Storms I Never See

There's a song that's sung by one of our favorite Southern Gospel groups called, "Storms I Never See". The person is thanking the Lord for all these different things, then prays, "Lord, I'm also grateful for the storms I never see."

This morning in our college Sunday School class, before class actually started, we got to talking briefly about dangerous experiences. One of my college friends told how, when they were younger, they had been riding a four-wheeler and didn't see the zip-line wire in front of them. It caught them right across the throat. The wire was tight and they were not going slow, either.

That situation could have turned tragic very easily.
Yet the Lord chose to give protection.

How merciful the Lord was!! He spared this friend a terrible death. He spared their family a horrendous loss.
He spared me, and others who have come to know, love, and grow from the friendship of this dear young person now.
Who knows what many other lives He spared, that will be touched by this Godly individual in the future?

How many nightmares has the Lord protected us from, that we don't ever know about? How many ways has He kept something from happening, years ago even, that - if it had happened - would have made our lives radically different? How many things do we take for granted because we've just gotten used to them being there, and don't realize, the Lord could have taken those things from us before we ever HAD them! And we forget to thank Him for the storms we never see.

VRBC

It's time the church had a name.

In my musings and chronicling of my life that I record on this blog, I have carefully tried to protect the privacy and identity of the people and places I talk about. I have chosen, with care, the names the characters in this little 'story of my life' are known by. One of the most frequently mentioned entities however, has, up until now, not had a name of it's own in my records. That is the church. The church that first caused me to start this blog - to record the lessons I learn there, the relationships I form there, the challenges I face there, and the encouragements I gain there.

It's time I had something to call it other than "the church", "my church", or "our church" (depending on the context I'm writing from at the moment). "The church" could be too broad, since those words (as a term) are often used to speak of the Church as a whole - Christ's Bride, the body of believers.
"My church" is technically incorrect, as is "our church", because even though I'm only using the terms to denote the local church I am a member in, "my" or "our" expresses ownership, and I do not feel comfortable doing that. The church is not 'mine' or 'ours'. It is His - it is Christ's!

So the church needs a specific name that I will call it by here on this blog, and I believe I have a fitting one for it.

From now on when I speak of the church I attend and love so much, I will be referring to it as Victory Road.

There are several reasons I have chosen this name. Some people who read this may even be able to recognize a few of them.
The Lord has used this place as a change in my life's road. I have encountered certain types of bumps and curves that had never been in the pathway of my former travels. Hard, rough, and painful places. I have also encountered some of the most sheltered, tree-lined avenues of dappled sunshine I have ever been through. Beautiful places where the Lord's presence is so real beside me that at times I almost felt I could reach out and He would physically put His arm around my shoulders.

I am thankful beyond expression that He chose to take me down this Victory Road. I pray I may learn the lesson behind every hard rock in the way, and that I may soak up, treasure, and share the smooth soft places full of Glory.

Note: It follows that the Christian Academy will now be "Victory Road Christian Academy" or "VRCA" in the post labels.
Also, as time permits, I will probably go through all the other posts I have done about the church, and change the name.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Eyes. Mischievous brown eyes. Gorgeous green eyes. Frank, shining sapphire-blue eyes. Twinkling caramel-brown eyes. Snapping black eyes. Smiling green eyes. Serious, wise, sparkling soft brown eyes. Unpredictable sky-blue eyes. Laughing, earnest deep-sea blue eyes. Golden eyes, yet to be deciphered. Gentle, happy brown eyes. Pale turquoise eyes.

Soft, curving, shocks of hair. Sunny gold. Mahogany. Night black. Golden brown. Chocolate. Red gold. Auburn. Soft light brown. Dark brown. Burnished gold.

Dimples. Braces. Band practices. Bible studies. Big smiles.

Strong young blood. Good choices. Right decisions. Victorious lives.

Existence Vs. Living.

Last night before family prayer and bedtime, Trissy made a comment on the difference between 'living', and 'existence'. She told me that I "know how to 'live'".

Do I?

