plans and the purpose that prevails

Hurricane Ike

5:48 AM, Thursday, September 18, 2008 .. Posted in family .. 0 comments .. Link

Hello everyone! We are powered up and back online after 4 days in the dark. I want to thank you all for your prayers and let you know how God sheltered us through the storm and in the days following:

1. Peace. Friday night and into Saturday morning was when Ike roared through Texas. We spent the night in our master bathroom. Three kids were in a closet and I was just outside. Baby J weathered the storm underneath a vanity. We all slept soundly and no one was afraid. We lost power at 4am during the height of the storm.

2. Power. Our next door neighbor (who works with my husband) had a generator and on Saturday he plugged us in. As a result our refrigerator worked and I could charge the cell phones (even though service was very spotty), I also could turn on a fan or plug in the radio and conserve batteries.

3. People. Our neighbors on every side surrounded us with help and support, especially knowing Jack was out of town and I was alone with the kids. They helped us move things in to a sheltered area before the storm, invited us in for meals, gave us encouragement, shared a generator.

4. Preparation. I purchased all our supplies before the storm so I had no worries for running out of the basics. I am also amazed at how God had prepared for us, even before we moved in 4 months ago. We didn't know when we moved here that our next door neighbor ( Tommy with the generator) would be working with my husband. In purchasing a house with a gas stove I could continue to cook hot meals for our family when we lost power. The kids had been studying Psalm 91 in school even before IKE was a storm, I told them God was giving them a test in what they were learning. Friday morning Baby J sat on my lap bubbling with smiles as usual. J4 commented that she had no idea of what was coming. I told her "Baby J has complete confidence in us. She knows I will feed her, clothe her, and comfort her. Her eyes are fixed on me. That is how we are to be with God. We don't have to fear, knowing He is sovereign and holds us in His hand."

5. Palm branches. This was the only storm damage at our house. A 1/2 dozen palm branches had to be trimmed. I also had to do a minor adjustment to our gate. The basketball goal is a bit twisted, but other than those few things you would never know a Category 2 hurricane passed by.

There are still thousands suffering in our area who still have no power, or have lost loved ones. Please be praying for us as we are a lighthouse in the neighborhood to the new friends we made and to any who are in need that we come to know in the days ahead.

Thank you again for standing with us in prayer.

Grace and Peace,

Too tired to floss

5:57 PM, Wednesday, September 3, 2008 .. Posted in family .. 0 comments .. Link

I used to be a dedicated dental hygienist. Years ago in my former life I would gently scold those who claimed they had no time to floss. I emphasized the importance of healthy gums and the fact that flossing takes less than a minute. I encouraged patients to floss while watching TV. Occasionally a frazzled mother of small children would claim to be too tired to floss. I clucked my tongue and suggested she floss in the morning. I could never understand the "too tired"excuse. "No time to floss" registered little sympathy from me.

I am now one of those whom I chastized. Four children has left me at the "end of my floss". At the close of the day I am so spent taking care of the rest of the family I cannot summon the energy to rid my interproximal spaces of plaque. No one need tell me of the evils of gingivitis. I know what a periodontist does. Making the effort to wrap a little bit of string around my fingers is more than I can handle...and I'm even a trained flossing professional!

So to all you ladies who are too worn out for basic dental care...take heart...I am reminding myself, and those of you who are guilt ridden after a trip to the dentist...this is only a season. Your teeth will not fall out if you take a couple months off. I know I will eventually begin flossing again...and putting on makeup...and fixing my hair...and wearing clothes that don't have some form of stain from a child...until then, I'll smile.

Grace and peace!

Clobbered By God

7:36 AM, Tuesday, August 12, 2008 .. Posted in family .. 2 comments .. Link

Dearest 2nd Mom,

Make sure you read this at a time when you can sit and reflect and not be interrupted. If we were together I'd be sharing this with you over a cup of coffee in a quiet spot, maybe your deck, or maybe by our pool, or maybe in a cozy coffee shop. Just picture us together as you read. Grab your Bible too and read the verses.

I was listening to a sermon from our old church in Greenville and I wanted to share it with you. You can go to the website and listen if you like. ( www.southsidefellowship.org )

Our former pastor, Charlie Boyd, has been preaching on the life of Jacob. This particular message was about Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-32). Here are my sermon notes for you to ponder. The hymn at the bottom of my message is one that Charlie quoted in him sermon.

