A LOOK BACK AT 2008

It is so hard to believe that in less than 3 hours 2008 will be history.
As I reflect on the past 12 months I would like to share some ways in which 2008 was HIS STORY.

Our Baby Boomer Group at church makes an annual trip to Gatlinburg in January. This is a time of fun, fellowship, shopping, hiking, late night game playing and just spending time with each other. Each day we have an incredible program led by our friend Dulaney. We all come back refreshed and renewed and closer to each other than when we started the trip. A friend at work said she could not imagine that there were 30 people she would want to spend a weekend with in close quarters, such as our chalets. For me these 30 are not just my friends, they are my Christian family. I can't imagine NOT spending the weekend with them.
The mix of people who go is not always the same but GOD has shown up each time. HIS STORY.

In February , March, and part of April my father was very ill. He was hospitalized and had many tests trying to pinpoint his problem. At one point he got down to 128 pounds and he is 6'1". He was diagnosed with emphysema and had to sleep with oxygen, which led to lots of sleepless nights. My family, my parents' church family and my church family poured out prayers for my father. In May he was able to eat more, discontinued the oxygen, and was a new man. Through the power of prayer, GOD provided a miracle. HIS STORY.



In June Ernie and I attended ICHTHUS. We love the music, the Saturday night communion service where 20,000 people take communion simultaneously, the speakers, and just the experience of being with so many young people in the hot summer sun, praying it does not storm. Ernie also enjoys the funnel cakes. As Casting Crowns ended the concert session on Saturday night I was able to be close to the stage and the spirit of worship was palpable. GOD was worshipped for 3 days straight by young and old alike. HIS STORY.

In August I spent a weekend in the Word of GOD as only Beth Moore can teach it when I attended LPL at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville with my dear friend Karen. If you know Beth then you already know that GOD was all over the place. HIS STORY.

In November I suffered a severe dog bite to the middle finger on my left hand. Once again GOD was faithful to the prayers for healing that were lifted up by my family and friends and my finger is healing. I will not need amputation or skin grafts that the doctors had thought might be necessary. HIS STORY.

An unexpected blessing came this summer when I signed up for an online Bible Study facilitated by Beth Moore. I started studying with a group called Siestas for Him in an online forum. I never expected to have such a close bond with this wonderful group of Christian women that I have only "met" in cyberspace. We encourage, pray, support, and love one another. We "talk" to each other in a CHAT room and we have even been know to sing online! We all believe that this is a GOD thing and that He has led us to one another. HIS STORY.

These are just a few of GOD's blessings this year. Others include my family and the celebration of my parent's 59th wedding anniversary, our 29th wedding anniversary, and Brittany's 24th birthday. But I will stop here because as long as it takes me to type, it will be 2009 if I don't stop now.

May 2009 be filled with HIS STORY in your lives.

Love, LINDA

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

Those of you who know me know that Ernie and I rarely eat at home. We are both tired and hungry when we leave work so we often stop for supper before coming home. And we eat out on the weekend because it's the weekend. And we eat out with our friends after church on Sunday. All that adds up to lots of $$$ and calories ( not a problem for my runner husband but not so good for me).We would like to start eating at home and today we took a step in that direction. After a delicious breakfast at McDonald's ( we didn't want to go cold turkey), we went to Kroger's armed with a list and coupons. I am sure we were there for an hour but it was WONDERFUL to shop on a weekday morning. When we got home, Ernie brought everything in from the car while I cleaned out the freezer and refrigerator. If you eat at home and are well organized this probably seems odd to you. BUT it is much easier to plan meals when you don't have to guess what is in that package in the freezer AND how long has it been there! Next, I proceded to clean out my pantry ( see prior sentence)!!The fruits of our labor (mostly mine but Ernie did go with me and heunloaded the groceries) produced a delicious dinner of Minute Steak Stew, slaw, and rolls. I have chicken in the crockpot that I can take to work this week and chili on the stove that we can eat later in the week.Did you know that the grocery sells FREEZER BAGS?Well I now have several of those in my freezer and they are labeled and dated (chicken, ground beef). I also have the ingredients for some new recipes I plan to try this week.We are off to a great start. Now if I can just get the kitchen table cleared off, we will have a place to eat all this wonderful food.......

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I want to wish all my family and friends a Christmas filled with HOPE and MIRACLES and CHRIST'S ABIDING PRESENCE.

Since three dogs live in our home, we are "treeless" this year but we do have a few decorations. This is the fireplace in our family room, complete with Brittany's Hello Kitty Christmas stocking. The three adorable puppies are Penny, Magnolia and Kiera.

