You, YOU will go out with JOY!

One of God's great blessings: meeting with people that are of one mind...seeking God's hand in what they are doing...I was able to get a glimpse of that yesterday at a meeting I attended.

As you may recall, I worked with a team of area women to plan a large women's event/retreat back in April. We have just started to plan the 2010 event. We renamed it: Oil Belt Ladies' Day. The word retreat in the title was a little mis-leading...it suggested the event was 'over night', which was not the case.

I'm very happy that most of our team members are returning. A couple of ladies needed to step off because of other commitments. We've been able to add a couple of new ladies. Funny how we didn't really set a number of people for our team, but we seem to hover around 12...what a great number!

With these 12 ladies, there are 8 are churches represented--four churches have two women each, and then there are four churches that only have one woman come from them. It just worked out that way, but it seems to 'work', which is key! The churches are spread out over a 70 mile radius. These ladies have truly bonded as a team...in spite of the fact that their only face to face meeting time is when we get together every 6-8 weeks.

We have an on-going prayer effort where the retreat is concerned. We keep up through e-mail, for 'big' stuff going on in our individual lives, and 'small details' and 'large concerns' about this event. One of the ladies is having a baby very soon, and we're all very excited about getting to 'hold' him when we meet again! Three other team members have family members with serious health concerns, that we're all praying about.

Our first official meeting to plan the 2010 day was yesterday morning. Even before we 'started' the actual meeting, the conversation found its way to color scheme and theme for the day! I could tell just by the way these women were talking, they'd all prayed about this meeting because we were all on the same page!

One word and one color seemed to be threaded through the pre-meeting conversation.
THE Color: lime green (of course, I was very pleased with this, because I love it--not the 'neon lime green' but the pretty feminine one!)
THE Word: Joy!!!

We decided that Isaiah 55:12 will be our theme scripture...take a listen...look it up!

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Don't you just love that? To honor Our Great God!-- JOY!

What a fun and blessed team I get to work with! I went out with great joy just from our meeting!

And, how much fun we're already having to plan for 300+ women from our area for April 17, 2010!

Women of all backgrounds, ages and stages!

I can't wait to see what God does with this effort!

Teeth and Enjoying Life!

What a day...I'm home now! Waiting for the appropriate time to leave again.

The twins have a softball game tonight at 8pm. This will be the second of the three they will play this week. The girls love being around other kids and the excitement of the ball park. They try hard, and have a great time with everyone...so, I guess it's worth it!

They had orthodontist appointments early this morning (7am, IL time), so their mouths are a little sore. My great, wonderful, very patient husband had to take them because I had to make last minute plans to be in Evansville by 8:40am this morning. (I'll explain that one in a minute!)

The girls and their dad had a good time together, they drove my car, which is a treat for them-- all of us really...it goes fast, handles great and is just fun! :) So, we were all 'up' early today! A 'late' game tonight will have us in bed as soon as we get home, I imagine!

The reason for my early morning trip: our precious grandson.

Earlier this spring, it was discovered that Will had a few cavities. Because he's only 3, he was referred to a pediatric dentist. (Side-Note: I didn't even know there was such a thing...but as I think about it, if there are 'pet psychiatrists, then why not!???!')

This consultation was scheduled for yesterday afternoon. I drove Alayna, Will and Ally to Evansville, so that Alayna could could sit in the back and entertain children for the 1-1/2 hour drive. It worked great, actually.

In the end, Alayna was told they could do all 7 (yes, seven) fillings this morning, OR wait til late July. After a quick call to my husband ( you know HOW great he is!to make sure he could do the orthodontist trip in my place), we set the time to be back on the road by 7am today--so, it's been a LONG day!!

They put Will sort of 'under' for the procedure this morning. Before we got there, he had medicine to drink so it would make him sleepy. He was a little loopy when we got him back. Bless his heart, he was such a trooper...and he got an orange balloon out of the deal!

I think that's another reason we're supposed to 'become like little children' before Our God: Go through tons of pain, and then, be completely delighted with something as small and temporary as a brightly colored balloon! What a concept! Even baby Ally loved the it, squealing with such enthusiasm as it danced around her head...and her little arms reaching for it! --Precious, indeed!

