Fall is here

Fall is here! The cooler weather has come and I love it. This is my favorite time of year... the heat of the summer has been endured and the cold of winter is still to come. Just thinking about fall brings a smile to my face and I sense my shoulders relaxing...Fall means it is time for ~

soups and stews simmering on the stove...
candles lit in the evening...
comfy sweatshirts...
walks in the crunchy leaves...
curling up with a good book on a dreary, rainy day...
attending a fun high school football game...
working on a cross-stitch picture in the evening...
savoring the incredible smells of autumn...
apple cider and popcorn...
reflecting on the many blessings God has showered on us...
driving a different route just to see the color of the leaves...
thoughts and plans for a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends...
finding a good hiding spot for Christmas gifts...
putting on some beautiful music and just being quiet...
settling in and seeing the goodness of God!

"The Heavens declare the glory of God
the skies proclaim the work of His Hands"
Psalm 19:1

1 scrapbooking weekend - 2 results

I went with nine other ladies to a scrapbooking-get-away this weekend. What a riot! We had so much fun laughing and talking and scrapbooking! There was, of course, chocolate for incentive and reward... But the main reason we were there was to put our pictures and memories in photo albums in delightful and creative ways. There were many moments when it was pretty quiet in the room as everyone was focused on the task at hand.

But what I really loved was the "doing it together" and the encouragement. When I got stuck - someone had an idea of what to do... When I was excited about how a page came together - the ladies cheered with me... When a photo reminded me of a memory - they listened to my story... When we stopped for a meal - we prayed together for our loved ones back home (especially for the men attending the Men's Summit at our church).

It reminded me of how we are suppose to live as believers in Jesus Christ.
~ Cheering one another on to love and good deeds...
~ Weeping with those who weep...
~ Rejoicing with those who rejoice...
~ Helping to bear the loads of others...
~ Praying for one another
An excellent visual illustration of what family life should look like in a church.

So while I walk away from this fun weekend with a great start on my photo album, I am also reminded how I should be living. Thanks, girls!!

Praise to Your Name!

The fall has been underway for a little while now, but I've been eagerly waiting for one of my favorite parts to start - Choir!!

I am so excited about the music we are going to be working on this year. I love how God uses these pieces of music we are preparing to sing in our own lives first. Over the several decades of being in different choirs, music has softened my heart, convicted me, comforted hurts, and reminded me of specific passages of Scripture.

I love the blending of voices to worship our Creator King with all the comings and goings of parts and varying dynamics bringing to life the words of the music. Just in case you haven't gotten it yet... I really love this part of worship!!

Our choir is made up of wonderful, dedicated people - who encourage me every week by their faithfulness! And once little problem spots of notes or timing are corrected - choir practice actually turns into a praise session. Almost weekly on our way home, I tell Tim how thankful I am to be part of this ministry. A ministry that, even though we are practicing and preparing, gives me an opportunity to worship my Savior!

Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of His Name;
Make His praise glorious!
Say to God, "How awesome are Your deeds!
So great is Your power that Your enemies cringe before You.
All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to You.
they sing praise to Your Name.
Psalm 66:1-4

Do you want to...

I love how you could have read a certain passage in Scripture a bazillion times and then read it one more time and get something totally new from it. This morning I read the account in John 5 of Jesus healing the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda. I've always thought the man just couldn't "catch a break" to get to the water first.

Jesus asked the man "do you want to get well?" - which I have always thought was a rather bizarre question to ask someone who was an invalid. Wouldn't you think the answer would have been a quick and firm yes? But interestingly, the lame man gave his reasons why he hadn't been healed (I have no one to help me... someone always gets there first...) This man's problem had become a way of life. I also find it interesting that there is no record of the man thanking Jesus for healing him, The Bible just says he was cured, picked up his mat, and walked - and by the way it was the Sabbath.

So as he is walking away - a rather miraculous thing after 38 years of being an invalid - he gets questioned by the Jews why he is breaking the law by carrying his mat. Once again the man had his reason - "the man who made me well told me to." When asked who healed him, the man had no idea who it was.

So the question hits me - are these valid reasons or excuses? And, to get just a wee bit personal, how often to do I give reasons when, truthfully, they are just excuses.

I can almost hear Jesus responding to some of my prayer requests
"Jesus, help me be kind"
"Val, do you want to be kind?"
"Well, of course I do, but it is hard to be kind to so and so..."

"Jesus, help me be more teachable."
"Val, do you really want to be more teachable?"
"Well, of course I do, but... we'll have to work on that later because I have a full day (week, month, year) ahead of me..."

"Jesus, help me love you more."
"Val, do you want to love Me more?"
"Of course I want to love you more..." (and then by my actions no one would know I am His child or that I love my Savior.)

"Jesus, please help me gain victory over this specific sin."
"Val, do you want to get the victory over this sin?"
"Well, of course I want to get the victory over this sin..." (but then take no steps to avoid the temptation and commit the sin over again.)

Because sometimes it is hard to have the want to want to do the right, obedient thing, I've asked God to help me get to that first step. He probably just smiles gently at this sinful, willful child and asks if I really want to want it.

So, that's the question - do you want to? I'm going to have to spend time on that one...

Thankful for the perfect Parenting Guide book!

Twenty two years ago our family expanded to four. Ever since arriving two and a half weeks early, Ashleigh has brought smiles, laughter, and a heightened level of energy where ever she goes.

I was amazed at the beauty of that tiny baby all those years ago... exhausted with trying to keep up with her pace when she was a toddler... proud of her accomplishments all through high school and college... and humbled by her love for God and desire to please Him. I still feel all those things as I look at this godly woman I am pleased to call my daughter.

Being a mom is something I wanted ever since I was a little girl taking care of my dolls. No one tells you, however, when you are holding that newborn baby of all the times you will be pleading with God for wisdom (and for just a little bit of sleep).

But I think that is part of the plan... God wants us to be totally dependent on Him so we will be the tool He can use. I am so thankful for the Word of God which gives us the wisdom and answers of how to live life - and the encouragement that we can live a life pleasing to Him.

So as I wish Ashleigh a very Happy Birthday, I say "thank you" to my wise and loving Abba for the gift of being her mom and for His Word which was my guide book for parenting!