More Charleston Pics!!

Idle Worship

There are very few things in this life as powerful as worship. 

Let me repeat that for you, because I don't know if you were REALLY paying attention..ehem...

There are very FEW things in this life as powerful as worship. 

With that being said, let me tell you a little about worship. 

Worship is adoration, to adore. Worship is focusing on that which you adore with everything in your being. When you reach that place of worship you lose focus on what is around you and your focus is centered on what is the center of you.

Have you ever really worshipped?

Let me ask that again...

Have you ever REALLY worshipped?

In the book of John in the forth chapter when Jesus revealed Himself to the woman of Samaria He went on to say, "Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Let me *break it down* just a wee bit.

He said "we KNOW what we worship." When you ADORE something you know it, like you know your own heart. When I say ADORE I don't mean you are fond of something, I mean you have a deep, abiding LOVE for something, a consuming love. 

The Jews knew about the One True God, but He said *the time is coming when the TRUE Worshippers will worship *the One True God* in spirit and in truth.*

And He said that this is who God is seeking to worship Him. He COMMANDED we worship Him "in spirit and in truth."

When that salvation came to you, when you were filled with that Spirit, you gained the ability to truly worship, for the first time in your life, you had within you the means to WORSHIP.

Now, I'm not talking about some weak, watered down, idle worship. 

I am talking about WORSHIP! I'm talking about laying aside every sin, weight and shackle and losing yourself in your adoration of the ONE you love. 

Have you been to that place?

There is a place in worship where your problem disappear, your troubles don't trouble you, your loneliness is gone, your heartaches, your disappointments, your trials, everything takes a back seat to Him. 

He WANTS that kind of relationship with you. He knows you have problems, but what He loves is to see you cast them all aside to be with Him. 

So to you tonight, I know things are tough, and maybe things haven't turned out the way that you would desire them to be. I KNOW because I'm walking that same road. I'm challenging you, and I'm challenging myself to reach that place again, that place where the TRUE worshiper steps in. That place where everything goes on hold, just so worship can go up. 

When we allow ourselves to reach that place we remember...

He KNOWS. 

Back From Charleston!!

Bobby & I just got back from a wonderful Anniversary get-away to Charleston, South Carolina! It was more beautiful than I ever imagined and we had an awesome time!! I would that I could put all the pictures I took on here, because, you know me....I took a blue million!! But I settled for only a few. 

We had such a fun time. We did all the touristy things, like the carriage ride, the harbor tour to Fort Sumter, and we even went to see the Hunley.

Probably the most fun we had was dining last night at this very upscale restaurant. I would that I could say the food was my favorite part. I think laughing at the food was my favorite part. Guess I'm not cut out for gourmet. Give me good old southern cooking anytime!! (At least it's cooked....)

I hope you enjoy these few shots. The first shot is from the gardens of the Calhoun Mansion. It is the largest home in Charleston and was used in the movie "The Notebook" a few years back. The second shot is from "Rainbow Row" which was incredible. The colors were amazing all over Charleston. 

I may add some more shots later, but I hope you enjoy these few!!

Between The Miracle And This Moment

Do you remember your miracle? Do you remember when you realized exactly what had taken place?

It could be something simple like finding your car keys in the exact place you had already looked 12 times or seeing $5.00 on the sidewalk when you have no money in your pockets. What about the time you were running short on food and someone showed up with some extra groceries?

It could be when the doctors said there was no hope, then He took over, or when your marriage was beyond repair and He stepped in. It could be the child that has been so lost coming back home.

He is still in the miracle business, haven't you heard that said before? He still moves stones, still raises dead, still heals the sick, still supplies needs. He hasn't changed.

I remember with such clarity times He has moved in my life, in my situations, in my struggles. I remember the realization that He had answered my desperate cries, the joy I felt, the awe, the relief!!

And I felt like that eagle flying high over the mountains of problems in my life. But then, time eases in and stretches out, distancing us from the miracles in our life, dulling the brilliance and importance of all He has truly done for us.

As the miracle becomes a dim, faded memory, so does our ability to believe He can do it again.

I have challenged myself to remember. I have challenged myself to thank Him, daily, for the miracles in my life.

Keeping them fresh in my mind keeps them in focus. And as I am able to keep them in focus it encourages me!!

And if I am *ENCOURAGING MYSELF* then the next time I come up against a struggle it will be a whole lot harder to revert into the "poor pitiful me" mode!

I will be able to look my problem in the face and say "Problem, I see you, but time and time again I have seen the Problem Solver in action! No matter how BIG you may seem right now, I remember other miracles before this moment, and I'm not afraid."

Remembering The Miracle

I hope no one will mind as I indulge myself in a little reflective thought tonight.

When I was but a young lass I longed for a wee little baby of me own....

I had been blessed with my daughter who was an absolute perfect little wonder!! But, still, I wanted a son.

I went to the doctor thinking I was pregnant, only to find out that I was not, and probably could not be. That 30 minute drive from the doctor's office was one of the longest of my life. I remember gripping the wheel and begging God, "Please, just one more, just one more."

One month later I woke up on my desk at work and thought somethings not right here. A little test confirmed once again that He answers prayers.

I think as parents we tend to forget as the years pass by exactly what a miracle our children really are. When they are first born the miracle is so apparent, but the time gets in between the miracle and the moment and we loose sight of how precious our children are.

