It was worth the wait

It's been three months since we moved into our new home. In one sense it seems like we've lived here forever. Yet an empty living room and dining room told me that we were not settled. Day after day I surfed the internet, searching for that perfect fit. I took two trips to NC to visit family AND furniture shop and visited our local galleries many times. It seemed like the sales people knew me better than I knew myself as I flitted about from couch to couch. It was such a big decision as it had to fit the decor of our new home and it had also fit me.

Little by little the pieces came together and I made my decision. Now I just needed to wait for them to be delivered. The dining room table took 2 months to arrive and then on Tuesday, well what a great day! the dining room set and the living room furniture both arrived. I can't explain it, but a peace settle over my soul and I now feel settled.

One of the first things that came from my lips was WOW! it was worth the wait. Then another thought came to my mind. "Is this what we will say when we get to heaven?" This life is full of uncertainties and unsettling situations, and it is easy to think that the here and now is all there is to life. Yet, when we reach those golden streets and see the face of our Lord, well, it will be worth the wait.

As much as that is a glorious thought, it is also a reminder: Will He say "Well done good and faithful servant." I encourage you as I encourage myself to live everyday with that thought in mind.

Hebrews 12:2 - Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Spring has Sprung

Spring is in the air. The flowers are blooming and Rich is mowing the lawn as I speak. The sun is shining and I was able to take a few picture of the view out my front window. Beautiful!!

Although we are not in the spring of our life span, we have spring in our hearts. After several years of stress and turmoil, we are finally at peace. And it's like a breath of fresh air on a spring morning. As we look back we realize how much we have learned through it all -- mostly about ourselves and life in general. We talk less and less about what happened or what it could have been and more about enjoying life in New Jersey and being closer to the kids. We are excited about what the Lord is doing at Shawnee Baptist Church and revel in His goodness.


So I we munch on those thoughts, here are a few pictures to help you slow down and enjoy life, too.

Nana Please

A few months before Christmas, I got a call from Nathan saying "Nana, would you please make me a new blankie. How can you resist a plea like that. So in my inexperienced state of knitting I tackled a blankie. First of all, because I wanted it to be special, I picked out a yarn I thought would make a nice blanket, then I picked out the needles and began my project.

It wasn't long before I realized the yarn I had picked out was not the easiest yarn to use and it got tangled easily. After it was too late to turn back, I realized I had added double the amount of stitches and it ended up being a Blanket instead of Blankie.

Although it didn't turn out perfect, at least in my eyes, Nathan was thrilled to get it and it definitely is cozy and fun to snuggle up to.

In my inexperienced state of life, I seem to tackle life projects in the same way. I'll choose something thing beyond my ability and in the process is seems to get tangled and I get frustrated. But in the end, when it is finished and I turn it over to my heavenly father, He doesn't see the imperfections, He just sees the love behind the gift.

In John 12 we have the story of Mary, who took some costly oil and anointed the feet of Jesus. His disciples only saw the imperfections in the gift, but Jesus was pleased and said "Let her alone." Jesus loves for us to come with our imperfect gifts that say "I Love You."

Every time Nathan snuggles up to his blankie (or blanket) I'm sure he is not laughing at the size or the imperfect stitches, I hope he just see my love.

Miraculous Provision

With fear and trembling we signed on the dotted line as we handed over our life savings for a down payment on our new home. Whew! With that finalized, we begin the process of moving into our new home. Throughout the week we had moved some of the more delicate things and Saturday, as I waited for the rests of the movers to come, I randomly turned on the itunes on my computer. The first song that came up was a song from Children's Bible Hour. It went like this:

This is no time for fear
This is a time for faith
And determination
Don't loose the vision here
Carried away by emotions
Hold on to all that you hold in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the World Together

God is In Control
We believe that his children will not be forsaken
God is In Control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him
We know OH OH OH
God is In Control OH OH OH
God is In Control

God is so gracious, isn't He? Just when we were making our move final, He reminded us that HE IS IN CONTROL. One year ago, I would never have dreamed this scenario. But as the 25+ worker bees began loading and unloading our stuff, we realized we have a new family now; people who love and cherish us and value our input into their lives.

For those God entrusted to us in the past and for those He has entrusted to us in the present & future . . .

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Thessalonians 1:2-3) 

The WOW Factor

The introduction is complete and page one of Chapter Four is about to begin. The last 6 months were spent planning, moving, and adjusting to our new surroundings. In other words; culture shock. Besides our time in Africa where we expected to experience culture shock, we have experienced this before. Over the last 37 years, we have come to realize the uniqueness of each State within the USA and New Jersey is no different. I can only say that the friendliness of the people of South Jersey has been overwhelming and I'm loving the availability of fresh fruits, veggies and fish. Now as we move into our new home it becomes final. No turning back.

