Lord Willing, Lima, Here We Come!

As I layed down last night to go to sleep I asked Daniel to read to me the entry for November 12th in Jesus Calling. Side note - I reached to get something out of the car yesterday as we were doing a last errand and a sharp pain came in my back! It has stayed with me as I have put ice on it and prayed for God to relieve me.

So I wanted to know what was written in the book for November 12th. It started out "This is a time of abundance in your life. Your cup runneth over with blessings. After plodding uphill for many weeks, you are now traipsing through lush meadows drenched in warm sunshine. I want you to enjoy to the full this time of ease and refreshment. I delight in providing it for you." Sounds like He wants me in Lima!! HaHa!!

I do see this trip from the Lord so I leave you with some pictures of preparation!! I know God will take care of this back muscle issue. I'm expecting and know He has a plan!!

As we put our 4 duffle bags in the back of the car Cele, (short for Celebration, she was born near Thanksgiving) our Australian Shepherd thought she was going too!!








Gluten free snacks for the flights.











And most important . . . books and scripture to keep my mind busy as I fly. Daniel laughed and said he shouldn't be surprised after all of these years why I would have so many books to take. I can't wait to dive into some that I have never started! Hope to memorize some new verses and let them take me to places the Spirit wants to encourage me in!!



Luke 11:9-10 So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be open.

Libraries

My first memory of a library is the one that I volunteered in when I was a girl scout. My mom would drop me off and I would work for an hour or two. I went to locate it on the google map but I can't seem to find it. My next memories of libraries were more about socializing than actually reading. Reading a book wasn't something I enjoyed for many years. So naturally why would I go to the library except to visit with friends. I certainly did not like to read during this season of life!!

As my senior year of college came to an end I realized my mom was right. It would be helpful to get certified to teach school -- just in case I didn't find a job with my criminology degree. Doesn't make sense now, but it did then. Enter the time in which I realized what I had missed growing up. The children's literature classes in college exposed me to the best of all of the children's books. I loved it!!

So as I marched on I couldn't get enough of great books. I enjoyed watching Reading Rainbow with the girls. I would write down all the books they suggested and try to check them out at the Bryan Library. I plan on having some Reading Rainbow time on youtube with Cailyn and Corban real soon!! During this time, 1987, College Station opened a small library and it was so nice to have it close to the house. As our girls grew up they also didn't like the library. I had so many books on the shelves out in the garage that they wanted to just go get one out of the garage. They did enjoy the summer activities at the library and even enjoyed the A&M church of Christ library!!

The girls will remember the Bryan Public Library but if they go back to find it; they will find it has a new name!!

I'm glad to say both of the girls enjoy reading and have found the wonders of all of the free items that are in the public library!! Alison has even found a small one in Peru for the kids. When Cailyn and Corban were here last year, we went every Tuesday morning for reading circle time. What fun!!

So it makes sense when I went in today to get a library book -- lots of memories flooded my mind. I put a smile on my face. I love to read!!

Time Flies

The time from Aug. 1 - almost Nov. 1 has just flown. We have had a trail of people come through Abilene. We so enjoy friends from seasons of the past.



Haley Edmiston came home from Thailand to take care of some health issues and she got to stay in her old bedroom. It just seem like old times - except there was not a trail of baby powder from the bedroom to bathroom! Haley lived with us the first year we were in Abilene.





Patti and Charles Turk came to visit their daughter, Lindsey, who is a senior here at ACU. They are from Mississippi. Patti and I met when we were about five years old. She and Charles are Aggies, but they moved from College Station just as we were arriving in 1980. We have stayed in touch off and on all through the years. It was so much fun to visit. Our husbands connect too and that is always a plus. Historical side note: I met Patti in twirling class in Houston, Texas around 1961. My mom put me in twirling class at five because I had been born two months premature and the doctor told her it would be good for my coordination. From twirling came my days in juggling. Funny how some seasons melt into others.


I have finished two books in the past few months. Radical by David Platt and One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Both of them made an impact on me. They are both books that I would recommend. I need to put them up on Pinterest (come follow me). Yes, that is another thing that has come into my life. I do not spend much time on this site (yet), but it is fun to have a place to put all of the ideas that would be fun to try. Recipes and books will probably be my favorite categories. Well, and then the grandkids!!

A new job opportunity has come in these months also. I am a part-time worker at Team Financial Strategies. This company is owned by Jody Team. Jody and Rachel Team were a young married couple we met many years ago in College Station. There are two locations of TFS -- one in Abilene where Jody is based and one in Grandbury. I'm learning all kinds of things mainly on the computer. The Teams have two adorable girls about the ages of Cailyn and Corban. We babysat the girls this week.

And that brings me to the next season. We will be spending Thanksgiving (before and after) with Alison-Justin-Cailyn-Corban!! WHOOP!! We have lots of stuff packed and plan on another night of packing as well. They left quite a bit here when they left in January and we have bought quite a bit. Remember the book store I worked at last year - Abilene Educational Supply? Well, when things go on sale at 90% off it is just hard not to purchase educational supplies...so fun!!

Where is My Camera??

My Camera is hanging on the hook in the computer room where we keep it but it somehow didn't get pulled out on a very exciting week -- the pictures would have been so good.

