What an Amazing way to Begin a New Job--

What an amazing God we serve! He knows us inside and out--and loves us in spite of our human-ness...ready to WOW us at every turn!

In a couple of weeks, our family will begin our new life adventure. We have accepted a position as houseparents in a group home atmosphere. We are so excited to begin...but we must be trained first. And so, we are in training for the next couple of weeks.

I am excited to report that in our training, we met the most loving people! We began the training with our director opening in prayer! and ended our day with one of the counselors singing praise songs...Now, who but God, could have designed a day like that?

Randy & I are so excited about this opportunity, not only to work with kids, but to continue to have a front row seat to watch God move and work in the lives of those around us! Each person we encountered today was so determined to give God praise & honor for the things He's done through this ministry! And, now to become a part of that is just thrilling!

If you read this, and you are a prayer warrior, which I hope you are, please lift us up and lift up this ministry. (I will not share the name of it until I have their permission, but God knows who they are and the amazing work they are doing!)

Continuing to praise Our Awesome, Mighty God--the Creator of the Universe!

In Everything! (just sayin')

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentle, spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts, and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Guard your heart. Guard your mind. Don't be anxious. In everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests to God. In another place, scripture teaches us to pray without ceasing. Pray. Just do it. The only way to get 'good at it'...is to do it!
And, keep on praying until there is peace that doesn't make any sense in your circumstance. Peace. We all want it, we all crave it...but only our God's presence can give it to us. But, we focus on our circumstance and many times cut off the possibility for peace. We get bogged down in details that we cannot control, or that do not matter.

I love the words 'do not be anxious' in the scripture above. You know what that feels like, anxious-ness or worry as we more commonly call it...somehow we think we must worry because we are parents, or because our job is difficult and high stress...or because our life isn't going as we'd planned.

The reality is that God created us to worship and rely on Him for everything. Everything. Everything we need. So, if we stay focused on being thankful in our circumstance, and focused on fact that 'this' might just be for our growing to spiritual maturity, we have a more Heavenly perspective, and a front row seat to watch God move actual mountains in front of our eyes.

I know, there are times when our lives come crashing in...and we don't see a glimmer of hope...or light. This recently happened to me. It didn't take long before I was listening as dear friends spoke scripture in to my ear, and the God of the Universe made His presence known to me. When we worship, we usher in God's presence, and so it makes sense on some level to worship in the midst of our darkest hour. I also know this, because I have lived it.

I'm 'just sayin' today...not much else. In everything. In everything, we will shout for His Glory! In everything, we will give Him all praise! Try it!

Beauty, Just think about it

Do you ever think about beauty? What do you think is lovely or beautiful? From paintings to poetry, automobiles to furniture, from fabric and clothing to make up and nail color choices. Just think about it.

In the early 80's, when my friend gave birth to her boys, she told me how happy she was that Princess Diana had also given birth to boys. That seemed to bring back attractive baby clothes for boys.

A couple of years ago, I needed something dressy to wear to an event. I remember thinking, as I shopped: 'why do the sales people all wear varying forms of black?' They wore basic black clothing, to sell me, what I hoped would be lovely clothing. Of course, what the store had to offer wasn't much better than the garments they wore, and worse: they didn't seem to care!

What had happened to lovely color and added fabric texture for interest? This year, thankfully on the clothing front, there was yet another royal wedding this year, and this is reflected in our choices this season where we find and an air of romantic lace, and colors that are pleasing to the eye...much texture and more colors...prettier ...but not yet beautiful.

We experience bland costuming in movies and characters on TV. Go and visit an art museum...look for lovely and beautiful. Or, take a walk down any toy aisle...putting some of those toys in the hands of a little person...seems like it would be a truly terrifying image for them...faces of little dolls or stuffed animals/dolls are so scary--nothing on earth looks like that, why do their toys have to? (Now, I sound like my sweet grandma and showing my age, however, I do think I am justified in my concern)


What happened to valuing human dignity, and honoring one another as humans, created in the Image of God? What happened to striving to becoming the very best version of ourselves? Or encouraging and doing everything in our power to bring out the best in those around us?

Have we become so secularized, as Christians, that we've failed to recognize the truly ugly around us? Just wondering...here in this life, if we constantly allow ourselves to be bombarded with 'ugly images' will we, in the long run, diminish our ability to appreciate and imagine things that are lovely and beautiful? (if this is possible, what a wonderful weapon our enemy holds against us)

When I imagine the "Glory of the Lord filling the temple?" OR, "Heavenly Light?" to what are my earthly eyes comparing those to...the things that I have seen? OR worse, what will my grandchildren imagine when they hopefully contemplate these images?

