Basketball Ministry

A 'Shiner"

Matthew 5:16 (The Message)
14-16"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

My husband came home last night from his weekly basketball ministry with a small red place on the corner of his eye. He told me one of the high school boys accidentially head-butted him. Much to his surprise early this morning, he woke up with a 'shiner.' His eye is encirled with hues of maroon, brown, blue, black and red. OUCH!

Three years ago the Lord put it on my husband's heart to start a basketball ministry for a local ministry here in Monroe called Restoration House Ministries led by Pastor Dom Duarte.

The purpose of Restoration House is to reach out to lost and broken people with immediate focus on the homeless, men and women who have been released from the prisons, jails and are coming off the streets. The ministry seeks to provide them an environment conducive to building and discipling them for the Lord Jesus.
It is the desire of this ministry to see all those who enter Restoration House touched radically by the hand of God. It is the expectation of Restoration House that the love of Jesus Christ, flowing through the staff and those who take part of this ministry will change lives for society, but more importantly, will change those lives for the Kingdom of God !

When my husband began the basketball ministry for the men at RH, the Lord immediately began showering His blessing on it. Men, teenagers and even some women attended the Tuesday Night Basketball, playing ball side by side of men that many see have no purpose or use for society. Doors began opening where former prosecuters, judges, sheriffs and arresting officers of these men got into the game. Shoulder to shoulder shooting 2 and 3 pointers..... and realizing the RH guys weren't any different than they were....just made some poor choices and got 'caught.'

Tuesday night basketball has become something our family looks forward to. Our teenage boys attend with their dad along with alot of their friends who bring friends who bring friends. A time opened in prayer, individual ministry done as the game is played and lasting mentoring of unlikely relationships for eternity. All because my husband said yes to God. Thank you Kent. I pray your 'shiner' heals quickly as you go public being a light bearer for Him; with the various colors dancing around your eye a reminder that the Lord colors many paths for many purposes.

Proverbs 24:11-12 Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help.If you say, "Hey, that's none of my business," will that get you off the hook?Someone is watching you closely, you know— Someone not impressed with weak excuses.

Mirror Image

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

FREE Caribou Coffee Today

Go and grab a cup of freshly brewed java today at Caribou Coffee. It is completely on the house from noon until closing time today. They are doing this promotion to recognize their rival, Starbucks decision to no longer sell decaffeinated coffee after a certain time of the day. Works for me!

The Rising of the Sun and The Risen Son

The Risen Son

The Lord's creation continues to amaze and awaken me. The way He speaks to His people through creation generation after generation gloriously unfolds His love for us. So many times our busyness steals away His beauty and gifts he wants to display in our lives.

The children and I spent a few days at my parents home this week. On one of the mornings, my dad and I sat and visited as the beautiful sunlight streamed through the

large glass windows. The sun's warmth and it's cascading light settled in and captivated us. My dad said how much he loves the sunlight..how it refreshes and revives him and makes him come alive. He is so right. This beautiful light the Lord created on the first day of creation when he proclaimed in Genesis 1:3, "Let there be light."



The sun gives us so much...so frequently. For me, each new day greeted by the beautiful sunrise reminds me that God is still in control. And yes. He does care about each and every need, care, pain, and uncertainity I will face that day. Just as He cares about yours. He is a big God.

Then it hit me. Just as the Lord gives us a beautiful rising sun each day, more importantly He gave each of us an ultimate gift of His risen Son. Jesus. The name above every name. It saddens me that the world can't see the risen son as they see the risen sun. Not yet. A heaviness loomed in my spirit as the Lord began putting names and faces of people I knew who haven't come to know God's Son. However, I pray their veiled faces will be illuminated soon.

A time will come when everyone will turn their eyes on God's risen Son. It's a promise from the Lord.

May I continue to slow down and gaze upon the beauty of His holiness. The beauty of His creation. The sunlight of the morning and the sonlight of a Saviour. He is truly the light of the world.

