Fire in the Engine Room and other lessons

On Sunday, Pastor Greg spoke about sin being the fire in the engine room that threatens to destroy the journey for all of us. Over the past few weeks God has been speaking into my life about a plan that He has for me but that the enemy wants to destroy my/our testimony. After yesterdays sermon I have put a plan in place. One of the big areas I could see this happening is the area of me dating and possible sexual sin. I want to enter into my next marriage pure. I want Gods hand, blessings, angels everything all over that marriage and I don't want to mess it up with sexual sin. So I am working on a plan.

I have decided that a single man not related to me should never be at my house when it is just the two of us. Nor me at his. I love late night movies on the sofa but I can give those up with my significant someone in order to protect both of us from temptation.

I am also asking two women, whom I admire and have a longer walk with the Lord to walk with me, hold me accountable and help me grow.

All of this has also lead me deeper in my current study. Prepare to find the Love you Desire by Kenn Kington. This study has revolutionized my thought process. I have never been more confident deep in my heart that God has the perfect mate out there for me. My job is to become what I am looking for. This weeks lesson we had to write down the traits we are looking for in a mate. Here are the things I am looking for...hummm decided not to share that. So to the point...We have been encouraged to memorize some awesome Scripture and make it part of who we are.

The 1st one was Philippians 4:8...Finally, brethren, (A)whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

The 2nd one was Galations 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

And our latest is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 We all know this one as the love verse...but how much of it can you write down before reading the rest?....if you are anything like me you knew the 1st 3 or 4. Now here is the whole thing...Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

I am doing all I can to be that person...I want to be held accountable, I want this to become my heart, which in turn will be my mouth. I want to be the light of Christ and not darkness in any ones life. I know that everyone will not like me and that's OK but I want to stand before God and be able to say I did my best! Will you walk this walk with me?

Honduras Situation - Prayer meeting tonight

Please come and join us on Thursday, July 2nd at 6:30 - 7:30 in the Loft at the Long Point Campus (Seacoast) for a time of prayer for Honduras. We will be praying for protection, peace, knowledge and whatever else God places on your heart for the Honduran people.

I know this is last minute but I feel strongly that our prayers are needed now! If you can not make it please spend that time and join us in prayer from where ever you might be.

Feel free to call me
843-367-3655

MaryChris Delcioppo

PS Forward this to all that might join us! The more mouths praying the better...

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:11-12

Hi LAMB Friends,

The italicized email below is from an American investment in Honduras to Senator Kerry. International agencies have decided to support Mel Zelaya, but they do not know the truth of our situation and the danger we face with Chavez. I have copied this letter as an example at the bottom of this email. If sending in letters isn't your style, please continue to pray that our Lord will reveal the truth and guard over the people of Honduras. Also just wanted everyone to know that we will update the LAMB website with news from Honduras.Visit: http://www.lambinstitute.org/

Suzy said today, "Did you see the news today about Honduras? Zelaya has postponed his return. International pressure is still against our interim government, which is holding firm by the way. Please continue to send letters, make phone calls . . . did you see the part about how one of the new cabinet members stated that Zelaya was enabling drugs to be moved from Venezuela through Honduras to the U. S., and that the DEA knows about his ties to organized crime? The DEA has not denied it.

Anyway, the delay will no doubt help our cause, as more and more information will be made available to the world -- such as the SIXTY MILLION LEMPIRAS IN CASH which was found in Zelaya's office, along with tons of envelopes for paying people to "vote" in his "referendum.""

Good Morning,

I’ve blind copied this email to as many people as possible, but please forward to whomever you like.

Based on comments I’ve heard in the media from President Obama and Secretary Clinton and well as from other countries, I am not convinced they understand the facts on the ground, and the threat that President Zelaya represented. CNN has been especially egregious, characterizing President Zelaya as the victim.

Just imagine if Honduras has to bow to international pressure and reinstate Zelaya? I trust we all know that this would be horrible for American investors. Imagine if a US President brought in foreign help to change the constitution so the president could remain in office for life.

I am writing to as many US government officials as possible to ‘get the word out’ that what has happened here followed the legal process for removing a renegade president and that it had support of the courts, congress and the military and the vast majority of citizenry. This was NOT a coup, but a criminal arrest. Hondurans should be applauded for how they handled this!

I hope that each of you will take some time TODAY to put together a brief message for members of our government. The President, the State Department, and the Senate Foreign Relations committee which has oversight of the State Department are all good places to start. Also, contact your own senators and representatives. Attached is a copy of the letter I am sending to as many government people as possible this morning. Please cut and paste any wording you like.

