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What I Did This Summer

Summer is winding down...
School has started for some and will begin soon for all.

Some folks take long lovely Cruises, go RV-ing for a month across the United States,
visit their "summer home" at the beach or in another country...

Those things are wonderful, and I am sure I will do something like that some day.

However,
this summer,
the summer of 2010
I can say it wasn't as much where I traveled,
it was what I learned along the way that has great value to me.

I am grateful to look back and see that God
provided me with certain character strengths I didn't think I possessed.

I found Strength in deep weakness,
Courage in difficulty,
Love beyond explanation,
and Peace amidst great turmoil and uncertainty.

I've done things this summer I never thought I was strong enough, wise enough, or tough enough to handle.
I've felt God's hand in all things, even the ones that made me sad, or scared, or angry.

If I had to sum it up in one quick sentence I'd say:

I've learned that He will, without fail,
provide me with whatever I need for that moment.

What a blessing.

CHECK BACK MONDAY.
New blog will be launched!

Slow Going . . .

I read this today while out running errands and it spoke deeply to me:

PEACE: It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. (unknown author)



The recovery from back surgery is taking a bit of a toll on our household, particularly the poor guy who actually had the surgery.


It's very. slow. going.


Lots of pain, small snippits of sleep, (nothing over a couple of hours at a time), and did I mention pain?


Bless him.



So, how do you keep calm and steady amidst such different chaos? I mean, there's normal chaos...like children growing, lives being lived, schedules overloaded with activity.



Then, there's the abnormal chaos...a loved one very ill, losing jobs or homes, or in our case, trying to recover from something that the doctors have told you will take a good year to get through. A year...



All day long, I've had a song playing in my head.

Now, I know lots of songs. I can't imagine just how many are rolling around in my little noodle. But this one, it stuck today.




There is a place of quiet rest,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where sin cannot molest,

Near to the heart of God.


Refrain
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,

Sent from the heart of God,

Hold us who wait before Thee

Near to the heart of God.


There is a place of comfort sweet,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where we our Savior meet,

Near to the heart of God.


Refrain


There is a place of full release,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where all is joy and peace,

Near to the heart of God.


Refrain



Maybe everything is rolling along smoothly for you today.

Kids are out of school.

Summer is in full swing.

Life is good.



But maybe, just maybe, there will come a moment when you feel empty.

Your insides are exhausted, worried, void of depth or wisdom.

Each day seems a little worse than the previous day.



It's then you can think about the Savior who holds you close...near to the heart of God.



I love the comfort it brings knowing my Savior quietly, gently, safely holds me close.



“He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart.”

Isaiah 40:11



Blessings. . .

Still in Process

Still in process . . .

However, during this time of transition a few things have happened.

Husband has had successful back surgery. He's had plates and screws and such put in his back to (hopefully) alleviate the difficulty he's lived with for a year. We have no doubt that God's hand was directly guiding the surgeon. LONG recovery, but at least we're on this end of the journey and not the "waiting for surgery" end. That end was a bit anxious.

Daughter has successfully graduated from ACU and has come home for a bit of time until God directs her path in a clear way. She will be a FANTASTIC teacher. Any young student who has the joy of being in her classroom will be blessed indeed!

Son is working very hard, handling the "man-chores" around the house while his dad is down for the recovery period, successfully finished up another year of his college path (with honors!), and generally, continues to be a joy to us.

There are things in my head...a checklist if you will...that were weighing on me in a most burdensome way. For the most part, those things have come and gone and I'm still standing.

I know, without a doubt, my Father has been holding and sustaining me and my precious family.

SO...soon, friends. Very soon I will be able to show you my new blog digs!

You are loved!

It may take a moment or two, or maybe a day, or a possibly a couple of weeks,
but I WILL return with a happy new site!
(well, some will think "WOW, this is great!" while others will let out a big YAWN!)

However, don't give up.

Check back soon!

Come Awake!

This was the opening of the service yesterday at College . . .beautiful day.
I woke up this morning wanting to view it again.
I hope your Sunday was a blessed day.
Enjoy!

Waiting . . .

I've been waiting
Waiting to have something important to say...
Waiting for some inspiration to knock me down...
Waiting to be able to report some great bit of news...
hmmm...
I'm still waiting.