My baby boy turned 18 today. I can hardly believe it. I will never forget the moment I first saw him. He was so tiny and so perfect. I was afraid the whole time I carried him that he wouldn't make it, but make it he did.

He is the son of my prayers so long ago. The prayers of a young mother desperate for *just one more.* He is also the reason I serve Him today, the reason this backslider came back home. God in His mercy used my child to reach me. And that day I returned my son to the One who gave me my miracle.

I have laid him at the altar so many times, and I will continue to do so, no matter the years that pass, for I never want to forget my very own miracle, just as I never want to lose sight of the Miracle Maker.

So to my baby, *yes, you and your sister will always be my babies* I am so blessed. I don't know what I did to deserve you both. You have given me so much joy. There is not much better in life than laughing with you. You are so strong and even though you have only had 18 years of living *you have the brain of a 100 year old man!* I am so very proud of you, of who you are and what you stand for. I cannot wait to see the beautiful life ahead of you begin to unfold!! And to be able to hold your babies someday, and to see my big grown man hold his own miracle for the first time, well that will be the best of the best. I love you so so much!!!

Let Go Of The Stone

I must say that I always feel antsy during election time. I have always been an even-keeled kind of person that avoids confrontation at all costs *UNLESS* you are someone with their pants cinched underneath your posterior with that whole said posterior in full view...then I cannot contain myself.

I really try to stay away from listening to the news media. It kind of makes my stomach knot up to just listen to all the muck and ruck that flies back and forth during elections. It seems like it is getting totally out of hand with this election, more so than I recall, but then again, I have tried to block out all the garbage from before, so who knows.

But as this election has unfolded, I have found myself paying attention. For some reason this time, it seems particularly important that I remain somewhat in the loop.

I have observed the tossing back and forth of stones by each side. There is so much about politics that I don't quite understand by personal choice. But I understand enough to know that there is danger on the horizon, the danger lies in desperation.

And again I am drawn back to that familiar story of Jesus, stooping in the sand, quietly stopping all the accuser of this woman found in sin.

What if the candidates followed his example? What if they said I'm not engaging in that kind of nonsense?

I have always told my children when someone *shows out* really bad about something it usually means they have something they themselves feel guilty of and they are trying to get the attention on someone else's short comings to take the attention off their own. Time and time again that has proven to be true. The old favorite saying of mine "Right wrongs no man" comes to my mind again.

Let them stand on their experience, on their qualifications, let them drop the rocks they have raised to throw and use the platform of whatever they feel will make them the wisest choice.

Winston Churchill once said; "However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results."

What is the result of throwing stones? Jesus said while keeping His eyes from the accusers that the one among them without sin should throw that first stone, and as I have said before, since He was the only one without sin and He did not pick up a rock, who are WE to do so.

The Message Of Your...um...Heart

I have spent a couple of days this week traveling around my area with the head of our Community Education Department. He is a terrific guy and full of idea, young and upwardly mobile, I have gleaned much from him.

Over the years I have spoken many times and if I am well versed in my subject matter, then I do really well and can be quite eloquent.

BUT...for some reason, with this guy standing over my shoulder, I tanked.

He told me, "You go ahead, and I will jump in if I see you drowning."

Well folks, I was about 10 feet below the surface of the murky pond of public speaking before he dove in with a life preserver.

When we left his only comment was "You say *um* too much."

Um, I never um really even um realized I um did that!!

I told him, "Give me a break, guy! You have the marketing degree!!! I'm a NURSE!!" :)

He gave me so many wonderful ideas, and I WAS excited about the in-service I had planned for today, until, um, Jason pointed out that I um said um too much!!

Needless to say, I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers (OK, lame, I know, but I'm tired, people...cut me some, um, slack!!)

Everyone was gathered around and I looked at them with my notes clutched to my chest and I said, "OK, I'm nervous," and I explained to them what had taken place the last time I had done this.

Just as I had hoped, everyone laughed.

"I am just a Nurse, but I believe in this program, and that's what I want to share."

And the rest, as they say, was history. I ROCKED!!!

I have been feeling pressured to obtain the goals set before me with my office. And I have let that pressure override every sane thought, at times. Since there are 2 other companies here that have been here and are established in the community I have felt that was a barrier to our meeting our goals.

But my God has a way of reminding me just WHO He is and that He is in control of little ole' me!!

As I stood there today listening to the staff in the offices I went to, the theme was the same. We want someone who will do what they say they will do...

And He spoke to me oh, so clearly, "What you thought was a stumbling block is a launching pad."

John Ford said: "You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart."

It wasn't the fact that I was an eloquent speaker that made the difference today, it's that I delivered the message that I FELT inside of me. And when I opened myself up and gave who I really am, not who someone else may feel like I should be, I received the response I needed.

And, sure, there are other providers out there that have more than we do RIGHT now, but I believe in the promises I have set before me.

"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."--Babe D. Zaharias

There may have been someone before me, trying to reach the same people, but something in their delivery was not up to par. That's where I step in.

There are also people out there who have been looking for Him, and have had others come to them with the answer to the longings of their hearts, or so they thought. But after a while it seems empty, and the need for more rises again.

That's where we step in. You don't have to be able to deliver an awesome speech, use words that are 10 miles long, just give them the message of your heart....

It gets them every time!!