Last Hurrah

Here it is, the last few days of the Community Closet Cleanse already.  It's hard to believe that just a month ago we put this out to people.  In some ways it feels like this has been going on forever, but in other ways it feels like just yesterday I was discussing the details of this with Tim from Many Hands for Haiti and Bev from KCWN.  

God has more than blessed our efforts.  You all rock.

Seriously.

It's very rare that I am speechless{if you know me well, you know this to be true}, and there have been many times over the last month that I have been left without words to say, simply standing in awe of what God has done. 

That said, we are planning to have the MH4H trailer open for one last hurrah before we lock it up and send it on it's way to the Many Hands Market in Spencer, Iowa.  Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, February 22

Time: 9:30-11:00am

Location: Pella Christian High School East Parking Lot

Items Accepted:
  Clothing                    DVD's
  Shoes                         Home Decor
  Furniture                 Books
  Kitchen Items        Collectibles
  Linens                       Toys

Items not Accepted(so don't bring them):
  Televisions
  Appliances
  Carseats

Oh, and one more thing...our kids are going to have a hot chocolate stand, so even if you don't have anything to give, feel free to stop by for a warm drink...


Please note that this is probably the last post I am going to have about the Community Closet Cleanse, but I can't make any promises.  Then I am going to have to start reading books again so I can glean wisdom from them and quote them on here.

When the devil shows up

I think I have established my feelings for J.Crew, but in case you are unclear, I will let you know that I.love.J.Crew.  It's not that I get all of my clothes there, but when I do find stuff there I typically love it.  That said, you will never guess what showed up in my mailbox today...

this little $25 treat from none other than J.Crew.

Shut up.  

And this was on the front:

Um, yes, I do have spring fever as a matter of fact.  Cold weather is fine for the penguins, but not for me.  Arctic Blast, Shmarctic Blast.  I am over it.

So anyway, back to that little temptation that showed up in my mailbox today....at first I was feeling all sorry for myself.  Back in the day(3 1/2 months ago) I would have had that $25 spent before the mailman had our mailbox closed.  But no, I had to agree to this fast which prohibits me from using it.  Then I started to feel a little sly, trying to justify my way into using this.  Like if I only spent $25 then it would be ok.  Or maybe perhaps I could find a sweet little something for one of my girls.  You know, something that they really need from J.Crew so that it would meet my man's requirements.  I mean, who would even really know, or care for that matter if I did use it.  Honestly, you all have enough going on that a new shirt in my closet is the least of your worries.

But then I remembered all that stuff that I just took out of my closet, and how I was still living in plenty, and how I could easily fill another box to give away.  

Blessed to be a blessing...not blessed to consume to your hearts content...even if a $25 gift card to J.Crew is involved. 

I read in Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, just 1 day ago this little nugget: "Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in their lives.  I(Jesus) planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only I could fully satisfy it."

You all get this, right?  I've been preaching to the choir for the last 3 1/2 months, so I know you get it.  And I am starting to too.

Last night my man and I loaded many, many boxes into the Many Hands 4 Haiti trailer.  I was tired, hungry, and a little chilly after we had that last box stacked on top of a pile.  But you know what, I was also in awe of how many of you have answered the call to bless others.  

You see, I could not have ever filled a trailer on my own.  But by saying 'yes' to God the end of October, I was also saying 'yes' to God no matter what else He brought my way.

When we say 'yes' to God, we are telling Him, "your way, not mine."  And you never, never know what that will mean until He leads down a path that you could have never walked on your own.  Never even dreamt about without His guidance.  

And the funny thing about God is that He wants to lead us, even longs to.  Because He knows that "as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."(Isaiah 55:9, NIV)

And if I can find comfort and put my faith in a free gift card to a fun store versus my Lord, then I have totally missed the mark, and I have let the devil back into my heart.  I am not quite ready for that to happen, or else this has all been done in vain.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

God is not done leading me...and I certainly am not done following.

Carry on.

