ARCHIVE GALLERY
April 2008
April 2, 2008
We have heard a lot about “The Walk to Emmaus,” which is sponsored by the United Methodist denomination. Some of our extended family members have attended one of these conferences and were blessed beyond belief! Randy and I, as of yet, have not been able to attend, but after Saturday night, we are even more intent on joining the thousands who have taken this spiritual journey.
Saturday night was a quarterly meeting for “The Walk to Emmaus” and we were invited to share a little bit of our ministry with them. We sang three or four songs and Randy played a couple of numbers. It was really quite simple, but the Spirit of the Lord was very obvious and we all left encouraged by the worship and the speaker who gave his testimony. We received such a warm welcome and made some wonderful contacts for the next time we are ministering in Florida.
Because we did not have a concert planned for Sunday morning, we worshipped with Harvest Field Community Church, where our motor home is parked. They are such precious people and have opened not only their church and parking lot to us, but also their hearts! Randy played for their worship and I sang for the special. Pastor Terry is very loving and doesn’t want to tire us…so we were blessed with a message. Kennedie had the option of going with the kids for their program, but she wanted to hear the message! Wow! That blessed my mother’s heart! She is maturing at such a rapid rate.
Sunday night we traveled about 45 minutes to Bradenton 1st Church of the Nazarene to worship with about 250 people who were attending a mission’s fundraiser. They had such a great showing that they were forced to open another room and quickly set up more tables. People brought food from different countries and the speaker was a missionary in Columbia for many years. He told wonderful stories of exciting adventures and how he and his family saw the Lord working in Africa, as well. We played dinner music and sang as people were getting their dinner, and it turned out to be so much fun! It was so relaxed and the people really seemed to enjoy the music; we felt very welcomed! We originally met Pastor Tony Miller at his Nazarene church in Clarkesville, Tennessee a few years ago. He and his wife, Hydie, now pastor this Florida church and we just know that wherever the Lord leads them, he will use them in huge ways. They are very special people and we look forward to seeing them on Friday night…this time just to get together and catch up.
We have to tell you how the Lord has generously cared for us. Both of the events on Saturday and Sunday nights were planned to be “CD sales only” events, which means the events were not conducive to love offerings. We knew the Lord wanted us to go and serve and we also believe, without a doubt, that the Lord pays us a wage and there is no church on the planet more generous and giving than Him. We know He will provide what we need when we need it. Without telling us, both churches took an offering for us and blessed us abundantly! We are so glad that we did not say “no” to these opportunities for ministry because of money. I want to be honest and not mislead you…there are definitely times I question the Lord’s timing, but we have found Him to be faithful beyond what words can describe. He is continuously challenging us to give more, serve more humbly and obey without complaining or questioning. I know how much I love to bless my kids when their hearts are willing to give without grumbling. That is one of our personal goals; to go where he asks even when we do not see how or when He will meet our needs. There is a peace and a contentment that continues to slowly develop in our lives and I believe that is a natural result of pursuing Him in all areas of our lives. So, we want to encourage you…He sees your need and when you truly trust Him in everything, with big and little things, you will find Him faithful as well.
Kennedie said to me yesterday, as she was doing her math lesson, “Mom, the older I get, the more I realize just how much God has blessed our family.” As I write this journal and she practices the piano (we have a small keyboard for the kids to practice on) I can’t help but thank the Lord for moments like this, when life is filled with God’s presence and much hope for the coming days. His way of touching each of us and forming our desires in such a way that they work together to serve Him…that is vital for our family. Please continue to pray with us that we would be genuine, sincere and honoring to the Lord by the way we live. Thank you for your prayers! Have a blessed week!
P.S. We have begun praying and researching the need for a bigger RV. (You know...the best RV for the cheapest price.) We are finding the need for more space, maybe with "slide-out's" since this is our full-time home. Kennedie is getting so tall, she has outgrown her bunk bed and she has been sleeping on the coach every night. Please join us in prayer for God to open the right doors and for us to follow His leading. We would appreciate it very much.
April 8, 2008
The Heavenly Grounds coffee shop in Parrish, Florida quickly became “home” to us! Two Wednesdays and one Sunday morning found us worshipping at this adorable little hang out. They have started a church in one end of the shop and leave it set up with chairs and a sound system. Great idea! People ask constantly what goes on there and then they are invited to return on Sunday morning! We just felt right at home and the growth this place is going to see, we believe, will be at the hand of God. The owners, Hal and Jeannie, have such a heart for their community and serving the Lord by inviting everyone they meet in for a muffin and cup of Joe. We were blessed by this couple and pray that the Lord multiplies their congregation and business.
April 15, 2008
We left Parrish, Florida and drove about a half hour to Lakewood Ranch for a Friday night Worship Workshop at Church on the Ranch. Pastor Jeff Weaver and his wife, Robin, welcomed us so warmly into their home and congregation. The workshop went great and Sunday morning’s service was even better. The people just jumped into worship with us and we were excited to meet two members of “The Flying Walenda's” from the famous group who travel worldwide performing on tightropes.
