I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

The Heart of a Little Boy

2010-10-01T10:25:00.004-04:00

God always, always, always hears our prayers....I think, most especially, the pure prayers of a childs' heart.

Yesterday, one little 6 year old boy had his prayer answered.....our little Easton. Ever since he knew his Momma was going to have another baby, he has said over and over again...."I hope it's a girl....I really want a sister." Even I explained to him yesterday as they stayed with me while Dale and Summer went for the sonogram, that God, and God alone, knows what the Johnson family needed and that God knows they just might need another little boy. Easton's reply was this......."OH NO Yaya, we don't "need" another boy, we need a girl and I just want a sister."

Such precious words from THE HEART OF A LITTLE BOY!! His hearts desire was a sister and how wonderful of God to have allowed it! We are ALL rejoicing in this miracle of life that is forming and are PRAISING the GOD who is creating "her" right now. We yearn for the day next March when her darling little face we'll see!!

When Dale and Summer came in, they had a bag with them with something in it. They told the boys that inside the bag there would either be a pair of Crocs for a little boy or a little girl and that's how they'd know which it was. So thankful my camera was close and I was able to capture the moment on Easton's face. PRICELESS:)) Then, the boys ran to grab the little girl outfit they picked out earlier to present to their Momma. We had bought one boy and one girl outfit to be prepared either way when the announcement came. Sweet times, sweet times:)

PRAISE YOU GOD for YOU have done GREAT things and we thank You for Your hand and Your answer to THE HEART OF A LITTLE BOY.

YOU ARE A GOOD GOD!!

The Pursuit of Happiness

2010-09-16T22:13:00.004-04:00

HAPPINESS.......

What does that word mean to you? How do we attain this thing called HAPPINESS?? Is it something that only comes and goes? Can it become a way in which we live our lives every single day?

Well, I propose that THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS "can" be something we achieve and maintain the rest of our days on this planet.

How????

Well, a great way to begin is to consider daily doing something like what our young ladies from our youth group did tonight.....

Reaching out and spending time with others, focusing on someone else, OTHER than ourselves and being a blessing to those around us. THAT is how we begin to find HAPPINESS. We don't have to be in PURSUIT of it all our lives....HAPPINESS can easily be found through the giving of oneself for the benefit of someone else.

Tonight, 12 of our young ladies, met with some of the widows of RRC. They wanted to get to know us better and had an ice cream social for us, as well as a devotion by Debbie G. After this, they let us help with the blankets they had made for the Mercy House. You might not believe it, but if you'd of been there, you'd of seen it for yourself. These young ladies adore spending time with our older ladies, learning from them, listening to them and just being in their presence. In this day and age, you would think they wouldn't make or take the time, but they do and they end up being the ones who come away blessed for having been there.

Tonight, as I was driving some of the girls home, we got into the van and Amber said, "You know, it makes me feel so good to do what we just did." That statement pretty much sums up how I know they all feel. Their hearts were full and so was mine. It was in the precious moments taking time to reach out to our widows, that the girls found HAPPINESS.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?????? You don't have to pursue it any longer. You'll find it when you give of yourself. It's just that plain and simple. Forget yourself, take the time and reach out to someone else. There is a myriad of ministries at our church you can be involved in and they all need YOU. Why not pray and seek the Lord about where you can give of yourself?? Someone needs what you have to give.

HAPPINESS is waiting for you......why not reach out to someone tomorrow? They'll be so glad you did and you......well.....YOU will find HAPPINESS:)

A Time for Everything

2010-09-07T18:22:00.003-04:00

Writing has been hard for me since the death of my sister. I cannot seem to find the words....the ache is deep and lingering and the tears continue. I've struggled to be able to express how I feel, except for the tears. There are few who truly know my heart.

But, 2 Sundays ago, it was Emily R., who helped to lift me up out of the pit. It was to be her last Sunday in my class as she was to move up the following Sunday. She and I both were struggling. It is always hard for me to say goodbye to my girls when they "move up." I get attached, very attached to them after spending 3 years watching them grow and mature in the Lord. Emily stayed after class and she and I both cried. As we held each other, she leaned onto my shoulder and said, "I don't want to put my foot over the threshhold of the door cause I know this is the last time. I don't want to go."

Immediately, the Lord whispered this in my ear......

"There is a season, an appointed time for everything, under heaven....."

And so, that is exactly what I whispered into Emily's ear. As I was trying to encourage her and help her understand that truly, there IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING...the Lord God Himself, encouraged me also. It was time for her to go...."There is a time for every event under heaven...."
and just 2 weeks ago, it had been time for my sister to go...."A time to give birth and a time to die..."

I cried because I was loosing Emily and I had shed buckets of tears over the loss of my sister....but, I too, realized this...

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiates 3:1-8

For everything in this life.....there is a time and a season for a beginning and for an ending. Emily had helped me to remember this, even in my own sorrow. I cannot say that the tears have stopped, but I have clung to these verses, simply remembering that life is full of seasons. Some are difficult, some pleasant, but they are ALL a part of life and living. We MUST step over the threshhold, for life demands it. We cannot stay where we are, in the same classroom forever....never growing and maturing....we MUST take that step and move forward into the rest of the life that God has for us.

Thank you Emily, for helping me, even when you didn't know it and thank You Father God, for getting me through this most sorrowful time of my entire life. Once again, You have blessed.

Goodbye, My Dear Sister

2010-08-23T20:30:00.004-04:00

After a 10 month long battle with glioblastoma, brain cancer, my sister lost the fight this morning.
How do I face the rest of this week and the process of the funeral? In the flesh, I have absolutely no idea. I only know this....HE is my Rock, the One I must lean and depend on, more than ever before. He will walk through this with me, just as He has every other difficult time in my life.
There is much I could write about my big sister. I will forever remember the laughter, the jokes, the sister trips we took together, our joy with each grandchild we rejoiced in, the silliness that we all so wonderfully enjoyed and how we could bring the house down, no matter where we were, with our loud laughter!

In this first picture, Lou, Pat & I, posing in front of the B/B we stayed in while in Amish Country a year ago. The second pic is Pat, Me & Lou at Falling Water, in PA. The next pic is Pat, Lou & I at the restaurant at the ski resort where they have a condo. The last two photos were taken the last time we were together. As she waved goodbye, this was the final time I saw her standing up.

All these years, we 3 have been sisters and friends. My heart grieves in the knowlege that she is gone but through the tears, God whispers gently in my ear that He hears my heart and Psalms 56:8 reminds me of this...
"You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?"
HE has caught my tears....he knows the brokenness of my heart.....he knows the depth of my anguish and He cares enough to catch my tears in His bottle.
How can I thank my God enough for this?? Is it possible?? Even now as I write, I feel Him holding my heart in the palm of His hand. It's although He is reaching in to comfort me. Thank You Father, thank You....You know my heart and You hear me.

GOODBYE, MY DEAR SISTER.....tonight I thank God for the 62 years He allowed all of us to know and love you. Your little sister loved you more than you knew and I shall miss you the rest of my days.

Thank you God, for my big sister.....Mary Lou.....

We Have Much to Learn

2010-08-19T20:21:00.002-04:00

This afternoon, nine of our middle school girls had the incredible opportunity to "sit at the feet" of Mrs. Jackie F. and be taught how to arrange flowers! As we sat and listened and watched her, she beautifully made 10 arrangements....one for each of us to bring home. Each was totally different than the one before, each in a different container and every one of them absolutely lovely. The girls got to choose the one they wanted and I'm tickled to be able to say there was no arguing out of these young ladies, each was just tickled to have one of Mrs. Jackie's masterpiece's.

WE HAVE MUCH TO LEARN from our seniors, much. But are we willing to stop and listen long enough to hear what they have to say???

Proverbs 20:29 says, "The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old."

Why not take the time to listen to someone who's a generation or two older than you? They have experience that you do not. They know more than you simply because they've lived longer than you. You could learn much, if you'll give them the time of day. I challenge you to make plans this week to spend some time with one of our "seasoned" adults. You'll be so glad you did.

Tonight, I am so thankful for our widows who are so generously opening their homes, sharing their talents and blessing our young women's lives by sowing into them.

The Anchor Holds

2010-08-17T21:10:00.003-04:00

Somewhere around 12-14 years ago, Darrel and I were invited to go out onto the ocean on a friends 21 foot dive boat. I was invited along, more for the ride than anything, as everyone else was scuba diving. I am scuba certified but have never, nor will I ever, ocean dive. I admit, I'm just too skittish of all the "stuff" that's in there. Sooooo, on this particular day, I was just going to stay up top while all the guys went down diving.
Now, I was absolutely fine as we traveled about 20 miles out into the ocean. I was enjoying the ocean, the dolphins beside the boat, the wind in my hair and just the wonderful feeling I had while skimming the top of the water.

And then........the boat came to a stop.

The anchor was lowered and the r o c k i n g began.

UGHHHHHH.....As each diver suited up and went down, I got sicker and sicker and sicker. Needless to say, I christened the bow, the stern, portside and the starboard side! It was horrible and I mean HORRIBLE. I thought the guys would never come up from diving and I was sure I was going to loose everything that was within me and wither away to nothing before someone saved me from my obvious fate....death by vomitting!!!!!!!!!!! The anchor was holding steady but I was about to pass out! UGH AGAIN!

Have you ever experienced a time where turmoil abounded and you felt you could not go on? Maybe you were physically sick, like I was that time. Maybe you're spiritually sick or maybe you're even simply sin sick. Whatever, it doesn't seem to matter because we serve a God whose ANCHOR HOLDS through whatever type of storm you shall ever pass through.

When our faith abounds in Him...when we are anchored deep into the arms of Christ....when we have made the conscious choice that we are rooted and grounded firmly in Christ, we can rest assured that THE ANCHOR HOLDS! We shall not be washed ashore, washed aground, torn apart, drown or lost at sea!!!

THE ANCHOR HOLDS!!! We are safe....we've already been rescued!!! HALLELUJAH KING JESUS!!!

He Walks Among Us!

2010-08-16T22:20:00.002-04:00

Some of the sweetest memories I have in my life, are the ones that were quiet moments spent with family and friends. Moments when hearts collided, smiles were shared and a oneness was felt amongst us. You know what I mean, I know you do! Some of my sweetest memories of my sisters are the ones where we were gathered together, walking, talking and sharing our hearts together. I remember years ago when Nancy J. and I used to walk together every morning. Those were precious times indeed. I miss them as they haven't happened in a long time and as for my 2 sisters and I, there will never be another time I will walk with both of them at my side. Those days are now behind with my sisters illness.

There is a comfort when you walk among family and friends. You feel loved and safe, at peace and a part of a bigger picture.

BUT...When I get hold of this verse......

"I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people." Leviticus 26:12

Oh man.....OH MAN.....OOOOOOOHHHHHH MAN!!!!

You mean HE, God the Almighty, the Creator, the Sustainer of all things....you mean HE walks with me??? I wish you could see my face right now but most especially, I wish you could see my heart. If you could, you'd see it's smiling right now.

At this season in my life, I find greater comfort than ever before in remembering HE walks with me. How incredible to know that Jesus is not a distant God ruling from His throne.

NOT AT ALL! He is here for us....DAILY....HOURLY....BY THE SECOND!!!

Tonight, I am so thankful that my God....MY GOD.....HE WALKS AMONG US!!! I'm never ever alone. That feels so good inside of me to know.

When you're lonely, afraid, sad, happy or whatever state you're in....HE'S right by your side. Why not go for a walk with HIM right now???

Have YOU Left Any Evidence???

2010-08-13T21:02:00.002-04:00

For the most part, no matter what we do, we leave behind the EVIDENCE of our actions. If we walk on the beach or new carpet, we leave behind our footprints. We can simply move through any place and leave a hair fallen from our head and our DNA is left behind. If we touch a door knob, our fingerprints are there and can easily be found. If we cook in the kitchen, not only is there a mess there to be cleaned up but even the smell permeating your home is EVIDENCE that you have cooked something.

Now, if we had NOT walked across that sand or carpet, left a fallen hair, touched a door knob or cooked a meal, rightly so, there would be no EVIDENCE of it. We must "do" something for there to be EVIDENCE that we have done it!!!

And so it is with our faith. Anyone can say, "I believe in God." It is extremely easy to speak these words but IF we say we believe in God, then where is the EVIDENCE of it??? Where is the proof that we have left behind from an action that has been accomplished??? What do we do on a daily basis to show the EVIDENCE of our great love for Christ and what He has done for all of us?

Good works are the EVIDENCE of genuine faith, the EVIDENCE left behind wherever faith has gone. In other words, right actions are the fingerprint of your faith. THE EVIDENCE!!!

Where faith exists, the EVIDENCE marks it as genuine.

"Father God, as I walk through this life I've been given, help me to live in such a way that I leave a trail of EVIDENCE of my faith in You. Let that EVIDENCE be sufficient so that someone might follow the trail to You. Thank You God, thank You."

My Final Destination

2010-08-12T22:27:00.005-04:00

Most of the time when I think about the words FINAL DESTINATION, they conjur up a plane ride to somewhere and the last leg of my journey. Most often, those plane rides take me to either one of my sisters homes either in Pennsylvania or California. I love traveling and being headed for just about anyywhere, always have.

But 31 years ago, I made the decision about where MY FINAL DESTINATION would be. I'm heaven bound when I leave this earth and I often long for the day.

Today during our youth nursing home visitation time, two ladies especially blessed our hearts. Their joy and peace in Christ dripped off of them and literally spilled out onto all of us who were there. When we walked up to 91 year old Mrs. Henry, her smile lit us all up! Although she recently suffered a broken hip, you would never ever know. Mrs. Henry never complains about anything. She praised her Lord and Savior for caring for her, helping her sleep so well and feeling better than she felt she even deserved. Her joy was obvious to each of our youth and spoke volumes to them. Then there was a new friend to us, 99 year old Mrs. Juanita. Her words of wisdom touched the girls and nearly made them cry. Her love for Jesus was open, forthright and so precious. She encouraged our youth to live for Him and daily prepare their lives for the day they too, would meet Him face to face. She and Mrs. Henry both were so appreciative of our visit but they blessed us more than they know.

After our visit today and our sweet conversations with these ladies and others also, it fills my heart with joy to know that MY FINAL DESTINATION won't be by plane.

MY FINAL DESTINATION????? I'm heavenbound....HALLELUJAH!!

What Are You Wearing???

2010-08-09T19:56:00.002-04:00

Ever gone shopping looking for "just" the right outfit maybe for a particular occasion? Maybe it was a wedding, get-together, backyard bar-b-que or a special date. Of course, you've just got to have the shoes AND the jewelry to match the outfit also. When it's all finally purchased and put on, you feel like a million bucks and can't wait to go out in it.

As nice as clothing ourselves in just the right outfit is, God says the following...