What is 'Existence', and what is 'Life'?

Existence is breathing, one's body working properly, going through the motions of life. A dead - or dying - soul that cannot escape, simply because it's earthly prison of flesh and bone is too healthy to release it.
Or, it's the act of moving through life, but not living it. Trissy described it as in a scene from one of our family-favorite movies: Rafting down the river. Landing at a sandbar where we will camp. Hurrying to get the rafts unloaded, hurrying to get camp set up so we can hurry and get to bed so we can get up early in the morning to hurry and get the rafts loaded, and hurry down the river - to the next camp site.

Life is physical, just like existence. But life is something more.
Life is Joy. Life is Peace in the midst of deepest pain. Life finds it's greatest pleasures in little things like working with it's hands, the glittery sparkles naturally embedded in a flower petal, or even the brilliant color of some man-made item; the feel of a cool, hard-wood floor beneath it's bare feet; a well-written article. An exceptional voice. A lovely form. A fine face.
Life has (or takes) the time to smell the roses, right an over-turned bug, or dance in the rain.

Existence endures. Life enjoys.
Existence mourns. Life marvels.
Existence is miserable in hard circumstances. Life is hopeful, in spite of hard circumstances.
Existence is uncaring. Life is unselfish.
Existence struggles. Life shares.

Do I Live? I pray so.

What Else Can I do But Worship?

"Thank You" is not enough. He is too great. It is all too amazing.
"Thank You" is not enough. What else can I do but worship?



Note: Details later.

More Recent Happenings

This is another 'Recent Happenings' post. I have to go such gaps in my posting that when I do get to post just a 'journal' type post, there is SO MUCH to tell! Maybe someday I can get on a schedule that allows for regular blogging - I don't want to forget all these memories! Until then, I'll just do my best.



Mission Journey 2011 - my (and Trissy's) first mission trip was an amazing blessing and experience! Ten from our church went, as well as the churches former pastor who agreed to come to do the preaching. Our team did a series of services that lasted five evenings. Each night about half of us led special classes for children, while the rest had a church service for the adults. We worked with the local church, and were blessed beyond measure, besides the added blessings of their testimonies of how we had blessed them!
We also worked on their church building, helping with some fixes that needed to be done.
The story is so long and wonderfully full! I will not tell it all here. Suffice it to say, I believe I will never forget my experiences there, the bonds and friendships made, the lessons learned, and the tremendous blessings poured out. I pray the Lord used us to impact lives to such an extent, that the local Christians will be able to water the seed we planted, and that God will give such an increase that all we can do is praise Him!



Oliver got married this past month to a girl he met in Bible College. He'd brought her down here a couple of times on school breaks this past semester, and Victory Rd. got to meet her, but it still took us all a little by surprise, I think, when we heard he was getting married! Bro. Mike said the church would be taking our bus over there for anyone who wanted to go to the wedding (Oliver stayed over in the state where the college is, instead of coming back here for the summer). It ended up only being five of us who went. Bro. Mike and his wife, Toby, Lindy, and me.

We drove over Friday, the wedding was Saturday evening, and we came back Sunday afternoon after going to the church Landon attends when he's there.

That was the most 'different' wedding I think I've ever been to. I don't guess it was bad, it was just... nontraditional, shall we say. But I was glad I went. Some of Oliver's church family from down here needed to be there to support him and show we still love and care about him, even though he's not here any more.



We gave our old (well, young actually) mean rooster to Mom's cousin and his family who live up the road from us, and their little grandson LOVES him! We had him out in the pen, and Mom and Trissy were afraid of him because he would try to spur them whenever they went into the pen. Dad and I were the only ones he respected - we made sure he knew who was boss!



Mom was so tired of being afraid in her own yard that she was about ready to put him in a pot, but he'd been part of the first batch we'd hatched in the incubator, and we hated to eat him ourselves, so we gave him to our cousin. They keep him in a smaller cage by himself, and they can just reach in to feed him. The little grandson loves to look at him and hear him crow :) . So we're glad the matter was 'disposed of' so satisfactorily to everyone! We got rid of a menace, and they got a pet!

