I Still Believe

To say I have looked forward to this weekend is an understatement.  Ever since the Extraordinary womens Conference last year I have experienced a revival in my heart.  But like with anything you have to fan the flames to keep the fires burning.  Well after about 6 months the flames began to die.  The embers were still there, smoldering...just waiting for the fan.  This conference is my fan.  I had my ticket and the room had been reserved for months!  The closer the time came the more Satan began interfering in my life.  Every day I got out of bed, something different hurt.  My steps became fewer then the stomach virus struck.  It took me a while to figure out that there was a huge blessing waiting for me at this conference.

On Wednesday morning I was feeling pretty low and had a fleeting thought that maybe I wouldnt go.  God gave me this verse:

Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV)

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Persevere!  As I look back at the scripture I posted on facebook on Monday, God was giving me fair warning.

Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

   but God is the strength of my heart

   and my portion forever.

God was telling me then to watch out!  But I didn’t see it til it actually hit.  After I realized it was just the devil trying to steal my blessing I decided right then and there I would be here where I am sitting amongst 10,000 women if I had to be carried in.  A friend asked me earlier in the week if I prayed for patience...I used to.  Not anymore.  I pray for strength.

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;

   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

God was giving me the strength I needed.  It took me a while, yes I know I am a slow learner, but I started taking that scripture with me all day.  I re read it at work, before I went to bed and in the mornings when I got up I thanked god for that strength I knew He was giving me.  No matter what you yourself plan, no matter what Satan does to interrupt these plans, if God has a plan it will happen.

Isaiah 14:27 (NLT)

27 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken—who can change his plans?   When his hand is raised, who can stop him?”

I don’t always like waiting for this plan because Gods time does not equal my time.  I want it and I want it like yesterday.  But here that patience thing I prayed for ONCE!  Well He didn’t forget that prayer.  He is fine tuning me.  Working on my masterpiece.  He is the artist, the potter, I am the clay.

Here is a quote I had to read a few times before I really said “yeah I get it”

“I never had a trial I wanted to have but I never had a trial I wasn’t glad I had”      Jack Hyles

sometimes I am so busy weaving in and out of trials, climbing up and down the mountains that I forget to just be bold and love life.  No matter what comes my way I just need to embrace it and love life.  I need to thank Him for the valleys that I walk through because without them the top of the mountain wouldn’t be so sweet.

As I entered the civic center friday evening I could feel the electricity of 10,000 women coming together to praise God and worship together.  Like I said I knew there was going to be a blessing so I was ready to sit back and soak it all in.  I had made it!  The devil couldn’t stop me now!

Proverbs 16:9N(NLT)

9 We can make our plans,    but the Lord determines our steps.

Our first speaker was Chonda Pierce and I was ready; prepared for the tears I knew would come.  Chondas husband had died 2 months before and she is a comedian so I knew what her routine was going to be based on and I was right.  She related how life had changed after the death of her high school sweetheart.  And no matter how many times you hear this story, they are always the same; the loss, the anger, the loneliness.  And no matter who you are you have to go through this.  She sang a song I have sang many times,   “I’m Gonna Make It!”  It took me a year before I could sing that song without tears.  And here she was 2 months out and she was singing it, I joined her singing from my seat and yes the tears flowed.  To all my friends who have lost their spouse, I would just love to hold you all close and tell you it will all be alright but the truth is I can’t because I am not there yet.  Even after 2 years….not there.  And I often wonder will I ever be there.  There are so many days I just want to throw in the towel.  I am ready to give up but then there is that still small voice I hear, which I have come to recognize as God saying, “Don’t quit, just before the miracle!”  I know my miracle is coming, once again patience.

Psalm 5:3New (NIV)

3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;  in the morning I lay my requests before you    and wait expectantly.

