michellesingleton.com // Confessions of the Preacher’s Wife

Right now it is 17 degrees.  Very cold by North Carolina standards.  We’ve got lots of ice ~ very little snow ~ but lots of ice.  I did not even leave the house for one minute on Saturday.  Don’t remember the last time I stayed in my sweats and hung out inside all day!

I thank God for days like Saturday.  For giving us time to rest and reconnect as a family during unexpected ice storms.  Bring out the hot chocolate, old movies, and build a fire… does it get better than that?

Enjoy your Winter Wonderland!

Pictures courtesy of Seattle Times website.

As our missions team worked at the warehouse (see yesterday’s blog), we talked about Mexico and other impoverished areas around the world that are hurting, including Haiti and the terrible devastation that has followed the January 12 earthquake and the aftershock.  We’ve all seen the heart-wrenching stories in the news.

Nathan, our 12 year old, had just completed a report on Haiti.  He reminded us that even before the earthquake Haiti carries the following stats:

• poorest country in the western hemisphere
• 1 out of 8 children die before they reach 5 years old
• Life expectancy is 53
• Only 50% population can read
• 80% don’t have clean water to drink

And now the earthquake. 

How much can one group of people take?

Haiti’s situation was heavy on our whole team.  We were all saying: “I want to go there.  I want to help them.”  But the reality is, Haiti is in a state of turmoil and chaos and needs trained emergency rescue professionals right now.  There will be time for Southbrook to go to Haiti. 

“Not now,” is a Reality that just didn’t seem good enough.  Pastor Rob was very distressed over the many Haitians who are dying every day and have not even heard of the hope that Jesus offers.  Pastor Daryl and our team, came up with a brilliant way for us to help… and for you to have an opportunity to make a difference in Haiti.

On Friday, February 5, the GAL Friday Band has generously volunteered to provide a benefit concert for the Mexico Missions Team.  Because they are giving the concert (100% giving… they’re not taking a dime) to benefit Southbrook’s mission work in Mexico, our team decided to give back part of the money we raise to help Haiti. 

We are asking you to join us in our mission and Haiti relief efforts on Friday night, February 5 from 8-10 for the concert, dessert and coffee.  Make it a date night or come with your friends, family, or small group… bring your neighbors… Gal Friday Band, has a sound that features a blend of bluegrass, country, pop, and gospel music… their awesome! 

This is a really neat way to introduce your friends to Southbrook.  

Get your tickets in the Lobby of Southbrook Church during office hours, during Sunday services or Wednesday evenings. http://www.facebook.com/l/7c76d;www.southbrookchurch.com

For more information, visit  http://www.facebook.com/l/7c76d;www.galfridayband.com

Tickets can also be purchased online at www.southbrookchurch.com and are only $10.00 guys… and all of it –- every penny — goes towards missions.  We’d love to hang out, share the music and have dessert and coffee with you.  If you already have plans for that Friday night, you’ll miss out.  But you don’t have to be left out.  You can still make a donation to benefit missions and provide relief for the hurting in Haiti.

Come on out and join us!

Our mission team spent this past Saturday working in the warehouse at Samaritan’s Feet.  We sorted shoes, laced shoes and packaged shoes for shipment.  These shoes will go all over the world providing relief and comfort for impoverished, shoeless people.  The 8 minutes that it takes to wash someone’s feet and put their shoes on is critical.  This is the one-on-one time that we will have with the Mayan villagers to make a connection and tell them about God’s love — that He loves them and He wants to know them!  And that there is hope for them through Jesus Christ.  We get more and more excited for our trip every day!  Thank you for your continued prayers.

Take a look at the warehouse…

Here are a couple of lines from the Newsboys’ song that I played in  my Cycle Class this morning at the Y:

Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
Our Father’s dawn will light our day, our day
Come on and stay strong
His grip is sure
And His patience still endures
There’ll be no letting go today, no way

Come on, and stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We’ve come too far to lose our way, our way

This song motivates me to stay the course — focusing on the prize that lies ahead.

One of our early morning workout junkies is going through a tough time.  He has cancer and is undergoing chemo treatments.  He, his wife and I have worked out together for years at 5:30am.  There is a bond that occurs among a group that works out at that hour — some call it insanity!

My friends have been overwhelmed at the “outpouring of love, care and concern” from their fellow workout junkies .  They’ve been the recipients of phone calls, emails, visits, meals, cards, driving to doctor appts., and most importantly prayer.  Both of them agree that they have felt the love of Christ during this challenging journey.

Sometimes “staying strong” means running by someone’s side down a long, hard road — encouraging them to stay the course with their eyes focused on the prize that lies ahead.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 

1 Cor. 9:24 (TNIV)   

Three Amigos!

We are having so much fun preparing for our Mexico Missions Trip.  This week we had a “Fiesta” with all the families going… 37 really neat folks in our home.  Fun and crazy with Big Hearts for reaching out to others!  Take a look at the pictures following Manny’s quote.

