roses and pumpkins

Anyone else having trouble letting go? Do you see something wrong with this picture?

Fall has always been my favorite season but for some reason I am having a difficult time letting go of summer.

Summer has been good this year. Cooler than normal temperatures. Good balance of rain and sunshine. An abundance of beautiful, healthy flowers. New places explored. Deeper friendships developed. Travels made to happy, familiar places. Visits from dear friends and family. Memories made in our new home.

However, fall is being ushered in, whether I want it to or not. The leaves are slowly changing and the weather is turning colder. One sure sign that can always be counted on to let us know that fall is knocking on the door is Brad and I begin our annual arguing over the thermostat. ha!

I am slowly giving in, but as long as my roses are willing to hang in there, I will continue to squeeze out as much summer as possible!

choosing life

This video is just too powerful not to share. There isn't even much that I can add in way of words other than our Sovereign and Holy Lord is glorified through the testimony of this couple. May our Blessed Savior lavish this family with blessings beyond measure for their courageous and obedient faith.

guest blogger

I wanted to share with you a thought that the Lord gave to my sweet friend. Ponder on the following from my guest blogger and sister in Christ; Amy Domidion.

Too Wonderful
by Amy Domidion

A friend of mine the other day was telling me about a surprise that she had for her daughter. Someone had given her tickets at a discount price for an upcoming concert of her daughter’s favorite boy band. The mom hadn’t even known they were coming to town. But her daughter did. She got them the first part of the week and the concert wasn’t until that weekend. It was killing her to keep the secret from her daughter. So in the middle of the week, she told her daughter that she had a surprise for her. Her daughter, knowing her mother well, asked if she could guess the secret. Her mom, thinking she would never guess this, agreed. She told her she could have three guesses. Her first guess was small and came and went. Her second guess, a little bigger, but not big enough. For her last guess, she covered her face. Her mother said, “What is wrong? What is your third guess?” Her daughter uncovered her face. Her head was hanging low. She said to her mother, “I am afraid to ask. It is too big. Too wonderful.” Her mother knew that she knew. She told her to go ahead. She waited. The daughter raised her head and said, “Is it about a concert?” Her mother nodded. The girl was, of course, speechless. She couldn’t believe that it could be true. As happy as she was, her mother was happier. It delighted her to see her child full of excitement and hope. She couldn’t wait to share that experience with the one she loved.

I got to thinking about this and I realized that our heavenly Father feels the same way about us. He has so many blessings in store for us. We are just too afraid to ask. We go into our prayers with our heads held low and just say to Him, “We are afraid it's too big.” Nothing is too big. He is waiting for us to ask. He wants to share in our excitement and hope. He delights in us. He wants to share some wonderful experience with us because He loves us. Just ask Him. He already knows the desires of your heart. He just wants you to put your fears aside and rest in His arms. His plans for you are perfect. They are just what your heart always wanted.

“He is able to do much more than we can ever ask for or think of, by His power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

holiness

While vacationing at the beach a couple of weeks ago, I came across this from a study by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It moved me in such a way that I just had to share it with you.

Lord God Almighty

Holy is thy wisdom, power, mercy, ways, works.

How can I stand before thee
with my numberless and aggravated offences?

I have often loved darkness,
observed lying vanities,
forsaken thy given mercies,
trampled underfoot thy beloved Son,
mocked thy providences,
flattered thee with my lips,
broken thy covenant.

It is of thy compassion that I am not consumed.

Lead me to repentance, and save me from despair;
Let me come to thee renouncing, condemning,
loathing myself,
but hoping in the grace that flows
even to the chief of sinners.

At the cross may I contemplate the evil of sin,
and abhor it,
look on him whom I pierced,
as one slain for me, and by me....

Thus may my soul rest in thee, O immortal
and transcendent one,
revealed as thou art in the Person and work
of they Son,
the Friend of sinners.

-From The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

*Abbie took the photo while at the beach

only a real friend

Do you know how much work it takes just to get ready to leave on a trip? One of the tasks I dread in preparing to leave is the "purging of the vehicle". Unless you have no children or they are grown and your memory has faded, you know exactly what I mean. We have to clean it out so we can load it back up.

