"When warriors dream, Giants die!"

That was the theme of summer camp this year. Radical Reality does 3 camps a year, for teenagers. We have one during Spring break and then 2 in July. We just finished the last one for the year. The young people head to Chico for a week, where they are exposed to God in a way that I wish all teenagers could be. I will try to post pics if I can get my hands on some. Pictures really cannot due justice to all the Lord did in the lives of the people. I have been lucky enough to be part of this camp for awhile now...and I don't think I have ever seen a response from the kids like I did this last week. They were hungry; hungry for the things of God. They wanted to stay around and worship God, even after being dismissed. It was really cool to see. Anyway, that's what I have been up to...for the one person that actually was wondering!

Happy Birthday Sis!

My younger sister, Jessica, has a birthday this week. I have 3 siblings, all younger. 1 brother and 2 sisters. Jessica's "story" is nothing short of amazing. God has done a true miracle in her life. She is a very strong person; even though she may dis-agree with that. I have learned from her. Not only is she my sister, but she's my pal. I stole a really cool idea from another blog. Did I just say stole? I meant that I "borrowed" an idea!

THE TOP 10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY SIS:

(Warning!! Serious cheeze factor here!)

10. She uses the word "slice" when offering a stick of gum.

9. She CRACKS me up! She really is hillarious! Oh the belly laughs we had when we used to drive to work together. When we got in the car after work, we had always left the radio cranked from how it was in the morning...it's a wonder we are able to hear.

8. As a teen, she had her hair in spikes...and wore dog collars...with no shame.

7. Her funky sense of style. She has always dressed different from the norm, and can totally pull it off.

6. We call each other "sister."

5. There is nobody more dramatic than Jess! She should win an Oscar just for living.

4. She worries about me having a profile on the Internet.

3. Jess is so much fun and easy going. My kid loves to be at her house. Probably because she gets to shoot water guns inside and do fun things that would make me cringe.

2. She is a servant. Jess is always quick to help someone...it's 2nd nature for her. If she sees a homeless person, she will get them food. If someone is stranded in their car, she will stop and help. She is always quick to help me when I need it.

1. She's a really, really great friend.

There's tons more, but I had to limit myself otherwise I would be here a long time! Ok, so that was super hokey, I know. But I love my siblings. We have been through alot together...and we each have our own story because of it. We are very different from one another, however we all seem to have the same sense of humor. We really have a good time when we are together! It makes me want to have more kids, just so Joei can have these kinds of friendships. There really is no other relationship quite like that of a sister. Happy Birthday Jess!

Love

The other day, Joei was having a snack. I just gave her a quick kiss on the head and told her I loved her. Her reply was so adorable I have to share; she said, "Thank you mama."

That really just tickled me. She is so right though! When someone says they love us, we should be thankful! I guess I forget that sometimes. I'm thankful that I have people that love me. The next time someone tells you they love you, just tell 'em thanks!

Joei's favorite song at the moment

She loves this song, it cracks me up to hear her sing it! Sorry for the over-kill of tunes here...just learned how to post them!

Love, love, love this song!

The joy of my salvation

Psalms 51:12, " Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. "

I love that verse. There truly is joy in salvation. Though I am the type of person that often will not allow myself to relish in the joy of the Lord, so to speak. There have been times in life where I have begun to feel sheer joy, and as soon as that peace sets in, I quickly think of something negative, I search my mind for a problem, just to make sure I don't ever feel 100% peace. Hmmm. Now how does that measure up with the above scripture? Well, it doesn't. I say that I have accepted Christs salvation right? Well if I have accepted salvation, that means I believe in God's word, that God can restore my joy...and God's word does not lie...therefore there MUST be joy in my life. For me to not accept that joy, is for me to deny what Christ did on the cross.

Joy is so much deeper than happiness. Happiness has to do with your happenings; your circumstances. Joy is found in your soul. That is why in James 1:2 it says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you have trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." How can someone have joy in the midst of a trial? You most certainly won't be happy right? Right. You won't be happy. BUT, you can be joyful. Why? Because of the joy of your salvation. Because of the fact that if God be for us, who can be against us? Because at the end of the day, my name is written down in heaven and a place waits for me there. Because this life is only temporary; I'm just passin' through. Because God is merciful and just. Because the Bible tells me that my steps are ordered by the Lord. I don't have to fear tomorrow, because I know the one who holds tomorrow.

In the book of Psalms, King David is asking the Lord to "restore unto him the joy of His salvation." That clearly shows us how easily we can let go of that joy. But God is faithful to restore it, and to help us sustain it.

The joy of the Lord is a peace that goes so deep into your soul, which causes you to say, "everything is gonna be ok."

I am learning that it is not only ok to allow myself to feel true & pure joy, it's something that Jesus died to give us. I don't ever want to take that for granted. The next time you feel yourself refusing joy (if anyone even thinks like me) ask God to restore to you the joy of His salvation. It's there for the taking.

I will never do that!

Prior to having my own child, I would on occasion see a parent doing something and say to myself, "I will never do that when I have a kid!" Hmmm. Let's go down the list, shall we?

* I will never allow my child to wear shoes with a character, let alone shoes with lights on them.
* I will never allow my child to have a pacifier past the age of 1.
* I will never allow my child to consume massive quantities of sugar

And the kicker...

* I will never, ever, under any circumstances, even think of driving a mini-van!

Now, let's see how I've done thus far:

I just bought Joei a pair of shoes that have princess' on them...and they light up. I shudder. My daughter still uses a pacifier and yes folks, she is almost 3. At the mall today, she consumed an Orange Julius on her own...calling it a "protein drink." Yeah, doubt that one had any protein hon. And for the kicker, I did test drive a mini-van the other day. Again, I shudder. But man are they practical. I don't think I can yet cave to the mini-van...talk to me if/when a few more kids pop out of me.

Moral of the story, judge not...because one day, you just may do the very same thing.