Going Deeper....

I was recently told by our dear sister, Rebecca, that what I am about to say is now public knowledge as I had poured out my heart on facebook - in an area that was not a private forum....therefore it's there for all the world (or at least all of her facebook friends to see.) And since all those people can see it - that means all of you can see it....and that means it's high time for me to make my confession.

We were asked a while ago to share a blog post about our recent reunion experience. Oh, what an amazing time it was to be with each of you who were able to be in attendance! The food was delicious and abundant in measure, the hugs were warm and filled with love, the sharing was heartfelt and touching and personal and wonderful, the teaching was anointed, and God was in the house.

However, I have a confession to make and need to ask your forgiveness. I left with a heavy heart. I shared with Pat before I left her home in Michigan the day after the reunion that I had not been obedient to follow through with the Lord's direction as He was prompting me to lead us in prayer and worship. I believe that the Lord had great things in store for us - even greater than what He did already accomplish during those few days we spent together in His presence. In my hesitancy to step out in obedience, I believe I may have caused us to miss a great blessing. There was something that the Lord had for each and every one of us on our last evening together, following the time of Amy's wonderfully anointed teaching. I feel as if we were holding back. I know that I can speak for myself and say that I was holding back.

I'm not sure exactly why I wasn't sure of myself and didn't respond to God's call. I typically am overzealous and at times step all over what the Lord is trying to do and allow self to get in the way. This time, I believe Rebecca said it best when she said to me on facebook just a few moments ago, "Women have the most difficult time stepping into what God has asked of them - no matter how simple the step - and their biggest hindrance is fear......little fears like "I wonder what the next person will think of me....." and on it goes....silly really, when in moments of passion with God we declare to Him that we give Him our lives and boldly declare that we will lay our lives down to follow Him etc. not just that fear...many others.....we look at them as excuses, but really they are fears. It is time to simply STOP THAT. All of us..and follow Jesus...whoot!"

And so my dear sisters, as I've been going over and over and over all of this for the past few weeks...ever since I left Michigan, I can no longer hold back. I believe that God has something exceptional for us.

Exceptional.

Over the top.

Bigger than any of us can imagine.

I believe He wants to EMPOWER us to do His will. I believe He has healing in His hands for us. I believe He wants to anoint us to carry on His work in ways that we could not even imagine. I believe He wants to do such amazing things. And all we simply have to do is let Him.

Therefore, I want to make a promise to you. Next year, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, and I'm able to attend our reunion. I am going to be paying close attention to the nudging of the Holy Spirit. And if He tells me to do something, or say something, or pray something, or sing something...I am going to do it. I do not want to miss out on anything which He has in store for us. And I would like each of you to promise yourselves as well, that should the Lord direct you to step out - you will.

We are all sisters. We have been brought together in a miraculous way. God has knit our hearts. There should be no reason for us to fear what one or another may think or say. I think it's time we went deeper. Deeper to drink from the well which He has provided for us. The Lord gave me a song not to long ago...part of the lyric is this.."Drink deep from the well...drink deep from the well, from the life-giving water of the well of God...in the depths of His presence, your cares, concerns are resolved, drink deep...drink deep from the well."

I love you all - each and every one of you. And I look forward to our next reunion with great anticipation of what God is going to do in our midst!

Dear sisters

The Dixie Melody Boys Come to Niagara Falls

just a week and a day ago, betty allowed me to take this picture of her in front of the southern gospel concert that we attended in niagara falls....on the menu was the dixie nelody boys, the watchman, the torchmen quartet and the proverbs.

the dixie melody boys were there and during the evening sang one of my favourite songs..

the torchmen quartet was there and they were ok..the one song that we all love is this one which they sing at every concert...it makes me proud to be a canadian!

i could not find anything on you tube of their songs and so instead i am putting this photo i took of their lovely little princess daughter who did go up with them on stage...just the sweetest little lassie!

oh i don't know about these canadian gospel singers..they must be pretty shy to go on you tube! anyways these boys are so very good!..this was the last conert that they will do. they started to sing as teenagers in 1968....here is one of the songs they sang...i will borrow it from another group! how about signature sound!

