Thinking of home

As most of ya'll know I am from just outside New Orleans, Louisiana.
And yes, we rode through Katrina and Rita and then lived through what they left behind.

As I look at the weather forecasts I am of course growing concerned
for the family and friends we left behind. I feel that old familiar feeling rising in my stomach.
I know that most of you have seen the aftermath of the storms three years ago..what I don't know is if you really know the emotional toil that these storms took
on those who lived in the area.
Businesses that are really just now getting back into full swing
are now facing the possibility of that horror all over again.
My parents, son and sister and her family are still there....and my heart goes out to them...as well as my prayers.
I wish I was there to help.
I found myself telling God....like He didn't already know.....that I didn't know if my parents could handle another storm. After all their business is now back up and doing great....after basically having to rebuild it from scratch.
I know He knows my heart.....but dear God- NO! please.

I would just ask that you would please pray about this storm.
Selfishly I would love you to just pray it dissolves. Poof! and it is gone.
But, most of all I ask that you would pray for their safety and strength of mind and soul.

Thanks!
Above all....in all things I give thanks....because I know He is the handler of the storm
they ALL have to answer to Him.

Have you heard about Pastor Bike?

A few years ago-- because I was trying to learn how to share with my Muslim friends-- I found a ministry called Voice Of The Martyrs.
It is so hard for me to imagine being thrown in jail, killed or tortured for His names sake.
I say or think I would gladly do it......but I know He would really have to supply the strength.
Recently I got another email from them and they were asking for bloggers who would share what was going on and try to get more involved in praying for those
who are being mistreated for His names sake.
Remember...these are our brothers and sisters.
Yesterday I got an email about a pastor who had recently been imprisoned.
Actually Pastor Bike and his wife have been imprisoned.
This all happened just before the Olympics began.
They are trying to get as many people as they can to sign a petition to help get Pastor Bike and his wife out of jail.
If you would like to sign the petition and read a little more about this man of God who crosses a communist area... on a bike... to boldly share about the one who saved his soul.....then please follow this link and add your name.
www.freepastorbike.com

He is our brother...we can't visit him in jail like Jesus asked....but we can let him know and others know that we are here praying and caring.
This morning over 43,000 had already signed....they are trying for 100,000.
It only takes a second.

Proud member of the Maw Maw Club

This morning I want to share a friendship story with you. A tale that led to the forming of
The Maw Maw Club.

Around 10 years ago I began the process of returning to the Lord.
I say process because there were so many things in my thought process that still needed to be changed by the Lord. I had walked in outright rebellion for seven years. Those were the years I spent in the restaurant business. I was set on making a name for myself and proving to others that there was nothing I couldn't do if I put my mind to it.
During this time I rose very fast in the business and received many awards.
Even so.... there was a huge void in my heart. A void that money nor awards could fill.
There is much that I could say here about my return to the Lord...but that is another story.

Once back in church...and back with my Lord....my relationship with Him took off in a major way.
All those things that I had known since I was a child began to find their places in the relationship that was forming.
I had been very secure in the Culinary world.....but this world brought up many insecurities about myself that I had not yet dealt with.
I entered a women's group with women that were in no way like me on the outside.
Their husbands were very involved in their careers and appearance was everything to them.
It was not that some of them did not have good hearts- but I just did not fit in.
The pressure was a little much. I think this is something as women that we need to remember.
Peer pressure does not end in the adolescent years.
I did want to fit in.....or maybe I just didn't want to stand out.
I tried buying the clothes they wore....but honestly, this was just not important to me.
It is still not.
Then there was a new woman in our group.
She was a little scatter brained and she had a lot on her plate. You could tell she had a real love for God.......because she could not keep quiet. And although I felt the same way......I TRIED to be a little more conservative because that was the way the rest of the women were.
Our group planned a trip to a Woman of Faith conference in Houston.
I really thought that this would be a place for me to get to know some of these women and maybe become one of them. Oh how God had other plans.
So.....my goal was to try and make sure I got in the room with the queen bee and her friends.
But somehow I knew this would not happen.......I would probably get stuck in the Maw Maw room. The Maw Maw room being the room with those who were not in the inner circle.
I will tell you now that who I was.....well, she was so insecure.
On the way there I sat in the front with the scatter brained woman
as she drove her "big red" van.
We talked a lot and I began to feel really comfortable around her.
And int the end.......we would room together.
We became the first two members of the Maw Maw club.
That trip was the beginning of something that would teach me to accept myself.
The woman's name was Tracy....and over the next few years we would push one another in a way that was pretty remarkable. A deep bond woven by the Holy Spirit made us inseparable.
She allowed me to express the real me. And she could be herself.
We delved into the deep things of our Father. And sometimes she said I made her brain hurt. :) I love to delve into the deep and sometimes she would admit that her brain needed a break.
Yes, I do have a strange mind. :)
Over the years we would sometimes go places and read things that in our church affiliation seemed a little out there.
We had a rule......if we ever went to something that made either of us feel uneasy in the Spirit we would leave. We saw some incredible things.....and let God out of the box.
It was a relationship that I never thought I would have. I became more secure in who God created me to be and learned not to apologize for it so often. She was a gift from God.
We both grew in leaps and bounds.
Along the way the women in our women's group decided that I was getting just too serious about this God thing. Rumors began to swirl and they began to push me out. They did not like how the things I taught touched things in their lives that they did not want to have touched or brought to light. I never knew that people who claimed to be part of the body of Christ could actually turn on one of their own.......guess I should have remembered the Joseph story.
The end was very ugly.
Tracy never left my side.....nor did my husband.
My parents reminded me that God is the one who fights our battles.
He did.
But before the battle had even begun....He had provided someone who would walk through it with me. She knew me inside and out. And it was not a one way relationship.
I don't know how I would have made it through this time without my sister Maw Maw.
(I would like to say here that of the four couples that were involved in this....three returned a year or so later to apologize and admit that what had happened was not right.)

