Profound?--Probably NOT!

I'm trying desperately to think of something profound to write. I feel like I'm on 'delay' this week!
I attended a 'rite of passage to womanhood' this past week end. First time experience for me. I was very encouraged by the time, thought and prayer that this couple put into this celebration for their daughter who just turned 13. It was a lovely gathering of older women that this precious mother had asked to speak in to her daughter's life. Each woman had an assigned topic and an assigned week to meet with this young lady, and impart as much information and encouragement as possible! Pretty impressive, actually. Topics were varied some of them were body image, beauty, wisdom, faith, purpose, love and money. Each of the older women took a seperate week, and met individually with this young lady. She's wise beyond her years, and was eager for each meeting! It was really fun. The time I got to spend with her was amazing. She asked questions, and talked about a lot of different things...my topic was faith.--Imagine that?

The afternoon was set as a 'tea' and everything was beautiful...the parents presented her with a couple of really nice gifts to 'mark the day'as she begins this journey into womanhood...that's what this life is about, isn't it? Marking the day. This young lady will always remember marking this day of celebration in to 'womanhood' by vowing to stay pure, and to remain true to God in her faith. I'm very proud of her for having that desire. I'm also very impressed that her parents took the time to 'mark the day' for her, as a place that she can always look back on with pleasure!

10 years ago this month, my family 'marked the day' with a huge gathering of people in our yard, complete with a huge yellow & white stripped tent, music and a 3-tiered cake. We wanted to honor all the people who had encouraged us, and helped us along the journey to the adoption of our twins. Certainly worth celebrating...the twins don't remember too much about the day now, but we have pictures, and memories for it...and keepsakes of cards and books and other things that they can always have from 'the day'!

God did that, didn't he? Remembering seemed to be what He intended his people to do...and to 'tell their children & their children's children'...whether we like it or not, we're writing our legacy as we live. What we pass on to our children is important. The reasons we 'mark the day' are important...and should be worth remembering.

We need to be encouraged to string together as many positive days as we can...mark them how ever you wish, but celebrate the moments with laughter and punctuate them with balloons and suckers if you wish! Life is worth enjoying and remembering!!! Live Like IT!

Romans and Genesis...

Without weakening his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

That passage is found in the fourth chapter of Romans. This was Monday's reading for the Journey this week. These verses, 19-21, just screamed at me. We sang a song when I was a kid, called 'Father Abraham'. That's the guy these verses are talking about.
Abram. Abraham.

The father of many nations. The man that three different world religions trace their roots to. Abraham, called a friend of God.

In the Bible study I teach on Mondays, we're going through the book of Genesis. This past Monday we studied through chapters 12-16...was it an accident that the 'morning quiet time' of the day was chapter four of Romans?!--I think not!

Was it by chance that Paul wrote those words in Romans so very long ago as to encourage me at this moment in time, and also to encourage those in the assisted living place where this study of Genesis is taking place? I think not! And, what an encouragement those words were!

Without weakening his faith. His faith was strengthened...and he gave glory to God...being fully persuaded of God's power! You see, Abram knew God in such a way that he packed up everything he had and followed him where ever He told Abram to go!

Abram even won in battle because God 'delivered his enemies into his hands!' Abram (his name at this point in time!) was approached by the King of Salem, Melchizedek...this man was a priest of God Most High...and he blessed Abram...(the only person at this point in time that was spiritually superior to Abram) and Abram gave Melchizedek one tenth of everything he possessed!

A tenth of everything. Let that roll around for a moment. We are told that Abram had amassed great wealth. This is before 'priestly tribes' existed...it was before a 'mosaic law for tithing' was in place. Abram, because of the place God had in his heart, was prompted to give to Melchizedek, a priest of God Most High, one tenth of everything. .

This fact says to me that 'giving' is a heart issue. It has everything to do with the place God has in our hearts--the level at which we do not waver about God's promises, but strengthen our faith, give glory to God, staying fully persuaded about God's power that we fully rely on the fact that HE WILL make good on His promises!

Abraham, without weakening his faith, faced the facts around him: he was 100 years old. His wife, about 90 years old, had an apparent 'dead womb'...yet because God had promised them their own son, Abraham believed God!

