Call from Kendra

Kendra called from camp today. I was not home to talk with her.......so she left a message to please call back. I did but could not reach her. After dinner however, I finally got someone to answer. It was one of the camp counselors who had allowed all who went to the altar today to call home and share that info with their parents if they wanted. The counselor raved about how they have had no problems with Kendra this week that she is such a good sweet girl and how they have seen God working in her life this week. This phone call brought this Mama to tears. I have had an awful week and the Devil has really been on the attack..God has been shutting some doors and that is not always easy to deal with.......BUT this news just made the whole summer! PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to face the ch-ch-changes

in the words of a David Bowie song

Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon you're gonna get a little older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time

Today I turned 40........and many changes have and are taking place in my life.
1. I said so long to my friend Debbie yesterday. She is off to other lands literally. They will be in Germany for the next part of their military career. This is one of those friends whom you know you may never see again but if opportunity affords the chance you will drive for hours to ensure it happens. Her husband even said if you do not stop by to see Jerri before you leave she will hunt you down in Germany! We have communicated with our spirits and that is so much deeper than just an everyday conversation. I enjoyed our Bible Study and time together and will miss her greatly.

2. I have to run to WV to renew my drivers license without my hubby as his R and R has been delayed until August and that maybe too late for me on many levels

3. I will be undergoing surgery soon to remove my apron of leftover skin from my 160 lb weight loss. It is causing issues and is now annoying me enough to undergo the knife again. I also will have smaller and tighter girls in the process. Since John's R and R is now delayed these will probably be happening while he is home.

4. Around the same time as all this our Foreign Exchange Students will be arriving. One from Germany and one from Hungary. We are so looking forward to this new experience.

5. I have watched my 10 year old become a pre-teen this year. She just finished up cheerleading camp and really did great with it. The first day she was a bit timid but today she was head of the pack. She enjoys being thrown up in the air too. Quite honestly I was not sure what she would think of that.

6. My girl is going to pre-teen camp next week and will be gone all week. She went to children's camp before and did awesome. She really needs to get away for a bit. I rely on her a lot and she needs a break.

7. I am babysitting a little boy whose Mom just started coming to our church. She trusts me enough to ask instead of finding another sitter for those 3 days can I take her son with me on my trip to WV. He is going to go with us now. He is a little and falls somewhere in between my two littles.

8. John is back at the COB and enjoying being back to work. To my despair. He has such good ethics...........................

No other Gods

I am participating in the study encouraged by LPM (Beth Moore) along with over 3000 other Christian women in the world this summer. It is amazing to me how many other sources are concentrating on similar themes also. Today this verse:
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 NASB
was part of my daily inbox Bible verses to concentrate on. Our Pastor's message touched on a like message also. It reminded me that all things work together..even in getting a message across that we obviously need to hear these days. I am so concerned about America and how far removed from a God fearing community we have become. Many bad things have happened lately that are considered acts of God by insurance companies. Are others recognizing these as warnings from God? We have so many idols in our lives. We profess our worship to God and truly do believe we are..myself included............but then find we DO have other things we have turned into idols in our life..that preempt or interfere with true worship. This is a new revelation to me but I see as truth so still working thru my thoughts of which items I may not be holding in a proper position in my life.................
Anyone else on this same thought and growth journey?
The book I am using is by Kelly Minter........No Other Gods.......the leadership series. This version from Lifeway has thought provoking questions in the back that would be good for families, small groups or even a Sunday School class.

Our Comfort and Refuge

The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

Nahum 1:7 NASB

Having some trouble with our landlords.............but we know despite it all God is in control and his will will be done. We recently found out who owns our house and therein lies the real issue. John and I were immediately uncomfortable with the situation and are unsure God's will for us. Since that point trouble has brewed to the extent that they are charging us $300 per puppy that Rosie gave birth to......even though they are not staying and all have homes to go to. She had 6 so add it up folks almost $2000 dollars. Does not seem fair but the lease does say $300 per pet and because we have more than the allowed amount they are insistent that we also replace the carpet. Surely the pet fee would cover that!

June 14, 1985

Well umpteen years ago now...........the year I was about to turn 17 so let's see that makes it 23 years now......., my Mom died at what was close to my present age. She was 41 and 7 months ............and now I realize how 'Young" she was. As I sure do not feel old but when looking at it at the ripe age of 16......... 41 seems like you are ancient. As I will be turning 40 this week......let me tell you it is not THAT old. Just wanted to memorialize my Mom today.......I do not think you ever get over missing your parent that passes on.....there is a hole in quite a few special things you do without them. Birth of your kids, high school graduations, weddings, major birthdays..........Wish she could have been here. I miss her touch on those kinds of things. she was a great housekeeper and our house was always immaculate..........so far from what mine is. But she only had one perfect child to keep up after. No choking on your food there people. Ok, cough....harder. There you will be okay now. Take a deep breathe and listen on.........In Mom's eyes I know despite everything she saw me as perfect and a gift of God.........isn't that what a Mom is supposed to make you believe? My children are just like me so I do not know how she did it. Must have been a saint in her own right. Love and miss you Mom!
ps if you wonder what my Mom looked like take a look at Angelina Jolie.........seriously. I have to dig up some pics and post one.

