Homeschoolers!!!

A lab science opportunity like no other!! Check it out--

www.genesisranch.org

Oral Surgery & Confirmation

Well that is a weird title. :)

Please pray for David Brian. He goes in for oral surgery today (something about restoring bone density so that he can get a tooth implant) at 1pm. He is on quarters for the next two days and then will go back for a follow up and a possible extension of quarters. He seems to have no anxiety and is only letting me take him because I insisted, so that is good. We will be feasting on pudding, soup, mashed potatoes, and ramen noodles for the rest of the week.

Also, for family and those local, mark your calendars. Cherilyn’s confirmation is 16 Aug—just a few days after her sweet 16. We will be combining both into a single celebration after the ceremony.

Pregnancy & Deployment

When David was first scheduled to deploy, we went to a special presentation to help prepare us. In actuality, it broke my heart. I looked around the room at so many obviously pregnant women--young and afraid. Since then I have known many who gave birth without the daddy being around. Sometimes they are not without family, but sometimes they are.

I want to share this information with anyone who is going through this or knows anyone going through this.

Operation Special Delivery is dedicated to providing doula services to women whose husbands are deployed or have been injured in the line of duty. Here in Central Texas, I'd can happily recommend of the doulas who volunteers. Please check out the websites here:

• www.operationspecialdelivery.com
• www.belliesbirthbabies.com

Friendships

Friends for a Season
Friends for a Reason
Friends for a Lifetime

Friends for a season are those with whom you have a connection, something in common. Maybe you or your husbands work together, or you have kids close in age. Maybe you have the same passions or hobbies. Maybe you live in the same neighborhood. For whatever reason, you are in the same circle and you connect. These are precious friendships that come in a great variety.

Seasonal friendships don't always last beyond the season. If you lose that which brought you together, it is likely that you won't spend the same amount of energy and time investing in the friendship. This is a natural thing and is not unusual. You have shared some wonderful experiences and are likely to have made precious memories. Don't mourn this loss--there are more seasons ahead.

A friend for a reason may start out as a seasonal friend, but I've had friends for a reason that I was never that friendly with before the 'reason' occurred. 'Reasonal' friendships happen when one person simply needs another. Perhaps they have suffered a tragedy or are feeling lonely or confused. These are not often two-way relationships, but the reason may be on either side. I have been the friend with the need and I have also met the needs of others.

These friendships may be even briefer than those seasonal ones, but can last longer. It isn't through a lack of recognition or appreciation that people drift apart, but the reason is not there anymore. Unless there is more to hold you together, it is okay to allow that parting gracefully--and, often, gratefully.

Blessings come from both of these friendship types. I can't address the Friends for a Lifetime category since my life is not yet complete. But, I suspect that a few from both of the other categories will emerge in the end as lifetime friends.

Guaranteed to be my lifetime friends are my sisters. I remember when my youngest sister was upset that I considered our middle sister my friend, but not the youngest one. She didn't accept that being my sister was a lifetime relationship. I am now delighted to call both of my sisters, friends.

Additionally, there are a very few other women whose friendships I value as I do my sisters. These are unique and startlingly amazing individuals. My heart breaks with theirs in sorrow and soars with their joy. These friends have spanned a barrier and been joined with me, I can only assume, by God's touch. I do not worry about facing condemnation when I share honestly with them. I do expect reproach when it is warranted. I do not worry about them breaking my confidence. I would never break theirs. Together, I believe, we can influence the world around us--through our marriages, our children, our ministries.

Some of these women I speak to only once or twice a year. I know we will make up for lost time in heaven, but I miss their daily input and impact in my life. Others I seek out more often, but I am always happy when we find time to laugh and cry as we share together.

I am not the only person to have these types of friendships, I know. But since they are such a huge blessing to me, I just felt the need to acknowledge them. Thank you, my friends.

-----

As I wrote this my mind filled with pictures and I did laugh out loud and I did become somber as I recalled different memories. Know that I prayed for many of you today!!

1 Peter 3:15

I do not typically read from the NLT, but this morning a verse was in my inbox:

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. ~ 1 Peter 3:15, NLT

This is not how I remember the verse, but it did raise a question in me.

What does it mean to worship? Sure, I am supposed to worship Christ as the Lord of my life, but I have not considered what that should look like--I just figure that I do.

I know that I can spend time in worship--deliberately dedicating my attention to loving God. And I do. Singing praise, words of adoration, time in prayer...are these worship?

I think so. But is that all worship is??

I also make choices based on His Word. I do things I'd rather not do because I know He wants me to do it. Is this obedience worship? I think of it as showing honor--the same way I would honor my parents. I have no real experience with monarchy, but I'd like to think that I follow God in the same manner that I'd follow a beloved king. Respect, honor, dedication, obedience...are these worship?

I do not know.

------

Feeling better after reading 1 Peter 3:15 in the other versions.

NASB: but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

That sounds more familiar. Santify is to set apart, to make holy. This fits better with my picture of both worship and honor.

Someday, when I've run out of things to do, I want to again try to learn Greek and Hebrew, to study the Bible through fewer translations. That would show honor and it could be a form of worship...and, in reference to the rest of 1 Peter 3:15, I'd be better able to 'defend my faith' or 'account for my hope' with gentleness, fear, reverence, meekness, respect, courtesy...