Yeah...My Car Has It's Homecoming!!!

Lou Lou Boo Wallace

Kissy Kissy for Boo being home....finally!

Okay...so she still needs to be aligned...oops they forgot to do that...but that will happen soon...I think! :)

Sinead came along with me for the joyous occassion...straight from school none the less!

Mr. Bill gave me my final lift to the shop!

That's right...after 3 months of not having a car...and bumming lifts off of everyone...my little lu lu boo is finally back.  Feb 2 she and I had an encounter with a hill which is now lovingly called "Wallace Hill"...thanks Ludie!  But we are both all better now and ready to take on the world...or at least these Irish roads.  Yeah!!!!!

How Do You Know He Loves You???

Picture courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures Enchanted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRYU4cqUAUs

How do you know that He loves you?  These are the words to a catchy tune from the movie Enchanted.  The question is basically asking...how do you know it's true love?  The Lord has been teaching me a lot lately about true love with Him.  I am only beginning to know the full extent of His love and most likely will never fully grasp it until I am on the other side of the veil.  In my research...I have gone to the greatest resource...HIS Word....which are love letters to us!

What does the Bible say about True Love?  

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  1 Corinthians 13:  4-7

We all know that God's love is unimaginable, undeserving, and constant...but do we also realize that love is a two way street?  Think about those closest to you for a minute...do you really truly love THEM?  I have to admit that I am not always patient which another translation says "long suffering".  When someone does something that hurts me...I usually have a knee jerk reaction and am ready to write them off.  But the Lord is teaching me about Grace and Compassion...which means that no matter how many times someone may hurt me...I need to still show them compassion and grace. Now this does not mean that we are a walking doormat. How I look at it is that there are MANY things I have been forgiven for and the Lord has been VERY long suffering with me...so I need to do the same. I am still in a very infant stage with this...but the Lord is good and takes me as He finds me...with all my faults and failures.  Praise Him!

Going back to those in your life...can you look at the different "do nots" of love and say that I don't show envy towards anyone...I don't boast about anything of me?  When I look into my own heart I can honestly say that I fall short on most of these.

So what would you say if the Lord asked you if you loved Him?  Last week our director shared a powerful devotion on Peter's focus and commitment to the Lord...referring to the passage in John 15-25 (Jesus Reinstates Peter).   When Jesus asked Peter "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"  We discussed that after Jesus death...Peter probably went back to what he knew...what made him comfortable...fishing.  Here walks up Jesus and tells them to cast their nets to the other side...and fills it with 153 fish.  You could imagine that Peter may have been a little discouraged after the death of Jesus...and was ready to give up his discipleship career if you will...and go back to being a fisherman.  

What was Peter's answer to the Lord? Peter answered,  "Yes, Lord, you know that I love YOU". Notice he did not say "You know I love you MORE THAN THESE THINGS!"  Big difference there.  Not only that...I could imagine Peter's brain being like a movie reel at that time...playing back memories...perhaps of the first time Jesus called him to be a disciple. That is where Jesus said..."Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  AT ONCE they left their nets and followed him.  Mark 1:17-18  I am sure that Peter had such a pain in his heart when he was reminded of how his enthusiasm and trust in the Lord was so big back then...and now had dwindled to him leaving his calling.  It must have been heart wrenching. 

I can picture in my mind and heart all too well how Peter may have felt.  Recently I informed those closest to me that I have been suffering from discouragement (long winter without much sunshine...car accident...lack of transportation).  I am coming out of the dark cloud I was in...but I must admit that I was looking at the present and not remembering what all the Lord had called me to in the past. You see..these verses in Mark are the scriptures that the Lord used to call me to be in full time missions.  At the time of my calling, I was in the height of my ministry career...where I had many opportunities to Glorify Him.  Finally the Lord used this verse to convict me that the only reason I was not already serving on the mission field is because I had become comfortable. I can relate to that instant reaction of "I know where I need to be and know how to get there!"

I too was like Peter just recently...where I was so focused on my present situation that I had forgotten the confidence I had back then in my calling.  But praise God...He has reminded me...just like He did with Peter.  It has been heart wrenching to look inside and be asked..."Do you love me more than these things?" ...and for a second time none the less!!!  But I would not trade it for the world.  

So how do I know He loves me?  Because "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."  1 Thes 5: 24.  He is patient or long suffering with me.  He keeps no records of wrong...even when I have so many wrongs in my life.  He is protecting me (my neck injury ended up to not be too traumatic).  He is EVERYTHING to me.  Now...I just need to continually check my own life and ask "Do I love you (God) more than these things?".  

Father God, please show us where we might be falling short of loving you more than the things in our lives...whatever that might be.  If you are calling us...let us have and keep that enthusiastic immediate response of obedience. Lord today...let me bask in that calling you have placed in my life and be an encouragement to others as well.  Thank you for talking with us this morning.  Amen

Mary Mary Quite Contrary...How Does Your Garden Grow?

I've had a few days off and have been planting flowers.  I love to garden...but it is hard work!

Love to have accessories..even in my garden!

Mary Mary quite contrary...how does your garden grow?  I can't tell you how many times I have heard this with my name being Mary.  If you think about it...it is not quite a compliment...but I must admit that sometimes it seems to fit the occasion.  The ones where I am having a pitty party with balloons and streamers...can anyone relate? I took the time to look up that word 'Contrary" in the dictionary and it means temperamentally unwilling to accept control or advice.  In the thesaurus some synonyms for contrary are stubborn and self-willed.  I thought to myself...how many times can I say that is true of myself? How many times have I refused to listen to God...thinking my way is the best...and only end up feeling defeated and alone.  Sometimes obeying God can be followed by many discouragements along the way from the enemy. Times where you stop and ask yourself...in my case...Lord...why did you call me here?  

