for salvation. Ushers gave a Bible to each of them. They were Bibles that Brooke kept in her garage, hoping to give out to all of her unsaved friends. In one day, Brooke led more people to the Lord that most ever will.

In her brief fourteen years on earth, Brooke was faithful to Christ. Her short life was not wasted. The words from her essay seem prophetic: ”You see, I’ll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age.”

This was another priority shaking story for me. Just another fabulous reminder of why I am here in this world – day by day – serving my Lord. Because in the end, that is what I can take with me! Chan ends the chapter with these verses:

His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15.

Don’t let yourself forget. Soak it in and keep remembering that it is true. HE is EVERYTHING!

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

A THOUGHT FOR SUNDAY:

OF COURSE – any day that I don’t need to wake up to an alarm – I seem to wake up at 6:30 am. I was all set to meet a friend this morning for church, but as I tossed and turned to fall back to sleep, I ended up thinking about the church I attended down in Ft. Lauderdale last year, and how much I missed Tullian Tchividjian’s sermons! He has a way of highlighting God’s grace like no other I’ve heard before! In my lack of success falling back asleep, I decided to check out his most current sermon. Great church, great message! You can check out Coral Ridge Presbyterian here (http://www.crpc.org/) if you are interested.

I am also VERY happy to report that I stumbled across Tullian’s blog, On Earth as it is in Heaven(Tullian's Blog HERE), where his most current post unpacked a fascinating response to an article in Christianity Today discussing obedience. Here’s a snip-bit of his thought:

…to startle this restraint-free culture with the gospel of free justification that the functional justifications of human approval, moral performance, sexual indulgence, or big bank accounts begin to lose their vice-like grip on human hearts and their emptiness is exposed in all its fraudulence. It sounds backward, but the path to holiness is through (not beyond) the grace of the gospel, because only undeserved grace can truly melt and transform the heart. The solution to restraint-free immorality is not morality. The solution to immorality is the free grace of God—grace so free that it will be (mis)heard by some as a license to sin with impunity. The route by which the New Testament exhorts radical obedience is not by tempering grace but by driving it home all the more deeply…

I encourage you to take a look at the ENTIRE post (http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tullian/2011/01/27/two-ways-to-realize-radical-obedience/). Tullian does a fabulous job of highlighting what really matters – GOD’s LOVE for US first and foremost! It just lights a fire under my love for the Lord and gets me excited to get up tomorrow and see what the Lord has for me!

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

FAMILY:

There is just nothing like celebrating FAMILY!!!

January 29 is a very special day! Twenty-seven years ago today, in a Minnesota blizzard, my mother and father were married! I am so thankful for both of them and have seen God’s grace in my life in numerous ways as I was growing up, and continue to now :o) I am so thankful for both of them!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!

Also, on this very special day, both of my mom’s brothers were born! Happy birthday to Uncle Gary and Uncle Jack!

Even though I am too many miles away to celebrate WITH them…I am happy to go out and celebrate the day the Lord has given me!

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today??

HOPE? OR WISHFUL THINKING?:

I had another great morning devotional thought from Brennan Manning’s, Reflections for Ragamuffins. Something really good for me to chew on for the day…

HOPE? OR WISHFUL THINKING?

Closely related to the quality of my faith is the intensity of my hope. (WOW – could have stopped right THERE!).

I had to read this one through a few times to really let it soak in ~

CLOSELY related to the QUALITY OF MY FAITH is the INTENSITY OF MY HOPE! The word of Jesus carries the implicit theme that the world is out to do us good. When you stop and think about it, that’s an EXTRAORDINARY idea. In most of our lives we have the impression that the world has done us considerable harm and comparatively little good. YET, if the ABBA OF JESUS loves US, if he PURSUES US as a tremendous Lover who is DYING (in his Son) to be with US, then we are COMMITTED to the notion that his world, the work of HIS hands, is out to do us good. And that means taking the risk of letting others do good to us. It means going to the wedding feast and celebrating with the FIRM CONVICTION that we are NOT going to be chumped, cheated, or disastrously surprised.

“No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you,
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the LORD.

Isaiah 54:17.

Now if THAT wasn’t just the attitude adjustment I needed! Thanks be to GOD!

Any thoughts?

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

A friend told me all about Louie Giglio and his discription of just how GREAT our GOD is! WOW! It is split up into five parts - but a really worth taking a look at!

