My Desperate Need for Discernment

This morning, someone handed me an excerpt from the book, "The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment", by Tim Challies.

I pray daily (sometimes moment-to-moment) for discernment because I am all too aware of the fact that there is nothing discerning within me - my feelings, thoughts or actions - apart from God. I am desperately, desperately in need of His wisdom and discernment if I am to make wise decisions which in the end glorify Him. In all honesty, I needed discernment to simply begin today's post because of its sensitive nature. The following quotes taken from this book are not about pointing fingers, because that would, in fact, require me to first point the finger in my own direction... but it is about my sharing what I believe to be true.

• The Bible makes it clear: God expects and demands that we pursue and exhibit spiritual discernment.
  

• "... it has never been easy to be discerning. Discernment is a skill that must be sharpened with long years of practice. Hebrews 5:14 tells us that discernment comes to those who "by constant practice [work] to distinguish good from evil." While it is a discipline that requires practice, discernment is a skill that does not tend to make us popular, for, as we will soon see, it requires us to make clear and unwavering distinctions between what is good and what is evil. [Mt. 10:34-37] With discernment comes division. A person who seeks to be discerning must be willing to suffer the effects of this division. It will divide not only believer from unbeliever, but it may even divide a discerning believer from one who is undiscerning."
  

• In the last book he completed before his death in 2000, James Montgomery Boice, considered by many to be among the greatest preachers of the twentieth century, wrote about the five solas of the Reformation - the doctrines through which Protestantism was defined. The first of these, sola scriptura, or Scripture alone, is foundational to all of Christian theology. Sola scriptura declares that the Bible is the one and only perfect measure God has given to us as our guide in matters of life and faith.
  

• Boice had this to say: "Inerrancy is not the most critical issue facing the church today. The most serious issue, I believe, is the Bible's sufficiency."
  

• Charges of bibliolatry, or Bible worship, are thrown about with reckless abandon. And yet the Bible demands that we allow it to be sufficient to address all areas of life and practice, whether evangelism, sanctification, guidance, social reform, or discernment. Almost every evangelical church would somehow include in its statement of faith that they believe in sola scriptura, the doctrine stating that the Bible is our only perfect standard of right and wrong. Most of these churches do believe in such crucial doctrines as the Bible's authority, inspiration and inerrancy. However, few would believe and put into practice the doctrine of the Bible's sufficiency.

• When we have rejected the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture, we allow Christians to depend on things other than the Bible as their guide to matters of life and faith. In particular, people begin to depend upon mysticism, upon ways of supposedly knowing God apart from the Bible. They forsake biblical reason in favor of feelings, voices, visions, or other subjective means of supposedly knowing God. This is a deadly error, for spiritual discernment must be founded upon God's objective revelation of himself in Scripture. We can only judge between what is wrong and what is right when we know what God says to be true. We can know this only from Scripture.
  

I look forward to reading this book in its entirety very soon. I have much to learn.

Score!

Three cool "finds" this week:


The second issue (Summer) of this magazine is even better than the first. I picked up this copy at Publix in Simpsonville but you can also find them in Walmart and Barnes and Noble. It's worth every penny!
I vividly remember the last time we used a normal shower cleaner. It was downright painful. My lungs were crying out for some relief -- and now I've found it. This non-toxic Method cleaner (Le Scrub) is AWESOME. For a limited time, it comes with a scrub cloth, but I'm sure anything would work. I cleaned my entire shower in less than 15 minutes and left it smelling like Eucalyptus Mint! I almost enjoyed the experience. Almost.



I saved the best for last! Brian's band's new CD came in this week. WNCW 88.7 FM featured their CD today. I was so proud to hear the hubster singing and playing on the radio!

Celebrating 20 Years

Not of marriage (that will be 18 this year), but Brian's years of service at Michelin!


Last night, Michelin invited all those celebrating 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service to a wonderful meal at the Holly Tree Clubhouse. It was the largest crowd since beginning this tradition a few years ago.

During the award ceremony, the three men celebrating 40 years briefly shared about their early days at Michelin. Once the shock of realizing I was only 6 years old when these men began their careers wore off I actually enjoyed the speeches.