It is urgent that we accomplish this as fast as possible. Please help!

Regards,
Russ
Senate Foreign Relations: http://foreign.senate.gov/about.html

State Department: http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

President: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

House: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Senate: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

US Embassy, Tegucigalpa : http://honduras.usembassy.gov/contact-us.html

Media: (New York Times: oped@nytimes.com , Washington Post: oped@washpost.com , Los Angeles Times: op-ed@latimes.com , Philadephia Inquirer: oped@pjillynews.com , Chicago Tribune: ctc-COMMENT@tribune.com , Yahoo News info@ap.org )

Below is the example letter that Russ Summerell sent to Senator Kerry:
June 29, 2009

Honorable John Kerry
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Kerry:

I am writing to you as an American investor living in Honduras to express my admiration and respect for this country and how its government handled this crisis. They were faced with a difficult situation that was only growing worse. President Zelaya and a small portion of the population tried to highjack the country and destroy democracy in favor of a Chavez-style government. Zelaya was shredding the constitution he swore to protect in order to stay in power past constitutional limits and firmly align Honduras with Venezuela.

President Zelaya was clearly, and more than once, informed officially that his actions were outside of the constitution and law. Given his obedience to Hugo Chavez and Chavez’s money, Zelaya was a traitor to this country in the truest sense of the word.

We hope the US government will quickly realize that the facts of the case show that Honduras should be congratulated and the new government of President Micheletti Bain welcomed into the world community as quickly as possible.

Additionally, under Zelaya, crime has been allowed to soar. This crime wave has disproportionately impacted American investors. There have been numerous murders, stabbings and robberies this year alone. We especially urge the State Department to direct the embassy in Tegucigalpa to become involved in these issues.

Regards,

Russ Summerell

Blessings,
Margaret Merritt
Director of Operations
The LAMB Institute

Adventures in Union

This week I had the honor of going to help with Union County's FCA Power Camp. Power Camp is designed for rising 2nd - 6th graders. They come to camp each day to participate and learn skill in basketball, football, soccer or cheerleading. Each day they have praise and worship, time in their sport and a devotional. It was such a blessing to be there, help James, and meet the people of Union. What a great town.

I had two big God size things happen this week. One requires back groud info, so here it goes. Before I left my Dad gave me $200. I needed something from Walmart before we left, ran in and stuck the cash in my pocket and not my purse. By the next day I realized I had dropped that money out of my pocket and in Walmart. I called to see if it had been turned in and it had not. I was angry, first at myself and then at whoever picked it up. I then began to pray that God would bless whoever had picked it up and that He would change my negative attitude! I had totally let go of the money and knew God would provide. Fast forward from Sunday to Thursday... Nick and I drove to Spartenburg to have lunch and check out a new Christian Book Store. When we were leaving there was a man and his dog who was obviously homeless sitting under a tree. He did not pan handle or even look up at us or anyone else in the parking lot. We got in the car and began to leave and I felt that small voice inside of me that said, "The least you can do is give him $5". I shared this with Nick and we pulled the car back around. I pulled up next to him and gave him the money. We then left to go get Ice cream. It was then Nick said "Mommy, I think God wants us to give him one of the new shirts we got so he does not get a sunburn" So this time we went back and Nick got out, gave the man the shirt and told him why God wanted him to have it. With tears in his eyes the man said thank you! It was an awesome moment and a great discussion for Nick and I the whole way home. Friday morning I was getting dressed and reached into my pants pocket to straighten it out and found my missing $200! These were not the pants I wore that day, I am 100% sure of that! Plus I had spent $50 of it!

My other huge God moment was Friday. If you have spoken to me since I got back, you know I have little to no voice. I began with a sore throat on Tuesday and began praying against illness. I also asked several of my prayer warriors to pray with me on this. Wednesday - Thursday afternoon I felt pretty good. By Thursday my sore throat was back. Friday morning was great with the kids, we had a great speaker and I was to go up and do the alter call. I got up spoke and then prayed for the kids. It was awesome. We had some where around 50 kids make a decision for Christ. The moment I said Amen, my voice was gone. I believe with all my heart the enemy did not want that alter call made and God protected my voice till then end! His timing is perfect!

So today I rest and get ready to head to Girls Basketball Camp on Sunday! I cant wait to see what is around the corner!!!

