Encouragement and Comfort

The day after the bombing at the Boston Marathon my husband changed the location of the Saturday run he leads with the John's Striders. Instead of running out in the beautiful Bluegrass countryside, Ernie wanted to create a run to remember Boston. Four short days later over 300 runners and walkers met at John's Run Walk Shop. After singing the National Anthem in solidarity, runners and walkers took off on various routes, sporting black ribbons on shirts, many of which either mentioned Boston or were the colors associated with Boston and the Marathon. What a sight to behold ! But what spoke to me even more was the effect the running community has on my husband and the effect he has on his runners. Ernie is an encourager...he wants to help you do your best. He is self sacrificing...he will run slowly if that is what you need. He will meet you at the crack of dawn and he will make you believe you can...run a half...run a full...get a PR. I am SO PROUD of Ernie and the lives he has impacted. Know that if you run with Ernie you have made an impact on our lives as well. I have been having a diificult time choosing my eight scripture for the SSMT with Beth Moore but tonight I found one that sums up today and the events leading up to it.
He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. 2 Corinthians 1:4 (CEV)

Ringing in 2013

Hard to believe that my last post was two and a half years ago!

 I just finished writing my first scripture for 2013 in my brand new SSMT Spiral.  "NEW"...isn't that what we love about January 1st? New calendars, new chances, new beginnings. " New" is about fresh, clean, spotless...but life is more often filled with "old"..our past mistakes, failings, missed opportunities, regrets.
The scripture I chose speaks about the NEW:
But the Lord says," Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already--you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there. Isaiah 43: 18-19  ( Good News Translation).
And, as if I was receiving confirmation that this is MY verse, I found this as I was reading through Facebook posts from  the WEDNESDAYS with Beth page...

The enemy will convince us that everything behind us is a forecast of everything in front of us and that is a lie! - Beth Moore

Praying that in 2013 you and I will chose to believe GOD instead of Satan. Happy NEW Year !

GOD SPOKE !

I have been wrestling with how to write this and have decided I will just tell the story; hopefully, you will feel the emotions and awesome wonder of God in my words. I have my daughter Brittany's permission to share this .

Some of you know that Brittany got out of an abusive relationship a little over a year ago. She is now happy and healthy and has a boyfriend who treats her with love and respect. But our past always affects us and recently Brittany has experienced some fear and anxiety related to that former situation.

One day last week, I called Brittany at work and she sounded teary eyed and emotional on the phone.I asked if she was ok and she said she couldn't talk about it right then. If you are a mother ( or a grandmother) then you can imagine that my heart broke a little. We never want our children to "hurt".

Later that day when we talked, I was the emotional one. Here is what Brittany relayed to me....
Mom a couple of workers came to repair the central vac at work today. We were in the hall talking with them. They have done mission work in Africa and they were telling us about their experiences there and about Jesus. The phone rang at the front desk so I had to leave to answer it. Later the workers came up to me and said " Repairing the central vac is not the only reason we are here today Brittany. The Holy Spirit led us here to tell you how much God loves you."

WOW. I have prayed for Brittany to experience a "fresh wind of the Holy Spirit" and many of YOU have been praying for her too. What a powerful answer to prayer! Thank you Jesus.

From Celebration to Tragedy to Glorious Victory

Today is Palm Sunday, the day Christians celebrate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It is also His last week on earth. The same people who shouted "Hosanna" on Sunday would be crying "Crucify" on Friday.
As a life long Methodist I have always seen the celebratory side of Palm Sunday. Yesterday I received a letter from my mother which read " Have a great Palm Sunday. In my mind, I see you in the side balcony singing "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus". ( This is a reference to me singing in the childrens choir at 4th Avenue United Methodist Church many moons ago!) I have sung Hosannas and waved palm branches with my own daughter Brittany when she was young. I have always seen the "happy side" of Palm Sunday..... until today. Until I sang the anthem "Ride On, Ride On in Majesty" at our downtown campus of 1st UMC.