Needless to say, I was very proud of the hubster. He has always worked incredibly hard to provide for our family and I thank Michelin for being the kind of company where people actually want to stay for 25-40 years.

Congratulations Brian!

Off With Your Head!

Just about every morning you'll find me watering and deadheading flowers. The term "deadheading" may sound brutal, but it simply means to snip off the flowers that have finished blooming.

The visible perk to deadheading is obvious. It gives the garden a tidy look. You see only fresh flowers blooming -- nothing brown, dried up, or crispy. (Dinner, anyone?)

The not-so-visible perks, however, are hard at work below the surface. When a spent flower is removed, the plant is "tricked" as it continues to pour its energy into producing more flowers. Continual deadheading also helps to cut down on diseases and insects, making for a much healthier plant overall.

This morning, I couldn't help but think of how the procedure hits home. When I fail to "deadhead" the sin in my life on a regular basis I am, in essence, allowing the production of those things God desires to create in and through me become sluggish and perhaps even non-existent.

I like David's method of "deadheading." It's found in Psalm 139:23, 24:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

I trust only God to reveal all things - both the hidden and the obvious - and then it is my responsibility to say to my sin: "Off with your head!"

Fun & Fellowship

This has been a great week of fellowship and today was no exception.

This morning, I enjoyed breakfast and meaningful conversation with a friend I hadn't seen in a couple of months. Do you believe in coincidences? I don't. Our time together was yet another confirmation.

From there, I headed over to Sherwin-Williams to help Angie Prout pick out paper and paint for their beautiful new home. Why she would trust my help, I don't know, but we sure had fun! Afterwards, she treated me to lunch here. As always, it was awesome. Geno and Lisa not only know how to make a mean Beef & Pasta -- they also know how to make you feel right at home. Of course, part of that homey feeling may be due to the fact that the same person who built their home also built ours back in 1911! We have the same doors, moulding, mantles, and now the same paint! It's way cool.

And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Angie and I ran into a CRCC friend we hadn't seen in awhile. Although our conversation was brief, it was a time of sweet fellowship. Angie and I walked away feeling very much loved and missed. By the way, we miss her (and others) too!!!

Fellowship among believers. Is there anything like it?

Old Friends, New Beginnings

Teresa and I had the pleasure of taking a wonderful friend, Sarah Weber, to lunch today. The owner's son took this picture. Sorry for the decapitated chicken in the background.

CrossRoads will surely feel Sarah's absence after this Friday as she has been the "go-to" girl since day one.

Some things I most appreciate about Sarah Weber:

• She is sold out for Jesus Christ.
• She knows what she believes -- and stands firmly upon it.
• She is quick to share Christ with others -- including strangers!
• She loves Hal like crazy! No doubt people see Christ when they see a married couple loving and respecting each other as these two do.
• She has a heart for kids. Teresa has shared several times how Sarah and others on the Good News Club team have ministered so beautifully to the elementary children.
• She has a heart for teens. She loves on, cares and prays for the teen girls in her small group.
• She keeps things in confidence. Now that's a true friend... and hard to come by.
• She cares about her work. Someone will have some pretty big shoes to fill!
• She is transparent, allowing God to shine through both her joyful times as well as her sad ones.
• She is a prayer warrior. Have mercy!
• And last...and probably least compared to all above...she's an awesome blogger!!!

Sarah, I will miss you. I thank God for the years we served alongside one another. I learned so much from you and I also learned a lot about myself in the process (ways I needed to improve!) I look forward to hearing of the many ways God is using both you and Hal in Myrtle Beach.

"... let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield." Psalm 5:11, 12

Indicators of a "Good Day"

I knew today would be a "good one" when:

• I woke up.

• I discovered it had rained overnight. No watering the plants today!

• Bailey Heating & Air said they would be able to come out today to fix our A/C (have I mentioned how much I hate heat?)

• A Java Chip Frapp helped me to stay cool in the meantime.

• Karen Trone stopped by for a little gliding time on the back porch.

• I remembered the kids were coming over tonight to grill out! Can't wait.
  

