ARCHIVE GALLERY
August 2006
What a week we have had! Saturday night we played at The Divine Café…for an outdoor event, which went really well. Sunday morning we led worship at SoulQuest, our home church in Waterford, Michigan. It was a shortened service to allow for a seminar on purity directly following lunch. Our pastor and his wife teamed with us as we split up the men and women (ages 13 up) and spent the next hour and a half talking about how to live a pure life in today’s culture that is submerged in immorality and godless living. We used object lessons, scripture and current statistics to encourage these men and women that the Lord has called us to live! I cannot tell you, obviously, about specific situations, but I can say that the Lord really changed lives during that 90 minutes. He called people out of the muck and mire and gave strength to make some life altering decisions. This was so well worth the effort.
Right after the seminar, we left for Gatlinburg, TN. Only after a 7-hour delay on Monday due to a flat tire on the RV (long story as to the time delay) we arrived in Gatlinburg and checked into the River Terrace. The Evangelical Church Alliance, where Randy serves as a board member, held the annual international convention Tuesday through Thursday. I was blessed with the opportunity to speak at the first evening session (actually a banquet) on Tuesday evening. I spoke about the wonderful opportunity we have as pastor’s wives. I must say that I loved this specific session, as I was able to pour into tired ministers and their wives as well as military chaplains. There is a wide variety of ministries represented at the E.C.A. and it is a great chance to connect with others not only in our nation, but from around the world.
We spent the week in Gatlinburg and headed back on Saturday, but not before spending Friday at Dollywood Amusement Park. My parents came to spend the week in Gatlinburg while we were there and sat in on several of the sessions and helped with the kids. Celeste, our 13-year old niece has been visiting from San Diego, CA for the past couple of weeks, so it was kind of a family outing to spend Friday together at a great theme park. We had a blast…the kids were so good all week, very patient, and when we got to the park…they just let loose! It was a fabulous family time.
August 14, 2006
Saturday, we drove directly to Waterford, MI, to Williams Lake Church of the Nazarene for two wonderful services on Sunday morning. We have been at this church a couple of times and we love returning to worship with those we have already met. The friendships just continue to grow and it is exciting to see what God is doing in the lives of God’s people.
After a quick lunch with Pastor and Mrs. Wine, we headed to a nearby park to attend SoulQuest's (our home church) annual picnic. We were only there about an hour and a half and had to leave to get to Grace Chapel only a few miles away.
Grace does not normally have evening services, but this was a special event for them. It was filled with a lot of laughter and hugs, as the relationships we are building just seem to keep growing. The worship was great and we enjoyed getting to know Pastor Peter and Sandy Mannering, who have been there only about two years. Very sweet people and loved by their church family. After the concert, we drove home planning to stop for Starbuck’s coffee, but just too tired.
Another great week of ministry and precious people for which we are so thankful.
Yesterday we ministered at Echo Christian Fellowship Church in Lake Orion, MI, only about an hour and 15 minutes from our home. Pastor Kevin Carpenter and his lovely wife, Melissa, have been shepherding these people for the past year. They are fairly new to full-time ministry and have a passion for truth and learning the Word.
I sang with Kevin in a Youth For Christ singing group, Sonlife, in our high school years and the memories came flooding back! We were able to catch up on our families, ministries and friends.
As well as enjoying our time with the Carpenters, we also saw an acquaintance from the area. She and her daughter (whom she home schooled through high school graduation) took a few minutes to encourage me with the upcoming academic year. I cannot tell you how these few moments uplifted my spirits and renewed my excitement for home schooling. I have always said that it is very difficult and I never planned on this for my children or me. But, the Lord made it very clear to me that I am to dedicate these years to them and He would bless us with a ministry that would be effective in the meantime. My friend and her daughter are just the kind of gracious people you want your kids to become. Not only so, but this family is intelligent, relevant, fun and Godly. When I see home-schooled kids turn out well, I look to the parents and ask, “What did you do?” I know that every child has a choice to follow the Lord in his later years, but while I have my kids, I am going to follow the example of people who spent their time molding their children with integrity, character and Godly wisdom. I really needed these lovely ladies yesterday. Thank you, Lord.
August 29, 2006
My niece, Celeste, flew home to San Diego on Tuesday night, after keeping her an additional week than what was originally planned. We had the most wonderful time with her and we have all gone through “Celie withdrawals.”
The day that she left, we took a tour of Uncle Ray’s Potato Chips factory in Detroit. We met uncle Ray at a nearby church and he invited us to tour his factory anytime we wanted! We love his chips (try them) because he has tons of flavors and they are so yummy! Celeste wanted in on the fun, so before heading to the airport, we were given a tour by Uncle Ray himself. It was awesome! The samples (still warm) and the education all a potato goes through is so interesting, but what is more sensational is that Uncle Ray is a believer and his chip bags all have some kind of testimonial on the back. He loves the Lord and uses his employment to stand as a witness for the Lord. It was an example to me that anything can glorify God…even a potato!
I spoke at a women’s event, The Church Ladies, in Waterford, MI, on Friday night. The topic was, “The Roles of Women”, including, wife, mom, daughter and sister. I loved it because I am all of those things and the relationships are so important to me. As I prepared for the evening, I thought back over the years and laughed at all of the crazy things that I have done in those roles. One thing that my sister reminded me of was in college. She worked at a nearby bank as a teller (we went to the same college), and ATM cards had just come out. She gave me one of hers and told me the pin. It came with instructions that it was for emergency use. Keli was always very generous and, thank the Lord, forgiving! About 3 months later, she couldn’t balance her checkbook and remembered I had a debit card. We figured up that I had about $300.00 worth of emergencies that I had not told her about! I was so ignorant…there is no other word….thoughtless and inconsiderate would probably fit as well….she never made me pay her back. She forgave my debt. I wonder why she brought that up now….hmmm….just kidding. I love my sister a lot.
The evening went great ending with a wonderful time of prayer. Melinda Holmes, a good friend of mine, heads up this ministry and has a perfect team in place. They are reaching ladies in our community for Christ!
Sunday we worshipped with Pastor Casey and his wife Sandy, at Shelby Bible Church. They are such neat people; we could sit and talk with them all day (AND she loves dogs…). We led about 25 minutes of Praise and Worship in the AM service and had about 45 minutes in the evening fellowship time. The evening was a fall kick off for their music program. So, many of the people there are musical and joining the choir or they just love music. When we had them sing with us, it sounded fantastic!
I cannot tell you how I love meeting new people. It is a constant part of our lives and I am so thankful that the Lord has put us in a ministry that we have to extend the right hand of fellowship continuously. There are sometimes that I am tired and grouchy, but the Lord always reminds me that I have very little time with these people and that I must walk in maturity and put that aside for the time being.
It was a wonderful weekend as the Lord, once again, blessed us with another church family to encourage. Pastor Casey is an excellent preacher and we came away blessed, encouraged and desiring to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. That is the point of meeting together.
Thanks again for the staff and wives of Shelby Bible Church for a wonderful day! Pastor Howard & Sandy; Randy & Annette; Terry "Rich" & Melissa.
Have a great week.