S.O.A.P. Journaling - Hebrews 13

My S.O.A.P. Journal entry from this week's mentoring/discipleship session with Joy:

Date: Feb. 27, 2013
Passage: Hebrews 13
Title: "'... as bound with them ...'"

Scripture:
"Let brotherly love continue. ... Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." verses 1 and 3

Observation:
Brotherly love - love for our Christian family - is the strongest evidence that we belong to Christ. If we truly love each other, we ourselves hurt when those we love hurt. And what stronger bond of love do we - as followers of Christ - have, than when we are suffering for His name?!

Application:
Many times, I forget about other Christians who are suffering for their faith. believers in most of the rest of the world truly suffer persecution - they are shunned by society and sometimes by their own family, physically abused or even killed, separated from their families and other Christians, tortured... But I must not forget them! I must pray for and remember them, as much as if I myself were suffering too.

Prayer:
"Father help my brothers and sisters that are suffering because of their belief in You. Give them courage, strength, peace, hope, love for their enemies, and joy in their salvation. Help me to remember them, as if I were suffering with them. help me not to take for granted my life of freedom. Help me be prepared if the time ever comes when I must suffer for Your name."

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 73

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight:

2. Hearing: "Your Great Name"

3. Smell:

4. Taste: Flour Chips

5. Touch: Hot Shower

The stories behind the list:

1.

2. So on my way back and forth from our little place out in the country, to town where I work, go to church, etc., I've become addicted to the Christian music station. I don't enjoy the styles of some of the music, but I can always turn it off if it's bothering me, and I've discovered several beautiful songs in the approximately 30-minute drives back and forth. One of these is "Your Great Name". The music and harmony are breath-taking.

"
Lost are saved, find their way, at the sound of Your great name.
All condemned, feel no shame, at the sound of Your great name.
Every fear, has no place, at the sound of Your great name.
The enemy, he has to leave, at the sound of Your great name.

Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man -
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name!

All the weak, find their strength, at the sound of Your great name.
Hungry souls, receive grace, at the sound of Your great name.
The fatherless, they find their rest, at the sound of Your great name.
Sick are healed, and the dead are raised, at the sound of Your great name.

Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man -
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name!

Redeemer, My Healer, Lord Almighty!
My savior, Defender, You are My King!

Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man -
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name!
"

3.

4. Lydia had a bunch of the youth group girls over Monday night. Bro. Nick is still taking seminary classes, and every other Monday he is gone most of the day and into the evening. So Lydia has had a couple of these fellowship nights when he's been gone. She loves demonstrating hospitality, crafting, playing games, and sharing meals, and is very fun-loving with a great laid-back personality. Trissy and I went Monday night and had a great time. Several of the girls had brought craft projects they were working on and we all sat around in her little living room and visited or crafted or cooked our snack-y supper in her little kitchen. She made flour tortilla chips and they were SO good! I'd never seen them made (and watching almost made me not want to eat them, thinking about how unhealthy they were), but now that I know, I want to try them sometime. Not too often, because they are so unhealthy, but once in a while would be a tasty treat. And so easy!
Get a package of soft tortilla shells, and cut each one in fourths. Heat a pan of oil on the stove until very hot. Drop the tortilla fourths in a couple at a time and let them fry. Lift them out, let them drain on a paper towel, and when they are cool, eat up!

5. Sometimes I'm in the shower and I all-of-a-sudden realize again how blessed I am to have access to hot running water. When I'm tired or sad or cold, few things can make me feel better so fast as a nice hot shower!