• Our tax incentive check finally arrived in the mail. Look out Martin's Nursery, here I come! (Just kidding, Brian)
  

• Bailey Heating & Air DID come out today as promised & fixed our A/C!! They are always quick to respond. Quite frankly, they're my hero.
  

• A small chaste tree transplanted a few weeks ago was on the brink of death - now the leaves are bright and green... and the first blossom appeared this morning! Funny how things can appear so dead on the outside and yet be so alive on the inside.
  

I hope your week is off to a great start as well.

A Fun Excursion And More

Brian and I headed to an annual sidewalk antique sale in Hendersonville, NC Saturday morning. Each of us were scoping out particular things as we walked around the block. Brian, fountain pens. Me? Older outdoor objects (fountains, birdbaths, statue, etc.) Before hitting the streets, I went to the Black Bear Coffee Company - one of my all time favorites.

So, here was my find for the day:


Mine was a find. Brian's was a bargain:

A Parker 51 in sweet condition. As you can see, Brian paid 4 bucks. They sell on EBay anywhere from $50.00-100.00. Needless to say, he was a happy man.

As for today...

We visited a new church we really liked this morning. It's the smallest church we have yet to visit but agreed it had the best praise band (although this will not be a determining factor in our decision). We know where they stand doctrinally so that's not an issue. We were pleasantly surprised to see a few familiar faces as well. One woman knew us from CrossRoads, where she and her husband attended a few years ago. She shared that he was diagnosed with lung cancer in January and passed away in March. It was encouraging to hear how her church had surrounded her during those trying times. The church in action. There's nothing like it!

Victories of Various Sorts

Last night, I went to cheer on the hubster during his soccer game at Michelin. It was fun watching him in action -- especially when he scored a goal! I think watching Euro 2008 this week has inspired him.

A few people have asked if someone took me up on my offer for free flowers and I'm delighted to say YES!!! I was actually able to share them with two wonderful friends, Kim Mahaffey and Sandy Schaeffer. While delivering Sandy's goodies, I had the pleasure of taking a tour of her BEAUTIFUL garden. Have mercy! It belongs on the cover of Fine Gardening (my favorite gardening magazine!) Although Sandy has lived in her home for 10 years, she shared how she took the first 5 years to decide and design her yard. That was so encouraging to me! I feel like I'm in constant design mode with fewer results than desired, but we were both reminded of how we need to enjoy what has been done as we work towards our final design. There's a reason God began mankind in the garden.

Speaking of which, I told a few friends I would share my garden photos taken this week. Here's what's blooming in the Baker garden (check out the orange daylilies - Mrs. Snow told me Clemson fans would come from all over to purchase these from her - I believe it!):



Have a great weekend!

For Generations to Come

This morning, I headed to Spartanburg, my hometown, to visit my great-aunt Helen. (Sister to my grandmother who passed away in December) When asked if I would like to look at some pictures, I said sure! I was expecting the "norm" -- pictures of our immediate family, cousins and aunts. Instead, to my surprise, she pulled out pictures of great-grandparents and even great-great-grandparents I had never known or seen. This was an unexpected blessing as I had understood the family pictures to have been burned in a house fire many years ago. With each picture, came a story. I plan to go back and record those stories next time.

For some reason, the older I get the more interested I become in my family genealogy. Who were they? What was their passion in life? Did they have a vibrant relationship with the Lord? Did they ever think of the generations that were to come?

On my way home, I listened to one of my favorite CD's, Sara Groves' Conversations. There's a song called "Generations" that literally brings tears to my eyes every single time I hear it. In the song she recounts the effect that Eve's decision has on us and how that applies to us today. Here's the chorus and bridge:

Remind me of this with every decision,
generations will reap what I sow.
I can pass on a curse or a blessing
To those I will never know

To my great, great, great granddaughter:
Live in peace
To my great, great, great grandson:
Live in peace

Beautiful song. So why the tears? First, out of an overflow of gratitude for God's grace. Secondly, because I do try to think about how my decisions today WILL affect the generations that I will never meet on this side of heaven.