I tell God what I want.  I thank Him for what He has given me.  And at times I have been angry at him for what He took from me but that again is something you have to go through to get through!  But I know God answers prayers.  He answers every single prayer I pray.  And as I pray I expect . When you find out you are expecting a baby, don’t you get ready?  You buy baby stuff.  You prepare the room.  YOu even discuss it with  your other children to prepare them.  Well as I have prayed, its like giving birth.  I am preparing my life, getting ready.  I know you think I am crazy.  But I know God is going to come through for me.  thats the only way I can get through the day.  I trust in his promises that He made to me; because He loves me!

1 Corinthians 13:7(NIV)

7 It(love)  always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Our first night was coming to a close and I felt that hearing Chonda’s story and her experience was the blessing god had for me.  She was where I had been.  all of her fears and anxieties so much like my own let me know that I was on the right track.  We came down early out of the stands to avoid the rush.  Jeremy Camp was singing and he was singing his last song.  But I couldn’t bring myself to leave.  As he finished the song he started telling a story of his life 13 years before.  He married in 2000 and his wife died in 2001 of ovarian cancer.  Here was this normal appearing young man, 36, on fire for God.  He was re married, had 3 children and sings the most amazing songs of what god has done for him.  He was 13 years past the most devastating time in his life and he was praising god.  Oh yes, I can see why the devil didn’t want me here this weekend,  He didn’t want me to see how others that had been broken had been peiced back together with God as the super glue.

Psalm 61:2(NIV)

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,    I call as my heart grows faint;    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Our struggles and trials don’t go unnoticed by God.  I won’t say they are from God, but I do think he allows them to happen so that he can see what we are made of.  He wants us to be like Jesus so sometimes he heats us in the fire.  I firmly believe no matter what bad things happen in your life, god will make something good happen out of it.

Romans 8:28(NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

The EWomens conference this weekend has ignited the embers that were just smoldering.  The speakers and song leaders have fanned the flames.  Its up to me now and the 10,000 women that have sparks ready to jump off and ignite new fires.  Take these sparks back into our churches, our homes, our schools and let the fires fall.

Jeremy Camp wrote this song after his first wife died:

I Still Believe

Scattered words and empty thoughts

seem to pour from my heart

I've never felt so torn before

seems I don't know where to start

but it's now that I feel Your grace falls like rain

from every fingertip, washing away my pain

[Chorus:]

I still believe in Your faithfulness

I still believe in Your truth

I still believe in Your holy word

even when I don't see, I still believe

Though the questions still fog up my mind

with promises I still seem to bear

even when answers slowly unwind

it's my heart I see You prepare

but its now that I feel Your grace fall like rain

from every finger tip, washing away my pain[Chorus]

The only place I can go is into your arms

where I throw to you my feeble prayers

in brokenness I can see that this was your will for me

Help me to know You are near

And that is what it’s all about...Faith.

Hebrews 11:1(NKJV)

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

And I have the faith that God will take care of me.  That’s one of his promises.  I still believe…..

BYF

We had an awesome time around the campfire tonight at church.  There was 29 out tonight and Steve and Teresa Treadway joined us.  Steve shared his testimony with us and even roasted a hotdog and marshmallow!  We shared the Bible and played a few games and enjoyed the warmth of friends and campfire.  Come and join us on sunday evenings at 6 and feel young at heart!

BYF

BYF

BYF

Pastor Appreciation Day!

Pastor Appreciation Day October 12th. We will have lunch immediately after worship service. Pastor Vince wants only one thing....to fill the church!  So come and bring a friend or 2!

Extraordinary Women 2014

September 19, 2014

2 Timothy 2:2

(The Apostle Paul wrote) 

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Meadow Grove Baptist Church Revival Picnic- September 21, 2014 at the Cadle Farm, Grassy Meadows, WV. Donuts and Coffee at 10:00 with a special speaker at 10:30. Special Program by Ryan Longenette at 11:00. Picnic lunch at 1230. Everyone welcome. For more info and directions to the Cadle Farm please call Vince at (304)- 382-7370. 

How do you say goodbye?