The chicks we hatched were getting so big, and as soon as we got rid of the rooster, we put them out in the big pen with the hens. Two of the banty eggs and one of the medium-sized ones from Mrs. H hatched, and also four of our own. When we let them out into the big pen, they were so happy to be out and able to 'fly' around!



Day before yesterday though, something got the little banty rooster chick (bottom left in the picture). We thought maybe it had been one of our cats, but they acted hungry at feeding time, and just didn't seem like they would do that - they're pretty used to the chickens, and leave them alone.
Then yesterday something killed the little medium-sized one (the white one at the top), but left most of it (the banty was completely gone except for a little pile of feathers). Trissy had seen a squirrel in the pen yesterday, and we are wondering if a squirrel might have gotten them. Does anyone know if squirrels eat chicken?! There's getting to be somewhat of an over-population of them around here, and if they can't find enough of their normal food, would they go for a small chicken?
Anyway, we've locked the last five chicks in the chicken house with food and water, and put a nesting box out in the yard for the grown hens for now. We hope to get some wire soon (today if possible) and totally enclose the area.



We had VBS in June, and really enjoyed being involved again this year. Trissy went 'out on a limb' this year, and was the assistant teacher for ages four and five, with Lindy being the teacher. The young Spanish woman who our family's having Bible studies with, brought her two little kids, and they all seemed to really enjoy it.



I've finally gotten the top of my bedspread made! I've been wanting to make a denim bedspread for several years, using our old denim clothes and scraps given to me by friends and family, so it will be sort of a memory quilt. I finally gathered enough scraps - it took 315 squares!



I wrote on little scraps of paper where each denim piece came from, and pinned it to the fabric. I plan on embroidering on the back of the quilt, who each square came from.



I got the top pieced a couple of weeks ago. I had to lay it all out on our living room floor, because that was the only place big enough to leave it spread out until I got all the squares sewn together!



It took me almost two weeks to get it done, working in my spare time. Mom was very patient to let me leave it spread out in the middle of the floor so long!



On the Fourth of July, Trissy made a delicious 'fruit pizza' desert using sugar cookie dough for the crust, and a whipped cream/cream cheese mixture for the 'sauce'. She loves decorating those things, but this year we didn't have much fruit except blueberries, so that's what she used.



I thought it turned out so western/country/rustic looking - I love that style - and it tasted SO good!



Dad, Mom, Trissy, me, and The Grandparents all took a little 'field trip' out to a blueberry farm near where we live, and got to see how blueberries are picked by a machine, and how they are examined, sorted, and packaged for selling.











One of the men who works there goes to the same church as The Grandparents, and he told them they aught to go out and see how it was done! The owner is also a friend of his, and took us around, giving us the 'grand tour'. It was fascinating!
Before we left, we bought some of their blueberry lemonade - it was so cold and refreshing!





Last month, we were outside one evening at The Grandparents, and kept thinking we heard a kitten mewing. We eventually found it up inside the motor area of our van! It was dark by this time (we were getting ready to go back to our house), and the kitten was black, so we had quite a time finding it and getting it out of there. We think someone probably didn't want it and dropped it off near our place. Anyway, we'll probably end up keeping it instead of giving it away. We've gotten kind of attached to it, and Trissy wants it for herself, since Bobby is sort of the family's cat, and Winky is mine. We've named it Magnolia, after a black kitten in a Christmas story we have :) .



The S. family came over a few weeks ago one Saturday evening to bring us a little banty rooster. He was from the first batch they hatched and raised, but he was getting picked on at their place by the other chickens, so they offered him to us.

Bro. and Mrs. S., Law, and Piper all came, Archer was at work I believe, and Abigail was gone to church camp with a friend. It was the first time any of them had been to our place; after releasing the rooster into the pen, we stood around 'talking chickens' and caught some of the chicks to hold. We showed them our garden, fruit trees, and the rest of our yard, our basktetball goal, and our cats. Piper got attached to Magnolia :) . They stayed for about an hour and a half, and we just chatted out in the yard. It was so nice to have them! We wanted them to come in for a while, but they had to get on back. Church in the morning, and it was getting on toward sunset. They are such dear people.