"As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

Hmmmmmmmmm.....sounds to me as though clothing ourselves FIRST in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, are MUCH more important than what we're clothing ourselves with on the outside. "Clothing" ourselves is a choice. When we go shopping looking for that perfect outfit, we don't just stand in front of the racks and know the outfit is gonna work. We "choose" to try it on, it doesn't just jump off the rack onto our body. We have to choose what to wear and take the time to clothe ourselves in it.

The same is applicable here. It is a daily choice to clothe ourselves in those things which God knows are more important.

So....WHAT ARE YOU WEARING tonight??? What will you wear tomorrow???

It's your choice.

Pass the Salt Please!

2010-08-07T18:38:00.003-04:00

Salt....most everyone loves it! It seasons just about everything well and seems to inhance the flavor of so many foods. It can be used for more than just seasoning food. Here are some of its' many uses...

Salt can clean a stained a coffee pot
Salt can kill weeds
Salt can soothe a bee sting
Salt can put out a grease fire
Salt can help keep your windows frost free in winter
Salt can keep your wicker furniture from yellowing
Salt can remove water stains from your wood furniture
Salt can clean your fishtank

There are dozens and dozens of interesting uses for salt that I just learned myself.

BUT....THE most useful and interesting use for salt is not found in our homes but found in the Word of God....

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with SALT, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6

When we think of SALT, we don't think of seasoning our conversation with it, but the Word tells us the importance of paying close attention to our speech.

"Lord, help us remember every time we open our mouth, to let our conversation be full of grace and seasoned with salt. There are many who hear us every day Lord. Let our words reflect the love we have for You so that the Gospel might be spread."

Hey....PASS THE SALT PLEASE!!!

Your Smile

2010-08-04T22:42:00.004-04:00

Did you know that YOUR SMILE can make my day?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE can wash away my tears?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE can make me forget my problems?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE makes feel good all over?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE helps me to remember all that I am thankful for?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE warms my heart?
Did you know that YOUR SMILE lights up YOUR face as well as mine?

YOUR SMILE "CAN" make a difference in "MY" life AND the lives of others.

Will you share it with someone now?? How about tomorrow??? How about the next day??? Don't forget how important YOUR SMILE is!!! Someone's gonna need it soon and it might be me!!

Now get out there and SMILE!!!!! AND SMILE BIG!

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."
Proverbs 17:22

Who Were They???

2010-08-03T20:15:00.002-04:00

For months now, I have searched my ancestry and found some very interesting things. But, THE most important thing that I want to know, I can find little about. It's so cool to know that some of my family served in our military, held positions of honor, owned land and businesses and came from Ireland, England and beyond. They had children and grandchildren like me, husbands and families.

BUT....what I want to know is this.....Did they know Christ? Were they passionate about their relationship with Him? Did they spread His Gospel and serve in their local bodies of Christ? How I wish I knew and how I wish I could talk to them. So much I'd like to know but more than anything, I want to know if we shared our FAITH and if I am a product of them because of the faith they had. Did they pray for me? Did they ask God generations ago that I would know Christ as my Lord?

I'll never know them but this I do know. THE best way to thank them is to do the same for the generations to come of my family that I will never know.........PRAY for them. Tonight, I am reminded that just as sure as I sit here and think of them, they must have thought of me.....me and my family and so many more. So tonight, I pray for those whom I might never know and I remember this from Psalms...

"The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation." Psalms 33:11

WHO ARE THEY???? I shall never really know but how incredible to know that God knew them.

The Best Recipe

2010-08-02T22:15:00.003-04:00

"The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:14

Be honest to yourself right this second.......

Isn't this THE BEST RECIPE in life that you could ever try??? What a novel idea, huh?? Loving our neighbors as our own selves??? You've got to be kidding, right? You mean I should love others, including my nasty complaining neighbors, just like I love my own wonderful self???

Uhhh, duhhhh.....YES!!

This is a command that is very often, probably daily often, difficult for those of us who have human flesh (THAT"S ALL OF US!!!) We are prideful selfish people naturally. We want what "we" want and it is easy, extremely easy for us to get caught up in ourselves, our own families and our own lives and forget that we are also commanded to love "others" beyond our own families, just as we love ourselves.

God commands us to love our neighbor as much as we love our own bodies and lives and that's a LOT, a REAL lot!

THE BEST RECIPE????? It doesn't start in finding the right ingredients in our pantries and then whippping up something spectacular to lay before our families on the dinner table.

THE BEST RECIPE begins and ends with the Word of God.....not the word of what man thinks is best but what the Word of God says and HE says loving our neighbors as ourselves is what is what we must do.

So what are you waiting for??? Get out there and love the unlovable, forgive the unforgiveable, and love BIG those who you don't feel drawn to love. We are commanded to do this......so get out there and start loving BIG!

It's THE BEST RECIPE!!!

The Committed

2010-08-01T20:14:00.004-04:00

We, at RRC, are so blessed to have many who are COMMITTED.

Commitment seems to be difficult for many, but for those who are solid as a rock in the commitmentedness (is that a word???)....I want to thank you!

This week, we saw Bobby and Donna head up an incredible VBS program that was off the charts great! I do not mean to not mention ALL of the others who were COMMITTED every night to being there, but I do want to specifically thank these two for their dedication and love for our children.

On the last night, since our girls won the Pennies for Missions drive, Donna got to throw a pie in Bobby's face!!! BUT.....Bobby ended up getting Donna too! It was great!

Also on the last night, the children were told to GO FISH! Fishing as in sharing the Gospel with others and spreading the Good News! The snack that night was a pretzel rod, a red licorice twist, a spoonful of white icing and some cracker Goldfish. They were asked to tie the licorice onto their pretzel rod, stick some icing on the end of their "line" and GO FISH! I loved ending the week with this concept being taught to my grandchildren. Karli, Easton and Titus attended and it tickled my heart to know the powerful lessons they were being taught, as well as all the other children.

THANKS RRC....to all you who were COMMITTED this week and accomplished the task of teaching our children well. Only in years to come will the fruits of your labor be known.

And for the rest of us.....the question must be asked....what is holding you back from making a commitment to our church and its' ministries??? Maybe this is the week to ask God for direction in where He'd like you to COMMIT.

Thanks God for those who are COMMITTED!!

I See the Future

2010-07-27T20:13:00.004-04:00

I look at them as they are sleeping and warm fuzzy love fills my heart. I SEE THE FUTURE in them and hope looms in front of me. They shall never know how much their Yaya and Poppa love them. They shall never know the joy they bring to our hearts. Only until they have their own grandchildren, will they be able to understand this great love.

I SEE THE FUTURE in them and I rejoice. Sweet little faces, 16 total, who we are so thankful for.

We pray for them....for them all and we daily thank God for their lives.

Complacency

2010-07-26T19:49:00.002-04:00

Frustration often plagues me. I'm admitting it, so there it is.

I sometimes get so frustrated with the COMPLACENCY I see all around me. There are many signs and spottings of this and they all bother me, to a greater or lesser extent. Daily, people turn their backs on others when there is an opportunity that could have been taken to help them. Daily, it makes me ache inside.

This life we have been given, was given to us to give glory to God, plain and simple.

How I wish that all would come to know Him. How I wish that all understood the concept of giving unselfishly to those who stand in need. It may only be a word of encouragement, a prayer or a word of kindness. Then again, it may cost you something. It may take your time or you may have to dig into your wallet. BUT...giving and loving others honors God. It brings Him glory when we do it for HIS glory.

Father....help me not be COMPLACENT nor judge those who display COMPLACENCY. Help me to simply be who You created me to be......a glory to Your name.

It's Been Hard

2010-07-20T21:46:00.002-04:00

Ok.....it's been a long long time since I've blogged. My mind has deliberately not wanted to write again and I'll explain why, not that anyone particularly cares, but here it is anyway.....

If you notice, the 2nd to the last blog of mine has a picture of my precious sister Lou, standing in her doorway, waving goodbye to us as we left the last time we saw her. Not long after that, she was not able to walk anymore, so this is my last picture of her standing up. I'm being brutally honest here, brutally. Somewhere in my pea sized brain, it's been hard to post anything more cause I know that picture of her will drop further and further down the page till it cannot be seen any longer and I just haven't wanted that to happen. I know that's probably ridicously stupid, but it's true.

So there it is, the truth. I have missed blogging, the simple act of writing down what I'm feeling or thinking, not that it's important or that anyone really cares but somehow, it's important to me and I know it's important to my Jesus.

Peace Like a River

2010-05-31T21:53:00.003-04:00

The gentle flow of the waters in a river cannot help but bring peace and calm to a persons life. How many times do we want to retreat to a peaceful place, such as a river, to try to find simple peace?

I discovered this, once again, that PEACE LIKE A RIVER can even be found in the most disheartening, difficult, desertlike places you shall ever walk. HIS peace walks amongst us, calms us and quiets us. There is not need to find a river to walk by to be calmed by the gentle rushing of the waters' flow....because....

This same peace can be found in our Savior, when and IF we will seek it. I have sought it these past few days more than I probably have in a while and I have found it. There is a quiet calm that has washed over me like a flood. The fear, anxiety, pain, hurt and confusion is gone. I can rest, I can walk, I can leave this place in peace, God's peace. When I walk in His peace, I walk with joy and without regrets.

PEACE LIKE A RIVER is found only in the glory of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Oh how I thank You God for this peace that has washed over my being.

ONLY JESUS

2010-05-25T22:35:00.001-04:00

I have no words...no words tonight that are adequate....

ONLY JESUS....ONLY JESUS.....

THIS is all I know.

Goodbyes

2010-05-01T18:59:00.003-04:00

As I watched her wave goodbye, my heart felt as though it sank below my knee caps. These are difficult days for her and for all of us who love her. Pat and I got into the car and waved goodbye one more time and already, I missed her.

I hurt inside and I'm not the one who has cancer. It aches Lord and I cry out to You for help, for comfort and for peace.

Sisters, We Three

2010-04-26T23:30:00.004-04:00

The love of laughter is something we all share, as well as shopping, eating chocolate, traveling and love of our children and grandchildren.

But although we are SISTERS, WE THREE, we are very different.

It is our differences that define who we are and are similarities that bind us ever closer.

After all, we are sisters. We are blood. We are united through the bond of sisterhood and no matter the circumstance, the day, the situation, it always feels good to have them near me. We share stories no one else knows, giggle about inside jokes, pinch each other when no one is looking and very likely will laugh at each other when no one else does.

We are SISTERS, WE THREE, and I am abundantly grateful that God has given me Pat and Lou to love, to pray for, to share with and enjoy. Please God, do for them what I cannot. There are needs Lord, many needs and You know what they are.

I Am But One...

2010-04-26T08:08:00.004-04:00

As I stood outside yesterday, gazing at the incredible beauty of this lone Japanese Flowering Tree, I was awestruck. The delicate beauty of each tiny soft pink petal left me speechless. The tree was inspiring, and its' lone beauty stood tall and almost called out to me amoung all the other lovely trees and plants in my sisters backyard. As I snapped these pictures and stood gazing at this tree and how it drew me in, I felt a "oneness" with it, if you will.

It stood tall and allowed its' beauty to be seen, quietly, gently and firmly.

I pray I am like this tree.....that the beauty of an Almighty and Perfect God draws people in as they see me. I pray that HIS beauty shines through me and invites people to "come and see" just like this wonderful tree, in its' silence, did for me.

There is much to be learned from nature. It all screams of its' Makers name.

Let my life Lord, scream of Your name and may You be glorified in it.

Unexplainable

2010-04-18T22:46:00.002-04:00

How can He love me?

How can He put up with my failures and faults?

How does He not get fed up with mediocrity?

What does He see in me that I cannot see?

It's UNEXPLAINABLE but....

It's undeniably true...

There is a Savior who loves me despite myself.

There is a Savior who looks over my failures and faults and sees me blameless.

There is a Savior who never gives up on my shortcomings and mediocrity.

There is a Savior who sees me as washed white, clean, forgiven, with gifts and

Talents that He entrusted just to me to use for His glory.

It's UNEXPLAINABLE...

And I am so thankful my heart runs over with a flood of tears.

They Compel Me Forward

2010-04-15T19:29:00.004-04:00

I am very aware, more aware than ever, that I am a mere 3 years and 1 month away from being 60. It almost frightens me to see it in type. In my head, it cannot be possible that I could be nearing 60. But my body tells me it is true, as does my birth certificate, and so I know it's truth.

But through my church, I have had the priviledge for 16-17 years now, to work with and serve alongside our youth. THEY COMPEL ME FORWARD and give me the gusto to move forward and keep pushing, even when I don't feel like it. Seeing them in action, teaching them, watching them mature and watching them serve, gives me great purpose and joy.

Today, 7 of our precious young ladies, descended upon the home of one of our widows to serve her in whatever capacity we could to be a help. She asked us to do her windows and screens and then fed us a wonderful meal afterwards. I watched these precious young women of God jump right in and complete the task with joy. They help me remember the importance of pushing myself to spend time and effort with them. THEY are worth any effort I am able to put forward.

With humility and thankfulness, I praise our Kinsman Redeemer for allowing me the privilege of knowing and loving these girls. THEY COMPEL ME FORWARD and remind me of my responsibillity to those younger than I.

The Evil Within Us

2010-04-01T22:04:00.002-04:00

It is often difficult to think about the human heart without seeing it as the media portrays it. We view the heart as this lovely bright red painted picture, often seen with cupid arrows running through it. We tend to think of the heart with love, affection, longing and endearment. It's a symbol known across the globe as LOVE.

But, the human heart is truly not such a picture of lovliness.

Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?"

Hmmmmmmmm.....makes us stop and think about our hearts, doesn't it? Deceitful and wicked above ALL things is how it is described in the Word.

Our hearts desire deceitfulness and it is a struggle within the flesh to keep the evil of our hearts at bay. Each day, one way or another, situations arise when our hearts are tested and the evil rises to the surface and rears its' ugly head. We must fight to keep our thoughts pure, our mouths quiet and our hands calm.

THE EVIL WITHIN US lies right in our own hearts. Dear God, help me to "guard my heart, above all else" as Proverbs 4:23 says for it is "the wellspring of life." EVERYTHING about me, springs forth from my heart.

"Create in me a pure heart, oh God!" Psalm 51:10

The World Awaits Them

2010-03-28T22:01:00.003-04:00

Laid out before these boys, Titus and Will, THE WORLD AWAITS THEM, these precious little ones. Where will God take them? Will they follow, will they obey the leading of our God and Savior? Will they taste and see the goodness and mercy of the One who came to save us from our sins?

God has entrusted these children with gifts of His choosing. I pray they will use them for His glory and they will allow the layers of their flesh to be peeled away as they grow, by a God who desires to use them for His glory.

THE WORLD AWAITS THEM and while it does, I pray for them and for all of my children and grandchildren. What will they all grow to be? While I wait to see, I will pray.

Life is Good

2010-03-26T20:17:00.002-04:00

It's been too long since I've posted. I'm sure no one has really missed hearing my thoughts, but I've missed putting them down.