Enjoying the little things...how uncomplicated our lives would be if we'd just practice that a little bit more! With squeals and laughter and joy!--Great joy!--Also, Precious, indeed!

Now, we get to all meet at the ball park to cheer on our younger girls...enjoying these little moments just being together, as we've seen these past few weeks, life is unpredictable, and sometimes, too short!--Make every moment count!

Introducing you to a new friend of mine...

The first official day of summer vacation and I'm up at 4:40am! I love it, don't want to miss a minute, apparently! Basketball camp starts this week for one of my girls, volleyball camp will be next week for the other, then the following week, all three of my 'younger' girls will be away at church camp, and leave their mother here to work VBS at our church! Whew, I'm already ready for school to start...just kidding!

The younger girls already have a great start for their summer 'tan' from hanging out at the city pool for a couple of days this Memorial Day week end. Great times!

On the other side of the world from me, India, in fact, I have a new friend. Life for him is not so care free today as mine. Please, if you are reading this blog, stop and just say a prayer for him.

Salman, my friend, started e-mailing me this spring, because of this blog, and the fact that I do ministry to women. He has a gospel ministry there, in southeast India, where he ministers to women and children...some of which have leprosy and some are HIV positive. (think: the leaset of these) I received a sad e-mail just this morning--one of the women in his church died a few hours ago, leaving a husband and two small children. Please, pray for her family, as well.

The Internet is a funny thing. It can keep us in touch with those we love that are hundreds, even thousands of miles away. Apparently, it can become a means to connect people with common interests. In this case would be to further God's kingdom on this earth.

Do I trust this man and his e-mail to be true? At this point, yes. --Because I serve a Mighty and Powerful and All-knowing God! Praise His Name.

'for such a time as this'...keeps coming to my mind.

And, I'm also reminded of Gamaliel's words in the book of Acts that loosely say this: ...If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail...but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop it--you will find yourselves fighting against God.

I'm trusting God to put on my heart the thing I need to do to help further the gospel in that part of the world. I don't know what that looks like yet, but I think I'm supposed to blog about it, because that's the origin of our 'meeting'. God can use anything we give Him! He able!

To my friends, my blog spot 'followers', my partners in ministry: Please join me in lifting up this man, his family, and the ministry he's accomplishing there. And, what we should do to help him out, if that's possible!

In May they held a children's Bible camp meeting for three days.

They had around 100 children attend. Last week, they held another meeting in three villages and life changing decisions were made to follow Jesus! In June they will be offering a small conference for women in their region. They are excited to do this, to further God's kingdom here, and further the message of Christ's redeeming grace!

I wanted to share a few ministry pictures that he has forwarded to me from different meetings that he's held in these past few weeks. My hope is that you will lift them up, and pray that God's purposes in all this would come about, but above all: His Name be High and Lifted Up!

Though there's pain in the offering...

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Life is short. No surprise in that. We all know it. We just don't like to admit it. Keep short accounts of things that need to be said to those we love. Enjoy each and every moment.

I'm sitting here thinking that since Easter Sunday, April 12, seven Sundays ago...five of those Sundays have been clouded with tragic news of death...either the death of people I know directly or someone I know has lost a person they love very much. This is life, this is a roller coaster! This is a great way to see the hand of Our Great God!!!

This week is almost the worst yet, because the tragedy involved three people from the same family. The parents and aunt of a dear friend of our family's. In past weeks, death has taken just one person at a time. This tragic loss is going to change a lot of people's perspectives. And, the ripple affects of this great loss are amazing, far reaching, and probably unending.

Mostly, in moments like these, I'm reminded of the stinging pain that accompanies unexpected loss. There's shock...there's tears...there's prayers...there's comfort...there's sadness.
It was a long time after our loss, before I could sing the song 'Blessed Be the Name' with out tears running down my face...I've shared this before in these writings. But, it is true, none the less, offering our pain and grief to our God as a sacrifice of praise is the best thing we can do with it. There is nothing we can do with it by hanging on to it...and by offering it to Him to do with, as He would please, to bring honor and glory to Himself seems healthy, even though there is truly 'pain in the offering'...BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!