Remember? We are told exactly how to handle this, what to do as we face the 'ugliness of images' placed before us, in stores, on TV or other media...notice I did not say in nature...for the things we think about, the things to dwell on are these:

..."Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

Join me in writing out a list of the things we consider to be true, or honorable, or right, or pure or lovely, things of good repute, excellent and praise worthy. What a 'good gift' to give our children...something of true beauty for them to dwell on...but also of importance, this exercise will help each of us to think and consider the images around us, and what they do to our thought life, our attitude, and the value we place on the things of God. Just think about it.

Lesson #7...knowing when I'm 'done here'...

This might be a phrase that only my three youngest children and my husband will appreciate...but "I think we're done here" was something we began saying to each other late last winter. And, it was all my fault, really.

We were considering changing cell phone service providers. The plan we were looking in to was exciting, with many bells and whistles, and was evoking many questions from Randy & the girls. But, from where I was standing, the 'benefits' didn't seem to be adding up to be better than the plan we already had in place with our current provider.

My husband and daughters were engrossed in the conversation with the sales person. But I stepped in to ask one simple question, about the part of this service that I was most interested in. It seemed that instead of all five of us having our own unique twenty 'free' numbers to call, the five of us would begin sharing ten between us. And, of course, our total bill would be higher. That seemed ludicrous to me, so I just said, "Well, I think we're done here..."

I mean, come on, why waste any more of this person's time, or our time, move on...find a different plan...I saw no reason to keep asking questions that were not going to help us, because the plan would not accommodate our needs. Of course, our girls were appalled that I would be so blunt...however, I was in sales long enough to know that if the product is not going to meet the need, we are all wasting our time...so move on, no harm, no foul...I honestly didn't think I was being rude, on the contrary, I thought I was helping the conversation come to a much needed end!

And, so, "I think we're done here" is something we all say to each other, sometimes under our breath, but it has become our own signal of boredom, or completeness or let's move on, please!

I said all that to say this: I think I'm done here naming my posts 'lesson # so and so...' At least, and until I finally have a real life in place.

I can only hope that within the next month, I can share with you what our new reality really looks like. We have been in transition for the whole summer...waiting on the Lord to open the path HE has intended for us to live and take. It has been a roller coaster ride and an amazing time of feeling God's presence and watching His provision, watching as doors close and open in His timing...and I can't help but feel that we are almost 'done here'...

The moral is: know when it's time for change. If I've 'learned' nothing else this year, this has been the 'lesson' that keeps coming back around. And, why shouldn't it?

It's scriptural, remember? For

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to live and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down, and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, 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." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A mark of wisdom, and a mark of maturing in Christ is the ability to identify and live out the difference in each of these. Just think how simple our lives would be if we practiced the difference. Join me in at least giving it a try--just for today--but for this moment, I think I'm done here!

Lesson #6...we CAN get along wtihout TV

I know, that's hard to believe, but it is true. Don't worry, there's still TVs in just about every room of this house, but they are not 'on' 24/7. We have a new reality to discover and develop and we are embracing it well.

In this new reality we have time, a lot of time, to concentrate on listening to each other, and as we practice, we seem to be getting better at it.

This evening, for example, no one was very hungry when it was time to start preparing dinner--Randy had taken a poll. The girls were taking a long walk with the dogs and I was skype-ing my mom, so we didn't cook. Of course, an hour and a half later, we all found ourselves in the kitchen, preparing, together, a smorgasbord of crazy things...then we took our concoctions out on the deck to enjoy the rest of the cool evening before the sun went down.

We were talking about all kinds of things, and even Mal made the comment that it was really fun, how much we're all talking more, and not watching TV as much as we used to--I loved this comment, and it really hit me between the eyes.

And so, there's the lesson and the goal: not as much...in small doses...that's good enough...for watching TV. Conversation, truly listening to each other instead, is so much healthier, and way more fun. Earlier in the evening, we listened as Madison's told a story about something that she'd seen at school and we laughed until we were wheezing--hilarious--she can't make this stuff up, which makes it even more hilarious.

And so, here I am: lovin' life, livin' the dream, with a LOT less TV, and still waitin' on the Lord...