The past days have been delirously busy and incredibly fun as I've been helping Butch at the shop. The days have flown by and God has been so sweet. He has given me a little mission field there at the shop and it's an incredible blessing!

I am reminded daily of the many who still need Jesus, the many who are in strained relationships and the many who are simply deceived and just don't have a clue about my wonderful Savior. He loves them all and it is my responsibility to be Christ to them. What a joy!

I would like to take a second to thank everyone for praying for DJ. He is doing well after the 2nd heart attack and we would ask that you continue to pray for him though.

Thank you also for praying for my sister who has glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. She did not qualify for an experimental treatment, so that is now out. She is maxed out on the radiation treatments so she can have no more of them. She is back on daily chemo and they will do another scan in a month or so to see what the latest developments are. Thank you for continuing to pray for her. My sister in California and I will be visiting her again soon and we look forward to the time with her.

LIFE IS GOOD, despite the craziness, struggles and strains. God reminds me daily how good life can be when we'll allow Him to be in charge. He's a good God, all the time and for His provision, I thank Him.

And He Created Them All

2010-03-11T20:54:00.002-05:00

People are funny, aren't they? Hasn't everyone asked that question from time to time? Some people are quirky, comical, quiet, submissive, talkative, uppity, humble, proud etc. etc. etc.

Each time we leave our homes, we come in contact with people of all kinds. Each time we do, we have an opportunity to be salt and light to every one of those people. Our 'bag of God seed' should be slung over our shoulder and carried with us everywhere we go, ready to be scattered at His will at the drop of a hat.

I love people, after all, HE CREATED THEM ALL. At first glance, we can often quickly made a judgement about one of God's people. But regardless of what we see/hear on the outside, underneath, we are each in need of the very same thing.....a Savior. As we are summing people up with our visual abilities, God sees the needs of the heart. He asks us to grab deep into that bag of seed and sow it every time we have the opportunity.

HE CREATED THEM ALL.....let us take the chances given to us each day to scatter God seed. He's counting on us to touch the lives of all people of all kinds, shapes, nationalities, colors, personalities and financial abilities.

Blessings Always Follow Obedience

2010-03-08T20:44:00.002-05:00

I don't think I could count the number of times I have heard our senior pastor make this statement...

"BLESSINGS ALWAYS FOLLOW OBEDIENCE"

I have seen evidence of this statement over and over and over again. Not only in my life but in the lives of my family and friends. As Novella said this past weekend, "It seems like such a simple concept." (Those may not have been her exact words but it was the gist of her statement)

It IS such a simple concept, but one that seems so difficult for all of us to grab hold of. If we want to be blessed, then simply be obedient! Could it be that easy??

I believe it can.

But NOT in the flesh. The flesh cries out for obedience to itself. The flesh is selfish and prideful and only wants to please its' longing. We can be slaves to our flesh all our lives, doing whatever it hungers for.

But in the LORD, obedience can flow like the tide in the ocean. Its' coming in and going out appears natural, normal and rhythmic. It happens because its' supposed to, plain and simple. Obedience CAN be this way for us but only when we walk with the Lord Himself.

On our own, we will stumble and fall constantly and obedience to God will be impossible. Through the Holy Spirit though, it can flow like the tide...natural and normal.

BLESSINGS ALWAYS FOLLOW OBEDIENCE.........I have to wonder how many hundreds upon hundreds of blessings I have missed because of my disobedience.

If I am going to be a slave to anything.....Lord, let me be a slave for You and help me be obedient in all things.

God Told Jonah to Obey...

2010-03-07T12:39:00.002-05:00

GOD TOLD JONAH TO OBEY
But instead he ran away
Caught a ship and off he went
Very soon a storm was sent
All the sailors were afraid
Jonah said, I disobeyed.

A simple childrens song (sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) with a very profound meaning.

This was only the first verse to a song that we sang last Sunday at church to our children. Words so simple that a child can understand them but with a meaning so deep and true that we adults should shudder as we sing them.

We laugh as sing that GOD TOLD JONAH TO OBEY but instead he ran away! But isn't that a picture of us also? God tells us one thing, tells us to obey Him and follow what He tells us, but instead, we run in the opposite direction and do our own thing!

Jonah went so far as to "catch a ship" to get far away from the direction God told him to go, but then, what happened to prideful Jonah???? A storm was sent, that's what! A storm above all storms that not only affected Jonah but all the innocent people on the ship with him suffered because of his disobedience. YIKES! Many sufferered the storm right alongside of Jonah because of HIS choice to disobey God! How often in our own lives have we made others suffer because of our own selfish actions? This is a powerful question and can be life-changing if we'd allow it.

BUT....for many of us, we won't allow it. To allow this simple little song to take root in our hearts, takes a concerted conscious effort to decide to think differently and then make a change, based on what we know needs to be changed in our lives.

Isn't it time for a change? Isn't it time for us to "want" to live differently and stop the disobedience in our lives that has gone on far too long? If we, as Christians, are not willing to listen to the voice of God Himself, follow it and stop this ridiculous life of disobedience, I shudder to think the punishment that God will inflict upon us.

Jonah learned the hard way by spending 3 days and nights in the belly of a big fish! I wonder what it will take for each one of us and how much longer it will take for us to seek the Savior instead of ourselves.

And the Truth Shall Make You Free

2010-03-05T21:41:00.002-05:00

There is power in the "spoken" word.

Deep inside of us lies much we would rather no one else know. Deep inside, we hide things about ourselves and our family members that we are too afraid to say out loud. Too afraid that if others know, they will look down upon us, that we will be embarrased and feel ashamed in front of them. In our pathetic minds, somehow we think IF we don't actually say the words out loud, then it really isn't true and we won't have to face the ugliness of it if we don't speak it aloud.

But, there is great power in the spoken word. Admitting the sins we struggle with, asking for specific prayer regarding specific issues in our lives, THIS is the beginning of wisdom and truth.

None of us stand alone, we are all sinners. We need to pray for each others needs and the only way we can pray specifically for each others needs, is to know them. We must put our fears of rejection and shame aside and share what lies hidden inside of us and beg peoples prayers.

AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE......Truth.....admitting it and asking for prayer will make you free.

A Cave in my Living Room???

2010-03-02T21:09:00.003-05:00

Well of course it's A CAVE IN MY LIVING ROOM!!!! If you're a bear, or a tiger or a cheetah, you've GOT to have a cave, no matter where you are!

And so it is with grandsons, who love to pretend we're wild animals hiding from the BIGGEST bear....POPPA!!!! When a wild animal needs a cave to run (or crawl to if you're Will!!!), then Yaya has to pull some chairs together, grab a sheet and make a cave!

No deep feelings to share tonight, only a thankful heart for giving me precious little ones to have fun with, pretend with, giggle with and cherish where I'm at in my life with.

Thanks Lord, You've been good to this "cheetah!"

"I'll Praise You in This Storm!"

2010-02-28T13:11:00.002-05:00

This morning, as our son Butch worshiped the Lord as he sang, "I'LL PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM" it was difficult for my mind to stay focused on the moment. My mind carried me back to years ago when his life was different. I relived certain moments, moments of despair as well as moments of clarity in his life. Moments when I would have never believed he could have pulled himself from the wreckage of the mess he'd made then and moments since, when me and his dad have been so proud of him that we could burst. Proud, because he now lives his life NOT for himself, but for the God who made him. The God who has brought him through the storms of his life!

Butch and ALL of us, have been through our share of STORMS in our lives. But the key is learning to PRAISE HIM IN THE STORM! We owe Him all the glory!

"I'LL PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm"

We must understand, we simply must, that GOD is with us through the storms of life. We may choose to reach out and grab His hand or we may choose to go it alone and rely on our own strength. To choose the first option, is to choose life. To choose the second, is to choose death.

Father, how grateful I am that You are the God of our good days and our bad days. You are God alone and I'LL PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM!!

Frustrated

2010-02-26T17:35:00.002-05:00

OK.....I do understand, I really do but I am FRUSTRATED.

"You're so loud"......
"You nag too much"........
"You don't handle money well".........
"Maybe you need to seek God about that and not ask me"..........
"Are you praying about that?"..............
"You need to learn to be organized"...............
"You waste time"........
"You talk too much"........

These are only a few of the MANY words of wisdom I've had to listen said to me over the years. Some were said to me at a time in my life when I didn't any more want to hear truth than I wanted to be eaten alive by giant snakes! Some of these statements have been said more recently to me.

Usually, the condition of our heart speaks for us, whether we wish it had of or not. Listen to what Luke 6:45 says...

"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."

When our heart is not right with God, it is difficult for our mouth to speak right. We don't like correction, we don't like admonition and we take every statement made to us that is meant to help us, as words spoken from the enemy itself. Our hearts are selfish and we want ONLY want WE want. We tend to think so highly of ourselves that the world has to elevate itself to reach our standards, when in essence, it is we who need to be brought down a notch and realize who we really are. If you don't like instruction, then listen to what the Bible has to say about it.

Proverbs 1:7 says this...

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

I didn't say that....the Lord God Himself did! Don't be mad at me if it touches an angry place within your heart. Believe me when I say, I myself have had things said to me that "could" have made me angry and a few of them probably did before I knew Christ. In the depths of our own hearts, we must look at ourselves in the mirror and examine IF what has been said to us about us, is true. Some people don't even seem to see the error of their ways but if you're not sure that what someone has said about you that seemed so terrible is true, try asking a friend or family member if what was said about you is something they've seen in you. Better yet, why not humble yourself and ask God Himself??

Listening to wisdom can be difficult if the words spoken are true. For myself, I have found that every time wisdom has been spoken to me that made me angry, it WAS something that I needed to work on. It's time for us to grow up and search our own hearts.

A Gold Medal

2010-02-24T13:43:00.002-05:00

Watching the Winter Olympics has mesmerized me this year. I absolutely love winter sports. I suppose it's in my blood, having grown up in Chicago and some of my best memories having to do with snow and ice.

Watching these athletes holds me captive as I think about the hours of practice, hard work, dedication and love they display for their sport. They have given much of their lives to become the best at what they do to advance their sport. Much of their personal lives are put on hold while they spend countless hours practicing.

You know, the truth is, our actions play out what is important to us. Truly, we do not have to say much for others to know who we are and what we are "really" about. As others watch us, and they DO watch us, what do our lives prove out is important to us? Just as these athletes prove to us what motivates them, how about us as Christians???

I wonder, would any of us win A GOLD MEDAL as slaves and servants of the Lord God? Would we even be called up to be on the podium to win a medal at all for our faith and trust in the King of the Universe? What are our priorities? What do our actions show to the world?

A GOLD MEDAL???? The old addage "actions speak louder than words" holds true in our Christian walk as well as in every other area of our lives.

For Such a Time as This

2010-02-22T19:44:00.004-05:00

Life is hard. Some days we wake up and all seems well and good. The sunshine is streaming in through our window and life is fine and dandy.

But then, there are those days that we wake up and wonder how we will deal with what we know we have to deal with that day.

I have come back to Esther 4:14 over and over again this past week. I can almost hear Mordecai saying to her...."For who knows whether or not you have attained royalty FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS."

Those six words have echoed in my ears for days now.

Oh Lord...........FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS I shall walk through whatever You have for me. I shall not be afraid. I shall not doubt Your perfect timing nor shall I question what You are doing. I shall not loose heart nor loose faith. I shall not look with physical eyes as they cannot see the things that are really important.

BUT...what I SHALL do is this....

I shall trust my Redeemer, just as Esther did. I shall be bold and I shall do whatever He calls me to do as I walk each day.

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.......I shall work till Jesus comes, no matter the cost.

Home

2010-02-19T22:33:00.002-05:00

The driveway almost seems to smile as we pull up tonight.

HOME.....it's the place we live, lay our heads at night and enjoy our family.

Tonight as I come through the door I am acutely aware that I left part of my heart and mind in another place. I am aware that my body has arrived HOME but my heart remains elsewhere.

It was hard to leave him.....he's grown....he doesn't really appear to need me....but my heart needs him. "Goodbye" was hard.

But once again, I leave him in the hands of the Lord. It's where I willingly placed him many years ago. I cannot really do much for him other than love him and pray for him. He's grown and so I come back home.

He's in Your hands Lord Jesus.....You can do more for him than I ever could. Heal his body and his mind. As much as I love him, You love him more. I'm counting on You Lord.....I'm counting on You.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

2010-02-18T22:21:00.002-05:00

"Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things." ECCLESIASTES 11:5

He IS at work. I do not "just" think it.....I KNOW it! He moves and breathes in the spiritual world, one we cannot see nor can we fathom what goes on there. BUT....He IS at work. His "activity" is endless, never tiring, never ceasing. As the sun rises and sets, so does His "activity" continue. Just because we cannot see it visually with our physical eyes, we would be absolutely foolish to believe it does not go on.

He labors night and day on behalf of His children. "For the Son of man has come to seek and save that which was lost." Luke 19:10 He does not lay down and give up on those who need Him. He does not throw in the towel and walk away. He came to "SEEK AND SAVE!!" If you are "seeking" something, you are "actively" looking for it and you do not tire until you find it.

We, as human beings, may not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb.......BUT, we would be pathetically ignorant to believe that GOD ALMIGHTY does not!

Tonight, I thank you God that our son has made great progress. Thank you for your "activity" in all of our lives. There is no where to turn to but You God.

Oh Lord my God....when I in awesome wonder....consider all, the worlds Thy hands have made....
I see the stars....I hear the rolling thunder...Thy power throughout....the universe displayed...
Then sings my soul....my Savior God to Thee....How great Thou art...How great Thou art....Then sings my soul....My Savior God to Thee...How great Thou art...
How GREAT Thou art!

Without You

2010-02-17T23:54:00.002-05:00

You never picture it. It's just not programmed into momma's heads to ever think about the picture I saw today.

He lay there in ICU, more tubes coming in and going out of him than I've ever seen. My son.....my son.......that's my son my heart spoke to my brain but my brain nearly refused to believe the sight before me. He's only 37 Lord. Tears welled up in my eyes as I took it all in. He's on a ventilator, until he adjusts and his oxygen levels are what they should be. The nurse says the first 24 hours are crucial to see how he's going to do....we'll know more tomorrow, she says.

But my heart is screaming inside myself......
"That's my son.....do you know that? Do you care? Will you care for him and watch over him as I did when he was a little boy? If I leave this room, will you wipe his brow? Will you comfort him? Will you calm his fears....he's full of them....they don't know that, but I do. I'm his mom, I know. You can't love him like I do.....you can't know him as I do."

Tears well up in my eyes and after only a few minutes, we're told we must leave. It's so hard to walk down that hallway. He doesn't even know I'm there....he won't remember any of this.....the hallway looms before me and at the end is a doorway that I cannot walk back through until tomorrow. WITHOUT YOU Lord, I could not make a step. I'd have no hope, no peace within in. WITHOUT YOU Lord, my feet would have planted themselves at his side and I wouldn't have moved.