As some of you may know, I've kept a journal for over 15 years. In it I record "my" victories as well as my many defeats; prayers for my husband, boys, future (and now present!) daughter-in-laws. I also pray for the generations to come. You see, I want my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren to know, without a doubt, that they were on my mind... and especially in my prayers, confident of God's faithfulness throughout generations.

"I will sing of the LORD'S great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations."
Psalm 89:1

A Blogger Bargain!

Because I appreciate those who take the time to read my crazy thoughts so much, I'd like to offer you a couple of freebies from my garden!

This morning I'm cleaning out a few flower beds. I have one "bunch" (about 5-10) of siberian iris and a couple of "fans" of my grandmother's old-timey bearded iris up for grabs.

The siberian iris are not the bearded-type but the slender type that I blogged about last week under "History". Karen Trone and I removed them from an elderly woman's home a couple years ago. They multiply quickly so one bunch will be two or three by next year.

My grandmother's iris are BEAUTIFUL. They are two-toned purple bearded iris. They also multiply quickly.

Both have bloomed for the year. Both need full sun to bloom. They are very low maintenance.

All I ask is that you enjoy them and do not resale them. Interested? Be the FIRST to email me at tea4thee@charter.net. I can meet you somewhere in Simpsonville on Thursday or Friday.

Got Habits?

"Habit is habit, and not to be flung out the window by any man but coaxed downstairs a step at a time." - Mark Twain

I wish breaking a habit was as easy as popping a "please-fix-me-quick" pill or attending a 6 week course. The truth is, we've allowed habits to establish themselves into our daily routine over a period of time and it often requires a "step at a time" kind of attitude to break the momentum habits create with every repetition.

Here are some of my not-so-great habits that have come to the surface in recent weeks:

• Not always putting things back where they go.

• Not establishing specific places for specific things to go!
  

• Having the mindset that everything has to be "perfect" in order to be hospitable/open home.

• Thinking of responses while the person is speaking to me... and then cutting them off before they even finish their sentence. (And I wanted to be a psychologist!)
  

• Allowing my moods to swing too easily based on other's moods.

OK, that's enough. I'm getting depressed (does that count as a habit?)

The truth is, time nor space allows me to share the many areas in my life in need of tweaking and healing but I do share those above to say that if we are serious about breaking the momentum of our not-so-great habits, we must face them head on and quit excusing them.

First, by praying that the Holy Spirit would illuminate every single area in need of transformation. Write them down. Pray over them. Submit to His power. Commit to making any necessary changes. Find confidence in His power. Because let's be honest. Is there anyone who can coax us to do anything like the Holy Spirit can? He alone makes coaxing a sweet surrender.

Sunday Highlights

Brian and I try our best to go into a church without preconceived ideas or expectations but it's harder than you might think!

Yesterday, we visited a church we've passed by hundreds of times but never felt it was quite "us". However, our values have significantly changed in what we feel is most important when it comes to finding a church home. I think Brian will be addressing this in more detail in the near future.

Some positive aspects of the church we visited yesterday:

• Friendly people. The friendliest of all three churches we've visited.

• Baby Dedication/Emphasis on Children. Two little boys were dedicated. The pastor gave a 3-5 minute talk on the importance of having both godly parents and a strong church body to help them grow spiritually throughout their lives. Not only did he pray for each child, he went on to pray for each parent in very specific ways. Also, at one point in the service, a 7 year old girl came on stage with her mom and sang "His Favorite Name is Father." Did I mention she was signing for the deaf while they sang? It was powerful. Children are valued at this church and it shows. There are TONS of families in attendance.
  

• The pastor's talk was very good. He spoke on one chapter in the OT. It was thorough, though not the "deepest" teaching we've heard up to now, but this church is set up so that the deeper level teaching comes via other classes on Sunday mornings and other times throughout the week. Spiritual growth is not dependent on the pastor's talk alone each week. How healthy would it be for us if we ate food once a week -- and from only one food group? That's not the way we were designed to function physically or spiritually.
  

• The offering basket. There looked to be just as many "first-time visitor" cards in the basket as there were tithing checks. Interesting.

• Most importantly, we know exactly where they stand when it comes their doctrine.
  