Louie Giglio: How Great Is Our God
WATCH HERE:

PART 1:

PART 2:

PART 3:

PART 4:

PART 5:

Where have you seen God's grace in your life today?

CRY OUT TO JESUS:

Although I have been learning so much through the tools in my life, and I’m happy to share with you, I don’t want to deny the fact that I am going through a very difficult season of my life. Just as I shared this weekend, the last few days have been extremely hard for me. God is REALLY working on me. He is bringing a lot of my CRUD to the surface. It’s difficult to face, isn’t fun and doesn’t feel good; but I am thankful for this season. I am facing myself in the mirror as God sees me and fighting through it.

I had a great conversation with my sister in the car on my way to work today. Tears rolling down, she prayed for me and I saw not only my pain, but how my pain was hurting her. It has ignited an even deeper part of me to fight through this loneliness. After she prayed for me and we said goodbye, God met me right where I was out as I cried out for Jesus.

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus

When you’re lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

A friend lent me a stack full of great movies, and after a tough day, I decided to pop one in. The story of Elizabeth in, Though None Go With Me, was exactly what I needed. Through her life journey of trials, Elizabeth holds onto her commitment to Jesus Christ,

“Though none go with me,

I still will follow,

No turning back,

No turning back.”

I thank the Lord for fighting with me through today. His grace continues to pour out on little me.

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

STOP PRAYING:

I going to preface this by saying – this is a LONG post – BUT don’t miss out on it! Chapter 1 floored me!

The chapter begins by Chan asking us to “stop praying” and instead of talking AT God for a while; taking a LONG, HARD LOOK at HIM. In a culture where we are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry he explains that spoken and written words are cheap, easy to come by, and excessive.

CATCH-UP on what Chapter 1 is all about HERE:

GOD: Are we so familiar with GOD that he becomes COMMON to us??

Is there any sense of AWE in you anymore?

How does it affect your everyday life?

Chan quotes A.W. Tozer:

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us… Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.”

Chan goes on to explain: “If the “gravest question” before us really is what God Himself is like, how do we learn to know Him? We have seen how He is the Creator of both the magnitude of the galaxies and the complexity of caterpillars. But what is He like? What are His characteristics? What are His defining attributes? How are we to fear Him? To speak to Him? Don’t check out here. We need to be reminded of this stuff. If is both basic and CRUCIAL… He already has a name, an identity. We don’t get to decide who God is. God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am’ (Exodus 3:14). We don’t get to change that.”

Sit in Awe of these statements:

God is HOLY

God is ETERNAL

God is ALL-KNOWING

God is ALL-POWERFUL

God is FAIR

God is JUST

Ponder this question: Can you worship a God who isn’t obligated to explain himself to you?

I’m going to turn to my journal on that one!

Chan concludes the chapter this way, “Perhaps you need to take a deep breath after thinking about the God who made galaxies and caterpillars, the One who sits enthroned and eternally praised by beings so fascinating that were they photographed, it would make primetime news for weeks(He describes these beings in the chapter as he unpacks a glimpse of the Throne Room of GOD). If you are not staggered, go to Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4 and read the accounts aloud and slowly, doing your best to imagine what the authors describe.”

Maybe I shouldn't ask WHERE you have seen God's grace in your life today...BUT INSTEAD how many times has He FLOORED you by continually showering you with His GRACE day in and day out???

We are so small, and He is SO BIG - and yet he LOVES and CARES for ME! What a beautiful God we serve!

CONTENTMENT:

I don’t know what could encompass a better SUNDAY then spending the whole day with great friends, a GREAT message at church, yummy sushi, A GB Packer W TO GO TO THE SUPERBOWL!!! Mini-freakout…(1998 was our last appearance…and it didn’t end well. 1997 was our last victory!), and a delicious homemade dinner to top off the evening!

As I was celebrating with my father on the phone after the game – I reminded him of our home phone message (you know the mini tape you actually recorded on the little machine) during the 1997 GB Superbowl game (btw – for those of you who don’t know, I grew up in Viking land).

“ Hello, you have reached the Packer residents, we are unable to come to the phone right now because we are watching the PACKERS win the Superbowl. We’ll call you back after they win!”

I also rehearsed a little dance with the sister in our green and gold to perform for the family at halftime! (We were crazy) I proudly wore my packer overalls and brought my cheesehead with me to school the next day. I know, HUGE DORK – but it was SO MUCH FUN! Man, am I ready for another shot at a SUPERBOWL VICTORY! (Too bad all of my GB gear and cheeseheads are still in MN!)