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 72

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: Mrs. S.'s Compassionate Joy

2. Hearing:

3. Smell: White Dial Bar Soap

4. Taste: Tear Bread

5. Touch: Making Austin And Ava's Curtains

The stories behind the list:

1. Mom's sister who lives a couple of states away, was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago and recently had a difficult surgery to remove it. We were all praying that she would not need chemo or radiation after the surgery, but that would depend on what stage it was at. Mrs. S., with her big heart and incredible compassion, was as concerned as if she knew my aunt herself. She kept up with the situation through Mom.
When the results came back that the cancer was at stage one, and my aunt would not need chemo, we were so thankful! Wednesday after we'd found out, Mrs. S. asked me at church if they'd heard back yet. When I told her the news, her wonderful pleasant face lit up, and she clasped her hands together in pure joy. From her reaction, you could have thought it was her own sister.

2.

3. We buy the Dial brand of white bar soap for our baths and showers. The other night I was using it and put up my hands to my face, and the smell of it was like the smell of being in the mountains in the winter time. Cool and fresh and clean and lovely. The smell of bright green and fresh snow.

4. Mom has a home-made bread recipe she got from one of my cousins, and in the last couple of weeks we've gotten it out and made several batches of this quick, easy and wonderfully delicious bread. And for me (who don't like to cook) to admit that it's quick and easy, that's saying something! Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it yourself:

Tear Bread

1 1/2 cups warm water
1 package dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar

Put yeast in a small bowl in warm (not hot) water with sugar. Stir and let set for about 10 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, combine:

1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons oil
3 cups all-purpose flour

When the yeast mixture is dissolved, add it to the mixing bowl.
Mix it well. It will be a soft dough. Grease (or spray with "Pam" or something similar) a cookie sheet or baking pan. Dump and immediately press dough out to desired thickness in the pan, and bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes or until nice and golden. Put a little oil on your hands before handling dough so that they won't stick.

We love wheat bread at our house, so we usually substitute a cup of the all-purpose flour for a cup of wheat flour (2 cups of white and 1 cup of wheat).

Tear you off a piece, cut that thing open with a little steak knife and slide a pat of butter inside... Whew, there's little better!

5. Austin and Ava are continuing to put the touches on their little house to make it into a home. They went shopping for curtains in January and couldn't find what they wanted. So in the store Austin suggested to Ava, 'Why don't we just buy material and ask Kyrie to make us some?' So that's what they did!
I can't describe the wonderful, warm feeling it gave me that they knew they could ask me to do this for them. That's how I want my friends to be! I want them to be able to count on me. I want them to feel comfortable asking me to help them if I can.
I was so honored to be a part of their lives like this! While I measured, cut, pinned, and sewed (and ripped out and redid at one point!), it warmed my heart every time I'd think, "I'm making these curtains for Austin and Ava - and they asked me to!"

Dad On Dresses And Modern Styles

So Dad went to the mall to buy Mom a new dress today as a Valentine's Day surprise. He found fault with all of the ones he could find.
His reasons when he came back empty-handed: "Too sheer, too short, too low, too ugly."
Tell 'em Dad.

S.O.A.P. Journaling - John 16

My S.O.A.P. Journal entry from this week's mentoring/discipleship session with Joy:

Date: Feb. 13, 2013
Passage: John 16
Title: "Present Sorrow, Future Joy"

Scripture:
"But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. ... I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ... A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me, because I go to the Father. ... And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." verses 6, 12, 16, and 22

Observation:
Jesus was getting ready to go to Jerusalem to be crucified, and was preparing His disciples for His departure. Evidently, they were pretty shocked and heartbroken and the thought of Him leaving them, because He speaks in a very comforting and admonishing way to them in this chapter.

Application:
With the recent changes in my life where people I love have left me, these verses touched and comforted me in a very special way. I can empathize with the disciples in verse 6 - sorrow has filled my heart as well, as some of my dearest friends have moved away. I thank the Lord for His kindness in not giving me more than I can bear right now (verse 12), and I am filled with hope and gladness and anticipation at the promises of verses 16 and 22. What a time to look forward to - when joy is here to stay!

Prayer:
"Help me to remember You are always with me and therefore I will never be alone or friendless. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on that future joy, instead of this present sorrow."

God Is Working

Saw this on Pinterest this morning, and it was so very much the rich reminder I needed. Thought I'd share it.

