Philippians 1: 27-30

So it's been a while since I started a new set of verses. For those just joining I am trying to memorize the book of Philippians this year. Paul is a wordy fellow...rich with meaning, but wordy nonetheless. I am just 30 verses into a 104 verse project and the thought of that is a bit overwhelming.

Here are the verses for this week..

"Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel, not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your deliverance--and this is from God. For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have."

Two things I will be chewing on this week as I am meditating on and memorizing these verses....#1 what does a life look like that is worthy of the gospel? #2 rejoicing that my deliverance has been GIVEN to me on Christ's behalf...yes indeed, the battle is won!

As I get ready to post this entry and drift off to sleep I want to encourage you to make scripture memory a priority. I am sad that for the the first 33 years of my life it hasn't been. In fact I've had to be brutally honest with myself lately that I lack discipline in all areas of my life. For now this is the area I am working on and I am falling in love with Lord and His Word all over again.

sticky situation

I haven't posted in the last week because honestly there hasn't been anything post worthy. However, that all changed this weekend. I was making a minor repair at the apartment that required the use of super glue and got it on more than the item I was glueing. The metal tube had gotten bent one too many times apparently to the point it was split open. When I went to squeeze the tube my hand was filled with super glue and I had a mini panic attack. All I could think to do at this point was not let my fingers touch. Before that I grapped for a napkin and realized that wasn't bright because I now had a brown napkin stuck to my hands. After holding my hand out to let the glue dry I began trying to peel it off. OUCH! That's not gonna work because I am getting more than just glue when I pull. Where do you go when you need useless or useful information...thank you GOOGLE app on my iPhone. Almost instantly I found a recommendation to use acetone based nail polish remover. Of course I had none so with nasty hand and all I made a quick trip to walmart. Thank you Walmart for selling 100% pure acetone...which by the way I got carded to buy. Apparently when I am in a panic state with my hands covered in super glue I look younger than 18...good to know. Once I got home it only took a few minute of soaking them in acetone to dissolve the glue and we were back to normal with just some out of control dryness to deal with...I'll take it.

So there is your handy tip for the day. If ever you get super glue on your hands or somewhere you didn't intend you now know that pure acetone will do the trick every time.

support letter

Dear Friends and Family,
I pray this letter finds you doing well, especially for those of you I never get to see. I write because I have great news and another exciting opportunity. Many of you received a letter from me last year because after 10 years of longing the Lord graciously allowed me to go to Africa. I tried to send everyone a follow up letter of my adventures but to sum up last year’s trip briefly I will use these words…LIFE CHANGING! My heart came alive in Uganda in a way that I cannot explain. After three amazing weeks, I left Uganda knowing I would soon return. The Lord has been working in my heart and changing the plans I had for my future. Eventually I will be serving the Lord for an extended period of time in Northern Uganda. The timeline for that move and the many details of how I will get there are unclear for now. I will keep you posted and ask that you pray alongside me for God’s will to be done in my life. For now I have the amazing opportunity to lead another team of college students to Uganda this summer with International Sports Federation.
With all the planning and preparing for a permanent move to Uganda, the task of raising money for the trip in June 2011 seems like a daunting task. To be honest the Lord is doing quite a work in me with regards to my faith and the reality of do I trust Him to provide for me. With that being said, it’s out of obedience to the Lord that I allow His children (my friends and family) to help me and not try to take the world on by myself. The reason you are receiving this letter is because I need your support in a number of different ways.
• PRAYER---I don’t say that lightly as not to offend anyone or make them feel as though they have to give financially. I genuinely need your prayers as the trip approaches: wisdom to lead this team, a servant’s heart to serve the team and the people we minister to, the finances to get to Uganda, time to prepare while still working full time, for emotional stability as I return to the place my heart loves, etc. I currently have a blog that I would encourage you to read periodically as time for the trip approaches. I will post prayer needs on the blog (www.kbthomas.blogspot.com). You can also send me your email address and I will keep you updated via email (kbthomas@lacollege.edu).
• FINANCIALLY—Yes, it is true, I do need financial support as well. The cost of the trip is $3000. I don’t make the request lightly. I know that all of my friends and family are stretched financially just as I am. Please know that any amount you can give is so appreciated and makes a difference. All donations are tax deductible. You can contribute financially in several different ways: paypal—simply go the www.sportmissions.com and you will find a link for paypal where you will be prompted to enter your contact and payment information. Please make sure you include my name in the information content. Mail—if you prefer snail mail you can simply mail a check to International Sports Federation, PO Box 2788, Acworth, GA 30102 and write my name in the memo line.
Thank you for your constant support in my life and faith journey through the years. I am who I am today because of your influence in my life and getting to walk with you at different seasons…for that I am so thankful. Thank you in advance for your prayers and your financial support.

