Heart To Heart

First - time in DC with a group of crazy great students... Then - on to Turkey to honor a deeply loved brother…. and love those that he deeply loved... "I know who goes before me I know who stands behind The God of angel armies is always by my side The One who reigns forever He is a friend of mine The God of angel armies is always by my side" So grateful for all of you who are praying over this adventure that we are about to embrace.  I FEEL your prayers as we prepare.  We are grateful.  We cannot do this without your prayer - opening the heavens. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

I love this picture! I tend to be like the girl in the front seat.   You can call me Shaniqua from now on.  Really, I'm laughing out loud right now because I soooooo get this girl. Second row - that's kind of like Dennis.  Smiling - laughing - talking through the biggest dip on the ride - maybe even trying to decide where we'll eat lunch when the ride is over. Back rows - "THIS IS THE BEST RIDE EVERRRRRRR!"  (That was Dennis in younger years.  His dream vacation for us was to hit the top 7 roller coaster rides in America.  Ya…..not happening!  Fortunately, sun and sand and scuba diving won over the dream roller coaster vacation!) Evidently life is a roller coaster.  The ups and downs and corkscrews - hoping to shake loose anything that is loose - all a part of the ride.    Today… and the last couple of days …. okay - the last couple of years ….. I have had a deep need and desire for peace.  I don't pray for ...

I Shall Not Want Audrey Assad From the love of my own comfort From the fear of having nothing From a life of worldly passions Deliver me Oh God From the need to be understood From the need to be accepted From the fear of being lonely Deliver me Oh God Deliver me Oh God Chorus... I shall not want, I shall not want when I taste Your goodness I shall not want when I taste Your goodness I shall not want From the fear of serving others From the fear of death or trial From the fear of humility Deliver me Oh God Deliver me Oh God I love when someone paints a word picture of the very thing your heart is longing for.  I want to be led by His love....not driven by fear or need.  The difference in being led and being driven is huge. This is not a song I lead from the platform, it’s a song that sings over me as I lay - face down - in my living room.   Psalm 27:13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the ...

You have to laugh, cry or swear…might as well laugh Cooking the ham in the plastic.  No, I haven't cooked ham very often - I'm a HoneyBaked Ham girl.  This was a Costco spiral cut - in foil - with no warming instructions.  I just put it in the oven and said, "that was easy".  Then came the unveiling moment….take the foil off….find that it's incased in plastic.  Kept the juices in - but……I didn't learn that on Iron Chef. Stress pushing hair right out of my chin - 1/2 inch in one day.  I had a day of visual clarity.  I've figured out that God MEANT that we lose the ability to see up close for a reason when we get older.  It would scare us if we could see the details of our face clearly!  But, for one insane moment I could SEE.  And I saw a - - - - hair - - - sticking out of my chin.  I'm sure it wasn't there the week before Christmas, so it had to be stress that pushed that hummer right out into the open.  I'm lucky one of...

Revelation 21-22 21  I looked again and could hardly believe my eyes. Everything above me was new. Everything below me was new. Everything around me was new because the heaven and earth that had been passed away, and the sea was gone, completely.  2  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride on her wedding day, adorned for her husband and for His eyes only.  3  And I heard a great voice, coming from the throne. A Voice:  See, the home of God is with His people. He will live among them; They will be His people, And God Himself will be with them. 4    The prophecies are fulfilled: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; Mourning no more, crying no more, pain no more, For the first things have gone away…. This is what I read this morning  -          I woke up ...

(Sharing this pic because it shows some things that make me smile!) Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)  ”Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” My heart is quiet these days.   My Christmas decorations are subtle. My creativity with words and gifts - limited. {This from the person who at one time led the charge for a Christmas light display that encompassed our whole church campus!} I actually started crying in Staples this week because it reminded me that I wouldn't be doing a Christmas letter for my parents this year.  What's up with that? But - quiet and limited and subtle aren't bad.   It's a time to listen. It's a chance to ...

I have a friend who described to us what she 'saw' during worship at the church a couple of weeks ago... The picture was one of a cracked vase - and as she watched, the cracks were filled up with gold - making a breath-takingly beautiful pattern. She was so humble, and so excited as she shared this picture. In the past, I have been astounded at the fact that our Father would take broken pieces and heal them - making beauty, AND actually making the cracked places stronger (not more vulnerable) than the rest because of His touch. Now I add this new element.  His Super Glue is like gold, and the pattern of our brokenness is a beautiful pattern. Wow. 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.