Ride on, ride on in majesty. Hark ! All the tribes hosanna cry.
O Savior meek, your road pursue, with palms and scattered
garments strewed.
Ride on in majesty! O Christ, your triumphs now begin o'er
captive death and conquered sin. Ride on, ride on in majesty.
The winged squadrons of the sky look down with sad and
wondering eyes to see the approaching sacrifice.
Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die!
Bow your meek head to mortal pain. Then take, O Christ your
pow'r and reign. Hosanna, Hosanna ride on , ride on.
(Text : Henry Milman Music: Daniel Kallman 2010)

Jesus knew, from the foundation of the world, that He was born to die. As He heard the cries of hosanna and saw the people celebrating His triumphant entry into the Holy City, He KNEW what was coming..... but He "rode on" anyway.
May you more fully realize the depth of God's love for you as you journey through this HOLY WEEK.... Easter is coming but Jesus' pain and suffering is just beginning.

IF THEY BRING OUT THE KOOL AID.......

Don't Drink It !!
These were my husband's words to me last month as I got ready to head to Houston for the SSMT Celebration at Beth Moore's Church. If you are a "young reader", this is a reference to Jim Jones who poisoned his followers with cyanide laced Kool Aid in 1978.
Ernie thinks I am a Beth Moore Fanatic ! Apparently my new friend Sheri over at theleakingwindow.blogspot.com has a husband who thinks the same thing about her! Now Sheri and I BOTH LOVE BETH. She is funny, cute, energetic, passionate, and the real deal BUT the reason we love Beth( if I can speak for you Sheri) is she leads us closer to Jesus. Beth does not seek one iota of glory for herself and she makes that clear every time she speaks or leads a Bible Study. She is a great encourager of women and says that if God can use Beth Moore, He can use me and you. Ernie and Anthony are right about one thing...Sheri and I ARE Fanatics..... we are fanatical about God and His unspeakable gift to us in Jesus.
My response to my husband's warning????
I said "If Beth offers me a glass of Kool Aid, I am going to ask for the entire pitcher!!

CELEBRATING OUR JESUS YEAR HOUSTON STYLE

On January 1, 2009 BETH challenged her fellow SIESTAS to make it a JESUS year by memorizing scripture with her. Twelve months and twenty four scriptures later, 508 SIESTAS representing 42 states (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, and 22 different denominations converged on Houston's First Baptist Church to CELEBRATE with BETH, AMANDA, MELISSA, TRAVIS, and the hard working LPM STAFF. What a BLESSING as well as a BLAST!

My journey started with a Wednesday night stay at my parents' home where I enjoyed great food and hospitality before heading to the airport on Thursday morning. I boarded my Continental Flight with great expectations. I arrived at the HOUSTON OMNI on Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday night I met Jackie and Sheri while waiting for the elevator. They had an extra seat in their rental car and we made plans for Friday. On Friday I met the other member of their group, Charlotte from none other than..... LEXINGTON! On Amanda's recommendation, we headed to PAPPASITA'S for chicken fajitas. Lots of pink feather boas at the restaurant. Anne, the Siesta who came up with the idea of the pink boas to set us apart, joined us for dinner. After dinner, we headed for First Baptist Church for worship music led by Travis, teaching by Beth on PSALM 119 (Did you know it has 176 verses?), and TEXAS SHEET CAKE.

On Saturday morning, Beth wrapped up her teaching on Psalm 119 and we broke into groups of two to say our memory verses. Charlotte and I went out in the courtyard and we said our 24 verses to each other. We all gathered back for more singing, a fun time of questions and answers with Beth and her daughters, and before we knew it the time had come to say goodbye.

Thank you Beth, Amanda, Melissa, Travis, and the LPM Staff for such a wonderful time of worship, instruction, and just plain FUN!!!
I can hardly wait for the next get together with my SIESTAS. Thanks for sharing this JESUS year with me.

COUNTDOWN TO HOUSTON (Part Seven)

One week from tonight I will be worshipping with 449 other Siestas at Beth Moore's Church in Houston as we celebrate all that God has done for us this year through our scripture memorization.

I know this will be a life changing trip and I am SO excited about the opportunity to be with Beth in a more intimate setting than RUPP ARENA or SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN.

I am also grateful to my husband, daughter, and parents who have supported me in my decision to take this trip.

I hope to have lots of pictures and stories to share with you when I get back to Lexington. If you want to know more about Beth or this celebration check out the LPM Blog.