Brian is Playing in Greenville!

Finally, Brian's group is playing closer to home and it's sure to be a lot of fun as they expose downtown Greenville to bluegrass music. :)

Everyone is invited to come out and hear them play at the Reedy River Festival, Peace Center. I'm not very familiar with the exact location but it's outside in the amphitheater, 7-9 pm, Wednesday, July 1st.

We'd love to see you there!

The Lessons We Learn

As shared in a previous post, there's no doubt that one of the greatest benefits for anyone teaching the Word is how much we learn ourselves.

Today's lesson on our freedom in Christ was an especially freeing one for me. The irony found in the fact that the Judaizers, who were attempting to lead the Gentile believers into spiritual slavery through adherence to their Law/circumcision (and not something blatantly evil), awakened me to the fact that we can become enslaved to "good" things just as easily as we can to those things which are not.

In fact, I think it's often the "good" things that trip up Christ followers the most. Below are some of the responses received from the group:

• feeling that we must be in church every time the doors are open.
• feeling that we must serve in every area we're asked to serve in.
• our quiet time has to be at a certain time, day or place in order to be "effective".
  
• we must wear "our best" to church to please the Lord.

Being in church and serving is not only good, it's biblical. But being in church and serving with the right motives is best. God's best. It's the difference in being burdened/weighed down and being joyful (although not necessarily happy at all times!) For instance, what if, as you're getting ready to leave for church next Sunday, you receive a call from a friend in crisis who needs you now? Do you tell them it will have to wait until after church (because going to church is what you're "supposed" to do) or do you sense the Holy Spirit prompting you to be the church in this case?

Purposefully setting aside time to hear the Lord without all the distractions of life is not only wise, it's following Jesus' example. It's the best! But feeling burdened or guilty if you choose a different time of the day or use a different version of the Bible for your time with the Lord than others is nothing but legalism.

And feeling that you must wear your best to impress the Lord? What's going on inwardly has always superseded that which is going on outwardly in the life of a believer, as far as Jesus is concerned. Do you enjoy dressing up? That's great! Do it! But it's not necessary.

Basically, by allowing ANYTHING in addition to our faith in Christ to bring salvation or a "better standing" with the Lord, we are allowing legalism to creep in to our lives and Paul makes it very clear this is not God's desire (the best) for His children.

"For Christ's love compels us..." 2 Corinthians 5:14

Now, that is the best.

Lesson learned.

Snapshots from My Garden

"Tropicana" Rose, transferred from my grandmother's yard. It's a long story, but it's amazing this plant is still alive... and blooming!

The Crinum lilies Sandy gave me last year are blooming!!
They are simply beautiful. Thank you, Sandy!

The "Coconut Lime" Echinecia I ordered last Fall from White Flower Farm.

Same hydrangea - two different shots. It's true color is the purple below. I have the name of this French Hydrangea written down in my Garden book, but I don't have it handy at the moment.

Needless to say, these pictures were taken during an early morning stroll. The shower this afternoon helped in my watering efforts for tomorrow morning, thankfully.

Why I Don't Do...

I think for most people Facebook presents the opportunity to stay up-to-date with old friends, as well as new ones, and nothing more. That's great and there's certainly nothing wrong with it. But due to poor choices I've made in the past, I feel I need to be vigilant in guarding myself, my marriage, and my family, by not "networking" with my past. It's simply a choice I've made for myself and no one else.

I will say, however, that yesterday's press conference with Governor Sanford and his remark on how his affair began via innocent emails precipitated my desire to share the "why?" in my decision to forego Facebook.

A fellow blogger summed it up well...

"... the scary part of all of this is how subtle it is. A man can set up Covenant Eyes and have to report to those holding him accountable for the websites he has visited. But a woman visits facebook a hundred times a day, checking for a message from a certain someone, or checking to see if that person opened an account, or is tagged in a picture…

The point is that the Enemy is crafty. He always has been. And just when we think we’ve wrapped our brain around something he has already destroyed, in this case, the marriages in shambles because of internet pornography…he is working on something else.

Let’s not be blind to the subtle temptations that plague us in the most “innocent” of activities. Let’s not wake up five years from now with marriages in shambles because of emotional affairs or reconnections with long lost flings."

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.“ Matthew 10:16

Again, for most people, none of this is an issue -- thank the Lord! But I've seen the destruction that affairs (which almost always begins innocently) and divorce can bring -- and for me, Facebook or any other venue that may make me more vulnerable to temptation, simply isn't worth it. Don't get me wrong. Facebook is certainly not the "enemy" here... but as a Christ-follower, I'm well aware that I do have a viable enemy whose ONLY goals are to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) And unfortunately, he can achieve those goals with very little breathing room if given the opportunity.