In Day 31 of our study of 365 Jesus, John introduces Jesus as the Lamb of God. That phrase always send chills up my back. Picture yourself as a godly Jewish person who was truly looking for the Messiah. The Old Testament predicted that is would happen soon and then you hear about someone preaching down by the river. You go to the river and in a distance you see this man walking toward the preacher. Then the preacher says "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"Could it really be true? Is this really the Messiah? You watch and listen you hear about a voice from heaven saying "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased" and you sing in your heart "the Messiah has come." What joy, what hope, what overwhelming gratitude to the Lord for allowing you to see this day.

But what do I do now? tomorrow? how do I live my everyday life?

Then comes Day 34:  Mary had a great solution. Her belief in her son as the Messiah prompted her to express to those around her and to us

DO WHAT HE TELLS YOU TO DO!

"It is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call, or whatever you want to call it. It is your business to obey, follow, move, respond, or what have you." Jim Elliott

Someone once said that doing the Will of God is just doing the next thing. As we start page one, entitled the  Wow Factor we look forward to moving into our new home and once again using it to minister to others.

Please!!! Come Visit

Aren't you Glad we are not all alike?

As we walked the dessert paths in Arizona, we commented on the diversity of God's creations. Over the last few years we have traveled the globe and have been at 15000 ft above sea level in La Paz, Bolivia to below sea level at the Dead Sea. We have encountered dessert sands and mountain tops; the rolling plains of Iowa and the wooded Pinelands of South Jersey.

Aren't you glad for God's diversity?

As we contemplated the diversity of creation we were once again reminded of the diversity of God's creation in regards to US. We talked about the stoicness of the Germans and the flamboyancy of the Italian's. Yet, all were created by God for His glory.

So, since God delighted in diversity, lets embrace it as well. The next time you encounter someone who doesn't fit into your mold either by personal appearance or personality, remember our creator and thank God for his creativeness.

Who is your "Luke?"

In the narrative of Day 4 we come across Luke. Although not one of the original disciples, Luke carefully investigated the accuracy of all he had read about The Christ and was compelled to write it down. One thing that struck me was what the author commented on asking "Who was your Luke?"; who firsts told you about Jesus. Who was instrumental not only in your salvation, but in your spiritual growth?

I am so privileged to have parents who taught me the holy scriptures from my youth, just like Timothy. But lately I've bumped into many who didn't hear or really understand about The Christ until later in life. One told me that when someone finally took the time to explain salvation to her, she was a little miffed at her friend who had been so hesitant to confront her. Her thought was "if you had cancer and I had a cure wouldn't  you be upset if I didn't tell you about it for fear you might be upset?"

That got me to thinking. How many times have I missed an opportunity to share Christ message of salvation because I was afraid?

This year I plan not only to pick more daisies, but to take every opportunity the Lord puts in my path to tell of his saving grace.

Imitate Me!!

As we go about our regular routine of life, it is hard to comprehend the influence we have on others. What we do seems so normal so what's the big deal?

Last week as I was working at my desk I overheard Sara Jo's kids playing. They were playing "Pastor." As I looked into the hall, there were notes taped to the door like "Sunday School ages 5 - 8" and "Bible Study Ages 16 - 18." There were some that looked like AWANA (owma) and Hebrews/Revelation? (Hop/Rev).

Hebrews 13:7 - says To remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. In another passage Paul says to imitate him because he imitated Christ.

Day Two: God Among Us

No one had seen God, but the one and only Son who is close to the Fathers heart -- He has shown us what God is like! Let's imitate Him

Watching the kids play was a good reminder to make sure our life is worth imitating; to make sure we are imitating Christ so that others can imitate us.

New Year!!!

THIS YEAR I PLAN TO PICK MORE DAISIES!

Yes, I'm done climbing mountains and trying to control my own destiny.  I'm done trying to figure it all out, I'm done wondering why, and I'm done dwelling on the what if's of last year.

Today I start re-reading 365 Jesus and sitting at His feet. With fresh eyes I want to see the wonder of His birth, life, death, resurrection and return to heaven.

Day One starts with: "The beginning of the glad news of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God."

Yes, this is glad news. Jesus! The Word! who was with God in the beginning; in fact, He created all things and in Him was life - life that was the light of mankind; yes, this one, the True Light became flesh and dwelt among us. And John had the privilege to witness it and testify so that everyone could believe and receive God's free gift of salvation.

Today I am praising the Lord that he left the splendor of heaven to dwell among us; to show us His glory so that those of us who believe on Him can have eternal life.