A Fathers Love and our hearts desire

I got something this weekend. Something went from head knowledge to full heart knowledge. I have read 100 times about God's love, how He has plans for me to prosper me, how he will give me the desires of my heart if I delight myself in him...I can quote it all, I know it ... but this weekend I understood.

Nick turned 7 on Sunday. On Saturday we had a party planned for Splash Island. I had spent so much energy on doing all I could to make it perfect for him. About 30 minutes into the party it began to thunder and we ended up leaving and going home. I was so disappointed, Nick was ok but I hated that I could not give him his hearts desire. On Sunday we had a family party and I could not wait. A few weeks ago Nick came home and asked if he could have a kitten. I said no but began to think...for 2 years he has made little comments about wanting a yellow kitten. I changed my mind and called his Dad and step-Mom for them to help me pull off this surprise for his birthday. I have been so excited because I knew it was his heart desire..he had accepted my no and did not ask any more which made this all the more exciting. I could not wait for him to get his kitten (this is the one he picked out 2 weeks before and said loved him so much!) When he got his kitten his face was so shocked and he looked at me and asked if he really gets to keep her. He was and is so happy...for me giving him his hearts desire was such pure joy!

For years now I have gone back and forth with knowing and feeling strong in the fact that God loves me, knows what is best for me and will grant me my hearts desire and being sad because I would love to have a godly man in my life and possibly get married again in the future. I will get self righteous and name all of the commandments I have followed and all of the places I have been obedient. Wondering what is wrong with me, it has to be me...am I not smart enough, pretty enough, do I have bad breath, to fat...etc. Ive let the enemy beat me up for years on this one. It is my Achilles heel! I am studying a book called Searching for a Superman, Watching for a Wonder Woman...Preparing to find the love you desire. In this I have committed to doing the hard work to be the person God wants me to be and to work on me and me only. I will delight myself in the Lord!

Today I felt God show me that as much as I love Nick and I loved doing everything I can for him to include giving him the desires of his heart...nothing I gave him was something he was not ready for. At the age of 7 I did not buy him a car. He showed me how he loves me more than I love my child ( hard to think that is possible) and that He loves to give me (us) our hearts desire but His timing is perfect and He will not give me something before I am ready.

For me the timing of that lesson was perfect. I think it hit my heart at a perfect time...a time when I really got it...not just in my head but in my heart! And when timing is right he will bring me the man that is the desire of my heart and I will be the desire of his heart also!

Jon and Kate +8

I watched the season premier of Jon and Kate +8. They addressed the stress and the hard time they are having in their marriage. Jon denies infidelity and Kate talks about her hurt. I watched this show with such sadness for this family. So many times you could see such sadness in Jon's eyes and the kids. I watched one of the little girls as she caressed her Dad's face when she was talking to him and the sadness in his eyes...you could see how much he loves those kids. The problem as I see it is the parents have placed the kids above their marriage. At the very end of the show the producers ask each of them what the future holds...they only spoke about why they do what they do and both said it is all for the kids. NEVER did they mention each other and their love. That was so sad! BUT it happens so easily and so under the radar that if you are not intentional about keeping your marriage 1st, all of a sudden the Godly order is out of wack.

I know the pain of infidelity and it rocks you to your core. Do I believe they can survive this, yes but it takes changing what you have done in the past. Healthy marriages don't have affairs and yes it may only be one person having the actual affair but both people contribute to the demise of a marriage. It took me a long time to realize that after my marriage broke up due to an affair that it was more than just the affair... and I had a hand in the demise of it. That was a hard lesson and a hard place to open myself up to. Having survived this I can now look back and see so many places where I would do things differently if God gives me the chance for another marriage.

1. My relationship with God will come first. I can not say I did this at all during my 1st marriage. I had put church and God back on a shelf because he was not a believer. This will never happen again. My joy comes from the Lord and I will not look for my husband, my friends or my child to fill that hole in my life that only God can fill!

2. My marriage and that entire relationship will come 2nd. I know so much more thanks to so many great books (For Women/Men Only, Love Sex and Lasting Relationships, Love Languages, Boundaries, etc) I have also had the chance to heal my wounds and become a whole person. It is like math...if you are 1whole person and the spouse is 1 whole person and God is in the middle...multiply it all out and you get 1...The way it is supposed to be. But if you still have baggage from your previous relationships and you are 1/2 a person and the other person is 1/2...multiply that out and it is 1/4!....that relationship can not last. Do I think that there wont be issues...NO but I know if I have done the hard work in me and so has the other person and we have God in the middle...we will work thru the rest!