Poor Heidi. She didn't see it coming. She innocently came over for lunch. Once the dishes were put away, the task at hand was waiting. In fairness to me, I did try to use her being there as an excuse not to do the job that only a trained hazardous cleaning team should do. But, wait, did I hear her right? I thought I heard her say she would help me. I better try to talk her out of it one more time because she did just get back from the dentist office and clearly the laughing gas has not wore off. Nope, she is insisting to help (that is after she runs home and puts on an old t-shirt, a layer of lysol, latex gloves, safety glasses and hair covering).

After sweating, laughing and several "oh, gross!" blurbs, we came out. Unharmed.

A friend is someone who will blindly put their hand down in a vehicle crevice and pull out an unidentifiable sticky.....something.

God's little lamb

Sunday, May 31, 1:30 p.m., we welcomed into this world a new baby girl! We celebrated her arrival with our family and friends the following Sunday.

Yes, my sweet friends, you know very well that I am talking about the salvation of our youngest daughter. What a blessed time in our family's life. Oh, the joy of leading your children into a saving relationship with their Abba-Daddy. Together, Brad and I heard the words uttered from each of our girls' mouth as they confessed Him as their Savior and Lord. What an even greater honor that Brad baptized each one of them. Those are moments that we will remember throughout eternity.

There will be many birthday's to come as we celebrate their physical birth, but I am looking more forward to the spiritual birthday's that will come. How exciting to watch them grow year to year in the Lord. The wonder of how God will use them and what they will do to impact the Kingdom of God!

Psalm 1:1-3 is the life verse(s) that is for all three of my girls (until one day they choose one of their own!)...."How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in it's season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does he prospers."

Happy Birthday, Miss Gracie Caroline. May you be firmly planted and prosper for the glory of the Kingdom of God!

georgia long

Women of JOY....such an appropriate name for this conference! Through the long winter months (remember the ice storm?), I would cheer myself with thoughts of this spring get-away.

You know how sometimes when you really look forward to an event? Building it into something that can never quite be as wonderful as you imagined? Well, this WAS NOT one of those times. What a time of JOY we spent with the LORD! His presence was so real....how can I put into words what my heart knows.

There was worship with hands lifted high in praise to our GOD who is worthy of ALL praise...imagine 9600 women singing together as one beautiful voice. All of us hearing the WORD that was able to fill the empty place in each one just where it was needed. What sweet fellowship....with the LORD and with each other.

My sisters, I love each one of you.

Psalm 34:3, "O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together."

kelly werkmeister

Remember in Bambi when all of the animals were acting strange? The children asked and someone answered that it was spring and everyone was twitterpated! Spring has sprung and the ladies of LBC are downright twitterpated. Not about Kirk Cameron (Amy) or Travis Cottrell (Rhonda) but of the Lord!

I sensed in each of us such a renewed vigor for sincere worship and love for our saviour, Jesus Christ. Our heart grew for each other as well, we were all just mushy (although that could have been the rain). Just imagine, if a WEEKEND together in Sevierville can make us feel like that what a day in heaven worshiping with the saints will be like. WOW!!

I may never want to go to the Apple Barn again but ladies let's do the rest again real soon!

amy domidion

Agh... refreshed. That is what I think of when I think of this past weekend. I have to admit, I was having some doubts about going. I wasn't sure about leaving a nursing baby, three other kids, and a husband who needed to work. But he convinced me to go and that everyone would be fine. As I lay in bed the night before crying out of fear that something would happen, I gave to God all my fears and asked Him to speak to me while I was there. And ... He did!

The speaker actually used an example just like that in her talk. She said, "How many of you all lay awake at night and think of things that could go wrong?" Could she read my mind? No, but God can. He was speaking to me. I am so glad that he can take the same message and divide it 9000 different ways. And if I heard that sermon again in another season of my life, I would hear something else in it.

