Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

Friday, August 26, 2011

Caffeinated Randomness - I'm On the Outside Again

12:01 AM | Posted by Michelle | Edit Post

I was a social loser in high school. Many people I now know are shocked when I tell them this. They think I'm strong and confident. They say I'm a leader. I'm organized. I have it all together. That may be (ok, I really don't have it all together), but I was still a social outcast in school. I was a member of the Library Club and fringe member of Student Council (I was one of the lackies). I played Mrs. Lynch in our school's version of Grease. I was a member of the Health Squad - a group in support of healthy lifestyles in our school. Ironically, all my friends were smokers. I had good grades. I did not hang with the cool kids, nor did I dress like them, nor did I go where they went. I went my own way. I tread through the path less travelled and it was difficult. I was tormented and ridiculed. Because I chewed gum - a lot - the cool boys decided that it would be great to call me "Chewy" and not in a nice way. In fact, a few years after high school while walking down the road, two of the boys referred to me as that. It just goes to show that girls really do mature faster than boys.

Now that I am adult, I pretty much am a leader. When I struggled to find a Bible study group, I roped some friends into starting one. When I wanted to do Big Cook, I again roped some friends into one. I don't care what people think of me (ok, not too much). I pretty am "a what you see, is what you get" person. I'm loud and outgoing. I'm a social butterfly. I love to be part of a group.

Now you may be wondering where this is going. I've become the outcast again. No, no, not because of the move. Even though until the fall, I have felt out of sorts here in town. But on Twitter. I have 131 followers (25% of which are probably people just wanting me to do business with them), but yet I can post a tweet and have no responses. When we first moved, I suffered from depression for a while. I tweeted that I could use prayer as I was struggling. Only one person responded. I'm not asking for a million responses, but I thought I had more twitter friends than that.

It seems to me that I'm also an outcast in some respects because I don't homeschool, but send my kids to school. I don't think this is a conscious division. I have many homeschooling friends who I love to chat to. But many of the tweets I see all have to do with homeschooling, or curriculum or organzation. These are great things and I'm glad for my homeschooling friends. My husband and I have made the decision that the kids will go to school. I'm sure that if we homeschooled that we would do quite well. I don't think, however, if we homeschooled that someone wouldn't get hurt by the end of the day and it wouldn't be me. My children are just like me - independent. They do very well when being taught at school and thrive in that environment. It also allows me time to get things done around the house and spend time with the Tormentinator. Once he's in school, I'll have to figure out what to do at that stage.

The last reason that I feel like I'm an outcast is that I'm not going to Relevant 11 and I'm tired of hearing about everyone going. Yes, it is pure jealousy. When you see all the tweets about it, you can become resentful and feel left out. I actually think this is regarding all the conferences that I miss out on. I live in Canada. We have one conference that I would probably want to go to - Blissdom. This is held in Toronto. The flight cost alone is almost $1000. The flights to any where in Canada can get prohibitive. It just is. If there were a conference in the province where I live, I probably would go; but there isn't and it seems like most of the conferences I want to go to are all in the Southern States. It is actually cheaper for me to fly to Europe than Eastern Canada or the Southern States. That's it, we need to hold a bloggy conference in Europe and then I'll go.

I know I'm whining. I really am not an outcast. Twitter isn't how I value myself. But I can see where social networking can lead to depression. If you feel like being my twitter friend my handle is @lostinprairies. That is if you can tweet with the social outcast I am.

Come link up with your randomness today.

Labels: Caffeinated Randomness, Outcast, Twitter | 7 comments

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Wednesday's Voice - Uganda

12:01 AM | Posted by Michelle | Edit Post

Wednesday's Voice started out as place where I could share my husband's aunt's tireless work with Voice of the Martyrs. Each week she prepares and e-mails out bulletins asking churches to pray for those being persecuted for their faith. I will be continuing this as I think it is important to pray for those who are being persecuted for that which we in the western world take for granted. That simple right to gather and worship without fear of persecution.

I am going to add something to Wednesday's Voice from now on. After the weekly prayer for the martyrs, I also will be adding a linky prayer request list. Many of us are hurting and struggling through our own trials and longing for a place to go for prayer. I am hoping that this will be a safe place. If you place a prayer on the list, I would ask that:

1 You pray for the person above you; and
2 You pray for the weekly persecuted church

I know that our voices will be heard in praise and prayer for each other and for those who cannot speak on their own behalves.

Ugandan Christian brutally imprisoned by Muslim father
Source: Compass Direct

A 14-year-old girl in western Uganda remains in frail health 10 months after her father tortured her for leaving Islam for Christianity. In March 2010, Susan Ithungu came to faith in Christ after an evangelist came to speak at her school in Isango village, Kasese district. A month later, news reached Susan's father that she had converted to Christianity. He warned her and her brother, Mbusa Baluku, against attending church or listening to the gospel message, threatening to kill them in broad daylight if they embraced Christianity. Susan was then locked in a room with no sunlight. Her brother was warned against telling anyone of her imprisonment, but would secretly bring her food and water.

>In October 2010, Mbusa finally told the neighbors about his sister's situation. They then reported the case to the authorities and police freed her. Susan was extremely weak and unable to walk or talk. "Her hair had turned yellow, she had long fingernails and sunken eyes, and she looked very slim, less than 20 kilograms," said one pastor. Her father was arrested shortly afterward but quickly released. At last report, Susan was still struggling with her health -- unable to walk, but able to talk and eat soft foods. "The great news is that Susan is still strong in the Lord Jesus Christ," the pastor said. "She needs prayers and support, so that she can resume her education soon."

Thank God for Susan's rescue and pray for her continued healing.

Pray many Christians will be emboldened by her story of persevering faith and confidence in Christ (Hebrews 10:32-39).

Pray for safety for her brother. Ask God to bring her father to repentance and that he, too, will come to know Christ as Lord.

Labels: martyrs, prayers, Wednesday's Voice | 4 comments

Monday, August 22, 2011

Who am I reflecting?

11:17 PM | Posted by Michelle | Edit Post

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 NIV'84

A few weeks ago during the Imperfect Wives show on submission, this verse came up in the discussion. I have heard this verse. I have read it a few times. But until that show, I never really thought about it and the implication it means to my life.

I go through life just doing and usually not with a great attitude. I often start out the day with full intentions to live life the fullest. I have a "rosy" attitude. By the end of the day my glasses are "fogged over." I am stressed. I am angry. I am frustrated. I am probably not a very nice person to be around. I snap. I argue. I have even been known to "shut down" and hide out in a book.

But this verse changes that. It is not about me and how it is going to make me feel. It is really about HIM. Am I doing everything I do with the thought about how it makes me feel or look or about how it makes God look? We are but a reflection of Him. Everything we do should be done to make Him look good. If my attitude is bad, how am I reflecting God to my husband or my children? Does it help me to build them up or encourage them? When I whine and complain about my life to my friends, how am I showing them I trust God? I am not saying you have to be a "shiny happy" Christian all the time. But if all we do is gripe, complain and give up then how can we honesty acknowledge that what we are doing is for Him?

Lately when I have asked my 8 year old to do minor chores (ie. pick up toys; brush hair; make bed; etc..), I have been getting the rolling eyes; the stomping of the feet; and a bit of griping. I have been calling her on it, but really she has been taught by the best.

Now is the time to be transformed and renewed. It is the time to change my attitude and glorify God in all I do - even doing the laundry. It won't be easy. It will be worth it.

I'm linking up with a great bunch of ladies at the Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood at Finding Heaven.