Biloxi Bound

Mike & Shirley (Wade's parents) have been wanting to take us to Biloxi, MS for a while now. I've never been, and Wade hasn't been in several years. Since Mike & Shirley are regulars, they always get free rooms and coupons for free food, so they are hooking us up this weekend! They got us a room at the Isle of Capri, and they are driving so we don't have to pay for gas. I'm not much on gambling, but I may try my hand at the slots (with a VERY small limit). It will be nice just to get away for the night, and see somewhere new. Now, for finding ALL of my warm clothes....the high in Biloxi tomorrow is supposed to be 34 degrees. Maybe we should go somewhere warm.

How Many Kings...

I just recently heard this song for the first time (even though it's been out for over 3 years), and I literally had to pull over on the side of the road to truly absorb the meaning of these lyrics. Once again, I am in awe of my GOD, who would do all this for me....

(turn off the playlist player at the bottom before playing the video)




Lyrics to How Many Kings by Downhere

Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe, after all we've projected,


A child in a manger?


Lowly and small, the weakest of all


Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl -


Just a child -


Is this who we've waited for? 'cause...



How many kings step down from their thrones?


How many lords have abandoned their homes?


How many greats have become the least for me?


And how many gods have poured out their hearts


To romance a world that is torn all apart


How many fathers gave up their sons for me?



Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior


All that we have, whether costly or meek


Because we believe.


Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure


And myrrh for the cross he will suffer


Do you believe?


Is this who we've waited for?



All for me...


All for you...

Our kids

In a previous post, I mentioned that I wanted to sponsor a child through Compassion International. It was something that I had been wanting to do for a while, and I just never did.

Well, I did. We did it. Wade decided he wanted to sponsor a child also, so together we picked out 2 children. He picked a girl (what a surprise...he told me "i'm a girl kinda guy") so I chose a little boy.

Meet Elizabeth, age 10, from the Phillipines.

And meet Ralph, age 5, also from the Phillipines.

Aren't they beautiful? They are not siblings. In fact, they are not even part of the same Compassion program in the Phillipines. What they do have in common is a need. Beyond the physical needs they have of food, clean water, medical care, & shelter they have a greater need. They need to hear about Jesus. They need to know that they matter to God. They need a friend and they need to know that someone loves them and is praying for them. Wade & I are those "someone's". We have already began praying for Elizabeth & Ralph. We can't wait to send them letters & cards encouraging them, loving on them, and giving them hope.

My First Photo Shoot

While my sister and her family were here visiting, they asked me if I would take some family pictures of them. Of course, I said yes, and I was so excited! I knew I would be limited with my little point & shoot camera, but I was willing to see what I could pull off. Despite some nasty cold & wet weather, we were able to get in a short little session. Here are some of my favorites:

I have to say, it helps make good pictures when the subjects are so good looking. My sister is beautiful, my nephew is precious, my brother-in-law is handsome, and I just KNOW my niece is gorgeous, even if I can't see her yet! I'm so blessed to have them in my life!

Halaby's Go To Tallahassee

My sister calls her blog Halaby's Go Upstate, but this weekend, then left the upstate of South Carolina and came all the way to Tallahassee....just to see me!! I finally got to talk to Maddie (my niece, in utero), got some major kisses and QT with Quinn, and some fun laughs and talks with Barbie & Jalal. This weekend was a total blast, and even nasty, wet, cold weather couldn't bring us down! It may have changed our plans slightly, but we adapted.

Quinn decided to sing along with Daddy & Uncle Wade's intense Guitar Hero game.

Quinn got to help Uncle Wade collect eggs and feed the chickens.

He LOVED sitting on Uncle Wade's motorcycle.

However, the experience was not complete until he had on his sunglasses.

Q got a little playground time...

And even got to visit the dinosaurs at the local museum.

Can you tell who the star of the show was this past weekend? I can't help it...I love taking this handsome boy's picture! (Stay tuned for some nice family shots of him with his beautiful mama & handsome daddy.) This weekend was so much fun for all of us. I can't wait until the next time we're all together.

