In the Forefront...

That's where Katrina survivors need to be kept in the hearts of all Americans. Read a note that I received yesterday...

"Thank you for your accounts of Waveland / Bay St. Louis. Our daughter, her husband and two little boys have a home in Waveland - still standing but flooded and ruined. They've been with us in Utah since the hurricane and I'm homeschooling the boys, which is how I found your message. They're planning to return soon to begin gutting the house and cleaning up - with no funds, since their insurance has given them only $1600! It's difficult to explain the devastation and the situation that exists down there, especially to people who have never been to the area. Thank you so much for the efforts you are making and the service you are providing."

Cathy Long
Mapleton, Utah

May we all reach into the depths of understanding and compassion, to keep the survivors in the forefront of our thoughts, always seeking to provide comfort, encouragement, and love in the name of Christ Jesus.

Complete in Him,
Shari

Apodidonai...

You know when you see a post from me (Shari) that it's going to be long and, more than likely, random thoughts will appear everywhere! Grab your Bible, and a cup of hot chocolate or caramel machiatto for my Starbucks friends.

Be blessed!

Thanksgiving plans are on the way. We've already had folks donating items. I know that as the holidays get closer, many hurricane victims will be forgotten. It is my prayer that you would keep hurricane Katrina victims in your prayers especially as the holidays make their way around. This is going to be a long rebuilding period.

I just flipped through 5 rolls of film from Bay St. Louis and Waveland, MS. My heart, once again, is pained by what my eyes see. I want to go now, but I know that I have to bring help with me!

It's been a blessing to hear God speak ever so softly...

We had our reservations booked for the Opryland hotel for Thanksgiving. With all of the valleys that our family has had to endure the past 10 months, we needed to get away.
We have never spent Thanksgiving away from our home, but we all agreed that this year would be different.
How exciting it would be! They'd have all of the Christmas decorations in full swing, the shows promised to be wonderful, and I could do some Christmas shopping!
Guess what? Two days later, God once again had other plans for me. You'd think I'd have learned by now wouldn't you?
I'm in the shower thinking about all the fun and possibilities of our Thanksgiving trip. (this is the only place I have time to think in peace)
As I'm thinking about the twinkling lights and the delight on my children's faces, I am hit with a thought...what will those in the campsites do? Then the mind starts to wander. If you know me, you know this is a dangerous event. :-)
What will they eat? How will they feel knowing they've lost everything and are now spending Thanksgiving alone? (I'm always the positive thinker, ha!)
I felt so bad for planning our Thanksgiving around what we wanted and needed. To this day I feel shame for taking this day and turning it into a commercial-driven escapade. I'm not saying that we shouldn't enjoy ourselves, but I heard the call loud and clear!
What is most interesting is that I know that my family will enjoy going to MS. and helping to make the holiday special even MORE than being at the Opryland hotel! What was I thinking? Forgive me, Lord.

"Apodidonai" has rested in my thoughts for about 48 hours now.
What is that you ask?
It's Greek, meaning, to give back. No, I'm not a Greek scholar. I'm a mom that happened to stumble across this word in a Bible study. Yep, a random study, actually a DVD, that came in the mail! A study about how we are bought and paid for and that our lives are to serve Him, not man. Or in my case, ourselves. Of course we all know that we are to serve Him, but sometimes the worldy views get in the way and blind us. Funny how things reaffirm our callings. For this I am most thankful.

If you have a moment, read Luke 14:12-14. Of course, it isn't a literal sense pertaining to Thanksgiving, but a lesson on how to serve for the right reasons. Doing things to be rewarded by man isn't the way to eternal happiness. Our focus should be on doing things for Him. Using the example of the less fortunate shows us that this will bring greater blessings because you know that they cannot give back AND you don't expect them to reciprocate. Now the catch...your eternal blessings will come after your death. Yes, we continue to see blessings in what we do, but the blessings on earth are a fraction of what will be waiting for us. Do we do it for the blessings? No. We do it because He has called us to help. The blessings are a direct result of being obedient to God's Word. Think about it, if we did these things for selfish reasons, we would never see any blessings.
I ask God to use me as His vessel, DAILY. I am thankful that He has chosen me and thankful for the sisters that He has chosen to walk alongside me. Cathy and Sarah have been a blessing to me in so many ways. I wouldn't trade them in for anything! Ephesians 1:15-16

Anyway, the flame was ignited, and now my family and Sarah's family will be spending Thanksgiving preparing and serving a hot meal to Katrina victims.
We have a list of needed items if you'll take a look at the previous post.
If everyone donated a can of something, we'd have plenty to go around. Obviously, if you live outside of Huntsville, you don't want to mail cans, but you can add this mission to your prayer list. Prayers are number one. Everything else will fall into place after prayer.

I thank those that have helped in the past and those that have chosen to help this time around. If our journey's have touched you in such a way that you'd like to join us, please let us know. If you feel a little tugging in your gut, it means you're being called! If you can't stop thinking about what you've read, it means you're being called! If you close your eyes and still see the photographs that we've posted, it means you're being called! If your eyes are wide open and still see the photographs, it means you should start packing!
Listen for the call. Act on it. You'll be blessed beyond your imagination here on earth, AND there will be an eternal blessing waiting for you.

It is my prayer that each and every one of you hear His call for your lives.

It's 6:20 am. I've been up since 4:00 am. I'm off to start my day and look forward to seeing what God has planned for me today!

Be Blessed,
Shari

p.s. As my fav group Mercy Me says, "How can I further Your Kingdom when I'm so wrapped up in mine?"