So...in just a matter of days, Stephen and I celebrate TEN YEARS together, as a married couple, on September 1st.
It's insane to me, when I stop to think about it, how quickly these ten years have gone by!
We have a nine-year-old together; we've bought a house together. We've been in ministry together this entire time. We've gone on mission trips and had many adventures! There have been times, too, rough times, when the relationship was "rough the road," as they say. But we've made it! With God's help and faith and favor, we have made it!
I am so thankful to God for my marriage--and all of the other life blessings He has gifted us with!
And...I've been wanting to give God praise about something in particular that is on the calendar for this fall...and I had a moment to spare and thought I would share it with you all!
Something rather miraculous happened in our finances, and Stephen and I have booked a trip to ROME, ITALY, in November, to celebrate our 10th ANNIVERSARY!!!
We are going for three and a half days, and we couldn't be more excited! (Though I'm actually the WAY MORE EXCITED one! Ha!)
It's just us, and we are getting to go on a tour of the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountains! Then, we get to run around together and just take a VACAY in one of our Dream Destinations!
I can't express how excited I am about this God-given opportunity!
I never want to forget this. Ever.
GOD DID THIS. He smiled on us, opened the doors, made all of this possible.
(And I mean this with all of my heart! This wouldn't be happening without HIM!)
Friday, August 25, 2017
My Power Verse for the Moment
So...
There are Bible verses that come at JUST THE RIGHT TIME, and they seem to encapsulate the human experience, mine in particular! Ha! THIS IS THE VERSE I have been reminded of, that I can't stop thinking about, because I know I NEED THIS, and I KNOW ITS TRUTH!
It's Deuteronomy 31:8, and in the NIV, it says it this way:
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
And...I know I can make it another day, week, year.
Because He is with me. He will not leave me or forsake me. HE GOES BEFORE ME!!! I will not be afraid or discouraged!!!
There are Bible verses that come at JUST THE RIGHT TIME, and they seem to encapsulate the human experience, mine in particular! Ha! THIS IS THE VERSE I have been reminded of, that I can't stop thinking about, because I know I NEED THIS, and I KNOW ITS TRUTH!
It's Deuteronomy 31:8, and in the NIV, it says it this way:
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
And...I know I can make it another day, week, year.
Because He is with me. He will not leave me or forsake me. HE GOES BEFORE ME!!! I will not be afraid or discouraged!!!
Musings at the end of August
Wow! What a roller coaster it has been!
I knew it would be, with everything going on--but it was, it certainly was!
So...what has been accomplished:
KIDS CAMP:
Uber-exhausting (primarily due to the heat and daily schedules) but also mind-blowingly INCREDIBLE (watching the girls spiritually GROW and worship and pray for one another!) The night before we went home, we had such a special time with the girls. They had so many questions about the Bible and living for the Lord. I was surprised at their depth and compassion. I was impressed with their love for the Word of God--many of them showed me verses they had underlined during devotion times prior to camp. That night, we got in a big circle and prayed for one another, anointing each other with oil. Later that night, when they were supposed to be going to sleep, I heard one of the girls say she was scared. I paused a moment because I could hear the other girls' voices, encouraging her, and then the tap-tap-tap of their little feet across the floor. I got up carefully and peeked around the corner to see them all in the bed with the little girl, praying with her so she wouldn't be scared. And I went back to bed with the biggest smile and feeling of peace. This week had been worth it. Sweat, absolute bodily exhaustion, frustration, fury (at ill-mannered students and the sponsors who allowed them to be!)--all of it ebbed away at what I saw with my own eyes that the Lord had done.
I wouldn't say this to anyone, but if they needed me next year? Oh, for sure. I'd go.
WEEK-LONG INTERIM CLASS:
I had such a great interim class with the 26-or-so kids who enrolled in Speech 1113 that week. It was such a positive atmosphere. You could feel the Lord moving. Interims are very long weeks--exhaustive in mind and body due to the very long hours necessitated. And, you know, life outside of school doesn't stop. So, I spoke that Wednesday night, of course, and attended Raylee's 15th birthday party that Thursday night, and then packed all day Saturday for the trip out to Anaheim that started on Sunday. At the end of class, I had so many great kids tell me THANK YOU, and that meant a lot. Looking back, I can say that I don't know how I managed to get it all done. But the truth is that I DIDN'T DO IT BY MYSELF. And I can honestly say that I know that I know that THE LORD WAS WITH ME. Through it all.
Something kind of incredible happened during the interim week--so I'll make that announcement on my next entry!
NATIONAL FINE ARTS:
We drove in a brand new church van to Anaheim, CA, during the following dates: August 6-13. Before we left, on two occasions, we gathered and prayed over the van before we left on the trip--and I've got to bear witness to the fact that He kept His hand on us on the journey many times (that I know of!)! There were times I literally saw Him assist us. So many traffic issues alone--He gave us travelling mercies on the entire journey!
