Sweet, Sweet Weekend

Last weekend I spent some sweet time with an incredible speaker and a group of ladies in Harrison, TN. It was such a blessing to work with Rashelle again and pray that God gives us many more opportunities to serve Him together.

J. did an excellent job of coordinating and you would have never known it was their very first women's event! They were AWESOME!!!!

It was an extra special treat because my friend K. was there and hosted our table. It has been a long time since we had some visiting time and it was a treasure to sit at her table and visit! (It's one of those friendships you just feel relaxed and comfortable regardless of time/distance... thank you Lord for that!)

I was thrilled to have my mom there with me, she doesn't get to come with me very often so it was so special to have her there. I sure hope I didn't scare you, mom. :)

I have to tell you how God works, because this time last week, I was STILL putting the worship time together. Very unlike me to NOT have Plan A, B, C and D worked out a month ahead of time. But, God gave me the plan and I was at total peace with what was written on my agenda.

Then Friday morning came. I woke up with very little voice and sounded like a very sick old man all morning. I dropped the girls off at school and hit the road. I popped in my CD's, but just listened NO talking or singing for me. Just prayed that God would give me strength.

As I made my way up I-75 I had this gut feeling that God was going to re-arrange the time of worship. Can't really describe it, other than just a VERY strong feeling that it may not look like the original plan. Oh.Boy. However,

My voice? Was coming back and getting stronger. I still sounded a little frog like. :) But it was improving. God was answering that prayer.

Once we got to the church and the worship time started things did change a little. What I thought would happen did not.

BUT hang on, because:

I'm not sure I have ever been in a place where I felt Him settle in around me like that. His presence was so strong. I don't know if anyone else felt it the same way, and I don't have to know. Maybe it was just His way of reminding me that when we follow His lead, He shows us a little more of Himself. If that was what that entire trip was about then thank you Father.

Rashelle so beautifully shared the Word and part of her testimony. She was encouraging, challenging and most important, she radiates Jesus. I'm so thankful God allowed us to work together again. If you are ever in need of a speaker for your church women's events, I highly recommend her. :)

Okay...I do have some pictures, BUT. They are on my mom's camera and she's not real sure how to upload and e-mail them so I'll add them later. :) I want you to see these beautiful women!

I'm so thankful for sweet weekends like this and thankful for my husband and children who support me and encourage me to GO when God presents these opportunities.

Have you seen these?

Last weekend when my parents were here, mom and I made our usual trip around the corner to a little coffee/gift shop. They were having quite the sale.

They had all these scriptures on their mantels and I fell in love with the way it looked. So I picked one up. Here is what ours says.




It wasn't THAT hard to apply it, and if I ever did it again, I think I learned a few tricks. I messed up the "u" in the word but, but I'm adopting what the Nester always says. "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." So I left it. I kind of like the imperfection of it.

However, something has been bugging me ALL WEEK LONG. The reference. You can sort of see it above. What it says is John 3:18.

Something about it just didn't seem right. Thursday the girls and I decided to look it up. When we did we laughed out loud.

The verse on the mantel is not John 3:18.

It's I John 3:18.

So here is my dilema. Do I leave it alone and see how many people "catch" it. OR, do I just take a sharpie and put a I in front of it?

What do you think?

Boundary Stones

Our pastor has been preaching through the ten commandments. He has made them come alive to me. I will never look at Exodus 20 the same way. Sunday, I was reminded just how important these commandments, or boundary stones are. God didn't place them there to be a kill joy. He placed them there to protect us.

To guard FOR us.

Boundary Stones. They seem to be a running theme in my life right now.

Last week, the girls and I were reading our daily Proverb. We were in chapter 22 and doing our usual read a couple of verses and discuss when we came to vs. 28.

"Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers."

That sparked an entire discussion on boundaries. It was interesting to hear my girl's comments. Both of them had pretty typical "church" answers until we were a little deeper into the conversation.

We started talking about consequences. That's when Chloe explained to us that "When you start stepping over the boundaries God places in your life, you're going to trip yourself ALL UP OVER THE PLACE." Said with three snaps and a whole lot of sass.

How many times I have stepped over the boundary stones God placed in my life? TOO many times I tell you. Thank you Lord for being faithful to forgive and restore the damage my bad choices made.

Sin is sin. There is no degree of it. My sin is filthy and vile and disgusting and I'm ashamed of it. BUT, God has flung it far into the crystal sea and I have been forgiven. Because I tend to be weak and vulnerable in a certain areas, I do not EVER forget that those boundary stones are vital to me.