"5 Small Things Friday" No. 71

Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".

For this week, here is my list:

1. Sight: Friends At The Superbowl "Party"

2. Hearing: Friends' Voices At The Superbowl "Party"

3. Smell: Book From Bro. Mike's Family

4. Taste: Fried Chicken Wrap

5. Touch: Rip-sticking At The Superbowl "Party"

The stories behind the list:

1., 2., and 5. See this post for these stories.

3. Bro. Mike's family got rid of alot of stuff in preparation to move to the mission field. Though they're already gone, we had a garage sale with much of what they left behind, and plan to send the money to them. I love garage sales and left with a box of things. One was a devotional/study book I thought I might use in my discipleship with Joy. A couple of days later I opened it to read it, and as the pages flipped and blew a little breath of air into my face, the smell of Bro. Mike's family came up to meet me with it. You know how each person or family has a particular scent when you hug them or go into their house? I love that about people. Especially dear friends. Sometimes I will smell something and it reminds me of someone I love, simply because it smells like 'them'! This book did that. I closed my eyes and imagined I was standing in their living room. It was both comforting and painful at the same time.

4. When I first started working at the restaurant and Ava was still there, she gave me part of her lunch one day - a fried chicken wrap. I was hooked. We bought and split one another time after that (a whole one was more than either of us could eat at one sitting), but I haven't had one since (it's just too expensive to 'eat out' alot for my penny-pinching budget!). So I decided I'd get one yesterday, and was reminded again of why I fell in love! Bites of perfectly crispy fried chicken, shreds of cheddar cheese and fresh lettuce, bits of tasty bacon, and juicy tomato chunks, all rolled inside a soft tortilla shell spread with Ranch dressing - absolute bliss.

"Worn"

"
I'm tired, I'm worn.
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing.

I've made mistakes -
I've let my hope fail.
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world,
And I know that you can give me rest!
So I cry out with all that I have left,

'Let me see redemption win!
Let me know the struggle ends -
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn.

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Cause I'm worn.'

I know I need
To lift my eyes up,
But I'm too weak.
Life just won't let up.
And I know that You can give me rest,
So I cry out with all that I have left,

'Let me see redemption win!
Let me know the struggle ends!
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn.'

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life,
And all that's dead inside can be reborn,
Cause I'm worn.

And my prayers are wearing thin.
I'm worn even before the day begins.
I'm worn, I've lost my will to fight.
I'm worn
So heaven come and flood my eyes.

Let me see redemption win!
Let me know the struggle ends,
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn.

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life,
And all that's dead inside can be reborn.
Yes all that's dead inside will be reborn,
Though I'm worn.
I'm worn.
"

"Worn" - Jason Ingram / Mike Donehey / Jeff Owen
© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Mentoring Joy

One of the things on my Bucket List is to mentor a younger person, preferably a teenager.
Several months ago, Oct. 24th to be exact (when Bro. Mike was phasing himself out as Youth Director and Justice was filling in until a new Youth Pastor was found), Justice announced to the youth group one Wednesday night, the possibility of implementing a mentoring program between the older youth and/or college youth, and the younger youth. After announcements, as we walked to the house where we have our Junior High class on Wednesday nights, Piper and I were talking about it.
Piper: 'Are you going to do the discipleship thing?'
Me: 'I don't know, I didn't even know about it until tonight! I hope so; I'd love to! One of the things on my 'bucket list' is to mentor a younger person.'
Piper: 'Well, I think you've probably already been doing alot of that without realizing it.'
I melted on the inside.

But it got me thinking, and later praying. I really did want to do it. But each person I thought of 'mentoring', seemed to have something that wouldn't quite let it work out. So I just kept praying about it.
Eventually, several things began happening that caused Joy to come to mind. I began praying specifically about doing it with her. I had no idea where I would squeeze it into my schedule, but I knew that this desire was in my heart, and if the Lord had put it there and wanted me to mentor her, He would work out details.

