"You Are My Family"

This weekend was a busy one- but filled with so many good things!!!

Dad and I arrived at church around 8:30 Saturday morning. As a group of us started to prep the place for the Basketball Tournament, the kids in the neighboring apartments saw/heard us and came down to help us out. Between them, the College Kids from TMC, and a handful of us from church, the place was ready in no time!

I was part of a group of girls who manned (haha) the registration table, having spectators and participants sign in and give info such as email, address and home church if they so chose. When the kids from the neighborhood signed in, almost all of them put down 'Bible Church of Buena Park' as their church. I started getting irked with it because none of them came to church on Sundays. Finally, when 9 year old Lydia signed in and put down BCBP as her church, I asked, "Lydia, why did you put this church down as your home church? You're not a member."

Lydia looked at me and said, in a matter of fact tone, "Because you're my family."

Ouch. That was humbling. All that bitterness that was starting to rise up inside of me was swept away by this one girl's simple answer, "You are my family." Sometimes I wonder how God could ever use me in these kid's lives- imperfect as I am- but then He reminds me that all He want from me is to love Him... and all the rest will fall into place. All the glory is His!

Keep working in these kid's lives, Lord!
We will plant and water Your seeds,
but only You can make them grow!

The Weekend Ahead!

Starting today- a wonderfully packed weekend! Youth Outreach tonight and Hoopla4 tomorrow!

My Church has been hosting Youth Outreach for longer than I have attended it- more than 10 years. There are apartments surrounding the church that are filled with people who need the gospel, and YO is a fun, friendly environment that draws the children out of the apartments and into the church. Games, a lesson, sometimes crafts, and Pizza- what more could a kid want? Not much more, really. But more than what they want, what they need Jesus.

As for Hoopla, that is an annual basketball tournament that our church puts on (this being the 4th year). Last year we had about 50 people from the neighborhood attend, and this year we are hoping for more! Thank God we have some students from The Master's College to help out and the Spanish church is joining us also!

With those brief descriptions, please pray for this weekend.

Pray for the people who will be working/hosting the events- that our spirits will be in tune with His, for Him to work in and through us, and that we will be pliable/flexible- focusing on the gospel and these kids and not on ourselves.

Pray for the kids and parents who will be attending this weekend- that they will not come with a stereotyped mindset, that God will start softening their hearts for His words, and that they will keep in contact afterwards.

Pray for everyone with this heat that is supposed to be coming. May we all be safe and look out for one another.

Desktop Wallpaper for October!

Tim Challies has a wonderful website, "Informing the Reforming", and if you haven't visited it yet, you should. He speaks on topics such as the 180 movie, spiritual life in this ungodly world, puritan fathers thoughts in this contemporary world, he reviews books and movies, and right now is holding a discussion on Thursdays on John Stott's book "The Cross of Christ".

All that to say- go check out his website.

And if that didn't convince you enough, at the beginning of each month he has free desktop backgrounds. Here's a taste of this month's:

Balm to My Soul

My sister and I were scheduled for offertory this Sunday, so I sat at the piano and went through the hymnal looking for a song she and I could play as a duet. It was the sweetest hours of the weekend for me- sitting at the piano, picking out the tunes, and reading these wonderful, deep hymns. Some hymns I knew, others I didn't. Now it's your turn, time for a little testing!!!

A) I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant power I'll tell. How the victory He giveth over sin and death and hell!

1. Redeemed

2. I Will Sing of My Redeemer

3. Victory in Jesus

4. I Will Praise Him

B) The hand of my Savior is strong, and the love of my Savior is long. Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain, the blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.

1. Calvary Covers It All

2. Saved, Saved!

3. Room At The Cross For You

4. What A Mighty God We Serve

My favorite of the day: Arise, My Soul Arise, written by Charles Wesley. This was a wonderful balm to my soul right when I needed it, just read the first verse! Love the command we have to not dwell in our fears, but remember Who is by the Throne pleading for us! The song you can play below is done by Indelible Grace, a wonderful group, but they didn't sing all the verses so I wrote them all from my hymnal. I hope it is an good of an encouragement as well as a reminder to you (as it is to me) of who we are in Christ.

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off your guilty fears;

The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:

Before the throne my surety stands,

Before the throne my surety stands,

My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;

His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:

His blood atoned for all our race,

His blood atoned for all out race,

And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;

They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:

'Forgive him, O forgive!' they cry,

'Forgive him, O forgive!' they cry,

'Nor let that ransomed sinner die!'

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;

He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;

His Spirits answers to the blood,

His Spirits answers to the blood,

And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;

He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:

With confidence I now draw nigh,

With confidence I now draw nigh,

And 'Father, Abba Father!' cry.

*Answers to quiz: A-2, B-3*