This is only our third "church search" during the many years we've lived in Simpsonville. It's never a fun process and it's certainly one we hope we won't have to do again for many years, if ever. Thanks for your continued prayers!

A New Perspective on Father's Day

Several years ago, I had the privilege of teaching "In My Father's House" by Mary A. Kassian. I would say one of the most powerful teaching moments came when we took a straightforward, honest, and sometimes painful look at how our perception of our Heavenly Father is often influenced by with those of our earthly fathers. Below is an excerpt from this exercise:

Jesus used the analogy of earthly fathers and our Heavenly Father to teach the nature of God. He said if earthly fathers, who are evil, know how to act with kindness and generosity toward their children, how much more does the Heavenly Father care for His children (see Matt. 7:9-10; Luke 11:13; see also Hebrews 12:9-11)? Jesus taught that earthly fatherhood, even with its sinfulness, points to the perfect fatherhood of God.

To develop your relationship with God as Father, seek to recognize whether your perception of Him comes primarily from the portrait your earthly father has drawn for you or from the portrait of the perfect fatherhood of God as revealed in the Bible.

Read the following character qualities. Circle those you consider positive qualities of your earthly father. Underline those that were his negative qualities.

present
unloving
weak
affectionate
accepting
affirming
angry
neglectful
controlling
kind
patient
honest
responsible
undependable
insecure
lazy
generous
gentle
abusive
forgiving

Look through the words you circled. Do you regard these positive fatherhood traits as being part of the fatherhood of God?

Look through the words you underlined. Emotionally, do you fear these negative fatherhood traits are also part of God's character?

God, not man, defines true fatherhood.

The question was then asked, "Have you unknowingly transferred any negative traits from your earthly father to your Heavenly Father?" Think about it.

If you had/have an angry earthly father, how might that affect your relationship with your Heavenly Father when you mess up? Would you expect Him to be angry or distant instead of loving and quick to forgive?

Or, if you had/have a father who is present - not only physically - but emotionally and spiritually as well, how could that positively affect your trust and faithfulness in your Heavenly Father?

Each trait listed can be viewed in similar ways.

Today is the perfect day to identify the source of our ideas about God. For those who did not experience the blessing of a good earthly father, this exercise may draw your attention to places in need of healing or correction in your thoughts about true fatherhood.

Because all earthly fathers are imperfect, let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us appreciate the father He gave us (for reasons we may or may not understand) -- and to look beyond them into the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty"
2 Corinthians 6:18

Happy Father's Day to my dad who has taught me (and continues to teach me) many wonderful truths about my Heavenly Father through his love and faithfulness to me, his daughter.

Projects: Stressful, Relaxing, or Both?

Projects: Tasks outside your daily routine that

• make life easier
• accomplish something of value
• or perhaps prepare you for the future
  

This time every year our project list swiftly shifts from outdoors to indoors. With the exception of next Tuesday morning, when Sarah and I plan to do a little yard work, our time and energy will shift towards these projects :

• organizing kitchen & laundry room (making life easier)

• decluttering the house (accomplishing something of value by lots of visits to Goodwill)
  

• painting our bedroom and installing the clawfoot tub fixtures in the Master Bath (I'm preparing for lots of relaxation in the future) hint: If you know the interior color of the Elegant Gourmet you also know the exact color we're painting our room. I feel relaxed just thinking about it!

I enjoy having the house in order, but I admit that I don't enjoy being the one to make it that way. I think author Patricia Sprinkle summed up my feelings well: "Remember, stress does not come from being busy. Stress comes from being busy about things we don't want to do, or from not being busy about things we do want to do."

Tomorrow morning, Brian and I will begin the indoor projects. The temporary stress involved will soon give way to a clean and relaxing home... just in time for Fall... when the outdoor projects begin calling my name! Now that's relaxing.

New Every Morning

This morning, I awakened to find these NEW blooms awaiting in the garden:


I plan to post again later today, but I thought you may be as encouraged as I was this morning by the verse that came to mind:

"Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22, 23

Apartment Life

I came across this last week.


At one time (early '70's), this was the Key Pines Apt. brochure. As you can see, I began honing my list-making skills at the tender age of 10, when my mom and I began preparing for apartment life.