Well, back to the GREAT message at church. I was visiting Calvary Chapel and Pastor Bob did an excellent job outlining the message of being content. AND MAN did I need to hear this reminder. Funny how God’s timing is ALWAYS perfect! Actually, it’s not funny at all – from my previous posts you can probably tell – I needed it!

He asked three very thought provoking questions:

1.        Are you not happy with what you have?

·         Am I judging me by ME?

·         Can I be thankful for what I have?

·         Do I want what he wants me to have?

2.       Why do you want more?

·         God IS the “Good Gift Giver”

·         Do I believe that what I have is by his design?

·         Can I breathe? Am I thankful for my breath? (It’s so easy to forget the little things!)

3.        Do you need more of him?

·         Where is my focus?

So many great points to ponder!

Here is the link to Calvary’s website. Click on the top message: What'd ya get? Here: http://www.calvaryftl.org/AWMedia/archive/index.cfm

PRAISE GOD for a BLESSED SUNDAY!

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

Also, remember to stay tuned for the first chapter of CRAZY LOVE – we will be starting this study tonight and I will be posting tomorrow morning on Chapter 1: Stop Praying.

Please check out this link (CRAZY LOVE) from last week for more details on the AWESOME book – and if you want to follow along – make sure to grab the book from the local bookstore! You won’t regret it – and it may just change your life!

FACING THE GIANTS:

God really spoke to me this morning through my morning devo, Reflections for Ragamuffins.

True Poverty ~

Jesus, my Brother and Lord, I pray as I write these words for the grace to be truly poor before you, to recognize and accept my weakness and humanness, to forgo the indecent luxury of self-hatred, to celebrate your mercy and trust in your power when I'm at my weakest, to rely on your love no matter what I may do, to seek no escapes from my innate poverty, to accept loneliness when it comes instead of seeking substitutes, to live peacefully without clarity or assurance, to stop grandstanding and trying to get attention, to do the truth quietly without display, to let the dishonesties in my life fade away, to belong no more to myself, not to desert my post when I give the appearance of staying at it, to cling to my humanity, to accept the limitations and full responsibility of being a human being - really human and poor in Christ or Lord.

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3: 25-26.

I also watched another great movie which piggy-backed off of this concept quite well! It also got me excited for the BIG game tomorrow! Here's a little taste:

  
God continues to be so GOOD and give me far more than I deserve! Thanks be to him!

Where have you seen God's grace in your life today?

REMEMBERING MY CHAIR:

I’ve appreciated my ability to be raw and honest in this blog. And sitting in that rawness, I must admit it’s been a tough couple of days for me. I was able to open up to a dear friend and share my heart – and as she always does – she came through with an excellent song that hit me right where I’m at! I wanted to share it with you.

I definitely needed to remember my chair today (the original blog entry here: INSPIRED!). God has me here for a reason and I will walk through the valley…if he wants me to. I have learned his path is far better than anything I could create on my own.

Even in sadness, God is good. His grace continues to be crystal clear in my life.

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

IN AWE:

Did anyone see the full moon last night? How amazing is it that no matter where we live, we ALL saw the SAME full moon last night! You all don’t seem so far away anymore :o)

I was out to dinner with a great friend and we both were talking about how AMAZING it was last night! I was up extra early this morning for my workout and the moon was still shining bright! JUST BEAUTIFUL! It reminded me of another fabulous video that goes along with the book I just can’t stop talking about, Crazy Love. Here is a video from the author on The Awe Factor of God!

Pretty awesome, huh? This reminded me of the quote from Brennan Manning about grace that was so inspirational in starting this New Year’s Resolution and the blog! “

" Our world is saturated with grace, and the lurking presence of God is revealed not only in spirit but in matter - in the flight of an eagle, in fire and water, in a rainbow after a summer storm, in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, in a child licking a chocolate ice cream cone, in a woman with windblown hair. God intended for us to discover His loving presence in the world around us."

~Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel.

On my way home from my workout one of my favorite songs came on the Radio by Jimmy Needham, I’m Yours to Take. This one just makes me HAPPY! I hope it starts your day off on the right note, too!

One thankful girl, signing off to another day FULL of God’s grace! Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

JUST STOP AND THINK:

HAPPY TUESDAY! I am so EXCITED to start this CRAZY LOVE study. This video says it all today!

