I get to go to a girl’s ministry conference called Outfit 2008 with SAGE Ministries! It is this weekend at Lamar Baptist Church in Arlington, TX. I am excited about meeting real-live ladies whose real-live job is to be a girls minister at their church - what a dream job! Seriously, how fun it would be to get to be involved with girls and their families as they are in the journey of discovering who they are and what their purpose is as God has ordained. I would love to know if you happen to be attending this same event?! I would love to meet you! Pray for me as I seek the leadership of God in His direction for girls ministry at Arrow Heights Baptist Church. I will be sure to let you know of the events of the conference! In the meantime, enjoy the beautiful fall weather!!!
In my research for my Bible study I am currently writing, I am reading The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. It has now become one of my all- time favorite books! The book is deep to say the least. It is absolutely fascinating that for years the author concentrated on the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) that was inspired by a painting of the father and the son painted by Rembrandt. I have never heard or seen of an inspiration like his! I want to share some thoughts of Nouwen’s. Please read slowly and embrace the revelation God, the Father, has to say to you.
“It might sound strange, but God wants to find me as much as, if not more than, I want to find God. Yes, God needs me as much as I need God. God is not the patriarch who stays home, doesn’t move, and expects his children to come to him, apologize for their aberrant behavior, beg for forgiveness, and promise to do better. To the contrary, he leaves the house, ignoring his dignity by running toward them, pays no heed to apologies and promises of change, and brings them to the table richly prepared for them.”
Nouwen raises a poignant question that I, in turn, ask you (as well as myself) - “Wouldn’t it be good to increase God’s joy by letting God find me and carry me home and celebrate my return with the angels?”
I don’t want to be like the older brother who didn’t want to join the celebration. I join you in your celebration! Will you join me in my celebration?
I want you to meet someone very special to me…her name is Marlee. I began babysitting her twice a week when she was 2 months old. She is now 17 months old. She is the granddaughter of a godly couple in our church. Marlee has 3 older brothers!! When she comes to my house she gets a house full of girls except for Rich, of course! The most beautiful thing to me about Marlee is that she has never resisted my love and care for her. She receives my love everytime! Since she was 2 months old, she lets me rock her, cuddle her, feed her, hold her, and kiss her. She doesn’t try to push me away or cry. She lets me love on her! I can’t begin to tell you what a gift she is to me! She blesses my soul. I wish I could be more like Marlee when it comes to my relationship with the Lord. He has so much to give and bless me with. He has so much He desires to share with me. What keeps me from His embrace? Why do I resist Him sometimes? Why do I doubt that He has my best interest at heart? I believe the more I spend alone worship times with Him I will understand more of who He is and actually want more of Him! His door is open and His arms are filled with hugs and kisses!!
This is Rich’s and my new family in the Lord! By God’s sovereignty and graciousness He took us to a minister’s retreat center in Divide, Colorado called SonScape. We were there for a week with 3 other couples serving in the ministry from different states and a host couple from Kansas. God took us to the mountain to be under the leadership, teaching, and mentoring of an amazing couple who serve as the CEO’s of SonScape, Larry and Barbara Magnuson. If you desire to bless a couple in the ministry in whatever capacity they serve- church, organization, or mission field SonScape would be a present of a lifetime!! Thank you to our church family, Arrow Heights Baptist Church for allowing us the awesome privilege of attending.
My family and I always enjoy our time in Glorieta for many reasons. This year we took 5 college students to the conference. One of my highlights of the week was watching each one of these 5 students grow in their relationship with the Lord. Seriously, they grew by leaps and bounds in one inspiring week. The setting is so perfect with the Rocky Mountains as our backdrop, temperatures no higher than 82, and God-seeking students and leaders everywhere!
We participated in group worship twice a day with over 1,000 people gathered from so many other states including Washington, Louisiana, Idaho, Arkansas, Texas…just to name a few. The morning worship was opened with Pearl Merchant as they led us in song. Michael Kelley, editor of Threads, proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom! The evening worship was also led in song by Pearl Merchant. Then, Dr.David Platt brought the Word! One evening we did a “secret church” where we listened from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. to life-changing material!
I have been inspired, challenged and encouraged to search the mysteries of God’s Word which is treasure to my soul. Not only were we literally in a higher elevation, but spiritually we were taken to a higher level in Christ.
Thanks to those at LifeWay who did an outstanding job to bring us all together for a fabulous week!
Hope to see you all there next year!
I have taken the opportunity this summer to read many books. I have not done any writing this summer, just reading. I thoroughly look forward to getting back to the writing of my second Bible study as soon as my girls go back to school. One book I am currently reading is God’s Leading Lady by T.D. Jakes. Oh my goodness…I love it. I love to hear him preach, but who knew how talented of a writer he is!? He uses more fitting analogies than any other author I have read. I just have to share with you a few paragraphs from Chapter 3.