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

How do you say goodbye?  When I visit family and friends it's always hard to say goodbye.  I say prayers of blessing for them until we meet again.  I pray for safe travels just as I'm sure they do for me as I leave until we meet again; that may be Christmas, Easter, next summer, but we will meet again.  Sometimes there are tears especially when parents say goodbye to their children and grandkids.  When you love someone you want the best for them.  That always involves turning them loose or setting them free.  I know I shed a few tears when my kids went to kindergarten.  Then when they went off to college...more tears.  When Emily married Zac...yep more tears.  But even as the tears slid down my face the sadness was mixed with happiness because I knew that the life that waited for them was going to be spectacular.  It was their time and as it says in Ecclesiastes there is a time for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3     a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6     a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7     a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8     a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

This week I have watched as friends said goodbye to their loved ones.  They knew it was coming; departure was inevitable.  A time to be born...a time to die.  But we love them so much we want the best for them.  And it doesn't get any better than going home to live with Jesus.  And yes tears are OK; sadness for us because we are left here but happiness for them because they have an eternity to live and dwell in Heaven.  Danny's last week here on earth, I did a lot of praying.  Preparing for that goodbye that I knew was coming.   And just as I pray for safe travels for loved ones when I leave them or they leave me, I prayed for his safe journey as he departed this life.  And just as I prayed for him I know without a doubt he prayed for the ones he loved that he was leaving; me, his kids, his parents.  I am sure he petitioned God for many things for those he loved and I believe God heard and is still answering those prayers today and will in the future as I am sure he prayed for his grandchildren that aren't even here yet.  So to my friends who are saying goodbye to their loved ones, remember this.  If you know Jesus as your lord and savior this goodbye will be be brief, even if it feels like forever on some days!  You will be reunited!  We all will be reunited with the ones we love.  That's a promise I hold on to everyday.  That's why it's so important to ask Jesus into your heart.  Salvation and a life eternal where you can praise God forever plus see all those that have gone on before, that's what it's all about because I do believe we will know our family when we get to heaven!  I can't wait!

Luke 9:61 (NIV)

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

The Dance

Life’s a dance you learn as you go, sometimes you lead sometimes you follow...are you a leader or do you tend to follow?  I feel like a follower.  I wait until I see something I want and then I jump on that bandwagon.  I have learned to be happy just to dance, sometimes it is to the music in my own head but it is still dancing.  I sway back and forth to the music called life.  Sometimes avoiding any involvement at all.  I just barely touch the edge of some peoples life and then others I feel like I am in up to my neck.  I don’t understand why we dance.  But we do.

“Life is a song, love is the music”

We write our own lyrics everyday as we go.  Somedays are happy songs, somedays sad, some are mad days while others are just reflective days.   This song popped in my head this evening:

“Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow, 

I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way!”

Once again a follower.  When God talks to you do you always get it right away?  I sometimes can’t figure out what He is trying to tell me!  This week has been that way.  I feel like He is leading me in a different direction than what I am used to.  We are going down a path I haven’t traveled before.  I feel a little scared just because it is unknown to me but at the same time it is exciting.  I know in my heart if this new path is one I am to travel He will equip me.  I have been comfortable in my journey for way too long.  I can say this is coming as a total surprise to me because I feel like I am useful where I am at.  But can I be more useful doing something somewhere else?

John 4:24 (NIV)

24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

If you worship God in that place of freedom and joy, you will see everything with a new perspective. You will see things that perhaps you didn’t see before.  It’s easier to see what God has willed for your life when you worship with Him.

“There will be times when the will of God will not be abundantly clear to us.  During those occasions we are expected to retain our faith and wait on the Lord”            Dr. James Dobson

Once again we are called to wait upon the Lord.  And while we wait…...we worship.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

7 For we live by faith, not by sight.

I don’t know about you, but I like to see where I am going.  I shine a light when it’s dark just so I can light my way.  I don’t like the dark.  I don’t fear it, but I don’t like it.  I don’t like the unknown.  Faith-stepping out in faith-is kind of like that darkness.  The difference is that God is there with us.  He is our big flashlight lighting the way.  He shines for us so that we can see the way ahead.  He goes before us.