Here are some of the, shall we say, more memorable moments during our 5-6 years at Key Pines:

• finding a glass eye at the bottom of the pool and then searching for its one-eyed owner
  

• getting my first pet, Tiffany, a pekingese pup

• enjoying the look and feel of the orange-brownish shag carpet (not!)

• having the family, along with Tiffany, almost die of carbon monoxide poisoning when my Mom's boyfriend decided to move the charcoal grill inside during a rainstorm. He wasn't the brightest bulb on the shelf.
  

• playing tennis like a mad-woman. Because I was an "only", I ended up playing most games with adults. A great learning experience!

• against my mom's better judgment, I bought my first KISS album, black light and beads all in one week.

• I got kissed for the first time. Oh yeah, this was supposed to be the most memorable moments of my apartment life. Never mind.

And by the way, it wasn't until many years later when I realized mom's dresser wasn't named "Chester."

An Oasis in the Desert

I've been waiting three years to see this baby bloom and the timing couldn't be better. The recent heat wave has wreaked havoc on some areas in my garden, but seeing this G. Kuhnert hydrangea beginning to bloom for the first time, in the most adverse weather conditions, has served as a small but powerful reminder that even when we're feeling parched (spiritually, emotionally, or physically), there is beauty waiting to be discovered. One that our heavenly Father alone can create amidst any and all circumstances. Praise the Lord!

"I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." Isaiah 43: 19b-21

Life. Gotta Love It

Stages of life are interesting, aren't they? Each stage eases its way through our lives, intermingled with both delight and baggage, often going unnoticed... but not today!

Random thoughts on the subject...

• Choices made in our current stage of life will affect our future, as well as the future of our children and those we love. We desperately need to ask God for wisdom and discernment at every turn.
  

• Different stages usher in new and valuable perspectives. For instance, the older we get, we may desire more time with our families, which is a good thing! And yet at the same time, we would do well to remember what our lives truly resembled at our kid's age(s) and set our expectations accordingly. Healthy expectations = healthy family.
  

• The empty-nester stage is awesome! We love our kids and are incredibly proud of them all -- Brandon, Megan, Zach and Sarah (she's definitely one of us!), but I won't lie or apologize. I'm enjoying my time with the hubster, which in turn, always makes for a better parent, regardless of their age.
  

• If we live long enough, we will resemble our childhood more than our adulthood. Now there's something to look forward to! But I see it every time I visit my grandmother in Assisted Living. People who once lived vibrant lives now wheelchair bound and totally dependent on others. Life comes "full circle". It's sad in a sense, and yet there's no doubt the stages and circles of life are uniquely and divinely designed to teach us things about ourselves and others that we wouldn't learn otherwise.
  

Life. Gotta love it.

A Koinonia-Kind-of-Sunday

Brian and I enjoyed another great service today. It was taken from 1 Peter 5:1-4, speaking on the role and responsibilities of elders. The following questions closed out the service:

• Who is watching over - shepherding - your soul?
  

• Who have you given the authority to lead your soul?

Heavy, but timely, questions.

Afterwards, we headed to a cookout with friends we hadn't seen in a few months. It was refreshing, to say the least. As we drove home I thought of how our fellowship, encouragement, and commonality in faith is the very essence of koinonia.

When I think of "koinonia", I immediately recall a Bible study Brian and I were privileged to be a part of over 16 years ago while at Temple Baptist. The Helms, Fradys, Crons, Bagwells, and other wonderful families came together once a week to study "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby. The study itself was life-changing as new believers, but what stands out in my mind is the night Steve Cron taught on koinonia - a word I had never heard - a Greek word primarily speaking of fellowship, sharing in common, and communion of believers.

We certainly experienced koinonia during that particular study, and many times since. Today was one of those days. It was a time of sweet refreshment and renewal to that which we believe.

Thank You, Lord!

Omni-Moments

God's omniscience. At times it leaves me speechless and stunned. Other times, it finds me giggling like a daughter who never ceases to be amazed by her Father.

