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I am planning on coming back to my BLOG...Maybe if I can find the time to keep up with it.

Unexpected Mission Opportunity

“Come follow me,”Jesus said,“and I will make you fishers of men.”

AT ONCE they left their netsand followed him. Matthew 4:19-20

Dear Friends, July 8, 2008

Imagine if you will for just a moment, fishermen. They are out in their boats, casting nets into the large lake, routinely going about their everyday life. Suddenly, out of the blue, they hear a familiar voice in the distance asking them to stop what they are doing and follow him.

How would YOU respond to that voice? This passage of Matthew 4 tells us how Peter and Andrew answered the call…“immediately”… without hesitation or excuse. James and John went “at once” without even counting the cost in order to follow Jesus and become “Fishers of Men”.

In this day and age, leaving everything on a whim seems tragically unreasonable and irresponsible. Considering schedules, routines and care for others we must give daily this seems like an impossible scenario for anyone in the 21^st century.

Monday, which also happened to be my birthday, yielded an expected prompting. I found myself in the “same boat” as these four disciples. In the middle of my daily grind I was told of an opportunity that would essentially cause a standstill to my current activities. I was asked to take part in a “fishing expedition” so to speak, by joining with a mission group from Bay Leaf Baptist Church headed to Canada, specifically, Saugeen Shores, Ontario. This mission includes a Runner’s Camp, VBS and most importantly, through these, “fishing” for lost souls to win them to Christ.

Sounds great, huh? Yes- it is, but there’s a “catch”. I’m not afforded the usual three to six month formal preparation. I will be leaving next Saturday, July 19^th and returning on Saturday the 26^th. The “same boat”? “At once”? “Immediately”? These are all words that come to mind, right?

How does one prepare on such short notice? Honestly, I don’t know and frankly can’t understand how I’m giving this a second thought…so I pray, I give it to the Lord that HIS will be done…Ask him to open the door wide or shut it tight quickly. I ask others to pray for clarity and direction for me and my family. I find scripture like the one above for guidance and affirmation. Then, how will it, if it will, fall into place? I don’t know and can’t see how I can even consider this a possibility. I need sitters, funds and oh no….a PASSPORT!!! Ugh!

Seeing I did not have a passport, I thought that sealed the deal…the closed door! God had other plans, however. Not only will I receive my passport by next week, but the resources for it have also been supplied. I know--stunned…me too! Secondly, sitters…that’s pretty much secured, a few odds and ends here and there, but seemingly confirmed. God is so good and gives to us immeasurable more than we could ever ask, imagine or deserve.

The final detail still outstanding remains the financial resources needed to participate. Currently, the needed amount stands at $1500 for room, meals, van rental and airfare. The Lord is mighty and has already supplied the physical resources needed thus far and I trust he has prepared the hearts of those he might call to support me in this endeavor financially as well.

All of this is fairly sudden on the surface. God however, placed this mission on my heart back in January and has been preparing me for a mission like this since last April. I had given this year’s mission opportunities over to him when plans for this and another mission didn’t work out. I looked past it towards the new time and new call God would lead me and my family to. I had no idea when God called me to this trip then that He apparently meant it. The coordinator of this mission trip never took my name off her list, she told me Monday. She didn’t know why until now.

2 Corinthians 9:10-12 strikes to the heart of the matter with great encouragement to go forward with this impractical plan by stating: “Last year you were [one of] the first not only to give [in missional service] but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”

What I have is not much as far as financial resources, but I do have a “willingness” to listen, obey & trust Christ when he calls to “follow him” and a spirit to “finish the work” He started in my heart over a year ago. I covet your prayers for my role that God has for me in this, for my family and those who have agreed to help out the week I’m gone. Please put the 50 plus members of this mission team in your prayers as well.

I wish I had the time to tell you what the Lord has done in my life through this whole mission experience, from last year to today. His hand has been in this constantly and consistently and to God’s glory it will continue I have no doubt.

Any support you can give is greatly appreciated, from helping out with our children, praying and of course, the ever important financial support needed. If the Lord lays it on your heart to contribute, you may send your donation to the address below. My most humble apologies for the informal e-mail in lieu of a mailed letter due to time restraint. I thank you in advance and thank God for the friends I have in Christ who have a deep passion for reaching the lost and bringing them to our Savior through missions. To God be the glory!

In His Service &

So Totally Lovin’ It,

Lisa M. Harris

Lisa M. Harris

Send Contribution to:

Bay Leaf Baptist Church

c/o Christina Schooley-Canada Mission

12200 Bay Leaf Church Rd

Raleigh, NC 27614

On the Memo Line:

Lisa Harris-Canada Mission

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:1-2

SNL Surprise

CLICK HERE Who would have thought after spoofing SNL for so long that they would spoof ME?

OH...MY...GOSH!!!

Run For the Crown

Recognize this lady? It's our very own Kendra Graham!! She will be running in a half-marathon in April and needs our prayers and support. Check out the links below for more information on how you can help out.

