Feed Them and They Will Come...

As our high school teams began the past-District playoffs, I decided to feed them breakfast on the Thursday before the big game beginning the next weekend tournament.  Last Thursday, in addition to all of the meat/egg dishes, I made them these English Royalty Chocolate Chip Scones (Posted at www.3cherrycokes.blogspot.com from last week).  Most, if not all, of them had never eaten a scone, so they were introduced to something really new.

I promised the girls and boys' teams that if they were still in the quest towards the gold ball at State, I would continue to feed them a breakfast each Thursday.  With this week's hectic schedule, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to swing having the breakfast, but then I saw one of the girls and she asked me about it.  I told her I was trying to, but wasn't sure (mostly because I wasn't sure what time the teams were leaving school).  

But what she said made all the difference:  "You promised you would, so I was just wondering."  At that moment, I told myself that I/we could make it happen, as long as the coach said okay.  If I've promised something, I will do whatever it takes to make it happen.  I don't like breaking promises - at all.  I don't want it to ever appear like I have lied.  She was just asking a question and not trying to make me feel bad, but her simple question made me even more determined.

This week I got a few moms to help me with the meal, which helped (didn't get me to bed any sooner, but it helped with the food!).  We served more chocolate chip scones (pictured above and made by another mom), fruit, homemade cinnamon rolls, and I made hash browns, breakfast burritos, and sausage & biscuits with gravy.  They had plenty to eat, for sure!

The cheerleaders joined in with the teams as they prepared to cheer on their friends and ball teams.

After a few refills of plates, it was time to get on the bus and head to the first round of the Area Tournament!

                                      

Part of the reason I wasn't sure about the breakfast had to do with these shirts pictured above!!  For the first time ever, we ordered playoff shirts!  In a matter of four days (with no school on Monday), we collected money for these shirts.  We had 217 shirts ordered on Tuesday morning.  Wednesday I drove to San Angelo, TX to get the shirts....about a 4 1/2 hour drive.  I wanted to make sure we had time to deliver them Wednesday afternoon for the game the next day.

We arrived at the huge gymnasium.  It was so neat and a fun atmosphere.  My boys and husband got a tour of the facility and the high school from a former teacher and student of THS.  They thought that the whole town of Tipton would have been equal to the number of about one class at this big high school!

Sadly, one of our starters and point guard, Amanda, had emergency appendectomy yesterday morning and didn't get to play.  Without getting down and discouraged, our girls played their hearts out!  Even after getting behind, they came back to within a few points several times.  We lost, but we gave them a good run for the win, for sure!  The girls are done now, but our boys won!  More basketball this afternoon and hopefully tomorrow!

I love this sign on the Yukon gym.  Love what it says!

The teams asked me yesterday if I would feed them breakfast next week.  That would be the State Tournament.  I told them I would - most definitely!!  Then they asked if I would the next week.....after basketball is over.  I loudly exclaimed, "NO!"  :)  It is really a joy feeding these kids.  They appreciate it and I enjoy doing it for them.  Little things.....showing that you care in simple ways.....means a lot to people.  

Take the time to do something for someone TODAY.  If you choose to feed teenagers, they will come! And they will come back for more!  And you will "Shine Like Stars" in doing so.

Have a great weekend!  I'll keep you posted on the playoffs and the quest for the GOLD!

The Least of These

UPDATE AS OF 10:00 A.M. THURSDAY MORNING:  Just over $25,000 has been raised and the matching gift of $25,000 from BREAD FOR A HUNGRY WORLD will be given to this effort, as well! 

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him, sing praises to him;tell of all his wondrous works!

Psalm 105:1-2

Last year our family helped in a great work in Honduras, through the organization called "Torch".   We will be helping this year, as well.  This organization works to raise money to feed the people of Honduras who typically get their daily food from a dump. To most of us, this seems unbelieveable, yet for these people it is a daily reality...unless they are blessed with donations from Christians around the world.

Trey Morgan, minister of the church of Christ in Childress, Texas, is one of the many supporters of this event. He and some fellow Christian friends and family even went to Honduras last year and helped at the dump - feeding the people and teaching them about the love of Jesus.  The stories from his trip were heart-wrenching, but uplifting. 

To see the pictures of the trip and see the faces of the people as they are being supplied with physical food as well as spiritual food, is one of the greatest sights that you could ever imagine.  To be able to be a part of this work is being able to share Jesus with someone you might never have the opportunity to see, but the fruit of that gift is something you will be able to cherish forever.  Helping those in need is what we are called to do as Christians.

If you would like to help support this great work, please visit Trey's blog for more information. The Dump Day Fund 2010 can be found at this link. An organization called Bread for a Hungry World will give a matching $25,000 if this effort raises $25,000. At this time (9:10 p.m. Wednesday night), Trey's effort has raised $19,000.

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:34-40

Wayne's Drive Inn

Last night my four children, one nephew, and I were on our way home from Oklahoma City. We decided to stop and eat at Lawton, which is about an hour from our hometown. We chose Wayne's Drive Inn (http://www.waynesdriveinn.com/home.htm)
and ordered burgers, fries, and pizza.

As we were eating our food on the way home, my 10 year old, Jacob asked me about a Bible verse. He read "Ephesians 4:29, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." This verse was printed on the outside of every cheeseburger bag. Wow! What a neat idea! This is definitely something you don't see very often, but what a good feeling to find that there are businesses who want to spread God's Word to the world.

I would like to hear about companies, restaurants, or businesses that you have in your area that spread God's Word in unique ways. Do you know of any?

I Like Cheesecake!

The true meaning of love, as defined in the Bible, has been corrupted in the common usage of our English language and society. The English language only has one word for love. For example I can say, "I love my husband" and use the same word to say, "I love cheesecake" or "I love my kids" and so forth. Obviously I don’t love cheesecake, I like it. (I know what you're thinking: How can she say that?? "I DO LOVE CHOCOLATE!" I DO LOVE COFFEE!", etc.)

Most often, love is confused with infatuation - that elated, "high" feeling we get when we "fall in love." This kind of "love" is something that lasts typically less than a year, and unless replaced by true love, results in broken relationships. Love in the world is also related to a sexual relationship - only the physical part of a relationship. Love can be mistaken for indulgence. For example, some parents, grandparents, spouses believe that they are showing their children, grandchildren, or spouses true love by the things they give them. But none of these examples are God’s view of love.

The Greek language has five different words for love, of which the New Testament uses two: agape and phileo. Agape love is Christian love and is illustrated in this verse, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13. Phileo love is defined as brotherly love. In John 21:15-16, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him with the agape type of love and Peter responded that he had the normal human phileo type of love for Him. Eventually Peter did come to love Christ with agape love.

So, with which kind of love to you love Jesus? With which kind of love to you love others?

Here are some ways to show agape love to others:When we are patient with others instead of lashing out at them, we are showing God’s agape love.
When we choose to be kind when we are upset about the way someone has treated us, we are showing God’s agape love.
When we are genuinely happy about someone else’s success and not wish that the success was ours, we are showing God’s agape love.
When we are willing to humble ourselves in order to lift someone else, we are showing God’s agape love.
When we are accused of doing something wrong and we don’t retaliate with the words we say, we are showing God’s agape love.

Can you think of some other ways to show agape love?

Love is an action. It is something we do. It should mean something when we say it. God commands us to love others and even though it may seem hard, we can learn to love with an agape-type love.

SCRIPTURES TO PONDER:
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have love you, so you must love one another. John 13:34-35

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

So, I will say I "like" cheesecake, but I'll keep the word "love" for something or someone who can love me back!

What do you think?