I prayed about it for several weeks, then asked Dad and Mom what they thought about it. They said it would be fine, and that maybe it would work out for her mom to drop her off at the church after school on Wednesdays, and I could just go early, and we could have our meetings before church.

Next step was to mention it to her parents. I spoke with her mom at church the next Sunday, and she seemed to like the idea. She said she'd speak with Bro. Blake about it. I didn't hear anything from them saying we couldn't, so I decided to start actually planning lessons. I knew Autumn was going through a book with Lindsay, and Julia was doing the same book with Lela. But when I checked the library at the church, they were out. So, I decided that until they got some in and I could read it, we'd use the S.O.A.P. Journal idea, with a different chapter of the Bible to study each week. I made a list of some of the chapters that had (in various ways and for various reasons) been brought especially to my attention in recent weeks.

It turned out to be fine for Joy's mother to drop her off at the church when they left VRCA. We agreed to meet at the church on Wednesday evenings at 4:00, so we'd have plenty of time to do our journals, talk about them, have a prayer time, and still have time to eat supper before church started at 6:30.

Last Wednesday was our first meeting, and I was a little nervous. I'd never done anything like this before, and I wanted it to work well and for Joy to enjoy it. We're good friends already, so we have a good foundation. But I want this to be a time for us both to grow.
It went really well! She was already there when I arrived, Rip-Stiking with Nicole's little brother in the gym. There was a folding table and two chairs against one wall, so we sat there. We read the chapter (1 Thessalonians 5 - chock full of good stuff!), did our journaling, then shared what we'd gleaned from it.

My entry:

"

Date: Feb. 6, 2013
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5
Title: 'Children of Light'

Scripture:
'Ye are the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.' verses 5, 6, & 8

Observation:
The apostle Paul was writing another letter to another one of his churches. He doesn't seem to be reprimanding much in this letter - more like just exhorting, encouraging, and reminding them of things they needed to keep in mind as they went through their ordinary lives. I like how he seems to be stressing basic Christian living in everyday life, and an active spirit towards being Godly.

Application:
This is a good reminder, and certainly a challenge to be aware of how I am living - do I live as a child of Light? I not only want to avoid darkness, I want to display Light!

Prayer:
'Lord help me display Light! I want to be wise and 'sober'. I want to have my armor on and be prepared to defend myself and/or others against obstacles or attacks from children of the night. Thank You'

"

After we were finished, we had a good bit of time still before supper and church. I took my supper (I'd taken it with me) to the fellowship hall in the front and ate there, then went back into the gym. By this time, more kids had arrived, and there were Rip-Stiks and basketballs moving energetically. Bro. Nick came through on his way to the youth room. He saw me, and stopped to ask if I would be interested in participating in a mentoring program he hoped to start doing in the youth group! I laughed and told him I'd certainly be open to it, and that I had started with Joy that very evening! He seemed surprised, but pleased, so we'll see where this whole thing goes!

Isn't it funny sometimes how God works things?!

A Super 'Superbowl' Sunday

This past Sunday was probably the most enjoyable one I've had in several months. After all I've struggled with the past few months, it was just a really good day. The hardest part was the youth music group playing for the music part of the service, and it being the first time for us to play on Sunday without Archer.

The church has been doing a series of 'mission Sundays', highlighting different countries Victory Rd. members have taken mission trips to in the past couple of years. This Sunday was Nicaragua, and there was going to be a meal fund-raiser after church for the next Nicaragua trip, coming up this summer. The youth music group led the music service, and Bro. Earl had Bro. Nick preach, since the majority of the church hadn't heard him since he's been here as youth pastor, replacing Bro. Mike. There was a little pain there too, though, thinking of Bro. Mike's family being 'replaced'. But I try not to let myself think about that, and in that way especially. Bro. Nick and his wife, Lydia, and two little girls are such a sweet young family and have seemed to fit right in. He and Lydia are about Austin's age actually, so they have almost seemed to form a link, blending us who used to be the 'college group' (but are fast growing too old to be 'college' anymore) into the positions and roles in the church usually thought of as adult ones, that we have been trying to help fill.