Our relationship has still continued. We have had rough times where one walked away for a period from the Lord. But because of the bond that was created......the other fasted and prayed and that one came back. It has been a relationship of give and take.
We have been together through children problems, spiritual problems, deaths, and moves.
And still the bond was not broken. It was not broken because there was a bond that was formed in the trenches. A bond that was formed by the blood of Jesus.
A bond of the heart.
I love this girl.

Now over the years there have been more members join the Maw Maw Club.
It will never be an exclusive club.
It is a club for those who love the Lord and want to learn to love the women of the body of Christ. Learn to love the true woman and not just what she appears to be on the outside.
A place where a woman can come and remove the expectations the world has filled her head with. A place where the little girl inside can come out and know she will not be rejected.
A place where she is loved for who God made her.
Now aside from all the lovey dovey stuff.....there is truth.
Truth about who you are and what you are doing. If this does not match up with what God has in mind......then in Love......we speak the truth even when we know it will hurt.
I have done this and Tracy has too.

So that is the story of the Maw Maw Club.
Everyone is welcome.
It is all about being real.

Proud to be a member of a group that allows you
to become the one
He created you to be!

For MelanieJoy ;)

What is going on in my back yard

The creek behind our camper this morning....already a little up but you can still see the rocks and the bottoms of the trees on the banks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our area needs rain really, really bad. So the other day I asked God to let it rain. Now I am not complaining...and I am not even asking God to stop the rain.
BUT, Dear God could you please keep the river in the creek?

The above picture was taken around 5:00 this afternoon. No rocks in sight!
And yes, the below too was taken at 5:00. ;)

Any body want to do a little surfing?

How about a little white water rafting?

The bikes below are ours. They are resting right behind our camper. Notice how close we are to the "creek". I thank you God for keeping the river in the creek......um, just like you tell the waves where they have to stop on the beech.

BUT......if I disappear and don't reappear here for awhile...it's because
God was not willing and
the Creek did rise!

Get off the beach!

While reading someone's blog today I had a light bulb moment. An, ahhhh ha! moment.
The moment actually had a beginning several years ago and I would like to share when it began.

Years ago while in a women's group Godd gave me a picture that I hope I will never forget.
Imagine this.....

You are standing on the beach watching the waves coming in. It is hot and the water is cool...you have such a longing to get in.
You know you need to get in the water.....it is the only way you will survive the heat of the day.
As you stand there you hear the nudging of the Spirit saying,
Get in.
Get all the way in.
The water is His word.
The waves are His words to the body.
Get in the water.

You hesitate...the waves are getting so big.
You can see some out in the water enjoying the shallow part.....the part where the waves are the smallest. They jump here and there trying not to get too wet.
Others are out waist deep. Arms in the air-- they are still trying to keep their balance as the waves are tumbling down.Deeper still there are others who are neck deep.
You see clearly a look on their faces.....a mixture of excitement and longing.And when the next wave comes in they are gone......you no longer see them.
They disappear and all you see is the wave moving on.
But soon they burst to the surface their faces alight with an amazing glory.
And before you know it they are heading out to the deeper waters......treading...
no longer standing.
In your heart you want to be with them......feeling the waves...feeling the weightlessness. You want to hear His words to the body. You see them rolling in.....you know that they are good.
To be in the water is to hear His message for the body.

