I am not at all in the habit of using the word "awesome" to describe things, but in light of the great blessing the Lord gave me in this Sunday, I think it's almost worthy of the word.
The morning dawned beautifully. I went up to The Grandparents' to fix their breakfast (we've been taking turns doing that - it makes it easier for them on a busy morning trying to get ready for church), and the air had a little chill in it, but the sunshine was warm and sweet.
I finished helping them, and came back to the house, in high spirits and ready for my own breakfast, looking forward to a morning at the Lord's house. Later as I was getting ready, I got a message from Noel, reminding everyone that this morning was the start of Justice's New Testament Survey Sunday school class, and I felt an even greater expectation!
Justice was making the class available to whoever wanted to take it in the church, not just the college class, so Dad and Mom had signed up to take it as well. Because it was going to be more people than usual, we were going to meet in the larger classroom downstairs under the youth room, in the gym across the street from the church building. We were running a little late, so we parked in the small lot behind the church (closer to the gym), and as Dad and Mom gathered their Bibles and things, they told Trissy and me to go ahead and go to the classroom, so Justice would know we were there and on our way.
Trissy and I started across the little lot behind the church building, toward the street that separates the church from the gym and it's parking lot and the big, empty, grassy lot that also serves as spare parking space. The morning sun was beautiful, the air was crisp and clear, and we strolled along breathing deeply of the Spring sweetness.
Trissy suddenly called my attention to a tall young figure crossing the grassy lot quite a ways ahead of us. It was Law, heading to his Sunday School class in the youth room.
"There goes Mr. S." she commented, smiling.
I looked up. "Mmhmm" I hadn't noticed him yet, but his bright red polo made him hard to miss.
He strode along comfortably with a firm, unhurried step, his shoulders straight and his head up, moving gently, as if he were enjoying the beautiful morning. Less than a year ago, he would have ambled indifferently along, his shoulders slumped a little forward, and his gaze for the most part turned downward.
Taking note of the difference, my heart felt fit to burst with thankfulness for the Lord's work in that young heart.
Justice was the only one in the classroom when we walked in, but his mom was right behind us, then Noel, Autumn, and Aron's cousin's husband. Toby hobbled in, his leg in a brace after surgery for a torn ACL, and another older couple filled out the class. Justice said Austin was going to be leading the music service this morning, and he was getting the last details taken care of, so he and Ava might be late. We went ahead and started, but they came in pretty soon.
It was a good class, and I think we're going to learn alot. And such a wonderful, comfortable, combination of old times and new times! The thought kept running through my mind, "This is so right. This feels so right."
Later in the choir room, as the choir members trickled in, Lindsay (who has been singing with us off-and-on for several months) came up to me, said good morning, and shyly gave me what I call a 'greeting hug' (which I kindof explain in this post :) ). As she stepped back, she said, in her soft feminine way, 'You look pretty today. Well,' she paused and tilted her head as if correcting herself, 'you always look pretty. I love your hair.'
I was caught off guard.
'Aw,' I kindof ducked my head, and smiled in confusion, 'Thank you!'
I didn't know what to say! I was completely taken by surprise. Seldom am I told that I am pretty - which is convenient, because I know it's not true, and it's nice to not have to try to come up with a polite response.
But coming from a modern teen-age girl, it meant so much - to think that maybe I had been able to influence her enough as a friend for her to want to reach back out to me in her own way.
As the choir walked out in our single-file line, I saw that, not only was Austin leading, but the instruments were switched up too.
Usually, Bro. Blake leads, Lydia plays acoustic guitar, Austin is on electric, and Bro. Dennis on bass, with Simon on drums, and a young woman of the church (whose husband is a veterinarian - just a random FYI fact :) ) plays the piano. This morning though, Austin was playing acoustic guitar (in addition to leading the singing), Bro. Dennis was on electric, and Law on bass! I don't think Law has been on bass for a Sunday morning service since Bro. Blake was put in charge of the music. Simon was still on drums and the lady on the piano, but Bro. Blake was incorporating some extra percussion (tambourine and cajon) that isn't usually used.
Walking out and seeing this setup rejoiced my heart.
And the service just kept getting better as we began to sing.
My heart was so glad. I kept getting that thought again, "This is right. This is so right."
I know that, as a child of God, my joy is not dependent on my circumstances. The Lord never changes; He remains the amazing, caring, dependable, trustworthy Friend that He was when I first met Him. He will never go somewhere where I cannot be around Him anymore. He will never disappoint me. He will never make a mistake or let me down. He is always available to put His arms around me and let me lean into Him. He is the true source of anything good or enjoyable that is part of my life. HE is.
And yet I would be denying a fact of life if I tried to pretend that circumstances do not influence the way a Christian feels. Christians are not immune to sorrow or happiness. They are just as prone to emotion, doubt, struggle, and soaring victory as a person is who does not know God. The difference is that we have the Lord as our Friend and help. He guides us and helps us through difficult, as well as victorious times. And He uses both the really hard and the really great times to mold us into who He wants us to be.
Today was one of those really great days.
I guess pretty much the only thing that happened to mar the beauty of the day, was choir practice.
There were alot of people out, I guess because of Spring Break, and it was a really small crowd. There were only two in the 'men' (tenor and bass) section, and those were the two fifth-grade boys who have been singing with us for the past couple of months. I sing tenor, so when I went up into the choir, I sat by them.
