Last August I packed my warm clothes, passport and American mind-set and set off for Quito, Ecuador with Proverbs 31 and Compassion International. I knew I was going to see the poorest of the poor, but until I stood at the top of a mountain and looked out over a city of 13 million inhabitants, I didn't know poor.
Compassion International doesn't do a lot of advertising to find sponsors for the children in their programs. They believe that the best "marketing" is done by someone who has witnessed their work firsthand. So our team met in Atlanta, joined up with our Compassion guides and photojournalists, and set off for Ecuador.
I wrote a devotion about our trip if you would like to read it.
Today we got to see the video that was made from our trip. You'll see and hear me as we returned from one of the project sites. View Video.
If you would like to sponsor a child, I have 10 sponsorship packets leftover from a speaking engagement this week. I would love to sign you up and help you and your family get involved in a life-changing ministry. Send me an e-mail and let me know you are interested.
Grace & Peace,
Glynnis
editor@proverbs31.org
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
I returned home this afternoon from one of the most beautiful places in America - the Pacific Northwest - Washington State to be exact. I was honored to be the guest speaker at the Northwest Women's Connection's annual conference. http://www.northwestwomensconnection.org/
We spoke about the Heart of a Woman, and I believe God touched many hearts with His presence this weekend.
The conference was very well organized, the food was delicious, worship was awesome, the skit was funny but deep, the prayer team was empowered, the greeters were warm and friendly, my hostest was fabulous, and my contact person was delightful. I can't say enough about how wonderful this was.
But I want to give a special mention to the leadership team. These women have a vision to reach out to the women in their area, which is filled with many small churches. They want to connect women with God and with each other. They are doing just that.
Do you know they had women from close to 25 churches in attendance! Twenty-five!!! That was amazing to me. That means 25 different styles of preaching, 25 different worship styles, and 25 different ways of doing things.
But when we gathered as 130 sisters in Christ, all those differences melted away. We were one family this weekend.
I felt God's pleasure. I hope they did too.
Thank you Northwest Women's Connection for being godly role models in your community.
In His Love,
Glynnis
P.S. If you go on their website, you'll see my photo. Yes I got it taken at Glamour Shots, and yes I bought the rights, and yes I should have taken their name off of it. Oh my, you all probably think I got myself all made up ala the 80's.
We spoke about the Heart of a Woman, and I believe God touched many hearts with His presence this weekend.
The conference was very well organized, the food was delicious, worship was awesome, the skit was funny but deep, the prayer team was empowered, the greeters were warm and friendly, my hostest was fabulous, and my contact person was delightful. I can't say enough about how wonderful this was.
But I want to give a special mention to the leadership team. These women have a vision to reach out to the women in their area, which is filled with many small churches. They want to connect women with God and with each other. They are doing just that.
Do you know they had women from close to 25 churches in attendance! Twenty-five!!! That was amazing to me. That means 25 different styles of preaching, 25 different worship styles, and 25 different ways of doing things.
But when we gathered as 130 sisters in Christ, all those differences melted away. We were one family this weekend.
I felt God's pleasure. I hope they did too.
Thank you Northwest Women's Connection for being godly role models in your community.
In His Love,
Glynnis
P.S. If you go on their website, you'll see my photo. Yes I got it taken at Glamour Shots, and yes I bought the rights, and yes I should have taken their name off of it. Oh my, you all probably think I got myself all made up ala the 80's.
Monday, April 14, 2008
I find I am drawn to un-hurried people. I'm pretty sure it's because I'm the opposite - and I wish I was more like them.
Unhurried moms take the time to explain to their kids where they are going. Hurried moms tell their children to get in the car and they'll find out soon.
I think the children of the unhurried mom learned a bit more about their city, streets and addresses.
Unhurried women take the time to chat with a tired sales clerk, and brighten her day. Hurried women rush in and out, glancing at their watches, and tapping their nails on the counter if there's a delay.
I think the sales clerk got a touch of Jesus from that unhurried woman.
Unhurried women tell their friends in a non-verbal way that they have time for them. Hurried women's friends often feel as if they are a bother.
I think the friends of an unhurried women are blessed indeed.
Unhurried women think about how to show love to others - whether it's picking out the right gift, a hand-written note of encouragement or a phone call. Hurried women wish they had picked out the right gift, written a note or made that phone call.
I love John Ortberg's take on hurry in his book "The Life You've Always Wanted." Ortberg says:
"The most serious sign of hurry sickness is a diminished capacity to love. Love and hurry are fundamentally incompatible. Love always takes time, and time is one thing hurried people don't have."
The solutions are simple, yet difficult to incorporate into a life that is addicted to hurry. For those of us who hurry out of habit, we must choose to slow down. We must choose to speak slowly, to walk slowly, and to eat slowly. We must get up 30 minutes earlier so that we aren't rushing our kids in the morning. We must have dinner in the crockpot so we can sit and read a book with a child, or chat with our husbands on the patio. We must not schedule business appointments so close together that we don't have time to ask a co-worker how his or her family is doing.
