Yesterday, I wrote about my daughter the missionary. I mentioned in that blog that I'm proud of my children and how they have a passion to serve God. To be sure, I'm equally proud of both my daughters. While one is spending 10 days in Guatemala, I have another daughter who is spending her summer working at a local Christian camp for kids.
Students come to the camp either as day campers or overnight campers for a week. They have Bible classes and chapel each day along with several other activities. My daughter is able to work in the area of first aid.
If I know Abby, she will do well in the first aid area of the camp, but it will not stop there. She will take every opportunity to share the love of Jesus with each student she comes in contact with. Whether its giving medicine sent from home or just hugging a kid who's homesick, that youngster will know that someone loves them when they leave that camping experience.
Abby was one, as a little girl, who didn't really enjoy camp very much. Even though I was there, she didn't like being where she could not see mom or dad when it was time for the lights to be out. As she grew into teenager-hood, though, it seemed to get better. She enjoyed going to church camp as a teen and even volunteered to go to the junior week of camp as a 'Junior Counselor'.
She enjoys being a mentor and offering a listening ear to younger students. She has those good qualities that some day will be used in a ministry to children somewhere. I'm grateful she's open to God's leadership in her life. I'm glad she's willing to listen to the direction of God as He gently leads her where she needs to go.
Life isn't always easy. Life's map isn't always crystal clear. There may be times along the way when we're a bit unsure and may even take a wrong turn. But thankfully, God's there to guide us back to the path He is setting for us to take.
As my daughters were growing up, we always tried to instill in them the passion for ministry. Ministry as a vocation is not as important as ministry from the heart. I may be a bit biased, but I honestly believe with all my heart that you'll not find a person with more desire to be used in ministry from the heart as my daughter, Abby.
God has been so good to my wife and me. Our daughters are both serving God the best they can. They are both doing their best to share their love for Christ with those who will listen. My prayer is that God will continue to be real to them and they will continue to follow His leadership in their lives.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
My Daughter the Missionary
I'm really not sure how I'm supposed to feel. It seems like every time I turn around I'm slammed with another factoid that reminds me that my family is growing older. With age comes change, and sometimes I handle change pretty well. Then there are those other times; not so well.
A few months ago, my eldest daughter decided she wanted to go on a mission trip. I should say, the desire to go on a mission trip was born years ago. The opportunity made itself available a few months ago to make that desire a reality. The college she attends (and graduates from in December) is sponsoring this mission trip to Guatemala. She sent out some fundraising letters, and thankfully the support began to come in. My home church in Georgia happened to be the source for the final dollar to put her at her goal.
Last Wednesday night, she was able to share the goals and vision of the mission team with our church here in Florida. Not especially fond of public speaking, it was almost all I could do sitting on my back pew listening to her share, with enthusiasm, what she was about to do. We shared other prayer requests, then my brother in law / pastor called on me to pray. That's not really out of the ordinary. But this particular time, my heart was overwhelmed at what God has in store for my little girl.
Yesterday, my wife and I drove to Orlando where we dropped Emily at the home of the mission team leader. As I type this, they are likely waking up and beginning their trip to Orlando International Airport to begin their journey. As we drove back home, my wife asked if I was 'emotional'. It was bright out, I was wearing my sunglasses. It was a fair question, but I answered in the negative, figuring it was her way of asking if I was crying.
To be blunt, I don't know what I was feeling. My mind was all over the place. I had just left my daughter to go with people I had personally just met ~ out of the country! I thought about how proud I was to have children who have a passion to serve God. (I'll write another blog about my youngest soon.) I thought about, even in their differences, they both have a common bond in longing to do what pleases God. Honesty compels me to also say there was a bit of fear down deep as well.
Twenty years ago, my wife and I gave Emily back to God for His use. We've simply tried to bring her up in the way He would want us to. There have been times we've done things less than best. There have been things we would probably do differently if we could do it all over again. But all in all, if my daughter is willing to allow God to do in her life what He wills, there is absolutely nothing that would make me any more proud!
I look forward to sharing with her when she gets back from her trip. I look forward to seeing what God has taught her and how He has used her to show the children of Guatemala that He loves them. I'm praying that the children of these remote villages of Guatemala's hill country will know that there is a God who wants to have a relationship with them. Will you help me pray to that end?
A few months ago, my eldest daughter decided she wanted to go on a mission trip. I should say, the desire to go on a mission trip was born years ago. The opportunity made itself available a few months ago to make that desire a reality. The college she attends (and graduates from in December) is sponsoring this mission trip to Guatemala. She sent out some fundraising letters, and thankfully the support began to come in. My home church in Georgia happened to be the source for the final dollar to put her at her goal.
Last Wednesday night, she was able to share the goals and vision of the mission team with our church here in Florida. Not especially fond of public speaking, it was almost all I could do sitting on my back pew listening to her share, with enthusiasm, what she was about to do. We shared other prayer requests, then my brother in law / pastor called on me to pray. That's not really out of the ordinary. But this particular time, my heart was overwhelmed at what God has in store for my little girl.