In spite of our circumstances, we can do the same. What has God promised us? That we can be reconciled to Him through the blood of His Son...eternity with Him! What ever we face here, we are just 'going through' it!

So, my friend, without weakening your faith, face the circumstances that surround you...and, KNOW that God is going to make good on His promises to YOU!--Claim them, live victoriously in Jesus! Actually, this process of assessing should strengthen your faith, and allow you to give glory to God for how far you've come in life, and, at the same time, persuade you of God's power!--Look around, go ahead!--It's not an accident you are here, now...stop wavering through unbelief about the promises of God...start living the victorious life that God has promised you, because He's called you out, summoned you, as it talks about in Romans 8...Live like it!

Be encouraged in your faith. Be strengthened in your faith. Give glory to God Most High. (and, give more than that, while you're at it!--a lesson on giving will be for another day) Take God at His Word!

Take a listen to this:

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of son-ship. And, by him we cry, Abba, (which means 'Daddy'!!!), Father.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
...we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
...neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen and Amen!

Unexpected Blessing, Unexpected Source...

My husband got a call from an old friend earlier this week. This friend and his wife invited us to spend the week end, as their guests, at the French Lick Resort. This invitation came, at what we considered to be, a perfect moment in time! This place is only a couple of hours from our home, and the time away held promise of relaxation, something we both needed!



It took us about 30 seconds to make arrangements for our girls, and to make plans about 'where to meet our friends' and we left Friday afternoon! The day was gorgeous, the sky actually looked fake--really pretty blue with huge puffy white clouds! The company was really fun...between us and this couple we have 11 daughters...hilarious!!!

(They now have 13 grandchildren, to our 2, but our girls aren't as 'old' as theirs!--I'm holding on to a promise for more grand kids in the future, though!)

Friday evening we ate a delicious dinner at a place called 1875: The Steakhouse, then quickly shuttled over to the LeAnn Rimes concert...that was fun...I love to people watch, so this was excellent fodder for that! After we'd had enough of that type entertainment, we did a quick walk-through of the casino, which turned out to be an excellent opportunity to watch people, as well!

My husband and I explored our hotel, which has been restored to what it looked like 'back in the day'...It was fabulous! The renovations include gorgeous gardens, pools, shuttle services to an adjoining hotel/resort...and the large casino (which doesn't really hold a lot of interest for either of us!) he loves old hotels and their histories, so it was really fun to explore and soak in the beauty and imagine days gone by!

This morning, we ate breakfast in a huge cafeteria dining hall, which was amazing! It was one of those meals where, if I'm not truly careful, I can be so absorbed in how good everything tastes to not enjoy how gorgeous the room and everything around me is...this morning, I did take time to enjoy the room, too!

Soon after, the guys took off for Louisville, KY for the rest of the morning. We drove over to a town that held the promise of great 'antique-ing'...and the promise was good...shop after shop of really pretty things. It was one of those days when I didn't have to spend anything at all, just had a blast looking at all the 'treasures'! (And, silently be glad I don't have to clean around all that 'stuff'!!!)

I had no idea how much we really needed this pause in our lives...and it came at a perfect time, and it was such a gift...such a blessing! God smiled on us, and gave us exactly what we needed, when we needed it...how ever unlikely the source! How precious this time has been! How blessed we are! I continue to stand amazed!

What day is it again?!?!?

Great and wonderful things are happening all around me. God is moving in people's lives...He's answering prayers, and providing as only He can! He's orchestrating things in order to help renew frienships, and to help me make new acquaintances. He's healing people, and comforting others. God is at work, and He is faithful!

I don't know what this means, but I've been praying for people that are on our county's 'most wanted' list for quite a while. Once in a while, our local paper puts people's pictures in that have been arrested, but are 'at large' offering rewards for anyone with informaiton about their whereabouts. Interesting, and seems a little 'old west' to me! However, looking at their faces makes me sad, and it challenges me to remember that Jesus died for the 'least of these'. One day, I found myself cutting up the most wanted page. I pasted them on a little flip chart and started praying over each person. I don't know why, but you know, when God places someone on your heart to pray for, they just remain there...join me in praying for 'the least of these'...if you feel so led. I'll tell you later, but I saw actual fruit from that prayer effort today...I can't wait to see what God does with this.

And, today--today has been Wednesday. One of my friends calls this Wordless Wednesday...One calls it WOW Wednesday. Another, 'Hump Day'!

