Broken Trees

Nearly six weeks after our ice storm, I can still walk through my neighborhood and drive through my county and see evidence of the storm’s destruction. Broken trees line the roads and occupy the lawns and yards. They aren’t just missing a limb or two, they are pathetic, bowed, broken off in multiple places, and bare. Since every tree is affected, it’s almost eerie. The weight of the ice and the force of the wind were just too much for them to bear. Some of them were destroyed completely. Some, with time and nurturing, will eventually fill back out and be beautiful again. Last week as we were driving, I was looking out the window at the broken trees and began to think about how like the trees people are. Our community, nation and world are filled with people who are broken and damaged spiritually and emotionally under the weight of their sin and the oppressions and stresses of this life. They are hopeless without Jesus. He can make them into what they were meant to be, beautiful and full of life. Lord, here I am. Please give me a heart to serve and reach those who are "broken". Don't let me pass them by. Give me your eyes to see them.

Titus 2 Blog Party

I just discovered Michelle's blog - She Looketh Well - today! Michelle is hosting a Titus 2 blog party, a chance for us to meet other bloggers and have some fun. Go check it out! So, anyway, here is my Titus 2 Blog Party post and introduction. Hi, I'm Nancy Burton. I'm a new blogger, since the first of the year, and still getting the hang of it. In fact, I didn't know how to even put those links above until today and I had to ask someone how to do it. I'm a Christian, a missionary wife, and a home school mom. Right now we are "prefielders", still getting ready to go. We are scheduled to depart for language school in August and are pretty excited about the adventure God has us on. He is using this time to stretch us and grow us. We have made incredible friendships, learned more about the internet, computer programs, writing and corresponding, budgeting, flexibility, trusting, and waiting, just to name a few areas. Trusting and waiting have been in the forefront. The one thing I am constantly reminded of is that I am not in control, nor am I supposed to be. I have been forced to trust God more and wait on Him more than I ever have before. I am sure this will serve me well when I get to Africa. I started blogging because my teenage son kept encouraging me to try it. He was having such a good time with his blog, keeping in touch with his friends from far away that I thought it might be a good way for my friends and family to keep up with me, especially once we leave the U.S. I still haven't decided on a permanent name for my blog (suggestions, anyone?) or gotten around to learning how to personalize my template. Even though I am new to blogging, I have already discovered some cool blogs and benefited from the wisdom that others have been willing to share on their blogs.