I was so encouraged by the worship. It reminded me of being a youth group member. When I would come back from youth trips and want to worship at church the way that I worshipped while I was gone. It was hard to come back after that. It is like you expect it to be the same. And for a while it is, but then you fall back into the same habits. I am not sure that will happen this time. Dixie said it best when she said, "Don't you just want to reach up and grab Him?" That is what I needed to hear. That is what I am going to do in worship now. Just try to reach up and grab Him.

The time spent with Christian friends was so great. The laughter, the pranks, the shopping (very quick shopping) and the eating! So much eating! But there were some things that stood out in my mind. God can take people that you don't think you have anything in common with and place them directly in your path so that you have to find that common ground. And there is more in common than you know. God is the great relationship mender. He is the common ground. He is the solid ground.

I am thankful for the weekend. I am thankful for my secret sister and the other sisters that I found how much I love! August... here I come.

leah cherven

We laughed…we cried…we learned the proper driving techniques (thanks Rhonda!) we also learned that everything was "on the right" for some reason (huh Jenny?). Our friendships grew and we made new ones. We even learned the proper way to hug a sister!

It was so nice to step out of the hustle and bustle of life and put my focus back to the Lord! The best way to describe it for me is like getting a new pair of glasses…(not the nerdy kind, Angie, the hip ones like Lacey’s). You know how you think your vision is ok until you go back for that exam only to find out you need new lenses. When you get them you realize you can see clearly again. WOW! To be back in focus! I pray I continue to get my new lenses!

What a JOY it is to see my sisters growing in the Lord as well. Oh, I pray we are contagious…spreading our joy.

About the worship…WOW…WOW…WOW…WOW…WOW. Oh, did I say WOW?! It feels so good to give it all to GOD! Let us not hold it in or we may explode!!

Psalm 85:6,  "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?"

guest bloggers

There was a challenge that went out to the LBC ladies that went to the Women of Joy Conference.

The challenge was to share their experience. To tell how Christ spoke to them that weekend. Our goal is to edify, build up, the body of Christ and give Him glory be proclaiming His good work.

One of the ways we will be sharing is through this blog. The next several posts will be written by a "guest" blogger.

Please feel free to comment and share your own thoughts to all of them!

1 Chronicles 16:23-25a, "Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised...."

women of joy

Brad jokes and says we look like the "Deal or No Deal" girls. Well, all jokes aside, I happen to think we do. If you turn all twenty of us inside out, those Deal or No Deal girls don't have a thing on us. How beautiful we are because the creator of beauty lives within us. We are all unique and designed just the way He wants us.

What a wonderful time we had. Laughter was contagious, tears flowed, and bonds were made. We all grew in the Lord and in our relationships. How sweet to see the hugs freely given and the prayers lifted up on behalf of one another during our share time. And who knew we were so "colorful"?

The best part of all, though, was our Lord spoke to us. I kept hearing over and over how astonishing it is that God will use one speaker, with one message and His Word minister to 9,000 women individually. That's our God! We poured our heart out to Him through song and He poured Himself into us through the Word. Mmmm.....good stuff! (Those of you who know me well, know I just stomped my foot while saying that!)

Where do we go from here? First, share your experience. I believe that started Sunday night. Could you feel the electricity in the sanctuary? Did you see all those hands lifted up? (There I go stomping my foot again!) Secondly, be obedient to what Christ spoke to you. Some of you shared with me how He challenged you. Now do it. As Priscilla shared: NO FEAR. And thirdly, continue to fellowship. Lavish your love on all the women in the church.

Some great things are coming down the pike, be ready for it!

A charge for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."

weaknesses and faithfulness

The Lord has shown me an area in my christian walk that I have let get a little sloppy. Ouch.

He is making clear to me a particular weakness. Oh, there are those same old shortcomings that I battle with on a regular basis. If let gone unchecked they tend to rise up their ugly head. This is a little different.

This weakness that is creeping in is forgetfulness. Forgetting all the glorious things that Christ has done for me in the past. It is so easy to get caught up in the present with worry and fear. However, if we simply look back at His faithfulness in the past, it makes some of the stuff we fret over seem like a waste of time. He showed his trustworthiness in the past so how silly to think He will stop now.