O, for the love of Edward Cullen...

It just came to me ... why the Twilight series is so popular. And, what I must write in regards to that realization!

A movie of the first book came out a few months ago, the next book, New Moon, is expected out in November and Eclipse in 2010. Many of my friends, young and not so young are fans. My older girls are fans. My younger girls are fans. My husband even enjoyed the movie very much. I wasn't with the rest of the family when they saw the movie, I didn't figure I missed too much in my life by not attending.

But, because curiosity got the best of me, and because of the commitment of time one of our daughters has spent reading every word of each of the four books, (plus the Internet download offerings) I've started reading the series, as well. I've been told by more than one person, this was not a book they would ever expect to see on my 'books read' list! I read a lot, just not a lot of fiction.

This is not a book review. I'm just trying to apply some ideas from what I've read so far, to real life! I've read the first two books in their entirety, the third, I've just started. They have been entertaining, to a point.

As you probably know, Edward and Jacob are main characters, and loved by Bella, each for different reasons. Their love for Bella appears to be real. Bella has a constant need for someone to watch over her and protect her (which most of us can relate to!). These two are willing and equipped for that role in her life.

Edward, though is the one she is truly in love with. He is rich, watches over her as she sleeps and as a bonus, has the ability to read minds. His close friend can see the future, so any question Bella may have, he can answer it, if he chooses!--It's always up to him, though, he's very mysterious, which is also intriguing to her! As the two of them interact with what is perceived to be her enemy, Edward's stance is always one of protector, and deliverer. He sits in her room at night to watch over her. He isn't human so he has no need for sleep. He relates to her out of his love for her in her human-ness. He sits and watches her, listens to her as she talks in her sleep, and he's there when she wakes up, always protecting her. Without him, she awakens with screams. --She's lost without him. (I can also relate to this!)

Because you know me, (or maybe you don't know me), this Edward and the role he has in Bella's life, does remind me of someone else!

I found this in a love letter recently: Remember, I will not let your foot slip--I'm watching over you--YOU, the one I love the most and I will neither slumber nor sleep...I will keep you from harm--I will watch over your life; I watch as you come in and go out...now and forever.

A little later in the letter, he wrote this: Don't be afraid...keep on speaking, don't be silent. I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I am fully capable and I have friends close by you to help you, as well!

What we find in Edward Cullen, who is a fictional vampire, (yep, I really read a book about vampires--surprises even me!)...

we can truly find in the One who has loved us since He set the foundations of the earth. The One who is the Lover of My Soul. He's the one who is watching over me as I sleep, because He doesn't need sleep. He watches over my life, He keeps me from being afraid, I know He's always with me, and I do not fear attack from others. Even though, the enemy is all around me, waiting to seek, kill and destroy! It's also good that I don't have to worry about saving Him because of his love for me (think New Moon here), He's already conquered death and saved ME!!!

I have nothing to fear, especially not death!

This One is King Jesus. His love letter to me, to mankind, the Bible, is loosely quoted above in italics from Psalm 121 and Acts 18.

Edward Cullen isn't coming back for you or me. Remember: he isn't human. Some may need to be reminded that he isn't even real...he's fiction. Don't believe lies like 'how happy you could be, if you could just find a vampire like Edward'...that isn't even realistic. Edward Cullen, along with Bella Swan, and Jacob Black and the others are great characters in the mind of Stephanie Meyer. She made them up, and she did a great job writing about them...I applaud her effort. But, it's entertainment!

--I know you know this, but, I'm a mom of daughters, romantically inclined daughters--and I want them to embrace truth for their lives and for their future!

As you search for someone like Edward, my hope would be that you would look, instead, for and find the Voice of Truth! The ONE who truly Loves you! His Name is Jesus. He has everything YOU could ever need, want or imagine...nothing but truth!--Real Truth!

What a blur of a Day!

What a day! I spent almost 4 hours in meetings this morning, then another hour with my little mentor child, then two hours in the e-room with Madison, another hour fixing supper and another 45 minutes going back to the pharmacy to get meds and to the store to get 'sore throat-appropriate things' for Madison...whew! I'm tired!