Hebrews 13:8(NIV)

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

When I was a child at the very young age of 12, I was saved.  Mostly out of fear of going to Hell.  Not that I am proud of that but I was 12 and that’s how it was.  As I grew in age I also matured spiritually, as we all do.  We grow up.  But when we are spiritually young we want to be pleasing to our heavenly father.  We want to do what He wants us to do.  As we get older the line between right and wrong, good and bad, becomes harder and harder to distinguish.  And sometimes the things we have always done will all of the sudden seem wrong.  Gods mercy and grace allows us to mess up, to fall short and He catches us every time.  In all of lifes situations whether good or bad, happy or sad; all the places God takes us, He is giving us the chance to grow in faith.  We are maturing becoming the person He has designed us to be.  We have to go through the fire to be refined!

2 Corinthians 2:14(ESV)

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

God is working on me.  He is trying his best to make me humble.

James 4:6 (NIV)

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud

    but shows favor to the humble.”

I have a problem with self though.  No matter how hard I try “self” always gets in the way.

Hebrews 12:10(NIV)

10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

I’m a mess.  A broken mess.  I mess up on a daily basis.  I say the wrong things to people.  I make wrong choices and I know I don’t set the best example for my kids.  My prayer on a daily basis is for me to decrease and Christ to increase.

Romans 5:3 (NIV)

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Broken.  Battered.  Bruised.  Tired.  Weary.  Maybe you don’t see this on the outside.  I like to put myself together...on the outside.  My hair has to be just right.  Makeup just right.  Clothes just right.  Shoes, oh my goodness, you can’t forget the shoes!  They have to match.  Then there is the jewelry and even down to the perfect perfume to finish it off.  You see, when I get up I see the real me.  The one that looks in the mirror and the tired defeated eyes look back.  I see the broken spirit and the weary soul.  So I begin to cover it up.  I put on a mask called makeup and bling.  So that the first thing someone sees is not my sadness or my weariness.  They have to go through a lof of layers to get to that.  The trouble with me is that I wear all of my emotions right there on my sleeve.  But God is helping me with all of that.  He wants me to remember.  I have to remember what He has done for me in the past.  He has carried me to mountain tops, through valleys that I never thought I would get through. When I drug my feet and they were so heavy I couldn’t move then, He scooped me up and just snuggled me up and carried me.  How could I ever forget that?  But those memories dim.  Everytime I encounter another hardship or a bump or pothole in the road of life I have to remember that I am not doing any of this.  My creator and Heavenly Father who loves me is doing this, all of this, for me.  He is doing it for my good.  He is shaping me, molding me.  Not to be a better nurse.  Not to get a raise in pay.  But to touch someone's life.  To make a difference in someones life along the way.  Maybe a word I say.  That one word that comes out of your mouth and you wonder….what the heck was that for?  There was purpose in it.  There are no coincidences,  only God instances.  When I start my day off with the attitude of “what are we going to do today?” my day is so much better.  My attitude is happy.  My steps are with a purpose.

Romans 15:13(NIV)

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I want to overflow….I want to be contagious.  Working in the medical field that is not a word we like to see, but in this instance, I would love to be highly contagious and infectious.  I want to infect everyone I meet with the spirit of Jesus Christ.

We are a peculiar people.  Creatures of habit and I don’t understand sometimes why we do the things we do.   But God knows, he understands and He loves us anyway.  No matter how quirky we are, God loves us which brings me back to the dance.  Thats WHY we dance.  And whether you lead, follow or just stand in one spot...just dance and enjoy the life God created you for.  You were created in His image and He wants the best for you.  Use the gifts God gave you and learn how to dance.

Psalm 149:3a (NIV) Let them praise his name with dancing…

Psalm 30:11 (AMP)  You have turned my mourning into dancing for me...