ARCHIVE GALLERY
February 2008
February 2, 2008
Hello! I write to you from Phoenix, Arizona and it is very early here…the family is sleeping soundly, so I thought I would take advantage of the quiet to collect my thoughts and report to you.
As of our last journal entry, we were on our way to Washington DC to lead worship for the only memorial service allowed in the Capitol complex on Capitol Hill. It was a great service and very well attended with standing room only! The people spontaneously rose to their feet and worshipped with us as we sang praises…it was exciting and encouraging to see God’s children worship Him in the heart of our nation. Since Randy and I were not to fly back to Phoenix until the following morning, we had a few hours to relax. As we strolled through Union Station, we could not help but notice the huge number of people who had come to Washington DC to participate in the March for Life. It was great to see so many youth that traveled great distances to stand for life. Time and again, I have heard people say that abortion is not the only issue to consider with a candidate…to which I must reply, “True, but if we do not put human life above every other issue, we are clearly making a bone chilling statement to the Author of Life.” So, it was very exciting to be in DC during one of the most important stands we can take as believers.
Because Kennedie and Kadison had stayed with my sister and her family in San Diego while Randy and I were in Washington DC, I met Keli and the kids in Yuma, AZ on Friday night to make the exchange! Yuma is half way between San Diego and Phoenix and is just a gorgeous drive. They had a great time with their cousins and we are so thankful that despite the miles that separate our family, God continues to provide opportunities for us to see them often. As I was driving the 2 ½ hours to pick them up, God was reminding me of prayers that I prayed almost ten years ago when my sister and her husband picked up and moved from Michigan to California. I remember telling the Lord that I wanted to be involved in our nieces lives and that my only sibling was now going to live on the other side of the nation! I asked the Lord to make a way for us to see them twice a year…for more than a few days…I had no idea HOW He would do it…I just knew He could. Several years later, we ended up in this traveling ministry and we have not only spent quite a bit of time in California near my sister and her husband, but other family across the nation that we hardly knew. I cannot believe the doors that have opened for us in the oddest of places. With all of the inconveniences of living in an RV…one of my favorite perks is getting to see family that we never would have gotten to know through the years. What a blessing! God has been so very faithful and generous with us.
Sunday night we ministered at Redeemer Baptist Church, not far from where we are parked. They are a home fellowship congregation that is quite new and are already outgrowing their space. With a great showing on Sunday night, we were honored to encourage them in their faith. The testimonies of the people were unforgettable…God has seen these people through a lot. Sometimes I wonder what we can possibly say to people who have traveled such difficult roads. And then, I sense the Spirit urging us to stick to the truth of the Word, encourage them and sing praises! Okay, we can do that. I keep saying this is the most simple ministry in the world…but what a challenge!
The rest of our week was spent with booking concerts and events and home schooling! Kennedie just said to me, “Mom, that was a really long week!” Funny, I was just wondering where it went. As Randy makes endless phone calls, the kids work at math, reading, writing, vocabulary, science and they even have a Greek curriculum. I think they are both doing really well in school, even though KC still balks about the necessity of reading and Kennedie dreads math. In the midst of this, because I was feeling extremely unorganized, I began to clean out the RV…and I do mean clean. Reorganizing and getting rid of unwanted things is like an instant diet. You are automatically lighter and then you can breathe. So, with a schedule that is filling up, good schoolwork accomplished, practice time and a cleaner living space, we end this week feeling good.
The best part of the week came yesterday afternoon as we received our new CD, “Home.” It is here and we are now able to offer it you via the order form on the web site. Our prayer is that the Lord uses it as a tool of worship to encourage the church to remain faithful to Him. We hope you enjoy it…
Have a blessed week!
February 21, 2008
Now, isn’t it ironic that when the Rose Bowl occurred, we were in Pasadena, California, not even 5 miles from the event site, and when the Super Bowl was played, we were within 5 miles of the retractable dome where it was held? For those of you who know Randy, you know what a football fanatic he is and you know that he is the “keeper of the schedule.” He told me it was just a coincidence…hmmm….I think not.