I'm thankful to say that Bro. Dennis still comes and sings in the choir, even though he technically doesn't even have to be there anymore. There's usually at least one other man that is there to sing tenor, but he wasn't there this afternoon. So when Bro. Dennis came in a little late, I moved over a space, so he could sit next to the boys.
I pretty much couldn't concentrate the rest of practice. We were working on songs from a book Bro. Dennis had used with us last year. And here he was, in the choir instead of leading it. Sitting next to me, and yet a stranger. The man who taught me as much (probably more) about practical Christian living, about how to knowledgeably yet respectfully defend the Faith, about choosing joy, about reliance on and faith in the sovereignty of God, than any other preacher or teacher I've ever had. One of my heroes of the Faith. Just, gone.
I didn't feel that bitter piercing pain, only a dull sad ache. How I wished that I dared turn to him and say simply, "I miss you."
Of course I didn't, but I couldn't help but wonder, what would happen if I did? Inside, my heart spoke quietly on; quiet, but so deeply hurting. "I miss you. Why did you leave? Where did you go? Will you ever come back? I know you're still in there somewhere. Aren't you? Do you even exist anymore? Deep down, are you still in there, or is this stranger here to stay? To replace you? Please come back. I miss you. And I'm not the only one. Do you not see the pain in the eyes of others here who love you?"
My mind wandered to memories of happy choir practices only a couple of years ago. When Bro. Jack and Mrs. Janet, Bro. Mike and Camille, Mrs Carrie, Mrs. Renae, and Bro. Blake were still in it. When laughter and music were strong because they went together. When Bro. Dennis's merry heart and musical knowledge refused to be beaten by our amateurity, and he'd whip us into shape with his wit and talent.
Yeah, choir practice was really hard.
But aside from that, the rest of the evening was pleasant. And after church, our college fellowship supper was at Austin and Ava's. They made spaghetti together - dear Ava's biggest source of remorse is the fact that she can't cook. But she's serious about learning, and her experiments so far have turned out quite well. I hate to be at someone's house without helping out somehow, so she put me and Aron's little cousin to making garlic bread. Aron, Henley, and Timothy were there, Aron's cousin and her husband, toddler son, and little sister, Justice and Noel and Justice's younger brother Tanner, Austin and Ava of course, and me. Trissy was tired out from a long week of school, so she didn't go.
It seemed like such a small group, but it was pleasant and relaxing.
After supper, the guys were outside trying to fix Tanner's truck that wouldn't start, Aron and Henley and Aron's cousin's family had already left to get the kids to bed, and Noel was watching the progress on the truck. I made Ava let me help her clean the kitchen, and we had a good talk about plans for the future, how God uses events in our lives, and how He's been working recently, as I washed and she dried and put away the dishes.
We were nearly done. The guys had gotten Tanner's truck running, and they came in to see how we were getting along before Justice, Noel, and Tanner said goodnight and left.
I finished drying the salad tongs that had been used to serve the spaghetti noodles, and asked where they were supposed to be put. Austin opened a drawer.
"Oh. These are salad tongs." I said as I put them in, pretending to just then figure out their use. "Salad tongs." I emphasized to Austin, waving my hands under his nose as he bent to shut the drawer.
'Yeah, that's why we're using them for spaghetti,' he returned, completely unruffled. Austin does not like vegetables.
Ava spoke up from where she was putting up the plates. 'Austin doesn't really eat salads.' She made a disapproving face.
'Don't worry,' I reassured her, as Austin took the towel from me to dry his hands and I turned back to the sink for another dish. 'We'll convert him yet.'
Austin finished drying his hands. 'Good luck,' he replied. He draped the towel over my shoulder, patted it sympathetically, and left the kitchen. Ava and I looked at each other and chuckled.
I enjoyed the drive back to the house, tired but happily reliving the memories of the wonderful day. I turned off the highway onto our dirt road and drove slowly up the little hill, savoring the sight of the bright summer stars above the cool smoothness of the pasture grass on my left. I turned into our drive on the right and parked, got out, and walked back to the end of the drive - which faces that pasture - and stood at the end, staring up at the stars. The air had that delicate yet hardy touch of cool-in-warmth that is so typical of Spring evenings. It wasn't cool, it wasn't warm, it was fresh and it was perfect. I saw the tiny blinking lights of two airplanes and the darting path of a shooting star. My heart was so full.
I stood there quite a while, wishing I could look for hours, and resolving that I was going to spend the night sleeping under the stars some day.
When I turned to go back to the house though, the picture that met my sight touched my heart just as strongly as the one I was turning from, though in a completely different way.
Our house (it's actually a double-wide trailer that Dad's improved and built on to), sits back a little from the dirt road. The front outside light was on, and the big oak in our front yard was a radiating silhouette, lit up magically by the light behind it. The windows of the house glowed a cozy golden. My steps made a satisfying crunching sound on the gravelly drive, and my heart was leaning considerably to the lighter side as I went in.
Showing posts with label Choir Practice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Choir Practice. Show all posts
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Monday, December 5, 2011
"Safety is of the Lord"
“For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” Ps. 91:11
Yesterday afternoon on her way to choir practice, Mrs. Carrie was in a wreck. It had been drizzling all afternoon, and the road was just wet enough to make the oil on the road slick and more dangerous than a heavy rainstorm. Coming around a curve near their house, she lost control and hydroplaned, her SUV ending up on it's side in a ditch. If it had been a car, it would have rolled completely over.
