Yesterday afternoon, I was renewed.
The weather was perfect.
A warm breeze was blowing.
And the sky so blue it took my breath away.
I
looked up at the puffy, clean, white clouds and lost all track of where
I was going and what needed to be done. I was still for a few minutes
and allowed the beauty of the world around draw me in. Closing my eyes,
I listened to the birds singing and drew in deep, cleansing gulps of
fresh air.
And then I bowed my head in amazement to think that
the God who painted the skyline with such magnificent, galloping clouds
also formed every part of me that makes me Me.
He is such a good, good, GOOD God.
I just don't say that enough.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
I'm a wanna..be
I want to..... never give up.
I want to care more for others than for self.
I don't want to desire what I don't have.
I don't want to strut, Or have a swelled head,
I don't want to force myself on others,
I don't want to always be "me first,"
I don't want to fly off the handle,
I don't want to keep score of the sins of others,
I don't want to revel when others grovel,
I want to take pleasure in the flowering of truth,
I want to put up with anything,
I want to trust God always,
I want to always looks for the best,
I never want to look back,
I want to keep going to the end.
(A Momma paraphrase of The Message I Corthians 13:4-7)
I want to care more for others than for self.
I don't want to desire what I don't have.
I don't want to strut, Or have a swelled head,
I don't want to force myself on others,
I don't want to always be "me first,"
I don't want to fly off the handle,
I don't want to keep score of the sins of others,
I don't want to revel when others grovel,
I want to take pleasure in the flowering of truth,
I want to put up with anything,
I want to trust God always,
I want to always looks for the best,
I never want to look back,
I want to keep going to the end.
(A Momma paraphrase of The Message I Corthians 13:4-7)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Breathe In. Breathe Out.
Gasp! Has it really been a week since I've posted anything here? You
must be hanging on the edge of your seats wondering what is happening to
us? Ha! Ha!
Ahh, you know what they say about good intentions. I kept meaning to fill you in all the excitement that occurs 24/7 in our house. You know, like the grocery shopping and the laundry and the cleaning and the cooking and the working and the church attending and the laundry and the dog grooming and the kid wrestling and the yardwork and the laundry and the bill paying and the neigborhood meetings and did I mention the laundry?
If your life is anything like mine, the routine of our days seem to ebb & flow like the waves of the ocean. I wake up, pour the coffee, wake the kids, take a shower, kiss the husband, dress the kids, turn on cartoons, groom myself, kids to preschool, sit at my desk for a few hours, pick the kids up, make dinner, sort the mail, straighten the house, bathe the kids, go to bed; only to wake up the next day to do it all over again.
Ho.Hum. Mundane. Same ole' same ole.
EXCEPT:
If I were homeless, I'd think the routine was a comfort.
If I were dying, I'd find the routine to be healing.
If I were hungry, I'd declare the routine a blessing.
If I were lonely, I'd know the routine was love.
If I were broke, the routine would be so rich.
Ahh, you know what they say about good intentions. I kept meaning to fill you in all the excitement that occurs 24/7 in our house. You know, like the grocery shopping and the laundry and the cleaning and the cooking and the working and the church attending and the laundry and the dog grooming and the kid wrestling and the yardwork and the laundry and the bill paying and the neigborhood meetings and did I mention the laundry?
If your life is anything like mine, the routine of our days seem to ebb & flow like the waves of the ocean. I wake up, pour the coffee, wake the kids, take a shower, kiss the husband, dress the kids, turn on cartoons, groom myself, kids to preschool, sit at my desk for a few hours, pick the kids up, make dinner, sort the mail, straighten the house, bathe the kids, go to bed; only to wake up the next day to do it all over again.
Ho.Hum. Mundane. Same ole' same ole.
EXCEPT:
If I were homeless, I'd think the routine was a comfort.
If I were dying, I'd find the routine to be healing.
If I were hungry, I'd declare the routine a blessing.
If I were lonely, I'd know the routine was love.
If I were broke, the routine would be so rich.
May God continue to help me find the extraordinary
all around me in this wonderful life I live.
A history lesson.
I was privelege to share this during the Friday night service @ the Culloden Campgrounds a few weeks ago.)
Culloden Campgrounds…
In 1969, my parents dated on these grounds.
In 1976, at this very altar, my dad, with my Mom by his side, was ordained as a minister of the gospel of Christ as part of the Wesleyan Church.
My entire childhood was spent in parsonages within the state of WV. My parents moved a few times, but the one constant for my sisters and I was the campgrounds of Culloden Camp. At least 3 weeks each summer were spent here (Youth Camp, Kids Camp & then District Conference & Camp.) Even now, when we are together, we spend lots of evenings staying up late, laughing and recalling good memories of people we loved & knew from our summers here.