God Bless,
KB

This is a copy of the support letter I am sending out this week. Not sure why I still, after years and years of doing missions, have trouble asking people for support. In most cases people are thrilled or at least willing to support your going and serving. YET, I struggle to ask all the time. May the Lord continue to teach me how to trust Him to provide!

supplies needed for Uganda

I am getting ready for my next trip to Uganda. This time nexts month I will be back in my heartland. I won't lie, my ticket is being purchased today and I have so many mixed emotions about returning. That is neither here nor there. As I get ready to return there are some things that Geoffrey and Stanley have requested in terms of resources. I thought I would share them here and if you would like to chip in we welcome your help if you know someone who would be interested in making donations.
Stanley is in need of a used laptop. If you have an old laptop that still have internet connection capability and word processing it has all that we need. I would also like to take Geoffrey an ipod full of Christian music and podcast sermons to keep him encouraged as he does the Lord's work in Nebbi. A new or used one either one will do the trick. And last but not least we need some more evangelism tools. What they have found to work incredibly well is the evange-cube by e3resources.org
The company makes a picture presentation of the gospel that is easy and effective. They also make an HIV/AIDS awareness cube so that we can teach children and adults about how to prevent the spread of this terrible disease that is leaving so many of them orphans. The company also makes a soccer ball that is effective with the school age kids...we call it the "living ball" and each of the colors on the ball walk you through the gospel presentation. If you're interested in making a donation you can contact me and I will make an order or you can order the products yourself and send them to me. I will be leaving March 9th from Birmingham. If you can't get them in time for March I will also be returning in June. Thanks in advance for your help!




To order these products check out www.e3resources.org

let it snow. let it snow! let is snow?

I know people in parts of the US are fed up with snow....and for those people I am sorry. Me, however...haven't gotten my share of it yet. I love SNOW DAYS! We just got an email that classes are cancelled and offices are closed until noon tomorrow. All we got last week was ice...hoping for some actual flurries, but sleeping late is sleeping late regardless what the weather is doing. Mornings are rough for this girl and I spend at least 20 minutes laying in bed thinking of reasons to call in...tomorrow I don't have to. See you at noon world.

Philippians 1:19-26

I took a week off from adding new verses to the memory bank. I wanted to make sure that 1-18 were truly there...there for good. This journey has been quite amazing so far. I've always been able to memorize the words to a song after hearing only a few times but never been able..or never tried rather, to commit to memory a huge chunck of verses from God's Word. And here they are...the new verses for the week:

"Yes, and I will rejoice because I know this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR ME, LIVING IS CHRIST AND DYING IS GAIN. Now if I live in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don't know which one I should choose. I am pressured by both. I have a desire to depart and be with Christ--which is far better--but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am persuaged of this, I know that I will remain and contiue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that because of me, your confidence may grow in Christ Jesus when I come to your again."

That is a lot to chew on this fine Monday morning after a long weekend. I shall come back and debrief this later but for now I am starting to plant it in the recesses of my heart and mind.

Winter Storm 2011

Apparently the last 48 hours was to suppose to usher in the worst winter storm the US has ever seen. Louisiana College closed down Thursday at noon so I made a quick run to the grocery store and headed home to enjoy my nice long weekend. According to the news and the weather app on my iPhone, Pineville was due a "wintry mix" last night up until this morning. When Matti woke me up at 5:35am to go outside I was expecting snow and all we had was freezing cold ran that my poor dog refused to go out in. No snow? Not even a flurry? Nothing but freezing rain. I was disappointed, I wont lie. I decided to drive around campus anyway and though we didn't get snow...we did have our own little ice glazed Narnia. Here are just a few pictures I captured.

"she was always runnin..."

So Tuesdays and Thursdays are workout days with Hayden this semester. Usually by the mid afternoon of a workout day I have an upset stomach just because I am nervous about what is coming that afternoon...can I do it....am I going to look foolish...am I going to leave feeling ashamed or that I let Hayden down? A whole number of things run through my mind and I have worried myself sick before workouts even get here. And the crazy thing is that to date there have been very few things that I couldn't do that he has asked of me but within a week or two I can do it. Granted a lot of things I do at my own pace and not as fast as my workout partners but hey...I weigh as much as the two of them combined and I am much older so it's to be expected.
Yesterday, however, was a different story. I am a sufferer of chronic migraines that have many different triggers...chocolate, caffeine, stress,PMS and weather changes. Enter migraine yesterday because the weather was high 60's in the morning and by later afternoon is was in the low 30's...what in the world. I knew workouts were going to be cruel not only because of the weather but I had a nagging headach that was soon to become a full blown migraine. The bending, jumping, squating and do all this while holding my breathe was going to be the thing that pushed me right over the edge. However, I didn't want to bail on my partners or disappoint Hayden and so I showed up knowing that my workout for the day was going to be different. If I couldn't do anything else...I could run. And so that is what I did....while Lizzie and Shannon worked out doing strength training I ran and ran and ran. I was bundled up like nobody's business because is was 36 degrees but I was running...snot and all. In fact I ran two miles in the blistering cold and it was enough to blow off the steam from my day and before it was over the headache was gone. Hmm! I felt quite accomplished and was proud for not giving into that dang headache and settle for just going home to my bed. In the words of one of my workout pals,"you tell that migraine to suck it!" And that's pretty much what I did.