In that past few weeks I've:
cooked lots of yummy things,
gained a couple more pounds,
sent my girl back to school to finish her Senior year,
ignored the need to exercise,
read a very good book and a few great excerpts from other books,
been very sick with a cold that won't go away,
enjoyed 70-ish degree weather,
worried about the next step for our family,
had coffee with a good friend,
contemplated my value,
seen a couple of good movies,
had an unexpected wonderful lunch with my big brother,
marveled at the beauty around me,
wondered how people make it without God.

There's more, but for now, I believe that's enough.

Blessings, sweet friends!

Ugh!

My bathroom scale quit working properly (that's never a good sign...) a few weeks ago.

I kept thinking we would fix it, assuming it was just a battery issue.

Husband took it apart, called company, followed all manufacture instructions, and still no scale.

It sat on my piano bench for a couple more weeks until,

feeling my jeans getting a tiny bit tight, I declared...

"WE MUST GET ANOTHER SCALE!!"

And so he did.

I got on it.

Off

Back on

Off again

ugh

I'm so depressed.

Those of you living in skinny land,

the land where this isn't an issue,

the land where you can eat what you want and it doesn't add a pound...ever,

the land I have never had the pleasure of even visiting, much less living in,

those of you in this land, I know you don't understand.

But today, ugh.

So, I made some delicious butter lemon shortbread cookies.

Blessings. . .

Ephesians Instruction

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger,
harsh words, and slander,
as well as all types of malicious behavior.

Instead, be kind to each other,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31,32

We say we believe the Bible to be from God, and we understand that the words were given to us to know Him deeper and be more like Him.

That being understood, these two verses alone would change the world if we truly let them become a road map for our life.

So much to learn. So far to go.
But what a journey!

Blessings

O Lord Our Lord

Renew Conference.
Friday night through Sunday morning.
Register @ www.collegecofc.com
Come.
Join with us as we say together:
"O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth!"

Some of you know, some may not, but this is "conference week" for us.
The College church is hosting a West Coast conference with wonderful speakers.
(Randy Harris & John York, as well as our own Jason Locke)
We also have some fabulous teachers coming to share their hearts and knowledge.

A very exciting and valuable time, we believe,
in the area of encouragement and teaching.
(Come see us! Friday night through Sunday morning...Feb 19-21)

Some of you also know that things like this make me very nervous.
I want it to be...well...perfect.
Not "O.K." Not "good enough". Not "fine...it was fine."
But...perfect. With no flaws. Couldn't have been better!

God is in control. He is in charge. It will be perfect because of Him.

But in the meantime, when my husband and son called to see if they needed to bring me lunch/dinner
(it's 2:45 and I haven't managed to get a meal in yet),
my response was what any other person with food issues and a worried heart would say:

"Please bring me a milk shake. OH, and maybe some fries."
Blessings!

The Heart of the Matter

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply,

they met together to question him again.

One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
Jesus replied,

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

This is the first and greatest commandment.

A second is equally important:

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

(Matthew 22:34-40)

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world,

but to save the world through him.

(John 3:16-17)

On this day of hearts and flowers and candy and cards,

remember the deepest love one has ever displayed for you...

Happy Valentines Day!

A Heart Full of Hope

Now may the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that you will abound in hope by the

power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13)

A Humble Heart

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

(Philippians 2:3)

Honor one another above yourselves.

(Romans 12:10)

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

(1 Peter 5:5)

A Heart of Courage

Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord.

(Psalm 31:24)

For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.

(Psalm 37:28)

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

(Isaiah 40:29)

A Heart of Forgiveness

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends.

(Proverbs 17:9)

Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].

(Colossians 3:13)

A Heart of Delight

"Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails."
(Psalm 111:1-3)

A Heart of Worship

"Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord."

(Psalm 89:15)

A Heart of Repentance

Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn again in repentance to the Lord.

(Lamentations 3:40)

A Safe Heart

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high.
I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept.
I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.

(Psalm 3:3-5)

A Heart of Perseverance

So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

Mark out a straight path for your feet.

Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.

(Hebrews 12:12,13)

A Grateful Heart

I Chronicles 16:34
34 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Always Be Sweet

O.K. You're going to think I drive through my favorite coffee house every day, but that's not the case. It just seems to be a story worth telling every time I do go through...