Bro. Dennis was already at the church practicing with the musicians, and Bro. Blake (who went with him when they got the call) told us later that he had to beg him to slow to 80 mph on their way out there. They had no idea what they would find.
But the Lord was merciful. Mrs. Carrie only had a burn from the seatbelt on her arm, and when they took her to the hospital just to make sure everything was alright, they said the baby's heartrate was normal, and they were both fine, though obviously shaken up. Bro. Blake said Bro. Dennis's heartrate was probably what they needed to worry about!
How many prayers have been prayed for this precious child! Both for his creation, and for his future. Just yesterday morning in his sermon, Bro. Earl mentioned how he was praying that this grandbaby would grow to become a godly man, teach his own children the ways of God, and serve the Lord with his life - like his daddy has. How I've prayed, that the Lord would save him while he's young, that he would grow to be a godly man and a preacher for Christ, that he would lead many people to the Lord, and that he would raise his own family for the Lord, that until the end of time, there would be a man of this line serving God.
And the whole church it seems, has been praying for this little miracle, and now is anxiously waiting for him to arrive. That baby will never lack for love - or attention!
Could it be that the devil is trying to stop him, even now? The Lord is SO kind and merciful! We could have lost one or both of them. Yet, He left them both to us - alive and well.
My heart is overwhelmed by His graciousness, His compassion, His pity, and His indescribable goodness.
Words cannot express how I feel. But He hears the words my heart is singing!
What else can I do but worship?
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Yesterday afternoon on her way to choir practice, Mrs. Carrie was in a wreck. It had been drizzling all afternoon, and the road was just wet enough to make the oil on the road slick and more dangerous than a heavy rainstorm. Coming around a curve near their house, she lost control and hydroplaned, her SUV ending up on it's side in a ditch. If it had been a car, it would have rolled completely over.
Bro. Dennis was already at the church practicing with the musicians, and Bro. Blake (who went with him when they got the call) told us later that he had to beg him to slow to 80 mph on their way out there. They had no idea what they would find.
But the Lord was merciful. Mrs. Carrie only had a burn from the seatbelt on her arm, and when they took her to the hospital just to make sure everything was alright, they said the baby's heartrate was normal, and they were both fine, though obviously shaken up. Bro. Blake said Bro. Dennis's heartrate was probably what they needed to worry about!
How many prayers have been prayed for this precious child! Both for his creation, and for his future. Just yesterday morning in his sermon, Bro. Earl mentioned how he was praying that this grandbaby would grow to become a godly man, teach his own children the ways of God, and serve the Lord with his life - like his daddy has. How I've prayed, that the Lord would save him while he's young, that he would grow to be a godly man and a preacher for Christ, that he would lead many people to the Lord, and that he would raise his own family for the Lord, that until the end of time, there would be a man of this line serving God.
And the whole church it seems, has been praying for this little miracle, and now is anxiously waiting for him to arrive. That baby will never lack for love - or attention!
Could it be that the devil is trying to stop him, even now? The Lord is SO kind and merciful! We could have lost one or both of them. Yet, He left them both to us - alive and well.
My heart is overwhelmed by His graciousness, His compassion, His pity, and His indescribable goodness.
Words cannot express how I feel. But He hears the words my heart is singing!
What else can I do but worship?
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Friday, November 18, 2011
"5 Small Things Friday" No. 7
Go back and read this post for the story behind "Five Small Things Friday".
For this week, here is my list:
1. Sight: Glittering morning frost on my car
2. Hearing: Sunday-afternoon choir practice working on our Christmas cantata
3. Smell: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
4. Taste: Home-made Peanut Butter Chews
5. Touch: A thunderstorm wind
The stories behind the list:
1. Have you ever seen a clean surface, covered in pure white frost, early in the morning, and the glittery effect it has? Much more perfect and stunning than anything man could make.
2. I am SO thankful to be allowed to be part of the choir at Victory Rd. I can't sing that well, and sometimes I feel like I should just quit. I know how my part is supposed to sound, and I can read music, and even hit the notes, but the quality of my voice is a little too grainy to be really nice, and I feel like I'm just messing up some of the others, and making myself look silly in the process. But then we have a session like this past Sunday, and I just can't quit! I love it too much! It's such a great time to get closer to people, to learn more about them as individuals, and to learn more about music. Bro. Dennis really works hard to whip us into shape. Right now we're working on our Christmas cantata and it is probably the best and most beautiful one we've done since my family has been at Victory Rd.
Then there's the great camaraderie and joking that is such a part of any small-ish gathering at Victory Rd. The Bass section sits behind the Tenor section in choir, and all those guys do like to carry on. The fun and banter is mixed with serious moments of concentration and friendship. It's wonderful.
3. The other night Mom made grilled cheese sandwiches for supper. I had already been thinking how wonderful a grilled cheese sandwich would taste, and that aroma as they were toasting - WOW! Toasty, cheesy, perfect.
4. Henley makes the best peanut butter chews. She brought some to our church Thanksgiving meal Tuesday evening and they were SO good.
