September

Wow - September is over.  Each year, it seems that the months fly by more quickly.  Christmas will be here in less than 100 days.  September was a busy, but fun month.  Here's the highlights:

On Labor Day, the McAlister family came over and we had a cook out - except that we were mostly stuck IN, due to rain from a hurricane.  The guys were troopers and grilled in the rain hoovering under the patio table umbrella.  However, they still got soaked.  Those burgers and hot dogs sure tasted good, though.  Homemade ice cream (peanut butter and vanilla w/ toppings) topped the meal off with a hit.  After rain subsided, Logan insisted on swimming.  He had looked forward to it for quite sometime and didn't want to be let down.  So he took a quick dip.

And isn't Riley too cute - see his sweet dimples.  :)

 

The next weekend was the Apple Festival in our little town.  Years ago, on one of the highways going out of town, there was numerous apple orchards.  This was the 50th Apple Festival celebration - with booths, rides, concerts, rodeos, parades, and other events, etc.  On Friday, Leigh and her girls came over and we walked downtown to watch the parade.

 

Cheesing!  As you see Aubrey could smile, but she couldn't take her eyes off of the action.  :)  We were a little disappointed that we didn't get much candy -  we were at the beginning, so the parade participants must have been anticipating running out of candy - so then went skimpy on us.

 

The third weekend, South Carolina was graced with the presence of the Dottry Family.  Carmin and Libby  moved to Kentucky several years ago.  We haven't seen them in over 3 years.  And we were so excited to get together with them for lunch at the Woods' place.  

 

The kiddos formed a band.  I absolutely LOVE this picture.  It cracks me up every time I look at it.  This was not staged.  They were all singing - all a different song - and seriously playing those guitars like mad.  It was great!

 And the last weekend, our church hosted a Youth Day for children and teenagers with outdoor games, crafts, devotions, food, and lots of fun!   This 'human ball' was a hit!

 

And now time marches on into OCTOBER!

God is looking for someone

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him..." 2 Chronicles 16:9

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, ..." Ezekiel 22:30

My prayer for today as a follow up to this morning's sermon:

Oh, Lord, how I want to have my trust fully in You. Not questioning the trials that I face, but accepting them in agreement that You have allowed them --- be it for a teaching tool, effect of my choices, or a chastisement. I want You #1 in my life ... proven by my actions, pleasing You with my life. May my heart be altogether toward You, so that You may show forth power on my behalf. There are many gaps, because many have fallen and some are not answering the call. Lord, I want to be the difference. I want to be the person to stand in the gap and make up the hedge. I want to be the intercessor on behalf of our lost, our church, our nation. The Enemy is attempting to corner many off ... but strengthen us as we stand together with You. Problems abound that seem impossible and beyond our control, but God, YOU CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. Lord, I'm poor and needy. Please help me in Jesus sweet name.

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what to do ... when I don't know what to do

Excellent encouraging, revival sermon.
I keep coming back to this one.
So often, I find myself in one of these places.

When my back is to the wall and I don't know what to do ...
-Have faith in God. Trust anyhow! (this should be my first response)
-Listen to the Word of God {Psalm 119:105}
-Trust in the Lord with all my heart {Proverbs 3:5}
-Like Job, be confident that the Lord knoweth the way I take {Job 23:10}
-Even in my darkest hour, He is still God
-Stay. Be Still. Hang on. --- He has the answer!

When I don't know how to pray or what to pray for ...
-It's okay to weep before the Lord
-He 'hears' the unutterable 'gushings' of my heart
-Tears are a language God understands
-He knows what I need before I ask
-Pray God's will be done ("Not my will, but Thy will)
-He doesn't need my instruction

When I don't know what to say to others ...
-Sometimes wisdom can be found in silence
-My smartest response may be no response at all
-"Study to be quiet"
-God gave me 2 eyes, 2 ears, and 1 mouth
-"Swift to hear; slow to speak"
-Some do not need my thoughts or words,
only a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen

sentimental on Sunday

Me, Leigh, and Ashley.

(almost 17 years ago)
Singing at our church's annual homecoming.

Please pardon the poor quality of the picture.

This is a picture of an old home video while playing.

not always in our time or method

at our mid-week service this past week,

a young man in our church preached

a great sermon with a wonderful message:

Philippians 4:6 and Mark 8:22-25

in Mark, he read the account of Jesus leading the blind man

out of town and touching his eyes,

then he sees men as trees walking,

so Jesus touches him again.

with every need and every problem,

i know to turn to God,

and most often, I always run to Him.

i take it to God in prayer and trust He'll answer.

but, what happens when i don't get an answer?

then what?

i must remain confident that He's not finished.

that He is answering.

these were the points of the sermon

in regards to God answering our prayers:

1. we must wait on the Lord to come to where we are.

(the blind man waited til Jesus came to Bethsaida)

2. God doesn't always come immediately

and instantaneously perform the miracle.

(Jesus did not instantly heal the blind man)

3. He often leads us to unfamiliar places before He helps.

maybe out of our "comfort zone."

(He took the man by the hand and lead him out of the town)

4. Many times He works in unconventional ways,

perhaps even ways with which we're uncomfortable.

(Jesus spat on the man's eyes)

we can be sure that He does always meet our needs,

even when it isn't in our preferred time nor method.

Sunday sentiments

Pastor Appreciation Day 2007

i love hearing little children sing!

He's already there

on the way to church Wednesday night,

i was listening to David Phelps (duh!)

#3 and #4 on the CD, i mentioned last week.

"He's Already There" and "God Will Take Care of You"

-on repeat-

then, what do you know: the preacher titled his sermon
"He's the God of Before"

before there was time ... there was God.

...before the foundations of the world!

He is. always was. and will be FOREVER.

He's in tomorrow. He's in next year.

in the same way, that I was in yesterday.

reminds me of Psalm 139.

no matter where i go - He is there.

no mountain is too high. no ocean too wide.

nothing can separate me from God's love & care.

we can run, run, run. but we can't hide.

'cause He's already there.

my mind has a hard time grasping this concept.

can you fathom this? my finite mind struggles to.

but whatever I face. He already knows about it.

He's there - already in the midst.

and He'll be there with me.

what a consolation.

wordless wednesday