Photo Credits: Hayley Wilkinson, my 16 year old daughter

He Makes ALL Things New

Happy New Year!

It is a season of new beginnings...

For the past several years our family has chosen a Scripture that we stand on throughout the entire year. Some of us individually choose a verse. Do you have a verse for 2009?

Our verse for 2008 was Philippians 3:13

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

Our family takes the Word of God literally. We have been even been questioned of that by some of those looking from the outside in, however when 'those people' find themselves against a wall, guess who they call for prayer and counsel?

You see, the Bible is the only book that is living...active...sharper than any double edge sword. It is Truth. It has been tried and tested for ages and ages..it's something real and relevant.

Hebrews 4: 12 says....For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Our family verse for this year is still in prayer and I will post it soon. There are so many. God's Word is so rich and powerful. The more I dig in it, the more the Holy Spirit unearths.

The word on my heart for 2009 is freedom. Thus, my individual verse for 2009 is Galatians 5:1

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

The Message Bible says it this way:

1 Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.

The Lord intended for all of us to live in freedom. A real freedom in a real person. A freedom that lasts. Christ has set us free to live. Abandonment.

I do hope you will leave a comment on a special verse the Lord reserved for you this year. Join me on the next post as we dig a little deeper in Galatians 5:1.

I want to leave you with our 2007 Family Verse....

Revelation 21:5 (Amplified Bible)
5And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine).

It's The Little Things

It's the 'little things' that make a difference. On this Christmas Eve, I am reminded of the little things that are blessings in my life and many that I take for granted...

~when my husband makes my coffee the night before

~having my sister visit each year before Christmas

~the way my daughter lovingly fluffs and decorates our nest

~when my sons take out the trash without being told

~having my cats curl in my lap while I am reading a book

~forgiveness and grace

~a friend calling to meet for coffee

~having parents that love the Lord and their family

~getting a spontaneous hug from a teenage son

~running into old friends you haven't seen in forever and picking up right where you left off

when my husband calls to see if there is anything I need

~forgiveness and grace

having real friends who drop by unannounced

~seeing the sun rise and knowing God is still in control

~watching the Lord unveil His plans for our children's future

a goldfinch feasting at my feeder after 3 years of asking the Lord to send them

when my children ask, "Mom, what can I do to help you?"

~forgiveness and grace

~Christmas cards arriving from longtime friends

~that our teenagers actually enjoy hanging out with family

when my husband calls to go on a date

when someone says 'thank you'

~knowing I am walking in God's plan even when the evil one throws bumps in the road

forgiveness and grace

~a holy night when the Saviour of the world came in flesh to redeem my sins

~and yours.

~and the faith to believe it.

Merry CHRISTmas.

Christmas Baking

Christmas Baking: Cranberry-Orange Pecan Bread

A favorite part of our family's Christmas is making homemade goodies. My son and I whipped up some yummy cranberry bread and wanted to share the recipe.

Our yard has six 100 + year-old pecan trees. We have gathered

them for over 3 weeks and they are still falling!

Turner is grinding them in the coffee grinder.

He is mixing the ingredients...he has such a servant's

heart and a wonderful helper.

He is putting the yummy batter into star-shaped bread molds.

...very meticulously...

Into the oven they go!

Even my oldest son got into the baking fun.

They came out beautifully.

We are headed out now to deliver them to

neighbors, family and friends....

It's the little things...

Cranberry-Orange Pecan Bread (from my friend and neighbor, Rachael)

1 1/2 cups white sugar or brown

1/2 cup melted butter

1 3/4 cup orange juice

2 large eggs, beaten

1 tsp. salt

5 c. flour ( I use wheat or unbleached)

1 Tbs. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

2 cups chopped pecans (or other nut)

1 bag cranberries whole or crushed ( I use whole :) )

Mix butter, sugar and eggs

Add salt and powders

Add flour, then cranberries and nuts

Butter tins

Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.