BUT.......because I am NOT WITHOUT YOU.....I can leave him in the physical hands of the doctors and nurses and the spiritual hands of my God and Savior. You do ALL things well Lord. Your plan is so much better than any I could ever have for him. I trust You Lord. As little 6 year old Easton prayed....."God, talk to him while he's sleeping...."

Yes Lord.......talk to him even now, while he is sleeping. Talk to him now. He's my son Lord, my firstborn. Talk to him.

On My Knees

2010-02-16T22:23:00.002-05:00

His name is DJ.....he's my son......my firstborn.

Today, I have been ON MY KNEES for him. He is hanging in the balance and he needs your prayers. Would you join with me as we pray for our son?

I trust You Lord. My desperate heart has hungered to see evidence in my child that You are there. Evidence Lord, evidence. Is there hunger there Lord, is he hungry? We have prayed so long and waited.

"Whatever it takes Lord, whatever it takes"....THIS is what I prayed early this morning. You have not left Your throne, oh God....You know him, You know his heart. Move Lord Jesus, move. Now, more than ever, he needs You and we need You. Go with us God as we go to him....lead us, direct us....Holy Spirit speak through us. This ever wordy woman has not the words to speak without You Father. I yearn for my son. Move, Lord, move.

For what I do not know, I praise You. For everything, I praise You. I love you Jesus...I need You....He needs You. Go with us.

16 Girls

2010-02-11T21:47:00.003-05:00

THey came in the door kicking off their shoes and immediately, the conversation was in full gear here on Tuesday night. As each one of them came in, I silently thanked God. 16 GIRLS walked through my door, each one grinning, some bearing goodies or soft drinks, but almost all of them carrying their "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" books that we are going through together for the next 8 or so weeks.

16 GIRLS graced my humble home this week and their voices still echo within these walls. They are so full of life, joy in the moment, questions, giggles, laughter and many whispered prayer requests in the ear of this older woman who feels so honored to have them in her life. They bring great joy to me and they teach me more than they shall ever know.

As I look around the circle of beautiful faces, I wonder where God will take them, how HE will use them and how they will serve Him one day. I wonder how many will follow His call on their lives and how many will choose to direct their own path. I wonder who will choose to do whatever they want to do and possibly turn away from God. As much as I would pray that won't happen, I know that more than likely it will. After working with youth some 16 or so years now, I've seen more run from God than I like to think about. I know that not all will choose to follow Him and deep in my heart, I already ache for them. I study their faces and silently pray for a hunger for Jesus to begin to flourish deep within their hearts.

I pray they won't make the same mistakes I have made. I pray they won't have to learn the hard way how faithful our God is. They are young, they have so much to give and so much to learn.

16 GIRLS God......You know their names, You know their hearts, the hard parts and the soft parts. Move in their lives Lord, move.

Humble Offerings of Thanks

2010-02-08T20:18:00.004-05:00

I rise to the sound of twittering birds outside my window and I give Him quick thanks.

Cottage cheese eaten on the run for breakfast and I give Him thanks.

Reaching for cleaning supplies as I hurry through cleaning the house and I give Him thanks for the means to buy the products I am using.

Over a delicious chicken sandwich and chips, I give Him thanks for His provision. I am acutely aware that there are millions who are hungry, as I enjoy the feeling of fullness.

As I flip the switch to begin the process of washing clothes, I give Him thanks that we are able to pay our electric bill and all the luxuries electricity affords us.

The sound of childrens' voices pierces the lingering quiet and I am immediately reminded of the blessings my children have given me.......GRANDCHILDREN. In the door they come after school, telling stories, and hungry, as always. I give Him thanks that they are such a huge part of my life.

As I answer the ringing phone, on the other end, is the sound of Darrel's voice. He's away for a few days and he calls to remind me he loves and misses me already. I give Him thanks for putting him in my path some 40 years ago and bringing us so far over the years.

As the evening begins winding down and I sit here alone, my thoughts run back over the many things in life that I have to be thankful for and I have merely scratched the surface. The kind favor of a King who came for me.....who lavishes so much more on me that I could ever be deserving of....the love that He rains down on me.

Today, I have raised HUMBLE OFFERINGS OF THANKS as I have moved through my day. He is worthy of so much more and yet, He receives my verbal thanks as sweet sound to His ear.......offerings of praise.

I love you Lord.....thank You for all You have provided. I am aware of Your gifts and I am not worthy.

38 Years

2010-01-29T20:28:00.002-05:00

I was only 18 when Darrel and I married. He was 17. Gosh, can that be true? Could we really have gotten married THAT young? Yep....we sure did.

Foolish????? I'd have to say yes. ALL the odds were against us and I do mean ALL. But somehow, we've made it 38 YEARS now....39 on June 29. Through much struggle AND growth, we've lived and loved 38 YEARS as one.

When I look back over the past 38 YEARS, I honestly have to wonder how we made it those first 8 years before we knew Christ. Now THAT, is a miracle for sure.

Don't really know why I'm writing this post, just been thinking a lot lately about all the years we've spent together, where we came from and what we've come through. Heartaches and disappointments have been many but so have joys and happiness. We've worked through our differences, talked through our finances, discussed our opinions and found common ground through it all through Christ. We've been tremendously blessed with 3 children and 16 grandchildren. We've owned 2 homes. We've learned more about each other AFTER giving our lives to Christ than we ever knew, or cared to know about each other, before Christ.

We have been blessed by God and I am so thankful. 38 YEARS have come and gone and I thank God for everything He has given us, for the wisdom He has imparted because we asked for it and the love He has lavished on us all these years. He has knit us together and I am so grateful.

Peer Pressure

2010-01-28T21:19:00.002-05:00

One of the things I have always abhorred, is PEER PRESSURE. I suppose there are times that it can be a good thing, but for the most part, PEER PRESSURE will change who you are IF you fall into it and not usually for the good.

Just moments ago, my 9 year old granddaughter was commenting on FB that she was going to dress up for Book Character day tomorrow at school. She was pretty quickly told by her little friends that "they weren't that type of person" and they weren't gonna do it. They thought it wasn't cool and they were too old for it!

I'm telling you, I about came through the screen of my laptop! How sad it is that 9 year old little girls are already learning that to "be cool" they cannot do things like dress up as a book character at school! It really bothers me that the pressure to conform to others standards is already being forced down her throat at such a young age. Moments after Yaya got her two cents in and told my granddaughter NOT to listen to those friends and that they were just "little girls" NOT grown women, one of the "little girls" deleted her post! My granddaughter said she guessed she was embarrased by what she said.

PEER PRESSURE is stealing away our children and grandchildren and IF we choose NOT to encourage them in their God given gifts, encourage them in the Word, encourage them to be who GOD has made them to be and encourage them NOT to fall into negative PEER PRESSURE, we will loose them to the world.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

Thinking

2010-01-27T22:37:00.002-05:00

Lately, I've been doing a lot of THINKING. I suppose I'm always doing a lot of THINKING, but the THINKING I've been doing lately has been on the more serious note.

Praying for others is not new to me. I count it an honor and great privilege to pray for others. But the other day while in prayer, I felt more of an overwhelming sense of heaviness than ever before. Not just for those I was praying for, but for God Himself.

I began thinking about the times that my own children have broken my heart, disappointed me, hurt me by their actions or decisions and all of a sudden, my own selfish thoughts turned to how God's heart must feel when His "billions" of children daily hurt Him. I began crying out and felt tremendous empathy, sadness and heaviness at how God the Father must grieve constantly over our actions and decisions. He has poured His love into us and yet so many deny Him, disappoint Him and live just as WE please instead of what would please Him.

THINKING about the billions who have grieved His heart has broken mine.

Maybe God is doing a new work in me.......I'm still THINKING about it all.

Update on my Sister

2010-01-23T21:09:00.003-05:00

Many thanks to those of you who are praying for my sister Lou. Words cannot express my gratefulness.

Thought I would update the latest on her cancer, treatments and health.

She began experiencing some pretty severe headaches from the radiation to her head. She was started on a medication for the headaches to help relieve the pain and another to help reduce the swelling. Both have helped. She is experiencing fatigue and weakness as well as some hair loss on the left side of her head. The daily treatments will continue until February 17th, at which time she will have a 3 week break. During that time, I am planning on going up for another visit with her. At the end of the 3 weeks, she will go through MRI's and CT's to determine the effects of the treatments. After determining that, a new plan of attack on the cancer will be decided upon by the doctors.

Thank you all for lifting her to the throne. I continue to give Him glory for all that He is doing and is going to do. To HIM be all glory, honor and praise.

He's On the Move!

2010-01-18T22:11:00.002-05:00

There's a stirring deep within me.....

A rumbling....a groaning, if you will.

It's as though the party is about to start...

The guests are being invited and the excitement...

Is building.

The invitations are going out....

The table is being set....

The preparations have been long in coming...

Will you come and enjoy His presence?

HE'S ON THE MOVE...

We must prepare our homes, our lives...

Our hearts.

Will you come and partake??

He will meet us there.....He will be waiting....

HE'S ON THE MOVE....

It's time for us to respond.

For You

2010-01-14T20:01:00.002-05:00

If you travel into the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho, you might find Dr. P, an IMB missionary, working in clinics in the mountains of South Africa, sharing not only his knowledge of health care but of the Gospel.

All over the world, this scenario repeats itself as servants of God are called into missionary work and give all to share the love of Jesus with the thousands of unreached people groups across this globe.

FOR YOU and FOR YOU and FOR YOU.....Jesus Christ paid the ultimate cost with His life. Today has been one of those days that I have been overwhelmed considering the price that our missionaries make and the price that HAD to be paid by Him, not only for me, but for those that He loves in the Maluti Mountains too. The spreading of the Gospel MUST be carried by us. It is our duty and "should be" our joy.

Let us remember to pray for our missionaries across our world, who for the sake of the call, have given all to share Jesus.

Let us remember Dr. P. and the thousands others just like him, George & Kara, Chris & Katie, Jason & Gracie, April F., Shane S. leaving soon, and all the other missionaries who have forsaken self. Their number 1 goal in life is no longer what new car to buy, what color to paint their house or where to go out for dinner. Their number 1 priority is Jesus.

Father, protect our missionaries who simply seek to shine forth Your light. Provide their needs, protect them, comfort them, give them courage in the darkest of nights. May Your name be praised to the heavens and the glory be given all to You.

Ball and Chain

2010-01-13T09:33:00.003-05:00

Lately, this picture explains perfectly how I've been feeling. It seems like there is an insurmountable list of problems, almost like a BALL AND CHAIN of health issues, relationship stuff, LOST people, disappointment in myself, sadness etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. everywhere I look.......and I am simply overwhelmed. Maybe cause it's just that I'm finally pressing in praying more for others than ever before and I'm more aware of it all. I don't know. Maybe it's just cause I'm so selfish. I just don't know.

My flesh screams out that I want to run from it all, I'm so weary of all the battles. But I know that I cannot. To give in and give up is the evil ones' desire for my life and I will not allow the battle to be won by him. But I admit, this weight of burden is so heavy and so difficult to carry.

Once again this morning, I take it to Him, the Giver of all good things, the Healer of my mind and body, the Peacemaker, the One who calms all storms and I long to hear Him gently whisper in my ear.....

"And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."
Mark 4:39

The mere sound of HIS voice, calmed the angry waves. The toiling stopped, the spray was no longer on their faces and the wind ceased its' howling........ALL at the sound of His voice.

Father, I need to hear the sound of Your voice this morning....I need there to be peace. The weight is so heavy for me to bear.

Grandma's Hands

2010-01-11T21:45:00.005-05:00

It may sound strange, but especially in winter time, I miss my GRANDMA'S HANDS.

You see, in the winter season, GRANDMA'S HANDS were constantly helping me bundle up, one layer after another, to go out into the snow. Gently and lovingly, Grandma would make sure that each layer of warmth was "just enough" and that I would be warm once outside.

Grandma would make me stand on a clear hallway plastic liner that was just inside the door when the process would begin. First came the undershirt, then the long sleeved shirt of her choosing, then a sweater, then the first layer of socks followed by the wool socks. Then, on came some sort of long underwear type of thing, then your pants, then your leggings. Next layer was the face mask, then your winter coat, hood and all. Once the coat was on, she'd pull your hood up. THEN, she'd reach up into the sleeves of your coat and pull out the little elastic piece that had a clip on the end that was attached to your mittens! (This way, your mittens were always attached and you didn't loose them PLUS they'd stay tucked into your sleeves!) Next, she sweetly wrapped my scarf around the outside of my hood and neck so that my head could barely move! If you've ever seen the movie, "Christmas Story" then you know what I looded like! I could barely move by this point but who cared, snowballs fights, ice skating, sledding, riding the coaster and making snow angels was just outside the door, waiting for me. Then finally, she'd kiss me on the forehead, tell me to be careful and to come back when I was wet!!!

Yep, once you'd stayed out long enough and got packed down with snow, you'd have to come inside, stand on the plastic liner, be stripped down by GRANDMA'S HANDS and start the process all over again with another whole set of dry clothes from the bottom up!!!

The winter time makes me miss my precious grandmother's hands. She was a huge part of my life, as she lived with us all my growing up years until I was 13. SHE comforted me, watched over me, cooked for me and guided me when my mom was working during the day. I shall never forget her and I'm sure that I have modeled my own grandmothering skills after her. She was a constant in my life, always there, always teaching me and loving me in her quiet way. This picture of her was taken some 59 or so years ago, before I was born and is of her my sister Pat.

It's cold outside and I miss GRANDMA'S HANDS tonight.

"Wisdom" Listens

2010-01-10T21:39:00.003-05:00

"Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.
They would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof.
So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way
and be satiated with their own devices.
For the waywardness of the naive will kill them.
But he who listens to me shall live securely
and will be at ease from the dread of evil."
Proverbs 1:28-33

This was the meat of our SS lesson today. In a nutshell....WISDOM LISTENS.......but those who "hate knowledge" will end up eating of the fruit of their own deeds.

YIKES!!!!

If you want to get wisdom......then listen. Be willing to listen to godly counsel.....First and foremost, our God and His holy Word....then parents, grandparents, teachers, pastors......WISDOM LISTENS!! Those who seek their own desires so much so that they care not what the outcome is, must hate knowledge. Otherwise, they would listen.

Though my flesh screams out from under my very pores and cries for its' own way.....the God who has saved me yearns for me to listen to the voice of WISDOM..........WISDOM LISTENS.

I may not be wise to the world, but I want to be known to the Lord God Almighty as one who listened to WISDOM.

"NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible" by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

2010-01-10T15:17:00.002-05:00

What a thrill to receive this wonderful copy of Thomas Nelson's "Greatest Stories of the Bible!" This is a big book, over 600 pages, of story after story from our beloved Bible. Not every single story from the Bible is covered, but each one that is, is verse for verse from the Bible. The stories chosen are usually only several pages long, which makes it perfect for family Bible time or personal devotions. Each story is easy to find with the topic of each story listed and the chapters it covers. For instance, on pg. 143, you can read the story entitled, "Goliath's Brothers Killed"........2 Samuel 21:15-22.
This wonderful Bible story book will be treasured and used as I share stories with my grandchildren. It is also perfect for gift giving, especially for a family with children. I am delighted with this book and it will be cherished for years to come. I highly recommend it to anyone, young or old.