5. One of my favorite outdoor 'activities' is a walk during a summer thunderstorm. Obviously it's not summer now, but I was out momentarily during the wind before a storm this week, and the fight with the wind is always so exhilarating - and comforting. The force, the power, the energy, the amazing beauty... I feel almost like I am being hugged by God, and I mean that in the most awe-filled, reverent way. Many of the moments in my life when I have felt His presence the strongest were when I was out in a storm.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Recent Happenings
So, before anything else really happens, I wanted to record a few of the things that have been going on lately.
First off, I am SO thankful to be done with yet another semester of school! Lord willing I only have one more (this Fall) and I'll be done for good! YAY!!! :)
The Lord was good, and gave me A's in all my classes, too. I've done well, as far as grades, but I want to finish off the rest of what I have to do, with all A's.
We have a busy summer ahead though! Right now, Trissy and I are trying to get ready for the mission trip we're planning on taking. Several people from our church are planning to be going on various mission trips this summer, and our church itself is planning two of our own. Trissy and I are planning on going on the first one, which is just a little less than three weeks away!
Last week Jaylyn helped us get set up with a Skype account, so now we can talk with them when they go back to the mission field! We're really excited. But they'll be another continent away... that seems so far, yet with the blessings of modern technology, not nearly as far away as when The Grandparents were missionaries overseas!
Mrs. H said for us to keep her incubator over the summer and try to hatch some more chicks. We'd tried right before the end of school, and had put more than twenty eggs in, but not one hatched! We've got thirty-one this time (including eight eggs she gave us from her chickens), and we are hoping and praying they all hatch, are healthy, and are mostly hens! Our hen population is down to three, and Mom is missing getting to do all her cooking with 'home-grown' eggs.
The ones in the first picture are two of the ones from Mrs. H. She gave us four of the little tiny white banty eggs, and four others that are real small, but I don't think completely banty.
The ones in the next picture are the two sizes we put in.
The last picture just shows a comparison of all four sizes together.
(Sorry about the marker on the shells. We wrote the date we gathered each egg in Sharpie on the shell, so we could tell later how the age of the eggs affected how likely they were to hatch.)
Uncle David came over for a week-or-so's visit, and The Grandparents have been thrilled to have him here! His whole family was hoping to get to come right after Christmas, and the funeral of the oldest uncle, but were not able to afford the plane fare for four people across the ocean. Someone in their sponsoring church, though, gave an offering of enough for Uncle David to come and see his parents. He is so hyper and fun and joking, and yet so willing, hard-working, and one of the most respectful-to/of-his-parents people I know. It's been good having him around to 'increase our endorphins', and we can tell The Grandparents have really 'perked up' to have his lively spirit around.
Yesterday, was Justice and Noel's wedding. The bridesmaids wore black dresses, and the groomsmen wore black suits. The women carried red roses and the men wore red rose boutonnieres. Justice's coat was white to match Noel. Somehow I did not end up taking a single picture! Oh well...
We ended up going to two weddings yesterday. Justice and Noel's, and then one of a young man whose family we have known since the kids were just little bitty. They are home school friends, and we were part of the same home school group for years. I did take a few pictures there.
Lindy and her family used to go to church with their family, so she was there too, and sat with us.
While we were in town yesterday, we went by Lifeway and I picked up 'The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' that I had pre-ordered before it came out. Dad took Trissy and me to see it in the theater - Mom was sick, and couldn't go with us :( - and that was the second time Trissy and I had been to a theater (the first was for Fireproof). I would NOT want to go regularly, but I'd like to support good movies. We hope to go and see Courageous when it comes out in September. But anyway, Dad really liked 'Dawn Treader', so Trissy and I are going to give it to him for his birthday :) .
While I was there, I also got 'Pendragon' which I have been wanting ever since I saw it several months ago. If you want something good, clean, imaginative, and exciting to watch, (not including Sherwood Pictures movies) I would recommend this! It is excellent! Uncle Alvin's are supposed to come down tonight, and Jaylyn and Jewel have been wanting to see it again, so maybe we can watch it after church.
Toby hurt his knee playing basketball a couple of weeks ago, and the doctor thinks he may have torn his ACL. If he has, he'll have to have surgery to fix it, and may not get to go on the two mission trips he was planning on being a part of this summer. Lindy said he's pretty discouraged about that, but still hopeful. He has an MRI on Tuesday, to find out for sure what's wrong, and after that, he and his parents can make a decision on what he's going to do.
Mrs. Shannen, Bro. Earl's wife, recently learned she has a hole in her heart, and she's going to have surgery this week, Lord willing. A week or so ago, she was at work, and one side of her face went numb, and she felt lightheaded. After alot of tests, they found out that the hole in her heart that all babies have when they're born had never closed up, and it was letting little clots through, and causing minor strokes.
It kind of gave us a scare, but she seems fine now, she's just going to have to have it closed up.
Bro. Earl's got laryngitis, so he couldn't preach this morning. Bro. Dennis preached for him, and it was excellent as usual. He preached on what true success is, and how to obtain it. Success is not health, wealth, and prosperity. Success is being satisfied with where the Lord has you, and doing your best for Him in the situations you find yourself it.
That's the sermon in a very small nutshell :) .