JESUS + NOTHING = EVERYTHING.

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today? How could you NOT after this video!!!

CRAZY LOVE:

Monday night with the girls is always the BEST way to start off the week! We are just about to start a new study through a book called Crazy Love. I am so EXCITED about it that I had to share it with you! As we go chapter by chapter – I plan on taking the next 10 Mondays (and it may even bleed into other posts) to follow this book with YOU, too! So you may ask…what is this book all about and why do I care? Here’s a little taste of the introduction:

GOD IS LOVE. CRAZY, RELENTLESS, ALL-POWERFUL LOVE

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts – it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same.

Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

CLICK HERE to meet Francis Chan as he introduces his book:

Also, the website for the book (http://www.crazylovebook.com/) has videos that go along with each chapter adding thoughts and questions as you read along.  Definitely check it out of you are interested!

So, I invite you to come along with me on this study of Crazy Love. I continue to be blown away with God’s love for me and his grace that is just pouring out on me! The book is available on amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Love-Overwhelmed-Relentless-God/dp/1434768511/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295355811&sr=1-1 )or at your local book store (http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?isbn=1434768511&mscssid=T7VFBDGCDTSJ8HFVQDBUTXDVCG8LCHN0 ).

Also, please let me know if you have any questions. And now my question to you, Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

ARE YOU PLAYING FAST & LOOSE?:

I was greeted by a pleasant surprise at church Sunday morning! Dr. Paul Nyquist, President of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, was speaking! (http://www.moodyministries.net/crp_MainPage.aspx?id=608). I didn’t realize how familiar I was with Moody until I was talking with my Dad after the sermon and he shared with me that a neighbor of theirs back in Oak Park, IL used to work for the Institute. Dr. Nyquist brought about some fascinating statistics about the state of religion in our world.

He concluded that the current fastest growing religion in our world is Islam and the current fastest growing religious group in our world is the non-religious! NOW if THAT doesn’t wake you up in the morning, I’m not sure what else will! And if you are unsure of the accuracy, please take a look. I have attached the sermon here (I apologize for the quality):

 http://www.bocacommunity.org/sermons/players/QTbrccplayer.php?FType=QT&URL=http://www.bocacommunity.org/content/sermons/media/20110116/20110116.mov&Size=SMALL_WS

He brought to light the URGENCY of GENUINE DISCIPLESHIP. Starting with how God calls us to be disciples, which I must say (in Tullian’s favorite words),“wrecked me afresh!” We found the answer in Matthew 16:24-27.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Dr. Nyquist did a wonderful job breaking down what it means to be a GENUINE DISCIPLE:

3 Requirements (Matthew 16:24):

1. Renounce Self: Give up the self directed life.
2. Sacrifice Self: Mistreatment, abuse & even death.
3. Keep following Jesus: Never stop.

He ended with asking the question: Have you made the choice to be an authentic, genuine disciple of Jesus?

I am so thankful that Jesus offers the only way to the ABUNDANT LIFE! I hope you all have a wonderful start to a brand new week!

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

GIVING COMPASSION – STARTING WITH OURSELVES:

Oh how I just LOVE SATURDAYS! I must tell you this whole living in the moment thing is helping me to understand RELAXATION in a whole new way! My Saturday started out with the perfect message…and it was so fitting…I wanted to share it with you!

A few posts pack I shared with you the book I am reading, The Ragamuffin Gospel, which my sister introduced me to. I loved the book so much that I found out Brennan Manning also wrote a day by day devotional, Reflections for Ragamuffins, and I had to buy it IMMEDIATELY! It has been another fantastic way to get a dose of grace each morning!

Saturday, January 15, 2010: Giving Compassion – Starting with Ourselves

Brennan writes:

In returning to ourselves, in contemplating the compassion of Jesus and realizing that “THIS MEANS ME,” we come under the mercy and qualify for the name tag “blessed.” In urging us to compassionate caring for others, Jesus invites us to have compassion for ourselves. The measure of our compassion for others lies in proportion to our capacity for self-acceptance and self-affirmation. When the compassion of Christ is interiorized and appropriated to self, the breakthrough into the way of compassionate caring for ourselves brings healing to others. Solidarity with human suffering frees the one who receives and liberates the one who gives through the conscious awareness “I am the other.”

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14.

