Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Flat Tires and Faithful Service

It is not that I get excited about Camp Mimi each year but I do start planning three months in advance! This year an added benefit was having Sydney (the oldest) take the role of Junior Camp Counselor. She is thirteen and a whiz on the computer and full of more creative ideas than I have had in my entire life. It was going to be a great camp!

But on Monday, Colter was imitating Evil Knieivel on his bike and crashed, thus requiring nine stitches. Tuesday, Syd got new braces (ouch) and then that evening I was rear-ended on the expressway thus totaling my car and stressing my back. Camp was to begin the next day at 8:00 AM.

When I went to the rental car dealer at 8:00 on Wednesday I decided to ask for a car that held 7 passengers. I got one that held nine…a huge luxury extended-cab Suburban (truck!) with every bell and whistle imaginable!! It was the perfect way to travel with five children! So I picked the kids up and we took off for Rock City in Chattanooga. Three hours later, full of great memories we headed for Lake Lanier and our “home” for the next three days. As we were coming across the mountains of North Georgia, on back roads far from what appeared to me civilization, I had a flat tire. I mean FLAT! The lights that came on first said “tire low” and then immediately the car began shaking and making an incredibly loud noise. So what does a girl do in that situation? She prays like crazy and keeps on moving. About a mile down the road we found a Marathon Station. I must say I was greatly relieved, so I pulled in, thanking God all the way. I called the AAA number for that area but got no answer. I went back to the car to try to decide what to do next and there standing by the car was an older gentleman. He was thin and had on work clothes. He hardly said a word, but just climbed under the car, then came out again and lifted the hood and then asked for the car manual.

After reading for a couple of minutes, he got busy. We helped him empty the back of the car that was full of fishing poles, suitcases, bags and boxes and backpacks. He found the tire jack compartment crawled back under the car and for the next forty-five minutes worked in virtual silence, although the kids and I kept thanking him.

Now when I took Drivers Ed in high school (yes, they DID have cars then) I was taught how to change a tire. It was not rocket science. But because of our great innovations and progress now it really DOES take a rocket scientist to change a tire! I simply marveled at the complexity of it all and also the persistence and endurance of the gentleman who pressed on to finish the job. It was back breaking, complicated and difficult. And yet he never showed signs of walking away but just kept on working.

At last the new tire was on, the old tire was in the back and all the bags and poles and suitcases were on top. As we were putting the last of the bags in, the man simply disappeared. I found him back in the gas station paying for some items and again thanked him and told him I did not have cash on me but would so like to send him money for his time, skill and expertise. His reply startled me. “It was the least I could do, Ma’am. No payment necessary.” And with that he walked away.

As I serve Christ, I so want to have that same attitude. When I serve others I want that same attitude. When I serve my family I want that same attitude. Because in essence, when I serve I am doing it in obedience and out of love for Christ and to Him I say, “No payment necessary. It is the least I can do”.


Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:16-18

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Our “In Spite Of” God

It was a disappointment for sure. Our family looks forward all year to the Fourth of July. We belong to a small community of old trailers (like ours) and new homes that is called the Athen’s Boat Club. It sits on Lake Lanier and every Fourth of July we all celebrate big time. There is a fishing tournament for the kids. There is a golf cart parade and we all see how we can out-do each other by decorating our carts with the most crepe paper and American flags. We hang flags and banners on the cottage porches and pavilion. We feast on barbeque and beans, slaw, cornbread, pies and cakes together and then of course the day concludes with a massive fireworks display which is enjoyed from the myriad of boats. It is a big deal and a whole lot of fun.

The grandkids are old enough now to really take part, in fact take over. They come prepared with banners and hats and more flags and streamers for the cart. The Hughes clan came from Alabama two days early so they could help us “get ready” and enjoy some lake and boat time.

But then the weather forecast began to look ominous, and as the day drew closer we knew there was no way our traditional Fourth would take place. The rain began on Monday and it poured. Tuesday was the same. Wednesday there was a small break and so the Hughes and Harleys optimistically packed a picnic lunch and took off in the boat to explore the northern tip of Lake Lanier, some five miles away. As we approached our destination the temperature dropped significantly and then the rain hit us with great force. This was not your average rain, but gale force torrents. We flew home as fast as the boat could go and arrived drenched and freezing.

The Cavins joined us for an early breakfast on the morning of the Fourth. This year Sydney (age 13) had her outfit picked out four weeks in advance and had designed each granddaughter’s hair style for the parade, so she arrived with her curling iron in hand. All the boys brought their fishing poles and plenty of fishing gear. But then news spread that the parade was canceled and there would be no fishing tournament that day. So we watched the rain. Then we ate barbeque in the rain (some things just have to go on no matter what!). And then we spent the afternoon running outside when there was a break and running inside when the rain started up again. And then the fireworks were canceled. No, nothing was the same and I was so disappointed.

Later that evening when the day was over, the Cavins packed up their clan to drive back to their home and beds. It was at this point that Sydney wrapped her arms around me and said, “You know Mimi, it wasn’t what we expected but in spite of the rain it was a fabulous day!”

I have thought about those three small words since then. These past few weeks we have had to proof the twenty- four teaching DVDs for the new Be Amazing Bible Study and Practical Guide. There is not one teacher who is satisfied with her presentation. Oh, it is not just that we don’t like our hair or shoes, or the way we stand or sit. No, we can often be disappointed in ourselves or when things are not what we expected, nor as perfect as we wished. Each one of us is critical of our own work. But then there are those three words…“in spite of”… and they make all the difference.

So in spite of our weakness, in spite of our imperfections, in spite of our lack of ability, in spite of our clothes or looks or demeanor or inflections, or gestures…in spite of …there is GOD! And we have found through filming The Amazing Collection and Invincible Love/Invisible War, that God can use our small efforts “in spite of” all that may disappoint us in ways that we could not have imagined. He can take those small loaves and can multiply them for His glory and His glory alone...“in spite of”!


Matthew 14:17 “We have here only five loaves and two fishes.”
Matthew 14:20 “And they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces,
twelve full baskets.”