Hello Christmas!

Penelope

Magnolia

Kiera Boo

Next are two of our Nativity Scenes. The first one is new this year and the other one is one I have had "forever". Last year Linus came to the stable and recites the Christmas story from Luke's Gospel.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is sending Christmas cards. This sleigh holds cards we have received this year from family and friends. When I was a little girl my parents always sent out a "picture" Christmas card and I ALWAYS made them take a picture of me as Mary and my doll TinyTears as Baby Jesus. Unfortunately I don't have the ability to post those adorable images.

This is the picture I sent to SANTA along with my Christmas list this year. My list is very short. I asked for a UL CARDINAL Victory over those pesky KY. Wildcats on January 4th, 2009.

May 2009 be filled with God's Miracles and His promises fulfilled in your lives.

Love,

LINDA

WAITING EXPECTANTLY

Today is the first Sunday in ADVENT. Last Sunday was Christ the King Sunday and the end of the Christian calendar. Advent marks the New Year in the church as we expectantly wait for Christ to come to earth as a baby.

Is this a season of HOPE for you? Are you EXPECTING to hear from God in a new way through familiar stories, songs, scripture? ARE you WAITING for the miraculous? Are all your senses AWAKE and ready to recieve your newborn KING?

Or are you STRESSED by all the preparations? Can I find a parking place less than a mile from the mall? I have no idea what to buy for (fill in the blank), they are SO hard to please. I'll never be able to shop, wrap, cook, host, travel, attend ALL the church events ( you name it). I JUST WANT CHRISTMAS TO BE OVER!!!

If you saw yourself in the last paragraph take heart (and a deep breath). Good News is coming. Hope is just up ahead. Listen to Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the LORD has annointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in ZION - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

In Luke 4: 16-21 the scroll of Isaiah was handed to Jesus in the synagogue. He stood up and read: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Then Jesus said "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing".

JESUS is the good news that is coming. JESUS is the hope just up ahead. Wait expectantly to see what God has to say to you in this advent season. Then it will be easy to say " I can't wait for Christmas".

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Many of you know that on 11/20/08 at 5:00am I was bitten on the middle finger of my left hand while I was trying to separate two of Brittany's dogs who were fighting. The physicians I saw at the ER had me sign surgical consents for amputation of a portion of my finger because they honestly thought my wound would not heal. The factors working in my favor according to the doctors were 1. I had feeling in the flap of my finger that had been injured and 2. I am not a smoker which meant I have good circulation.

Today when I saw the plastic surgeon all the news was GOOD. My finger will not need any surgical intervention. Dr. Vasconez wants to see me next week to check my progress BUT I WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP ALL OF MY FINGER. I believe this news is a result of the greatest factor working in my favor and that is your prayers on my behalf.

Family and friends have constantly gone before God with prayers for my complete healing. Science may give more credibility to the first 2 factors listed in this post but we live by faith, not sight and I know without a doubt that God answered the prayers lifted up on my behalf.

One other thing I have learned over the last year is that our prayers can be VERY specific. God wants us to ask for what we need. My friend Sheryl did not ask for God to heal me partially so I would only need a small portion of my finger amputated; instead she asked that God heal the edges of my skin, restoring blood supply and restore my finger completely. Many years earlier Sheryl's mother prayed VERY specifically for a man to marry after Sheryl's father died. God brought the perfect person into their lives. WE are God's children . Let's ask Him for what we need specifically and then let's give Him all the glory.

Your love, care, support, and most of all your prayers mean more to me than you will ever know.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

TWENTY NINE YEARS

Ernie and I got married 11/17/79 at 7:30pm ( good luck if the hands of the clock are going up we were told) at Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church in Louisville.

I am going to steal NC Kim's idea and tell you about our first date. Ernie's sister Patsy worked as a secretary at Winburn Jr. High which was one of the five schools assigned to me as a school nurse. Patsy really liked me and I am assuming she loved her brother because she thought it would be a great idea if we met. Driving away from the school that day I thought that something special might be in store for me.

As I mentioned, Patsy really liked me so when Ernie called I told him not to believe EVERYTHING that Patsy had said about me, thinking she might have gone overboard. Ernie response was "You mean you are not independently wealthy?". What a great response I thought. He has a sense of humor.

