My weeekend

How do I even describe in words what happened at this retreat led by Jen Hatmaker. wow. hmmm... Whenever I think about what happened the tears are right there. I haven't even been able to describe to my husband yet what happened. Truly amazing. The emotions are so raw right now and I hope they stay that way. Let me just say that at the end of the retreat I have never seen so many women at the "altar" on their knees. Barefoot. If you ever get the opportunity to hear Jen speak - it is a MUST. Her book - "Interrupted" will change you. And, I swear I am not saying this b/c she is a friend. My prayer from now on will be "Jesus, take me down. Down to where you were". "Whatever you do for the least you do for me" is what He tells us. And I pray that I will never be the same after this.


This was when Jen was telling a story about a missionary serving in a different country that had a women bring her dead baby to him that she couldn't feed and asked for a box to bury him properly in. When he found one to give her she got down on her knees and praised God for the box. Same missionary, visiting a church later in America heard a lady come to the altar praising God that "He found for her the periwinkle color SUV she was looking for". This make me ill.
Someone dies of hunger every SIXTEEN SECONDS (64% of Americans are overweight or obese). Roughly 1 billion people in the world do not have suitable housing, and 100 million are entirely homeless. 40% of the world lacks basic water sanitation. 4 out of 5 children worldwide work every day instead of go to school. In the hour that Jen spoke 1,625 children were forced to the streets by the death or abuse of an adult, 66 children under the age of 15 were infected w/ HIV. Should we really be focusing on getting the right color car? Getting the perfect, plush, expensive carpet in the sanctuary? Buying our kids name brand, way overpriced shoes when millions and millions of children don't own one pair? Building a multi-million dollar facility to worship in when you could us that multi-million dollars to save millions of CHILDREN'S LIVES, really?! Do you really think Jesus would want you to come be entertained in a beautiful-top-of-the-line church on Sundays rather than feed starving children? I'm just saying..
Before Jen could even finish her talk a woman came to the altar and literally smacked down her shoes.
Women flooded to the altar. There were 3k women there. Women were literally taking off their jewelry, their coats, giving away their designer bags that now made them cringe to look at. When you hear about the crisis that is going on in this world you just don't look at all this "stuff" the same.




and left like this. humbled. broken (me being one of them) ready to truly sit at the Rabbi's feet. be real disciples.

Easter

Luke and I were laughing today as we took our younger ones to an egg hunt about how when we only had one child (13 years ago) we would dress him up real nice for Easter. We'd purchase him some really nerdy (girly) outfit, fix his hair, put on his dress shoes and take him to hunt eggs with 5k pictures. Boy have times changed! With #4 we are lucky if he is even wearing a shirt! Could care less about the underpants. I would be happy to dress him up a tiny bit, but he is determined to dress himself and I only have so many battles I can pick with 4 of them. So, my little orphan child, thank you for at least wearing your pants.


Successful hunt!!


Sweetness!