God spoke to me many times on this journey, and I even spoke three times at church (after we got back) about many of the things he downloaded into my spirit during this journey. I hope I never forget all of the things he has shown me.
SCHOOL STARTING (and ever since):
Fall Semester 2017 began the day after our return. To say that I was exhausted is an understatement. Still, the Lord has provided. That Wednesday night, I had prepared a message and didn't give it due to the Girls' Ministries promotion service. The Lord ministered in the limited time we had, through the worship service. We all needed it--me, included! Then, Friday afternoon, I received a text that Pastor Keith needed me to speak on Sunday a.m.--and we have two morning services on Sunday! So...Saturday was Psalmie's 9th birthday party at Books-a-Million, and that night, I stayed up and begged the Lord to put His words in my mouth, to show me a fresh word for the people. God came through AGAIN! Although two services is difficult for me (perhaps I will blog about this sometime later), I felt His hand POWERFULLY in the first service. In the second, too, people told me they received a Word from the Lord. And that's what it's all about. That Sunday afternoon, I went to Sallisaw and judged Company Dance auditions for my dear friend, Jordan Riggs.
And then...we were off again, into another week...
And the Lord himself goes before me...
I knew it would be, with everything going on--but it was, it certainly was!
So...what has been accomplished:
KIDS CAMP:
Uber-exhausting (primarily due to the heat and daily schedules) but also mind-blowingly INCREDIBLE (watching the girls spiritually GROW and worship and pray for one another!) The night before we went home, we had such a special time with the girls. They had so many questions about the Bible and living for the Lord. I was surprised at their depth and compassion. I was impressed with their love for the Word of God--many of them showed me verses they had underlined during devotion times prior to camp. That night, we got in a big circle and prayed for one another, anointing each other with oil. Later that night, when they were supposed to be going to sleep, I heard one of the girls say she was scared. I paused a moment because I could hear the other girls' voices, encouraging her, and then the tap-tap-tap of their little feet across the floor. I got up carefully and peeked around the corner to see them all in the bed with the little girl, praying with her so she wouldn't be scared. And I went back to bed with the biggest smile and feeling of peace. This week had been worth it. Sweat, absolute bodily exhaustion, frustration, fury (at ill-mannered students and the sponsors who allowed them to be!)--all of it ebbed away at what I saw with my own eyes that the Lord had done.
I wouldn't say this to anyone, but if they needed me next year? Oh, for sure. I'd go.
WEEK-LONG INTERIM CLASS:
I had such a great interim class with the 26-or-so kids who enrolled in Speech 1113 that week. It was such a positive atmosphere. You could feel the Lord moving. Interims are very long weeks--exhaustive in mind and body due to the very long hours necessitated. And, you know, life outside of school doesn't stop. So, I spoke that Wednesday night, of course, and attended Raylee's 15th birthday party that Thursday night, and then packed all day Saturday for the trip out to Anaheim that started on Sunday. At the end of class, I had so many great kids tell me THANK YOU, and that meant a lot. Looking back, I can say that I don't know how I managed to get it all done. But the truth is that I DIDN'T DO IT BY MYSELF. And I can honestly say that I know that I know that THE LORD WAS WITH ME. Through it all.
Something kind of incredible happened during the interim week--so I'll make that announcement on my next entry!
NATIONAL FINE ARTS:
We drove in a brand new church van to Anaheim, CA, during the following dates: August 6-13. Before we left, on two occasions, we gathered and prayed over the van before we left on the trip--and I've got to bear witness to the fact that He kept His hand on us on the journey many times (that I know of!)! There were times I literally saw Him assist us. So many traffic issues alone--He gave us travelling mercies on the entire journey!
God spoke to me many times on this journey, and I even spoke three times at church (after we got back) about many of the things he downloaded into my spirit during this journey. I hope I never forget all of the things he has shown me.
SCHOOL STARTING (and ever since):
Fall Semester 2017 began the day after our return. To say that I was exhausted is an understatement. Still, the Lord has provided. That Wednesday night, I had prepared a message and didn't give it due to the Girls' Ministries promotion service. The Lord ministered in the limited time we had, through the worship service. We all needed it--me, included! Then, Friday afternoon, I received a text that Pastor Keith needed me to speak on Sunday a.m.--and we have two morning services on Sunday! So...Saturday was Psalmie's 9th birthday party at Books-a-Million, and that night, I stayed up and begged the Lord to put His words in my mouth, to show me a fresh word for the people. God came through AGAIN! Although two services is difficult for me (perhaps I will blog about this sometime later), I felt His hand POWERFULLY in the first service. In the second, too, people told me they received a Word from the Lord. And that's what it's all about. That Sunday afternoon, I went to Sallisaw and judged Company Dance auditions for my dear friend, Jordan Riggs.
And then...we were off again, into another week...
And the Lord himself goes before me...
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