Yesterday, my wife and I drove to Orlando where we dropped Emily at the home of the mission team leader. As I type this, they are likely waking up and beginning their trip to Orlando International Airport to begin their journey. As we drove back home, my wife asked if I was 'emotional'. It was bright out, I was wearing my sunglasses. It was a fair question, but I answered in the negative, figuring it was her way of asking if I was crying.
To be blunt, I don't know what I was feeling. My mind was all over the place. I had just left my daughter to go with people I had personally just met ~ out of the country! I thought about how proud I was to have children who have a passion to serve God. (I'll write another blog about my youngest soon.) I thought about, even in their differences, they both have a common bond in longing to do what pleases God. Honesty compels me to also say there was a bit of fear down deep as well.
Twenty years ago, my wife and I gave Emily back to God for His use. We've simply tried to bring her up in the way He would want us to. There have been times we've done things less than best. There have been things we would probably do differently if we could do it all over again. But all in all, if my daughter is willing to allow God to do in her life what He wills, there is absolutely nothing that would make me any more proud!
I look forward to sharing with her when she gets back from her trip. I look forward to seeing what God has taught her and how He has used her to show the children of Guatemala that He loves them. I'm praying that the children of these remote villages of Guatemala's hill country will know that there is a God who wants to have a relationship with them. Will you help me pray to that end?
Friday, May 24, 2013
Happy Birthday, Daddy
If my dad were alive today, he would be celebrating his 78th birthday. Cancer robbed him of too many years. He received his promotion to Heaven in 1990 at the age of 55. I was a very young man when he died and there have been more times than not that I've wondered why he was called home at such a young age.
I wish I could say I was as respectful to him as I should have been all the time. I tired easily of fielding some of the questions he would ask. Things like, "Have you checked the oil in your car lately?" Or, "Did you pay that bill like you were supposed to?" Sometimes I wanted to just yell back, "Would you just mind your own business?!"
Now that I'm a parent veteran of almost 21 years, I'm learning that those questions are ones that were indeed his business. I'm thankful that my own two daughters are far more responsible than I was at their age.
Dad was a pastor and as such, I sometimes felt restricted from going places or doing things that I wanted to do. I could probably get a chuckle or three at his expense if I were to divulge some of the rules and regulations my sister and I 'endured' while living under his roof.
Now that I'm a parent veteran of almost 21 years, I'm learning that those rules and regulations might not have been so bad after all. Knowing me, I needed every one of them ~ and maybe a few more.
Dad and I used to enjoy doing things together. Whether it was fishing in a local pond or throwing a baseball in the back yard, late afternoons at our house generally yielded quality time spent with dad. These are the times I miss the most. It is the memories we made just spending time together that I hold most dear today.
Now that I'm a parent veteran of almost 21 years, I often reminisce of the times when I had 'Daddy Dates' with my two daughters. Whether it was a trip to McDonald's or an hour or two at the beach, the times that I was able to spend with my kids are treasures today.
This past week, through a scheduling snafu, I was able to spend some quality time with my eldest. Honestly, she needed to be somewhere else. We were stuck waiting on someone who was late to our appointment. But the conversation we shared just between the two of us made such an impact on me.
My prayer is that the times I have been able to share with my children have made even half the impact on them that I've gained. What my dad taught me during the 25 years I was able to be with him on this earth was invaluable. I wish I would have used the time more wisely. If your parents are still here on this earth, be sure to take advantage of every available opportunity to make memories with them.
I wish I could say I was as respectful to him as I should have been all the time. I tired easily of fielding some of the questions he would ask. Things like, "Have you checked the oil in your car lately?" Or, "Did you pay that bill like you were supposed to?" Sometimes I wanted to just yell back, "Would you just mind your own business?!"
Now that I'm a parent veteran of almost 21 years, I'm learning that those questions are ones that were indeed his business. I'm thankful that my own two daughters are far more responsible than I was at their age.
Dad was a pastor and as such, I sometimes felt restricted from going places or doing things that I wanted to do. I could probably get a chuckle or three at his expense if I were to divulge some of the rules and regulations my sister and I 'endured' while living under his roof.
Now that I'm a parent veteran of almost 21 years, I'm learning that those rules and regulations might not have been so bad after all. Knowing me, I needed every one of them ~ and maybe a few more.
Dad and I used to enjoy doing things together. Whether it was fishing in a local pond or throwing a baseball in the back yard, late afternoons at our house generally yielded quality time spent with dad. These are the times I miss the most. It is the memories we made just spending time together that I hold most dear today.
Now that I'm a parent veteran of almost 21 years, I often reminisce of the times when I had 'Daddy Dates' with my two daughters. Whether it was a trip to McDonald's or an hour or two at the beach, the times that I was able to spend with my kids are treasures today.
This past week, through a scheduling snafu, I was able to spend some quality time with my eldest. Honestly, she needed to be somewhere else. We were stuck waiting on someone who was late to our appointment. But the conversation we shared just between the two of us made such an impact on me.
My prayer is that the times I have been able to share with my children have made even half the impact on them that I've gained. What my dad taught me during the 25 years I was able to be with him on this earth was invaluable. I wish I would have used the time more wisely. If your parents are still here on this earth, be sure to take advantage of every available opportunity to make memories with them.
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