About halfway through the sermon, the electricity went off! I mean everything, the microphone, the lights, the recording machine, everything. He was just talking along, and all of a sudden there was kindof a snap, and the whole big auditorium went dark. Nobody missed a beat, just 'rolled with it' as they say, and Bro. Dennis just kept preaching and would say something like, "Now, if you can see your Bibles, please turn to this scripture reference" every now and then.
It was actually kind of cozy :) ! Some of the men got up and opened the doors into the hallways and the foyer, to let the sunlight in, and we just kept going. I am just sad that the recording machine couldn't work, because I had wanted a copy of the service to re-watch later.
"Austin and The Band" as Bro. Mike calls them (our young people who play and lead the singing for the youth class on Wednesday nights) led our music this morning and did an excellent job. I suppose they did the music because Bro. Dennis was preaching and couldn't do both.
They are getting better and better. They're all good musicians, but when they first started, they sounded like they were just starting, if you get my drift ;) . Now they blend and seem to play off each other really well. It seems like they're better every time I hear them just about! They usually pick out really good music and songs too, which of course, is half the thing, right there. And they use their great talents to glorify the Lord; that's the best thing - knowing these kids want to love and serve Christ - that's so rare these days in young people. These are such a blessing!
Dad had made hamburgers Friday, and we had them for left-overs today for lunch. Mom usually likes us to cook a 'Sunday dinner', but with all the running around and other things that have been happening lately, and since we had plenty, we just decided to do left-overs today. Trissy started fixing Dad's burger, then she called me over and showed it to me and said, "I'm going to call him to finish it!" :) .
She's real cute with things like that.
Well, I think that's about it. Besides, Trissy and I need to scoot on off to choir practice. Bro. Dennis let us all have a couple of weeks off after Easter :) .
I just wanted to record a few of the things that have been happening around and to me.
This morning church especially was SUCH a blessing and refreshment from the Lord! I can never cease to thank Him for leading us to this place, and the wonderful family He has given us, and the lessons (both easy and hard) He has taught us here. He is so amazing; so good.
{Zig-zags courtesy of Jones Design Company}
First off, I am SO thankful to be done with yet another semester of school! Lord willing I only have one more (this Fall) and I'll be done for good! YAY!!! :)
The Lord was good, and gave me A's in all my classes, too. I've done well, as far as grades, but I want to finish off the rest of what I have to do, with all A's.
We have a busy summer ahead though! Right now, Trissy and I are trying to get ready for the mission trip we're planning on taking. Several people from our church are planning to be going on various mission trips this summer, and our church itself is planning two of our own. Trissy and I are planning on going on the first one, which is just a little less than three weeks away!
Last week Jaylyn helped us get set up with a Skype account, so now we can talk with them when they go back to the mission field! We're really excited. But they'll be another continent away... that seems so far, yet with the blessings of modern technology, not nearly as far away as when The Grandparents were missionaries overseas!
Mrs. H said for us to keep her incubator over the summer and try to hatch some more chicks. We'd tried right before the end of school, and had put more than twenty eggs in, but not one hatched! We've got thirty-one this time (including eight eggs she gave us from her chickens), and we are hoping and praying they all hatch, are healthy, and are mostly hens! Our hen population is down to three, and Mom is missing getting to do all her cooking with 'home-grown' eggs.
The ones in the first picture are two of the ones from Mrs. H. She gave us four of the little tiny white banty eggs, and four others that are real small, but I don't think completely banty.
The ones in the next picture are the two sizes we put in.
The last picture just shows a comparison of all four sizes together.
(Sorry about the marker on the shells. We wrote the date we gathered each egg in Sharpie on the shell, so we could tell later how the age of the eggs affected how likely they were to hatch.)
Uncle David came over for a week-or-so's visit, and The Grandparents have been thrilled to have him here! His whole family was hoping to get to come right after Christmas, and the funeral of the oldest uncle, but were not able to afford the plane fare for four people across the ocean. Someone in their sponsoring church, though, gave an offering of enough for Uncle David to come and see his parents. He is so hyper and fun and joking, and yet so willing, hard-working, and one of the most respectful-to/of-his-parents people I know. It's been good having him around to 'increase our endorphins', and we can tell The Grandparents have really 'perked up' to have his lively spirit around.
Yesterday, was Justice and Noel's wedding. The bridesmaids wore black dresses, and the groomsmen wore black suits. The women carried red roses and the men wore red rose boutonnieres. Justice's coat was white to match Noel. Somehow I did not end up taking a single picture! Oh well...
We ended up going to two weddings yesterday. Justice and Noel's, and then one of a young man whose family we have known since the kids were just little bitty. They are home school friends, and we were part of the same home school group for years. I did take a few pictures there.
Lindy and her family used to go to church with their family, so she was there too, and sat with us.
While we were in town yesterday, we went by Lifeway and I picked up 'The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' that I had pre-ordered before it came out. Dad took Trissy and me to see it in the theater - Mom was sick, and couldn't go with us :( - and that was the second time Trissy and I had been to a theater (the first was for Fireproof). I would NOT want to go regularly, but I'd like to support good movies. We hope to go and see Courageous when it comes out in September. But anyway, Dad really liked 'Dawn Treader', so Trissy and I are going to give it to him for his birthday :) .
While I was there, I also got 'Pendragon' which I have been wanting ever since I saw it several months ago. If you want something good, clean, imaginative, and exciting to watch, (not including Sherwood Pictures movies) I would recommend this! It is excellent! Uncle Alvin's are supposed to come down tonight, and Jaylyn and Jewel have been wanting to see it again, so maybe we can watch it after church.