In 1984, I was introduced to the Poppa at a youth camp. Truth be told, I didn’t like him very much at the time.
In 1985, that same young man at a youth camp service, was called into ministry here at this altar. Because of the workers at the camp, he then went on to attend United Wesleyan College & Southern Wesleyan College.
In 1993, the Poppa & I dated on these campgrounds. In fact, it was during Family Camp at the Milton Dairy Queen, he gave me his infamous marriage proposal.
In 1994, at this very altar, the Poppa, with me by his side as his new wife, was ordained as a minister of the gospel of Christ as part of the Wesleyan Church.
In 2001, at this same altar, with the Poppa by MY side, I was commissioned as a Lay Worker of the gospel of Christ as part of the Wesleyan Church.
And then in 2008, we brought our miracle babies to Family Camp for the first time. I wish I could fully describe to you their excitement at just being here. I wrote in my journal last August….
…10:15 pm and the boy just fell asleep. There is just something special….. dare I call it holy ground….. here at this place, this camp. Instinctively, without knowing any of the important history this place has played in his life, he feels safe & loved here. Life has brought us back full circle to these grounds. Through my children’s pure joy at being here, on the campgrounds, with these people, in this little house, I am being renewed & reminded of God’s faithfulness in my life……”from generation to generation” has been fulfilled in my life tonight……. My prayer is that this place will always be a place God uses to bring me & my family closer to Him……
Culloden Campgrounds…
In 1969, my parents dated on these grounds.
In 1976, at this very altar, my dad, with my Mom by his side, was ordained as a minister of the gospel of Christ as part of the Wesleyan Church.
My entire childhood was spent in parsonages within the state of WV. My parents moved a few times, but the one constant for my sisters and I was the campgrounds of Culloden Camp. At least 3 weeks each summer were spent here (Youth Camp, Kids Camp & then District Conference & Camp.) Even now, when we are together, we spend lots of evenings staying up late, laughing and recalling good memories of people we loved & knew from our summers here.
In 1984, I was introduced to the Poppa at a youth camp. Truth be told, I didn’t like him very much at the time.
In 1985, that same young man at a youth camp service, was called into ministry here at this altar. Because of the workers at the camp, he then went on to attend United Wesleyan College & Southern Wesleyan College.
In 1993, the Poppa & I dated on these campgrounds. In fact, it was during Family Camp at the Milton Dairy Queen, he gave me his infamous marriage proposal.
In 1994, at this very altar, the Poppa, with me by his side as his new wife, was ordained as a minister of the gospel of Christ as part of the Wesleyan Church.
In 2001, at this same altar, with the Poppa by MY side, I was commissioned as a Lay Worker of the gospel of Christ as part of the Wesleyan Church.
And then in 2008, we brought our miracle babies to Family Camp for the first time. I wish I could fully describe to you their excitement at just being here. I wrote in my journal last August….
…10:15 pm and the boy just fell asleep. There is just something special….. dare I call it holy ground….. here at this place, this camp. Instinctively, without knowing any of the important history this place has played in his life, he feels safe & loved here. Life has brought us back full circle to these grounds. Through my children’s pure joy at being here, on the campgrounds, with these people, in this little house, I am being renewed & reminded of God’s faithfulness in my life……”from generation to generation” has been fulfilled in my life tonight……. My prayer is that this place will always be a place God uses to bring me & my family closer to Him……
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Point to ponder
I recently watched a tv interview with Augie Nieto.
Augie is a very successful business man who has ALS.
He was speaking with some youth who were asking for life advice.
He stated:
"Life is a theater. There are a limited number of seats. Choose well in who you let inside your theater. Be especially careful who sits in your front row."
Powerful.
Augie is a very successful business man who has ALS.
He was speaking with some youth who were asking for life advice.
He stated:
"Life is a theater. There are a limited number of seats. Choose well in who you let inside your theater. Be especially careful who sits in your front row."
Powerful.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Walking by faith
The Poppa supplements our family income by teaching public school.
Teachers go back next Wednesday.
He does not have a classroom assignment yet for the school year.
This journey feels very familiar.
While we do not subscribe to the "Name it & Claim it" branch of christianity, there is something very powerful where we are right now. There is no other way, unless God makes a way. There is no door that can/will open until God opens it. There are very few options without God's provisions.
Thank you for praying with us. God's timing is always perfect.
Teachers go back next Wednesday.
He does not have a classroom assignment yet for the school year.
This journey feels very familiar.
While we do not subscribe to the "Name it & Claim it" branch of christianity, there is something very powerful where we are right now. There is no other way, unless God makes a way. There is no door that can/will open until God opens it. There are very few options without God's provisions.
Thank you for praying with us. God's timing is always perfect.
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