There are at least two "omni-moments" that seem to be taking place in our family right now. The one I want most to share, I can't - at least for now, but hope to soon! In the meantime, I'll share an "omni-moment" taking place in my life.

Several weeks prior to our unforeseen departure from CrossRoads, I found myself praying to be used outside the walls of the "church." My request surprised and even irritated me a bit. Didn't I have enough to do inside the "church?"

Once we began the search for a new church home, I realized it would be quite awhile before I would have another opportunity to teach an Adult Bible Class (I sure do miss everyone in the CRCC class!) After all, leaders would need to know and trust me to handle the Word accurately before allowing me to teach, as well it should be. I was at peace with the wait involved.

A couple weeks later, I read something in my devotion that prompted the specific idea to teach a Bible class in the community. OK, that was a cool thought. Now, what do I want to order today - a frappuccino or caffe latte? I'm not being flippant, just honest. Later that same morning, I read this in my "To Be Told" book: "Your dream, built on the passion of a single yes -- perhaps "I love to teach the Bible" -- must move you to throw the dice and let God bring up the numbers he wishes. The dream may be as simple as starting a neighborhood Bible study." My reaction fell under the "speechless and stunned" category at that point. But it gets better. On that same day, I had lunch with a small group of friends. One woman suddenly began discussing a community Bible Class taking place in downtown Greenville. Umm... okay. I've never discussed anything like this before with anyone and she brings up this topic?

I wish I could tell you that I jumped on the idea and began making it a priority in prayer, but I didn't. My "jumping-on-it" skills are a little rusty these days.

Fast forward two weeks. Last Friday, while reading my devotion, the community study came to mind again. I quickly repented for not listening (or responding) very well the first time around. Two hours later that same day, a friend said to me, "I feel funny asking this, but (another friend of mine) wanted me to ask if you would consider teaching a Bible study?" I giggled like a four-year old daughter all the way home.

Now, finally, I am making it a matter of serious prayer and would so appreciate your prayers. I have no clue as to where or when we would meet, or what book we would study. But, isn't that the inherent joy found in all of God's "omni-moments?" The kind of joy that doesn't require an answer to every question, but rather, allows the One with all the answers to have all of me.

Class of 2008

We celebrated here for my step-brother's graduation today!

Dan was only 6 years old when his dad, who had full custody, married my mom twelve years ago. It's been interesting, fun, and rewarding to see my mom get a second chance at parenting. Don't get me wrong. She did well the first time around, but who wouldn't want a second chance at tweaking their parenting skills? Especially if you don't have to birth them!

For the record, my Mom married one of the most incredible men I've ever met. I've NEVER seen him in a bad mood. Never. Early on, I thought he had to be faking it, but he wasn't. He's the real deal. Steve is a happy person with a quick smile and a huge heart. And knowing Dan, he is going to grow up to be just like him.

History. I Dig It.

The older I get, the more I enjoy history. I'm intrigued by the stories buried behind our nation, our state, our foundational beliefs, and much more. On a smaller scale, I also enjoy having plants with a "history" in my yard. Like these...

Chapter I: These flowers came from one of my grandmother's (Alberta Scott) yard in Fairforest SC. She and my grandfather had to leave their home of 50+ years when their health began to fail. On the day before closing, I was given permission to dig up whatever plants I wanted from the yard. I chose her tea roses, one hydrangea bush and a few Amaryllis bulbs (see pictures below)


Chapter II: From my other grandmother, Elsie Knighton, who recently passed away, I received a Carolina Allspice shrub. Grandmother's shrub came from her mother's yard and her mother's shrub came from her sister's yard, a great-great-Aunt I never knew. How cool is that? I'm currently rooting a few roses cuttings from grandmother's rose bush, which originated in her mother's yard as well. (no pictures)

Chapter III: About 10-15 years ago, I came upon an ad in a local paper from an elderly woman, Mrs. Miriam Snow, who was selling old-timey daffodils. She wore a brimmed hat and had the spunk of a 20 year old woman. I remember thinking how I wanted to be like her at that age -- hoeing, digging up plants and planting bulbs in full expectation of being there the following season to see them bloom. I continued going back for more plants every year up until a few years ago, when she developed Alzheimers. Mrs. Snow was an aficionado of daylilies and I treasure the ones I was able to dig up over the years. Here are some of my favorites, including a Bottlebrush Buckeye Shrub that came from her yard.