Madison does have strep throat, she will not be attending the last full day of school...she'll miss movies, and a walking trip to McDonald's woo hoo! Mallory will gloat all evening about that one! They are so cute! (teeth gritting here) But, the magic antibiotics are in her now, so in a little less than 24 hours, Madi will be able to be around people again!

The coolest part of the day was seeing my little mentoring girl. Tammy.

We've been a BB/BS match for three school years. I've written about her before. But today, was the end of the year for us. She's possibly moving away next school year, so, this may have been good bye for now. We've said we'll always be friends, though!

As you may recall, she & I wrote a book together this year. She wanted it to look 'like a real book'... Her teacher is quite a gem. Tammy had told her what we were doing, and she volunteered to bind it for us with equipment the school has on hand! So, I took the pages out to her first thing this morning, and she bound it for us. She even laminated the pages for Tammy! It was adorable, she was so excited to have it...and so proud of it! What a gift!--and, it didn't cost a thing!

Meetings...meetings...they are OK, and there was a purpose for them, but they were back to back...BUT, a lot of that time was spent in prayer, never a waste of time, any time! And, another part of that time was spent discussing the current 5 chapters of our Journey! Also, part of the time we got to swap stories about how God is moving and changing people's lives!!! So, that was a really cool part of the day, as well!

Like I said, I'm tired...I know this isn't a very 'deep post'...but it's all I got today!--Hang with me, it'll get better!!
Bless YOU!

Ready to Launch...almost!

Computers are amazing tools to me. There are so many things you can do with them...things that my brain cannot even imagine. While talking to our children's minister last week, he suggested that I put together a web-site for the women's ministry at our church. Sounded great to me!

So, I followed his instructions. They were easy to follow, the web-site he directed me to was easy to follow, and so far, the site I'm constructing looks OK to me. There are a few things I still want to include, and build on. I would also like to add some 'sign up' capabilities on different pages of the site. But, overall, I'd say I'm about 85% finished with it! Which means that soon, I'll be hitting the 'publish' button, and presto, it will be on the world wide web! How cool is technology?

I know, I know, my sister will comment on this, because she thrives on technology! (...for which I'm very thankful, she's really good at her job) I prefer the smell of ink and pages and real book marks and book-binding glue--turning real paper pages, etc. But, because we live on this planet in 2009, technology is a must! And so, with all I can muster, I'm leaning in to this experience, and actually enjoying it!

So, watch for the launch! http://www.esccwomensministry.org/ (not yet, I haven't hit publish yet!) They tell me I can link this blog to the site, as well! How fun is that?

I can hear you all rolling your eyes, I know this, for you, is like a 'duh?' moment...I'm just really s l o w!!!

Happy Monday night...I'm off to read some more in a real book!--gotta love 'em!

You've Gotta Love Sundays!

Today was 'Youth Sunday' at our church! This means that the youth did everything for the services. Our youth minister did present most of the sermon, but had some help from one of the high school boys. It's exciting to see so many young people serving in this way! The fact that they are there something about their parents, as well. Our congregation loved participating, too!

I'm usually at our church building for approximately 4 hours on Sunday mornings. My husband puts our Sunday dinner on our table just about every week. He and I usually plan what we'll have, then we might do some prep work together before I leave. When he gets home, he finishes up.

Our Sunday dinner is usually eaten in our dining room with our china and the table set pretty. I'm very convicted about NOT saving 'for good' those things. The fact that it is Sunday is a good enough reason for the table to be set, good food and all our kids there!
--Celebrate with the best we have! is my motto! (sorry if that's TMI-- I do think there's a lesson there!)

But today, my husband had to do almost everything for our meal after church. He prepared salmon cakes--his mom made the best ones ever, and he cooks them like she did. For his salmon cake meal, he always includes: real mashed potatoes, green beans, corn and hot rolls. Keep in mind, the salmon cakes: he flours them before he fries them. (one of the very few things we fry at our house!)

So, while everyone was eating this feast, I thought to myself 'these salmon cakes taste different--Marsha, don't complain--just investigate.' I'd seen our oldest daughter put away the 'flour' for her dad, and it didn't hit me what had happened until I tasted them! After looking again at the container of 'flour', I discovered that he'd 'floured' the salmon cakes in a dry cookie mix I keep on hand, flour, sugar, brown sugar, etc. (the real flour container was 2 shelves up in the cabinet) Our salmon cakes glistened...and had just a hint of sweet! --We had a great chuckle and then enjoyed eating them all!