I have been so thankful for the personal projects the Lord has helped me accomplish the past few weeks! My denim quilt top, and also the seat to my desk chair, and my 'window mirror'!

I found saw this chair by the side of the road one Wednesday night on our way to church about four years ago. Trash pick-up was the next day, I think, so I asked Dad if we could stop on our way home from church, and see what kind of condition the chair was in.
When we stopped, it turned out the frame was in great condition, only it's rush seat was all torn up. So we took it back to the house, and I tore off the ruined seat, sanded and stained the chair frame, and sat it at my desk until I could order the cane to put a new seat in.
Well, there it sat for approximately four years, waiting for me to spend the money on some cane for a seat (there always seemed to be something more pressing the money I had needed to be spent on).

So this past month, I finally got the cane ordered, and put that seat in (I ordered the 1/2 inch flat reed from Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, and it only cost $15.54, including tax)!
I love it! I can actually sit at my desk now to do my work :D !





I also got my 'window mirror' stained and hung. I've wanted one of these since I was about eight years old, and I saw one in my uncle and aunt's house. This frame was given to me by The Grandfather's brother and his wife, when I found it in the loft of their old barn. The glass was broken out of it, and the various layers of paint were peeling, but I wanted a natural stain anyway. Mom stripped it, and Dad and Mom paid someone to put the mirrors in as my Christmas gift last year. I was so excited!



So this month I got it stained, and Dad helped me put a wire hanger on it.
We hung it above my bed. It's across from my window, and makes my little room seem larger and so much more airy!



One Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago, Dad, Mom, Trissy, Toby, Lindy and I went about a half-hour away to a baptism service of one of the Spanish churches up a little north of us. Our family is in charge of the Spanish ministry at our church, and Toby and Lindy are two of our most involved and enthusiastic in the ministry. We've been getting advice and help from the Guatemalan pastor of this church that was having the baptism, and on his last visit down to a small Spanish service we had, he was telling about the baptism that was going to be taking place, and told us their church was praying that the Lord would prepare twelve people to be baptized that day. We decided we'd like to go up and be there, both for support for them and also for the experience ourselves. We invited Toby and Lindy to come along. There ended up being eleven people baptized!



It was quite an experience! We were the only 'white' people, and we stood out like sore thumbs! But it was really neat and very moving to see how the people loved the Lord, and wanted to learn about Him. They met in a park so they could use the lake to baptize in, and it was raining that morning, but people just stood out in the rain for their classes like it was nothing! We are so spoiled.





This past week I finished Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I read the full version. You know, the one that's twenty inches thick? Ok, well, maybe not twenty inches...

I must admit, I was extremely disappointed. I believe it's considered one of the classics, besides, I've heard people rant and rave over how wonderful it was.
I love to read, and am always looking for good material, so I borrowed it from a cousin and read it. The story was extremely interesting, there were lots of surprise twists, narrow escapes, and gripping scenes. It was very good - from a literary standpoint.

But the author's seemingly wishy-washy attitude on things like drinking, loose living, and using anger and animal-like violence to get one's way, disturbed me greatly. He seemed to rant and rave to a huge extent on the injustices and flaws of certain areas of society, yet be condoning and even approving of other ungodly and distorted ways of thinking.
Anyway, I could not in good conscience recommend this book to anyone. Just saying.



Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie are supposed to go Tuesday to see how things are going with the baby, and find out whether it's a boy or a girl (it's a boy though, I know it is ;) ).
Mrs. Carrie just seems to glow all the time. Praise the Lord for His goodness!



Justice and Noel will be leaving Aug. 5. I miss them already. Austin will be going to join them and go to the same seminary as Justice, after he finishes this next year of college. He and Justice believe the Lord may be calling them to start a church together, though they don't know how, when, or where. Aron and Henley announced Wednesday night that they will probably be moving to another state within a couple of years, for Aron to go to Bible College as well.
It's sad to think about everyone dispersing, but so exciting too, to see how the Lord will use these dear young lives for His purpose and work.