Despite Randy mentioning that he is a football maniac to everyone we met in Phoenix, there were no free ticket handouts happening…he was just thrilled to be in the same city where the big game was being played. The day before the game, we drove the 5 miles down to Westgate and walked around to take in the atmosphere! We took pictures in front of the University of Phoenix Stadium and ate dinner at an outside café. The kids loved seeing the clowns on stilts and percussion bands pounding out rhythms on the sidewalk. It was really fun to get in all the “hub-bub” and just be able to say that we were there.
The next morning we had a wonderful time of worship with Family Life Assembly of God Church in Glendale, Arizona (February 10th.) This is the church where we parked our RV and camped out in their parking lot. It was really a perfect location for us as we could walk to stores, restaurants and the post office. After we were there just a week (we parked there for 4 weeks in all) a new friend, Mel, from Family Life offered us her Ford SUV for the remainder of our time there. How great was that? She was so generous and giving and she even gave each of us massages…a side ministry that she enjoys! What a blessing!
The Sunday worship service was just awesome…these people love to worship and they join right in whether or not they know the song. It is very easy and enjoyable to lead worship with people who enjoy music…they don’t hesitate to worship with you….and they were so happy to have us. We love Pastor David and his lovely wife, Carole. They are so warm and welcoming! We have been to their church several times now, but this time we had the opportunity to get to know them personally and we are now family.
We really prefer staying in one place for at least a couple of weeks so that we can get to know some of the congregation on a more personal level. This means, though, that the kids are tugged along to dinners, coffee chats and endless “standing in the parking lot conversations!” They are so good and patient! The Lord blesses them (and so do we J) in very unique ways, which we are quick to point out to them. For example, KC was invited to participate in a Derby Car race…not the kind you drive , but the little ones that you cut out, sand, paint and then race on a track. It was through the Royal Rangers AOG youth program. He just loved making his car and decided to paint in gold and gray with yellow flames! It was great and he did well in the race. He won 6 races (if I remember correctly) and then was eliminated. He was just thrilled to be there. Kennedie was the best big sister cheering her brother on and at the elimination round, she said, “Oh well, at least you got to race!” What great kids.
“Commander Dave,” who was in charge of KC, and his wife, Nancy, had us over to their house a couple of times for the best steaks in the world! They have a Wii (really cool TV video game that is interactive) so, as we visited, the kids bowled, boxed, drove racing cars, golfed and played baseball on the Wii. Guess what our kids want now? I don’t think so. Nancy loves scrapbooking and what a room she has organized for her craft! She blessed me with so much scrapbooking items…I have no excuse! It was really wild, I have to say, as just a few weeks ago I was saying to myself that I should not have put my meager scrapbooking things in storage. I would have enjoyed getting them out from time to time and working on a book or two. And, there are churches that host scrapbooking events (lock-ins even!) that I could attend and get to know the ladies…but, because of room, I didn’t bring the little that I had. The Lord is so good to me…He sent this wonderful woman to bless me with all of this great stuff! I will spend the rest of my life scrapbooking before I run out! And people say that God doesn’t care about the “little things”….they must not talk to God about the “little things! J”
Anyway, we were so blessed by so many of the wonderful families at Family Life, their name truly fits the heart of their congregation. They welcomed us in as their own and brought us into their homes and their hearts and we look forward to returning! Oh…Randy watched the Super Bowl on the little RV TV, without so much as a complaint. I fixed his snacks and then went to the Sunday night church service. It was great to sit and be ministered to!
The following Sunday was a rare occasion that we were unable to book a concert, so again, we attended Family Life and were ministered to! It was wonderful to sit and worship while others did a great job leading. The message was great and we left feeling encouraged and uplifted. We left the service and met friends, Florin and Kim Rivish (you may remember our stories about our Romanian friend and his family) from another Phoenix area church, for lunch. After getting caught up and laughing all afternoon…the kids all decided that Kennedie and KC should stay with them for the next few days. Ah…the perks of homeschooling! Since their kids did not have school that week, we left Ken and KC (who were thrilled beyond belief) at the Rivish’s house and consented to a few days by ourselves! Honestly, we did not get much accomplished other than a few hours of work in the mornings. Then, we just strolled through the mall, went to dinner, visited puppies at the pet store (we miss our dog so much) and watched a movie. How nice it was to have complete conversations! We love being together as a family, but these little reprieves are such a blessing!