We've had many hilarious Sunday dinner moments these past 5-1/2 years since I've been in ministry, because he works hard to cook and have it ready when we all get here! Once, he caught his sweater on fire while serving food over the lit candles. He's also dumped an entire 9x13 of potatoes on the floor, and then attempted to serve them...hilarity rules at our house! Mostly, I just want to stay mindful of what a blessing my husband is to me and our kids. Just one more way that I can proclaim that God is a good God and He provides great blessings to us!

Randy made sure that I got my much-needed Sunday afternoon nap, and we took a great walk together around our neighborhood. One of our neighbors stopped us to chat for a moment, he'd had a really rough time this week end. Many 'trials'...and so I'm again reminded to be thankful, and lift him up!

This evening, we went to small group. As I've written before, these are people we dearly loves as brothers and sisters. Stimulating conversation. Great discussion. Acts 2-6! Much laughter, many questions, really good stuff!

It's been a great Sunday, indeed! God is good all the time!

Nuggets from the Journey

Acts 2-6. The beginning of the church. The Lord added to their numbers daily. The believers had everything in common. No one among them had any need. Miracles happened. Praise to the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob happened. Jesus Christ was proclaimed as the only name by which men could be saved!
This lesson in giving to God what you say you're going to give...what a faith builder!--
Gamaliel gives us the lesson on purpose and activity! He said: '...for if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.'

Interesting to me: Gamaliel's speech persuaded the Sanhedrin to free Peter & John. Not until, however, they'd been flogged, and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus. (there is a clue here about the power that Name has!) These apostles went away from being flogged rejoicing because they'd been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.--plus, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Lesson learned? Absolutely. (a different lesson than the flogging by the Sanhedrin had hoped to teach, however!)

Jesus had told them they'd be persecuted. They realized this to be true as they watched Him be beaten and killed. They realized this when they saw their brothers being flogged. They also knew that death did not hold Jesus, and that promise was theirs, as well.

I wonder if we are prepared? if we're equipped? --We can be delivered from illness, from disease, from temptation (remember, Jesus said 'pray so you won't fall into temptation), from sin...but not trouble or persecution because of Jesus' Name.

In our culture, we don't want to be embarrassed, humiliated, or disgraced (although what brings public shame, or disgrace, to people in 2009 looks much different than it did even 10 years ago)...yet these precious men, went away rejoicing because they'd 'been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.'

I'm prompted to stop and think...stop and consider. We must be able to apply scripture to our lives, in order to be equipped. How do I apply this section to me?

I take great comfort and glean great confidence in my God because of Acts 3. Re-read it and let it speak to your soul.

Peter & John were doing a 'normal day'...livin' the dream, so to speak. They were going up to the temple to pray. Custom, at that time, shows that prayers were at 6am, 9am, noon, 3pm and 6pm, at the temple. The morning prayers were for praise, the evening were for thanksgiving. Peter & John were going at three in the afternoon. Approaching the Gate Beautiful, there is this crippled beggar wanting money. They don't have any money (ok, this hits me, anyone else!?)

They do have a what the man needs, though. They heal him in Jesus' Name. They tied their deeds back to the Lord. (speak His name as you bless people) They give him more than he'd asked or could have imagined. (We learn later that he was over 40 years old...he probably never imagined being healed. Never walked before, and all the sudden, he's running and jumping and praising the Lord!)

The beggar is holding on to Peter and John, can't you just see this? The people are gathering around (I'm telling you, they took the times of prayer very seriously then--do we?) and they are astonished!--(When was the last time you were astonished by God's provision in your life, or in the life of someone you know? If it wasn't as recent as this morning, you may want to consider looking in to why?) This man's healing gave Peter & John a platform to speak to the crowd gathering there. This didn't set well with the Jewish leaders!--This is a very significant healing...this act was the catalyst for many more miracles, and the ultimate reason for the flogging in chapter 6...but, as you look at this, go ahead and read chapter 4 again..then 'dive in and really get' the verses written as Acts 4:12-14.