What Can I DO???

2010-01-06T21:52:00.002-05:00

Over and over these days, I say to myself, "WHAT CAN I DO???"

My flesh wants to "do" something. SURELY there must be "something" I can do Lord about my sister, my son and so much more.

Tonight in our small group lesson, we learned about Hezekiah. MAN, what a lesson!
In 2 Kings 19:14-18, we read his reaction to King Sennacherib's (of Assyria) insulting letter about Hezekiah's "God of Israel" and HIS strength. He mocked Hezekiah's faith and made life difficult for him. In our day, we'd say that he worked hard at wearing him down daily with insults and challenges.

When faced with the question....WHAT CAN I DO?????......Hezekiah was right on the money with his response.....

He picked up the letter and took it to the house of God (the Temple) and laid it before the Lord.

"And Hezekiah recieved the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord."
2 Kings 19:14

WHAT A LESSON! WHAT CAN I DO????? I can do exactly like King Hezekiah....take it to the house of God and lay it before Him. Hezekiah did not do what the flesh would boil up and want to do. No.....his foundation, his faith, his trust and his commitment to the God of Israel was too profound.....

HE TOOK IT TO GOD AND LAID IT THERE!

Oh Father God, let THIS story stand as one of the greatest lessons I shall ever learn...EVERYTHING, absolutely EVERYTHING....must be taken to the Lord, the God of Israel.

As we read on in the story, the angel of the Lord slew some 185,000 Assyrians in 1 night and in the end, Sennacherib was killed by his own sons. Hmmmmmm.....seems to me, God handled it ALL just fine on His own. When will we learn that that's what God does??

WHAT CAN I DO about all these situations in my life and in our world today? I can take them to the Lord God of Israel and simply lay them at His feet.

Enough said???

She Was the 2nd Born

2010-01-05T22:06:00.003-05:00

Some 61 years ago, a chubby cheeked baby girl was brought home from the hospital, SHE WAS THE SECOND BORN daughter, to what would be a family of 3 little girls. Her face was round and she had a head full of hair. SHe was adorable. It would be 5 more years before the baby sister would be born.

This 2nd born sister, is MY sister.....my sister Mary Lou. She has battled and won breast cancer some 20 years ago and now she is in for the fight of her life again as she begins the battle of glioblastoma, or brain cancer. Tonight, she swallowed her very first chemo pill, Temadar, with the first radiation treatment beginning tomorrow.

Please remember my big sister when you pray. God knows her name and I just want to make sure that you do also. Thank you and thank you Jesus. I anxiously wait on the Lord to see just what the future will hold. Knowing HE holds it makes all things well within my mind. May God bless you all.

"I CAN Do It!!"

2010-01-04T09:40:00.003-05:00

I wonder if I could count the endless ocean full of times I have spoken these words....

"I CAN DO IT!!"

Yep, I CAN DO IT alright......but it's usually not done right when it's done within my own strength, power and abilities.

Little Titus wanted desperately to shoot the bb gun just like his big brother. He just KNEW that he could! But had we of let the little rascal do it on his own, someone would have gotten their eye shot out! With just a bit of instruction from Poppa, Easton "got it" and was able to shoot his little gun. But Titus, that's another story!

How often we stand up, shoulders flared back, eyes wide open, mouth aghast as we insist that I CAN DO IT! I am problably the number one worst person in the world who has tried this over and over, doing things on my own, and it's a failure each and every time. I have finally learned some hard lessons, but continue to have to learn them daily. I'll be honest....I don't want to learn them cause that would mean that I have to turn EVERYTHING within myself over to the Eternal One, Jesus. Then, that means that I don't have control anymore AND I JUST DON"T LIKE THAT!!!

But.......

I was never meant to have control over my life anymore than Titus was meant to have control of a bb gun at 2 years of age. It doesn't make good sense. I would even go so far as to say.....IT'S STUPID!

And so it is, I continue to learn through God's leading, that I CAN'T do it! I need Him every hour, every minute, every second.

God, help me to let THIS be the year that I STOP saying...."I CAN DO IT" because I know deep in my selfish prideful heart, that I cannot.

2010

2010-01-01T09:16:00.003-05:00

Looking back a few years, these slogans are fresh in my mind...

2007 - It's gonna be heaven
2008 - It's gonna be great!
2009 - Everything's gonna be fine!

But 2010.........last night as Darrel and I sat here together and talked, we spoke the words out loud that only if we "go with God" are we going to make it in this new year. Darrel's slogan was, "2010 - The beginning of the end."

Not so upbeat huh? But my dear friend Deb S. said basically the same thing as she was packing to hurry to her father's bedside in NC, with the diagnosis of pneumonia and cancer and a collapsed artery. She also said, this is going to be a difficult year.

And so it is I feel the same way in this, the first day of 2010.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT YEAR. There is much I am facing on my plate in this new year, as there is with every single one of you. Illnesses, unresolved issues with family/friends, unresolved issues within ourselves that we continue wrestling with, lost family/friends that we are aching over and praying over, children/grandchildren whom we haven't seen or have none or hardly no connections with any longer, diagnosis of terminal diseases, financial problems, insurance problems, problems in our counties/states/government, sin is rampant and people are being hurt everywhere across the globe because of the actions/words that someone else has done or spoken about them. There are the lonely, the poor, the afraid, the hungry everywhere we look. Quite frankly, it is and can be overwhelming.

BUT.....THERE IS A GOD WHO KNOWS MY NAME ("Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows who are His,"...... 2 Timothy 2:19a) AND HE KNOWS ALL OF OUR NEEDS! THERE IS HOPE, THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL YOU ARE GOING THROUGH AND HIS NAME IS JESUS!

As difficult as 2010 looks as though it's going to be, THERE IS A GOD who cradles us in His loving arms and encourages us onward. I am so eternally thankful that I know and love Him and have given Him my life, my everything. There are those who seek to harm others, but I know that my GOD will fight for me in every area of my life.
"The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,...." Deuteronomy 1:30
I need not fear and I need not retalliate. I will be silent and simply pray.

My friend, we will all choose this year whom we shall serve...
"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

I choose life....I choose JESUS in 2010....HE is all I have to cling to. Please know that those of you who read this, are in my heart and my prayers in this new year.

Feeling Normal....

2009-12-30T21:46:00.002-05:00

I have just finished reading Debbie S. and Angel R.'s blogs. Normally, I don't read anyone else's blogs just before I blog myself so as not to be influenced or be redundant of what someone else has said. But tonight, I must say, they both blessed my heart and I've just got to comment.

Debbie S. admitted some hidden truths. NO, they weren't anything of the "OMG CALL THE LAW" type or anything....just small stuff. But the "stuff" she admitted are things we all tend to hide or say don't bother us or deny that we do. Again, nothing horrible or anything, just small, even silly stuff, but truths about ourselves that we often don't want to divulge. I saw myself in what she wrote and it felt good.....you know....good like how it feels when you climb into bed between fresh newly washed sheets and pull your favorite soft blanket up over you. THAT kind of good.

And then there was Angel R.'s blog, filled with "what if's" about 2010. She blessed my heart with her boldness regarding her children and her yearning for more of Christ and what could happen if she spent more time eating His Manna. Gosh, it was good.

After reading their blogs, I'm FEELING NORMAL, which doesn't happen often for me!! FEELING NORMAL seems to be something I've never really strived for as I've always felt since I was a child that I "marched to the beat of a different drummer." I didn't want to look like or be like everyone else, I just wanted to be myself. I didn't care if I fit in or not, I just wanted to be me. I'm not sure who that drummer is or what he believed, but I KNEW he was, well......different and so am I. But tonight, for a few moments, I'm FEELING NORMAL and for a few minutes, it felt rather good to "fit in" with others who are "different" and have some of the same thoughts, feelings and hidden stuff just like me.

Thanks ladies....it felt good to be normal for a few moments! LOVE YOU BOTH!

There Is an Unseen Danger

2009-12-29T22:12:00.002-05:00

Those of you who know me well, know that it is barely within my capabilities to think of any animal being killed.....and I DO mean, almost any animal. I don't know why and I refuse to try to explain it to those who do not understand me. It is as I have always been, all my life, an animal lover.

And so it is, that I find myself living in a house with a wonderful backyard that is overrunning with squirrels. I love watching them and nearly had one trained (at Mary's desire) to come within a couple feet of me for a peanut this past summer. But now, here we are with WAY too many squirrel nests, appearance of nesting in our attic, a "squirrel proof" bird feeder nearly ruined by their gnawing and little holes dug everywhere, including Darrel's tomato plants AND my orange trees. Even I, am not believing that I have agreed with Darrel that the squirrels have got to go. It still even seems very odd and sad feeling in my heart that I could/would say that, but it is true.

Darrel has been on high alert, watching for squirrels, sneaking out the front door and tiptoeing around to the back for a sneak attack. It was as I watched him creep around the back that I thought about this blog. "THERE IS AN UNSEEN DANGER," I thought, and the unsuspecting squirrels don't even know he's coming.

We may have the keenest eyesight on the planet, our hearing may be ultrasonic and our senses more perceptive than the smartest squirrel, but...

THERE IS AN UNSEEN DANGER.

It lurks behind every bush, hides in every corner and waits as long as is necessary to slay the unknowing. For the squirrels, the dangers name is Darrel, but for us....

His name is satan, the devil, beelzebub. He walks gently, quietly choosing the path of his steps to his unsuspecting victim. He preys on the weak, the lonely, the secure, the proud, the content. He waits and he watches until the moment is right, till the guard of his prey is let down and then he lurches with claws of steel and teeth of diamond sharpness. His grip is relentless and his intentions purposeful. He will attack and attack and attack.

THERE IS AN UNSEEN DANGER.......and he is lurking even now.

It's Not for Me to Question Why

2009-12-28T22:33:00.003-05:00

As I prayed for my sister today, I found myself saying the above words..."IT'S NOT FOR ME TO QUESTION WHY." But, still, I do. I know God is in control, but I am flesh and my mind wishes I could understand it all on this side of heaven.

Tonight, I ask those few of you who read these postings, to continue to pray for my sister. She will begin chemo a week from today, January 4. The radiation will begin the following day and it is my understanding at this moment that it will continue daily for 6-8 weeks.

IT'S NOT FOR ME TO QUESTION WHY but it IS for me to pray. I humbly ask those who read this, to do the same, if I may so humbly ask. Thank you and may God bless you. Also, thank you to Donna Y. for inquiring about my sister and asking for updates to be posted here. Thank you to all of you who love me and care about my family. I cherish you.

His Bible Cover

2009-12-26T17:28:00.004-05:00

"I can't wait till it gets dark so I can go to bed and get up and go to church with my new BIBLE COVER."

Precious words spoken by my 6 year old grandson. I can see him in his home today, deciding what he was going to carry within the cover. His little tablet with pen, of course, had to go inside and whatever else he may have decided was most important for him to carry in it.

HIS BIBLE COVER brought a smile to his face that I shall long treasure. When he opened it yesterday, the grin stretched across his darling face....."It's what I wanted Yaya...remember when I told you??"

As millions of gifts were opened across this country yesterday and probably many many millions of dollars spent, one little boy was thrilled with HIS BIBLE COVER.

How wonderful that one little boy could be so thrilled with something so insignificant.

My heart is full.

It is Better to Give than to Get

2009-12-25T19:58:00.003-05:00

These words, spoken by my 9 year old granddaughter, are truly the heart of the matter as this Christmas day comes to a close.

I pray that the Lord has found my giving worthy of Him. I pray that I have thought enough of Christ and His passionate love for me, that I gave deeply and sincerely and in His honor.

My heart grieves for those who are hungry, cold and alone, not just in this season, but always. God, I pray your sufficiency on those who need you most.

Truly, IT IS BETTER THAN TO GIVE THAN TO GET. Burden me Father so that I give freely of all that You have given me.

Seek, Save and Serve

2009-12-21T23:26:00.002-05:00

He came here to SEEK, SAVE AND SERVE the lost, the hungry, the proud, the rich, the weak, the poor, the lonely, the black man, the scared, the selfish, the asian child, the intelligent, the sick, the white woman, the diseased, the young, the dumb, the old......

His mission was simple, unobtrusive, sometimes even unnoticed but His mission was purpose driven. His intent was focused on one thing....His Father and doing His will.

'Selflessly' He sought out those who needed Him AND those who didn't think they did. 'Boldly' He sought out the lost who had no hope of heaven because of their separation from Christ. 'Willingly' He served all He came in contact with. It was what drove Him. He humbled Himself.....this man who would later walk the road to Calvary in my place, humbled Himself for all.

SEEK, SAVE AND SERVE........This humble man of earth and heaven has changed me this year. He's forced me into corners I did not want to hide in, I would have chosen other places to run to, but He gave me little choice. He had already chosen it for me. He's shown me more about Him than I can even comprehend. It will take me many months to continue to chew on all that He has thrown at me, but it was all in His plan.

I'm thankful this sweet baby whom we call Jesus, came to SEEK, SAVE AND SERVE. He knew my name even then. Even as His first cries broke the silence of the night, my name was on His mind. As Mary hushed his tiny cry and drew Him to her breast, somewhere, all of us were on the mind of this little one. He would grow to accomplish His Father's will....to SEEK, SAVE AND SERVE. GLORY TO HIS NAME!

Their Names....

2009-12-21T12:09:00.002-05:00

DJ & Sheryl, Butch & Kay, Summer & Dale, Coleby, Kyle, Blake, Charlie, Bradlie, Natalie, Ashley, Kayla, Lindsey, Amber, Madison, Butch, Karli, Easton, Titus and Will.

These are THEIR NAMES.....

These are the ones who my mind is stayed on.....these are THEIR NAMES...my children, their spouses and all my grandchildren. These names represent my life, who I am, what defines me....woman, wife, mother, grandmother.

Every single day of the year, their names are in my heart and on my mind but especially at this time of year, a yearning deep inside consumes me with love and deep emotion for each of them. Some, I have not seen for many years and I grieve the loss of them in my life.

These are THEIR NAMES. I love them so but more than anything, I wish them Jesus this Christmas season.

Checkin' It Twice

2009-12-18T22:24:00.002-05:00

If you're even a little like me, that phrase always makes us think of one thing......

Santa Claus and his infamous list.

But right now, less than a week away from the day we celebrate the giving of Jesus to the world, I'm checkin' a list alright, but it isn't Santa's.

There are a couple of things bothering me this season, issues of my own, issues that I need to get resolved in my heart. How can I worship Him completely when a little piece of my heart is not right where it should be with Him? I'm stewing about a couple of issues that I'm trying to resolve.....that's why I'm doing some checkin' but it's not Santa's list........