I know this is something that I definitely struggle with and is such a wonderful reminder of the LOVE of our GOD! Thanks be to GOD! This whole ‘starting with ourselves’ fit right in line with my spa appointment at noon J I also thoroughly enjoyed getting coffee and catching up with a dear friend and to top of the evening dinner out with some great girls to watch my team pull of a W in the play-offs!

I hope you ALL had a wonderful Saturday, too! And I’d love to hear where you saw God’s grace in your life today!

TEACH ME TO NUMBER MY DAYS:

I had a FABULOUS FRIDAY (I hope you did,too)! For those of you who are aware of my cooking abilities…well you know I can make pizza…and that’s about it! While I was in MN and entertaining with the sister (gourmet cook of the family), she inspired me to try a few of her DELICIOUS recipes.

HENSE: Friday Night Roomie Dinner: Spinach Lasagna! What a perfect way to round out the week. I’m happy to report a successful dinner. To top off the evening a trip to get some froyo and a movie date with the roomie cozy at home. We had a great TIME together!

Thinking about my new year’s resolution (to be in the moment) REALLY has TIME on my mind. Both my sister and a friend had recommended a series at North Point Community Church in Atlanta, GA on TIME! So I decided to check it out. In the fist sermon of the series titled Your Days are Numbered, Pastor Andy challenges us to change our question of asking: What time is it? TO What am I doing with my time? This message was just the reminder I needed to reposition my perspective on time…and if you can make some TIME this weekend…I encourage you to take a look, too:

CLICK HERE:

http://www2.northpointministries.org/player/player.jsp?occurrenceID=5183 

Andy explains the story of Moses from Psalm 90: 1-12 and as a result challenges us to a prayer for the week:

Heavenly Father, TEACH ME to my number my days that I might GAIN a heart of WISDOM and fulfill YOUR purpose for my life.

LOVE IT!!!

This prayer reminded me of one of my current favorite songs, Blink by Revive.

SO I MUST ASK ANDY’S QUESTION AGAIN AS WE START OUR DAY:

What am I doing with my time?

Where have I seen God’s grace in my life today?

RELIGION – WHY ISN’T IT WORKING?:

While attending Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale this past summer, Pastor Tullian Tchividiian often reminded us that at no other time in all of history have there been more butts in the pews and less of an impact on our world. This statement comes to mind often when I’m evaluating myself. Today, a friend posted a very impactful video: Religion – Why isn’t it working? I think it sums up this point exactly…it’s all about GRACE!

I encourage you to take a look:

CLICK HERE: http://vimeo.com/16039117 

Happy Thursday…here comes the weekend :o)

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI – ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!

Early last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to listen to our Physicians Lunch and Learn at the hospital where I work. Dr. John MacDonald, specializing in Thoracic and General Surgery along with Wound Care, presented on Wound Care. Great presentation, not the best lunch topic ;o) After his lecture he offered to share an additional short presentation on his experience in Haiti after the earthquake. He ensured every physician in the room that this would have an impact on their career! How could you say no??

With today marking the one year anniversary of this tragic event, I wanted to share how Dr. MacDonald opened my eyes to the reality of the situation in Haiti and also the fabulous story of a man and his guitar.

Here are some photos and the amazing story (click link @ the end of the text and click play): IT'S A MUST LISTEN!

Dr. MacDonald in front of his Wound Care Clinic

Doctors, nurses and patients in makeshift hospital tents

Haiti medical team sleeping prior to beds arriving

This piece reconstructs an inspiring moment amid tragedy and pain, at a makeshift hospital tent in Port-au-Prince. In it, four medical professionals from South Florida recount their experience landing in Haiti after the Jan. 12 earthquake, and struggling to meet a desperate need for medical help.

One describes the situation as “a war zone.” Another describes a feeling of worthlessness, given the scale of the catastrophe.

But then something happens that surprises them: a man begins to play a guitar in the corner of the tent, and patients begin to sing.  Soon every Haitian in the tent is singing or clapping or dancing.  The song: “Jesus, thank you for loving us.”

For those present, it was a tipping point. Asked for her impressions, physical therapist Carmen Maria Romero says,”It’s extremely humbling to be around a people that, in the worst time of their life, have it in their hearts to give gratitude for what they have left– which is dust.”

The hospital tent, set up near Port-au-Prince’s crippled airport, was run by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Jackson Health System and Project Medishare.