Will you get in the water?
I have thought of this often in the last few years. Wondering if any of the women in that group were still in the water. Wondering how many had gone back to the shore.
I have gone back myself at times.

Then today while reading a friends blog
I thought about that water again.....just in a different way.
The waves sent by God were life experiences. Life experiences that sometimes knock us off our feet and send us flipping around under the water not sure where up is. Our breath gets short and sometimes we begin to panic that we will never surface again.
But, then we surface. We surface with the knowledge that He is watching out for us and knows our needs. We look around and see that others too are just surfacing. You see the gasping for oxygen......and the relieved look and understanding that is growing in their minds.

And I guess that is when it hit me.
This friend and I had been hit by the same wave.
As I was tumbling...she was tumbling.
And then it hit me...... I had my light bulb moment. As I was going through a similar situation-- I had not thought to pray for other sisters (unknown) who might also be experiencing the same thing at the same time.
She might be on the other side of the ocean from me or right next door......but, I could reach out and make sure she knows she will make it to the surface. Make sure that I used the tools I have been given to help her not give up....leaving the ocean in fright.

So....if you are going through an issue right now you can be sure that there is another sister going through a similar situation. Scripture tells us so. Maybe God is allowing a wave to tumble you......just to give you the heart to understand. Or maybe just to give you a better idea of how much God loves you. A deeper understanding.
And so really....I guess the wave still represents a message from God to you and me.
Will we hear it?

To my sister being flipped up side down by the last wave.......I hear you and I am praying.
I love you!

Weekend recap

Yes, I have been here. Running around in the mountains of Switzerland this weekend--well, Little Switzerland that is. ;) My BIL and SIL were house sitting and invited us to come and spend some time with them.
So here are a few of our weekend pictures.

Notice the shoe.....yes, proof that I was there. We did a little creek fishing..Keith caught some baby trout and I got some fun pictures. Notice the forerunner of the Chia head? Bet ya wondered where they got the idea from.......question solved!

We also found a pond and did a little fishing and picnicking. Keith caught most everything..although none were keepers. The critter to the right brought a little excitement and then gave Julia a nice lesson on God providing daily "bread" to the creatures in the wild when it decided to show her how a snake eats a frog. Yes, it was pretty gross!

Some of you will recognize the above product....Bon Ami. While in Little Switzerland we visited a mine called, Emerald Mine. This is the place where the ingredients for Bon Ami were first mined. The mine is no longer being used but we had a fantastic tour of the mine and how they used the equipment to pull great things from the earth.

There was Mica everywhere. The above picture is of my SIL showing Julia pieces of it still in the wall. You could still see the holes where they drilled before inserting dynamite to break away the huge pieces of rock. Who knew that so much work went in to
bring us a non abrasive cleaning product.
There were pictures of the mine in operation......pictures of women working in place of men during the World War....can't remember if it was one or two.

Julia walking the railroad tract into the mine.

If you know me- you know that I can not pass up the above. After walking through the History museum we bought a bucket of rocks and Julia and I did a little mining of our own. I LOVE doing this....I guess it is a good thing Julia does too. :)
We got some fantastic rocks.....the bucket contained stones from several different mines.
We got Opals, Emeralds, Garnets, Rubies, Amethysts, Smokey Quarts....and a few others.
I think I'll save pictures of those till a different time....I have some thoughts working. ;)

This was the view from the home we stayed in.
Pretty incredible!
The elevation here is pretty high. So high that when the clouds roll in for a storm-- the owners of the home say they can usually look out of their windows and view the storm going on below.
Now......a certain person told me that I had better get a picture of the above because they knew with the way my brain worked that I would pull some meaning out of that. But what she did not know was that my brain had not even gone there yet......guess I am rubbing off on her!
So.....let me share this.
There are certain storms going on right now....both spiritual and for some physical.
Some of us are standing on top of that mountain looking out on a beautiful view......majestic mountains rising above the dark angry clouds below. And as the storm begins to build we see the lightening flashing and hear the thunder shaking the earth below.
Far below those clouds are individuals who closed off from the light above...... because of the dark clouds swirling around their lives.
One of these individuals is my SIL. She went in a few months ago to have a contained spot of cancer removed from her colon....only to find that instead it had gone through the wall and now she finds herself in stage 3 cancer with six months of Chemo to come. There have been collapsed lungs, and many other difficult changes to her life along this journey.
She is in a major storm at the moment.
I would ask that you pray for her and her family. She has two children around my age... who I am not sure have ever found Christ. She and her husband are Christians......but I don't think the children are. I ask that you would pray for them all during this time.