Please note that I know this is my 2nd post of the day, and quite frankly, I also know that I'm not that cool...but that gift card isn't going to last long(I'm currently selling it to the highest bidder), so this post had to get out.

TV host

Unlocked

Well, I pulled out all the stops...laid on the charm...gave a few extra kisses...batted my eyes really good...and wore a skimpy top...all so that my man would cave and agree to open the MH4H trailer on Saturday.

Feeling quite proud of myself right now.

I hope my kids never, never read this.  Or perhaps my mom either for that matter.

So anyway, here is what you need to know, and you are going to want to write this down, because I am not going to repeat it:

Date: Saturday, February 8

Time: 9:30-11:00am...and don't be late because he has to be mom that day too and pick up girls from dance clinic.  And there will be drama if he is late.

Location: Pella Christian High School East Parking Lot

Items Accepted:
  Clothing                    DVD's
  Shoes                         Home Decor
  Furniture                 Books
  Kitchen Items        Collectibles
  Linens                       Toys

Items not Accepted(so don't bring them):
  Televisions
  Appliances
  Carseats

Now I really, really, really need some people to show up at the trailer with donations.  First of all so that my man is freezin for a reason, and second of all I want us to show satan how we won't be shaken. 

Go team.


Please note that I will pay somebody to deliver a hot coffee to him that day on my behalf.  Seriously.

Trailer Trash

It's amazing to me how much power the devil has.  How he is able to tempt us beyond our will, how he can attack those who hate him, and how he will stop at nothing to make sure the work of the Lord is undone.

Last Thursday I was asked to speak to a group of women at Third Church in Pella, and from what I can figure, at about the same time I was taking the stage to share my story with them and to challenge them to become part of the Community Closet Clease, a 70 mph straight wind went through the area and blew the MH4H trailer over that we are collecting items in.

I am not even kidding.  Blew the trailer right over.

Here is picture proof.

You may not believe in spiritual warfare, but I do.

In Ephesians 6:12 Paul tells us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."(NIV)

I do not find it at all coincidental that satan would be trying to undo the good that God is trying to do.

But that's ok, because I don't give up that easily.

Now I would be lying if I didn't say that the trailer blowing over was a bit, well, discouraging.  I felt bad for all the people who had donated things in Oskaloosa prior to the trailer coming to Pella, because it seemed at first that there wasn't anything left to salvage.

I called my mom Thursday night and went over the day...how I had spoke, how the trailer blew over(I mean really, what are the odds of that happening), how I was feeling like maybe I should just be done with it all, that perhaps it was all a bad idea to begin with.

And she spoke truth into the situation...the devil was attacking, and he wants it all to fail.

Later that night I called on a few close friends to see me through.  The Message goes on in that same section in Ephesians to say, "You're up against far more than you can handle on your own.  Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet."

So often, and especially before starting my fast, I would have never, never turned to others for help and support.  I would have simply put on my smile, and handled it all myself.  But then in that moment that I let my guard down to these friends, they offered to help clean up the trailer.

Apparently they don't give up easily either.

So on Saturday we had a "trailer trash party."  We went through bags and boxes and sorted out that which was salvageable, and threw the rest, which mainly consisted of broken glass and a dresser, in a dumpster.

And although the trailer isn't as full as it was prior to blowing over, we were able to keep a lot more than I had ever imagined.  For example, there were not one, but two old school televisions in there that didn't have a mark on them...perhaps in perfect working condition, as well as four sinks that withstood the fall.

Also, amazingly enough, the trailer survived the fall, and will still be able to hold an entire load before needing just a few repairs.

So, here is the challenge to you my friends...in order to show the devil how strong and mighty we really are(with the help of our God of course), we need to get that trailer full.  I mean full.

Let's do it.


Please note that I need to give a huge shout out here to my man, Tim, Noah, Sarah, Jean & Becky for their helping hands...along with all of your hands that continue to clean out closets...there truly are Many Hands for Haiti helping make this all happen.