It's the list of junk that I hold on to, not wanting to let go of. It's the junk that should be gone but resurfaces loudly sometimes. It raises up its' ugliness and taunts me till I give in to it.

I'm CHECKIN' IT TWICE right now......my heart, my mind, my thoughts. In reality, I should be checkin' that list daily. I'm sick of this same old stuff still being on the list. It's time to cross some things off.

Holy Ground

2009-12-17T20:11:00.002-05:00

"This is HOLY GROUND....
We're standing on HOLY GROUND....
For the Lord is here....
And where He is, is holy....
This is HOLY GROUND....
We're standing on HOLY GROUND
For the Lord is here.....
And where He is, is holy."

THIS worship song describes how I felt as I stepped out of my car last night when I went to church. After being gone for a week, away from my church and my church family, I was overcome as I walked onto what I feel, is HOLY GROUND. By the time I hit the foyer doors, the tears began to flow. I hugged a couple people, looked for Debbie S to hug me through, but headed to the bathroom when I couldn't find her. The tears began and I couldn't contain it. I was just so thankful to be amongst Believers who love and serve a holy God, as I. There just don't seem to be appropriate words for the emotions that fell out of my heart as I walked on the precious HOLY GROUND of our church. How grateful I was when Dayle M. found me in the bathroom. She did what all fellow Believers do....she hugged me, encouraged me, loved on me and showed me Jesus.

HOLY GROUND.....we do not appreciate what we share in Christ until it is outside of our reach, our touch, our ears.

I sing praises to the King of All tonight for His people here in this county. Oh how I missed you all and oh how fortunate I am to be a part of RRC fellowship.
HOLY GROUND......thanking YOU GOD, for where YOU are, is HOLY.

We Can't Go Back

2009-12-14T22:02:00.005-05:00

Today, my sisters and I recreated a scenario that happened some 52 or so years ago....

The three of us took a picture with Santa at the mall! YEP....we placed ourselves in the picture just as we had been 50 something years ago (as you see in this OLD picture!!!) and had our picture made! What a precious memory this will be in the years ahead of us.

But today, I thought....

WE CAN'T GO BACK to those days when we were 4, 9 & 11. Those days of innocence, unacountability and those days of ignorance, too, are now gone. I didn't know much then, after all, I was only 4, but now, at 56, I am accountable and aware of my life, my actions, my words, my living and my giving.

What is most important now, is most certainly, not what was most important to me back then. For back then, MYSELF was what was most important. But now....I see through different eyes.

I see now, through the eyes of my Savior, my Lord, my King....MY JESUS. The One who died for me. Everything is different now. My life belongs to Him, not to me.

WE CAN'T GO BACK, I thought today....WE CAN'T GO BACK. Those years are gone, they are but a memory to us all. Forward is the only direction we can go and all I know to say is that I am so thankful that "in the going forward" in my life, I go with My Jesus.

Expiration Dates

2009-12-13T15:37:00.005-05:00

Everything has an EXPIRATION DATE......at least anything that is edible or that breathes, be it plant or animal. As usual, when I heard and thought about these two words together, it got me to thinking.

Although our EXPIRATION DATE is not stamped on our foreheads, it IS there whether we see it or not. There will come a day that all those products in our grocery stores, if they're edible, will expire.

So will we.

One day, will be our last day. With cans of edible foods in our grocery stores, we can visually see when any particular food expires. But with people, we cannot see nor know when our last day will be. There is no visual expiration date that our eyes can behold stamped anywhere on our bodies. Only God Himself knows this date. It is up to us to be "used up" before we expire.

USED UP you may ask???? Yep.....just like we empty out a can of veggies to be enjoyed, used up for their purpose, so it should be with we human beings. We were placed here for a purpose....to be "used up" BUT, for HIS GLORY and HONOR.

What about you? Admit it or not, you do have an EXPIRATION DATE. Isn't it time that you allow yourself to be "used up" for God's glory before your EXPIRATION DATE comes up? It could be sooner than you think.

What Present Will You Bring?

2009-12-12T12:32:00.006-05:00

A very short trip to the mall yesterday got me to thinking. As I watched the MANY shoppers amassing their treasures, my stomach churned. "What are all these people "really" thinking about???? It is not my place to judge, but I did wonder. As they pushed and shoved their way in to the sale tables and barked out their commands to one another that they got there first....I just wanted to cry. Everywhere I looked, arms were loaded down with packages and shoppers hurried from one store to another to buy their presents. How many of them will be used, appreciated, necessary and most of all, charged on credit cards that are already maxed out.

Is this what the world thinks Christmas is all about??? Is this where the treasure of Christmas lies....in presents???? Is it in seeing who can spend the most, get the most and charge the most?? Demanding children shout out to their parents what they want. All the while, children across this planet are crying simply for lack of food...NOT lack of PS3's and some pair of jeans that has a logo on it.

WHAT PRESENT WILL YOU BRING to the King of Kings this year? What area of your character, personality, talents, finances, time, prayer will you give to Jesus this year? Forget about how much you can spend this year and how many presents you're going to give your husband, your children, your grandchildren......how about focusing on how many presents you will give to Jesus this year.

WHAT PRESENT WILL YOU BRING to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Will what you lay at His feet be an acceptable gift? Would He be pleased with what you have wrapped up to lay at His feet? What will you give? My bank account cannot handle much but my heart? Well.......there is an endless supply of gifts that could be given to my King. Let us look at our own hearts this Christmas and bring an offering to our Lord and Savior.

The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowin In The Wind....

2009-12-10T22:24:00.003-05:00

For those of you who are as old as me, you might remember the lyrics to this song by Bob Dylan, "Blowin In The Wind." This song came to my mind as I was landing in Pittsburgh last night......

As we were boarding in Atlanta, the man who sat down beside me was speaking with his wife on the phone. I couldn't help but overhear as he said, "Don't worry honey, it'll be fine, it's ok, I'll be fine. Don't worry." He told her he loved her and said his goodbyes and turned off his cell. Immediately, he looked at me and said...."Well, we're gonna be landing in 70 mile an hour winds!!!! I know my eyes must have gotten as big as half dollars as I heard the words come out of his mouth! "WHAT" was my reply!

I thought to myself, now Lord, You already know all about this. You know where I'm going and why I'm heading there. SURELY you wouldn't let 70 mph winds keep me from my destination (spiritually & physically!). And then I began to think about this song and LITERALLY, how true it was....

THE ANSWER, MY FRIEND, IS BLOWIN IN THE WIND....man....THE ANSWER sure enough IS blowin in that wind out there....not only is HE blowin in the wind....HE IS THE WIND! The very one who was allowing the gales of winds to blow and the temperature to dip into the teens is the very same One in whom I have placed ALL my trust. I am so small, so ignorant and so unimportant on this planet. I am but a speck of dust and yet He loves me. He knew right where I was....on a plane headed to Pittsburgh to be at my sisters side. He knew.......the winds could blow with all their might but that wouldn't mean He wasn't in control! HE'S the Maker of the wind so why should I fret.

Tonight, as I get ready to snuggle into my hotel room bed and I can hear the wind still howling outside, as I saw the snow fall incredibly beautifully for hours today and as I bundled up just to cross the street....I was reminded that He is in control of it all.....the wind, the snow, our lives, our very breath. I'm thankful for the sound of the wind tonight as it allows me to "hear" the sound of His love for me and remind me that HE is the Keeper of it all.

Goodnight Jesus.....I love you and truly, there is NO doubt...."THE ANSWER" MY FRIEND IS BLOWIN IN THE WIND.

Please Pray for My Sister Mary Lou

2009-12-08T22:44:00.003-05:00

Tonight, I simply ask you to pray for my sister. Many of you know that she will be having surgery at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, to remove a brain tumor. The surgery is supposed to last about 3 hours. Our other sister from California and I, will both be flying to Pittsburgh tomorrow, to be with our sister. We will stay a week with her on this trip.

I know that our God is able. Please, just pray for Lou and her family during this time. Pray for wisdom for the doctors and that every single hand that touches our sister is directed by God's leading. Pray for safe travel for my sister and myself as we fly out tomorrow.

Thank you all for your love, your support and concern during this difficult time for all of us. For those of you who would, her hearts desire is to receive enough cards to cover her huge dining room wall and windows. I have left her address on my SS room board and the church office has it as well if you feel led to send her a card.

I love you all and will continue blogging while I am there to keep those of you who are concerned, posted. May the blessings of God be upon you all and again, thank you for storming the gates of heaven on behalf of my sister.

"... for all things are possible with God."
Mark 10:27

I'm Like a Tree!

2009-12-07T22:12:00.005-05:00

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever." Psalms 52:8

Olive trees endure. They continue to produce fruit even after hundreds of years. They remind me of the solid saints we see in our church, who after many years of trials, hardships, joys and sorrows...endure because they trust in the mercy of their mighty God and yet, they continue to produce wonderful fruit. They stand solid in their faith, enduring the test of time and weather because they know the Source of their strength and the fruit flows.

I want to be an enduring tree in the house of God. I want to continue to shed fruit from my branches, all to the glory of God.

"God, help me continue to produce fruit, sweet tasting fruit that honors You. I need You Lord, every second I breath, I need You to sustain me. I cannot make it without You."

JESUS SAVES!

2009-12-06T22:46:00.000-05:00

Tonight as our choir sang this song, my heart ached for the millions of souls across this globe that need Jesus...that don't either "want" to know Him or who have never heard about Him.

JESUS SAVES.....JESUS SAVES.......JESUS SAVES!!!!

"See the humblest hearts adore Him, JESUS SAVES...JESUS SAVES
And the wisest bow before Him, JESUS SAVES....JESUS SAVES
See the sky alive with praise, melting darkness in its blaze
There is light forever more in JESUS SAVES"

Lord Jesus, for the lost, tonight we pray. We pray their eyes would be opened. Time is short, life is short, the time is now. Oh God, please save not only those whom I love with all my heart but those whom I shall never meet across this world. My heart is heavy Father....they need You.

"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9

One Breath Away...

2009-12-04T23:13:00.000-05:00

With a heavy heart but with faith in my Lord Jesus, I write this tonight.

Just a short time ago, I got one of those phone calls that you always dread.
My middle sister, Mary Lou, was diagnosed only hours ago with "glioblastoma," a form of very aggressive brain cancer. She simply went to the doctor today because she was having blurry vision and problems with her memory. Upon an immediate CT scan, the large tumor loomed on the brain scan. She was sent immediately to the hospital and by tonights end, the diagnosis is in.

Please, I ask you to pray for my sister and her family. They will do surgery Tuesday, trying to remove as much of the tumor as possible.

Tonight, I again realize how short life is....we are only ONE BREATH AWAY from our lives being turned upside down and our trust having to lie completely in our Lord.

Thank you for praying for my sister. Thank you sweet Jesus. Althought my heart absolutely aches, I trust You. You are all I have.

Flawed

2009-12-02T23:53:00.001-05:00

This one word...

just this one...

describes my state.

Tonight, I am simply thankful for the blood of Jesus...

For without it, my FLAWED state would be hopeless.

Although I will remain FLAWED until death, I remain covered in His blood.

I am FLAWED and tonight, I am acutely aware of this. Dear God, I am

thankful that You receive me as Your own even in my imperfect state.....

For I am FLAWED.

Wondering

2009-12-01T22:23:00.000-05:00

I'm wondering tonight.....

As each day dawns, decisions bombard us. Shouldn't there be some sort of rule that the older you get the smarter you should be about the mistakes you've made in the past and choose NOT to make them again? Wouldn't you think that some bright light should come on in the head of someone who has made the same mistake over and over and possibly, over again, NOT to do what it is they're about to do again??? It seems so, doesn't it?

But daily, we know, we hear about or we read about people who are choosing to travel the same old path AGAIN. You know, that same one that led to no where, that brought nothing but sadness and that was a dead end filled with pain. Why is it we often choose to do whatever it is that we've always done before even IF we know it brought us pain in the past? Somehow, we think we are fooling our own selves into thinking that THIS time will be different....THIS time there will be success. And then, we end up hurt again.

I love the saying...."IF you always do what you've always done then you'll always get what you've always got." How true is that???? Think about it.

When will we wake up and see "The Light" and let HIM show the way? How many times will we muddle up our lives by not following Him before we wake up to realize that we have blown it again???? When important life changing decisions come our way, we must learn to consult the One who knows which path it is we should be traveling. IF that doesn't make sense to you, then I'm guessing you're probably on the wrong path again!

Phillipians 2:21 says...
"For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus."

This is one verse I do NOT want said of me. Our "interest" should be in seeking direction to all of those life-changing decisions we must make....NOT our OWN direction but the direction of God Almighty.

Just wondering......

GO!

2009-11-30T22:57:00.000-05:00

GO.....

There is action to this word...it means "to move or proceed."

Jesus told us to GO and make disciples just before He breathed His last. It was SO majorly important to Him, it was the last thing He said before He went to be with His Father.

To GO, we must move....we must get up....we must take action....we must do something to get out there and spread the Gospel! For the most part, we can't just sit where we are AND GO at the same time!

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. GO therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20

Here we are at December 1 tomorrow....the beginning of the Christmas season again. Isn't THIS time of year the best time ever to do as we have been commanded and GO?? It might be our neighbor, it might be a co-worker, it might be the checker at the grocery store, it might be a family member or even your good friend, but.....GO....GO AND TELL them the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How about inviting them to our Christmas program this Sunday night? That's a great way to start....let the program itself tell the story of how "Jesus Saves."

Now.........Ready....Set.....GO!

It's NEVER Too Late

2009-11-25T23:07:00.000-05:00

My Lord and Savior
My husband
My children
My grandchildren
My parents
My grandparents
My teachers
My sisters
My aunts and uncles
My pastors
My friends

There would be NO possible way ever to list all those people to whom I owe a debt of gratitude and thanks for what they have done for me throughout my life. Many of the above listed people I'm sure I never thanked enough or maybe even never did say thank you to them.

I've always heard IT"S NEVER TOO LATE to send a thank you card as its' always in good taste to just mail it and forget that it was owed long ago. IT"S NEVER TOO LATE to say a simple THANK YOU, not just for what someone may have done for you but simply for who they are.

THANK YOU to ALL of you who mean so much to me. For loving me, for praying for me, for counseling me, for listening to me, for laughing with me, for crying with me, for putting up with me and for being a part of my life. "I thank my God for all my remembrance of you." Phillipians 1:3

So, who should you run and thank tonight or tomorrow for what they've done for you or simply.....for who they are?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE....We all sure do have an immense amount to be thankful for and each of YOU are part of what I'm thanking God for tonight:)

May I Have a Sip Please?

2009-11-24T21:18:00.001-05:00

When I was a little girl, my mother's FAVORITE drink was Pepsi. Now, mind you, we had Pepsi in our home but I don't remember it being for the 3 of us. It was for my mother.