...and by the way: Thanks for Listening!

Lesson #5...about contentment...

This is a lesson I need re-taught over and over. I am content in most areas of my life. However, as I become content, the Lord reveals areas in my life that need work. If you have this thing of contentment mastered, you will not want to spend much time here today.

If you are like me--still learning and pushing through to contentment in the Lord--take a listen, make a comment and my prayer will remain that you would be blessed!

When we moved to east metro Atlanta (there is probably a more correct term for this area, I do not know it as yet) this spring, a couple of things became clear early on.

The first was that our circumstance, living arrangements and possibly location, were only temporary. Profound, as we have had many opportunities to know this for certain.

The second was that I had to focus on finding the blessing in each seemingly 'small' thing. This has been necessary in order to model our dependence on a faithful, loving, kind, merciful God to our children, all of them, because they are ever-watching. When I display doubt or fear, I single-handedly negate anything I've tried to teach about God's provision.

I beleive that if we do not strive to be content in the Lord's provision, He may not be inclined to bless our efforts with more, if we are not thankful for what He has given us.

From our home of twenty years, everything that had become familiar to us during our thirty years of marriage, we moved to a lovely house. There is a creek in the back (complete with a bench to sit and enjoy the view and the sound) and a hilly street/sub-division to walk each morning for our enjoyment and health. We have been comfortably cool this summer, even with high temperatures outside. I had a lovely desk, computer and book shleves to accomodate a summer of study and paper writing. After prayerful consideration, we found a church that we truly love. And, last but certainly not least, the girls love the school here. These are abundant blessings.

Hope. That's it. Hope in the resurrection of Christ...nothing can take that away. Nothing.

I Peter 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope though the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

We were blessed this past week end to spend time with dear friends and I've written about this annual gathering before, as to how much we love one another, and look forward to Labor Day each year. This year marked the ninth year we've gotten together, as not only friends, but family by choice...our love for Christ and His Body are what bind us together.

Contentment. Do I need more friends? Of course. However, it takes years to cultivate and celebrate the deep bonds we have with this group. Truly thankful for each one, that's the Bishops!

Two of these friends are on staff at the church we attended on Sunday morning, Kendall is the senior minister and the pastoral care minister is Kris. Another of the group, Trudy, is a creative arts/worship leader, at a different church four hours north. These times we spend together inlcude praise, worship, church services, eating and laughing...and laughing and eating and praying.

Kendall preached Sunday morning, about contentment. His Biblical text was Philippians 4:10-20...(you know the verses, and if you don't, turn to them, for they are spot on. I find it fascinating that Paul wrote these words from inside prison...where he had been for three years...yet his letter is full of words like joy, rejoice, praise, hope)...the verses say:

"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opporunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Kendall's points were to 1. rejoice in the Lord's provision, no matter how small the blessing; 2. to depend on the Lord for strength; and 3. to Trust in His promises to meet your needs. See what I mean? Exactly what we need when we need it, this is Our God!

Needs, not wants. For me, I need my children to be safe, and to enjoy their school experience. I need my husband to be constantly trusting the Lord for provision. I needed a place to study and learn all summer. We needed this time with our friends...all of them, from the oldest to the youngest!

One of the youngest children among these friends/family is a little boy named Joel. I call him a little boy, becasue I've known him since he was born, but he is growing up so fast. He is precious. Joel and our Macy were close in age. Because I got to see him, he helped me to be reminded of things she might have been doing at this point in her life. Of course, I do not dwell on her and the fact that she is not here, but sometimes it is sweet to be reminded of what true loss looks like and I am thankful for the conversation I got to have with Joel.

We were also very blessed to have been able to take our grandchildren with us for this gathering. Truly a blessing, as they are precious, and seemed to love being with us. Their laughter and little voices were music to my ears.

Randy and I have renewed hope, renewed goals, and a firm foundation in Christ, our King.

And so, while we are living in a temporary situation, we are content to seek God each day. I will continue to look for God's provision each day, esecially in the small things....depend on the Lord for my strength to face each day...strength to resist the temptation to doubt, or to put my trust in material possessions...to know and trust that God has this...

...He knew this day before I was born, and not only does He see me, He saw this day as it was formed, my circumstance is not a surprise to Him. He is more interested in my obedience to Him and His Word than 'fixing my circumstance to please me'. I am certain that blessings abound, I need to be very sensitive to them!