Accountable?

It dawned on me this morning that I am a weak person (not just in the physical sense, but even spiritually). I realized that I have an accountability partner for just about every area of my life; dieting, exercising, my quiet time...
Since coming to Charlotte 16 months ago (hard to believe) I've gained 10 pounds. Of course, that's been my life with my weight; up 5, down 10, up 10, down 5. Only this time I can't seem to get the scale to budge. It's been one area that I've obsessed over for many years. Then there's exercising...yuck! And then having a consistent quiet time. For years I have wasted so much time on things that don't matter. Many nights I've crawled into the bed only to ask myself, "what did I do today that pleased God"? Often my answer has been, "nothing". How that breaks my heart. Broken promises!
I am so thankful that God doesn't look back. That he doesn't bring up my many failures...that He forgives me over and over. I'm so thankful that the older I get, the more precious He is to me. That I desire to spend time with just Him.
I am thankful that He sees my heart, that He keeps me accountable.
II Corinthians 12:10 "...for when I am weak, then I am strong".

It's official....

Lindsay received her acceptance letter from Liberty University. So, next August we will pack her up and she will join her sister. Caleb is already working out how he can use both their rooms :-)
It gives us such peace to know they will be at the same school. Two in college...hard to believe. We're relying on the promise that God will make a way!
We're so proud of them. Congratulations Lindsay!!!

My favorite time of year....

Fall is here! The air conditioner is off and the windows are open...well, they would be if I had screens. I love this time of year! My favorite place is sitting out on my porch...just me, my Bible and my cup of coffee. Each morning, that time allows, that's where you'll find me.
After reading my friend's blog this morning about 'quiet days', I thought "that is so me"...I love quiet (let me reiterate that I'm NOT quiet, I ENJOY quiet). My husband and kids get in the car and the first thing they do is cut on the music. It drives me crazy. When I'm with my family, I prefer to talk (I'm thinking now that's probably why they cut on the music :-)
Have you ever tried to turn off the music...the TV...and just listen? It's wonderful. That's the only way I can hear God's still, soft voice.

"Be still and know that I am God".

Trust...no matter what.

All things work for our good,
though sometimes we don't see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two sometimes blinded to the truth.
Our Father knows what's best for us,
His ways are not our own.
So when the pathway grows dim and you just can't see Him
Remember you're never alone.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand when you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand trust His heart.

This is one of my favorite songs. I'm reminded again today that no matter what happens in our lives, we simply have to "trust".

Whether it's a husband or wife losing their job, receiving devastating news from a doctor, your finances, waiting on God's timing...whatever it is, God wants us to trust in Him. His ways are perfect!

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope".

I love you, Lord...

As I've mentioned before, I'm presently studying II Samuel. Today I was on Chapter 22. To sum it up:

He is my strength when I am weak.
He is my rock when I am slipping.
He is my deliverer when I am trapped.
He is my fortress when I am crumbling.
He is my refuge when I am pursued.
He is my shield when I am exposed.
He is my Lord when life spins out of control.

I'm so thankful that He continually reminds me that no matter what happens in my life, He carries me.

Heather's coming home!!!

In about 45 minutes, Heather will be leaving Liberty to come home for a visit. To say that we are extremely excited to see her is an understatement. It feels like she's been gone for months (instead of just 5 weeks). The timing could not be more perfect. She has not been feeling well this entire week and is looking forward to sleeping in her bed, resting, and having friends over.
I'm busy in the kitchen this afternoon making all her favorite foods and desserts (she sent me a list :-)
She will not be bringing "the boy" with her. I won't go in to details on my blog, but it is such a good thing (and her decision). God is already maturing her while at college and we are extremely proud of her.
She saw the blog of Lindsay and Caleb's first day of school and must have felt left out so she sent me this picture taken her first day of classes. I spent Wednesday completing her K-12th grade school memory book and her sports scrapbook. This picture completed it and they are now put away in her closet; another chapter completed.
Well, I'd better get busy. This weekend will be all about Heather!

A proud mom and dad...

Please allow me just a minute to share with you. I praise God everyday for the blessings He's given Scott and I. One of the greatest blessings is our children. This week we have just been so proud of them and so very thankful.

Heather: She is doing so great at Liberty. She became a prayer warrior recently; the first step she has to take in order to become a prayer leader. She is very excited about that. She has shared with us daily the messages she is hearing from the speakers, the prayer vigils that she has been a part of... She has also met someone and will be bringing her "friend" home next weekend to meet us. Reason for this visit is that he wants to ask her out but she's made it very clear to him that she will do that after he has "the talk" with her Dad. Scott's ready and has his guns loaded :-). He's becoming a pro at this after having done it a few months ago with Lindsay's boyfriend. We're looking forward to meeting him and Lindsay and Heather are looking forward to going on a double date together.

Lindsay: What God has been doing in her life is amazing. She and Caleb are on a school retreat this weekend. She has made several decisions and also let us know that she led a girl to the Lord last night. She and her boyfriend, Eddie, have made a commitment to remain pure and they are extremely open about that. She has just recently made the decision that she will also be attending Liberty.

Caleb: What can I say about this precious child? He's had to live his life with two older sisters breathing down his neck. And he's done it with such grace (cough!cough!) He's our child that will pick the stranger out of every group and befriend them. A new foreign exchange student (their school has several) came this year for the first time, speaks very little english, and some of the students have not been very friendly. Caleb has done everything to make the boy feel welcome. I was at school the other day volunteering and the boy sought me out to let me know, in his broken english, that Caleb is his best friend...he was smiling from ear to ear. I was so proud.

We pray every day that our kids will love God more than anything or anyone else in this world. The enemy is so ready to snatch them. We're just so thankful that our kids all know and love the Lord. There's nothing more important to us than that!

Forgiven...so forgiven!

Yes, that's me...forgiven! And every single day I'm so thankful for God's forgiveness. The study I was a part of several years ago "Seeking Him", taught me this: Forgiveness: The gift everyone wants to receive but finds hard to give.
For quite some time now, I've been studying I and II Samuel. About a year or so ago, a friend gave me two Bible study guides to go along with my study. After completion, I began the devotional and Bible study on David, 90 days with a Heart Like His.I was so excited about this study because it went back through I and II Samuel again. I realized that the Lord must have really wanted me to study these books...again! And this time He gave me 4 accountability partners who wanted to study the same.
It has been a remarkable journey. I have struggled with bitterness and unforgiveness in my heart and God has allowed me to see just how forgiven I've been throughout my life. Through Bible study and my husband's gentle nudging, I have been able to totally forgive others.
How did I come to that point? By realizing the time that anger and bitterness were stealing from my life; by realizing that forgiveness may be excruciating for a moment, but anger and bitterness are excruciating for a lifetime; by God's teaching that forgiveness releases me, my pain and my bitterness.
I quote from Seeking Him, "Forgiveness means that I fully release the offender from his or her debt. It means fully cleaning his record. It is a promise never to bring up the offense against him again"; "To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you (in me)...ouch!
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Are you harboring bitterness? Do you need to forgive?

Weekend with friends...

Have so enjoyed having our friends from Wilson here again. We had a great time! Played games, shopped while the guys golfed, ate, laughed, enjoyed coffee, and ate more. We even enjoyed the kids "Rock Band for the Wii". You haven't lived until you've heard Wayne Johnson sing "The Sandman" with Scott on the guitar and Joey on the drums. If I could only figure out how to transfer from our video camera to my blog...