CLICK HERE: http://wlrnunderthesun.org/2010/07/after-the-quake-patients-and-healers/ 

My heart and prayers go out to those in Haiti tonight – and all of those who have given their time there. It was such a blessing to hear Dr. MacDonald share. Everyone left the lecture touched by his story!

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

THE RAGAMUFFIN GOSPEL:

Well, my lovely sister knows how much I LOVE to read…so she got me this book she just couldn’t stop talking about while we were home on the Sunday before I hopped on the plane back to Florida. I PROMISED to do my best to try and resist the free wi-fi on the way home, and actually open up and DIG IN!

AND I’M HAPPY TO REPORT - SHE WAS RIGHT! I am SO glad that I started to read The Ragamuffin Gospel, written by Brennan Manning. Now I can’t put it down. I am forcing myself to slow down because I found out a really good friend of mine happened to be reading the book, too…and I wanted to be able to discuss it with her (aka book club… yeah...this is all new to me :o) But if you are looking for a good read, this is IT!

Here is a brief intro to the book: Most of us believe in God’s grace – in theory. But somehow we can’t seem to apply it in our daily lives. We continue to see Him as a small-minded bookkeeper, tallying our failures and successes on a score sheet. Yet God gives us His grace, willingly, no matter what we’ve done. We come to Him as ragamuffins – dirty, bedraggled, and beat-up. And when we sit at His feet, He smiles upon us, the chosen objects of His “furious love.” Brennan Manning’s now-classic meditation on grace and what it takes to access it-simple honesty-has changed thousands of lives.

I was reading on my lunch break today and I just HAD to share this awesome story of grace with you.

Chapter 6 (excerpt): Grazie, Signore

Brennan writes:

“Amadeus was a remarkable film centered on two powerful and contrasting figures: Antonio Salieri, court composer to the Austrian emperor, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a brash and conceited young genius. “Someone described his life as wine, women and song. And he didn’t sing much.” The limited, uninspired Salieri lives with a raging jealousy for the limitless, God-given talent of Mozart. Yet after every laborious score that he writes, Salieri whispers, “Grazie, Signore.” Thank you, Lord. This song of Salieri lies at the heart of our response to the graciousness of God and the gospel of grace.

Grazie. Signore, for Your lips twisted in love to accommodate my sinful self; for judging me not by me shabby good deeds but by Your love that is Your gift to me; for Your unbearable forgiveness and infinite patience with me; for other people who have greater gifts than mine; and for the honesty to acknowledge that I am a ragamuffin. When the final curtain falls and you summon me home, may my last whispered word on earth be the wholehearted cry, “Grazie, Signore.”

This in one thankful ragamuffin – signing off for the evening!

And to all of you…Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL:

I can’t tell you how great it is to be back into routine with our bible study. Monday nights just weren’t the same without it! I am SO thankful to be a part of such an awesome group of young ladies from all different walks of life – united by one commonality – the BEAUTIFUL love of Jesus Christ! (okay…and a few others, too :o)

Tonight we dug into end times – I know, heavy topic, but our fab leader did a wonderful job of outlining the timeline of Revelations and explaining the significance of how everything fits together. If you haven’t really studied the end times, I would REALLY suggest you to take a look, it MAY just change how you live your life. (I know it did for me!) And the amazing thing about the Word of God is that the more you read, the MORE there is to learn!

We read:

1 Corinthians 15: 50-55.

Mystery and Victory

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

     “O death, where is your victory?”

          “O death, where is your sting?”

We had a great discussion full of ‘what ifs’ and many difficult questions that are hard to answer. Man, do we serve and AMAZING God! We were challenged to think about how different life on earth would look focused on living for eternal life. This really sat with me throughout the night and also reminded me of a great quote from one of Mark Driscoll’s sermons. He is a pastor up in Seattle, WA that I follow quite often at Mars Hill Church.

He said, “If you are a Christian, this life is as close to Hell as you will ever experience and if you are a non-Christian, this life is as close to Heaven as you will ever experience.”

This was a PRIORITY check for me. I tend to wake up in the morning for a different reason when I live with eternity in mind. I think again about that fabulous Grandma Besch ~ “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:21.

I celebrated this great study and reminder by listening to Phil Wickham’s, You’re Beautiful on my drive home. Sitting in that moment I truly was so thankful to serve such a Beautiful God!

I encourage you to take a moment and listen to YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL:

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today? How would you live your life differently if eternal life was your top priority?