New Year

Yes, I like many others are promising to keep my blog updated. Hopefully, I will update weekly, more if I feel I have something really special to share. For now, a quick update on life (mine of course) will have to suffice.

There are so many things to tell, I will just say that GOD is GOOD. Just when I think things are settling down, something else comes up. But I have learned I make a bigger deal out of things than is necessary most of the time. I am constantly reminding myself that HE is in control. I am reading a book titled " I Second That Emotion " (highly recommend). In the book the author talks about letting your emotions take control of you. Sometimes mine do! Can you imagine that.? If you know me, you know I can get a little distraught. I am praying for God to help me get them under control by letting him get control of me. As I learn to rest in Him, I think my tangled up, super- sized, tightly wadded emotions will begin to unwind, straighten out and relax.

I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful 2009, filled with love, service to others, time for yourself, and lots of God's Blessings.

I attended my first meeting yesterday regarding the Mission trip. I will admit I went half hoping that maybe something in the meeting would discourage me in my thinking that I am supposed to go on this trip. Didn't happen! I came away more convinced than ever that I am meant to go. So I am moving forward on faith. I am not at all sure how this is going to happen financially, but I am leaving that up to God. My daughter once told me, If God wants something to happen and we are faithful and obedient he will make it happen. Wise words.
Some details. . . We will leave on July 12th and return July 18th. We go to Managua and then journey over to Leon in the Northwestern region of Nicaragua. The people in these impoverished villages have many needs spiritually and physically. We will be serving them in many ways, youth crusades, bible classes and other ways once we determine who all is going and what talents we bring to the mission.
I am very excited and if you would like to help towards the cost of this mission, please make a donation to Pinnacle Church 90 Main Street, Canton, NC 28716. Please put my name on it, and the church will mail you a tax deduction form. I will continue to keep you all posted on this wonderful opportunity to share Christ.

Nicaraugua ?

Dear Friends,

Last summer I had the strongest feeling that God was asking me to prepare myself for something big. Big for me anyway!. I was not sure exactly what it was, but felt it had something to do with a mission trip. The only people I told about this, beside my husband, was my small group and I asked them to pray for me, that I would be obedient to God's leading in this direction. Well, months have gone by and while I have thought of it often, those thoughts were usually that some how I had really misinterpreted the feelings that I had, because no door seem to open. But yesterday the door did open. I am not sure if I am to walk through it or not.
Our church announced a mission trip comng up to Nicaraugua. I immediatly asked God if this was it? Is this what He began preparing me for over 6 months ago? I am still not sure. But before I knew it I put my name on the "interested list"as I left church yesterday.
After coming home - I began to read about it, and think about it ... It is really hot there. I am not at all sure what I have to offer, how could I ever afford to go? Lots of unanswered questions.
But, years ago, many many years ago. I felt a strong urging by God to go out and serve him on the mission field. I did not. While He remained faithful to me during my direct disobedience, I have always felt like I let Him down. I will not again. So if this is what God wants, then He will work out my fears and finances. I ask that you pray for me and the decision that lies ahead. Pray I will know with assurance that this is meant to be. Pray for the others that are signed up to go. Pray for the hearts of those that this mission team will come in contact with. Pray!

Every year John and I make a trip into the Pisgah National forest to see the frozen waterfall. I remember the first year we happened upon this, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. So , we try to go every year. Sometimes the timing is a little off. This year the ice had only started forming on the edges. The picture is not very clear... cell phone. I had left our camera at home.
I always thought running water could not freeze. Any scientist out there want to explain this to me? They always say "leave water dripping in your sink, so the pipes don't freeze". Anyway I highly suggest a drive to see this, if you can.

I had a good Sunday! I actually worked the video in church today without help. This is something I have been fearing for sometime. And once again God came through for me.

Please pray... I have a some members of my family, whom I love dearly, that are going through
some heartaches and dealing with some major concerns. If you will lift them up in prayer, the Lord knows their special needs at this time.

If you have any prayer requests, please let me know. I will be happy to partner with you in prayer.

Have a great Week.

Mope or Hope

It has been a long time since I have written. My family has been through a lot over the last six months. We have come a long way, but have a long way to go.

I have not left the house in two days and am looking at another one home today. Starting to feel a little down and out, (well maybe more than a little), you know, the whole "why me" thing. I actually got up, then laid back down again, thinking- why bother? As I began to wallow a little in self pity, I looked up and noticed these little rainbow's dancing on my wall. The Rainbow, a symbol of one of God's promises, quickly reminded me of some of the other promises He made to me. He will take care of me, and my family. My hope is in HIM. So I decided I could live in Hope today or wallow and mope. I am choosing HOPE. Thank you, Jesus for using a little glass angel sitting on my dresser to capture the sun at just the right moment and cover my wall and my heart with rainbows this morning.