I pray that I never get so lost in the view from the mountain above that I forget to come down and walk through the storm with those walking through the valley.
Let's pull out those goulashes and walk through the rain with those we are to love.
My SIL's name is Tanya Brumfield......I would appreciate you joining us in prayer for her.

Love ya!

A message from a "homeless" person

Right now I find myself thinking of a grape.
It is lush and ripe....full of incredible refreshment.
But...until the grape is crushed.....it is useless to the one who needs refreshing.
Today you and I are that grape. The vine tender has done His job. The fruit made it through drought and blight. And it has been hand picked by gentle, loving hands.
It awaits its future. Left in the basket...it would soon begin to mold and the sun would burst the tender skins to loose the now rancid juice.
But, the master knows the perfect timing and temperature.
He lovingly carries the basket to the preparation room.
And there He begins to crush the prepared grapes. The process seems harsh and so much is thrown away after He collects what the grape was grown for.
Now the refreshing liquid stands alone. Alone, but it has now become a part of a much greater purpose. It has now been combined with others. Together they will bring much refreshing to those who are weary and thirsty.

We are those grapes. We have not grown on our own.
He has prepared us to be used.
He prepared me to be used.
Last night we had a really rough time with Julia. Her heart was broken.
Her tears showed us that she had been crushed.
Events took place that we could/did not stop.
But, God knew. And He was tending His grape.
He is still tending His little grape.
He loves her so much more than we do. And one day we will be able to look back on all of this and find that God healed and God made what was dirty.......pure again.

And then this morning I got this from a friend......I hope it speaks to your heart
the way it did to mine.
From Pain to Destiny
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
08-20-2008
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-5).
God often allows pain to ignite destiny in our lives. Without motivation, many of us would never fulfill the purposes for which God created us. Oftentimes a measured assault invades our life and creates a depth of pain that all we know to do is press into God with all our being. At first, our motivation is to alleviate the pain. After a season of extreme emotional and sometimes physical pain, a second phase begins. This phase moves us to discover a new and deeper relationship with God. We begin to discover things about ourselves and about God that we never would have discovered without this motivation. Gradually, our heart changes our motivation from pain to loving obedience because there is a transition of the heart that takes place. No longer do we seek God for deliverance from the pain; we seek God because He is God. We seek His face and not His hand. When we move to the second phase we often find ourselves moving into a new destiny and calling for our lives because God often separates us from the old life in this process........................ .

After all this.....God knew this morning our hearts needed a little encouragement.
There was a knock on the camper door and we opened it to find the social worker and counselor from the school. Yikes! And it is only the second day!
But, we found that no one was in trouble......what a relief.
We would later find that if the school knows a student is "homeless".....yes, we are considered homeless.....they pay them a visit and see if they can help.
Pretty cool!
We began to tell our story.......not even considering that these women might just think we were crazy. After we told about our journey....one of the women looked at us with wonder in her eyes and said....."We are believers too. And you are on quite a journey of Faith".
And you know what? Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are on a journey.
We had a great time talking about our circumstances and one of the women even told Keith that she had a friend who was looking for someone who did masonry work.
It was the real time of fellowship that I so needed.
They know about us and my girl......God has provided.
My heart is so full.
Even in the middle of yuck......He is tending to our needs.
He loves us so.
He is watching out for us. No, He does not stop every difficult thing that comes our way.
But, when He allows the hot sun and gusting rain to get through to the grape.......it is because when put in His hands there can be a greater purpose.
I'm good.
This crushing produced a great refreshing.......for me.

Love you guys.......He loves you MORE!

I've got nothing

We got home very early Monday morning--after some mad days rushing to get things taken care of. Our list included orthodontists visit, hair cut, selling the property, celebrating our son's birthday, going to a rodeo, finishing the plumbing, electricity, insulation, air conditioning and flooring--- in what will be a hunting cabin/our son's new place to stay.
In between I got to spend a little time with family and friends.
All this in four days.
Then school started here today.
Whew!
Julia had a great day and came in beaming.
She loves her teacher and all the new girls she met.
It is kind of neat walking her to school and going to get her. I cross the creek--by way of the wooden bridge---and walk her across the property to the front door. No, not sure why but they don't allow kids to walk to school without an adult.
Kind of different from the 5 or 6 blocks I walked to get to school.

Keith went out today to look for a job and had some really good hits.
We will see what God has planned.