I know what my boundaries HAVE TO BE and I keep them FAR from the edge. I know that if I am not in the Word, talking and LISTENING to God that I'm easily distracted and I will trip over those boundary stones on my way to the edge of the cliff. The cliff they are there to protect me from. Make sense? I pray it does.

Boundary stones. I pray that my girls learn that they are there to guard FOR them, and I pray they get it at an early age! :)

I'm Giddy

Just plain ole' giddy.

It looks like my parents are coming in tonight!!! We saw them in August, but they have not been down for a visit since MARCH!!!!

I'm really giddy because my girls don't think they are coming. (A health concern w/ one of my grandparents looked like it would keep them from coming.) Chloe and Emma will be ecstatic about this. I told them this morning we would take a drive up into the mountains to see fall colors and get pumpkins this weekend, but they told me we could do that WITH the grandparents and it would be SO much more fun. Well, okay then.

SO, this weekend will be full of coffee, Wii tournaments, popcorn, and movies in your pj's.

And maybe a football game or two, or three

And of course, a trip to the Starbucks because I just learned from Boomama that Starbucks has a Raspberry Mocha. DID YOU KNOW THIS? I did not. I have a feeling this little drink is going to rock my world.

I hope whatever your weekend plans are that you are able to enjoy your family, your home and the beautiful fall colors! (and as long as your team isn't playing my team, I hope your team wins!)

Anybody Want to Join Me?

This Sunday night (Oct. 25)

First Baptist Woodstock here in the ATL

Chynna and Vaughan will be in concert.

I'm going and would love to meet you there. If you're interested leave me a comment and/or e-mail me. I would love to see you there!!!! (OH yeah....it's a free concert!)

Thoughts on Memphis LPL

Can I just say it was so good to see some of you! To squeal at the first glimpse of you across the street, to hug your neck again. (Or for the first time!) I'm not sure I'll ever get over what God has done in the land of blog. Amazing.

It was probably one of the most intense weekends of my life. Not only, Living Proof Live, but things going on in our home church. What a weekend it was.

I'm a little disappointed to say that I did not take the first picture. Not a single one. I KNOW. Go on and say it...slacker. :)

Beth totally brought a message that was timely and challenging. AND it just flat made me want to see Jesus even more than I did when I walked into the FedEx Forum Friday night.

So many things to share but I'm limiting myself here to the big one. Well, the big one for me that is.

One of her points was that God guards His love. When we we think of guard, our first impression is of protection, keeping something safe. I naturally think guarding against some sort of offense. BUT, she pointed out that God guards FOR us as well.

I have jotted out to the side of my notes: What do I do to actively maintain my dearest relationships? Am I guarding FOR them.

Honestly, I'm still processing my notes and everything that went on. I'm not quite sure just how to describe what happened other than...

It was just Jesus. He promises that if we seek Him we will find Him and sweet one, He was there. We came expecting Him to do something and He did.

I'm so glad I got to share it with a few of you. What a time we had. :)

Maybe I'll share more later, but for me..

Last weekend was intensely personal and I'm not quite sure I'm ready to share it ALL yet. Over time that will probably change, but for now I just want to treasure it for a little longer.

Happy Wednesday!

All is Well

I have so avoided posting this week because, well....

Life has been a little "strange" this week and quite frankly...I haven't had the energy to recount all the crazy stuff! By crazy I mean crazy. Wacked Out. Strange stuff.

Plus, I'm getting ready to head to Memphis for Living Proof Live. ;) We are thrilled that we have some family here to visit with Chad and the girls for the weekend. I know he's glad for the company.

I have to say. With all the out of control wild stuff going on around here, God has been faithful. He has had me in 2 Kings 4 all week. In my ESV translation around verse 23 the Shummanite woman makes a comment that "all is well".

She was living a parent's worst nightmare and she had enough faith to say all is well.

Let me tell you.

What we have been living this week is nothing in comparison. NOTHING. And yet, I have been on the verge of pouting and sulking and feeling sorry for myself.

However,

All is well.

My children are healthy. There is food in our pantry. We have clothes, shoes and a warm home.

I have a husband that loves me and works hard so that I can be at home with these children God has given us.

All is well.

I'm a daughter of the King of Kings and Lords of Lords and He. HE is my everything.

All is well.