Toby hurt his knee playing basketball a couple of weeks ago, and the doctor thinks he may have torn his ACL. If he has, he'll have to have surgery to fix it, and may not get to go on the two mission trips he was planning on being a part of this summer. Lindy said he's pretty discouraged about that, but still hopeful. He has an MRI on Tuesday, to find out for sure what's wrong, and after that, he and his parents can make a decision on what he's going to do.
Mrs. Shannen, Bro. Earl's wife, recently learned she has a hole in her heart, and she's going to have surgery this week, Lord willing. A week or so ago, she was at work, and one side of her face went numb, and she felt lightheaded. After alot of tests, they found out that the hole in her heart that all babies have when they're born had never closed up, and it was letting little clots through, and causing minor strokes.
It kind of gave us a scare, but she seems fine now, she's just going to have to have it closed up.
Bro. Earl's got laryngitis, so he couldn't preach this morning. Bro. Dennis preached for him, and it was excellent as usual. He preached on what true success is, and how to obtain it. Success is not health, wealth, and prosperity. Success is being satisfied with where the Lord has you, and doing your best for Him in the situations you find yourself it.
That's the sermon in a very small nutshell :) .
About halfway through the sermon, the electricity went off! I mean everything, the microphone, the lights, the recording machine, everything. He was just talking along, and all of a sudden there was kindof a snap, and the whole big auditorium went dark. Nobody missed a beat, just 'rolled with it' as they say, and Bro. Dennis just kept preaching and would say something like, "Now, if you can see your Bibles, please turn to this scripture reference" every now and then.
It was actually kind of cozy :) ! Some of the men got up and opened the doors into the hallways and the foyer, to let the sunlight in, and we just kept going. I am just sad that the recording machine couldn't work, because I had wanted a copy of the service to re-watch later.
"Austin and The Band" as Bro. Mike calls them (our young people who play and lead the singing for the youth class on Wednesday nights) led our music this morning and did an excellent job. I suppose they did the music because Bro. Dennis was preaching and couldn't do both.
They are getting better and better. They're all good musicians, but when they first started, they sounded like they were just starting, if you get my drift ;) . Now they blend and seem to play off each other really well. It seems like they're better every time I hear them just about! They usually pick out really good music and songs too, which of course, is half the thing, right there. And they use their great talents to glorify the Lord; that's the best thing - knowing these kids want to love and serve Christ - that's so rare these days in young people. These are such a blessing!
Dad had made hamburgers Friday, and we had them for left-overs today for lunch. Mom usually likes us to cook a 'Sunday dinner', but with all the running around and other things that have been happening lately, and since we had plenty, we just decided to do left-overs today. Trissy started fixing Dad's burger, then she called me over and showed it to me and said, "I'm going to call him to finish it!" :) .
She's real cute with things like that.
Well, I think that's about it. Besides, Trissy and I need to scoot on off to choir practice. Bro. Dennis let us all have a couple of weeks off after Easter :) .
I just wanted to record a few of the things that have been happening around and to me.
This morning church especially was SUCH a blessing and refreshment from the Lord! I can never cease to thank Him for leading us to this place, and the wonderful family He has given us, and the lessons (both easy and hard) He has taught us here. He is so amazing; so good.
{Zig-zags courtesy of Jones Design Company}
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Last Sunday
Yes, I am better from my tussle with the flu bug (thank the Lord!), and before another Sunday rolled around, I just wanted to post a couple of thoughts I had last week.
I'd been sick for almost two weeks, and had to miss church (or church events) I believe it was 7 times.
I was so 'out of it', that for the most part, it didn't really register that I was missing church!, though I hated not to be there at the same time. Weird, I know. But that's how it was.
Last Sunday was my first one back since I'd been sick, and I was reminded again in an amazing, fresh, way of what a great gift the Lord gave us - gave me! - when He led us to Victory Rd.. What dear friends, what wise teachers, what sincere leaders. It was SO good to be back.
I'd been sick for almost two weeks, and had to miss church (or church events) I believe it was 7 times.
I was so 'out of it', that for the most part, it didn't really register that I was missing church!, though I hated not to be there at the same time. Weird, I know. But that's how it was.
Last Sunday was my first one back since I'd been sick, and I was reminded again in an amazing, fresh, way of what a great gift the Lord gave us - gave me! - when He led us to Victory Rd.. What dear friends, what wise teachers, what sincere leaders. It was SO good to be back.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
March's Challenge - From Feminine Farmgirl
March's Challenge - Peace
Jenna's assignments and my responses for this month's challenge:
"... please write a post on your blog about the Peace of God in your life, and how the challenge has personally helped you in that particular Fruit of the Spirit!!"
Well, I must say that this month's challenge was the easiest so far. At the beginning, Jenna challenged us to focus on a Bible verse whenever we were feeling overwhelmed and in need of 'peace' encouragement. The timing was perfect! That week I had been working on memorizing the verse John 14:27 -
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
It is so amazing how the Lord works out little details like that! Anyway, there were many times this month when things threatened to overwhelm me, but each time, I tried to think of that verse, and it really helped! The last week of March especially, I had tons, really, tons of schoolwork due, our church's Easter choir presentation to practice for (I was in a trio for part of it, singing tenor, and never could nail my part - until the actual presentation ;D Don't you just love how the Lord will do funny little things like that?! Talk about nervous though!), and some of our cousins and our local homeschool group were getting together to do a home-made 'movie', and wanted Trissy and me in it, so I had those lines to memorize as well! All in one week. Whew! The Lord just helped me get through that week!