We saw the Rivish family one last time and even got to spend some time being encouraged by the Harrison family. They have become so dear to us and when we all get together; it is like old home week! The Lord has taught us to enjoy each moment with whoever we are with, because, before long, the moment will pass and we will be longing to see them again. Heaven is going to be a blast!
This past Sunday (17th) we went to Desert Christian Fellowship for both of their AM services. Returning to this church was such a blessing because we just love the people and have enjoyed worshipping with them in the past. We taught a marriage seminar there a couple of years ago, so we got to know some of the couples more than usual. After the 2nd service, they had a light lunch with 15 to 20 couples who stayed for a “mini-marriage” seminar. We titled it “Overcoming the Me in Marriage.” Randy accidentally called it “Taking the Me Out of Marriage,” and the Pastor replied, “no, that would be called ‘divorce!’”
We had a good laugh over that and completely enjoyed the time with the couples. We love exploring what the Word has to say about marriage and covenant. It is such an important ministry to the church and we are dumbfounded that God has given us such an awesome responsibility. It helps us work at our own relationship and keeps our noses clean.
Speaking of noses…we left the morning church and went to Family Bible Church in Mesa, AZ. We set up for the evening concert and I ran to the RV to change my clothes. Two minutes before the concert started, the kids were so excited to see a little white dog (I told you how much we miss our dog, Sammy) who belonged to a lady from the church. She wasn’t planning on staying for the service, but had just stopped by for a moment. She decided to stay and so, the dog really took to me and as I was holding it, he got a bit excited and bit me on the nose! I really think he wanted to taste my lipstick and as I turned his little head, well, he didn’t like that. Between that and getting excited, he chomped down and with blood dripping; I gave him back to his owner. She felt terrible, but it really didn’t hurt. There was just a lot of blood and I wanted to get it stopped so we could start the concert. The pastor’s wife, Janelle, was so sweet to me and helped me in the bathroom. I felt so bad for the dog’s owner and she felt bad for me. Yes, the dog had his shots and I am just fine. I am healing wonderfully and the whole experience was just another opportunity to trust the Lord for His strength. I made it through the concert dabbing at my nose only a few times, praying that my mind would stay focused on worship and my heart on what the Lord wanted me to say. Everything went wonderfully and we fell in love with this new Pastor and his wife. After church we were taken out to dinner by the Reeds, a snowbird couple from Michigan who attended the church that I grew up in. It continues to amaze me how the Lord puts people in our path that make everything feel like home!
We were given free tickets (by good friends from our home church in Waterford, MI who now live in Phoenix…we got to see them, too! That was fantastic!) to the Phoenix Zoo, so we went on Monday. It was President’s Day, so with the crowds, we made it a short day. Plus, my nose was caked with Neosporin and we were exhausted from the weekend. After leaving the Zoo, we hit the highway and started out for Fort Worth, Texas. We are now in Abilene and we will get to Fort Worth today (Thursday the 21st) sometime. We have more great people and more opportunities for ministry waiting for us. Please pray for us this weekend. I am speaking at women’s retreat and we have two concerts on Sunday!
Well, if you made it to the end of this journal, you are truly a friend! Thanks for caring enough to follow along and see where God takes us. Be encouraged! Whatever He asks you to do for Him is because He has a plan to draw you to Himself. Let Him prove to you, in the midst of the journey just how much He loves you. Plus, you will come away with some great memories, better friends and a hand in building the Kingdom!
February 25, 2008
It is Monday morning, early and the other three members of the Brown family are sleeping soundly. I can hear them snoring and one is beginning to awaken, so I had better write fast so that I can update you on our weekend before they ask me to cook breakfast!
