Ushering and other stuff....

Hello Friends,

I have to share an event with you that I attended over the weekend- reluctantly!! The husband & wife team of the Drain's and my sweet mother-in-love (AKA: Gan) were ushers at the Bristol Sharpie 500 on Sunday. I want to tell you that I was not looking forward to this whatsoever! I had worked myself into a true tizzy about it before Sunday ever arrived. In order to help you understand why I dreaded this- let me back up a couple of weeks.....

Join me in the Usher Training Session.....Here were the training tips given to us want-to-be ushers:

1. If a fight breaks out- Don't get in the middle of it- go get security.
2. Wear closed toed shoes in case someone throws up on you because you don't want it on your feet (ya think?). And wear comfortable shoes because you will be standing for hours on end.
3. If it were to lightning- seek shelter and NOT in the metal stands.
4. If someone bleeds- don't clean it up- get housekeeping.
5. If someone is smoking in the stands- ask them to leave and go to the designated smoking area.
6. Keep your portal free of people standing around.
7. Arrive for Usher Check-in at 7:30 a.m.
8. Wear multiple layers of clothing. Chances are your going to freeze or get wet.

Mid way through this so called training session I leaned over and whispered to my mother-in-love and said "They are not convincing me that I really want to do this". Needless to say, I left the training session scared to death and just dreading the whole thing. You see, we volunteered to do this for our daughter, Shelby, whose choral group was using the event as an opportunity to raise money. What we will do for our children and grandchildren.

I posted a picture above of me 'working the event'. Please notice- I did layer! Several layers indeed and oh how glad I was to have them. Not one time during the all day event did I un-layer! It wasn't until we left to walk back to my mother-in-love's house did I get warm enough to shed the layers! I kept my gloves on all day! No joke- froze to death!

I must tell you I was pleasantly surprised by how well the race fans treated us. Never once did I have to remove anyone or pretend to be an 'usher enforcer'. The fans even seemed glad we were there. We had 2 ladies who offered to buy us coffee at one point. It was a genuine treat and a volunteer experience I would repeat for a good cause.

I worked extra hard to 'keep a smile on' and show as much kindness and courtesy as I could. It was my small way of just showing Jesus' love. I'm not sure if anyone got it- but it didn't keep me from trying!

Even though I was working for my daughter's school and it was a good cause- I missed being in a Sunday worship service. Of all the things I like to do- nothing compares with going to church. I just love church! I grew up in the church! Just so I'm honest with you-there were several years that I didn't like going to church- yes, you guessed it- rebellious teenager years! But, I came back and I can't think of any place on earth that I would rather be than smack dab in the middle of a building full of the 'church'. I love the diversity of people, the diversity of voices lifted in praise to God, and I love all our quirks. And, before you go to thinking you don't have any- think again. We all do. Praise God, he created each one of us uniquely and we all bring different gifts and personalities to the table. I'm appreciative of that. Could you imagine how boring the world would be if we were all alike? I couldn't stand it! I'm a lover of people and their uniqueness. Nothing on earth gets my blood to pumpin like seeing people live out that uniqueness for the Glory of God.

Uniqueness is something to be celebrated. And, God is a God to be praised for it. So, give him a loud shout of thanks today for making you different! And, for those of you who have spent your whole life fighting against 'different'- embrace it today. DIFFERENT IS GOOD!

Love to all,

Lori

P.S.- Back to the Usher Thing--for those of you who serve as Usher or Greeter in the church- thank you for greeting all of us with a warm smile and a hearty welcome! I know it is your way of showing Jesus love- and you do! You have a very important ministry- for many- you are their first experience of Jesus and the church! So, keep up the great Kingdom work!

TypO's and other interesting stuff....

Hello to all,
Just wanted to say I left all the 'typo's in the previous post so you could get a feel for what it is really like to type on a cell phone keyboard!! Honestly, I'm not so sure I will ever do that again! It was tedious work!!

In my devotion time today this question was posed from the book I'm reading (I thought it would be good to share with each of you):

"Why do so many find the Christian life a struggle?"

I sat wondering if many Christians really would say the Christian life is a struggle. Do you find it a struggle and if so why? I find life in general a struggle at times and after giving some thought I have many reasons why over my life I would have said the Christian life is a struggle- mostly it had to do with the human sin issue. But, the more I come to know Jesus the more I would say it's not a struggle but a gift. A blessed treasure. I can't imagine life without Jesus and I pray I never have too. Instead of struggle I believe we can find rest and peace in Jesus. Right now as I'm typing the lyrics to the song playing on my computer says "Everyday with you, Lord, is sweeter than the day before". Sweet indeed.

Perhaps I misunderstood the question- goodness knows its made me think!

Rest in Jesus today sisters!

Lori

Can you believe it???

Ladies, You are never going to believe where and how I'm writing this post. Bet you will never guess! I'm at Gabe's baseball practice (in the rain) and I'm typing on my cell phone. Who would have ever thought modern technology would have brought us this far? Of course for me personally a sweet man I know is helping to bring me into this century (really-i'm thinking I am way beyond my time at this very moment! ha!)

Blogging by phone is really hard work! I am already beginning to get a cramp in my fingers from this small keyboard! One has to wonder what medical condition will be invented from this sort of typing. Finger-tunnel?? Oh now I really believe I am way ahead of my years- just kidding!

If my fingures can stand it let me dive into a topic a bit deeper than finger cramps. I sat in church yesterday and was moved to tears as I listened to a precious man of God with a 40 year tenure in the same congregation preach his heart out. He brought a message on the amazing grace of God that just refreshed my soul and almost brought me to sobs. He spoke from Luke 15 (the story of the father with 2 sons- AKa: The Prodigal Son). I related on every level of this story. I saw myself as the younger son who asked for his inheritance, received it, left home, and squandered his money on wild living. I also related with the pious son who could'nt believe his Father would welcome and celebrate the retun of his rebellous brother.

What touched me the most during this pastors sermon was that his heart for those of us listening to get this one message down...to really GET IT and NEVER FORGET IT! And the 'it' is--the Mercy and grace of a loving Father who would not say to the child who came home "You blew it!" YOu see our Father see's us from a distance (because he has been waiting anxiously for our return) and he runs to meet us. He throws opens his arms, embraces us, and then lavishs us with gifts.
Beloved, that's our Father. Sometimes we stay gone from home so long- searching for what we think will bring us happiness- only to find we at it all along.
Maybe today you need to run home and feel the loving embrace of your Father. He is waiting in the distance- watching and ready to throw a party on the behalf of your return. That's grce my dear sisters- amazing grace.

Love to all,
Lori

Hello to all......

I feel sure those of you who regularly check this blog for postings have thought I am awl (or is it AWOL, or AOL?). Oh well, you know what I mean-- MISSING! Just for the record- I'm not missing. Still here. It has been a very busy few weeks but I'm settling in and have much to share with you as time allows.

Today, girlfriends, just know you are thought about daily and loved deeply. Because I'm short on time, allow me to leave you with a quote from Thomas a Kempis (even though I'm short on time- the quote is not short on application!):

"If there is any good in you, believe that there is much more in others, so that you will stay humble in yourself."

Love to all,

Lori