That is about it.
My brain is still in fast forward.....when it slows down and I can figure out what is going on up there......I'm sure I'll have some interesting things to post.
Till then........this is what I'm feeling like.
Yes, I'm the one in the pot! :)

My thoughts on The Shack

First, I do hope that what I will say will not ruin the book for any of you.
I loved the book!
For a long time now my passion has been for the body of Christ to realize how much God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit want to have relationship with us.
They are passionate about us. And in a totally GODLY way.....they are consumed with us.
I think...and something that the book brings out...that often we try to see and understand them through our human understanding. THEY ARE NOT HUMAN!
They are neither male nor female.
And I hope you don't allow my use of "they" to scar you off.
I use that because most of us don't really address all three. They are three in one. I think the book does a great job describing the Trinity. I realize that we could get into some real theological discussion here....that is not what I am aiming for.
Back to what I was saying.
We were made in their image.......so our female attributes
and male attributes they came from God.
My emotions, my desire to "mother"--they came from God.
Does that mean that God has a female side? No.
But, the way I am as a female...... that came from God.
Why am I going here?
As most of you know in the book, the Trinity--God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit---they are portrayed differently than most of our minds picture them.
I will tell you now.......the writer is not saying that he thinks God is female or male.
You have got to read the book to fully understand what he is saying.
I think that some have heard parts of the book and have taken a huge leap. Or maybe they got to a certain part and stopped reading.....please don't do that.
This is what I would ask you to remember.
In the New Testament times why did most of the Jews miss Jesus?
They missed Him because He was not who they thought He would be. He did not come as a King. And so their minds---besides the fact that they were blinded---could not see who He came to be.
He came to bring relationship---someone who they could touch, walk and talk with---relationship instead of the rules and regulations they had clung to for so long.
Relationship is so much harder than following a set of rules. But, they clung to what they were comfortable with instead of someone who came to set them free.

I would love to go into some massive details about this book.....but, I don't want to ruin it for those of you who will go ahead and read the book.
This book is about taking God out of the box we have put Him in.
This book is about how much God wants to have relationship with us. He wants to get past our human understanding and let us know that if we will just get out of the way---we will understand the Trinity so much better. Some of what was lost in the garden will return. Remember how He walked and talked with them in the garden? Do you think He ever wanted that to stop? No. He still longs for that....and we do to.
Also, He wants to live through us.
The book does a great job of helping someone understand this.
If you have ever been through situations you don't understand--ever wandered why God allows the things He has..........this book will help you.
I SO wish that you all had read this and we could sit and talk about it.
If you have had God in a box....be prepared for Him to blow that box to shreds
as He steps out of it.
I will probably post some more about this book....there are some statements that are said, that I though were really profound.
I will try and not ruin the book for you as I bring them up.
I will say, keep a pen by your side as you read this.....you will want to make notes or mark some things as they come up. I don't often read books again....I will read this one again.
As our world continues its downward spiral.....this will be a good book for those who look at the headlines and wonder-----Where is God?

Tell Me What You Think..... And What You Know

The Shack
By William P. Young

There had been a lot going on in blogdom about this little book.
I have heard good and bad.....and figured it was time to check it out to see
what the Spirit would say to me about it contents.
I am about half way through and would like to reserve comments until I have finished the book.
I will tell you that the beginning was so intense that I almost put it down. Simply because I do not like to fill my mind with those types of scenarios...I am a very visual person.
Reading even fictional stuff can uproot my emotions.

So.... I write this to see how many of you have read this book.
We will leave here tomorrow to go "home" to sign the final papers
for the sale of our FINAL piece of property.
Some of you might know that my son's 19th birthday is on the 16th of this month. It was to be the first time that I would not be there to celebrate it with him....that kind of hurt.
But, I'm a big girl...no pun intended...so I was handling it. :)
Even so, I thanked my God when the people who are purchasing our property said they wanted to sign the final papers on the 15th. Is our God tender and amazing or what???? \o/!
So we will go home and celebrate the God we serve who so quickly brought about the sale of His property and we will celebrate my boys birthday.
I LOVE my GOD!

Now back to the book.
Along with studying to take a test to get my drivers license in N.C----that is right, after over 20 years of having it, I will now have to take a test to prove I know what I am doing behind the wheel----I will finish The Shack on the way home.
O.K, take a breath...what a run on. :)
Sorry Mom. ;)
And then....... I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions. Good and bad.
I have some thoughts already... but I would like to hold those back in case they change.

I would like to say this......are your images of God from the Bible....or were they formed totally by what man has told you about Him?

And, have you found that your image of Him widened and deepened as your relationship with His Son grew?

And last......The more you get to know Him do you even feel like you know Him at all?

Please feel free to be yourself in your responses.......cuz you know I will! ;)

Love ya!

Is it history?

I am writing this post because it has been on my heart for several months.....even if I did not realize it. It may not be for everyone.....but, I think it is something we can all seriously ponder.

