friday night at the movies

every friday night in the Hemphill home is "movie night". the kids have come to love it and anticipate our time together. they love it so much because we eat popcorn and lay on the bed together while watching a movie. i have to admit...Dad loves it too.

tonight, we watched a preview DVD of The pirates who don't do anything...a veggietales movie. it has lots of songs to dance and sing to. so, we had a great time together.

sidenote: due to brennan (our 3 year old) eating popcorn on our bed...we now have a comforter filled with little white specs of corn and a few kernels. i guess if i get hungry while sleeping tonight...i can just grab a snack in bed. or we could have breakfast in bed...nothing like some popcorn to wake up to.

brennan...thanks for reminding me that, at the end of the day, who gives a rip if you get a little popcorn on the bed, as long as you enjoy the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (that has some spiritual parallel...i think!!)

the beauty of community

tonight, our small group met in a home for supper, fellowship, and hanging out. had a good time shooting hoops with the guys and watching the kids play together. the ladies gathered like hens, in the kitchen, to share stories and "women-stuff" (what exactly do women talk about when they get together??? makes you wonder...)

anyway, at the end of the night, we had a quick, informal "check-in" to see how everyone was doing. melody and i were able to share honestly about some challenges we were facing. instead of having to carry the mantle of "leaders", this group/family allows us to be a real couple with real struggles. they encourage us to share and be ourselves. they listened, shared encouraging words, and prayed for us.

as they prayed, i sensed the sure presence of God and i felt a wave of relief come over me. my pride almost kept me from sharing...but i am so glad i did. God ministered to me through my brothers and sisters. i saw the body of Christ at work tonight.

i am coming to see how rare of a gift this truly is. honestly, few ministers have this type of community. most ministers have to be "on" and always there for somebody. few ministers experience a group where they are allowed/encouraged to be honest and share struggles. this feeds the isolation and loneliness that most of us ministers deal with regularly.

so, i am learning to lean. learning to trust. learning to entrust myself to others and let them fight for my heart.

thank you, God my Father, for allowing me to experience the beauty of community.

Refuge

*shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.: to take refuge from a storm.
*a place of shelter, protection, or safety.
*anything to which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape.

2 Samuel 22:3my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent men you save me.

Psalm 9:9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 18:2The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 59:16But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 118:8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

Nahum 1:7The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,


So, this morning, I asked God to give me a word...speak to me. I woke up feeling overwhelmed by circumstances and things out of my control. I was starting to focus on so much junk that gets me down and oppressed. Over the last year, finances tends to be a "standard" thing the enemy uses to defeat and oppress us. Wondering how in the world we will make it and how to pay the bills. I know, in my head, that God will provide and that He honors obedience. I know that God does not direct and then abandon...that is not His heart.

But, my crazy feelings and emotions get in the way. But what if He doesn't? What if we go under and lose it all? What if we fall flat on our face?

So, I asked God to give me a word today...something I could hold on to and gather strength from...Refuge. Came across this word several times in a study I'm doing and in scripture. And the call was to worship God as my Refuge. Worship Him and praise Him for being my very present Help in time of trouble.

Worship? today? are you serious? When circumstances look grim...when finances are empty...when I am oppressed and feel defeated...worship? I guess this is where the faith/worship thing is so counter-human. It runs against everything that I want to do...I have to choose it.

So, this is my plan for today...worship God as my Refuge. This is the heart of my God. He will shelter and protect me. I must trust Him.

I think I will also memorize this verse...
Psalm 118:8: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

the publishing journey

Been a long time dream...i mean a long time dream...to one day write and publish a book. I can trace it back to 4th grade with my teacher, ms. burnette. everyone had, i hope, a ms. burnette in your early years. she was an amazing teacher who saw things in me i could not see. she gave me my first journal and said "one day, you'll write a book." ms. burnette did not realize the seeds she was planting during those innocent, 4th grade days. (sidenote: i hope to one day see ms. burnette and thank her...that would be an awesome moment.)

over the years, i have always loved reading books and writing. melody will tell you that our garage is packed with books to fill the shelves. just always had a love for books and the impact they have on people's lives and on my life.

so, several years back I had written a devotional book on the psalms. it laid dormant for several years...used in a few settings, but not too much. last december, though, God clearly told me to go back and edit the writing. so, i took about 3 months to edit and get it together. then, spent some time working together a book proposal. finally, about 2 weeks ago, melody and i sent it off to about 15 publishers.

this past week, i have received 3 letters back. all of them rejection letters...but i have to say they were nicely written. all of them said that they were looking for other materials right now...like children's publications. so, even though it was a "no", i was still encouraged through them.

there is a local friend who is willing to help me self-publish, if we decide to go that route. so, we can atleast make them available through the ministry.

overall, though, I am real excited to actually be getting some letters back. I'm excited to see what God is going to do through all of this. the call to write is strong. i sense that God wants us to do more of this...to get the message of freedom and life out to people. excited to see what the next pages hold...