Trash Your Idols

An idol is anything that you are obsessed with and can't get out of your mind.  Idols aren't just little wooden figurines or golden cows.  They are things you believe will make you happy or relieve your pain or fear.  An idol tries to take the place of God by offering you some kind of hope.
Idols will run your life and steal your happiness.  If you have anything in your life that you are obsessed with, then you have idol trouble.  Is there anything that if asked to give up right now, you couldn't?  If you do, then you have an idol.
If you want freedom from the things that seem to control you then all you need to do is to call them what they are, false gods, and then refuse to worship them.  That means get them out of your life.  God is more powerful than any other god you could find.  But he won't ever remove these idols without your permission because he wants you to agree with him and call your idol and idol and for you to choose to walk away.  You have the power through Christ to be idol free.  When you do, you will find an abundance of true happiness.  Let's get rid of those idols!

An Aroma of Chirst

 

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."  2 Cor. 2:14-15

Are you an aroma of Christ?  Can people you know tell that you have been sitting at the Master's feet?  When you become a Christian, being an aroma of Christ doesn't automatically happen.  You can't fake it.  Every time, you'll be found out.  That's the unique thing about an aroma.  Either you have it or you don't.  You can only get it one way-by absorbing it from the source.  Our source is Jesus Christ!  We are to abide in Christ so that we begin to be transformed into His image.  Then we begin to look like Him, sound like Him and even "smell" like Him.  Yes, we will be imperfect; we will make mistakes; we will fail; we may even go through times in which we don't feel very close to God.  But we can rest assured that if we continue to sit at His feet, He is able to bring glory to His name through us wherever we are-whether in our marriage, with our kids, among non-believers, and in the church.  He can receive glory if we are to Him an aroma of Christ-filled with the knowledge of Him. 

Banquet 2013

 Last weekend I was able to go visit Justin at RVA in Kenya for his Banquet.  One day I got to go to all of his classes with him.  It was fun to be a senior again for the day!

The afternoon of banquet the guys play rugby while the girls are getting all fixed up.

 view from Justin's dorm

 Nathan C.

Justin(after playing rugby) and Nathan

 The student body, staff, and parents get to walk through the banquet hall a couple of hours before it begins.

The theme was The Titanic.

 The junior class did such a great job making the set and transforming this building into The Titanic.

 This is Justin and Rachel's place setting.

 Justin getting ready.

 Some of Justin's friends

 I know I'm his mother but he sure did look handsome!

 So glad I was there to pin on his boutineer.

 guys from Justin's dorm

 me and Justin

 Justin and Levi (his roommate)

 Matthew D. another friend of Justin's

 Nathan C. and other friends

 Matthew and Nathan's dorm picture

 Nathan and Matthew

 Justin with his dorm parents

 

 Justin and Matthew waiting outside the girls dorm waiting to pick up their dates.

  

 

 Rachels dad escorting her in to meet Justin.

 

 A little fatherly advice...

 

 giving her flowers

It is so exciting because after the guys pick up the girls in their dorm they then walk up the hill to the banquet hall.  As they get closer to the building there are lanterns lighting the path and the student body and parents are all there to take pictures and cheer for each couple.

 

 

 walking in

They all had a great time!

 Justin outside his dorm.

 me and Justin

 3 baboons were right outside the dorm getting into the trash.  They were huge!

 

Day after day...

 

Rabson Phiri, 73 years old, lies alone on this single mattress day after day.  The room is about 8 ft. by 10 ft. with no windows and one door which leads outside.  He suffers from TB, has trouble breathing, has stomach problems, his legs are swollen and he can't walk, and he is HIV positive.  He is all alone except for his daughter who is trying to take care of him all on her own. When I shared Christ with him he shared with me that before he was sick he was a Jehovah's Witness.  Unfortunately, he babbled a lot and repeated himself so I'm not sure of all that he was really understanding.  Please pray for Rabson because he is not able to eat much.  He says he can eat porridge pretty well but that is it.  Even to drink more than a few sips of water at a time will make him vomit.  He did seem thankful for the BGR bucket.  He thanked us for the bucket and the visit in short quick breaths as he struggled to speak and breath at the same time.  Please remember to pray for those who may feel all alone and are so sick to come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Pray they will feel God's comfort and know true peace in their last days.

Orphanage Visit

 Today I took Hannah and Laura Beth to visit an orphanage.  We really enjoyed our visit with these kids.  While we were there we helped some of the kids with their reading.

 As you can see, Luke was the center of attention with the girls!

 Laura Beth helping him read.

 I had 5 kids that I helped with learning the alphabet.  We practiced singing our ABC's (Zambian style), recognizing letters, sounds of letters, and then I taught them their vowels.  I told them after all of this that they could go play.  One little girl said she wanted to learn to read.  I told the boys they could go and they all wanted to stay too.  Amazing!!  Most kids would have shot out the door as fast as their little legs could take them!  So we sounded out 3 letter words for about 15 more min.

 After reading time we painted nails. Even the housemother wanted hers painted.

 Luke is such a friendly little boy.  He would reach for whoever was coming towards him.

 showing off her nails