This is the day I got to meet with some of 'my girls' for encouragement and prayer. This is the evening that our town offers a free band concert in the park...awesome to listen and relax to, and tonight was no different. And, it is the last 'regular season' softball game for the girls...we have one more 'make up game' next week, then start tournaments! enough about that...

This day, this Wednesday has been the day we begin reading Romans on our Journey through the New Testament! How exciting it is to consider! Just this week, I saw a young girl riding her bike with a 'Journey Flight Bag' on her back--I felt an instant connection with her, even though I don't know her-- just to know we're on the 'same page'!!!

Two things struck me as I considered the first chapter of this precious book, written by Paul.

• One is the fact that he calls out all the 'really bad sins' humans commit when they are 'given over to a wicked and depraved mind.' No wonder things are like they are in our culture--however, I'm convicted that there is truth to be shared from this very first chapter of Romans, but rather than me screaming about what's wrong with 'every one else', I realized his point about the things that we, as humans can do to keep sin from consuming and destroying us!

• Two, the second thing that screamed at me was the business that we're to be about as believers: Glorify Our God...and Give Thanks to HIM! The message to Glorify God and to be Thankful is so simple; yet in our 'intelligence' we complicate it. If I'm concerned about bringing glory to God, then I'm not going to be lined up to do the things that the rest of those verses in Romans 1 have listed. Bringing glory to God would become my full time job: I would consider it in my actions, my thoughts, the way I serve others, the way I interact with strangers...bringing Glory to God should be the reason I'm alive...and so I should be prompted, no, convicted to live like it! And then, Give Thanks to Him! I heard a wise speaker say once that you can tell whether a person spends much time in prayer by listening to the content of those prayers. If they spend more time thanking God for His blessings than asking Him for blessings, then they are more deeply acquainted with His character. Thankfulness is not overrated...it is vital in the way we integrate God and His provision in to our lives. Think what a different world it would be if, instead of praying for God to fix my __________(fill in the blank--think relationships or jobs or finances, what ever it is that concerns your heart!) we just spend time thanking Him for 'it', for how He uses 'it' in our lives, what 'it' means to us, etc....(this can be anything from the laundry to the person that is getting on our last nerve)

Ahhh, the book of Romans, studying and journeying through it, there's great truth contained there. I know there are wonderful secret things the Spirit is waiting to reveal to me in order to refine and form my character, through this Word!

There are priceless verses in Romans that I call on when talking with people who are wanting to know more about salvation. I do a little exercise and verse study called 'Romans Road'...amazing to me how it applies still today, after all these years! Ahhh, Wednesday, in deed...this is the day the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!!!

A Week of Learning!

I've been living the dream, instead of writing about it!--So, I'm BACK!!

I learned that 13 year old girls cannot possibly pack for a week of church camp without certain 'necessities', including mascara and concealer! And, that they can leave for said camp without kissing their mother good-bye (sniff!)

I learned that it is a perfect week for their 22 year old sister to try out her 'dorm mom' skills as relationship and clothing police. (The stories she tells from this past week are priceless!)

I learned that it is really a good idea to be prepared for Vacation Bible School lessons each day, but NOT to stress about them...

While our younger three were at church camp for Jr High I week, I was busy being one of two lesson-teachers at our annual Vacation Bible School.

The lessons I learned (taught) this week were:
God is With US!--FEAR NOT--Moses gets a message from a burning bush.
God is Powerful!--FEAR NOT--Moses approaching Pharaoh and then 9 of the 10 plagues were sent when his answer was NO, he wouldn't let the Hebrew people go!
God does What He Says He'll Do!--FEAR NOT--The 10th plague, and the passover.
God Gives Us Life!--FEAR NOT--the Passover meal celebrated and Jesus as our perfect lamb sacrificed for US!
God Cares for Us!--FEAR NOT--Moses and the Israelites and the parting of the Red Sea!

I taught the same lesson 5 times each day, to children ranging from 4years to 5th grade...sometimes there was a mixture of both ends of the spectrum in the room...it was great...one small child, though, got really scared when we talked about the death angel passing over the homes in Egypt. And so, I learned to take age appropriate application into consideration when presenting a lesson about the Passover...(I'm so sorry, but I'm used to teaching adults--yikes!)