Drive up, give my order to the speaker, pull to the window and the sweet girl takes my $ and proceeds to say...

"How's Avery?"

Not, "aren't you Avery's Mom?, or "I think I know your son", or any such introductory phrase...simply and confidently, "How's Avery?"

I was a little startled because my son, like my husband, is not a frequent visitor of the drive through coffee experience. And, if either son or husband are driving through, it's probably for me. So, the fact this girl, first, knows Avery, second, knows Avery belongs to me is just weird.

"He's good" I answer in a very non-committal way.

"Yeah..." she continues, "I remember his Dad used to come in our class and help with 'computer time'. Everybody wanted to have computer time with him because he was fun and nice."

"???"

"That was...ummmm...THIRD GRADE?!, right?" I asked thinking surely there was another time she was talking about...

"Yeah, it was fun. He was funny. And nice."

"He's still funny and nice." I answered, not really knowing how in the world this sweet little girl, now 20-21, remembers me, connected to Avery, through his Dad working in their classroom once a week in the third grade!

But, as I was driving away, it occurred to me that my advice to my family over and over, is very good advice. I constantly told my children to "make good choices and be sweet". In fact, they say it back to me now in a loving/mocking sort of way. But, really, you never know what an impact you might have. You never know who's watching you. Who needs you and the kindness you bring to the moment.

So, my blog friends...

Have a great day! Make good choices and be sweet!
Blessings

RENEW

We (College Church) have a Conference coming right around the corner we've titled "Renew". (February 19-21...John York, Randy Harris, great teachers! You should come!)

I love the idea of a renewal of ideas, thoughts, vows, commitment. It's always good to have a fresh, clean outlook.

Psalm 51:10 says:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me."

In my Bible, there is a "Prayer of Confession" that goes with the Psalm 51...I love this prayer.

I confess, Lord, with thanksgiving, that you have made me in your image so that I can remember you, think of you, and love you. But that image is so worn and blotted out by faults, and darkened by the smoke of sin, that it cannot do that for which it was made unless you renew and refashion it.

Lord, I am not trying to make my way to your height, for my understanding is in no way equal to that, but I do desire to understand a little of your truth, which my heart already believes and loves.

AMEN.
(Saint Anselm of Canterbury)

Beautiful.
May you feel the renewal of his love, his grace, his sacrifice today...right now.

Up . . . All . . . Night

Sunday Night was another famous "Lock-In" for the Youth Group led, for the time being, by my sweet husband.

I've mentioned before that he is as much a kid as any of the kids you've ever known, just with a little experience and wisdom under his belt.

His love and dedication for the students of this church is remarkable. He absolutely wants them to know they are loved and valued not just by him, but by the church family that meets here and most important, by the God who created them. He leads them with great respect for who they are and what they might be experiencing or feeling in their "tween" or "teen" minds.

My job during these all night lock-ins is to just be there for them. I cook a couple of meals, one when they arrive around 6:00 and another one about midnight. They have warm cookies and an iced mocha around 3:00 a.m. to rev up their energy for the last few hours, and then a little breakfast about 6:00 a.m. Parents arrive around 7:00 to pick up their very tired students.

I learned that I am no longer a kid. I'm not able to bounce back after staying up all night. I am an old woman.

I must say, though, the times with those students is precious. They are good people with generous hearts. I know I don't see and hear everything that goes on, and goodness knows I'm totally o.k. with that! However, these kids are sweet, and polite, and genuinely concerned for each other and the world around them.

I'm proud of my husband for the work he does with these students, but beyond that, I'm very proud of these young people as they make good decisions and strive to walk a Godly path.

If this is the future, we're in good hands!

Blessings. . .

What? Huh! What?

Let me see if I can tell this story in a clear and concise way...

(first, let me say, dear co-workers, feel free to exit my blog...you've already heard this story and even gave me the impression you were bored with it the first time through...so, please, feel free to exit NOW.)

I have a favorite drive through coffee spot. I love how friendly, helpful, generally chipper the workers are...in fact, I've actually e-mailed the manager just to tell them "good job".

Yesterday morning, I was driving through and placed my order as usual at the "speaker". Then pulled up to the window and this is the conversation that took place...