3. Kids...3rd...I know that chances are I will marry a man who has kids already. This will create a whole new set of issues and challenges. I will not get married without us going thru the Changing Families Ministry with Tom and Helen Wheeler. I have learned so much thru them already. They have helped me, my ex and his new wife make the correct adjustments for Nick when they were getting married. It has made a huge adjustment for Nick a little easier. You can find info about them at www.changingfamilies.com

All this being said I would love to see Jon and Kate say the heck with the show, pull back to the basics and gain their love and family back. The BEST option for those kids (any kids for that matter) is for Mom and Dad to stay together and rebuild a healthy and happy marriage. I will pray for them in this and pray that as they heal their lives will be a testimony to Gods healing!

Psalm 1 - Day 2

I have been challenged to read Psalms 1 every day for 21 days and to keep a journal in had. I've decided to get back to blogging so I will use this as my journal.
SO Day 1 was just reading the whole verse. It is not very long but back with a lot of great wisdom. I also thought I would read different versions of the Bible with it. So I got on www.BibleGateway.com and began looking. I copied the Amplified Bible version 1st...I like simple!
Today I am reading the New Living Translation and looking at this one line at a time...
Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with the mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

In my 1st glance and the simpleness of my mind so early in the morning I feel like this is reminding me that my joy comes from being in the word and under the umbrella of God. It seems like any time I have stepped out from under that and joined in with petty gossip, followed advice from those who are quick to anger and can lead me down that path are the times that I do not have joy in my heart...it is usually more strife. Hummm, I am dealing with a situation right now, that I need to meditate on those words today and see what I can change...
More tomorrow!

What a single Mom really wants...

The other week someone asked me what do single parents really want and need. My answer is not short but i will try to explain it to those who are out there and really want to know.

First off we all need to realize there are single Mom's and Dad's at all different levels of need. Being a single parent has so many challenges. I am going to speak to my situation.

I have to plan everything because I cant run out for milk, bread or lunch things after Nick goes to bed. It is up to me to do everything from work, dinner, clean house, pay bills, and God forbid anything out of the ordinary come up. I need a support system of people to call on if a pipe breaks, a toilet over flows or some crazy emergency house thing happens. Then on top of that I need to know who I can call on to help me in those times that 1. will charge a reasonable rate and be honest. Or someone who would be willing to help me with things most men can just do! I have some things that need to be hung...don't have enough hands to do it on my own! Help around the house would be a huge blessing. Babysitting so I can do Ministry work and feel like I am a part of the body of Christ. I don't want to be taken care of I just need some extra help from time to time. My personal issue is I wont and don't ask for help and I know 90% of single Mom's out there wont.

One gift I really want is a Godly man who is willing to form a bond with my son and help him grow into the Godly man God wants him to be. You see he has a dad that is a great dad and has never missed a visit with him but his Dad is not a Christian. I want someone who will walk along side of Nick to help him grow spiritually not try to take his Dad's place but add to Nicks growth process! There are manly things I cant do for Nick and I need someone who is willing to stick with him and be that person.

I am going to leave you with a list of ideas on how to help the single Mom or Dad in your own backyard. This is suggestions given to me by other single parents. So step out today and if you have the resource adopt a single parent!

Publix gift cards
Painting inside or outside
Pulling weeds, edging & blowing, sharpen mower blade
Electrical (changing out light fixtures, outlets [for looks or safety)
Plumbing (check for leaks, repair flappers, etc.)
Handy Helpers (re-grouting, fixing leaky roof, etc.)
Car (tire pressure/baldness, oil pressure, change oil, car wash/wax)
Dryer vents are supposed to be changed once a year – do you do that – no, me either – good safety issue.
Clean garage/attic
Babysitting (Mom/Dad’s day/night out or maybe they just want a quiet nap)
Movie tickets
Family games (buy or play)
ALL SORTS OF HOME REPAIRS (I've had plumbing, electrical, things to build, etc)
YARD WORK
CAR MAINTENANCE
SPORTS HELP FOR SONS (teaching how to throw a ball, bat, catch, etc.)

Small groups are great, but so would sort of a mentoring kind of thing. By that, I mean for guys to take us moms and show us how to do things listed above!

Also consider taking a child shopping to buy a small gift for the Mom or Dad. That was a gift given to me last year and it was HUGE!! (In 4 years of being single I had not had a single gift for Christmas, Birthday or Mothers Day...)