John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
We had a great night putting together care packages for our troops in Afghanistan. We will never be able to do enough to thank them for serving our country.
Our night started off by writing down one interesting thing about yourself. Then the cards were passed around the room and if that statement also applied to you, then you initialed it (we didn't know that until after we had written our statement). Rhonda and myself had the most initials. Sorry Rhonda, but I can't remember your statement. Mine was I love chocolate! Great one to put in a room full of women. Felicia awarded us with these beautiful petunias. Thanks, Felicia!
Next, Sue led us in a devotional on Obedience. There was a story in the book that talked about a business man learning God's obedience. In a couple of cases, he was challenged to do the right thing even though the wrong thing was not looked down upon in his business. He said, "When the choice between right and wrong is obvious, I have to obey God and do the right thing." Jesus told the parable about the "Wise man and the Foolish man". He begins each description by saying, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock....And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand." (Matthew 7:24-27) We have to obey God and do the right thing unlike Saul who disobeyed God as told in 1 Samuel 15:1-3. "Thus says the Lord of hosts...Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel, and donkey." Saul disobeyed and took the king alive and spared the best of the livestock. God was unhappy with Saul's disobedience and He rejected him as king. One of the questions that Sue asked was what blessings or consequences have you personally reaped from some act of obedience or disobedience in your life? We all need to do the right thing and obey God's words.
Sue was triple stacked...she hosted, she led the devotional, and she was in charge of the service project. Thanks Sue, for all of your hard work!Sue was in contact with a man who will send our boxes to a chaplain in Afghanistan. He requested certain items that the troops needed or would help encourage them, so that was our goal. We boxed up 8 boxes of toiletries, snack foods, coffee, and a whole bunch of other things and then we wrote notes of encouragement to put in the boxes. We prayed for the troops, their families, and the members of the military that are involved in our church. Our prayer is that these boxes will encourage those overseas and show them the love of Christ.
We also made up a few backpacks that will be given to military children. These included a throw away camera, journal, and a few toys to help their time pass quickly while mom or dad was gone. 
Thank you to all who helped by packaging or sending needed items. Please continue to pray for all of our military and their families.
Our next PEARLS is Tuesday, August 4 and will be our GARDEN PARTY.