We arrived at Don and Bernice Meyer’s lovely home in Saginaw (just north of Fort Worth) late Thursday evening. They attend Crosspoint Church where we have ministered for several years in a row and offered for us to park our RV on their property. They have full-hook up for a motor home, so we are blessed with more than what we need for the four week stay here in Texas! I love being able to take a shower and not have to turn the water off (so the tank doesn’t fill up too quickly) and washing dishes is so much more pleasant! Plus, they have offered the use of their pick-up truck (with extended cab so the kids fit!) during our stay. God is so faithful to us. We came to this area with no plans for borrowing a car, but I kept asking the Lord to provide one. It makes life a bit easier and more normal….pulling into the post office in a 36-foot RV is a bit of a challenge!
I was picked up at 3:30 on Friday afternoon to make the hour and a half trip to Glen Rose for the Northside Church of the Nazarene Ladies' Retreat. It was held at a beautiful Baptist retreat center called Riverbend. The lodge where we stayed was gorgeous and each room was decorated differently. It was something right out of House and Garden magazine!
Over thirty ladies met together for the weekend and they welcomed me warmly and made me feel right at home. I spoke at two sessions, Friday night and Saturday morning. The theme of the weekend was “Reasons for the Seasons.” Ecclesiastes 3 was the passage we studied and I loved hearing about the different seasons that some of the women are experiencing. I enjoy retreats because it gives me more time than just an hour to invest in their lives. Also, I get to hear from them and that challenges me! Some of their testimonies were very powerful and I hope to stay in contact with a few to remain updated on what the Lord is doing in their lives.
I was dropped off at the RV by late afternoon on Saturday to two kids and a husband who had accomplished much in my absence. Randy had the kids complete a day of schoolwork, not only on Friday, but Saturday as well! How is that for a substitute teacher?! Not only so, in addition to a workload of calls and emails and concert planning of his own, they cleaned the RV from head to toe and even scrubbed the inside of the microwave! A candle was burning and everyone was spic and span clean! What a blessing to come home to! It made me compassionate towards the women who didn’t get to go home to such a wonderful atmosphere!
Sunday morning came very early and I wasn’t feeling well. The chest cold that seems to be going around was really starting to affect me, so Saturday night and Sunday morning I chewed on raw garlic. Amongst other things like vitamin C, B12 and good old fashioned hot tea, I made it through the day nursing cough drops. The morning concert was at Crosspoint Church which meets in an elementary school and they have done a great job converting the cafetorium into their sanctuary. We are so impressed with Pastor Danny, his wife, Drenna and their leadership. They are just quality people who love the Lord. We feel so blessed to worship with them and count them as dear friends. We look forward to spending the next four weeks in this area and fellowshipping with them. Sunday lunch at the Pastor’s house was just the beginning…
Sunday evening we worshipped with Northside Church of the Nazarene (the same church that hosted the ladies' retreat.) As soon as we arrived we were told that their morning service was absolutely amazing and that the Lord really moved at the end of the service. Many people came to the alter and spent time praying and were prayed for. During a time of testimony on Sunday night, a lady stood and told us that the Lord healed her physically that morning! She was one of the women who had attended the retreat and was in a lot of pain during the weekend. I saw a completely different woman Sunday night! How exciting to hear what God is doing. We were also blessed and surprised as Cousin Mel and Aunt Jeannie showed up to worship with us. My Aunt is almost 81 and just as precious as ever. We are so glad that the Lord has made a way for us to spend time with them and that the kids know their extended family!
Pulling into the Meyer’s driveway about 10:30 PM, the kids were in bed quickly and I was right behind them. I offered to help Randy with the connections and hooking up the RV and he declined. I was so thankful! What a great weekend of ministry. As I was crawling…and I do mean “crawling” into bed, one young woman who came to the retreat really stood out in my mind. She is in an unbelievably overwhelming situation that is depressing and has given her much cause for sorrow. We talked at the retreat and I prayed for her in my personal time of devotions. In some situations, there really is not much to say to someone, other than, “my heart hurts with you” and “I will pray that the Lord brings hope and comfort.” Everything else seems like a “pat” answer and completely inappropriate. I was so excited because she came to the evening concert and afterwards, as I was reiterating to her that I will continue to pray for her, she told me (with the most beautiful smile of peace) that her burden has been lifted! She, too, was a different woman and I just know that the Lord is not through with proving Himself to her.
We love this ministry.
Thank you for praying for us.