So, there's the answer to those of you who've asked me why I don't do Facebook. It's simply a personal choice and certainly no reflection on the many who enjoy it.

Special Delivery!

Here's a picture of my sweet grandmother, Alberta Scott, taken last week when I delivered "her" flowers to her. She LOVES telling the other NHC residents that those were taken from her yard... and she's right!

Before she and my grandfather moved to assisted living several years ago, I took a piece of her Nikko Blue hydrangea plant that had billowed behind their den window throughout my childhood. It's a delight to have the same plant growing in my yard now for her to enjoy after all these years.

Megan's Million Dollar Question

My awesome daughter-in-law asked a very good question! What exactly does a Cuttlebug do?

I don't have any samples yet, so here's one of my favorites from the internet (Running with Scissors). In addition to embossing (the textured patterns on the card), you can also use it as a die-cut for shapes and such.


Maybe one day I'll be able to create something like this!

Hurricane Brian

My friend, Melody, sparked my interest in rubber stamping years ago. At one time, I stamped cards, bookmarks, and even had a tiny business selling stamped tea bags to a local gift shop.

Although my interest in stamping has wavered over time, I can now safely say that my interest is on the upswing!

Rewind: A couple weeks ago, while visiting an out-of-town Antique Mall, Brian and I came across an amazing rubber stamping store. While there, we spotted a schweet card that had been embossed. It was amazing! The owner, Eleanor, showed us the cute little machine that made it all possible... the Cuttlebug. I was "sold", but unfortunately my checking account didn't agree at the time (and it helped that she had just sold her last one in stock).

Fast forward: Last night, Brian took Rupert outside for a potty break... or so I thought. He returned saying, "Look what the storm blew in to our yard last night!" Yep, it was my very own Cuttlebug! That storm can blow through my yard any time. :)

What a guy!

If Only

If only
I could bottle the sweet perfume of this daylily (Hyperion)
I would be rich.
For now, the fragrance will simply have to linger in my memory.
Maybe I'm not so poor after all.

And Then There's Rupert...

How could I have left this picture out of the mix yesterday?

As I mentioned in the previous post, our rental house at Lake Lure had two levels. Most of the time, everyone was upstairs so it was only natural to find Rupert, our 5 year-old Lhasa, upstairs as well. After all, where there are people, there's also food and lots of fluffing!

So, imagine my surprise when I found Rupert like this -- downstairs, curled up all snug-as-a- bug-in-a-rug in Brian's suitcase the night prior to our departure.

Does he look a little homesick or what? :)

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

Our week at Lake Lure with the family was a great one! The Rumbling Bald Resort turned out to be a real treat with lots of amenities to enjoy on site (pools, tennis, kayaking, ice cream shoppe, sandy beach, golf courses, volleyball court, putt-putt course, etc.) The house we rented had two levels with a pool table downstairs and a nice screened porch on the top level. Brian and I had a blast shooting pool every day.

Every night, we played a game of Michigan Rummy (which took quite awhile with 9 people!), along with plenty of Set-back, our favorite family card game, being played on the screened-in porch. No need for an ipod out there - the frogs serenaded us every night. We also had a wii set up for everyone to enjoy. I learned how to play Mario-kart (thanks, Missy!)

My mom, Steve, and Dan were able to come up one afternoon, which made the week extra special. Divorce is never easy on parents or the children, but I'm thankful that both of my parents maintained a friendship throughout the years and never spoke harshly about the other. It's a "gift" that has kept on giving to this day. I couldn't ask for better step-parents as well. Without their maturity, that afternoon would not have been possible. Thank you Sherry and Steve.

In addition to the pics below, we all went kayaking (a first for me!), putt-putting, and boat riding around the entire lake (thanks, Dad!)

The house dock where lots of fishing took place last week. This is a private lake within the resort. Lake Lure is also accessible on site.

During our boat ride around Lake Lure.

Zach "hanging out" with friends and family. :)

Brian was fishing the night I wii bowled a 243, so I took this picture as evidence. I thought he would especially appreciate it since it was his mii I used to accomplish such a feat. ha!
Sarah and I had a lot of fun!
(Don't you think Brian's mii looks just like him?)

A special thanks to my Dad and Sherry who went out of their way to make our week a memorable one.

And it was.

Blogging Break

I'll be taking a blogging break until next Saturday.

Please check back then!

Just Like Old Times

It was a great night... just like old times. :)

The "Women in the Word" group is back intact with several new faces included. There truly is something special about the sisterhood of Christ. Whether you've known her for 5 minutes or 5 hours there is an unmistakable Bond very present.

My wonderful friend, Becky Kirby, will be leading the troops next week! I wish I could be there. They will be blessed!