(Coffee Window Girl holding up a sample of their new Instant coffee): "Good Morning! It's like pushing drugs to school children."

(me) "Good morning...WHAT? HUH! WHAT?"

(Coffee Window Girl throwing herself down on counter and expressing in a sad tone): "I told them I wouldn't be good at this!"

(me, unclear of what she was saying): "No...it's not you...it's me, try again, I just didn't understand you...really, say your pitch again..."

(Coffee Window Girl straightening up to give it another try): "Like pushing drugs to school children."

(me, mouth open, squinting, shaking my head slowly...looking over at my husband in passenger seat feeling the car shake with his laughter as he says "DRIVE AWAY!" I look back to the girl and say): "I'm just not getting what you're trying to say. I'm sure it's me, not you. You're doing a good job, I'm just not understanding you."

(Coffee Window Girl): "I know. They told me that selling this new de-caf instant coffee would be as easy as pushing drugs to school children, but it's not. I'm just not good at this."

My head snaps to my husband who now has himself pressed so hard against the passenger seat back as to not let the little girl see the tears streaming down his face as he laughs uncontrollably...

So, some dummy of a manager or trainer or something of the sort told this sweet, fairly naive, maybe a little ditsy new coffee girl that selling this product to the public would be like "pushing drugs to school children". And she, in one of her less than intelligent moments, thought this was the "hook line" she needed to use to get us to purchase it?!

Really!?

(me): "uhhhmmmm...no. I don't want any. But thanks."

(Coffee Window Girl): O.K. Here's your coffee. You two have a beautiful Tuesday! It is Tuesday, isn't it?"

(me, driving away, still in shock over the whole exchange): "yes, it's Tuesday...all day."

Normal

Not exactly sure what "normal" is, but I believe today is a "back to normal" day.

Daughter has returned to ACU and son is back to his school and work routine.

I love the idea of the holidays, but what I really love, is being with people. Getting to take goodies to someone, having people over, thinking about a special gift that would make a person you love happy or excited.

However, when it comes to the decorations, I'm 100% scrooge. The only thing I like less than hauling out all the decorations is the thought of putting them all back when it's over. Fortunately, I have lovely people in my life who handle the "putting back" part for me.

Now, we're safely in the new year. If you read my friend Julie's blog, you will see she and I feel the same about resolutions. Who doesn't have a mile long list of things they could do better? I certainly do, and at times get caught up in all the ways I DON'T measure up instead of see the good in my life. So, resolutions can be tricky. However, there's always time to ponder on a thing or two. Examine, refresh, commit deeper.

I often have the same resolution. Get healthy, lose weight, exercise more (o.k. exercise period!...there's no "more" if you don't do it at all!)

But this year, my resolution is to spend sweet time with people. Those I love deeply as well as those I would like to know better. Carving out time for a cup of coffee, a prayer with a friend, a movie, a chat...this seems to escape me and proves difficult at times.

This is my fresh focus. It can only bring good things, don't you think?

Blessings

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I always LOVE the turning of the December to January calendar page.

It's full of possibilities. Some things are good...so you keep doing them. However, it's a time when we tend to look at what's not so good and try to adjust our lives, hearts, habits to reflect something we can be a bit more proud of.

My little family started what we believe might become a tradition in our family...New Year's Eve and a few days following at the BEACH!

We love the beach. Son gets to ride his crazy truck all over the dunes. He has worked so hard on building this thing, it's fun to watch him enjoy the benefits of his hard work. Daughter loves reading, crocheting, exploring the beach...

We all had a restful, relaxing time. We learned BUNCO while there and played with some friends who were also at the coast. At one point, two tables of people were laughing so hard we had to stop playing and just watch each other laugh! So funny...and healthy!

The Monarch butterflies come to "rest" for a couple of months at the coast. Daughter and I walked the butterfly trail and took some pictures of the area of our adventure. It's amazing. The one pic above looks like leaves hanging on a tree but are actually clusters of thousands of butterflies. It's beautiful to see in person...

I don't know about you all, but 2009 seemed long and difficult.

God was present and faithful...as always. But, I feel weary from it all and look forward to a new page for 2010.

I have great hopes for some positive changes and discoveries, however, I know that whatever each new day holds, God will be holding me close.

Blessings, friends! May you feel His presence in a mighty way!