Each evening after dinner, my mother would go upstairs, take her bath and come downstairs smelling so good with her jammies and her housecoat on and she would always have a glass of Pepsi in her hand. Once she sat down, I would often sit at her feet and longingly gaze up at her as she drank her Pepsi. What I nightly said to her was always the same, "MAY I HAVE A SIP PLLLLLLLEASE?" Very seldom did I get a drink, just a sip was all I was allowed. After all, it was hers, not mine.

Don't ask me why, but this is just how my crazy brain works.....I don't know why this came to my mind today, but it did. I thought about my mom giving me only a "sip" of what I was so thirsty for. What if, mind you, what if, THAT is how the lost see us? You know, as only willing to give "A sip" of ourselves and no more. They are THIRSTY for what we have yet we give only enough to wet their mouths but not quench their thirst.

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?
The King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:35-40

Oh Father.....burden me for those who are THIRSTY for the One I drink from daily.....help me empty myself so that I may give freely to those who want more than a sip.....to those who want to drink long and hard of You. Help me be willing to give all You have given me to quench the THIRST of those who so desperately need a drink of You. Someone is waiting.

Cherished Idols

2009-11-23T22:25:00.003-05:00

There are so many things that I LOVE in this life.....

My husband, my children, my grandchildren, the rest of my family, my friends, my pastors and church, music, animals, nature, SHOES, jewelry, chocolate, candy, new clothes, traveling, electronic gadgets (YEP!!!), kitchen stuff and the list could go on and on and on........I mean that, literally, the list could be endless.

Within 2 months, I have lost two dear friends. It has hit me hard and forced me to think long and deep about much in my life. What is really important in life, I mean "really" important??? It's critical to identify the CHERISHED IDOLS in my life so that I don't make people and things more important than God Himself and it is very easy to do. Just ask anyone who misses church more than one Sunday in a row to take their new boat to the lake or spend the weekend in their new summer place or watch and see what happens when a saved person starts dating an unsaved person. It is easy to allow the "stuff" in our lives AND sometimes, the people of our lives to keep us from cherishing that which should be THE most important part of our life...........JESUS.

What are your CHERISHED IDOLS??? When we make stuff AND people more cherished than our Savior.....who would YOU say we're worshiping?????

I Like That

2009-11-22T22:51:00.004-05:00

"God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him."

Jason Powers, missionary from Cambodia, made this statement tonight in our evening service. It rang so true in my heart. So much so, that I wrote it down in the back of my bible. You see, it's in the back of my bible that for years, I have been writing down "one-liners" spoken from the pulpit that deeply touched my heart, as well as marriages, births, deaths and salvations in my family.

I promise that I did listen to Jason as he spoke tonight but once the above phrase was out of his mouth, my mind just began digesting the fullness of what he had said and I had a hard time focusing on anything else.

IF others are to see Jesus in me then must not GOD be glorified in me?? How will they see Him IF He is not????

I'm sick of daily living.......I want the glory of God Almighty to shine in me and through me for the rest of my days, however long they may be.

"God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him."

I LIKE THAT.

Until Next Time We See You

2009-11-20T10:46:00.004-05:00

Dear Brother Gene, (Gentle Giant)

Today, we will bid you goodbye for the final time on this earth. But our hope, because we are in Christ, is that we will see you again. What a legacy you have left behind here on earth. Hundreds lined up last night....they just kept coming and coming to pay their respects to a man who reached not only Baker County but the far corners of the globe for our Jesus Christ. I have never seen such an outpouring of love in my life. If there were hundreds upon hundreds here....I can only imagine the thousands upon thousands who lined up to thank you upon your arrival in your eternal home.

"I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy"

Lyrics from the song "Legacy" by Nichole Nordeman

OH MY, what a legacy Gene Graves left on us all. From generation to generation, he will be remembered by us all. A man who loved God enough to give him an offering of "himself". He gave his life for the call of Christ, most especially, the country of Honduras. We will all miss you so much Gene. Thank you, oh thank you, oh thank you Father for our brother in Christ. We shall never forget and as we say goodbye to him today, we shall weeep for his physical loss to us here on earth, but we shall rejoice for his addition to heaven.

We will carry on the spreading of Gospel for His glory and honor.....UNTIL NEXT TIME WE SEE YOU.......thank you Gene......thank you.

The Gospel & Gene

2009-11-18T21:19:00.002-05:00

A mere 24 hours has passed since our brother Gene has gone to live forever with his Jesus. How I wish we could see him now in his new healed body and singing all those songs he so loved to sing that told the story of his precious Lord.

Gene loved the Gospel. He clung to it. He yearned for it. He shared it. He lived it. He taught it. He drank it in. He counted on it. He cherished it. He wanted everyone to hear it and to receive it.

If you ever went on a trip to Honduras with Gene, you saw a gentle giant in action. When it came to spreading the Gospel, he was intent, focused and systematic about making sure no home was left not stopped at in our witnessing. I remember the early days, before Gene knew Spanish. It drove him crazy not being able to go through the cube himself. It wasn't long until Gene began learning Spanish and was not only able to go through the cube himself but eventually, could interpret for the rest of us! He was driven and so passionate.

I wish I could have seen the line of souls that came to thank him upon his arrival in heaven for bringing the Gospel to their door, their street, their business, their church, their school or their orphanage! There's probably still a line passing by him to say "thank you."

It was Gene who Cathy M. and I bugged and bugged and bugged way back in the first years of RRC mission trips, to let us go! Every year, it was the same....NO! But we persisted and Gene finally gave in and allowed Cathy and I to be the first women from our church to get to go on a mission trip. We shall never forget that trip to Panama, nor shall I ever forget my last trip with him exactly 1 year ago this month. I can see Gene now, dressed up in his Goliath costume that we talked him into wearing! What a sight and what a memory I will never ever forget.

Thank you Gene.....thank you for all you accomplished for the sake of the call.......thank you for the passion for spreading the Gospel that you infused into so many of our adults and young people.......thank you for your untiring work at our church.......thank you for the godly example you were as we watched you walk through trials throughout your life and even up to your homegoing.......thank you for giving me and Cathy a chance to prove that women did have a place on mission trips and had just as much to give in a different way.......thank you for loving my family and praying for my sons over the years.......thank you for being the man of God you were......thank you for everything.

I miss your presence already but we will meet again. Only next time, it won't be on a dusty road in Honduras, it'll be on a street made of gold! Thank you God for Gene. When you gave him to all of us, you sure did do a good thing. Another one of my heroes is gone. I will never forget you Gene and will forever be grateful for your life and your living.

Just Stop and Think

2009-11-17T19:31:00.005-05:00

"Day in and day out, we find ourselves in the monotony of life; self-help books, work, family, friends, cars, house, medications. Most of us are simply trying to live a "normal life." Have you ever found yourself wondering whether the goal of life should be normalcy? NOW is the time to stop and think." Francis Chan

I don't want to live this life looking, acting or feeling "normal".....you know, the kind of normal the world would see as normal.

JUST STOP AND THINK about it......do you "want" to look like the world? Do you want to fit in and blend in with what the world calls normal??? A ho-hum life, unfulfilled, living day to day hoping for better days ahead.

I don't....plain and simple......I just don't. I want to laugh loud, praise Him with ridiculous joy, dance in praise to Him, tell of His name to all I encounter and live like He calls me to live and from what I read in His Word, I shouldn't look like what the world calls "normal."

JUST STOP AND THINK.........

Let's not be normal.....let's be Jesus Freaks instead!

I encourage the reader to go to www.crazylovebook.com and watch the two videos you will find there. IF you have opportunity, I encourage you to also read this book, entitled "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan.

Where is Your Journey Taking You?

2009-11-16T21:32:00.002-05:00

Just 24 hours ago, Darrel and I were completing our JOURNEY back home from North Carolina. We talked as we drove and recounted what we did, what we saw and what we had just learned from an incredible book that I read out loud all the way home.

I thought about the physical JOURNEY we had been on together and what we had accomplished. But the book that we had just read, forced me to think about the spiritual JOURNEY we are each on throughout our lives.

Websters Dictionary describes "JOURNEY" as this: something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another

Our spiritual lives are most certainly a JOURNEY. We pass from one level of faith to another as we see God do new works in our lives and our faith is deepened, encouraged and strengthened. We mature through each trial and draw closer to the One who has given us the very breath we breathe and as the JOURNEY continues we learn more of Him, desire more of Him and want to look more like Him. Our spiritual lives are a daily JOURNEY of stretching, growing, changing and pushing forward because we want to know more of our Savior.

Or do we???

I simply ask you tonight, as Darrel and I had to ask ourselves after reading this book, "WHERE IS YOUR JOURNEY TAKING YOU?" Are you constantly traveling toward the cross of Christ or are you content to remain in your faith where you are now, or have you lagged behind and put your faith on the back burner?

Just as you are in a car and the scenery changes, the miles go by as we drive forward and the JOURNEY takes you from one place to another, shouldn't our spiritual JOURNEY move us forward also? Shouldn't our desire be to know more of Christ and how He truly yearns for us to live? Shouldn't it? Isn't it??

I encourage anyone who reads this to pick up the book, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. This book has literally shoved Darrel and I forward in this JOURNEY of being a Christian. It's changed us.

So, WHERE IS YOUR JOURNEY TAKING YOU??? Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see Truth, to examine ourselves and to run after You with all our might.

The Mountains Sing Together For Joy

2009-11-13T21:25:00.002-05:00

Today, Darrel and I took a wonderful drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The mountains are just breathtaking. At every overlook point, all you want to do is stand there and drink in the beauty of it all. One ridge after another, melting into one another, the mountains build a most beautiful landscape for the eye to behold.

As you stand and stare at the scene before you, you can almost hear the mountains singing out to you! It's as if they stretch forth right before you and make you hear them.

Psalm 98:8 says, "Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the mountains sing together for joy." I'm telling you, when you stand at 5000 feet and gaze upon the natural handiwork of God, you can almost hear these mountains singing together for JOY!!! As you look at them, joy bubbles up in your heart at their Maker and it leaves you feeling a part of it all. I wonder, if we could really hear them sing, what would they be singing?????

I think I know.........in fact, I'm sure of it. They're singing their praises unto the God of heaven and earth, the Maker of the stars, the universe, from the tiniest insect to the grandest mammal, HE made it all and they're thanking HIM for being a part of HIS creation.

TOday, I heard THE MOUNTAINS SING TOGETHER FOR JOY and it was good, real good. But then, of course it would be.........GOD MADE IT TO BE SO.

Answered Prayer in Cataloochee Valley

2009-11-12T21:29:00.006-05:00

Every so often, we ask God for something that's so simple and unimportant that we almost feel bad for asking Him! Know what I mean?

Today was one of those days. Darrel and I got up when we felt like it, ate a late breakfast at a wonderful restaurant overlooking Maggie Valley and were trying to decide what to do for the day. I really wanted to drive to Cataloochee Valley to see the wild elk that roamed there but we were told by the locals AND by all the brochures we read that the best time to view them was early morning and at dusk and it was about 1-2 in the afternoon before we took off on the drive.

On the way up into the mountains to get to the valley, I simply asked the Lord to allow me to see just one elk, that's all......just one. As we made the long trek back into the mountains on a very narrow road, I just knew in my heart that it was gonna happen. OK...maybe childlike faith, maybe I'm just too stubborn to admit it might not happen BUT, I was convinced it would.

When we rounded the corner to approach the valley, there was nothing but wild turkey to see but I had already thanked the Lord for them anyway! ANY wild animals thrill my heart, so I was tickled. The drive continued and we rounded another bend and there before us, lay a wide expanse of beautiful field filled with wild elk!!! All I could do was shout THANK YOU LORD! I yelled to Darrel, "IT'S ANSWERED PRAYER IN CATALOOCHEE VALLEY!!"

I was humbled by the sight. God did it for me. It didn't matter that we were told they weren't seen much during the day! GOD saw fit to let me view these incredible creatures! These creatures roam wild. There are no fences, no restrictions, although you are asked to not approach them or feed them. We pulled over, got out of the car, set up the tripod with the video camera and just stood mesmerized for 30-45 minutes while we watched. The one huge male every so often would make this incredible noise and then run at one of the females. What a sight!

I counted 38 elk! 38!!!!!! And all I'd asked for was one!!! Thank you sweet Abba for your gesture of love on me today. Darrel and I were in awe of your work.

ANSWERED PRAYER HAPPENED IN CATALOOCHEE VALLEY today and we praise His name for it!

The Ride

2009-11-11T21:55:00.003-05:00

This morning, Darrel and I left for Maggie Valley, North Carolina, for a few days away on a much needed vacation. We hit the road around 7:00 a.m. and arrived at our cabin on the mountain at about 4,300 feet elevation about 4:45.

We weren't on the road very long when I realized THE RIDE itself was all part of the vacation. I had turned on the radio by the time we hit Jax and Darrel instantly said...."Remember what Johnny said about Silence and Solitude Sunday????? Hmmmmmmmmm.....I got the message and quickly turned the radio off.

Soon after, the conversation began to flow. From one subject to another, we talked and laughed at one another as the miles flew by. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch at Cracker Barrel.

THE RIDE was becoming possibly one of THE best parts of a trip that had barely begun. I had been yearning to see the colors of the leaves, the mountains, our cabin and all the sights here, but THE RIDE was blossoming like a summer rose as its' petals unfold to display its' beauty.

Sometimes, I thought, we get so caught up in the "what's ahead" that we miss "what we're in," in the right now. Know what I mean? I'm so tickled that I recognized how sweet the hours together in the car were, without any major attractions to stop at, fancy restaurants to eat at or before any souvenirs had been bought.............

THE RIDE had already been a gift worth treasuring.

Forwards OR Backwards???

2009-11-09T21:29:00.002-05:00

Each of us has a past and in that past are generations of our ancestors who also each had a past. I'm not exactly sure that I want to know everything in my ancestors past.

BUT this I do know.....

I want to spirtually take this generation FORWARDS and not BACKWARDS. I want the future of my descendants to move forward as a godly people. As God's children, we are part of a process spanning generations. Each generation builds on the legacy of our predecessors and contributes to the future of our successors. I do not want to contribute unwisely to the future generations of my family. I may not be here to witness the outcome, but while I have breath in me, I want to be able to know that I contributed to a depth of faith in those who shall come after me and not the demise of them.

It is within my power and mine alone, to help each precious life in the future of my family to be anchored in Christ. Because of that, I will press on in doing my best to pass on a legacy of faith in the One who gave us life and the opportunity to have eternal like to boot!!!

Which direction will you choose to encourage the future of your family??? FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS???

I Know Their Voice

2009-11-07T20:23:00.003-05:00

It's amazing to me that there are over 6 billion people on this planet and each of us has a different voice. Every one of us can easily identify the sound of our parents, childrens and spouses voices. For each of us, they are distinct and easily recognizable. Isn't it cool? When my children call me, they don't have to tell me who they are because I KNOW THEIR VOICE.