Several months ago we had revival at our old church in Louisiana.
It was a rough time as God used this time to show me that His words to me were true.
Rough.....but true.
During this time one of the women laid hands on me while praying.
Afterwards, she told me that while praying she had sensed a deep root of un forgiveness.
I have to admit that I was upset and even angry.
For many years I thought that God and I had been working on these issues.

I have been a Christian since I was five.
This does not mean that I have lived a godly life ever since. There were years of walking my own way. Times when I did things that hurt others.
Times of unfaithfulness to God and the ones I now love dearly.
During these years there were also things that happened to me......that were meant to destroy the love of God in me. Ugly things that I got involved with as a young innocent child..but I was without guilt because I knew better.
As the years went by I would look back and wish those things had never happened. But God and I had worked on forgiving those people. Some of them I can now look on with love.....and others....I am just glad they are no longer in my life and I pray that God has changed their hearts and that they are not still hurting others.
But, I forgave them.

So...... it really hurt when this woman said I had un forgiveness in my heart.
And, after a while of thinking about it.....I let this word go by the wayside.

As we have been here sitting in peace and silence these words have returned to my mind.
I finally thought.......God, what in the world was she talking about? Please, if there is a spot in my life that we have not really dealt with.....show me. I want to forgive everyone.
And, ME---is what He showed me.
There is a song by Matthew West named, History. I have loved this song since I first heard it.
Here are the words.....if you don't know the song please take time to read the words.

It's been a bad day
You've been looking back
And all you can see is everything you wish you could take back
All your mistakes A world of regrets
All of those moments you would rather forget
I know it's hard to believe
Let me refresh your memory
[Chorus]
Yesterday is history
And history is miles away
So, leave it all behind you
But let it always remind you of the day
The day that love made history

You know you can't stay right where you fell The hardest part is forgiving yourself
But let's take a walk into today And don't let your past get in the way

Would you believe that you are history in the making, in the making?
Every choice that you are making
Every step that you are taking
Every chain that you are breaking
History is in the making
Every word that you are saying
Every prayer that you are praying
Every chain that you are breaking
History is in the making ......History is in the making......History is in the making

If you have never heard this song I am sure you can find it on youtube. I have heard so many sermons on forgiveness. I am sure you have too.
And, I am sure we have heard that if He has forgiven us....we are forgiven indeed!
But, I am not sure that really hit me. Because I could still look back and the wounds I had inflicted on myself......they still hurt.
As we were riding the other day this song came on and it brought back to mind what He has been trying to show me.
I must forgive myself.
I look back on that little girl and I hurt for her. I hurt for what could have been and should have been if we lived in a perfect world.
I will tell you that long ago I recognized that if those things had never taken place I would not be the woman of God that I am today.
And no, I would never give up who I am now.
But, it was time to look at what brought me to this present time and not look at it as if it were a strangers life. Because honestly.......at times it was as if the me of long ago was a stranger. A stranger who's windows I was peeking in and wishing that I could go in and fight the forces that were coming against her. Understand?
Now, I know that I can not change what has happened to her....
but I can fight for her future. And so I will.
Each time memories surface.......I will forgive her by reminding her that she is forgiven. And, chains will be broken. Wounds will be healed.
Beth Moore once said, If you poke at something that is supposed to be a scar and it still hurts......it is not a scar yet....... and it needs to be dealt with.(paraphrased)
So I will forgive that young girl, teenager, woman.
Her past is History. A deep rich history.
A history that makes me stronger. A tool in God's hands that can be used in the lives of others who are still......lost in the past.
How cool to be able to look in the eyes of someone who does not know Him and tell them........He sets us free! Not just because a book called the Bible says so, but because I have experienced it first hand.

Yesterday is history
And history is miles away
So, leave it all behind you
But let it always remind you of the day
The day that love made history.

Love ya girl

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.—Unknown.

And the winner is........

Good Morning To All!
Yes, it is time to bless someone.

Thank you to all of those who participated and if you did not win...no worries....I have something else coming real soon.
That is right.....I have already purchased something that I thought was really neat.
So, to move this along I went to the random number generator site and let it pick a number for me.
And so...without further to do......the winner of this past weeks blessing from God is....
Nicki from Three Girly Girls!!!!!!
Enjoy your little blessing and don't forget to get your address to me so that
I can send it along.

Love you guys!
Thanks for playing.

A Day In His World

A little love...time to pass it on!

Just the other day I was wondering where all the awards went.
For awhile they were flying here and there and you would have to watch out or you might get smacked by one.

