The Harvest Day

We had another family day yesterday. We went to a pumpkin patch. We also went to a hay maze. We ate apples, and pumpkin treats. When my granddaughter saw the apples, she was very excited. She quickly licked one. We laughed, and moved on. But, she wasn't ready to move on, she turned around and ran back to the apples and grabbed one. She giggled as she took it to her mouth and began to eat it.
My husband and I have joked about how we should buy a bus, so our entire family could ride together when we have family days. We always have to take three or four cars. But, then, if we had a a big ugly bus, no one would want to ride with us!

 The pumpkins and the colors were great! The air was cold, but being with my family warmed my heart.

 Playing in the hay was the all time favorite event of the day!

Our evening was full of carving pumpkins, eating dinner, making brownies, and playing football in the living room. I watched. My thoughts were full, and my heart was thankful. Throughout the day God brought many things to my mind as I listened to the chatter of my family. And, then this morning as I was reading in Matthew 9 I loved the story  of Jesus traveling throughout all the towns and villages reporting Kingdom News. He healed diseased bodies, bruised and hurt lives. And, when Jesus looked out over all the people, His heart felt broken. The people were confused and they were aimless, they were all like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus said "What a huge Harvest, so few workers. On your knees and pray for harvest hands!" 

Jesus, Say That Again! Pray for Harvest Hands!

The One True Hope

This last summer I made a pallet out of pieces of wood a friend brought me. It is currently hanging in our living room. I have looked at it often, and reminded myself that there is always Hope, because Jesus is the One True Hope.
The reality is, in the midst of making this, I was not necessarily feeling hopeful. My walk was being tested, as my physical health was declining with pain. It didn't feel like I was stepping into Springtime at all, but rather walking through a desert, and, I was.
Now, I feel like I'm stepping out of the desert, into something else, there is change and risk, and even excitement. There is Hope! Walking through that desert with Jesus stirred all kinds of emotions in me. And, tested my faith, my ability to trust, my relationships, my heart and soul!
My doctor called to tell me that my insurance finally approved the surgery I need. This is an area that God has asked me to wait on Him for a long time, and I have waited. Sometimes I have not waited well. But, through the waiting, my life has changed.
The One True Hope is Jesus, He always comes through. In the desert, the waiting, the pain, and the change. He is working through all things to fulfill His plan for His Kingdom. We are all part of the plan, and so as I continue, to walk towards Him, there will be many seasons.
Say That Again Jesus, You are the One True Hope!

The Warrior Sister Saints

This weekend I went away to a cabin in the woods. My Agape Team was with me, except for one, we discussed the year ahead of us. We had a great time. We had a renewing, restoring, time. We left Friday. Three of us left earlier in the day and headed North. We stopped in a little town and had lunch, then grabbed some coffee before going to our cabin.

We stayed in a cabin that was nestled on 23 acres, deep in the woods. It was beautiful. The Fall colors, the warm sun, and the promise of deepening relationships, quickened my heart.

We took turns preparing meals for each other. We spent time reading stories. We prayed. We discussed the plans for Agape, our ideas, questions, hopes, and desires. We stepped out into new territory and trusted each other.

The Mission Statement at Agape is this:

Our mission, as Saints of God, is to allow Him to work though us to bring healing in His community. Led by the Word, confirmed by the Holy Spirit. We seek Restoration, Renewal, and Revival.

God has called me to be on mission for Him, and He's called these beautiful women to walk this journey too. We are Warrior Sister Saints, and we are ready to allow Him to work through us to bring healing in His community. We are led by the Word of God, filled and confirmed by the Spirit. We seek Restoration, Renewal, and Revival in our own lives!

This weekend our goal was to connect with each other, and to plan events for our community in which we can show love, faith, creativity, joy, and most of all Jesus! I am excited that Jesus is very present among us! 

Keep your eyes open for posts from my Warrior Sister Saints on the Agape site at www.agapecelebration.com and tonight I am praising Jesus for the sisters He has brought into my life. They are an answer to prayer. This time He is telling me to Say That Again, reminding me that this is the prayer I prayed over and over again for years, and yes, He has pulled through, and He is still pulling through.

The Family Fun Day

Today was another beautiful Fall day. I wanted my husband and children to see the beauty I saw yesterday in the park. We went again to the park today and my children rode their bikes. It was a nice day for all of us. The sun was warm, the air was cool. We had a very nice time.

After spending time at the park and seeing God's beauty, we went to the coffee shop. It was a big treat for my kids to go to the coffee shop, they had fun. It was really busy there today and the only table that was left to sit at was a very small one, kid size. So the four of sat around the small kid sized table in the middle of the coffee shop and ate our scones and drank our coffee/beverages. We had good conversation at our small table.

My son needed a haircut so we headed to the mall. While he was sitting in the chair getting his hair cut, my daughter and I were looking at jewelry and clothes.

I have noticed a shift within me. When I woke up this morning, I spent a lot of time talking with my husband, and crying. I've been crying a lot lately. I'm not crying just because of the losses in my life, but I think because I know there are things that are changing too. In my ministry, my relationships, my family. There are adjustments to make, and God is asking me to move into different areas and do other things, and it's scary. I've had a lot of time to think about it as I've been scaling back because of the pain my body has been experiencing. My focus, for now, is more on days in the park, and restful naps. I move slow, and have lots of time to think about what God is saying, and how I can grow from this experience, and where the blessings are in all of this! He has allowed me to see depression, sadness, joy, pain, loss, hope, courage, boldness, fear, desperateness, and love. They all race around in my heart.
Today, with my family, and all the lovely colors in the park, He again reminded me that even with all those feelings, when I feel so weak and alone, He is strong. He is going to continue to be with me and walk beside me and show me the way I need to go. All through this day I kept asking Him to Say That Again to me, and I would hear Him say it in so many wonderful ways. I don't know exactly what lies ahead, but I do know He won't leave me!

The Days I Live

We made caramel apples with our family and friends. It was a fun day, and the apples were especially good. I didn't buy enough apples, nor did we have enough caramel, so in the middle of our project we had to run to the store for more. It was sticky. 

I got to spend the day with two of my grandchildren. It was delightful. We went to my office and they ran up and down the hallway. They also played in my husband's office and sat with him on the couch.

We also went out for ice cream.

After our adventurous ice cream trip, we drove home. My grandson was exhausted and he took a nap. I wanted to take a nap, but my granddaughter had lots to tell me, and was eager to share it all! We played on the swing outside, and we explored the toys in the house. She pushed the little red cart around, and carried her baby in her arms.  When my grandson woke up, they decided to play blocks, and color, and do all kinds of fun things in my house.

Today, was a nice day for me. I have been so tired lately, waiting for surgery to be approved and feeling sad over some losses. There have been a lot of things to think about and several changes in my life. Today, I went to the park with a friend. It was a beautiful Fall day. The sun was warm, the colors were beautiful. We had a very nice time.

With each day I continue to thank God for His blessings. Sometimes I have been irritable, or fearful, and I have needed to whisper His name over and over again. I have needed to ask Him to Say That Again to me "do not be afraid, dear child, for I am with you!"  I have needed to ask others to pray for me, and to ask Him to help me abide in Him. 

Jesus, Say That Again, over and over. I know I need to hear you constantly, for I am weak, and You are strong.