Sunday evening after church the young people met for supper together (as we have been doing for quite a while now), and after the usual banter and fun that always comes when we all get together, we fell into a discussion of 'preference vs. principle' - how so many churches do things because 'that's how we've always done it', and not maybe because those preferences have their root in Scripture. We must carefully examine the Bible, and determine what among our habits (both as a church, and as individuals) are preference, and what are principle. We may need to throw out some preferences that can not truthfully be called principles, while carefully preserving the 'preferences' that are also 'principles'!

As I sat listening (and discussing!), I couldn't help thinking, "How many groups of college-age young people, even among 'church youth groups', would have a conversation that so easily and naturally turned to Biblical things, without being urged by an adult?! Praise God for this dear group who have HIM as their center!! Praise Him for allowing me to be a part of it!"



I am now on Etsy! Praise the Lord, another project checked off my list that's been there forever! I've had an account since February, but hadn't set up the buy/sell side of it yet. I got that done yesterday with the gracious help of a local friend who's an Etsy seller. Praise the LORD!
My shop is empty right this minute, but I hope to start listing things soon!
HERE is the link to my shop. If anyone who may be reading is an Etsy user, I'd appreciate any support :)



Victory Road Christian Academy starts back to school Aug. 8th, and I'm so excited! I love working there, and can't wait to see all my little after-school kids again. Bro. Earl announced Sunday that there are over a hundred students enrolled, and the school now goes up through twelfth grade. Praise the Lord! That's a few more that the public schools won't get to poison for a while anyway!

Note: I'm not bashing public schools, I know there are many good Godly principals and teachers out there who are trying to fix a sick system. But I am afraid that public schools are nothing more than a disaster waiting to happen. Most of the ungodly and dangerous influences that children are exposed to come from their school. Public schools are especially dangerous to children of Christian families. They are little sheep being fed to the lions - what control do loving parents have over what the little eyes see, what the little ears hear, what the little minds soak up about a world that is saturated in filth and evil, when they are away from them? Church gets them maybe a couple of hours a week. School gets them most of the day, most of the week, and most of the year.
The ideal is homeschooling. The second-best is a Godly, Christian, private school.



School starts back for me Aug. 19th. This is my last semester, and is basically just a 'clean-up' one. I'll be taking my last few required classes, and also an art class, simply because, as a crafter and 'artist', I'd like to learn a little more about good design.
I'm hoping and praying this semester will be easy! I have so much else I'd like to have time to be involved in!

{Zig-zags courtesy of Jones Design Company}

Darkness, yet Light

Life is filled with joys and sorrows, ups and downs, sunshine and shadow, light and darkness. The Lord balances these things in our lives for reasons of His own. I suspect one of those reasons to be something along these lines: He gives us joys so that we will know His goodness, and rest in it, being thankful. He gives us sorrows so that we will not get too comfortable and forget Where the goodness comes from, but remember He is the great Comforter, He is the Maker of the ‘All’.

Recently a similar situation was bestowed on two separate families among some of my dear friends. So many of the 'little' details were the same, it was fascinating. So many were, of course, unique and different.

But things come that we do not foresee, unexpected – and undesired – twists in the plots of our lives. Now one family is yet rejoicing, and the other is bereaved.
Light and darkness. In my life, in the lives of those I love.

But “…the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:5) and in the end, the darkness must be driven out by the Light, simply because the Light is more powerful than the darkness - the darkness must bow to the Light.
Those who have the Light, cannot continue traveling in the darkness. They may walk the sad road for a while, but it will not stay dark forever. Day will come again. Perfect love casts out fear; light casts out darkness; though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us. Woe to those who have not the Light; and oh what a Refuge – what a Brightness – for those who have!

"For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands. ... Thy thoughts are very deep." Ps. 92:4 & 5b

SOLI DEO GLORIA!