Anyway, since it was going to be a somewhat irregular Sunday, with a meal after the morning service and our 'evening' service being moved up to the afternoon right after lunch, I suppose Bro. Earl thought this would be a good time to have Bro. Nick preach in front of the whole church for the first time.
I don't know if he was nervous, or was afraid to go too long, or what, but he preached a very fitting - and very short - sermon. When we went back up onto the platform to play for the closing hymn, Law caught my eye and with an amused quirk at the corners of his mouth whispered, "Ten minutes." So it had been even shorter than I realized! But Bro. Nick had packed alot into that little bit of time, speaking on 'unity in a church', in a serious but compassionate manner.

Lunch afterward in the gym was delicious and enjoyable, and the money raised went to those who hope to go on this summer's mission trip to Nicaragua. Trissy and I sat with Lindy to eat and it was nice to 'catch up' - we seem to be going in different directions alot at church, and she's one of our closest friends. The little visit was nice.
Somehow people seem to gather in random groups along the rows of tables whenever there is a meal. I don't know why, but those who usually hang around each other at other times, seem to break up and branch out and spend time visiting with others, or smaller groups among ourselves, when we eat together. And that seems appropriate somehow, to be building relationships and nourishing our souls as we nourish our bodies.

After the afternoon service, we all dispersed to our respective residences. But there was going to be a 'Superbowl party' for the youth later in the evening. I'm not into football at all myself (I didn't even know when the Superbowl was, much less who was playing, and I didn't care either), but I wanted to go, for the fellowship and friendship with the other people there. Besides, Bro. Nick had asked Trissy and me if we were coming to help with, in his words, "crowd control" :) . At the time, I wondered how many kids he was expecting to show up, and how unruly he was expecting them to be! I hoped our kids would show him that his fears were unfounded.

In the end, basically no one watched the game, which I though was both funny and appropriate; but we had a great time just spending good time together! The 'party' was held in the fellowship hall across the street from the church, attached to the gym. Someone had fixed hotdogs, and everybody that came was asked to bring a snack or desert or something. Austin's aunt was there with her daughter and her daughter's friend (who both come to Victory Rd. alot, and also went with us to Strength To Stand), and she was teaching Ava how to make sausage balls and bread pudding in the kitchen where some of the adults and older youth were gathered talking and snacking.

As people got their hotdogs, they would come and go, sit in the chairs facing the screen that had been hung to project the game onto, or wander around talking to each other, but hardly anyone was actually paying attention to the game.
I sat for a few minutes, but there was no one to talk to near me, so I went back to the kitchen and stood eating and listening to Lydia, Trissy, and Ava discuss the practice of healthy, economical menu and grocery shopping ideas. I watched a couple of different ladies spread more food on the already-crowded cabinet, and chatted with Nicole and her mom.
I noticed some of the young people were beginning to migrate to the gym in the back, so when I finished my hotdog, I wandered back to see what they were doing.
Somebody had gotten the roller skates out of the long wooden foot locker against the wall. A couple of brave beginners were trying their wings as a couple of veterans and daredevils were flying around the big room. There were two or three just wandering around chatting, and a few kids on Rip-Stiks cruising in and out doing circles and figure-eights among the slower ones. It was a fun, energetic, wholesome picture.
For the rest of the evening I pretty much stayed in the gym. And what a wonderful time!

