A service heart...

After the verse I posted the other day, I've been dwelling on the idea that I'm not doing enough to serve others, to love others. I think I've found my way.

Today I came across http://www.anysoldier.com/. I was completely hooked.

Now, to be fair, they also have the anysailor.com, anymarine.com, anyairman.com, etc., domains; however, anysoldier.com is the original, and comes with a sad but moving story.

But to be brief, here's how it works. This non-profit site lists the contact information for different service members who volunteer to represent units or groups of service members. The individual posts a "wish list," and the site users here in the States (or around the world, really) can preview the information and send packages to these individuals. So where does the "any soldier" part come into play? Items sent are for any soldier in that area. For example, I selected a sailor, and this particular group requested the green SOFFEE t-shirts in XL, beef jerky, and a few other things. Simple, everyday things that they just can't access there for one reason or another.

Most of what these individuals are looking for is letters. Just addressed to "Dear Sailor," or "Dear Soldier," or "Dear Airman." What a simple, easy thing to do! The site even gives ideas on what to write about, making it even easier to get started.

I plan to research the whole site over the next week, just to be sure I understand the process. For understandable reasons, there are many rules and regulations to sending packages to our service members. (Just mailing a package in the US scares the tar out of me, so I'm even more anxious about sending something out of the country!) Nevertheless, I plan to have a package mailed to "Any Sailor" by the end of the month. Wanna join me?

PS -- The soliders addresses are APO/FPOs, so they're not just releasing information. All the DOD regulations apply to this cause, and the site is run by parents of a Iraqi Freedom veteran.

A great read...

I have a list of blogs I read, all for a variety of reasons. Today I stumbled across this entry from Beth Moore, who discusses seven questions she posed to men about their marriages. Please check it out here!

Freedom...

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13 NLT.

I heard this yesterday on my favorite radio station, and then received it in an email from a new Christian friend. Taking this as a hint, I'm making this my life verse. Thought I'd share it with you today, on the day we celebrate our independence and freedoms provided by our forefathers and our military.

Transparency

Today Marva, a woman from our meeting, talked about being transparent in our women's ministry. She said that it was important to let people see who you are from the get go, rather than allowing them to find out later on who you really are.
It's kind of like that first stage of dating, when I'd pretend that you really loved that one band or that one kind of food, or that one car, or that one whatever. I pretended that I never had a bad day, never got frustrated, never felt sick, or tired, or just plain didn't want to do something he did. I made myself "perfect," just so my potential new life-mate would think I was just amazing. Then, later on when I had that life-mate "hooked," I started to be more transparent, more real. I started to not like the things he thought I did, started not to always be happy, bubbly, excited girl.
It's felt like that as a Christian as well: expected to be happy, smiling, always "on." Shouldn't I be? Today another woman, whose name I am at a loss for, said that this was always the picture of the women's ministry she remembered. I imagine that June Cleaver appearance, where you cook, clean, discipline, with a pair of heels and a dress, smile ever present. But she was excited about a new chapter in this journey. We can be transparent, showing that we struggle with the same issues, that we are not alone.
Our struggles are common, are related, are relevant. When we share, we allow others to see that they too can overcome guilt, anxiety, frustration, fear, anger, sadness, and the host of other emotions that the world would have us take on. They can overcome these things become people, women just like them have overcome.
So transparency.
My favorite quote today was, "Ordinary girls, extraordinary God." I love it. A constant theme, and it seems like God's giving me some homework. Click here to see why.

Super Friends...

No, not the ones you'd find on the cartoon network.

These are the ones who warm my heart, hold my kids, lift my spirits. They're the ones who remind me what true beauty is. Today some of my super friends helped me in amazing ways. One watched my angels and her own. Thanks SunJane for your willingness to step in to allow me that time with a group of strong Christian women.

Another friend and I attended a women's ministry meeting which included women's leaders from several churches here in our town. It was a humbling and inspiring meeting, where I was completely impressed by their drive, knowledge, and heart for reaching women for God. Knowing that my confidence and strength will grow from a stronger relationship with God, I am praying for the discipline it takes to schedule a regular quiet time with Him. Thanks DaWagna for the encouragement and support... and the ride, too!

Thank you to my friends for helping me to attend this event, and for helping me grow in my walk with Him.