Chapter IV: One day, Karen Trone dropped by to ask me if I'd be interested in digging up some siberian iris from an elderly woman's home here in town. Karen had spotted the beautiful purple irises growing in her yard and stopped to ask if she could dig up one for her yard. An elderly woman, Mrs. Mabry, answered the door and shared her sad story of having to move out of her home because of health reasons. The bulldozer would be flattening the house soon, in hopes of selling the land. She was delighted that another "yard person" would want to rescue her plants and enjoy them as much as she had over the years. We went back, visited awhile and then we started digging. Karen and I were spotting anything in bloom! I dug up a hydrangea, Rose of Sharon, wild roses and iris. Here's what started it all:


Chapter V: And last, but not least, here's the only plant in our yard that bloomed when we moved in... a 40+ year old camellia:


Since moving in to our circa 1911 home a few years ago, we've added hundreds of blooming shrubs and flowers for someone to enjoy... one day when I'm history!

Finally!

After searching through what seemed to be hundreds of places, we FINALLY found what we believe to be the perfect spot to chill out as a family for a few days this summer. Although the beach has been the destination for family trips as long as I can remember, we're breaking tradition this year (don't worry kids, we're not starting a new tradition!) Megan and Brandon will be heading to this beach with her awesome family while Zach and Sarah head here with friends for a few days this summer. Thankfully, they won't miss their opportunity for fun in the sun!

So, what's there to do in the mountains during the summer months? During the day, some may choose to go hiking, tubing, biking, golfing or shopping, but at night, we'll all gather back at the cabin (yes, it has A/C and indoor plumbing). Creative plans are already underway for evening family "events". Can anyone say "Couple's Pie Contest?" (Brandon has a serious advantage with Megan on his team. She cooks a mean apple pie! Poor Brian, he doesn't stand a chance) The fresh blackberries growing around the cabin are sure to come in handy that night! If you have creative family ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Amidst all the activity, baking, and other fun factors, there will no doubt be times to "exhale." This family is full of readers (and coffee drinkers) so we may be vying for our own place on the porch hammock or rocking chair -- which, by the way, is the place where the picture above was taken. Wait a minute. Is that Brian's heart rate I hear slowing down? Ah, yes.

It is sure to be a memorable mini-vacation regardless of where we stay or how we play. We're family and it simply doesn't get any better than that!

The Silent Killer

This morning, we visited a church we had visited once before. This church has grown exponentially in recent months - 150 new children just since January! One thing in particular that stuck in my mind from today's message was this statement: "Self-absorption is a disease we can all catch." How true. I would add to this that it's also the type of disease that could be classified as a "silent killer". Check out its definition:

"There are a number of diseases that are known as "silent killers" because they gradually consume you without causing any serious symptoms in the early stages. Regular medical checkups and early diagnosis of unexplained or vague symptoms can safe your life." - www.wrongdiagnosis.com

I don't know about you, but self-absorption creeps into my mind/heart with little fanfare. Early on, there is little evidence that my heart is being invaded by this "silent killer", but given time, the symptoms begin to emerge, such as:

• Instead of asking "What can I do to serve/bless Brian, family and friends?", I'm asking "What can they do for me?"
• Or better yet, asking "What have they done for me lately?"
• My schedule remains rigid regardless of the needs around me
• Placing unattainable expectations on people
• Becoming easily irritated. Isn't the root of all irritation self-absorption?
  

OK. That took less than a minute. sigh. Can you relate?

The key to battling this "silent killer"? It's found in the above definition - "regular check-ups" and "early detection." Two verses I put to memory early on were Psalm 139:23, 24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." Nobody knows my heart or thoughts better than my Father. Nobody. I trust Him alone to illuminate my deepest motives. It is only when I am regularly asking Him to search, test, know, and lead me, that I am able to discern more quickly those symptoms which desire to consume me.

And the antidote to self-absorption? Jesus summed it up in Mt. 20:28: "...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."