I will just have to drop some names and you will know how good it was!! We started out by getting a surprise visit from Phil and Patti Grassie from NM, and from DC, their wonderful son, Jason Grassie, our son-in-love!! We enjoyed laughter, talk of God and how our lives were going!! The only thing missing was our Hannah!! (next time)

As the evening came Mark Clancy from Lima arrived to spend several days with us. We were then introduced over Skype to his sweet one in Lima, Kami Hill!! Nothing like up to date media that gives us such fun experiences!!

When we woke up on Sunday morning, another arrival had come -- Matt Worthington, from DC...again these guys left their wives in DC, so no Jessie with him!! (next time) Matt was in Abilene for the ACU Summit! He spoke at Summit about Teach for America and how the church can help the public school.

We enjoyed long talks, laughter, and Blue Bell!! But NO PICTURES!!

A Tiny Book in the Bible -- Obadiah

As I continue my study and reading of the minor prophets - Obadiah comes up. Abandon Pride is the title of the chapter. My ears perk up because this is a sin I have been aware of in my life.

"Pride is the urge to stand alone, to stand above all else. It inevitably crowds other people into an increasingly small space; it blinds one to the value of God. Pride is the natural enemy of faith." Dan Schmidt, Unexpected Wisdom.

In Obadiah 3-4..."The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rocks[a]
and make your home on the heights,
you who say to yourself,
‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
Though you soar like the eagle
and make your nest among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,”
declares the LORD."
-- WOW! That is a scary thought..

"Come follow me"...what does that assume??? The author reminds me, there is one ahead of me -- above me, Jesus Christ! I am not the leader of my life. We know that but do we act on that? In pride, we somehow think we know best, we are in control, the boss. How is it that we can really think that??

I Peter 4:11 Anyone who speaks should speak words from God. Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to him forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 4:1-2 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Matt 20:26-27 But it should not be that way among you. Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant. Whoever wants to become first among you must serve the rest of you like a slave.

A servant, so grateful for the service they can give, not wanting recognition but wants to please the master. If we are to walk with Jesus, servanthood can not be looked past. It is the way of life Jesus showed to use as an example. We know how to live because we watch HIM and we are letting Him transform us into His likeness!

The BANK!!

We have watched the construction for months and opening day has arrived!! All of campus is buzzing and many have cleared their calendar in the last days to help with clean up before the grand opening. Daniel's office volunteered to pick up trash as the feeding of the 5,000 happens, but the folks pretty much cleaned up after themselves so there wasn't much cleaning to do.

The Money Student Recreation and Wellness Center will have an all-night extravaganza of games, prizes and food. This will allow plenty of time for students, faculty and staff to familiarize themselves with the facility. Daniel was part of a group who enjoyed a tour this week before the opening. He is counting on the pool to supply some relief for his back as he continues to recover from his surgery. I hope to get over there and enjoy the facility also. Pam and Dr. Money were so excited for the day to come for the grand opening.

At chapel Dr. Money challenged all to look up as you enter in to the facility each time and ponder the verse they have as a theme verse.

He also told the students that he felt the name of the facility was just too long and so he asked them to name it. He said he had heard of a few names already and commented that "The Bank" would be a fine name. The only name he asked not to be used was "The Money Pit"!!

The facility is just wonderful. Two levels complete with a leisure pool for volleyball/basketball, water walkers, and lap lanes for swimmer. The original ACU pool is also available for lap swimming. You can see the fountain in one of the pictures as well as the ACU logo. There are many machines and even a classroom upstairs for a bicycle class. There is an 1/8th mile track marked off on the second floor and as you walk/run the track you look down upon the first level. We enjoyed great fellowship as so many entered and enjoyed touring the facility. Can't wait to use this!! I even found a few places to sit and visit in the future with all of those wonderful ACU students that encourage me so much.

..the righteous will live by his faith...Habakkuk 2:4

Back in February I posted about the first chapter in a book entitled Unexpected Wisdom. I have continued through this jewel of a book and would like to share some of the other chapters.

Habakkuk - Don't Fear the Dark was the title of the chapter and it was a great writing of encouragement and new insight. I love the word "journey". The author reminded me the faith I brought into my conversion is the same faith I need all through the journey of my life. It is a process. He also mentions that we rarely grow in a 5-star hotel, it is with challenge(darkness) that we move along.

"though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith —more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:7

I want to learn that darkness does not last forever. A lie that satan wants to tell us all. I have always told the girls that God doesn't play hide and seek in the sense that it is a game to harm us, to irritate us but there are times that God just doesn't speak. He has His own timing and when Habakkuk doesn't hear from God it presents darkness. When he finally does hear from God it isn't what Habakkuk wants to hear.

This week, I caught myself asking for something to go smooth and easy. I think that is fine, but isn't it just like us to want it to be smooth and easy? I also want to grow into who God wants me to be. That means I need experiences that show that my faith will stand firm. I look at a situation and see only a small piece. God is seeing the whole picture and so I need to realize as darkness comes my perspective needs to change. What is God trying to accomplish when I get into a situation that I don't like, that I don't feel safe in? Dying to self is part of the darkness, realizing I must trust!

I love the picture of Habakkuk 2:1 "I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me..." How could a book that only has three chapters (Habakkuk) be so good? It gets better and better. The author says something that is important for us to all remember as we walk in darkness and stumble. These difficulties are not ignored but neither are they what shape our lives. "That influence is reserved for God"

Part of our worship is the process of walking through darkness and calling out, waiting and listening to God. We know He is real and we will not let the world convince us otherwise!