Since my arrival to Ireland I have had to battle many discouragements including constant sickness, depression and low motivation due to lack of sunshine, and one specific major blow...a car accident.  This weekend has been in particularly difficult for me as I have all of the sudden become very homesick.  The emails and facebook statuses of friends and family laying out by the pool in warm sunny weather and having bar b ques...has really not helped.  I was reading my Bible...and praying to the Lord, but it seemed like nothing was helping...and I was having a very defeatist attitude.  I went to church this morning with a contrary attitude..I was temperamentally unwilling to accept the Lord's control over this situation.  

On the way to church I mentioned to my roommate that I was thinking back on our car accident for some reason and was very shocked that my neck healed as quick as it did..and that I have not had any complications since then.  I think I even said a praise God in there some where.  But then went quickly back to my bad attitude...wishing I was far far away on a beach somewhere.  Then comes church.  After the service as I was about to walk out the door when Pastor Dominic came after me and said..."Mary...how is your neck...is it giving you any problems?" I quickly answered and said that I have not had any problems since and as a matter of fact I healed about 4 weeks sooner than the Doctors told me I would (I had whiplash and a concussion).  

So I went about my business...and straight to a store to pick up a lamp I had ordered...a full spectrum lamp that stimulates your brain and makes you think as if you are in deed in the sunlight!  Exactly what I needed.  I had been waiting about 3 weeks to pick it up.  I go into the store only to find that they still do not have it in.  I just wanted to start balling right there in the store...but I kept my composure until I got home and put on my pajamas and curled up into my bed crying myself to sleep.  I know...dramatic...but hang with me here.  

I woke up and was talking with the Lord...and just instantly thought back to what Pastor Dominic had asked me "So Mary...how is your neck...is it giving you any problems?"  I remembered that the Lord had reminded me this morning about my neck and how He had healed it so fast...prior to Dominic asking me.  The Lord having the Pastor ask me was a confirmation that He is in control and is very aware of my situation.  He is a Big God that can protect me from things like whiplash and discouragement.  I started to rejoice with my Father thanking Him that He does care for me.  

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32: 7.

Our heavenly Father knows every hurt...every need that we have.  He does PROTECT us...even though sometimes we can get so discouraged and question that.  He is always there watching over us...and "our garden".  So how does my garden grow?  It grows because of Him and His glory...when I am out of the way.  May He always get the glory for how wonderful He is!  Praise Him!  

Golf Camp...A Dream Realized!

Anders starts things into "swing"!

Charlie's Angels with Anders Forsbrand

Golfer improving his swing

FCA Golf Team and Anders and Son Alexander

Golfers getting ready for a morning session

Lunch Spiritual Element where a testimony was shared with the campers. 

This past week nine people from the States...including several golf professionals from FCA and Anders Forsbrand...former Ryder Cup Captain... came to Ireland to facilitate a Junior Golf Camp...teaching life lessons from the game and ultimately sharing the Gospel to over 45 kids. The level of skills that these people brought to the table was tremendous...but what was even more awesome was their love for our Lord Jesus Christ.  

The camp ran Monday- Thursday and ended with an awards banquet on Thursday evening.  Each day the campers would begin with registration which me and my roomies ran.  Then they would proceed to an hour long session learning techniques from Anders himself...who by the way is such a humble and Godly man.  He cried almost every time he got up to speak to the group with a soft heart and love for these kids and his passion to see them become more than great golfers...but brothers and sisters in Christ. One touching moment for me...was running out and picking up the balls...which by the way you have to be careful of anyone hitting you upside the head with one while you are out there.  Out in the distance I saw this figure running around getting the balls as well.  It was Anders himself...in the rain and thrashing wind...day after day...showing such servant hood to us and the kids.  

After an hour long session the kids would break into groups based on their ability or handicap as they say in the golfing world. They would learn all sorts of techniques like chipping, putting, how to line up shots. I must admit I learned a lot myself about the game and really came to appreciate all the skill and hard work that goes into it.  

Then the campers would have a lunch and spiritual element time where each day a member from the FCA team would share their story on how God had impacted their lives using the day's topic (Integrity, Excellence, Service, Teamwork).  It was great to see the kids looking up to these giants in the golf world and seeing their faces as they saw Jesus Christ take center court. They really began to open up to these coaches throughout the week. Many kids were saying at the end that they never knew that you could actually talk to Jesus through prayer.  As you know in this predominantly Catholic area, many would believe that the only way to talk with the Father is through a priest.  

The end of the week rounded up and the awards banquet that praise God...was fabulous. Each kid got a FCA Bible, golf shirt, camp t-shirt, a cross made by an artist in the States, an autographed golf ball signed by Anders, and a camp certificate signed by Anders as well.  Many parents showed up as well and were exposed to a clear presentation of the Gospel. Also shared were inspiring stories of how Jesus had impacted and changed the lives of those who came to serve at the camp.  It was a great moment to be "part of the team"...the team of Jesus Christ!  

Thank you all for your prayers and please continue to pray that what has been exposed to these kids will continue to work in their hearts and they will come to a living relationship with Jesus. We look forward to next year and are saying... "The Best is Yet to Come!"