Today, I witnessed something so extremely precious, I nearly cried. I attended Josh and Trista's wedding this afternoon, at which Summer was singing. She asked me if I would hold Will for her during the wedding as she needed to sit up front. Naturally, I was tickled to do so.

I sat in the back of the church and kept Will occupied throughout the service. I sat him in the floor and out of the diaper bag, he grabbed 2 diapers and literally played with them almost the entire service. He never stopped picking up and dropping those diapers and kept himself completely occupied and wasn't paying attention to anything else at all until something happened............

His momma began to sing. He heard her voice and the moment he did, he stopped what he was doing, looked straight to the front of the church and listened intently. He got completely still and simply listened. He was "fixed" on her voice. It was so incredibly precious.

I thought about how the Lord must do the same thing. We speak and he tunes His ear to all of us and says.........I KNOW THEIR VOICE! Man, is that good or what???? He focuses in on each of us when we speak and He "intently" listens to us just like little Will did to his momma.

I KNOW THEIR VOICE He says.......let that sink in a few minutes......HE KNOWS YOUR VOICE!!! I like that, I really like that. Tonight, as I lay my head down and thank Him for this day and everything else I have to be thankful for.....I will ponder the miraculous fact that He knows "my" voice:)))

An Hour of Your Time

2009-11-05T22:37:00.004-05:00

You know, if you'll really think about it and admit it, MUCH can be accomplished in only an hour. There are countless tasks that can be completed, countless joys that can be had and countless glorious things that can be done in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Sixty minutes sounds like such a small amount of time, but it's really not. Today was one of those days that much was accomplished in one hour.

The first THursday of every month, I wait at our church for any 6th-12th graders who will join me to go visiting at the local nursing home. Every month it's different. One month we had 18 show up whie another time, only one youth came. I never know who will come, but it's always such a joy and a blessing, whether there's one or twenty.

Upon arrival, the excitement always amazes me! I mean, come on, it's the NURSING HOME, after all!! And yet, their spirits are high, conversation loud and laughter contagious! Truly, they are amazing. You might think that they are standoffish and shy, and some are, but most take off in small groups without me and wander around on their own. It's always understood that we meet back in the foyer at 5:00 and there are always stories they have to tell me about who they talked to on their visits and what was said. It's so sweet.

Today, what a blessing when I saw Wyatt waving me to hurry up and come down the hallway to him. He had a huge grin on his face. The woman in the room had been his teacher years ago and he wanted to go in and see her. I stepped into the room and a gentleman about my age was there. She was his mother. I asked permission for the kids to come in and he welcomed their visit. Much to our surprise this very elderly lady recognized Wyatt and called his last name! What a treat to visit with her and bring a smile to her face. We were there to bless her and yet, she blessed us. Thank you God. We also were blessed to hear Mrs. Henry Y. share an incredibly deep and powerful lesson she learned today. She shared a story about what God had shown her. Man, it was good.

AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME "CAN" make a difference in a life. It does every single time we go to the nursing home. One hour...just one hour....can bring joy unspeakable to someone. Isn't it worth it to you?

I sure am proud of all our youth, but most especially today, those 11 who came to give of themselves. Thanks you guys and Mrs. Henry Y. Thanks also for posing for the pictures! I love you all dearly but Jesus loves you more:)

I Love You....Nite Nite

2009-11-04T22:23:00.002-05:00

My "baby" turned 30 last week! YIKES...can it be possible that my "baby" is 30 now and has 3 babies of her own????

Where have the years gone? Did I appreciate them enough? Somehow, I just don't think so. Oh yes, no doubt, I appreciated them "in the moment" but I'm older now and I think I understand the depth of it all better now. Age and maturity teaches us much.

DJ is 37 now, Butch 35 and Summer 30. I loved their childhoods and I miss it. I guess being here with Lindsey, Amber, Madison, Butch and Karli and doing all the "mothering" stuff, has made me miss my own children's childhood all the more. I miss tucking them in at night and kissing their faces. I miss hearing, "I LOVE YOU....NITE NITE."

I think Summer's 30th birthday hit me harder than it did her. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you just never think you're "baby" will ever be 30. But, here it is. In a way, it frightens me as the realization that old age is creeping ever closer and closer. I can't stop it and I can't go back. I yearn for the past in many ways and yet I yearn for the future too.

Last night and tonight though, I got to hear those wonderful words from the mouths of my grandchildren.....I LOVE YOU....NITE NITE. Oh how sweet and soothing to my ears. There's just something so sweet about tucking in a child, praying for them and bidding them goodnight. I'm so thankful.

Time rushes by us. I am reminded to enjoy this moment, for time is a gift from God and what we do with it is our choice. Man, sure is good to be here with my grandkids, enjoying this moment in time. So for now....

I LOVE YOU....NITE NITE

Pumpkin Shaped Sugar Cookies

2009-11-03T22:18:00.004-05:00

Life is good. Well, at least, life is what we make it and tonight, life is good.

I have the privilege of staying with my son and daughter-in-laws 5 children (1 of them ALMOST an adult actually!!!) while they are in Atlanta for a couple days.

As I prepared dinner and they went about their evening activities, I sat back and simply watched them. I thought about how different their lives are compared to what mine was when I was their age so very many years ago.

But one thing never changes with children....they all LOVE cookies right out of the oven! Talk about a tickled bunch of kids when I took those PUMPKIN SHAPED SUGAR COOKIES out of the oven! It was just adorable. Children never really change as each decade goes by. They love just as sweetly, smile just as tenderly, hug just as tightly, sleep just as peacefully, get in trouble about the same things, talk just as fast, express themselves the same and enjoy PUMPKIN SHAPED SUGAR COOKIES just as much now as I did when MY Grandma used to make them for me.

THAT'S the part I "really" love.....you know, that they would still love the very same things that I did when my own Grandma did them for me. It gives me those warm fuzzy feelings inside. You know, the ones that make you feel all is well with the world??? :)

Tonight, as I lock the doors, pray for and tuck in each one of them and turn out the lights, I'm thankful God has allowed me this gift. I'm thankful for them and for PUMPKIN SHAPED SUGAR COOKIES and for yet another opportunity to spend lots of time with them. Life is incredibly short....the time to enjoy them is now. I'm so blessed.

"He's Not on His Knees Yet"

2009-11-02T20:11:00.002-05:00

Last night at church for our monthly "Night of Praise," Cathy and I did a song together. The night before she called and asked me if I would do the sign language for the above titled song while she sang. I was honored that she asked. As we began talking about the song and went over the words to it, we both were so broken for so many who are "not" on their knees yet. We mulled over the many youth who have come through our SS department over the years, as well as those who are with us now who either have not yet received Christ or have walked away after they turned 18.

Before the service, we prayed together for all those who would hear the message to the song. We prayed not only for those youth we knew who would hear it nd who needed Jesus, but also for family members and those adults who we know NEED Jesus.

I would ask them....."If not today, then when??? Why are you putting it off? What do you think you have to loose if you ask Jesus in your heart today?"

The time is now. Our hearts yearn for the salvation of the lost. We have prayed and waited so long. We hunger for the Lord Jesus to reach down and change our youth, our families and our adults. Lord, bring them to their knees. They say they aren't ready Lord, they're too strong to be weak. Show them their need Father.

Please, if you are reading this and you were not at our service last night, I humbly ask you to listen to this song. The link is below. May God bless you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BXzypkClRM

"Kabul 24" by Henry O. Arnold & Ben Pearson

2009-10-31T19:55:00.002-04:00

This incredible book takes you on the journey of the kidnapping and imprisonment of 8 brave Western aid Christians who were working and pouring their hearts and lives out to the people in Afghanistan through Shelter Now International. Each time I picked up this book, I sat mesmerized as I read about this group of people who were so dedicated and faithful for "the sake of the call." Through horrendous conditions, deprivation of all sorts, lonliness and separation, these 8 endured as soldiers of Christ. There were also 16 Afghan workers who were also treated horribly along with the 8. Their story of the daily battle of holding on to their faith was awe inspiring. These men and women were moved from one site to another during three long months in 2001. Their daily battles must have been nearly impossible to hurdle, but they did it through their deep faith in God, daily prayer and bible study and their unbelieveable love for these people.
I was entralled and encouraged by this wonderful book. It brought me hope and opened up such a bigger picture of this world and the millions who strive to bless and serve others as well as share the Gospel. I reccomend this book to everyone. You will never forget their story.

Willing Servants

2009-10-29T21:22:00.002-04:00

For the past serveral Sundays in my 7th-8th grade SS class, we have been discussing servanthood. Two weeks ago we dsicussed how serving must be a priority in our lives if we are Christians. For the born again Believer, service should be a natural by-product of our salvation. Sunday morning, we discussed how our very own attitude WILL and DOES affect whether or not we choose to serve. When our attitude is bad, prideful, selfish or negative period, it WILL keep us from serving. We get in that mood that says, "Why in the world would I want to do anything for anyone when I'm so mad at everyone?" So we learned that our attitudes play a big part of whether or not we choose to serve. So, this past Sunday morning as I prayed for my girls class before I left for church, the Lord whispered to my heart... "Teach them by "doing", not just talking about it." OK, Lord, OK. And so in our class that morning, I told the girls that any of them that could/would to meet me at 4:00 today to "serve."

How blessed I was to see 5 WILLING SERVANTS come today. My heart was full. These precious young ladies cleaned windows, blinds, windowsills, painted, cleaned out the fridge, did baseboards and hauled trash. They blessed my heart tremendously. As we finished up this afternoon, I sat with them for a few minutes as I "drove" home the spiritual meaning of what they had just accomplished. What a joy they are. It is a privilige to teach them every Sunday. As we piled up on the couch before we left, giggling and praising God, all I could do was thank God for these precious WILLING SERVANTS!

Crossroads

2009-10-28T21:25:00.002-04:00

When I was just a young girl, maybe 9 or 10, I remember coming upon a CROSSROAD in my life. Now, there had been many many CROSSROADS before this particular one, but this one has always stuck in my memory. I've never forgotten, not all these years later, have I forgotten.

This undoubtably won't sound like a big deal, but it was to me then and it still is even today. I had ridden my bicycle to a nearby grocery store. I do not remember why or if I was alone or with someone else.

One of my very favorite things to eat is Bing Cherries. I absolutely LOVE them! I remember way back then, going into that grocery store and crusing the aisles until I came upon the fruit aisle. There they were.....the Bing Cherries!! I remember standing and staring at them and wanting those cherries more than I had wanted anything else in a long time..........

There I was.....at a CROSSROADS!

I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I "wanted" those cherries. I also knew without a shadow of a doubt, right from wrong. BUT....I "wanted" them. There I was, at that CROSSROADS. Should I just take them? I'd only take a few, not many, just a few. What would it matter? Who could it hurt? Who would care?

It didn't take me too long to make my decision as I met the CROSSROAD square in the face. I reached up as quick as I could, grabbed a handful of cherries, shoved them in my pocket and ran for the front door. I couldn't wait to get out the door and eat the cherished fruit. I was already anticipating their sweetness and they weren't even in my mouth yet!

I had come to the CROSSROAD and made my decision.....I was young, but I had sinned and I KNEW it. I had done wrong and the guilt inexplicably overcame me. I had stood outside the door of this store, eaten my cherries and literally spit the pits right at their front door and immediately felt ashamed and overcome with guilt. I remember getting on my bike, riding all the way back home, grabbing a nickel and riding back to the store. I had no idea how much those cherries cost but I figured a nickel should cover it. I went in, ran to a cashier, and shoved my nickel at her mumbling something about paying back for the cherries I'd stolen. I ran crying out of the store I was so ashamed.

Every single day, we approach CROSSROADS in our lives. We will either choose right or we'll choose wrong. It is always our choice to do what's right or not. No one made me steal those cherries. I made that choice, just as I have made every other right and wrong choice in my life.

CROSSROADS....the next one you come to, what choice will you make? There are always consequences for our choices at the CROSSROADS.

Follow the Directions

2009-10-27T22:13:00.002-04:00

How many times in your young years did you hear your mother, father or teacher say, "If you'd only of FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS, you wouldn't have gotten into trouble, or you wouldn't have failed the test, or you wouldn't have had to learn that lesson the hard way."

I can tell you....I heard this said at least a million times! Following directions is much harder for some of us than others but is undoubtably hard for ALL of us. Why is that do you think???? I'm gonna guess that our own ridiculous selfishness almost always keeps us from following directions. We almost always want to do what WE WANT TO DO....regardless of the directions that we "should be" following.

Or, do you remember ever being given something to fill out but instead of reading the directions on "how" to fill it out....we just proceeded to do it the way we "thought" it should be done OR how we "wanted" for it to be done only to find out after we are halfway through that we had been doing it wrong????? Hmmmmmmmmm.....

Why is it we continually choose to not FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS that God has given us in the 10 Commandments for a starter??? When will we learn? I have to wonder how much we will loose in our lifetimes because we chose to do things our own way instead of following the directions God has layed before us.

Maybe we all need to re-read the 10 Commandments right now and refresh our memories. WE have been told to FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS that God gave us. Today is a good day to start, tomorrow could be too late.

Like a Vapor

2009-10-26T20:36:00.002-04:00

"Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." James 4:14

I often think about this verse that reminds us that life is LIKE A VAPOR and quickly will be gone from us. We are only here a very short time when we think about our lives in the grand scheme of things. So the question is, what are we going to do with these lives that God has graciously given us? If God chooses to grant us a long life, what will be said of us when we are gone? We tend to think that we have all the time in the world to live for Christ, get things right in our lives, be the best mom in the world, make lots of money, buy a home, or whatever are goals are in this life. But the Word tells us that our lives are like a vapor, appearing for only a little while and then vanishing away. NOW is the time to make our lives count for more than our own selfishness.

This verse also tells us that we do not know what our lives will be like tomorrow. I have known many many people over the years whose lives were turned upside down in a matter of minutes, changed forever. When this happens, we often see that regret follows. Regret for things that were left undone, things that were left unsaid and problems that were never resolved and now, will never be.

LIKE A VAPOR our lives are here and gone. Oh God, help us remember that our lives are really very very short. Help us make them matter for the Kingdom.

Thankful for Natalie

2009-10-24T19:09:00.006-04:00

"I sure do love you," I said. "I love you more," she said. "I've missed you SO much," I said. "But I've missed YOU way more," she said.

Those words may not sound like a whole lot to you, but to us grandparents, they mean everything! When a child speaks, they usually mean what they say and when they tell you they love you, they mean it. We don't get to see Natalie as often as we'd like so when we do, it's a treat not only to see her but hear her say those words above.

Darrel and I are fortunate to have a wonderful bunch of grandkids and Nat is one of them. I remember the day she was born and the joy she brought to us. Her daddy didn't think he'd ever have a little girl so her birth was even extra sweet because of that.

Tonight, we're THANKFUL FOR NATALIE and so glad the Lord God gave her to us. Her little freckled face and sweet grin would make the saddest day joyous. What a blessing! Thanks God:)