You see, we may be publicly humiliated because of the Name, we may be flogged in the streets (not today, perhaps, but it could come to this)...but the Name remains the same, and these could not help speak about what Jesus had done in their lives. They didn't have to know book, chapter and verse, they just lived it...they had witnessed first hand what God, this God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, had done and couldn't help speaking about Him and His provision in their lives and in the lives of others!

You see, people don't care how much scripture you know--they care what the living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, has done in your life! What's He doing in YOUR LIFE?

Speak of it often, my friend. Bring Honor to His Name. The Name. Jesus. --No other Name by which men must be saved. Proclaim Him! Praise Him!

Projects to Start List

School is almost over, summer is just beginning...many new projects to work on...here are a few:

We are counting down the days until Vacation Bible School starts! VBS is a huge outreach to our community! Many children--they are expecting around 175 (give or take a few)! I love VBS. Now that I'm older, the days must include a nap, or I'm grouchy! Old school,though...red kool-aid and the off-brand sandwich cookies...nothing tastes better at around 10am on a summer morning...great memories! The smell of glue, and kids, and construction paper! Much excitement! Much fun! Can't wait...let the countdown begin!

I'll be working on another little project this week, it has to do with a 'right of passage' for a 'going-on 13' year old girl. This young lady is very fortunate to have such loving parents. For 12 weeks, leading up to her 13th birthday, she will meet with 12 different Godly women to glean wisdom and insight on a different Bible-based subject. My subject to share with her is 'faith'! This is a subject that I'm continually learning more about, but I could talk about it for a long time! I think that I only get a two hour time slot with her! I'm very excited to have a part, and, ultimately thinking that if more parents (for girls AND boys) made this kind of investment for their kids' lives, the world would look different! this countdown has begun!

A leadership-type event is floating around in my brain for some of the ladies in our church. This would help develop their leadership skills and place them in their gifted areas of service. I'm really excited about this prospect--and the ministry that can happen in the future by laying this vital ground work now!--I can't wait to see what God does with this and through this effort! Late summer, is what I'm thinking, so counting down, now!

Also, plastered all over my desk are brightly colored sticky notes that have to do with the area ladies event (or retreat) for 2010--you may remember, we just finished that event in April! Tomorrow, I get to call a 'potential speaker' for that event! Right now, April 2010, seems SO far in the future...but, like this year, I'll blink and it will be here! Let the countdown begin!

At home, we have much to do to make our home comfortable for all of our family this summer...and a vacation to get ready for! We need to work on landscaping (which I am horrible at!!)...I could fill an entire calendar with much busy work...I don't want to be anxious about anything...I only want to do 'the next thing' that God would have me work on--keeping priorities straight, enjoying my days, because they are numbered!--so, the countdown has already begun!

Mothers' Day...hmmmmm...

Mother's Day.

My first memory of a Mother' Day is being a very little girl, running from the balcony of our church, down the stairs, to the front of the auditorium to get the gift my Mom would receive for being the "Youngest Mom" in attendance that day!

I was SO proud..I was 3 or 4, which would have made her 23 or 24...I don't even remember what the 'gift' was, but I remember being very proud of her. I still am. She's a woman of great faith...of great strength and courage. She's a woman who fears little, and is a constant encouragement to me in my walk with my God! I praise God for her life. I praise God for the love she instilled in me at a very young age to love Jesus, His church and serving in His kingdom! She's a wonderful woman. I love her very much, and because she's a follower of this blog: I LOVE YOU, MOM!

I come from a long line of very strong, courageous, faithful women. Women who, for the most part, found God at a young age, and served Him faithfully their whole lives....grandmas, aunts, cousins, my sister, ...all very sweet women of God! I praise God for the legacy they left for me...and pray that I continue to pass that faith on to my children and grandchildren!

Mother's Day, in recent years, has been very difficult for me...I wrote about that a few 'posts' ago. But, as I shared then, I have been praying about this day for a few weeks, and purposed in my heart for it to be a day of rejoicing! The focus would be on enjoying who IS here, not who ISN'T here.

