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..."