I learned to have a new, deeper respect and love for our children's minister and the precious wife that God blessed him with! It did not matter what we were preparing for, each time, I'd ask her how she was doing she'd say "THIS is my favorite part!" Of course, that just spurred on my excitement for the week! --All I had to do was be prepared in the Word and be prayed up, because she took care of every little detail about props, assistant(s) and other details like bottled water! She built the room that became the 'parted Red Sea'--and supplied a 'burning bush'! Truly one of my heroes for the week!--Thanks, Katia!

God blessed me with a great assistant that did everything from running sound effects in our lesson room to dressing up as Pharaoh and acting out the plagues with the kids to squirting a misting water bottle at the kids as they walked through the 'Red Sea'! He is great, only 14, but I found him to be totally reliable during this week, he tried really hard not to miss a 'cue' and would even come an hour early to go over the day's lesson and last minute questions we'd work through. Katia was always close by, to answer any questions we had about props, too!

I learned a new appreciation for coffee! The 'kitchen crew' was always there an hour early, too! The snacks were amazing....but the part I loved was the fact that they always had a pot of coffee brewed! So, we'd make our plan for the day and drink coffee!

I learned to graciously accept a thoughtful gift...One of the owners of our great local coffee place happens to be a member of our church, so on the last day she brought my favorite--Orka chia from her store...what a jewel! And, what a surprise! There were probably 50, or so, adult helpers, and she brought chia to me! Truly a blessing!--And, truly delicious!

I learned, on an even deeper level, that children are SO precious to Our God! Smiles, and laughter and craft glue and tears and snacks...that's the stuff that VBS is made of!--Oh, yeah, and exhausted adults! I heard more than one child say they wished that VBS lasted all summer! How fun to consider, but also how exhausting it would be for the 'behind the scenes' people!

I learned that I can live in a home with just my husband, and be alright (we haven't been alone in our home for more than a night or two in a really long time!--possibly ever!) It was good, but I'm glad they are all home now! I'll take the transitions to 'emptier house' at the appropriate time, thank you very much!

I learned that normal routine Bible study that I do each week is important, no matter if it is VBS week, or not! I'm studying the Journey and in one more chapter, we'll be finished with the book of Acts! How rich is that text, I can't wait for Sunday morning, to talk about it with our SS class!

I started reading a delicious book, a recommendation from a new acquaintance, called 'Hinds Feet on High Places' by Hannah Hurnard...an allegory...I'll let you know, but so far, it is fabulous!--Thanks, Betsy!

Are You a 'Learner'?

Ahhhh...the beginning of June. Summer, summer, summer! I know it isn't 'officially' here yet, but as soon as school's out at our house, it's summer!

The twins are on a mission trip this week. Technically, they haven't left home, but youth groups from various churches in town are working together to do 'projects' for various establishments here.

They pick up trash at different places like parks, parking lots of businesses, the hospital, nursing homes, schools, churches, etc., wash windows, pull a lot of weeds from landscaping, volunteer at different places, visit residents in nursing homes, and do a host of other projects that I don't even realize. It gets their 'feet wet', so to speak, for missions (or at least serving others) and a sense that life is bigger than just their own agenda! It's really a good thing! Our girls come home really tired, which is also a good thing!

Summer lunch is in full swing--this means there are 45-60 kids in our building each day for a Bible lesson, lunch and then an organized play time. Transportation is provided...the kids love it.

Next week, we start VBS. I can't wait! I get to teach! A lot of history this one, Moses...and the Israelite history! Passover and all those details, with a day about Jesus being the sacrificial lamb mixed in to tie that history to our lives today. Sometimes, I wish I had a greater handle on Jewish tradition and history. There is so much to glean from the Old Testament...it just makes me want to study more. It's rich in meaning and purpose, for why Jesus came & died. And, what that meant then and NOW in 2009!

God's word is so relevant today and that motivates me to learn more and more about it. And, yet, I still don't know everything I want to know!--Not really certain that's even possible, as I see myself as always being a disciple, or 'learner'.

I know this though: summer is a great time to learn! A great time to study! I can get by with reading a lot more! And, summer is a great time to enjoy this walk, this path, that God has placed me on at this point in my life!--I wait, with great anticipation, to see what He does next! WOW!!!