I probably got a little slack in passing them but thank you to those who kept them moving around blogdom. You just never know when someone's heart is feeling a little empty or down and a little bloggy loves reminds them that they are not alone.
So, remember (speaking to myself) to pass on the love.
I met a new sistah the other day. Do you know how special it is that we would get to meet one that we are going to spend eternity with...way before eternity?
Think about it......you are meeting a long lost Sister or brother.
You were separated at birth.....by sin. Then Jesus went out and found them and brought them back into the family. And then one day-- when you were even unaware that they were out there....He brought them by. Think about it......how cool that you would get to meet a sister you did not even know you had. Wouldn't you want to just sit and get to know her?
Anyway, one of my new introductions was to a lovely lady at Encouragement From the Heart. And she passed along these beautiful awards. Thank you!
I know that some of you already have these.....but, I am going to encourage you to pass them along. Some Sister's heart may just need it.
So...... please take these as a sign of my love and His Too!
I pray that your heart will be touched and that you will remember you are not without family who loves you dearly.

I don't have a blogroll. I just don't want anyone to come by and not see their name there and feel left out. So if you come by and we have spoken.......please take one. Because you know....I love you....because His love is in my heart. And, if you are a friend of His......you are a friend of mine.
And if you have not become a friend of His yet, Let me know
and I can fill you in on how to remedy that. ;)

And one more......if you are a Sister by Blood and you have not taken on of the Buttons in the sidebar......go ahead and grab one!
But, let me know because I love to meet new Sisters!

And, for a little business.....if you have not signed up for the Pouchee......today is the last day!
Check the sidebar.....I will draw tomorrow.

Lazy, Lazy

Not much going on here..just a little bit of laziness!
Which I have to admit.... it's fun.....or at least for awhile.
Yesterday we took off with a picnic lunch and picked out a few places on the GPS and hit GO!

We saw some beautiful countryside and had a really nice picnic...this brought back memories of childhood. We did a lot of this during the summer while I was growing up.
Guess that is how God planted a love for this place in my heart.
We saw wild blueberry bushes...I have never seen these before.
We have a few of these around the camp ground.
Does anyone know anything about these bushes. Someone told me they were edible.
If so..... I think I smell blueberry pancakes and muffins!
Along the way we ran across this cute little town on the French Broad River.
Not much to do here but it was sweet looking.
Wish I had brought my fishing pole to try for a fish.
And of course we saw plenty of these.
Down in the valley the temp were in the mid to low 70's.
But once we got up on the tops of some of the mountains....we saw a low temp of 62!
In August!
Thank you Jesus!
And this was probably one of my favorite pictures. Why?
Because it looks like this mountain was "blanketed" with trees.
Imagine this....after the horrors of the flood....after rocks and mounds of dirt had been pushed all around....displaced and ready for a place to stop.....God allowed them to rest here.
Just for me! \o/!
He then covered them with a great blanket of trees and said, Now rest......
And here they have been ever since.
I can not wait for the fall-- when the blankets will turn from green to something like a patchwork quilt. God is in the planning process for the quilt as we speak.
So that is it....not anything much.
Just wanted to check in.
Today I think we are going to try and do some real gold mining.
I will let you know if there is any gold in "them thar hills".
Love ya.....love each other.

Things on my mind

I think this post will be a little of this and a little of that.
I want to thank God for this journey that He has us on. A journey that I am not sure is at its end.
Last night while sitting by the river...ahhh...I was thinking about Sarah once again.
She seems to be on my mind a lot lately.
I began to wonder how many times she thought that maybe her journey was over.
How many times she had the maids or servants arrange the many tents...only to in a few days or weeks--have them pack them up again.
Isn't this so like our lives?
We are constantly on a journey. A journey through this land that is not our home.
We have this deep seated longing for a place of rest. A place where we will finally feel at home.
Some of us strive to find our place in gathering memories and possessions.
They do not satisfy.
He won't let them satisfy.....He has something so much better waiting for us.
Himself.
I shared awhile back about our dream of having a ministry place that would minister to those in the ministry. It has been a deep seated longing in my heart for many, many years.
There have been times when I wondered if it was just something that I wanted. A dream that I had made up to give me something to long for. Do you know what I mean?
During the conference Dad spoke to a man about this dream. You see, Mom and Dad have had this dream too. The man told Dad that he knew of maybe to ways to fulfill this dream.
The one that is closest to our dream fulfilled....is in a town in TN.
It is already our dream in action.
There has been a couple there running the ministry for 30 years. I don't have many details about what the place looks like or even what the facilities are...but the couple is ready to retire.
I tell you that this makes me excited and yet a little scared. There have been many times when I wondered what God has been preparing me for. I have wondered why He allowed me the years in the culinary field -if not to end the end use it for His glory. I really have no desire to go back into the field of fine dinning in a restaurant. But how cool would it be to be able to use those talents to bless warriors worn out from service for their King? And there is the creative side of me that for the most part lays dormant.....how cool to use that to make the females feel special. And the passion I have to see the body of Christ whole.....up and fighting for Him.
And then God gave me a husband that is so talented with his hands. He can build and fix almost anything. He really does not want to go back into the masonry business. Wasted talent?
I don't think so. God has been preparing us for something. It is funny.. but, as I share my dreams(often unspoken) about what this place of ministry would look like....he smiles and says he has had the same pictures in his mind.
Is that cool or what?
Our God is a dream giver......and He is the one who makes dreams come true!
Could it be that the dream was a dream planted by God?
We shall see.
The couple is on vacation. And next week we will call and see if this is the beginning of our/His dream come true.
If not....we will stay here and start a home---until He says GO.