Our first date was 6/24/79 and we went out to eat at Darryl's, a restaurant that is no longer in business. When Ernie picked me up at my apartment I remember he was wearing a necklace (manly of course, an eagle I think) and a polyester shirt. Right in style. I previously had long term dating experiences with several guys but right away I knew Ernie was different ( and I am not talking about his necklace). He talked about marriage and commitment in general terms that very first night.

I had only been to the horse races one time in my entire life even though I grew up in the Derby City. Ernie took me to 6 different race tracks in our short dating life! We got engaged on 7/12/79. That is 19 days from the day we met!!! More incredible is we only saw each other 8 of those 19 days. I guess that constitutes a whirlwind courtship.

My parents did not meet Ernie until we were already engaged but they loved him too.

Ernie and I have had lots of adventures and experiences in our first 29 years together. The love of our families and friends, our faith in God, and our sense of humor has made our lives together rich and rewarding. Thank you to all who have been a part of our journey. We love you. ( I guess I am speaking for Ernie when I say that but it is ok; He is used to me speaking for him HAHA)

HOW IS YOUR HEARING?

As part of my job in our clinic I check patients' hearing. Sensory hearing is pretty easy to assess. You either pass the screening or fail it. If you fail the screening you need further evaluation by a specialist.

But today I want to talk about a different kind of hearing. I call it heart hearing and it is hearing from GOD. Just as a hearing aid can amplify sounds that our ears hear, spending time in God's Word, in prayer, and in fellowship with other Christians can amplify sounds that our hearts hear.

On Tuesday I paraphrased part of Psalm 3 when writing about my friend Sheryl's procedure. Yesterday while I was working on my homework in Beth Moore's study of David entitled "A Heart Like His", Beth wrote about David who had" run from his throne practically hopeless" walking up the Mt. of Olives . She writes "....somewhere on top of that mountain, David got down on his knees and prayed. See his prayer for yourself. God had him write it down. It's Psalm 3."

I HEARD FROM GOD.

Today as I was driving to work, I turned off the radio and was praying aloud. I ended my prayer with these wonderful words of Charles Wesley "Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God shouldst die for me?"
I turned the radio back on and the first sound I heard was the Newsboys singing "Amazing love how can it be that thou my King should die for me?"

I HEARD FROM GOD.

God has never stopped speaking. I just have a better hearing aid these days.

THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE IN SIESTA LAND

Psalm 3: 1-4
O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me "God will not deliver him." But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.

Here is my paraphrase: O Lord ,Sheryl has many troubles heaped upon her. Many are saying " I feel bad for Sheryl but nothing can be done. She just has to live with her conditions.Health and happiness are just the luck of the draw. God won't deliver Sheryl.Why should He?'

NOW for the GOOD PART: Sheryl says :But you are a shield around me, O Lord: you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.

Sheryl and her online Siestahood, as well as her family and " in person" friends have been at the throne of grace last night and this morning as Sheryl went for a procedure. We cried aloud and God answered from his holy hill. Sheryl's dizziness subsided enough for the procedure to be done and the procedure for tomorrow has been cancelled because it is no longer necessary.
Sheryl still has to wait for the biopsy results but I speak for all my Siestas when I say : THANK YOU GOD FOR HEARING OUR PRAYERS FOR SHERYL AND WRAPPING YOUR ARMS AROUND HER TODAY AND EVERYDAY. ALL THE GLORY IS YOURS. AMEN

OCTOBER AND ANNIVERSARIES ( Third and Final Part)

One year ago today I started blogging. My daughter Brittany had been in a terrible car crash that should have seriously injured her... or worse. BUT she walked away. I needed a place to publicly recount this MIRACLE so I learned how to blog and was even able to post a picture of a church Brittany sang in on a trip to Italy five months prior to the wreck.

Little did I know the far reaching consequences that BLOGGING would have.

I am privileged to call several women my close friends, even though we have never met in person. They are my SIESTAS in CHRIST. Thanks to one of my friends, Sheryl, my blog has a new look in my favorite colors, and even includes a few more photos. All of us have been able to share our joys, sorrows, and faith journeys by reading each others blogs and by keeping in touch on our forum Siestas for Him. If any Siesta out there wants to get me an anniversary present I NEED TYPING LESSONS!!!

My parents and several of my friends also read my BLOG and my mother and my friend Dulaney even leave comments regularly.

Thank you to all who read, comment, and guide me on this journey.
As PK says, " I love you to the stars and back".

