Hitomi-Our Japanese Blessing

Our sweet Japanese exchange student (daughter) arrived Wedsday night. She is as cute as she can be. She’s so tiny you can put her in your pocket. Hitomi has a wonderful personality as well. We love her already. It’s fun to watch her experience America. She gets so excited over EVERYTHING! Yesterday, she rode her first go-cart. With every turn and twist she squeeled with excitement. I hope to have some pictures that I can share with you soon.

When you ask what her opionon of America is so far, she responds, “Big!” Everything is big—the food, the houses, the yards, the stores—everything. It’s definetly a new adventure for her. It is for us too. We are leaning to eat a lot more rice and a lot more fish. Hitomi is learning to eat PB & J sandwhiches and pizza.

Our family is also learning a lot about Japanese culture. Hitomi’s Island, Ishigaki, floats on the southern sea in Japan. While Japan has four season’s like America, Ishigaki is warm all year long. We’re hoping for snow this year in Tennessee. Hitomi has only seen snow twice in her life. She’s never had the opportunity to go sledding or play in the snow.

Ishigaki Island is made up of mostly unbelievers. According to Hitomi, only 10% of the population is Christian. Hitomi is very interested in learning about Christianity. Her Japanese mother met her American father while he was stationed in Japan. They fell in love and married. Hitomi’s father went to church on the military base every Sunday. One day, Hitomi asked her father if she could attend church with him. From that day forward, they began worshiping together. Then, tragedy struck. Her father got cancer and died. Since Hitomi’s mother didn’t have a military ID, she couldn’t take Hitomi to church any longer. Over the past ten years, Hitomi has forgotten her father’s faith. Her desire for coming to America is to learn, again, about her father’s religion.

Humm…. It seems to me that God has a plan.

I find it very interesting that my daughter, Peyton, has a unique love for the Asian people. She is why we have connected with Hitomi. And Hitomi has a unique interest in our faith. Wouldn’t it be awesome if God allowed us to join Him a work, and Hitomi comes to know her father’s God and takes her faith back home to Japan?!!! Can you imagine??!!

As cool as that is God has something way bigger in mind. He always does. I recall Isaiah’s words… “Our thoughts are not His thoughts and our ways are not His ways. For His thoughts and His ways are much higher than ours.”

Yes, God has a plan. And I can hardly wait to watch it unfold.

Micca Campbell--Helping Women Live Carefree in God's Care

Giving Up My Hang Ups

Have you ever noticed how bossy God can get? When three different people give me the same message around the same time on the same topic, I say God is doing some of his best meddling. When God starts meddling, I know two things are about to happen.

1. I’m about to go through some kind of test, trial, or personal examination
2. I’m about to experience God at His best because He is working to bring the best out of me

Maybe I should start at the beginning. Instead of blogging lately, God and I have been having some quiet conversations. They’re not the kind of conversations that one usually shares with others. They’re too painful—too revealing. God is truthful that way. He reminds me of the Ogre in the movie Shrek. Shrek was an honest dude. Not everybody likes honesty. Most people rather be lied to. Not Donkey. He seemed to appreciate the Ogre’s honesty when he said, “Only a true friend would be that honest.”

Jesus is also an honest guy. Lately, He’s been saying that it’s time for me to give up my hang ups.

It’s hard to give up our hang ups. We become so accustom to them that we wear them like a great fitting pair of jeans. We don’t realized how they keep us from venturing out and trying on other fabrics—nicer fabrics. Our jeans are comfortable and familiar. We feel safe in our jeans even though they may prevent us from going places where jeans can’t be worn. We rather wear our jeans than go to those places.

Then one day God says, “It’s time to throw out the jeans. It’s time to go places.” And just like that we’re at a crossroad. What we think is our life becomes our hindrance. It’s painful to let go, but we can’t move forward until we do. So, I’m letting go. I don’t know what’s ahead. I only know that I can trust God. Because He is faithful, I lean on what I know to be true.

I am Handcrafted… “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Ps 139:14

I am Gifted… “Christ has given each of us special abilities—whatever He wants us to have out of His rich storehouse of gifts.” Eph 4:7

I am Chosen… “But you are a choosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.” 1 Peter 2:9

I am Accepted… “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7

I am Valued… “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered…you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7

I am Loved… “The Lord God is with you…He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zep 3:17

So are you, my friend

Micca Campbell--Helping Women Live Carefree in God's Care

Win a Shopping Spree & Fashion Makeover!!

Win a shopping spree and fashion makeover with Shari Morrison Braendel, the woman who has helped us discover God's beauty comes in all shapes and sizes!! This is one contest you don't want to miss!! Enter at Shari's site here http://www.fashionmeetsfaith.com/contest/!!!

Shari’s book Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad, just released! I read the entire book flying home from She Speaks. It’s that good, y’all. The color pages caught the attention of both women and men on the plane. Before I knew it, I was passing it around. If you love fashion or don’t, this book is for you. Shari offers great ideas and tips for every inch of your body.

Speaking of She Speaks… It was the best year ever! The conference had many highlights this year from our special guest to our main stage speakers. Lysa taught us that the right attitude far outreaches the wrong attitude. Beth Moore reminded us that our first ministry is our home. Angela Thomas set us free from trying to persuade God with our efforts. She proclaimed, “God is going to do what God is going to do.” What I loved most about Angela was her Southern accent. Karen Ehman batted cleanup. (her own words) Karen challenged us Sunday morning to keep God the main thing in our lives. She inspired us to return to our first love, the Lord God Himself. Wow, what a weekend. I wish you were there. I hope you’ll plan to attend next year! You won’t regret it. If you did attend, I’d love to hear about your highlights of the conference.

Usually when She Speaks is over, I experience a letdown. It’s sort of like when the holidays are over. There’s nothing more to plan for, to attend, to celebrate. This year has been different. My brother and his family came in from TX. It’s always a joy to spend time with them.

Then, my kids started school last Friday so there was no time to rest. There were notebooks and blue jeans to buy. The first day of school it always the best. The kids are excited to reunite with their friends. I get that. It’s just how I feel each year at She Speaks. It’s good to hug the neck of those you only get to see once a year. As happy as the first day of school was for my children, it quickly turned to a day of sorrow.

Friday afternoon four boys coming home from school were involved in a wreck close to our house. One boy walked away unharmed. Two boys are still in the hospital today. And one 17-year-old young man was lost his life. The young man who died was one of seven children being raised by a single mom whose husband committed suicide two years ago. This brave mom just moved to our area to provide a better environment for her children and her senior dies on the first day of school.

My son, Parker, is a friend of her youngest son Dristian. They met through football. Parker and a few other football players sat with Dristian Friday night after he and his family received the devastating news. Parker shared that it was the hardest and saddest thing he has ever done. Worst yet, this family didn’t have an ounce of food in the house and no insurance to bury this child. The parents, along with the church, are doing what we can to meet their needs.

Tomorrow we will say our final good-by at the funeral. The principal has given the football players an excused absent in order to attend the funeral. Please pray for us as we continue to minister to Dristian, and for this mother who has yet to leave her son's bed while she clings to her son's senior picture.

I love each of you. Hug your family today.

Micca Campbell--Helping Women Live Carefree in God's Care