Message from Kendra:

My dear Friends and Family,
Last fall I ran the Virginia Beach half marathon while raising money for the My Hope TV Evangelism Project. I was humbled by the amount of prayer and financial support that many of you gave, thank you so much. There is no greater privilege than to be an intricate part of sharing the gospel, which together with the Billy Graham Organization we were.

A CHALLENGE HAS BEEN ISSUED!!!!! The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has put a call out to 1,000 runners to sign up to raise $1,000.00 each for the My Hope project! I have boldly accepted the challenge! My race date is April 26, 2008 in Nashville, TN, would you prayerfully consider sponsoring me in prayer, financially, or better yet, JOIN THE TEAM, get on board run a race, and help send the Good News to those who have yet to hear!

If you would like to lend your support or join the team, click the above links for more information!

Walker and Carson

PER A REQUEST FROM WALKER'S GRANPA...I MUST CLARIFY HE DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG FOR THIS POST TO BE MADE. HE'S BEEN A GOOD BOY PAPA JOHN!

(Words in bold have been substituted to help illustrate)


Be careful...that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge... (being selfish, ugly to his sister, disrespecting his mom, saying harsh words, etc) won't he be emboldened to... (do the same things)? Therefore, if what I (do) causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never (do it) again, so that I will not cause him to fall. I Corinthians 8:9-13

Having a boy is a great gift, having two is doubly fun!! One of the most important things that Mike & I have determined to do, is to make sure that our boys grow into godly men. Ask my boys..."What are you?" They will most always reply..."I'm a man in the making!" Isn't that the truth.

We have such fun when Carson is with us.

My boys LOVE this kid (Sydney, too). The boys are both entirely different in their approach which is what makes them so special. Jackson is completely gentle and always concerned for Carson's well-being...Walker just wants to play with him and be the "BIG BOY" since he has never been before.

Inevitably Walker's play and desire to be a macho man to Carson could teach this little sponge some things that he might not need to learn. Walker loves being the big boy. As he interacts with Carson or our neighbor Harrison and as we continue to develope or boys into men, I have to remind them of their responsibilty as the "Older Kid," especially Walker. That is; to make sure his actions resemble Christ and not that of a prideful, disrespectful child. His (as well as Jackson & Syd's) responsibilty is to make no stumbling block for these young ones. He should show how to respect mom and dad, show how to avoid selfishness, show how to love others. Be a positive example.



We could all take lessons from this. As parents we are the examples for our children...are we being stumbling blocks for them in anyway? They are by definition weaker beings in need of truth and proper guidance.



I love this truth!! I love sharing it with my children to give them a way to understand what pleases the Lord. It also keeps us as parents mindful of our actions, seeing to it that we make the attempt to be examples that will lead our children to Christ.

For the Ladies Who Will Be, Who Are and Will Forever Be...MOM!

I received this e-mail from a friend and I was so touched by it I wanted to share it with all the beautiful moms out there and even to those who will be in the future. I can see this conversation taking place ONE DAY with my own daughter...what would I say? How would I answer? How could I even explain? This is an amazing look into the heart of a mother...her loves, joys and even fears all balled up into deepest emotional pits of a woman who knows what it means to be called..."MOM"...grab your tissues ladies this will pull mightily on your heart strings...it did mine.

Being A Mom

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family.""We're taking a survey," she says half-joking."Do you think I should have a baby?""It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral."I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable. I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper ; ; ;without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die. I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop her best crystal without a moment's hesitation. I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right. I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish his or hers. I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would not now find very romantic. I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice, and drunk driving. I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts. My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings. Please share this with a Mom that you know or all of your girlfriends who may someday be Moms. May you always have in your arms the one who is in your heart.

Valentine's Day with Emily & Friends

Sydney was given a special treat

A Valentine Party, how sweet!

It was at Emily Gainy's

Think goodness it wasn't snowy or rainy.

They ate some food & played fun games

Even met new girls and learned some names.

When the party was over and came to a close

They were offered a choice of a pink or white rose.

Thank you Mrs. Gwen for all you did.

She had a blast and enjoyed the kids.

Please enjoy the pictures below

Mind the scene behind the girls, it's cupid with his bow!!!

Caroline, Emily & Sydney

Around the table with the sweetheart spread

A rose, a rose which one do we chooseSydney chose a white oneThe girls gather while Emily passes out treatsIt's time to go...thank you Mrs. Ruth Ann for the ride home.

"HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY"

...again!!!

His & Hers Valentine's Gift

My two old slipper chairs I've had since we moved in this house 5 years ago are in desperate need of love and attention. My mom bought them for us for $5.00 each...what a bargain, but truly heinous!!! Mike & I have wanted them to be reupholstered for years but the money hasn't necessarily been available. Valentine's Day seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally follow through.

Taking cues from Dave Ramsey...means rejecting instant gratification and adopting a save-then-spend mentality. That has been working for us!!! So we've had the chairs for 5 years, we bought fabric we saved for a year ago, and now we have found the Champion of upholsters, offering us a huge deal on upholstery labor (that we can afford)!

