I'm not pretty, I'm beautiful.

1 Sam. 16:7 "Do not consider his appearance nor his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Remember the skits at girls' camp? Cinderellas and their two headed prince, the pageant with Miss california and Miss New Jersey? Tuesday will be the first bible study with the girls. We're going to be doing a pageant skit to show how David was anointed as king of Israel. Beauty of the heart is a fun, but very timely topic for us as young women. Alot of us worship the idol of physical appearance. Holy Father, give us the grace to turn from it and worship you alone. Purge our lives of idolatry and make us beautiful in your sight, to your glory. Amen.
Pray for us, that the Lord might make us bold with the Gospel story and full of creative and appealing ways for the girls to experience the Truth and grow in their relationship with their God.

It's like riding a bike...

So mom and dad know I've called home pretty discouraged the past few days. I know that the kids aren't perfect, but I don't know how to deal with them successfully yet. It's something that takes practice, a LOT of practice, patience, perseverance, and prayer. And because I've prayed for the others and I have my momma's way of sticking with something, I've got faith in Christ to work in my heart and mind to adapt me to working here. I'm glad I can call them, and talk to the houseparents. They make great training wheels for this future teacher.

Someday I'm gonna ride on eagle's wings. Right now, I'm gonna ride the grace of God.

Bible study went well. The girls enjoyed the activity about making goals for themselves using the letters of their names. The posters they made were awesome, glittery-sticker-covered Godly goals. Please pray for the bible study. I am struggling with managing the girls. The girls are struggling to overcome self. (I'm struggling with that too, but today, God's winning).

Shout out to my little piccolos! I am praying for you!

The Sound of Music featuring Piccolos of Peace

hey guys this is the words to the song we wrote.
 
 
Camp memories
(to the tune of Rain drops on Roses)
(The sound of music)
 
Raindrops on people who run from the storm
Bight copper sunshine that warms up our toes
Freezing cold showers and bugs in our beds
These are a few of our Camp memories
 
Nineteen inch Barbies and boogers in noses
Searching in garbage for lids and retainers
Skipping CD's and popping balloons
These are a few of our camp memories
 
When the storms rage
And the bugs bite
When we're feeling gross
We simply remember our camp memories
And then we can laugh out loud.
 
So many fashion shows all in a row
We had a plan but they got us instead
Singing our camp cheers each morning at eight
These are a few of our camp memories
 
Too much good food, can't eat any more
Skits in hot weather and candy galore
Singing our camp song that's way too long
These are a few of our camp memories
 
When our Flashlight is getting dim
And we can't find our way
We simply remember these camp memories 
And then we won't lose our faith
 
hope this reminds you all of all the fun times we had practicing our cheer and skit and just hanging out at the cabin.  I had a great time and was very sad to say goodbye to all of you.  Have a wonderful summer and never forget that Jesus loves you and i do to.
 
Love forever,
    Samantha Ginzel

A very merry un-birthday, to me? to me. --The March Hare

Oh, what a beautiful morning! Oh, what a beautiful day! I've got a beautiful feeling, everything's going my way! It's starting to drizzle here in Inianizzle. There are flash flood warnings through tomorrow night. But the foreboding of weather is no match for our Creator's gifts today. He gave good sleep, a yummy breakfast of blueberry splatcakes (I'm not good at making my pancakes in circles.), and a good talk with mom, dad, and clint. I miss you, my family. Have a great birthday, Mommacita. I hope your lunch with Barb goes well (it was my idea!)

Anyway, check out Psalm 134:1-3. May our Lord Jesus bless thee Outa ZION, man!

The Word of the Lord

Psalm 37:23-25

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Let's all keep our fathers in our prayers. The mantle of leadership is heavy, and not without its pain.

Love you, Daddy. You're a good man.

Orchestras...or is it Orchestrae...maybe it's Orchestri.

I love listening to our local radio broadcast of the Moody network. I love the full Orchestral arrangements of our dear hymns. It turns my thoughts toward heaven and the music we'll make there. Dear Lord, could I be a Piccolo of Peace someday?

My jr. high girls camp cabin is named the piccolos of peace. I thought I'd be a trombone or a trumpet. But the Lord knows those kind of instruments come a bit too naturally already and that I could use the gentle exhortation to be more peaceful.

Tammy S. and I are co-counselors!! I love that chicky! Anyway, we've decided to do a red,white, and blue room with my "Rosie the Riveter" poster (with her "All things through Christ" tattoo) as the tie-together. Not that we support tattoos. We don't. Not on jr. high girls in any case. I'm going shopping for blue polka dot material for bandanas today! How cool is that!

Prayer Requests for Camp: That each of the girls gets all of the heart I've given my Lord. That special friendships are begun amongst the girls and between the girls and their counselors. and that Our Holy, Loving Father be lifted up and glorified. Amen.

It's 2:38 AM Central Time

Someone tell that coyote outside to SHUT UP! Turn off that moon, i can't sleep with all that light coming in. And who put these 15 pillows on my bed, I'm about to suffocate!

You know how the night before you go on vacation, you can't sleep? You wake up every few hours to see if it's day yet? I've got that going on, except I'm not going on vacation. I'm going to the dentist...and I hate going to the dentist. It's such a guilt trip. He'll tell me to floss more. I'll tell him that I'll floss more. I floss more for about 2 weeks.

*sigh. Such is life.

Wagons East.

It's quiet. Too quiet. (crickets chirping, rocking chairs creaking, and in the distance, an old man coughs) I'm anxiously awaiting moving day. Mom isn't. Last night during IKE, I asked Dad if he'd get me a piece of Clint's graduation cake; Mom said, "I'll get it...if you stay this summer." I'd love to Mom. I like home. I like watching my Dad work and watching him play (he's building a lake, boys!) and I like wrestling with my ol' dawg. But I gotta go. I gots to have the presence of mind that knows I'm doing what God made me to do. Work with kids. Love 'em. Wrap them up in my heart and let them wipe their nose on it if they want to. Prayer request: That I don't get so caught up in "loving" them that I forget that love means integrity, honesty, and saying "No."

Lord, thank you for all the people that have loved me with real love. Love that says no when it must, love that sets boundaries and in kindness enforces them, love that confronts sin. Thank you for love's hugs, it's prayers, it's words, it's quiet presence. Thank you for my parents.