A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE

JULY 14, 2009

Things seem to be getting a little less frantic to where I can sit down and post. It has been a fast, busy, and exciting summer thus far. However, it is going much faster than I would like. I can't believe we are in the middle of July. I don't even want to think about school starting back in approximately 5 weeks.

We have been busy around the house and getting some things accomplished but at a slow pace. I finally finished painting the bottom of the dining room walls and I am pleased with the final product. I now have some touch up to do on the top wall above the chair rail and then I can begin to decorate the room. I keep telling myself one room at a time and not to jump ahead but it gets hard to resist the urge to move on to another room. I have so many ideas floating around in my head but money and time are not on my side. I have to remind myself to do these projects as budget and time allows.

Rachael left for camp on Friday of last week and she was excited to be spending a week in Florida. The bus left the church around midnight Friday but unfortunately broke down two different times so they did not arrive at camp until around 11:00 pm Saturday night. Yes, 23 hours later, my daughter called to tell us they had arrived. She was in good spirits though, and said the trip was full of fun and surprises. She enjoyed meeting Mr. Messer from Trinity Baptist in Florida who took the kids to his church and fed them pizza while the bus was towed. What a wonderful testimony to Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Messer also supplied a bus for our kids to continue their trip to camp.

Yuri and the boys came to town on Thursday of last week and Jon came in on Friday to stay with us. It was fun to have our friends stay with us. Jimmy and I never realized how much we would need Jon and Yuri's help to prepare for the RU group until Friday. There was so much to get done before Steve Curington and the JoyBells arrived on Saturday. My back went out on Thursday afternoon and I could hardly move by the time I arrived home that evening. I was so afraid that I would not be able to get our house cleaned, shopping done, meals prepared, and things ready for Saturday night RU but the Lord knew exactly what was needed and provided all the resources to get it done. Yuri cleaned my home, Jon peeled potatoes, chopped cabbage, and Jimmy filled in all the gaps. I was able to rest Thursday night and on Friday morning my back was feeling somewhat better. I went onto work and took it easy for the day. I was able to rest again on Friday night and by Saturday morning, my back was in good shape. Yuri and I ran the remaining errands on Saturday while Jimmy and Jon took care of all the preparations at church. The Lord worked everything out just as planned.

Daycare turned out to be more than expected but thank the Lord for people willing to step up and help. Robin and Gina Moon brought their daughter and the three of them served dinner and snacks for RU in the cafeteria. They cleaned everything up and were a tremendous blessing. Allison Steinhaus, Katie McDaniels, and Gabby Barrow helped out in the daycare along beside myself and Yuri. We ended up with 24 kids, two of them infants. It was a BIG group and a long evening but I am so thankful for God's provisions.

There were ladies who provided desserts and baked beans for the meal on Sunday afternoon and we were able to get everyone fed and on their way to their next destination. I cannot express how much I appreciate all the help that was given to make the weekend a special blessing. Thank you Pastor and Kim for hosting the meal in "The Gathering Place."

Everything had such a special meaning for me and Jimmy and his birthday was on Sunday and what a special day for him to have Steve Curington and members of RU conduct our morning services. It was truly a God-filled day!

We hosted two of the girls at our home, Beth and Stephanie. I was so humbled by their testimonies and we talked as though we had known each other for years. I know we have formed forever friendships and exchanged emails before they left. The Lord is so Good and he revealed even more to me through the testimony of these young ladies. Tina was one of the young girls who testified on Sunday morning in the 8:45 am service and as she spoke, my heart felt as though it would burst! Even though it was her standing at that podium speaking, she was telling my story. As she spoke how God had saved her and the wonderful love relationship she had found in him, I could not contain all the tears of joy I felt in my own heart. God too, spared me from continuing in a life that would have been filled with bondage, pain, and destruction. Rom.12:1,2 were verses Tina quoted and is her life verses that she has claimed.

These ladies sang with a passion that only can be a gift given from God. I personally believe that as each of these ladies accepted Christ as their Savior, God gave them a voice to be heard. His gift to them so they could show their light to others.

I wanted to stay for the 11:00 am service also, but had to get things ready for lunch. Kim, Diane, Yuri, and Jon were awesome. They had everything ready to go with time to spare. Jimmy and I have continued to say many times this week, "Our cup runneth over!" We are so Blessed!
To God be the Glory, for Great Things He Hath Done!