My life verse is Philippians 13 & 14, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to that what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus". The "forgetting what lies behind" is not the wondrous things Christ has done for us, but all the messy stuff that is in our past caused by us. I want to learn from those mistakes and move forward. But the things in the past the Lord has done, I want to remember those! He has always been faithful. Always with me.

A week ago, a storm came through and the picture above was taken right after. I wish you could have seen it in person. It was a complete bow. I have never seen one like it before. It looked like you could walk right into it. The girls and I stood in awe. Gracie piped up and reminded us that God is the one who started those (isn't that so cute?). Then she said, "Wonder how great that first one must have been?!" I bet she is right. I bet God gave Noah and his crew the most magnificent rainbow ever to be seen! I can't wait to ask them about it one day. Ah, just another great reminder of what He has done in the past.

What about you? When is the last time you took inventory of His faithfulness to you? Let's remember what a mighty God we have and then press on toward what lies ahead!

anxiety and dentists

This old photo of ChloeBeth sums up my thoughts for what I have to do today. Visit the dentist.

Most of you are wondering why in the world I am making such a big deal about simply going to the dentist (and only for a cleaning!). True, it is not like facing aliens, sharks or tornadoes (right Brad?). However, to me, it is surely a high anxiety day!

My dental phobia could stem from the fact that my mother has always been terrified of the man in the white coat (by the way, with all that blood, shouldn't they wear black?). She is so afraid that she has to have valium called in for her the day before going. Gee, mom, at least I don't need that. I only need the gas cranked up on high, a half-dozen extra shots of novocaine and an office full of patience.

Or, maybe the fear could be from the experience I had in the 5th grade. We lived in a little town with only one dentist. He also happened to be the town drunk (which, of course, being new to the town, we didn't know). My mom is sitting in the waiting room while I am back having a tooth looked at. The guy decides we need to just pull it. What?! You don't just "decide" to pull a tooth! You have to prepare the person!! Especially a kid!!! So, he gives me a shot and comes back a little too quick in my assessment. After all, my mouth doesn't seem numb enough. Oh, no, he is the smart one with a degree on his wall to prove it. He begins to yank (oh, Lord, the memory is even right now making me break out in sweat). He keeps on yanking and I am trying to tell him that something isn't right because it HURTS. He continues! I think he even has his foot on the arm rest of the chair for leverage. I am now screaming. My mom is hearing me screaming all the way in the waiting room. Little help can she give when she is fainting in the chair. So, after successfully pulling out the tooth, I walk out of the office in a stooper, planning some kind of revenge. My revenge came. Two weeks later it was all in the newspaper that he was in a fight at the little movie theater and was arrested and served time for punching a guy in the face (guess he was still practicing his dental skills).

Now, the toughest part of this phobia is trying my best to be brave and not pass this on to my girls. Abbie has an appointment today too. I will put on my "no fear" face (and keep my shaking hands in my pocket). And while I am at it, I will put on two more layers of deodorant. Oh, and make her go first.

Most importantly, I will pray (listen, don't you think for one minute I leave that part out!). Our Sunday School lesson yesterday focused on anxiety and worry. All those scriptures are jumping out at me today. He was already preparing this scaredy-cat.......

Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

two very different weeks

Day 1:
Mommy heading off to sunny Ft. Lauderdale.
Daddy picking up a sick child from school.

Day 2:
Mommy boarding cruise ship.
Daddy cleaning up throw up from a second sick child.

Day 3:
Mommy sleeping in the sun somewhere on the ocean.
Daddy trying to get girls ready for basketball and cheerleading pictures and game. Where are those socks?!?!

Day 4:
Mommy basking in the sun wondering what is for lunch.
Daddy preaching the Word and wondering what Mommy will think when she finds out what the girls are wearing to church.

Day 5:
Mommy visiting the lighthouse in Aruba.
Daddy finding out there is no school today. Who ordered the snow?!