I have mentioned before that our church, Southbrook, is partnering with Samaritan’s Feet, a ministry that was started by a man named Manny Osbonme.  As a child, Manny lived in Nigeria.  His life was changed the day someone gave him a pair of shoes.  He had never known such kindness and God used the love behind those shoes to open Manny’s heart and he put his trust in Jesus Christ. 

Manny wanted to help children and adults around the world  by placing shoes on their feet and giving them the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Manny is doing just that.  Through this ministry, God has provided millions of shoes to impoverished children and adults in America and around the world.  How?   By teaching them a biblical story of faith, hope, and love, demonstrating those truths in touching them by washing their feet, and treating them to a new pair of shoes and socks.

Here is a quote from Manny:

“My life, all that I have, all that I am, and all that I have been given, is too valuable to simply be hoarded for my own temporary purposes.  I choose to invest.  I choose to give.  I choose to serve.  I choose to make a difference.  I choose to leave a lasting legacy.”

The four Singletons have adopted this quote as our 2010 Family Motto.  Will you join us?

Here are some pictures from our team Fiesta:

More coming….

We had the privilege of having my parents visit for a couple of weeks over the holidays ~ they headed home yesterday. 

Juliana asked, “Mom, why can’t Grandma and Granddaddy live with us?”

I never know how to answer these questions.  I simply shook my head and offered her a hug.

Juliana continued, “Every time they go home it breaks my heart.  It is a very sad way to live.”

Grandparents are so important.  I am thankful that Juliana has so much love in her heart for my parents.  Indeed, Juliana is very blessed.

I am reading Sarah Palin’s book Going Rogue — An American Life.  Very interesting.  She definitely knows the meaning of Constancy of Purpose ~ being committed all the time ~ staying focused or “on purpose” no matter what setbacks or obstacles come.  Playing to win ~ living to win.

Vince Lombardi put it this way:

“Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit.”

Winning doesn’t happen to the brightest or cutest or strongest.  It happens to those who are commited to constacy of purpose ~ to those who make a habit of winning ~ to those who do things right all the time.

Obstacles do come.  Setbacks happen.  Discouragement lurks around the corner. 

I must ask myself,

Michelle, are you commited all the time?  Are you living to win?  Do you have constancy of purpose?  Are you doing everything right?

Inspiration from Sarah Palin.  Something to think about…

So this is an update to yesterday’s blog…

For the past several days, Nathan has displayed an interest in his appearance without any prompting from mom or dad.  He has been combing his hair, taking 2 showers a day, requesting that I purchase some new shirts that are better choices for “his style” and even noticed that his pants have become high-water flood pants.  Would I please take pick up some longer jeans and pants while I was shopping for the “in-style” shirts?

Why the fuss over his appearance all of a sudden?  Nathan did not reveal that to me.  But who am I to complain?  This is the kid who wore the same shirt and shorts to school for an entire week to avoid “excessive wear and tear on our washing machine and dryer!”  Yep.  That’s what he told me.

Could it be that this recent interest in girls is having a positive impact on his life?  Perhaps my plug for cleanliness was heard?  An answer to prayer?

Don’t know… but when I was discussing what valentines Juliana might like to make for her class, Nathan made certain I knew that no valentines were exchanged in middle school.  However, he also whispered (gotta keep some things from a little sister) that he was interested in purchasing one or two valentines for a couple of girls in his class.  Interesting!

I knew it would happen sooner of later… I was hoping for later.  Nathan came home from school a few weeks back and asked, “Mom, how do I get girls to like me?”

Several things flashed through my mind like… I don’t want other girls to like my son (he is only 12 and I like being the favorite girl in his life ~ along with Grandma)… and How could any girl not like Nathan?  And a few other thoughts which centered on me wishing Nathan wouldn’t grow up so fast…

So what did I tell him?

Well, I told him that it was important to respect girls, to be polite and kind, to be a gentleman, and to be clean — smelling fresh and good breath goes a long way (ok… I couldn’t resist this teaching opportunity and girls do appreciate cleanliness — so do moms).  But most important, be the young man God created Nathan to be.  In other words, don’t worry about being a certain way so that girls (or anyone) would like or notice him.  Instead, focus on becoming more like Christ.

I reminded Nathan how wonderful he was by God’s design.  And that he should trust God for his friendships as he pursues becoming a man after God’s own heart.

It was a good reminder for myself: 

Am I becoming all that God has designed me to be? 

This past week we had the such a blessing ~ the blessing of a visit from long time friends, Rusty and Judy Hayes.  Rob and Rusty went to seminary together and have remained close friends ever since. 

Although we live in different states and don’t see each other often, the friendship is strong.  The kind of friendship that no matter how long it has been between visits, you pick up right where you left off as if no time has passed at all.  There is comfort, strength and security in friendships ~ one of God’s gifts and most valuable treasures. 

Growing up in the Girl Scouts, we learned a little campfire song that went like this:

“Make new Friends, but keep the old.  One is Silver and the other is Gold.” 

How true!  Silver and Gold!  Take time today to thank God for the silver and gold He has placed in your life.

Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)  A friend loves at all times…