Philippians 1:3 LINDA

OCTOBER AND ANNIVERSARIES ( PART 2)

Today is an anniversary of a different kind. It is the anniversary of my husband's birth. (I know it is really his BIRTHDAY but I have a theme going here). Ernie was born in Lexington Ky. 57 years ago today. His parents already had three girls when Ernie was born so I imagine they were excited to have a BOY. One younger sister completed the Peel household.

Being surrounded with women had its good points and its bad. One memory that Ernie has is when his family drove to Florida for a vacation. This was in the days before air conditioned cars. Ernie and three of his sisters were in the back seat and another sister was in the front seat with his parents. Because the girls did not want the wind to mess up their hair, they drove with the windows rolled up! This is summer!! On the way to Florida!!! This would be one of the BAD points!!!!!

One of the good points about being surrounded by women was that it made my wonderful husband feel very comfortable sharing his feelings. This is often not typical of men. I am grateful for the feminine influence in this aspect of Ernie's personality.

Tonight we celebrated after choir practice with a cake and fellowship. Tomorrow at 5:30 AM, his running "harem" will celebrate with a birthday run which I think will involve GLOW IN THE DARK PAINT and GLOW STICKS ( according to e mails I have received), more cake, and "Ernie Stories". Tomorrow night Brittany and I will take Ernie out to dinner. I am blessed to be married to such a wonderful man.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

October and Anniversaries (PART 1)

On October 1 , 2008 my parents celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. They met at Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church in youth group and their first date was to a UL Homecoming dance.(I truly am a CARDINAL by birth). I have never doubted my parents love for each other or for me. They are truly an example of what it means to love unconditionally. All that I am is because of their love and support. They encouraged me to follow my dreams and made me think anything was possible.

Get to know them a little through this creative writing assignment that my mother wrote on 9/30/08.

IT WAS A SUNDAY I WILL NEVER FORGET

February 17, 1952 was a Sunday I will always remember.

Charlie and I were about to experience a new period in our married life. It was exciting to be expecting a baby. However, in 1951 our lives seemed to go on as usual.

We lived a happy life with loving support from our families. This would be the first grandchild and niece/nephew for our sisters.

I quit working at Reynolds Metals Company in November 1951 and on my last working day ( for a salary) , caught a bus downtown to Shackleton's. It was payday and I purchased an RCA TV without consulting Charlie. I chose an impressive piece of furniture with doors that closed so you would not see a blank screen. I was quite proud of my decision.

November and December of 1951 and January of 1952 were filled with ordinary events. There was Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas shopping and presents, and U of L basketball games to attend.

We had no automobile and went most places on the bus or in my parents' car.

Becoming parents was always something that was going to happen in the upcoming months, but it was impossible to visualize our "baby".

I was suddenly awakened at 4:00 a.m. Sunday with the knowledge it was time to leave for the hospital. As i had done many times in the past when we needed them, I dialed my parents' home.

"Daddy, it's time to go to Norton's ".

Outside snow had started falling, but the car interior was toasty warm. A beautiful night for a new birth. Charlie and I sat in the back seat, each with our private thoughts.

Was it going to hurt?
Will our child be healthy?
Will we be good parents? We have no experience, just a Dr. Spock book.
Are we almost there?

Our daughter was born at 9:00 a.m. and we named her Linda Sue (and, of course, she was the most beautiful girl in the nursery).

I do not remember physical pain, just the realization that from February 17, 1952, we would be changed from Joyce and Charlie to mama and daddy.

What a blessing. It was a Sunday I would never forget.

There is an old poem beginning with "Monday's child is fair of face and continuing through the days of the week, concluding with The child born on the Sabbath Day is fair and wise and good and gay".

Another red letter Sunday in our lives was September 23, 1984 when our baby had a baby. We became grandma and grandpa to Brittany Lynn Peel ( and she was the most beautiful girl in the nursery).

What a blessing. I like Sundays.

Written by Joyce P. Wilmoth

JOY

Today I experienced great joy in the same sanctuary where I experienced sadness yesterday.

God's presence was felt in our worship service this morning. From the children leading in liturgy this children's sabbath, to the AMEN and applause response to our choir anthem "Rejoice, the Lord is King", to the first in a sermon series on 100 years in our present sanctuary focusing today on the holiness of God, the service was ABOUT God . We truly worshipped today.

Our problems are far from over. But today I have the hope and assurance that Christ will be victorious in our midst. Thank you for your continued prayers that God's will be done in our body of believers.

SADNESS

I have just returned from a called church conference at my church for the purpose of replacing vacancies on the Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) and electing lay leadership positions. The meeting was chaired by our District Superintendent (DS), Paige Williams . After opening the meeting with prayer, Paige made it clear that this vote was the only item on the agenda . Our selections would be made by written ballot.