Day 6:
Mommy touring Cartegena, Columbia. Whew, it's so hot.
Daddy waking up. No school. Ice storm on the way. Whew, it's so cold.

Day 7:
Mommy making her way through the Panama Canal. Wondering if the towel boy will find her a fresh towel to lay out on.
Daddy thankful he made it through the night. Trees cracking. Power out. No school.

Day 8:
Mommy going to the DelMonte banana plantation in Limon, Costa Rica.
Daddy trying to figure out how to live without power and three very bored girls. No school.

Day 9:
Mommy spending the day at sea. Wondering what time they were serving ice cream.
Daddy spending the day being a referee. Good grief, how long will the power be out?! No school.

Day 10:
Mommy soaking her feet in the warm water of Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
Daddy thankful for power! Now find the tv remote quick!

Day 11:
Mommy wandering up to the sun deck. Must squeeze out every last drop of sun. Hey, are they serving lobster and shrimp tonight?
Daddy wondering how many clothes the girls can dirty in one day?! Is the dishwasher full again?!

Day 12:
Mommy hoping she can fit back into her jeans that she wore to the ship. Heading to airport.
Daddy watching the clock. No school. Praying no delays at airport.

Day 13:
Daddy sleeping in. Yawn. Wondering what is for breakfast.
Mommy cooking, sweeping, vacuuming, running dishwasher. All before her first cup of coffee. No school.

Life back in order. Just the way Mommy really loves it to be (and Daddy, too!).

Wow. What an incredible man. I love you and am a very blessed woman.
1 Peter 3:7a, "You husbands likewise live with your wives in an understanding way..."

happy birthday, abigail kate

Monday * January 16 * 1995 * 4:59 a.m.

After being told more than likely I would never be able to conceive children, you (and the Lord!) proved them wrong. We brought home the perfect baby girl.....at least until two days later when you began screaming your head off. The adventure began.

One thing I remember the most is riding home with you from the hospital. We were a nervous wreck! Can we really just take this baby home with us? What do we do with her? Do they trust us? Is this even legal? I was washed over with fear. So afraid of making mistakes, and boy did we make plenty!

You put us to work right away. Normally, colic sets in about two weeks after bringing the baby home. Normally. You were already showing your individuality and trying to be a trendsetter that you started two days after coming home. Ugh. The doctor even felt sorry for us (or was that a chuckle I heard?). He said you were one of "those" babies that are classified as having severe colic. Again, showing your head-strong personality.

In many ways, you are a guinea pig. Sometimes that works to your advantage and sometimes not. Just please remember that no matter how many mistakes we make, we are crazy-madly in love with you. You are beautiful on the outside and radiant on the inside. You make us proud.

Above all, I consider it a high honor to be able to call you my sister in Christ. I know you have heard me say it many, many times (you can probably say it from memory!) that God has an amazing plan for your future. You, my love, will be an incredible force in God's army. He won't waste that individuality and head-strong personality that He placed in you from birth.

Psalm 1:3, "He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers."

a new year

A new year. A fresh start. A chance to think about your life over the past 12 months and to think of the direction you would like for it to go in the new year.

I came across a story in my quiet time that made me stop and think. Henry Thoreau (19th century) was sent to jail because he refused to pay a poll tax in his state. He knew this tax would support slavery. As he sat in jail, his buddy Ralph Waldo Emerson came to see him and questioned him as to why in the world he was in jail (assuming Thoreau should have just paid the tax). I love what Henry said. He simply looked Emerson in the eye and boldly asked, "Nay, Ralph. The question is, What are you doing out there?" Ouch.

We (I) need to ask that very question of myself. Would I have been in a prison cell beside Paul or hiding behind my pot at the well? Would I be discussing the issue of slavery along side Thoreau behind iron bars or hiding behind behind my sheets drying on the clothes line? Would I be known in my community for being a sold-out lover of Christ or hiding behind my coffee mug at Starbucks?

The photo is of Abbie on our Haiti trip. It reminds me of the legacy I am leaving to my girls. May they say of me that their mama was passionate about Jesus. And may they follow in my footsteps.