YES!!!!!

I got a letter from Princess the other day. This in and of itself is monumental. She's been locked up 2 years and this is my second letter. The thing was, it didn't sound like her. She was opening up about her life, her desires to be married, the difficulties of dealing with her friend's death... I kept looking at how it was addressed to, thinking maybe she was writing a friend and accidentally sent it to me, but it was addressed to me (Big Sis). Then near the end she wrote something like "by the way, I got saved, love and kisses..."

My heart is doing cartwheels. My soul is doing a spirit jive. I am so filled with joy. This has been my #1 prayer for her since I met her, all these 9 years.

Yeah Lover! May she never let go or turn back. May she spiral and dive deeper and deeper into your greatness. May she KNOW that she is whole, and pure and lovely to you and desire you above all others all the days of her life. May she love others and be transformed, heart, mind, soul, body to your glory. May the great adventure begin.

In remembrance and in thanks

I came home today to a little terror. That little terror was my son and he was in a fowl mood. Looking back, I should have done something about it at night, when he'd come to me terrorized by dreams of a crocodile on him- I shouldn't just have rolled over in tired slumbered, but prayed and warred over him. Then maybe we wouldn't have had to battle that croc. all morning.

He didn't want to change out of pyjamas or obey or listen or obey after time out, spanks or the paddle (our newest addition, which I am not too keen on, but have found it quite helpful as a last resort- except today). Even the last resort brought us to a miserable, crying fit standstill. As I held my little 2 year old angry, crying boy, I said we should ask Jesus to come and give him peace. Angry said he didn't want Jesus to come. So then I said we could ask the Holy Spirit for help- NO! came the beligerant reply. Exasperated, I explained that mommy needed a snack and did he want some too (the sneaky food decoy).

Then my son- possessed with some kind of evil, comes out with this kingdom treasure.

He said: we need to break bread like Jesus did.

So I cooked up a tortilla (our favorite bread to break) and poured some heavily diluted wine, took out our picture book bible and sat with my two toddlers in the kitchen and we prayed and ate and drank and took in peace and joy and forgiveness and love.

The day shone a little brighter and cheerier. The Lover had saved the day once again and there was peace and friendship in our home once again.

A couple had shared with our former church how they often took communion together, especially in tense moments or after a fight or argument and also how they welcomed their children to participate. That very morning I had read how the kingdom belongs to the little children, not to hinder them and that we are to enter like they do.

May this become my first response to these episodes. Thanks son for the reminder.

Sweet Sixteen Princess

Princess celebrated her sixteenth birthday in jail Sunday. Nobody went to see her. I've had company and her family didn't find a way out there. This is her second consecutive birthday while locked up. I called her mom tonight to find out how their visit went assuming they had gone. She told me Princess asked her why they didn't ask for me to give them a ride out.

And why should I?

She doesn't write me. She doesn't reciprocate any kind of love, friendship or thanks. She puts on a total front of bravado and lack of emotions towards me. Maybe she really doesn't care if I'm in her life, unless it can get her something she wants, a visit from her family, a ride, diversion... I don't know.

All I know is that my Lover told me to give and give and give, to love even when it hurts, even when there is no reciprocation, especially when it's hard.

I've seen her from a little girl. I made a commitment to be in her life and to be there for her. The Lover gave me a dream that she would be among those rescued from deep darkness because of my involvement in her life.

I can not stop reaching out to her. I can not stop giving to her or loving her- no matter how she reacts or doesn't.

Why are some so offended?

I snagged this video that was posted by http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif who does a stellar job at sharing the dilemmas of homeless people.

Some people have such violently negative reactions to homeless people and I just don't get it.

Another new perspective

One of the refugees pointed out this enigma to me.

Americans get all upset over polygamy and say how it is very wrong, but they defend and promote homosexuality (as a generalization). He went on to say that there are even homosexual churches and pastors, but God never sent fire to destroy a city due to it's polygamy.

(The refugee is not pro-polygamy, but pointing out the dichotomy of American culture's thinking on sexuality). After he said it, I could think of many cases where people have been prosecuted for polygamy in the US.

_____________________________________________________________________

This other new perspective is from our son, who is undergoing the arduous exercises of potty training.

Last night as we read about baby Jesus, he wanted to know everyone's names, including all the shepherds. Then he said that the bed for the baby was no good, that the baby was sad and that he should come to our house. I told him he could come to live in our hearts and he said Jesus could come to his heart. Then he wanted to know if baby Jesus peed and pooed. When he found out he did, he wanted to know if Jesus got stickers and candy for peeing and pooing.

How could I answer that one?

I told him that maybe some day he could ask Mary.

Jenny, our 9 year old worship leader

Jenny and her friend were at our house hanging out as we made supper (which by the way was superb left over food from a friend/chef and some okra from Obiwan that Agent B fried up- so all provided from others). We invited the girls to stay. We crammed in around the kitchen table and Jenny insisted we all hold hands to pray. She said we were like a big family. We asked who wanted to pray, she started it thanking God for many things including the healing in her grandmother, then she told her friend to pray- the friend said "hi", agent B said "hi" too, agent offspring 1 mentioned some things and so did I, then Jenny said that on the count of 3, we all needed to say "I love you God" together.

Food has never tasted so good.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update on Meshell and Ricky- he got to see the optometrist today and his glasses will be ready tomorrow.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Calling all prayer warriors- Princess' mom said she'll be part of a revival this coming weekend. Pray that the LOVER will do something mighty in her heart and tear down the walls she has so carefully imprisoned herself in so that she can be free indeed!!