We had only 30 minutes to use the sanctuary for our meeting because a wedding was to take place there later in the evening. Almost immediately an individual made a motion from the floor to replace the entire SPRC comittee. The DS told him he was out of order but he would not be silenced. He had another agenda and was disruptive enough that Paige adjourned the meeting.

If you have been reading my blog, you know that we have recently had a difficult and devisive situation at First United Methodist Church involving our downtown music ministry.

Beth Moore's words in my Bible study today were so appropriate. This is what I read prior to going to the meeting today.
" ...when there is a power struggle, the most important question seems to become, 'Whose side are you on?'. Every person seems to look out for his own neck and attempts to pitch his tent in the camp of the one who can do him the most good. Remember, GOD never comes to take sides. He comes to take over."

I will continue to sing in our church choir, NOT because I am choosing sides but because our purpose on this earth is to worship and glorify God.

Today, my sadness comes from those of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who seem to have forgotten that purpose.

WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS ? (PART TWO)

I believe that when I see the same thing in several different places I'd better pay attention because GOD is trying to get mine!

Our Sunday School class is currently studying John Ortberg's book IF YOU WANT TO WALK ON WATER, YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT. The book begins with the most famous water walker, PETER.

Prior to our starting this book, our minister Paul Brunstetter talked about Peter in one of his sermons and said these words which stuck with me " GLANCE AT THE STORM, GAZE AT THE SAVIOR".

Today God is using Max Lucado to speak to me about the same subject matter. Max writes: " As long as Jesus is one of many options, he is no option. As long as you carry your burdens alone, you don't need a burden bearer. As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. And as long as you can take him or leave him you might as well leave him because he won't be taken half heartedly. But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on him, and when there is truly no other name that you can call, then cast all you cares on him, for he is waiting in the midst of the storm."

Heavenly Father,
Please speak to each of us and help us keep our focus on You in the midst of our own "storms".

WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?

Matthew 14: 29-30Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Life is hard. Confirmation can be found on the evening news, in the daily paper, or in conversations with family and friends. Debt, deception, death, disasters, illness, infidelity, inhumanity... the list seems endless.

Why then do some people seem hopeful , in spite of their circumstances, while others sink further into despair?

I believe that it all has to do with where your focus is. Are you focused on the STORM or on the ONE WHO CALMS THE STORM?

My friend Karen became a widow 19 months ago today when her husband Larry died prematurely. She misses him everyday and grieves for the life they had together BUT she goes on because she knows the One who calms the storm and keeps her eyes on HIM.

My friend Sheryl is dealing with a debilitating condition that causes her to have a false sense of motion. Most days she is homebound. She has two teenagers and is separated from her husband. This is NOT the life she would choose for herself BUT Sheryl has chosen to be an encourager and a prayer warrior to many of us through her blog and the forum she facilitates on the internet. Sheryl focuses on the ONE who calms the storm.

Where is your focus? Life can be hard . We need to "GLANCE AT THE STORM AND GAZE AT THE SAVIOR" ( Rev. Paul Brunstetter)

A CHURCH IN NEED OF GOD'S HEALING TOUCH

I attend First United Methodist Church in Lexington, KY. We have two campuses, one located downtown and one in the Andover area, a rapidly growing area of Lexington which previously lacked a church with TRADITIONAL worship. We like to say that we have two locations, one firm foundation. I have sung in the Chancel Choir downtown for more than 30 years and recently started serving at Andover by singing in the choir there. I consider myself a member of both congregations and both choirs.

On 9/11/08 we learned that our choir director , Albin Whitworth had been let go by our Staff Parish Relations Committee. Albin and his wife Katie had faithfully served our church for over 30 years. Albin's talent is incredible but his main focus has been to create a worship experience through music. He wrote and arranged music and was well known for his FIFTH SUNDAYS, which were all music services complete with choir and orchestra built around a theme, such as HEAVEN and AMAZING GRACE to name a few. We actually have FIFTH SUNDAY members; those whose membership is in another church or denomination but who regularly attend any time there is a FIFTH Sunday in a month. My parents who live in Louisville are FIFTH SUNDAY MEMBERS.

Currently there is a lot of hurt, anger, disappointment, and confusion surrounding this termination. Some congregations members feel blindsided, others want to move their membership to another church or even another demonination.