this nice man, dave yakes was the bass singer to the group and in the 44 years that the group sang, he never missed one engagement but due to serious health issues he had to retire from the group, just recently...well last saturday, he did come up and sing the final song with the quartet in his beautiful bass voice...he got standing ovation which is in itself an astounding event...you see canadians are so different from the americans...it would take a stick of dynamite to get them on their feet to give honour to the singers!..alas!..i was the only one on my feet when "oh what a saviour" was ended...gut i did not mind a bit! anyways, i gave each of the singers, the niagara falls walker dvd and i told that dave yakes, that there was something to pay for it and he said, "oh"? and i said, "yes!..now you have to let me take your picture!"

this is ed o'neal[bass for the dixie melody boys] and his little wife who had spent time before the concert waling in niagara falls..................................... and here are just a few of the other pictures that i snapped!

this is a nice elderly couple that rachel and i met before the concert..i must find the time and mail them some pictures...

one of the proverbs.

the proverbs caused at least a little excitement...we should ALL be on our feet but at least the arms in the air is better than nothin'!

hmmm....don't know who had the courage to take this picture!

betty met a friend, cathy who goes to the same church as she does.

this looks like a happy camper, eh?

two of the watchmen.

bernie took this photo..ha!!

this is my most favourite part of any concert and that is when a group invites the audience to share in the singing...it is just like a mighty voice of praises rising up the the lord in heaven...nothing beats it!

Sticks, Stones, and Stinging Words....

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.Proverbs 12:18

 “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Even as children, we knew that the rhyme was not true! The words we say and the way that we say them does hurt - and they can leave scars that last our whole lives. I know there are things that have been said to me that still hurt me many, many years later. 

The words we use matter. Words can build up, or words can tear down. All too often we hurt the ones we love with our words. Why is it that we would say things to our family that we would never say to people in public? Why do we tend to be much more sarcastic with them?  

Some people are pretty quick when it comes to cutting down others. All to often I am guilty of it, and I am trying to do better in that area. I need to be an example of love in my words and my actions at all times. I want to be a blessing to people, not a weapon used to hurt and tear them down, especially to my family members! The world can be such a hard and hateful place to be, so our homes should be a place of refuge from all the ugliness we face. Please pray for me to become better at being able to rescue and heal the people I love with the words I choose, instead of tearing them down when I am in a bad mood or frustrated. 

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. Proverbs 12:6  

Fellowship

Bear Creek Lodge
Grayling, MI
Sisters-in-Fellowship

This is what our annual reunion holds dear to me....fellowship.  Face to face interaction with women with whom I share the common bond of love for my Savior and dedication to His ways.

When we see each other after a year's separation, my heart quite literally sings with joy!  To look upon the face of each of you gives my soul a kind of joy with which none other can quite compare. 

I love my family and I know they love me; I love my church family and again, I know they love me.  The bond I share with each of you is something above and beyond the bonds of family or church....I'm not quite sure I know how to adequately describe it.  It is not that I love you MORE than my family, of course I do not.  It is that we depend on each other; we share our joys and sorrows on a level that transcends some of our other connections.

Each of you support me in a way that most of my 'local' friends do not or cannot.  I open my heart to you; I pour out my pain and troubles and you simply reach out to lift me up.  You pray for me without judgment or question.  Even if your advice is admonishing in nature, it is given with nothing but pure love.  In that way, each of you grow me in my spirit as I walk my path here.

The first look after a year is completely joyful and the last look is sad and filled with longing for that next 'first look'.  From the moment we part until the time I see your face again, my heart is filled with the love we shared and the joyful memories we made, the profound ways in which we shared our love for each other and for our Lord. 

As the time between us slips into a memory, I think of those hours spent talking and sharing what the Lord is doing in each of our lives.  I look at the pictures of each of you and remember special moments spent with each of you during our time together.  When all is said and done, the few days together give my heart comfort and encouragement for each of the days that pass before I see you again.

Every experience is treasured in my heart; every word is cuddled in my spirit....even the occasional tense words, because we work through our disagreements with love.  That's what friends do, and we are friends!  Your words are the anointing oil that soothes my troubled heart and quiets my lonely spirit....the anointing oil of peace.

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.

It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

Psalms 133:1-3 (TNIV)