I can tell you: God is faithful! This day, no, this entire week end, has been a gift. A beautiful gift of celebration and laughter and food and more laughter and pictures.

This morning at church, though, it came to me: The Reason that I had felt prompted to bathe the prospect of this day in prayer, it was to prepare me for the events of the day. You see, a couple from our church lost their son this morning. We got the call during our Sunday school time.

As I sat in the ER 'trauma room' with them for a few moments, it just came to me, 'we're sitting in the exact same room where we last said good bye to our little one, and here's this couple saying their last good bye to their son on Mother's Day. Mother's Day. hmmmm.

My prayer will be for comfort for them, in the quiet places of their soul, the places that only God can touch and minister to in these times.

Through the brief moments there, I was again reminded of the brevity of life itself. I was also reminded that our lives can change in an instant. These facts make me even more determined to celebrate each and every moment we have with those we love! I do not intend to take anything that we enjoy for granted. Join me in living this life on purpose. Let's do our best to purpose to honor God with our lives, our choices and our celebrations...He is Faithful--remember: Honor your Mother!--But, above that: Honor God in all we do!!!

Spring Banquets...'tis the Season!

May is a crazy-busy month! School is winding down, the ball park is winding up! May, 2009 has been particularly enjoyable for me, I love the way it is unfolding! I love parties and celebrating! I'm feeling very blessed! Our Holly will graduate from college Saturday, and Mother's Day is Sunday. This will be a great week end for celebrations!

Mother's Day has been a 'difficult' day for me over these past five years. In fact, I can honestly say that there were a couple of years that 'Mother's Day' ranked among the most painful days of the entire year for me. It's a day that Satan really uses to trip me up. So, this year, I have purposed and prayed that it WILL be a great day of celebration!(--This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!)

God is blessing that effort, as only He can! I've had opportunities to reconnect with old friends and spend time with people I really love. He has brought this about by allowing me to have lunch with friends, meet friends for coffee, phone calls, e-mails, facebook 'posts' and, this week, two spring banquets!

With Mother's Day right around the corner, this is the season for women to get together! These gatherings give girlfriends a reason to celebrate and laugh and reconnect. We do it with food and dessert and coffee and conversation and laughter and song and laughter! Traditionally, spring banquets were called 'Mother/Daughter Banquets'. Thankfully, the name has evolved to include women in general...Not all daughters have mothers, not all mothers have daughters...all are women or ladies, though!

Our church's spring banquet, we called it "How Does Your Garden Grow?", was Tuesday evening. There was great food, 108 women, a women's quartet for a short concert, and no one had to 'clean up the mess' because we took it off-site to a local restaurant! It was great! I'm hearing comments about it even today!

This evening, I was blessed to attend another such banquet. I went as a guest of a dear friend. We had much fun, the men of their church cooked everything and cleaned up the mess...great job! Their entertainment was 3 singing duets. Each duet was either made up of mother/daughter combo or grandmother/granddaughter combo...very cute! They played a comic video for entertainment, so there was laughter, food and conversation!

God is faithful to give us exactly what we need, when we need it! I know the days of my life were numbered, even before I was born. I just want them all to count as joy to my King! And, so, Mother's Day, or any other random day of the week, I need to purpose to celebrate! Banquet or not...celebrate! China or paper plates...celebrate! Graduation or just the fact that I felt like walking to the mailbox...celebrate! 'tis ALWAYS the Season--to celebrate! --Celebrate the King!

The Journey--I'm on it!

I want to share with you what the "Journey" is that I spoke of last night. "Everyday Mom" wanted to know, so, I'm hoping this will answer her questions, and give everyone else great information!

The Journey is not a type of Bible. It really isn't even a Bible study...

It is, however, a Bible reading program that our whole congregation is doing this year, 2009. People who wanted to participate were issued a 'flight bag' and a 'ticket' on the first Sunday in January.

The ticket was a commitment card.

The 'flight bag' contained a pen, highlighter, a journal, and a bag of peanuts, a 'flight' schedule (laminated, this schedule lists the chapters to be read on corresponding dates of the year--today we read John 18, tomorrow will be John 19, etc.)...and 'flight instructions' (also laminated, this card contains the SOAP exercise for journaling, explained in detail).