I sing as a way to use the gifts God has given me as an act of worship and to glorify Him. And I will continue to sing as a tribute to a man who has given so much of himself to make the music ministry of our church a vital part of that worship.

Only God can heal our church. Please join me in praying for complete healing of our body of believers, especially the choir members.

SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG;
SING TO THE LORD, ALL THE EARTH.
SING TO THE LORD, PRAISE HIS NAME;
PROCLAIM HIS SALVATION DAY AFTER DAY. PSALM 96: 1-2

ANOTHER WORD FROM GOD

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I prayed for some direction about leading a Beth Moore study at my church (see coincidence post).
Further affirmation came this morning as I was reading through the introduction to A HEART LIKE HIS. On p. 7 Beth writes "Make the group meetings a priority. Hebrews 11:6 says,'Anyone who comes to him must believe he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him'. This study offers you the opportunity to earnestly seek God."
I just completed an online Bible study by Kelly Minter called NO OTHER GODS. One of the exercises for the last week of study was to read Hewbrews 11:1-40 slowly and thoughtfully and "pray that God will show you something new in this reading. Then write verbatim a verse that stood out to you.'
The verse I wrote on p.171 of that workbook is Hebrews 11:6

AN ENCOURAGER FIRST, A RUNNER SECOND

My husband Ernie ran his first marathon (26.2 miles for you non runners like me) when he was 50 years old. He is now 56 and will be running his next marathon in Nov. in San Antonio. In 6 years he has run almost 20 Marathons so you would think his main running focus would be on his training and bettering his performance. But it is not. Ernie is an ENCOURAGER and would rather help new or less experienced runners achieve their dreams. He has a "harem" of women that he runs with every day, some faster, some slower. Some better than him, some not. The point is , he does not care. He wants each woman he runs with to reach her full potential. He takes it as a CALLING and I love him for that.

Yesterday, Ernie helped Julie and Cathy celebrate their birthdays with a 5:30 am run before work and chocolate cakes for each. He calls Julie JLO because she likes BLING, and because purple is her favorite color, he decorated her cake with purple frosting. His nickname for Cathy is runway model and he used pink frosting for her cake.( I baked the cakes but Ernie decorated them!).

I am posting a picture from the celebration yesterday. Cathy is on the left and Julie is on the right. The Chippendale in the middle is my wonderful husband. This is not his usual attire. In fact he created the outfit the night before to give his friends a laugh. Hope you enjoy.

EVERYONE NEEDS THEIR OWN SPOT

SO GLAD YOU CAME BY TO VISIT MINE.

PULL UP A CHAIR AND STAY AWHILE.

COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT

The title of this post comes from a saying that my friend Hope uses. Other times she will say ODD or GOD? Either way it is about us being receptive to God when He is telling us something. My friend Sheryl says that when we hear the same thing over and over that it is probably God trying to get our attention.

Today as I walked into church Randy said "I need to talk with you. We want to start a Beth Moore Bible Study here. Do you know someone who would lead it? Or would you want to lead it? And which study should we do ?"

Wow. All this on my way to sing in the choir. I told him I would think about it and get back to him.

As I was sitting in the choir I asked God to give me some direction. Was this something He wanted me to do? What study should it be?

After we sang our anthem Todd got up to preach from 2 Samuel 7:8-17. The headline in my Bible for this section of scripture is GOD'S Promise to DAVID. Todd said that we make our best choices when we are walking WITH God as David was. He said that David had a heart for God.

Wow. I had my answer. I will be facilitating Beth's study A HEART LIKE HIS but God will be leading it.

WHEN DEATH BECOMES BIRTH BY MAX LUCADO (DELIVERED BY LINDA PEEL)

My father in law Shirley Peel died 8/8/08 at the age of 94. This is the message that I shared at his funeral yesterday.

One Saturday several weeks ago, I was reading a weekly e-mail devotion by Max Lucado entitled "When Death Becomes Birth". If you are not familiar with Max, he is a minister in San Antonio TEXAS as well as a prolific author of Christian books and Bible studies. While I was reading, the phone rang with the news that Shirley's blood pressure was dangerously low and we needed to come to the hospital right away. To me the timing of the phone call and the arrival of that e-mail from Max was a "God Moment".
Shirley did not die that day. He recovered enough to return to Sayre Christian Village and I tucked the devotional away in my memory.

On Friday August 8th Ernie called to tell me that his father had died. Just like that Saturday in July, I thought about God's perfect timing. Shirley's wife Anita was born on August 9th and now, after being apart for almost 20 years, they would be together to celebrate.
Ernie and his sisters have graciously allowed me the privilege of sharing Max Lucado's Devotional as part of the service today.