Some of us have a hurry sickness that we must address if we are to live the grace-filled lives that Jesus calls us to live.
So take a deep breath, let it out slowly, take a moment to pray, and enjoy an un-hurried day.
In His Love,
Glynnis
Unhurried moms take the time to explain to their kids where they are going. Hurried moms tell their children to get in the car and they'll find out soon.
I think the children of the unhurried mom learned a bit more about their city, streets and addresses.
Unhurried women take the time to chat with a tired sales clerk, and brighten her day. Hurried women rush in and out, glancing at their watches, and tapping their nails on the counter if there's a delay.
I think the sales clerk got a touch of Jesus from that unhurried woman.
Unhurried women tell their friends in a non-verbal way that they have time for them. Hurried women's friends often feel as if they are a bother.
I think the friends of an unhurried women are blessed indeed.
Unhurried women think about how to show love to others - whether it's picking out the right gift, a hand-written note of encouragement or a phone call. Hurried women wish they had picked out the right gift, written a note or made that phone call.
I love John Ortberg's take on hurry in his book "The Life You've Always Wanted." Ortberg says:
"The most serious sign of hurry sickness is a diminished capacity to love. Love and hurry are fundamentally incompatible. Love always takes time, and time is one thing hurried people don't have."
The solutions are simple, yet difficult to incorporate into a life that is addicted to hurry. For those of us who hurry out of habit, we must choose to slow down. We must choose to speak slowly, to walk slowly, and to eat slowly. We must get up 30 minutes earlier so that we aren't rushing our kids in the morning. We must have dinner in the crockpot so we can sit and read a book with a child, or chat with our husbands on the patio. We must not schedule business appointments so close together that we don't have time to ask a co-worker how his or her family is doing.
Some of us have a hurry sickness that we must address if we are to live the grace-filled lives that Jesus calls us to live.
So take a deep breath, let it out slowly, take a moment to pray, and enjoy an un-hurried day.
In His Love,
Glynnis
Friday, April 11, 2008
I received a phone call from the school today. My caller ID just tells me it's the public school ... could be the grade school where three of my kids attend, or the high school where the other two spend part of their week days.
Now I don't know about your experience with calls from school, but they aren't usually good. I've gotten them telling me someone was injured on the playground, someone had a tummy ache, someone forgot a permission slip and pleeeeaaasssee come right now!, someone bit someone who swung their lunch box at him in line (And then my little first grader told the principal that sometimes his mother lets him bite other kids!) and a few other miscellaneous mishaps throughout the years. Yes, a phone call from the school usually isn't award-winning news at my house.
Today I heard my littlest girl's voice on the other end of the line.
Ruth: Mommy, can you bring me lunch?
Me: Ruth, you can buy your lunch today.
Ruth (standing in front of all the nice office ladies at school): But I forgot my lunch and you told me I couldn't buy lunch any more.
Me: No Ruth, I told you don't buy your lunch if you are just going to throw it all away because you aren't hungry. (This happened once which was what prompted the discussion. She has an early lunch, and after a big breakfast she usually isn't very hungry.)
Ruth: (A little louder in case someone in the office might have missed it the first time) But you told me I couldn't buy my lunch anymore and I didn't bring anything! (I could see the pout forming)
Me: (Feeling completely out of control of this situation) No, that's not what I said ... (realizing an argument was going nowhere, and trying to regain some control) Honey, just tell me what you want and I'll bring you a lunch.
Ruth: A McDonald's Happy Meal!
We settled on a peanut butter and honey sandwich, applesauce and a cold bottle of water, which I hand delivered to the cafeteria.
I sure hope those nice office ladies don't think I'm the worst mother ever, telling my poor little daughter she can't buy a hot meal when she forgets her sack lunch. And then my next thought was: did that little innocent plan it all along to try and get a Happy Meal?
Oh well, at least my daughter got a good lunch today. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the first mom whose child only hears HALF of what she says. I guess I better work on communication before I get called into the Principals office.
In His Love,
Glynnis
Now I don't know about your experience with calls from school, but they aren't usually good. I've gotten them telling me someone was injured on the playground, someone had a tummy ache, someone forgot a permission slip and pleeeeaaasssee come right now!, someone bit someone who swung their lunch box at him in line (And then my little first grader told the principal that sometimes his mother lets him bite other kids!) and a few other miscellaneous mishaps throughout the years. Yes, a phone call from the school usually isn't award-winning news at my house.
Today I heard my littlest girl's voice on the other end of the line.
Ruth: Mommy, can you bring me lunch?
Me: Ruth, you can buy your lunch today.
Ruth (standing in front of all the nice office ladies at school): But I forgot my lunch and you told me I couldn't buy lunch any more.