Things only get better. After getting up and deciding to make the most of today. I put on my IPOD shuffle (great invention) and the first song on was Nicole C Mullen's - I AM. The words are:
At the end of every rainbow there's a promise proven true. No matter how you're feeling now, or what you you're going thru. There will be somebody lovin' you. Deeper than the grandest
canyon, higher than the open sky. Near enough to capture every whisper, every sigh. Strong enough to hold you when you cry ... Chorus : I Am, I was, I Am the one who is to come...before... after. I'll still be what I Am and what I was. All that you need, all that you want. I Am . If you need someone to hold you because your world is falling apart, If you need a light to guide you safely through the dark, and chase away the nightmares of your heart, If you need someone to give you a purpose for your broken past, and restore the broken reservior of hope insde of you, and mercy for each morning that is new. Repeat Chorus.
I Am the rose they crucifed and buried. I Am risen from the dead, I am the Lion from the tribe of Judah.
written by Nicole C. Mullen

Is that not so cool.

Wow, it has been a month and what a month it has been. Lots of things have been going on, some good, some not so good.
I experienced a hurt this week. Hurt feelings. Feelings- defined, means: something experienced physically or emotionally, something felt emotionally.

The thing about feelings is there are no right or wrong feelings. They are just your feelings. Now someone might say, "well you should not feel that way", and THAT always throws me over the edge. (I am usually walking along the edge anyway). The way you feel about something comes from all sorts of places... your past hurts and perceptions, your spiritual place, your education, your total emotional makeup from Day 1.

So when my feelings were hurt this week, I had to deal with it. To top it off, I was angry with myself for feeling the way I did and that only made things worse. So I did the only thing I know to do when I don't know what to do. I took it to GOD. But not until I wallowed in it for a day.

Then I went to the lake and thought I would have it out with Him. The first trip around the lake, I moaned and grumbled and really let Him have it about the unfairness of the situation, and why couldn't people just be honest and considerate and you know the whole "why me" thing.

The second trip around the lake, I just cried and cried, then cried out. I realized that this small little issue that hurt me was coming from some long ago sense of injustice. Once I realized this, I began to pray for God to just take it away. Make the hurt and anger disappear. I knew by now that it really was my problem and I just had to deal with it, but still wanted God to take the hurt away, NOW!

Well I wish I could say that by the end of that second trip around the lake I felt better, and God had miraculously made it all go away. But He didn't. I couldn't go around the lake again, it was getting too dark. So I went home a little discouraged. But I can tell you this morning, I really feel He didn't take it all away then, because HE wanted me to read and pray.

I have been reading a book, and at the end of the book it tells you to practice praying scripture. It gives you a guideline to do so and this is what God placed in front of me to pray. Not all of it of course, but some of it...

In my distress I call to you Lord; I call out to my God. From Your temple You hear my voice; my cry comes to Your ears. O, my Strength, come quickly to help me. reach down from on high and take hold of me; draw me out of deep waters. Rescue me from my powerful enemy and from foes, who are too strong for me. Rescue me Lord. Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. I confess that You are my rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; - save me from anything that seeks to destroy me, With Your help I can advance against a troop; with You I can scale a wall. AS for You my Father, Your way is perfect, Your word is flawless. You are a shield for me. If You are for me, who can be against me? You know the plans You have for me, plans to prosper me and to not harm me. Plans to give me HOPE and a future. Thank you God, for your willingness to lead me to triumph .

After praying this scripture you are to add your own words. at first I could not think of any, I mean that about says it all. I have never really thought of praying scripture, but I liked it.

But being one to follow directions, and the book clearly read; add your own words, so,I did.

God, why didn't you let me read all this before I did all those laps around the lake this week, while crying I might add. Oh, I guess that was for my own good also. Thank you.

What I learned from this experience is:
Never tell someone they should not feel a certain way. You never know from what depths those feelings may be coming from.

Even the small hurts that we may experience are not too small for God.

When you don't know what to pray, pray scripture.

End of an Era

Yes, it is the end of an era for us. Mike is staying with us for the last night tonight. Since we moved here almost 5 years ago, we have had the blessing of Mike and Peggy coming and staying with us when they visited. Not anymore! They will be living in a home of their own as of Sunday evening. I will miss having them as my guest. Right now Mike and John are in the living room playing guitar and singing. I love it.
I am not too sad though. This is really an answer to prayer. We have been praying for this move for over a year. It is going to be great having family living close by. I will get to see Austin often and watch him grow. I have made a promise to myself not to smother them when they get here. This may be hard to keep, especially in the beginning. But I can do it.

Peggy, Suzi and I will be heading out to Women of Faith, August 10Th. I can't wait. I don't know about them, but I need to be surrounded by some women filled with the spirit of God. There is such a wonderful feeling being amongst that many women worshipping the Lord.

I went to buy school supplies this evening for Maddie and Jacob. Yes, Jacob is starting Kindergarten. It was fun. It would be more fun if they were here to pick them out. I got Jacob this really cool camouflage backpack, which was a special request. And Maddie wanted folders with Puppies. Got those too.

Hey, where does the saying "sick as a dog" come from? I mean sick as what dog? How do you know how sick a dog is? If you know, fill me in.

God Bless you all, and remember His love endures forever!