If you're a bird, I'm a bird

I'm going to be real, which is what I typically try to be. Our happy family photos on facebook are leggit. Let's be honest, not every moment is pretty smiles though. Typically society filters and guards what we put out there for people to know and see.  Our family felt called to "go out the box" for Christmas this year. We sacrificed time with our extended family to go bless people we didn't know. Instead of buying gifts for people, we rented a hotel room and went to Greenville, SC for family-time and ministry. Our friend, Stephen Jeffrey, told us about Miracle Hill Ministries so we made that our mission for Christmas.  As we were driving up to the Marriott that we found on Hotwire.com for $70/night, there was a Walgreens on the corner. I said, "I like when I see a drug store close by."  Joseph thought I was joking, but I was serious. Little did I know how frequently we would be visiting it.   Our gift wrapping opportunity  at Greenville...

As I get older I'm noticing I do not anticipate Christmas quite like I did as a child, or even a few years ago.  In my opinion, that's not necessarily a bad thing. To me there are so many other priorities that trump decorating the house and sending out Christmas cards. Those things seem trivial compared to salvation and eternity. My mind is thinking about my Chinese friends that are still living in oppression on the other side of the world.   I'm thinking about family members that grew up in the church and know about Jesus, but do not really  know  Him. ...by their fruit you will recognize them.  Matthew 7:20 My heart is filled with compassion for the 18 girls in my class and their families. Praying that I can be "a witness in the silences when words aren't enough".    I'm thinking about the Christians who go to church every week, but go just to see people or chat in the foyer. The people that walk in and out each week witho...

I had professional development yesterday at May River High. For my lunch break, Joseph met me outside so we could eat the lunches we packed.   While I was waiting on the sidewalk for Joseph to arrive, a man approached me slowly saying, "Heeeeyyyy."   I just looked at him because I was trying to figure out if I knew him.   S: What do you teach?   M: 4th grade S: Wow! I could have sworn you were an art teacher. We need more teachers like you. Looks can be deceiving (looking down at his preppy clothes), but I am an art teacher.   M: (laughing) I guess I kind of look like one, but l'm not. S: Right on! Where are you from?   M: Beaufort. S: Wow, Beaufort doesn't have enough people like you.   S: Well, hey, I'm Scott (shaking my hand). Where do you teach? M: Whale Branch S: Whale Branch... M: Elementary S: That's right, 4th grade. S: I'm going to assume you didn't vote for Trump. M: Okay S: Alright, right on, it was ...

My husband and I were invited to join our church's missions small group for a potluck dinner and movie last Wednesday night. We took seasoned lima beans and rolls. There was other good food there like ham, squash casserole, sweet potato casserole, and a Filipino dish. The food was really delicious and I felt very comfortable in a home I had never been to. There were kids playing in another room, but we decided to get a baby sitter for 3 hours so we could watch the movie without interruptions. I spoke to people I do not normally speak to at church. It was such a peaceful environment and a pleasant evening away from home. So the movie that was being played on the home entertainment center was Insanity of God. I had not heard of the book or movie prior to this night. Most everyone had read the book or watched the documentary already. It was all new to me. The movie contained many testimonies of believers persecuted around the world. When a story about China came on, I perked up...