Also, we made available, NIRV(reader's version) New Testaments available for those who didn't have Bibles, or the version they have is hard to understand.

This Journey is through the New Testament. One chapter per day, Monday-Friday. The journal is for each of us to do a 'SOAP' exercise each day.

SOAP exercise stands for:

S...a Scripture that pops out at us, speaks to our hearts.

O...this is for Observations for the chapter we just read...things that are there that we notice...places and times...people present...usage of words, etc.

A...how we, as individuals, Apply the chapter to our every-day lives. Scripture is useless, unless and until we apply it or integrate it into our lives and our character.

P...closing the journal exercise each day with a short written Prayer about what this means to our lives.

The sermon on Sunday morning goes along with the previous week's reading. On Wednesday evenings there is a more in-depth Bible study offered to take an even closer look at those chapters. Questions are also taken from the group that meets.

I, personally, am using this for our ladies Sunday school class. Because, we're all reading the same thing each week, it makes class very exciting! The ladies bring their journals, or notes, and we have an open-forum discussion about what the scriptures said to us in the previous week...really good stuff! Of course, you can't go wrong talking about God's word!

I said it last week in Sunday school, I'll say it here: People are so thirsty for living water, and don't even realize it!--They'll drink anything at all, including poison (false doctrines). Keep that in mind when you are tempted NOT to read and Love God's word!

It's refreshing to think truth is really available--not a myth! And, it satisfies our thirst!--Remember: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." In my Bible, these words are in red, that means they are very important, because My Saviour spoke them!

--Also from our Journey reading...but more importantly, from the book of John (7:37 & 38),. Jesus spoke these on the last and greatest day of the Feast...the day when THE Party started!, right after they poured out the pitcher of water that had been drawn from Siloam... Very cool picture of Jesus standing and saying those words!!!--At just the right moment!

See, here I could go on and on about Scripture...but I was trying to write about the Journey! I get excited when I talk about the Bible and applying it's words to our lives--can you tell!??!?!

Remain

This past week during our Journey reading, John 15:4 really spoke to my heart. I wanted to take a look at it, with you. This verse in the NIV "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "

The word ‘remain’, there I think is key to John’s theology. He uses the word ‘remain’ 11 times in this chapter…40 times in this Gospel…and 27 times in his other writings!

What does it mean to ‘remain’? Remain is to stay...stay the course...wait!

To remain in Christ is to accept Him as Lord & Savior. John 6:54 & 56, ‘for whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.’ Verse 56 there says: ‘Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.’ Think of the Holy Communion we celebrate during church services. We remember the sacrifice Jesus made on that cross, by eating His body in the bread we take and drink His blood, in the juice we take.

To remain in Christ can mean to continue, or persevere…in believing, as in John 8:31 which says “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” Hold, there is to remain in Christ’s teachings…Hold to your belief in Him and His word, even when things around you don't look like you think they should. 'My life wasn't supposed to turn out this way'. 'I don't know why this is happening to me.' Remaining here is to know that you know that you know that Christ has it under control.

To remain in Christ can also mean believing, loving obedience, according to John 15:9 & 10
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. We obey because of our love for Christ. We love Him and because of that love, we are motivated to live for Him, please Him, draw people to Him, but above all, obey Him!

John 15:4 --Jesus said these words just after He talked about the Father cutting off every branch that doesn’t bear fruit. Pruning hurts, but the branches that remain will bear even more fruit. Remaining in the Father is necessary, Jesus used this example because the branch that is not attached to the vine has no chance of bearing fruit…we cannot bear fruit without being fully dependent on Christ and His word in us.

If we’re focused on what’s been cut off, we become helpless…this is exactly where our enemy would like us to stay focused. Instead, I would say, focus on the vine...focus on the health that pruning ultimately produces.

In spite of the pruning, enduring in our faith is what produces the life God intends for us to live, to glorify Him…We glorify Him with our fruit, and the only way we’re going to produce fruit is by REMAINING in Him! --Attached to the 'vine' or The Father!

If you're still attached to the vine, you have the ability to bear fruit...much fruit...healthy fruit...by remaining. Stay...endure...wait!