WHEN DEATH BECOMES BIRTH

Heaven enjoys a maternity ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch body burials the same way grandparents monitor delivery room doors. "He'll be coming through any minute!" They can't wait to see the new arrival. While we are driving hearses and wearing black, the angels are hanging pink and blue streamers and rejoicing. Just as we on earth don't grieve when babies enter the world, the hosts of heaven don't weep when we leave it. Dread of death ends when you know that heaven is your true home.
Max says "In all my air travels I have never seen one passenger weep when the plane landed. Never! No one clings to the armrests and begs 'Don't make me leave. Don't make me leave. Let me stay on and eat more peanuts." We are willing to exit because the plane has no permanent mailing address. Nor does this world.
Phillipians 3:20-21 says : But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.

It is right for us to weep, but there is no need for us to despair. Shirley had pain here but he has none in Heaven. He struggled here but he has no struggles there. You and I might wonder why God took Shirley home but Shirley doesn't. He understands. At this very moment Shirley is at peace in the presence of God.

NUMBERS

10,000
This number comes from the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness".
...blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!...
I have just returned from Beth Moore's LIVING PROOF LIVE weekend in Louisville and if you attended you already know about blessings. How about seeing Beth dance up a storm while singing "take these shackles off so I can dance?" If you did not have the privelege of attending let me tell you that she was praising, teaching, praying, laughing and dancing while wearing RED and BLACK. Way to give a SHOUT OUT to ULCARDSFAN. Thank You BETH.
I was blessed by attending the event with my dear friend Karen and spending time with her laughing, eating, and reminising.
I was blessed by being able to visit with my parents before heading back to Lexington ( and bringing homemade sourdough bread and chocolate chip cookies home with me).
I was blessed to return home to a husband and a daughter who were glad to see me and three dogs who greeted me like I had just returned from a one year absence!
I was blessed by a card that had come in the mail while I was gone from Preacher Kim. I expected the check to reimburse me for the LPL shirt she had asked me to pick up. What I didn't expect was a card on which she had written such sweet thoughts that it brought tears to my eyes and a CD she made called "Tub Tunes". Thank you Kim. I "Love you to the stars and back" too.

398
This is the number of days between the time I ordered my tickets and the actual event.

100
This is the harvest I am expecting-- 100 fold. I am a woman of means and substance and I plan to be competently competent and become like the sower of the seed (GOD'S WORD) in Luke 8:8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.

7
This is the number of Beth's teachings to reach MAXIMUM IMPACT ( 100 fold harvest)
Treasure the wonder.
Protect your heart.
Expect the test.
Dig the roots.
Stop the choke.
Retain the WORD.
Press forth to your 100-fold harvest.

4
This is the number of kinds of hearers of the WORD (LUKE 8: 5-8)
AND the number of KY. SIESTAS that I met at my hotel and in the
Lifeway bookstore at the event (Hey Amy H., Katie, Karen, and Tracie).




2
This is the all too short number of days I got to spend with Beth

1
This is the number for our Almighty, Everlasting, Healer, Redeemer God
who loves us so much that He made the ultimate sacrifice so that we
would be able to spend Eternity with HIM.

LINDA IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

At least that is what my mother says. She thinks she has a perfect daughter (and I know she is talking about me because I am an only child).

But I want people to say Linda is OUT OF THIS WORLD for another reason. Here is how scripture addresses this:

• Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2
• What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Matthew 16:26
• Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives... John14:27
• In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
• How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1John 3: 1

My online sisters and I are working hard to lay down our wordly IDOLS so that we may look more like our Heavenly Father. We want people to see us and say " You are OUT OF THIS WORLD".

Prayer, Does it make any difference?

This is actually the title of a book by Phillip Yancy but I wonder what you believe about prayer.

Do you feel like you are just giving your "wish list" to an unapproachable God somewhere "out there" who will grant your wishes if :a) you are good enough b) He feels like it c) He isn't listening so there is no point in praying ?

Or do you know the wonderful privilege we have to "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" Hebrews 4:16

Yancy says that we think about prayer in the wrong direction ." We start downstream with our own concerns and bring them to God. We inform God, as if God did not already know. We plead with God, as if hoping to change God's mind and overcome divine reluctance. Instead, we should start upstream where the flow begins. When we shift direction, we realize that God already cares about our concerns more than we do. Grace, like water, descends to the lowest part. Streams of mercy flow. We begin with God, who bears primary responsibility for what happens on earth, and ask what part we can play in God's work on earth."

