99 Days of Summer: I grew up in the Southern Baptist church. My
parents met at Falls Creek, a huge Southern Baptist Camp in Oklahoma, I
had perfect attendance in Sunday School the first year of my life. We
were always there if the doors were open. I have wonderful memories and
lasting friendships from growing up immersed in the atmosphere of the
church. I am grateful that it did shape
my way of life, my choices, and my perspectives. One of my favorite
activities was on Wednesday nights. The denomination has a huge heart
for missions and Wednesday nights were devoted to the programs for all
age groups where we learned about missionaries. It greatly influenced
me and gave me a desire to travel, which is one reason I became a travel
agent. Making a move to Africa felt like the culmination of all the
things I learned on Wednesday nights. Each July we had a special event
called "Christmas in July." We gathered gifts to be shipped to
missionaries so they would reach them in time for Christmas. With
temperatures in the 90's again this week it seems like a good time to
enjoy some Christmas in July to cool off. Let's start the week by
planning our Christmas list. Include the kids in this. Decide if you
will chose a family in need to gift this year, or a missionary, or
Operation Christmas Child, etc. There are many worthwhile organizations
to gift through. School supplies are on the shelves already and end of
season sales can both bring some good bargains. Let's have a holly
jolly week.
Word for Today, Without Ceasing: We are told in the Bible to pray
without ceasing. As we go through our busy days it doesn't seem like
that is a reasonable thing to do. How can I pray all the time? The
older I get the more I have come to realize that I can spend all of my
days with my heart to speak to, and hear from, my Savior. He guides me
through my day, showing me which steps to take, someone
comes into my mind and I offer a quick plea or thank you for them, a
decision needs to be made and I know what to do. All of these things
are being in a spirit of prayer. I shared this concept with my kids in
Sunday School a few weeks ago, explaining that even as I am driving I
can be praying (and usually need to be), this was to explain that we can
pray even when we can't kneel and close our eyes and bow our heads.
Jesus wants to talk to us, and with us, all day, every day. I have a
friend, Miss Cathy, who years ago said prayer to her is like calling up
Jesus in the morning and leaving the phone off the hook all day. So,
call Him up and put Him on speaker phone. Your plan has unlimited
minutes. "Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers."
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