A few of the little individual incidents and special moments:

-Tasting Piper's pumpkin bread/cake and Ava's sausage balls (both so yummy!)
-Abigail and another of the teenage girls teasing me that Piper would be offended if I didn't take one of her brownies too
-Getting used to roller skates again (instead of roller blades)
-Being around, talking to, and building a stronger friendship with Joy
-Law and young Dolan finding a couple of sheets somewhere and tying them on as capes as they whizzed around the gym on roller skates and Rip-Stiks
-People sharing their Rip-Stiks with whoever wanted to ride at the moment
-Nicole's mom roller skating
-Trissy taking pictures for me
-Everyone (who was in the gym at the moment) pausing and gathering for a minute so Lydia could take our picture:

What a crazy bunch :) ! And how I love every one of them!
-Brave Lindsay trying to learn how to roller skate, Law stopping to try to help her, then calling me over, saying, "Kyrie, show Lindsay how to roller skate" when it wasn't working
-Playing ping-pong with Piper, then later Autumn
-Standing with Piper, waiting on Trissy to get her roller skates tied, while Law did figure-eights around us on a Rip-Stik
-Nicole's Southern, 'country' husband learning to Rip-Stik with cowboy boots on - 'I've always done everything else with boots on!'
-Law taking my place at ping-pong with Autumn when I was tired, me teasingly asking if I could give him my paddle and ball and have his Rip-Stick, then correcting myself and saying, 'Well, not have of course, just use' and him responding seriously, 'You can actually take it and keep it at your house - I don't really have anywhere to ride it at mine'. (!) I didn't of course, but it gave me such a good feeling that he would offer.
-Bro. Nick and Lydia's 3-year-old and another little girl sitting side by side on a skateboard by the wall, watching the action and singling Joy out to cheer for, calling, "Go Joy!" at the top of their tiny lungs as she circled the gym on her Rip-Stik
-Various people playing frisbee and basketball among everything else
-The game of Spoons going on in the fellowship hall in the front, with those who weren't in the gym
-Toby and Lindy 'racing' on their Rip-Stiks
-Sweet Piper trying to learn how to Rip-Stik, and me trying to teach her when I was just beginning to get the hang of it myself, running sideways in front of her as she held my hands for balance saying, "You better not let go Kyrie!"
-Playing ping-pong with my 'brown-eyed boy', then with Abigail as the evening went on and most of the younger teenagers had gone
-Trissy and Lydia calmly sitting and talking in chairs against the wall; easy-going, fun-loving Lydia with her baby in her arms and her foot propped on a skateboard
-Piper bringing Abigail and me each a glass of water as we played our game of ping-pong
-The fun still going on (though at a slower pace) as Trissy and I said goodnight and headed for our house

Recent Happenings No. 4

Randomness. Mmhmm, that's me. Squirrel!
This post is the past month in a nutshell. More detailed posts on each event will (hopefully; eventually) come. But until I get time ("time"? What is that again?) to do the type of more detailed posts I want, this will suffice to keep anyone interested at least somewhat up-to-date on my life of late. And boy, it's seemed like a lifetime in a month...