"Prayer is the act of seeing reality from God's point of view"

"To pray is to walk in the full light of God, and to say simply, without holding back, 'I am human, and You are God'"

Don't worry. I am not going to quote the entire book, but I do recommend reading it.

Now to some things I have learned about prayer:

Prayer is an on going conversation, not a five minute "here is what I need /want God and here is the way I want you to do it"

Praying for others, even those you may have never met in person , creates an unexplainable and everlasting bond with the one you are praying for and the ones you are praying with.

Relationships need time and communication to deepen. We can't experience the fullness of God if we only spend 5 minutes "talking" to Him before our head hits the pillow each night.

Prayer, Does it make any difference? ABSOLUTELY

MIGHTY TO SAVE

We were in Louisville Saturday and I heard a song on their Christian Radio station by a group I was unfamiliar with (Laura's Story, I think). Coming back Sunday I heard the same song. Today the words have been playing in my head, and occasionally coming out my mouth (at work no less).

The song was not really familiar to me. It was a modern praise song I think. I have always attended churches with traditional music programs (hymns, anthems,)and I would not want it any other way. This is my worship music. It ties me to past generations and feeds me spiritually.

I love to listen to contemporary Christian music on the radio, on CDS and at concerts. It just is not my worship style at church.

I can hear some of you saying ( or at least the 2 of you that read my BLOG) WHERE is she going with this!

When something is repeated over and over it is most likely God's voice. Many of you know these words much better than I but here is what spoke to me:

Savior He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

I have been praying for people who are in DESPERATE situations; divorce, health problems, struggles with belief
I think God was letting me know that He hears our cries.
HE CAN MOVE THE MOUNTAINS.

OUR GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE.

Hold fast to these promises.

Happy Birthday Mama

Today is my mother's birthday. I am blessed to have two wonderful parents. For most of my life I thought this was the norm, everyone's experience. But I have found out that some people don't even LIKE their parents.

Happy Birthday Mama. I thank God everyday for you.

Love, LINDA

Sheryl, This One's for YOU

For those of you reading this who may not know me let me tell you a little about my computing skills. I took typing in 1970 and what you call(correctly I might add) the monitor, I refer to it as my computer. That said, I never intended to really BLOG. I just wanted somewhere to record a miracle that my family experienced. Since that start in OCT. I have posted exactly 3 more times. Today my friend Sheryl said that if I was going to have a blog,I needed to post so Sheryl, THIS ONE's FOR YOU.

I have never "met" Sheryl but I know a lot about her and I want to share some of the things I have learned.

1. She is a faithful lover of GOD. In the midst of some very difficult circumstances she continues to pray and trust God.

2. She is a gifted writer and communicator. She has touched many of us in the online community with her encouraging and honest words.

3. She thinks I am funny; OLD but funny.

4.She is a prayer warrior. Although Sheryl herself is experiencing some hard things in her life, she is always lifing others up to the throne of God. I am deeply grateful to her for this.

5.She can facilitate a CHAT room like nobody's business. She keeps the discussion moving and includes EVERYONE.

6. She thinks I am funny.

7. She did not like one of my favorite books THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES and she is working hard to get me to give up watching the YOUNG and The RESTLESS .

8. She loves her children .

Now you know a little bit about my new friend Sheryl and I can say that I have posted 4 times!!!!

JUNE BRINGS ICHTHUS AND IDOLS

My husband Ernie and I LOVE the Ichthus music festival held in Wilmore, KY. each year. Ichthus was started in 1970 in response to Woodstock. We spent 3 days this month sitting in a field listening to Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, Jeremy Camp, Skillet, Hawk Nelson, and many, many more. We were also privileged to hear wonderful speakers. The highpoint of the weekend is simultaneous Holy Communion taken by 20,000 people as the sun sets over the hillside. Just a little taste of heaven.

My other summer adventure is an online Bible Study by Kelly Minter called NO OTHER GODS facilitated by one of my own personal idols BETH MOORE. I took typing in 1970 so the computer is a challenge but I am now blogging and participating in an online forum SIESTAS FOR HIM. Chatting in the chat room may be next!

VICTORY in RUPP ARENA

Today my UL Cards beat the UK Wildcats on their home floor and I was there cheering them on. GO CARDS!!! What a GREAT feeling for a CARDINAL in WILDCAT COUNTRY!