Why do I call him the "Champion Upholster"? Because that is his name....Mr. Champion from Oxford. This has been his trade since 1965 and he does amazing work. In a cozy and quaint little building in Oxford, off Highway 15, he works to revive old and/or just plain ugly furniture!!

When you walk in his shop, you hear the old gospel hymn station playing on the radio, to the left sits his 35 year old sewing machine from Germany, fabrics in one corner, foam in another. He currently works on a recliner and is eager to explain the process of upholstery to me as I inquire and express my desire to learn this craft.

Seeing his openess to show ME a few things, I immediately allow the kids to come in. Walker and Jackson were thoroughly impressed by the tools. He showed them HIS hammer, which is a lot smaller than a normal hammer. He let them hammer in some small upholstry nails and then he showed them the sewing machine which Sydney loved and of course the boys wanted to take a spin on the machine. "NOOOO!!" I say ..."Let Mr. Champion show you boys!!" He gave them a line of cording, but then he went as far as to sew fabric on their cording to show them what that was used for!! The kids loved it and baby Carson got a chance to see all the neat fabric and equipment too!!!

It turned into a great unintended field trip experience!!! I can't wait to see the results!

The perfect gift for Valentine's Day!!! A chair for him and a chair for her!!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!

There's a Baby in the House

We are very excited to welcome the pitter patter of little feet into our home. No I am not having another baby I am babysitting for our neighbors Kelly & John David Crider. Here is a picture of the proud mom & pop just after he was born.This is Carson now and he has to be one of the sweetest, happiest, easy going babies I have ever seen. Thankfully, because he makes our homeschool day much more structured and easy to complete. He just sits and listens. Who knows how much he'll be able to learn just by being there. It has to rub off a little!! Neiman has taken a liking to this little tot, too...he seems to be a little jealous, however, when Sydney spends too much time with baby. But Neiman is learning quickly they can ALL be loved.

"Happy Happy Birthday...lalalalalalaaaaaaaa..."

It's Kendra's birthday and to celebrate we went to her most favorite restuarant....Twisted Fork!!! Unfortunately, they were booked, so we went down the way to the new Gitano's.

We realized quickly that Gitanos has NOTHING on the Twisted Fork desserts!!! In fact, when considering to pay $6.00 for that dessert I hold in my hand...I had to send it back!

I hope I was kind in my request to decline...but look how her face changes!!! I don't know exactly what a "TORTE" is suppose to be, but that "torte" looks like the bottom crust to something else or a smushed brownie!!!! Sorry!! I have to be a good steward of my funds...Crown Financial worked for ME!!!Big laughs all the time when we all get together. Here's Elizabeth and Nancy...with small kids at home, I'm sure they were just giddy to be out with friends!So Ashlee, tell us what you think....Here's our sister friend Ashlee Glen, apparently making sure Elizabeth doesn't make this shot...(just a coincedence, of course)
Seeing that no good desserts were to be had at this restuarant we decided to try Twisted Fork one more time!!! SUCCESS we got some really great seats and super duper desserts!!!Happy Birthday KENDRA!!!!

SAD NEWS!!!

The thing about living in Wake Forest is that it is a most transient location. Friends come and friends go, students go to school and graduates go home. Transfers in jobs from one state to the next...you never know when you'll be told the news that your best friend is leaving!!!! I found out at the beginning of 2008 that my mentor and friend would be moving away due to her husbands job. It is sad but I know it is bittersweet blessing as well for them.
Sheila and I have had a tremendous three years together!!! Sydney will also lose a close friend. We're sad but happy for their new venture.

Nashville, TN...We can't wait to visit!! Apparrently there is a lot to do there. Mike made it very clear that whatever house they bought should be one big enough to fit the Harris fam so we can visit often!!!

We'll miss you Smith Family :o(

New Year's Eve

What fun fun fun ushering in 2008 with friends, food and fun!!

We shared a great time together.

Above are the ladies and below are the men
Me and Sheila
GUESSTURES!!!
Oh my goodness too much hilariusness going on as we each had to act words for our teams to guess. It was a hoot!!

High Point for Christmas

Christmas in High Point has become a little different now that my grandparents aren't there. Tomorrow (2/7/08) will be the two year anniversary of my Paw's Paw's passing. He was a foundation for so many. A humble servant of the Lord and to many others in need. Since that time my MawMaw has had a difficult time coping. She experienced several strokes and had to go through many surgeries over the past two years. She is now in a nursing home. This was our first stop when we went to High Point Christmas Morning.

Christmas

The Harris Girls prepare a side dish for Christmas Eve dinner.

Traditional first Christmas Eve gift at Maw Maw & Paw Paw's...

PJ'S...and even some for Aunt Tracie
(Mike's Family)

Christmas Morning 2008...

We are still alive just busy!!!

Hey guys !! Sorry...I've been gone for a while. I hope to get something on here soon for you all to see the things we've been doing over the past month and a half.