January began with a bang and never seemed to slow down. The sixth through the tenth, Trissy and I were gone on a church mission/service trip to a neighboring state, to do manual labor at a children's home and ranch. Victory Rd. took a group last January, and we went, and I knew I wanted to go back. The group this year consisted of the three youngest S. kids (Law, Abigail, and Piper), Joy, Autumn, Trissy and me, and four other men and women of the church. Landon met us there for part of the time, and it was so good to spend some time with him! Oliver and his wife were on a trip, so we didn't see them this time.
We helped rip up flooring in two of the houses/doorms, we moved furniture and other belongings - from the houses that were going to be renovated, into the new houses - we did a thorough 'spring cleaning' job, etc. But there was relaxing time also, in the early mornings, on breaks, and in the evenings at the cabin. Pumpkin spice muffins, Mtn. Dew, endless games of "Egyptian Rat Race" and "Taboo" (with our own adjusted rules to fit our mood and number of players :) ), times of S.O.A.P. journaling and sharing, and lots of just talking and enjoying each other's company.
It was the first trip without Bro. Mike. And it was different.
Randomness and other lessons to remember from this trip:
1. Overhearing the 'Only-Christian-music-for-30-days-challenge' discussion on the Sunday afternoon ride over - what a blessing!
2. Games with Trissy, Joy, Abigail, and Piper, and Abigail and Piper doing "John-Jacob-Jingleheimer-Smith" (song and 'introduction') on the trip over.
3. Epic Taboo games Monday night, including a sibling-set against sibling-set (Law and Piper vs. Trissy and me), with the others coming and going.
4. Personal thought, "I hate it when I let other people throw me into inner turmoil. Christ is all that matters. Why can’t I be content?!"
5. "I feel like pulling stuff up and stomping on things." -Piper, expressing her enthusiasm about our demolition work Tuesday.
6. Going to church Wednesday night where Landon attends. Encouraging, old-fashioned sermon where the preacher used alot of scripture and didn't apologize about having his audience use their Bibles so much.
7. Personal thought, "You haven't got to follow the crowd. Make up your OWN mind."
8. Personal thought, "That great moment when God shows you how He's been working in the life of someone you've been praying for - indescribable."
9. Joy, Abigail, Piper, Trissy and me and our late-night hilarious game of Taboo while Joy was giving hair-curls.
10. "Look at that lil' baby foot!" -Law, on Autumn's fist 'footprint' in the condensation on the bus window.
11. Sitting curled up on the couch in front of the fire with Piper and Trissy and Joy, telling each other random things and stories about ourselves.
12. The "I'm Thinking Of A Man/Woman/Place In The Bible" game on the way back Thursday.


After getting back into town Thursday evening from the mission trip, I left about noon Friday going with the youth music group to a near-by state to play for a week-end camp sponsored by the church The Grandparents are part of. Justice went as our driver, since he was on the insurance to drive Victory Rd.'s 15-passenger bus, and simply because anything Austin and Archer are part of just isn't complete without Justice :) . Justice, Archer, Julia, Simon and I went on the bus, pulling the trailer with all the instruments and equipment about noon. Austin and Law couldn't get off work until about 3:00, so they were going to come together when they got off. Ava and Noel went also, since their husbands were going :) , but Ava didn't get off work until later in the evening, so Noel stayed in town and rode with her so she wouldn't be driving alone.

It was a really great week-end. Opportunities to share times of praise with other believers, encourage those listening, and be encouraged ourselves by the warmth and enthusiasm of our audience. Times of bonding - the eight of us. Bitter-sweet times - knowing this was Archer's last 'act of leadership' as head of the group, knowing Justice and Noel are looking for the Lord's next place of service for them and may be moving on soon as well. Times of fun - pretend 'zombie' invasions and escapes, music practice and practice and practice, 'the girls' (Noel and Ava) hunting up a gas station to sooth the boys' Mtn. Dew withdrawals and my longing for something healthy to eat, Simon and Law's (and Justice's) bunk-room acrobatics during free time while the rest of us tried to catch up on some much-needed rest, supper at 'Maria's' Mexican restaurant (that took longer to be served than to eat) and mean jokes (meant more to tease me and raise my protest than anything else) on the way back Saturday night. Precious, priceless, blessed memories.


The next day, Sunday, was Bro. Mike and his family's last Sunday at Victory Rd. before leaving as missionaries to the Philippines, and he'd asked that our group do the music service so he could see and hear us one last time. It would actually be the whole church's last time to witness our group lead the music - Archer would be moving the next day to the university. Dear Austin's charge to us as we gathered to pray before the service began: "Let's play our hearts out. This is for Bro. Mike and for Archer." And we did. For our God - Who is our Reason for everything - for our youth pastor - who had poured his spirit into loving and guiding us - and for our friend - our brother.

I don't think I'll ever forget this weekend. One of the most bitter-sweet of my life. I pray I won't.


