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We recently became members of the Children’s Museum of Memphis.

One of many attractions offered is a caged toilette.

There is also a scale model of the Mississippi River.

Also, there is a little Kroger.

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 says:

Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Apparently, the things we think are most important (like food, money, above average grades, job security, being successful, a healthy retirement etc), may not be all that important after all. Further, God is willing to let us go without these all-important things in order to focus us on what is important. Him.

Eli Simeon, MABTS student from Nicaragua, is trying to figure out how in the world to open the trunk to this car that was given to his family. Alan Melicks (right) is trying his hand at it.

Sophia is also helping. Kind of.

All the trivialities are part of a bigger design. In and of themselves, they are pointless, but, in the context of a life gifted by a Maker for the purpose of relationship, every dish washed, every diaper changed, every paper filed, every song sung, every word written become designs in the grand tapestry of an intricate story between creator and creation. It’s not pointless. It’s not futile. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Even the most mundane of tasks become meaningful and infused with deep sense of understanding, joy, and love.

There’s no telling what God will do with you if you’ll sell out to him.

Dr. Allison

I love this photo . . . so much so that I put it up top.

Have a wonderful day.

My wife, Amanda (a.k.a. “Super Housemom”), does all the grocery shopping for the Promise House. There’s no doubt a lot of food gets eaten around here. So, grocery shopping usually includes 2 to 3 full carts and about $700 (without paying tax).

It’s a major operation.

Amanda takes several girls with her to help with the carts. Then, when they get back to the Promise House, everyone pitches in putting them up.

We’ve pretty much got it down to a fine art. We’re like a well-oiled machine . . . with robust stomachs.

Each week during the summer I meet with the girls one on one. We talk about how they are feeling about life and check up on their progress. During these meetings, I give them a new verse from the scriptures to be memorizing through out the week.

This week it’s Psalm 37:4.

Me: Here you go, Rachelle. Write this verse down in your notebook. It’s the verse of the week for you to memorize.

Rachelle: Ok.

[Rachelle pulls out her notebook and starts to write. A minute goes by.]

Rachelle: That’s bribery.

Me: What?

Rachelle: Bribery. What this verse says. It’s bribery.

Me: What do you mean?

Rachelle: It says that God will give you what you want if you love him.

Me: . . .

Eventually I was able to get my thoughts together and help her see this verse (and hopefully God) in a non-coercive, non-manipulative context. Just another slap in the face reminding me of the type of relationships in which these girls have been conditioned to function.

I started following Jesus when I was 17 years old (February 7, 1998 to be exact), almost ten years ago. In just under a month I’ll be a double-digit-disciple, a tenured Baptist. Thankfully, God is faithful and he has continually drawn me out to deeper water where it’s harder to reach bottom. That means life gets a little scarier at times, but what pervades everything is the unshakable peace, profound joy, and vigorous love that come with a life fully abandoned to its maker. In other words, life is good. Hard/scary/frustrating/daunting at times. But always good.

Can I get an amen on that?