Linda Meyer (along with husband Adam, son Collin and dad, Tom) friends from years ago, showed up to the service on Sunday morning and we were able to get caught up over lunch. That was great, as Linda was in our wedding almost 20 years ago. We are certainly excited to return to Lakewood Ranch as we have met wonderful people who made us feel right at home. Their kid’s program was great and Kennedie and Kadison were thrilled to be a part of it. Thank you for praying for us!
April 23, 2008
We left Lakewood Ranch and headed straight to the panhandle of Florida. We made reservations at Camping on the Gulf in Destin, Florida for a few days of much needed vacation. With this kind of life, the illusion is that we are always on vacation. HA! We needed a few days to ourselves without a schedule and time for the four of us to laugh together…just relax. Destin was just the place. Our RV was almost on the sand of the beach…just a couple of RVs in front of us. Because we had the dog with us, we couldn’t be on the beach. This place was fantastic and we had the best time watching the dolphins play and fish right off the shore. Unbelievable! The kids swam, made sand castles, looked for shells, swam in the indoor pool (no fear of sharks in there!) and played football with Randy. We were so refreshed when we left…we really wanted to stay longer, but we needed to move on and get to Cookeville, Tennesee.
We arrived in Cookeville on Saturday morning and met my two aunts and uncles for lunch. My parents drove down from Michigan to be with the family and spend Sunday with us at the Cookeville church. Cookeville Church of the Nazarene had us last year and we were really excited to return. Great people and a warm reception made the way for wonderful ministry and the Lord moved in a mighty way in the service. We love to see people end up at the altar and that is what happened.
We enjoyed another day with family before heading north to meet with Pastor Rick and Jane McKinney from Parksville (Kentucky) Baptist Church. We met them for lunch in Lexington, Kentucky and were able to encourage them… and they certainly encouraged us! One of our favorite elements to this ministry is the relationships we are making with pastors and their wives all across the United States. People are worth investing in and we know that the Lord wants to use all of us to encourage one another to live for Him…so that is what we try to do.
It is surprising how far a little bit of encouragement goes! Please pray that the Lord gives us the words, scripture and energy to encourage others. Thank you!
April 30, 2008
We arrived in at my parents condo in South Lyon, Michigan (our home base) on Wednesday after a good trip driving north…obviously by the fact that we could almost see our breath! After 5 months in warm weather (except for a brief stint of chill in Texas) we were not prepared for the cold and flip flops certainly were not going to do the trick any longer!
We left the kids with my folks and left early on Thursday morning to head to Lansing (about 45 minutes away) so that I could speak at a Mom’s Group at South Church. It was great to have Randy with me and there was a piano in the room, so we just sang a few songs before I shared about what the Lord has done in my life. I love these small, intimate groups and I hope to be invited back. They were so responsive and it was a lovely morning together. The conversations that happen afterwards are so important to me. To hear how the Lord touches someone in a moment of revelation…is so encouraging to me.
We left Lansing and drove north to Sault Saint Marie, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. After dodging a highway fire that closed I-75, we enjoyed the beauty of back roads and Randy took the opportunity to have me drive the RV on curves and hills. We both did really well…as there is a bit of stress learning how to handle the rig. We finally made it to our destination the following day and settled in at the Best Western in the “Soo.” The 37th annual Women Today retreat, held at Lake Superior State was our charge for the weekend. We were invited to be their special music so we knew that we would have the opportunity to be led in worship (versus us doing the leading!) I also had the opportunity to speak for one of the mini-sessions on Saturday. I loved speaking for the women and they were such an easy group to interact with! When you put 400 ladies together, without husbands and kids, you know there is going to be a lot of laughter and celebration! We were so blessed by the women there and met wonderful friends…from Lindsey, the high school senior just accepted into Wheaton’s music program to Jean, the “pushing 80” (those are her words!) speaker who tried to imitate Randy by putting her foot on the keyboard…to Laura, the judge who is a beautiful songwriter…and the countless women who shared their struggles and triumphs with us. What an honor to be a part of this weekend. Exhausted, we left the college campus on Sunday afternoon and drove south to Roger’s City to worship with Calvary Bible Church and Pastor Jeff Ryan. A couple of area churches came together for the evening and even though Randy and I were not our usual peppy selves…we felt a bit tired from the weekend, it was a good hour of worship. We have been there twice now, and we look forward to the next time. They just renovated their sanctuary and it is beautiful! It was the first Sunday with the updates completed…nothing like that new carpet smell!
After a pizza and great conversation, we started the trip south to South Lyon and ended up stopping after about an hour of driving. That was it…we were “done.” It was a great feeling of accomplishment…serving where the Lord had called us for the week. We pray that He continues what He did this weekend…in all of us! Have a great week.