Love Him...Live for Him! NLT

We have been having daily devotions, the girls and I. Daddy for those of you who just come in and read is deployed and unable to lead us in this daily, at the moment. This is todays verse...... I can not wait to share it with them. My girls get along and do love each other but like any siblings they have their moments when tired or hurting. I can not wait to help them visualize putting on and wearing a cloak of love to help buffer the moments when they would rather throttle each other. I am visualizing a craft project to go with it .........maybe even a yummy snack. A hershey kiss with a marshmallow pushed down over the top sitting on a graham cracker. The hershey kiss to resemble them-my girls, the marshmallow to represent the cloak of love, which allows things to bounce off, then the graham cracker representing the Word of God. It is going to be a fun lesson.

Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:12-17 NLT

My vacuum

My husband bought me a Kirby just before he left. When it works it is awesome and picks up unbelievably well. The stupid thing however has broken a belt every two to three weeks and twice now it has just simply stopped working. The first time it was the cord and I believe the same thing has happened again. Very frustrating to me ............I love a clean house however do to three kids, three dogs, a bunny and two hamsters..........I need to sweep daily. AT LEAST ONCE. This has put a real dent in my house cleaning and the gas to drive to Savannah is going to cost me a pretty penny as I have NO other business up there to take care of this time around. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Foreign Exchange Students

It looks like we are going to be blessed by 4 more feet in our family for a school year. We are presently rearranging our house to accomodate them. We have the bed space already. We just need to move other stuff around like the little girls clothes to free up a dresser for the girls and move it downstairs. Move a filing cabinet to the garage etc etc....... and the girls will have the downstairs bedroom to themselves.
In speaking with Dale, they do not have enough families for some reason this year. The organization NWSE is in need of about 65 more families that would be interested in this. Please consider this as it would be an awesome experience not only for your family but for the student coming to learn about America and experience life here.

WHAT A SPEAKER!

Despite being worried about my girls, I have had an awesome experience her at the convention. I was amazed and blessed to hear the stories of faith and God's handiwork in Africa by the legendary Harmon Schmelzenbach. He is quite the storyteller. A quiet man not very demonstrative and tells a story in a even toned voice. But the power behind the words is uncanny and you are drawn into the tales hanging on every word. You can tell he is a man of deep faith.
I have some things to think and ponder and pray over after this experience. It was certainly worth the effort to be here...........I even connected with some friends from college that I had NO idea were even down this way let alone PASTORING. How small the Nazarene world is. It is so wonderful to know that generation after generation of my family have had an integral part of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. My great-grandmother was a founder of the church I grew up in NJ, my great-Uncle was a missionary to Barbados, my father was a Song Minister and Song Evangelist for many years, My uncle sang in a traveling quartert. What a legacy left for future generations!

My children

my girls are unhappy.............extremely unhappy. And at the moment there is nothing I can do about it. I am away out of town at a church function ....a missionary convention and they are staying with an older grandparently couple from church. I guess the moment I left, things changed all kids including Kendra have been made to take a nap, they are not allowed to play outside because of the heat and Zoe is not allowed to look at their kids books in fear she will rip them. Many of the toys have been removed from their use as they belong to their granddaughter. Kendra is in tears and was told she would be going to bed at 8pm after napping from 3-5. I wish I could just run home but I did not pay for this training session the church did and I can not just forfeit their money or I would up and leave and cut my own losses. I called thinking it would help and all the kids started crying.........I only made it worse getting the sitters upset with them. I promised I would get there early Thursday morning to get them as soon as I got up and on the road. My training session last until after 10pm tomorrow so I will stay over and then head home. first thing. What is a mother to do........how I wish John were here to help.

HESITATIONS

Recently I posted how disappointed I was in my husband over a little thing. He had not responded to my request for someone quickly enough for me. I thought it was an immediate need as I felt the pain of the situation more deeply than others might. I was raised in an Alcoholic home, with my Mom dying of Cirrhosis when I was 16. She was a great Mom and despite her illness I have wonderful memories, mixed with some not so good ones too. So my fear for my friend since it was his accident anniversary weekend, pulled out some old fear and prejudices to an extent. I do not think all drinking is sin.......but to me addiction is.... and escaping the world and reality via alcohol is also............
So, to the real point here..........Timing. My timing is not God's timing. John may not have called as quickly as I thought he needed to but would have called at some point. He was busy in Iraq....go figure! Would his real call been more effectual when he responded to God's prompting versus my own? You know the saying "Fool's Rush In"? I know leaving it in God's hands has been hard, relying on him to reach my friend at his point of need has been difficult as I know this friend is ANGRY with God and I feel like interceding because of it. But am I causing them to not talk it out or scream it out if need be? UGGGGHHHH Is my thinking these thoughts my clue from God that I treaded too far or the Devil wanting me to back off. Please pray with me.............as I feel at a crossroads and know not which way to go................

addendum: The message at church went right along with my feelings. Sometimes we are not exercising our faith in Jesus to actually do it enough. Although we know he CAN......sometimes the question is WILL he or we are hesitant, quit asking and wait for God's will. All good things to a point but sometimes that dampens or overshadows our expectations and hopes. Like one of my children, when they want something....sometimes I wait until they ask several times to ensure they really want it. I weigh the options and look at the choices and proceed from there. I also know that when they expect me to do something cause I have promised, I do all I can to fulfill that. Sometimes it takes a bit longer than they like but I do! God is the same way and we have to have faith that he will answer our prayers sent up in childlike faith. All in his time.....................