The next Wednesday night was my turn to teach the lesson with the middle-schoolers. And Bro. Mike's family's last day here. Lots of church folks hung around after the classes were over, exchanging last-minute conversations and telling them good-bye. Trissy and I went next door to their house and visited a while after everyone else had left. They would be going to the airport about 2:00 A.M., so were not planning on going to bed, and it was just so hard to finally say good-bye. I wouldn't let myself think about it being any other than a normal Wednesday night 'bye until after we left.
Separations are hard, but I'm thankful too - I know both Bro. Mike and his wife have been wanting to do mission work, and now the Lord has opened up the way for them to, and for Camille to go with them. That's a whole nother amazing story!
I'm looking forward to hearing about the adventures this new chapter holds for their lives.


Friday (the 18th), two days later, Victory Rd.'s youth group (including Trissy and me) went to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for the Strength To Stand week-end youth conference. I must admit, by this time I was so tired both in body and in mind that I almost didn't want to go. I had looked forward to it for months, but then found out that several of our college group and closest friends (not to mention Bro. Mike) weren't going to get to go. And with all the good-byes I'd been having to say the past few weeks, I almost had a "What's the point?" mentality. Which is not like me. I don't 'give up', and I hate defeat. I'm telling you, I was just worn out. And it was catching up with me. But then a thought came to mind: Why was I going on this trip in the first place? Was it because I wanted to be close to people, or because I wanted to grow closer to the Lord? Got my attention and kinda helped put things in perspective. Then the day we left, I saw something that one of the teenagers had written concerning their feelings about the trip: 'About to head out to Tennessee... don't want to go. But, I might as well go with an open heart.' I don't know why they didn't want to go, but what a great attitude! I was so encouraged, and resolved to go with my heart open to what the Lord might do in and for me on the trip.
I was not disappointed. In fact, I fell in love all over again with the pure goodness of God. Three sound, timely sermons from thought-provoking preachers; music - some of which I didn't care for - but plenty that lifted me up and carried me away with it's beauty and spiritual richness; fun and joking and camaraderie I enjoyed with a variety of the members of the group; Bro. Nick, the new youth pastor, bravely and successfully learning to captain the 'youth group ship' through the unpredictable waves of our crazy personalities; wholesome mixture of friendships and interaction between older youth and younger youth, adults and youth, newcomers and established 'regulars', etc.; merry chaos as the sounds and activities of almost 40 people filled the cabin we stayed in, and peaceful quiet (in which you could hear the clock ticking on the mantle) as those same nearly 40 people spent personal time in Bible study and prayer.


So, that's January in a nutshell. I have one more thing to tell about that would still be "this past month", though it was yesterday, the 3rd of February. But it's late and I'm in the living room typing and my mom will be up in a few minutes wondering why on earth I'm not in bed yet :) . So I'll save it for later. I'll end with a small thing that provoked big thoughts for me today.


I'm reading Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" for the first time. With my love of adventure and reading, especially the good old 'classics', you'd think I'd have read that one by now. But I recently 'discovered' the little library at VRCA and have started taking advantage of it. I just finished chapter 20 - "The Gulf Stream" - and the account of the cyclone. As I put the book down, I thought about "storms", both physical and spiritual. At times, I've found myself subconsciously wishing I could know how my strength would hold up during a real storm. One must be careful what one wishes for, even subconsciously. This past summer (the pain of Mrs. Renae's family leaving Victory Rd. and the withdrawal, so to speak, of Bro. Dennis's family), and this past month (the departure of Bro. Mike's family and of Archer, and the possibility of Justice and Noel, and Austin and Ava moving on also) seemed almost to have been samples - tests of strength the Lord allowed to give me an idea; to try my courage. I was/have been appalled at my lack of resilience in the face of these losses. If it hadn't been for the presence and encouragement of others, would I have held up at all? All these thoughts passed through my head in only a moment, but as I asked this last question, immediately in response came a quiet Whisper in my heart, "Don't worry about that 'what if'. There will always be someone...something. I will never leave you alone." And right away a verse came to mind from Psalm 34 that I'd randomly read this morning: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."

SOLI DEO GLORIA!