He writes: When you know the timing is right, you must act boldly. As the old folks used to sing back in West Virginia, “It may be the last time, I don’t know.” When you know that life has given you another chance and that this could be your last time, you seize it, like a contestant on a game show who slams the buzzer trying to get the correct answer in on time and win the prize. Yes, timing is important, and who can tell what time it is for you? Others who judge your radical moves at this juncture in your life neither understand your past nor glimpse your destiny. They see you now, don’t know much about “then,” and fail to realize that there is someday still humming down in your soul. They will not tell time by the same life clock that God has revealed to you. They’re still running on Eastern Standard Time while you’re set to a new future on Divine Saving Time. What risks has the Lord called you to act on? Certainly you must be attuned to the voice of His Spirit in the timing of your endeavors, but once you receive the calling and the opportunity lies ripe before you, then you must not hesitate. Make haste, my sister, and move ahead, even in the midst of criticism. Courage must be your companion, as you do not have the luxury to linger with the fearful. not when you are called to receive the ransomed reward of a faithful woman. There is only a split second between the winner and the loser. Move ahead now! The Scriptures are clear on this matter; God takes no pleasure in those who draw back.
Isn’t that awesome? Don’t you love the “Divine Saving Time”! So cool!
So… what risk has the Lord called you to act on?
Using the coupons my girls got from the library’s reading program we visited the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks today. This was my first visit. I highly recommend it. Not only did I take my 3 girls, but I also brought along one of my oldest daughter’s good friends as well as the baby girl I babysit twice a week. We marveled at every single fish, turtle, anemone, and all the fascinating sea creatures God so creatively designed! One creature was called a sea cucumber. Check this out… a sea cucumber in self-defense can eject internal organs at it’s predator, then grow new organs! Crazy, huh?
At the end of the aquarium there is a large pool full of sting rays that are swimming right below our noses. If we wanted, we could have reached our hands into the pool and caught one. One of the things that comes to my mind immediately ( and maybe yours as well) when I see a sting ray or hear about one, is the tragedy that occurred to Jeff Irwin (Crocodile Hunter). Anyway…as all 6 of us girls were peering into the pool, a role reversal came about. I was holding Marlee (baby girl, 16 months old) so that she could see the “fishees” swim. My oldest, Braelyn, got so nervous and concerned for Marlee. Braelyn told me numerous times to “hold her tightly”. Instead of me telling Braelyn not to get so close or to not touch the water, she was instructing me. You see, Braelyn (being almost 13) had a rational fear of the consequences of touching the sting ray. She also knew, Marlee did not. Marlee had no clue that if I dropped her, life and death were at stake… not just with the sting rays, but with the water as well. I am so proud of my daughter for feeling for someone else. Braelyn had the heart of a parent for those few moments. That is definitely one of our jobs as parents is to forsee danger then help prevent our child(ren) from entering the danger. In the same way, Our Heavenly Father can see things we cannot. He knows things we do not. He loves us infinitely. He warns us. He sends the red flags. May we be so careful to listen to His tender voice that we stay clear of the danger zone and instead marvel at His wonders! 
Yesterday (Thursday) as I looked through my book bag that I regularly take to church, I found something I wasn’t necessarily looking for. I found my Bible. I took my Bible to church with me on Sunday and unfortunately had not missed it since. It isn’t that I had forgotten about God…I have prayed regularly, read parts of 2 different Christian books, sang praise songs to Him, and talked about him with others since Sunday. But when I saw my Bible…my spirit sighed. I missed being in the Word. It is like the days you snack all day and then at some point you crave a meal. You crave meat, potatoes, vegetables, roll and, of course, dessert. I had been spiritually “snacking” but lacked the main source of true nourishment - God’s Holy Word. Lord, let us delight in your “richest of fares” everyday!
“For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly.” Philippians 3:10 (Amplified Version)
I am in a new “phase” or “stage” lately as I anticipate different worship services whether at church, retreats, conferences, or camps. I seem to no longer care anymore who the particular speaker, teacher, band, or minister will be leading the service. I just want God to be there. If God is speaking through the messenger, then that is all I need. If God is speaking through the music then awesome. You can call this “maturity”, “growth”, “hunger”, “thirst”, or whatever - I am not sure how to label it - all I know is that I long for Him. I can’t ”play church” anymore - I want the real deal!! I want God. I don’t just want to go to church, I want to be the church. I long to see others filled with the Holy Spirit so much so that it overflows! I know that I am not alone in this longing. How do you feel?
I had the opportunity to lay underneath the stars by myself - just me and God. I don’t get opportunities like that often enough!! I want to share with you what the Lord revealed to me in those sweet, quiet moments. As I looked at all the different stars I categorized them. Some stars shine brighter than others. Some stars are so far away. Some stars are covered by a cloud. Some stars you can’t see at all. Some stars are all by themselves. Some stars are clustered together. Some stars fall. I realized that we can be categorized by one of these types of stars. God says in Philippians 2:15 “to shine like stars in the universe”. Which star are you? Which star do you want to be?
Our King is “The bright Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16)! The more we are near Him, the more we will shine!
Bask in His presence and keep shining!!