All-in-all, this past month was very challenging in the Peace area, but I found it was just what I needed.
On a side note, I would like to just like to mention what a great blessing the Regan family has been to me since I 'entered' the blogging world. I found Jenna's blog first, then Josh's, then Mrs. Regan's. I do not know this family personally, but I have been so encouraged by their seemingly pure, sincere desire to be different - to rebel against the modern, feminist, anti-anything-wholesome world that the United States (which started out as a Christian nation) has become, and raise a "Godly seed" to impact the next generation for righteousness. Jenna and Josh, though younger than me, have taught me so much about kindness to siblings, submission to parents, servanthood, practicality, contentment, honor, being honest in communication, and the idea that as long as there are still young people coming on who love what's right, there is hope for the future. Mrs. Regan has refreshed my spirit with her honesty, sincerety, hunger for righteousness, and - though this may sound silly, it is true - probably what has blessed me most in reading her blog, is her desire to learn her children. Yes, "learn her children". Now, this is of course from someone who has no experience having children, just experience being one. But from what I have observed in my own life and in the lives of other families who I associate with who are (at least they say they are) trying to do things by the Bible, I think many times parents of this sort get so caught up in the 'training' of their children, that in the end, they ended up missing out on the opportunity to know their children. They have unconsciously raised their children with the mindset that they are assignments - something to train in such a way so that they do or don't do certain things, and react to stimuli in a certain fashion. But they are people! Yes, they are under the authority of the parents, yes, they should be shown to obey certain rules. But they have feelings! They have questions; they don't always understand why they're getting a spanking, all they know is that Daddy or Mommy didn't like something they did, they don't always see that they are being punished because it was wrong - that must be explained. Kids are not puppies to 'train', they are people to 'teach' - to show by example that there is a Standard to follow, a Guide Who does not always lead over the smooth sand, but sometimes over the rocks, but Whose path always ends in Joy. Mrs. Regan seems to be seeking to do this - to learn her kids so that as she teaches them, they are understanding why, and love her for it, and will love Christ sooner - because they see that He is the reason she loves them.
I don't know how many people read this blog, but if you do and you are afraid that the Christian home is dying, *smiles* it is not. Stop by these blogs, stay a while, and you will come away refreshed.
Regan Family Farm - Mrs. Regan
While I'm Waiting - Josh
Feminine Farmgirl - Jenna
"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25
Jenna's assignments and my responses for this month's challenge:
"... please write a post on your blog about the Peace of God in your life, and how the challenge has personally helped you in that particular Fruit of the Spirit!!"
Well, I must say that this month's challenge was the easiest so far. At the beginning, Jenna challenged us to focus on a Bible verse whenever we were feeling overwhelmed and in need of 'peace' encouragement. The timing was perfect! That week I had been working on memorizing the verse John 14:27 -
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
It is so amazing how the Lord works out little details like that! Anyway, there were many times this month when things threatened to overwhelm me, but each time, I tried to think of that verse, and it really helped! The last week of March especially, I had tons, really, tons of schoolwork due, our church's Easter choir presentation to practice for (I was in a trio for part of it, singing tenor, and never could nail my part - until the actual presentation ;D Don't you just love how the Lord will do funny little things like that?! Talk about nervous though!), and some of our cousins and our local homeschool group were getting together to do a home-made 'movie', and wanted Trissy and me in it, so I had those lines to memorize as well! All in one week. Whew! The Lord just helped me get through that week!
All-in-all, this past month was very challenging in the Peace area, but I found it was just what I needed.
~
On a side note, I would like to just like to mention what a great blessing the Regan family has been to me since I 'entered' the blogging world. I found Jenna's blog first, then Josh's, then Mrs. Regan's. I do not know this family personally, but I have been so encouraged by their seemingly pure, sincere desire to be different - to rebel against the modern, feminist, anti-anything-wholesome world that the United States (which started out as a Christian nation) has become, and raise a "Godly seed" to impact the next generation for righteousness. Jenna and Josh, though younger than me, have taught me so much about kindness to siblings, submission to parents, servanthood, practicality, contentment, honor, being honest in communication, and the idea that as long as there are still young people coming on who love what's right, there is hope for the future. Mrs. Regan has refreshed my spirit with her honesty, sincerety, hunger for righteousness, and - though this may sound silly, it is true - probably what has blessed me most in reading her blog, is her desire to learn her children. Yes, "learn her children". Now, this is of course from someone who has no experience having children, just experience being one. But from what I have observed in my own life and in the lives of other families who I associate with who are (at least they say they are) trying to do things by the Bible, I think many times parents of this sort get so caught up in the 'training' of their children, that in the end, they ended up missing out on the opportunity to know their children. They have unconsciously raised their children with the mindset that they are assignments - something to train in such a way so that they do or don't do certain things, and react to stimuli in a certain fashion. But they are people! Yes, they are under the authority of the parents, yes, they should be shown to obey certain rules. But they have feelings! They have questions; they don't always understand why they're getting a spanking, all they know is that Daddy or Mommy didn't like something they did, they don't always see that they are being punished because it was wrong - that must be explained. Kids are not puppies to 'train', they are people to 'teach' - to show by example that there is a Standard to follow, a Guide Who does not always lead over the smooth sand, but sometimes over the rocks, but Whose path always ends in Joy. Mrs. Regan seems to be seeking to do this - to learn her kids so that as she teaches them, they are understanding why, and love her for it, and will love Christ sooner - because they see that He is the reason she loves them.