One more thing.
God has shown me that I am not to go to San Antonio.
And, I am really o.k with that. I never really had a peace about it. But, I knew that God wanted me to buy those tickets back in September. I did look forward to meeting some really cool ladies and giving them a great big hug(and I am not generally a hugger). And I looked forward to the special time with Beth Moore that we would have. And yes, the p.j party would have been a blast.....not to mention getting to travel and spend time with a good friend.
But, somewhere else there was a woman who was praying for God to let her go.
Money was tight and the only way she could go is if God stepped in and performed a miracle.
And He did.
He bought her tickets way back in September. How cool is our God?
And He made sure that she was signed up to attend all the special activities for the blogging girls.
And then at almost the last minute He provided someone for her to room with.
If that does not tug on your heart...... I don't know what will.
He loves us so tenderly. And when it aligns with His will...... He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. Don't give up on the dreams He has planted. Water them with prayers.
Don't give up the hope.
In due season you will reap the reward.
Be encouraged!
Our labor is not in vain.
Love you!
Don't forget to put your name in for the pouchee..look in the sidebar.

Field Trip

Thought I would show ya'll what has been going on in "them there hills".
We took a field trip. Actually it is where many of the schools in our area go for field trips.
The first place we visited was formed originally by Mr Vanderbilt. He bought up a "little section" of property and called it the Pisgah Forest. Now it is the Pisgah National Forest. And so we went to the area where the first school of forestry was started in order to teach men how to take care of the forest. Thus---- the first forestry school was started by Mr Vanderbilt...or as I like to call him....Mr Moneybags. He has that small little house in Asheville call The Biltmoore. :)
The picture below is of us in the school.
Actually, it was a real school even before the Vanderbilts took over this land. All of the people who sold out... of course left behind their homes and places of business. So their school became the forestry school. All the cabins became housing for the students.

I just had to post this picture of me.....playing the teacher. First...it was so hot this day! And muggy. And I was sweating big time. Next, notice the lovely gray strip up the side of my head(below). I either look like I am related to a skunk or the bride of Frankenstein. Just joking......most of the time I love the way God is coloring my hair. :)

Next is Keith, he did not like the serious pictures I had taken of him.... so he decided to make a little trip to the outhouse. No, it was not a working outhouse..thank heavens.

This was one of the little cabins. It was decorated on the inside and it was fun to walk through....I think it still would have been a nice place to live.

Since there were flowers planted every where we had lots of critters to look at. I took this picture myself.......not bad! Isn't our God awesome?!

Here is a picture of the grandkids present that day with Mom and Dad.
Notice the little cuttie in the bottom left posing for the camera.
She is a sweet one!
Next we went to the place below. We were getting quite an education that day.
This place was pretty cool.

If you have ever been fishing in the creeks in our area....this is where the fish are hatched.
Notice Dad below, he was being severely tempted to reach down and grab a trout.
We had to remind him that the signs said, Look with your eyes and not your hands!

You can't tell there is anything in the water except for the little things sticking out of the water.
But, there is hardly an inch here where there is not a fish. Keith took his sun glasses and put them over the lens of my camera...and the picture below is the true picture.What a difference a different perspective will make!
And I will leave it at that.....but that will PREACH! ;)

That is a lot of fish!
We could have a blogland fish fry for sure!
Maybe we could invite the guys so that they could clean the fish?

And these little guys made me think of Maria.
They were all over the place along with the humming birds.
Our God is so indescribable!

Now that you have gone on our field trip with us, don't you feel so much smarter?

Thanks for stopping by......and don't forget to put your name in for the Pouchee.
A picture of it is in the sidebar...click on it and you can go and sign up as many times as you want.
Go ahead.....don't be embarrassed. :)
Love ya!