Treasured Tokens Thursday

This isn't MY actual Bible (mine's in storage, so I was glad to find this one) but it's one that I treasure because it was the very first Bible I ever owned. When I became a Christian in October 1970, I wrote to an organization that I wanted a Bible. I was supposed to get, The Way Bible, but they ran out. They sent these out and wrote a special note about growing in the Lord and praying for me - signed by "The Outreach Staff".

One of the verses that I really love is 1 Peter 5:7 

"Cast all your anxiety on him for he cares for you."

I really liked how J.B. Phillips worded it:

"You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties on him for you are his personal concern."

We take on our own anxieties and they weigh us down so much to the point that we don't know what to do or where to go. Jesus took it all for us on the cross. He took the WHOLE weight because He loves us so much. He took everyone's sin on His shoulders, but it was personal for each of us. He did it for me, for you, for my husband, for each child...for each one of us whom He loves. How awesome is that? And He continues to take our burdens, if we throw them His way. So throw them to Him...He never misses.

Treasured Tokens Thursday

I treasured my time working with the Grace Church Youth Group (Student Ministries). I worked with them for almost 16 years before I stopped going because of the uncertainty of my time in San Luis Obispo. One of the special trips we took together was our Mexico Missions Trip. We went to Tijuana and surrounding areas to build homes for families through Amor Ministries. What a special time of working alongside the students, mixing up the plaster for the floors and the walls, putting up the chicken wire, TAR BABIES, sawing and nailing the walls together. My husband drove the bus for many of those years and loved it! He misses driving the students to their different activities and camping trips. Anyway, the Seniors of the group (and Juniors who became Seniors when school ended) would go on a special lunch "date" with Pastor Ken, and ONLY Ken!!! But...hehehe...he had way too many students and no bus driver one year (actually, I think Dan was busy or something and didn't make it back in time), and he had to get a couple of extra drivers. YAY!!! I got to drive a group and got to enjoy this special time with the Seniors. Then when we got home, I got this frame (and I think the pic) from the class. The students from Grace are incredible workers and helpers and they gave all their energy and time to help people they didn't even know. When we first started these trips, it was during Christmas vacation and we had large groups of students and adults take their vacation time to go to Mexico to build homes for families whose only home may have been one room and help up to eight people. These families were so, SO grateful for the time we took to build their new homes and it was such a special time to be able to say, "We're done. Here is your home." And we prayed and hugged and then had to leave. When we went back each year, sometimes we were able to take time to go back and visit the families we built for the year before or even years before. We even built a church.

 

If your church can do this, check out Amor Ministries and take a group of students. It actually has become a family thing now since a lot of the adults that went on this trip were parents of the students who went. And siblings came as helpers and kept coming when they became Youth students. Well, I've said enough. But I just wanted to say how special this trip is and how special the students and adults are who take the time to work alongside each other to help those who are in need. I may try and write about some of these trips if I can find my notes. Fun times!!!

Insta Friday

I've missed the past two Fridays. I almost feel like posting everything I've done, but I'll not bore you totally. I'll bore you later with separate posts on some things.  :) Here you go:

Helping Liz and Gregg move to Culver City (actually, their official address is Los Angeles since they live on the other side of the street/freeway). She started decorating as you can see. I was just resting and took these two pics figuring I'd use them here. :) So random.

One of my pet peeves (sort of). I remember when a friend, Debbi, shared about returning carts to the cart return area even when you didn't feel like it. It's a service to others and the racks are there for us. They do say "Please" and "Thank You". And just because you know the staff inside will come out to collect them, no matter where they're parked, it's just nice for them if they don't have to go all around the parking lot to find them, wasting time they could be spending serving us inside. Just because people are hired to pick up garbage or people volunteer to pick it up along the freeways, doesn't mean we just toss it out the window. Oh, wait! I guess it does! How hard is it to just have a bag for trash in the car and clean it out when you get home - or have your kids do it? Even with kids, I know it's hard to take extra steps and extra time, but it can happen if you really want to. Unload the groceries and then give the kids a ride to cart return. As they get older, have your kids do it.  :) The other day, there was a woman, alone, who put the cart in a parking spot. Then I saw a couple pass by and they were several cars farther away and the wife (I assume) brought the cart all the way back to the cart return. Anyway, there you have it. I don't do this much. Kind of fun.

I couldn't stand it! I HAD to buy this clock and slinky. Got them at the Salvation Army Store for about $3 total. I have a slinky somewhere in storage, but it has a bend. This one is almost perfect. And I'm not sure where I'll put the clock. Maybe just on a shelf for fun.

Just one rose out of hundreds around our neighborhood. Smelled WONderful!

Coming home from Culver City after having lunch and finding the kids' new apartment (this was before we moved them), we came upon the freeway onramp. It was like an alley. So strange, and I felt a little claustrophobic.

This is a preview of something I'll share later, thanks to Jeannett. She spoke about being "saturated" by God's Word...she has reminders all over her house. As I read this, I started looking around the house and I thought I'd share my reminders. But that's later.

Well, it wasn't as many pictures as I thought. It's your turn. Link up with Insta Friday and share your week. Fun to see others sharing some fun pictures.

INSTAFRIDAY

Treasured Tokens Thursday

This is very special, 1) It was put together by Judi Peet for our going away gathering, 2) there's a funny story behind the funny mustache on Dan, and 3) it has special notes of encouragement from the friends who gathered. It hangs in the middle of six other smaller frames/pics that are also treasures.

Okay, the story...All night long, Ken was reminding people to write a note of encouragement or just sign the matting around our picture. Then he decided to joke around and said something like, "If you want to put a mustache on Dan, go ahead." Well, since we were with adults and not the youth group (where Ken might not have said that - or if he did, he knew someone would), he figured he was safe in saying that. Well, of all people...STELLA!!!! She said Ken told people to do it and she figured she should listen. Can you imagine? The one person, someone who has cared for our little ones for ages, put that mustache on Dan? We couldn't stop laughing all night after we found out. And every time I look at this picture, I just have a warm feeling knowing that these are people who have loved us and cared for us and our kids in some way over the years. And, of course, a chuckle or two for the fun that we have had with them...and Stella's handiwork. :)

Treasured Tokens Thursday

My friend, Noonie, gave this to my for one of my birthdays, I believe. You can barely read it, but it has the verse:

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good."   1 Chronicles 16:34

I treasure it because it is from a good friend, but also because the verse reminds me to give thanks everyday. God is good. And I like that I can change out the flowers when I feel the urge, whether it be for a season or maybe certain colors for a holiday. It's so cool. And it kind of looks good against the old door we have that's never been painted over.