Me: No Ruth, I told you don't buy your lunch if you are just going to throw it all away because you aren't hungry. (This happened once which was what prompted the discussion. She has an early lunch, and after a big breakfast she usually isn't very hungry.)
Ruth: (A little louder in case someone in the office might have missed it the first time) But you told me I couldn't buy my lunch anymore and I didn't bring anything! (I could see the pout forming)
Me: (Feeling completely out of control of this situation) No, that's not what I said ... (realizing an argument was going nowhere, and trying to regain some control) Honey, just tell me what you want and I'll bring you a lunch.
Ruth: A McDonald's Happy Meal!
We settled on a peanut butter and honey sandwich, applesauce and a cold bottle of water, which I hand delivered to the cafeteria.
I sure hope those nice office ladies don't think I'm the worst mother ever, telling my poor little daughter she can't buy a hot meal when she forgets her sack lunch. And then my next thought was: did that little innocent plan it all along to try and get a Happy Meal?
Oh well, at least my daughter got a good lunch today. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the first mom whose child only hears HALF of what she says. I guess I better work on communication before I get called into the Principals office.
In His Love,
Glynnis
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Have you ever felt like you were running on empty? I've felt like that for quite awhile. It's not a good place to be, and it's an even worse place to try and minister from. So that would explain the infrequent blog postings.
I've never been a journal writer, or diary keeper, so maintaining a blog takes focused work for me. And when the well runs shallow, so does the blog writing.
I'm being called back to a life of more devotion, which for me means less output. As I get older, I realize I can't give out what I don't have. I want to minister out of the Holy Spirit's work in my life, not try and turn a fan on and manifest some wind out of my own power. It only works for awhile, and if it's not God's power, then it's not true power.
So I will rest in the fact that when I am weak, He is strong. Not that I in anyway compare my daily challenges to Paul's, but his words bring me encouragement:
2 Corinthians 2:7-10, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NIV)
So today, on a wonderful Sunday, I am accepting the fact that I'm not the best blogger - and it's a relief to admit it! Also, because I know what it's like to be under a lot of stress, I'm sharing some of my stress reducing tips. These are some very practical things that help make my life a bit easier, and/or bring a smile to my face.
Now, I should preface my list by saying that these tips are far below the best stress reducing tips from God: pray continually, read God's word and trust God's truths like "I don't have to earn God's love." So with that acknowledged, here are some random tips that help keep my head above water:
1. Keeping my gas tank above the ½ mark
2. Making sure I’ve got lots of $1, $5, and $10 bills for miscellaneous needs
3. Having a menu planned for the week
4. Having a grocery list going at all times - making 3 trips to the grocery store drives me nuts
5. Picking out my youngest daughter’s clothes for the entire week and putting them in her hanging weekly clothing organizer.
6. Playing with our crazy Husky puppy
7. Petting the cat
8. Watching a funny movie. Here are some favorites: Shrek 2, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, any old Pink Panther movie.
9. Starbucks. I know caffeine isn't a good stress reducer, but there's something about that place ...
10. Making a to-do list
With a big hug and lots of love,
Glynnis
I've never been a journal writer, or diary keeper, so maintaining a blog takes focused work for me. And when the well runs shallow, so does the blog writing.
I'm being called back to a life of more devotion, which for me means less output. As I get older, I realize I can't give out what I don't have. I want to minister out of the Holy Spirit's work in my life, not try and turn a fan on and manifest some wind out of my own power. It only works for awhile, and if it's not God's power, then it's not true power.
So I will rest in the fact that when I am weak, He is strong. Not that I in anyway compare my daily challenges to Paul's, but his words bring me encouragement:
2 Corinthians 2:7-10, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NIV)
So today, on a wonderful Sunday, I am accepting the fact that I'm not the best blogger - and it's a relief to admit it! Also, because I know what it's like to be under a lot of stress, I'm sharing some of my stress reducing tips. These are some very practical things that help make my life a bit easier, and/or bring a smile to my face.
Now, I should preface my list by saying that these tips are far below the best stress reducing tips from God: pray continually, read God's word and trust God's truths like "I don't have to earn God's love." So with that acknowledged, here are some random tips that help keep my head above water:
1. Keeping my gas tank above the ½ mark
2. Making sure I’ve got lots of $1, $5, and $10 bills for miscellaneous needs
3. Having a menu planned for the week
4. Having a grocery list going at all times - making 3 trips to the grocery store drives me nuts
5. Picking out my youngest daughter’s clothes for the entire week and putting them in her hanging weekly clothing organizer.
6. Playing with our crazy Husky puppy
7. Petting the cat
8. Watching a funny movie. Here are some favorites: Shrek 2, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, any old Pink Panther movie.
9. Starbucks. I know caffeine isn't a good stress reducer, but there's something about that place ...
10. Making a to-do list
With a big hug and lots of love,
Glynnis
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