Background: God told Rebekah that Jacob would inherit the blessing. Jacob took matters into his own hands to get the blessing.

Jacob has to move from depending on his own cleverness and learn to depend on God.

Jacob is alone now because he wants to reflect and pray and his emotions haven't caught up with his earlier prayer (Genesis 32:9-11).

The most important life issues I will have to face, I will face alone. (isn't that where you are now my dear? You are at a point in your life where you are alone)

I can't live off others faith.

God clobbered Jacob...this is the God who answered his earlier prayer for deliverance.

God has to wrestle us into a transformed life rather than comfort us into it.

Genesis 32:25...when God touched Jacob's hip it was only a light tap. In verse 26 Jacob is hanging on to God. He realizes he is at the end of his rope.

God wants to wake me up to who I am (helpless) and to who He is

You never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.

In verse 26, which is central to the passage, Jacob realizes he can't get what God has to give through his own efforts, it is a gift of grace.

God fights with us to wean us away from self reliance to total dependence on God.

God is in every difficulty and behind every difficulty in my life.

We have to receive the gift in weakness and God gives the gift in weakness (God allowed Jacob to wrestle with him, as Jesus humbled himself to become a man and die on the cross.

Blows of Grace wake us up. Jesus can bless someone who deserves the curse because he cursed someone (Jesus) who deserved the blessing.

God makes Himself weak to win me back to Himself.

I thought of you as I listened to this sermon because I think you are probably feeling weaker than you ever have in your whole life. I wanted to encourage you to hang on to God. Don't try to tough it out. It's okay to be weak. God is in this difficulty , He wants to bless you with His incredible Grace. Hang on and know that His hand rests on your head to give you His blessing.

Here's the hymn Charlie quoted:

I asked the Lord that I might grow,
In faith and love and every grace,
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

It was He who taught me thus to pray,
And He I trust has answered prayer.
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He'd answer my request.
And by His love's constraining power,
Subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel,
The hidden evils of my heart.
And let the angry powers of hell,
Assault my soul in every part.

Yes, more with His own hand, He seemed,
Intent to aggravate my woe.
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

"Lord, why is this?" I trembling cried.
Will You pursue Your worm to death?"
"This is the way" the Lord replied,
"I answer prayer for grace and strength."

"These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set you free;
And break your schemes of earthly joy,
That you may find thy all in Me."
—John Newton

The Grandmas Go Home

6:05 AM, Tuesday, July 29, 2008 .. Posted in family .. 1 comments .. Link

Boppie and Mamaw just pulled out the driveway with J1 to fly away home. My heart was heavy this morning as I watched them leave in the predawn darkness. The past 2 weeks have been full of laughter, reminiscing, sightseeing, hugs and the smiles of people who truly know me.

I grew up in the same town as both my grandmas. I saw them weekly, sometimes daily. They watched me change through the years. They saw me on every birthday. My children are having a different experience. Their times with grandparents are an oasis of a few weeks in a long desert of a year. There are lots of phone calls and email to keep in touch in between, but it isn't quite the same. It was especially tough on my mom as she kissed sweet baby J6 goodbye, knowing how much she will change in the months to come.

I am thankful for their willingness to travel so far to invest time in the lives of those they love. Despite the distance, we will probably see them at least once more this year, maybe twice. Today will be a long day as I look around the house and hear the echoes of their precious voices.; they will not be far from my heart.

Grace and Peace

Mamaw and the TSA

3:07 PM, Thursday, July 17, 2008 .. Posted in family .. 1 comments .. Link

My 88 year old grandma and my mother arrived for a 2 week visit last night. Mamaw hasn't flown since pre 9-11, so while they waited in the security line and my mother told her to remove her shoes she was a bit puzzled. My mother joked with her that she would be singled out and searched since she hadn't been on a plane for 7 years.

When Mamaw passed through the scanner she beeped. ''I have artificial knees." She informed the unsmiling TSA agent. Back through the scanner. BEEP. She then had to step out of line for the hand held scanner. Her knees passed the test but she beeped repeatedly around her waist. It must have been her bruised chin and roughed up nose from a fall earlier in the week that made the TSA think her to be a travel risk...so she headed behind the screen for a "behind the screen screening". She was there a long time because she was also a guinea pig for a new TSA agent. I'm glad to say Mamaw passed the test. They never did resolve the waistline beeping. I suspect it was remnants of the heavy dough from her New York pizza lunch.