I don't know how many people read this blog, but if you do and you are afraid that the Christian home is dying, *smiles* it is not. Stop by these blogs, stay a while, and you will come away refreshed.
Regan Family Farm - Mrs. Regan
While I'm Waiting - Josh
Feminine Farmgirl - Jenna
"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25
Friday, December 11, 2009
Bible Study and Choir Practice
Hello everyone!
Last night we had our college class Bible study, but had to cut it short again because Bro. Dennis asked the choir to meet at 6:30 for practice. Seems like we haven't had a regular Bible study for about a month and a half! The college class usually meets at 6:00 and goes 'til about 8:00, but it's just a week from Sunday that we are having our Christmas Sing, and the choir still needs practice! About half the young people who are in the college class are also in choir, so we had a short Bible study and then those of us who are singing went over to the auditorium, and the rest were going to stay and just fellowship a little while. We had a real good practice, even though there were several missing. I love being in the choir! I love to sing, and besides, there is just this spirit of fun and joy that fills the whole experience. Choir practice is always an Experience ;) !
After we finished, and everyone was beginning to leave, Bro. Dennis took some time to show Trissy and me some more about chords. Don't know if I've told about this yet, but during the summer we had a week-long old-fashioned singing school at the church, and it went so well and there was such interest shown, that Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Janet (Bro. Jack's wife) who are probably the most musically knowledgeable people in the church, decided that it would be good to have a Saturday every quarter set aside as a 'day-long' singing school/music seminar. We had one in October, and it was such fun! I feel like I learned so much just in that one day! Towards the end, someone asked a question about chords, and Bro. Dennis began explaining it then, but my head was already so full that I didn't absorb much, and he told us he would help us with it some more - he knows how much Trissy and I love Southern Gospel music. So anyway, last night he explained more of it to us and helped us work out some questions, and I think a little more soaked in. Bro. Dennis is such an encyclopedia when it comes to music (and alot of other things too, for that matter) !
Oh, and also at some point during the conversation he enthusiastically commented that he had really enjoyed being around Uncle David - so I guess they hit it off pretty good :). I was really glad, because Bro. Dennis has such a joyful spirit, and he shows it best by teasing and joking and sometimes I think that some people are kind of (with all due respect - some of these people are adults) 'stick-in-the-mud' Christians and maybe just haven't learned how to let the Joy of the Lord be their strength - they get their dander up or their feelings hurt when if they would just see the humor, their lives could be alot less sour! So I'm glad Bro. Dennis (and Uncle David too) had someone to tease who would just laugh and then throw it right back for a change! :D
Last night we had our college class Bible study, but had to cut it short again because Bro. Dennis asked the choir to meet at 6:30 for practice. Seems like we haven't had a regular Bible study for about a month and a half! The college class usually meets at 6:00 and goes 'til about 8:00, but it's just a week from Sunday that we are having our Christmas Sing, and the choir still needs practice! About half the young people who are in the college class are also in choir, so we had a short Bible study and then those of us who are singing went over to the auditorium, and the rest were going to stay and just fellowship a little while. We had a real good practice, even though there were several missing. I love being in the choir! I love to sing, and besides, there is just this spirit of fun and joy that fills the whole experience. Choir practice is always an Experience ;) !
After we finished, and everyone was beginning to leave, Bro. Dennis took some time to show Trissy and me some more about chords. Don't know if I've told about this yet, but during the summer we had a week-long old-fashioned singing school at the church, and it went so well and there was such interest shown, that Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Janet (Bro. Jack's wife) who are probably the most musically knowledgeable people in the church, decided that it would be good to have a Saturday every quarter set aside as a 'day-long' singing school/music seminar. We had one in October, and it was such fun! I feel like I learned so much just in that one day! Towards the end, someone asked a question about chords, and Bro. Dennis began explaining it then, but my head was already so full that I didn't absorb much, and he told us he would help us with it some more - he knows how much Trissy and I love Southern Gospel music. So anyway, last night he explained more of it to us and helped us work out some questions, and I think a little more soaked in. Bro. Dennis is such an encyclopedia when it comes to music (and alot of other things too, for that matter) !
Oh, and also at some point during the conversation he enthusiastically commented that he had really enjoyed being around Uncle David - so I guess they hit it off pretty good :). I was really glad, because Bro. Dennis has such a joyful spirit, and he shows it best by teasing and joking and sometimes I think that some people are kind of (with all due respect - some of these people are adults) 'stick-in-the-mud' Christians and maybe just haven't learned how to let the Joy of the Lord be their strength - they get their dander up or their feelings hurt when if they would just see the humor, their lives could be alot less sour! So I'm glad Bro. Dennis (and Uncle David too) had someone to tease who would just laugh and then throw it right back for a change! :D
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