Thankfulness

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are just some of the things I'm so very thankful for:

-my husband
-my family
-my friends
-my church
-my job
-my freedom
-my salvation
-my GOD, who supplies ALL my needs

Happy Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for?

Compassion...

I think God is teaching me something. Scratch that. I know God is teaching me something. It seems lately that I keep hearing the same or similar message, from all different avenues. I could chalk it up to coincidence, but I know better than that, and frankly, I know God better than that.

I write this humbly, but I feel like I've always had a heart for people. Ever since I gave my life to Christ, I feel like I look at other people differently. I know...that's kind of how it's supposed to work, and don't get me wrong, I still get it wrong A LOT. I'm far from ridding "me" & "I" from my vocabulary, and my own selfish desires still often get the best of me. On the other hand, I try my best to look at people and see them as Christ sees them: broken, hurting, lost, etc. Lately, all around me I keep hearing about how we are supposed to love others. And I start questioning myself. Am I loving others to the extent that Christ loves me? How do I know that I am? How do I show that I am? Recently, this quote struck a chord so deep within me, and really convicted me in regards my compassion for people.

"I cannot be everything to everyone, but I can be something to someone. Compassion without action changes nothing." -Unknown

We (the church) are so good at being sad, sympathetic, and somber towards unfortunate situations and circumstances others find themselves in. We think to ourselves "how awful" or "that's so sad" and may even shed a tear or two when we see images of poverty, disease, and brokenness. What do most of us do beyond that? What do we do with those feelings of sadness and heartache? Nothing. I am guilty. I do nothing. Oftentimes, those images, thoughts, and stories even stick in my mind for days, weeks even. And still, I do nothing with them. Maybe I throw up a casual "why God, why the hurting?" and without waiting for a response, move on. Maybe I even remember to ask for God to provide, protect, heal, save, etc. those unknown souls. But beyond that, I do nothing.

I'm tired of doing nothing. I'm tired of Christians (me included!) claiming to love others with the love of Christ, when in actuality, we struggle in even loving other Christians, much less, the "unloveable." Is it that we aren't heartbroken "enough" to act? Are we too busy with our own lives that we fail to see how others are living? Is it because so much suffering and sadness occurs on the other side of the world, that we don't feel a responsibility to do anything? There are plenty of opportunities to "be Jesus" right in front of our very eyes, if we choose to look.

I want to be filled with compassion...the kind that acts. Not because it feels good. Not because it makes me look good. Because we are commanded to. I want Christ to use me to share His love with someone else. Someone who doesn't feel loved. Someone lonely. Sad. Scared. Hungry. Sick. Lost. Angry. I want them to see Jesus, and to know that He died for them as much as He died for me. They were on His mind that day He hung on that cross.

I can't change the whole world. I am going to change someone's world.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. "They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. Psalm 82:3-5 NIV


Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 NIV

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. James 2:8 NIV

Practical application:

Some of my goals for the next year, to "be Jesus" to the world:
1. Volunteer at A Women's Pregnancy Center, a local pregnancy center offering abortion alternatives and faith-based support for women who feel like they have no where else to turn. This is something I've been talking about and thinking about for a while now, and I've gone as far as printing out the application. No further. Now, I'm moving forward with this.

2. Sponsor a Compassion International child: Something else I've been wanting to do for a while. This organization does SO MANY great things and gives so many children around the world opportunities and hope that they wouldn't otherwise have. The small monthly fee involved with sponsoring a child provides them with medical care and food, education, friendship, Bible teaching, and most of all....hope.

3. Be a part of a short-term missions trip: After going to Ecuador in 2000, this has been something I've always wanted to do again. This trip changed me in such a meaningful way. I went expecting to be a part of doing all these great things and being a blessing to the people we were ministering to. Instead, I was constantly blessed by the heart of these people, who had practically nothing, but sacrificed all they had to serve us.

I am going to change someone's world. I am going to show them Jesus.