Bloggidie..

Bloggidie, bloggidie, blog, blog, blog...

I just had to get that off my chest :)

I kept your seat warm today...

I kept your seat warm today
You bring so much joy when you're near
Your presence was missed in church
It's just not the same without you here

I kept your seat warm today
But I just don't shout like you do
I tried to encourage others
But they asked about you too

I kept your seat warm today
Oh what a blessing you are
I only hope in some unseen way
God brings you back from afar

I kept your seat warm today
I wispered so soft in your ear
I waited for you to sit down
But you were too busy to hear

I kept your seat warm today
I wrote my words down in a book
I hope you remember to read them
And appreciate all that it took.

I was reminded today, that God wants me to seek him out; to look for his face in the crowd; to sit down and talk to him; to read his response to my problems; to listen to the answers he whispers; and to walk as if he's by my side.

When I do this, He promises to be there, but when I don't, I can see myself stumble and fall. As if I'm unplugged, disconnected, floating free. The world calls this individuality, freedom of expression. God calls it slavery to sin, selfish desires, and reckless abandonment. A balloon is pretty flying alone by itself, but it has no control over where it's going.

"The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement. The law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide." - Psalms 37:30,31

Oh To Be Used by Him

Kristi over at her NEW Thimble Thoughts page has posted a video of our Voices of Faith singing Sunday night.

I got a chill listening to the song we sang, somewhat because I don't like my own recorded voice, but more so from the impact it had on the people who heard it in the services. We are blessed to be used of God to bless others. I guess that's how God designed blessings :) My sister and I have grown so like-minded when it comes to music it's scary! :)

I would tell you that I USED to listen to contemporary music from my college days up until a few years ago; but I can also say that it NEVER satisfied me spiritually like just praising The Lord as we do now has. When I hear it playing now, I cringe and remember just how shallow most of it is. Oh yes, it's pleasing to the ears and, as my brother-in-law says, "All music has its purpose...some for entertainment." But when the words and music work together to cause you to worship the one and only true God, that's a blessing.

This and That

Forgive me father, it's been 11 days since my last post.

Ok, not quite a joke, but sincerely put. I've been extremely mentally distracted for the last 2 weeks.

• The boys finally got home from Puerto Rico, and things settled back to normal (whatever normal is). I have all their pictures, but no time to upload them from this slow-poke internet connection.

• God sent Bro. Mike P. my way to help run our Delivery store, and after 2 weeks of hands-on training, he's doing an excellent job!

• The GM of our Full Service store gave me his keys on Friday. It seems his family situations were too much for him to keep his job. I was able to move someone from another store into Full Service (on Hwy 74) and keep it running without a hitch, but there will be another 2 weeks at least training to keep this one running at par. I believe this will be the best for the store.

• I used to let my job control my schedule, which allowed the Devil to keep me out of church. God has blessed my stores tremendously, I believe, because of my decision to be in church every service. God has blessed my stores with increased sales and great managers. I know the Devil doesn't like it much, but just as with Job, God will only allow him past the hedge when He is good and ready. I also know that God will not let me go through the trials alone.

• Emily turned 5 Tuesday, and we had her birthday party Saturday. I have pictures of this as well, but probably won't get them up tonight.

• Voices of Faith sang our new songs today (I think Kristi took a video of one) and The Lord blessed many people through us. I'll be the first to say that I deserve none of the credit. Justin M. and Gary are GREAT additions to the group. Each time I get up to sing, I pray that God will get the glory and touch people's lives through it. I know that if it sounds bad or if I mess up, it just keeps me humble so I don't get a big head :)

• I think I lost a filling tonight. I've had a very sensitive molar on the other side, but I remember my dentist telling me that sinus pressure can make teeth sensitive, so I've been watching it carefully.

• We had one of the sweetest services tonight I've seen in a while. This made me remember ones who weren't there that are normally the center of the blessing spout. Mrs. Barbara is still in Duke, and the Rectors are still recovering from a major infection. These couples are very well missed when they can't make the services. We pray that they will be able to join us again soon.

Day 5

Still Quiet! Sooo quiet...

Rebecca and I took a ride down to one of my stores yesterday, and stopped along the way at a chinese restaurant I like in Charlotte. When we left, we noticed a gaggle, posse, herd, flock, (gathering of some sort) of Mini Cooper cars, and I happened to snap a picture. This must have been some internet social club meeting to show off their itty bitty cars

We counted 11 in all, but there wer a few who left before we got out there.

Day 3

It's quiet! Imagine that :)

Thought I'd share this picture I call "Redneck Swimming Pool"

And They're Off

Jamie and Justin left off with the youth group to Puerto Rico this morning.

We all met at the church at 8am

Here's the group going this year, there are 24 Kids going on this trip

Here's the whole gang. Counting Bro. Jonny and Mrs. Vondie there are 32 in all

The mother's all came to see their children off, and even though they're smiling, I know many are cringing inside as few (if any) of these kids have taken this type of trip before.

Before leaving, they split up into groups. Jamie and Justin will be in Bro. RJ's group

Brother Greg called his group

Preacher High-Five's his group

Then we had prayer before everyone got on the bus.

If I(we) Only knew

We had an inspiring old missionary in church tonight. I apologize, I'm not very good with names, so I rarely even try to remember them (right Amy?) :)

Anyway, In short, his life story brought him home from the mission field due to a genetic disease that took his eye sight. But he says God told him that instead of this ending his ministry, God would expand it. Two years ago, a tractor trailer was making a U-turn on the highway, and with no reflective tape on the truck, this elderly couple slammed into the broadside of the truck sending them to the hospital for 30 days and 30 nights.

Instead of seeing this as the lowest point of their semi-retired missionary lives, God showed them how they could share Jesus anywhere and in any situation. When he left the hospital, many of the Buddhists, Catholics, Atheists, and other people who had spent that month in the hospital with him lined the halls to thank him and God for sending him to tell them of Jesus.

Now he writes songs, and has published 2 or 3 music books. He played the piano, and sang with his wife, and yes, he is blind. He said that before he lost his sight, music to him was not important. But now he sees it as a huge part of his ministry and uses his talents for God.

I had to stop and ask myself, If my life story included such huge obstacles, would I constantly question God "why me?" Or would I trust that God knows what He's doing and He will bring me through. When I look back on my life, can I say that I would change how I felt, or what I said or prayed for If I only knew what God had in store for me? OR can I say that I trusted God to provide for my needs or my family as He promised he would, without falter or doubt.

Isaiah 55:8,9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thought than your thoughts."

As our preacher says .. "Amen goes right there" :)

Happy Birthday America! - Part 2

My brother Tim invited us to join him on the 4th for a semi-family cookout. Since Ken and Tammy are in Colorado, and our boys were staying with Dad and Annette, Rebecca and I enjoyed a wonderful night out of town.

Ok, let's get this over with. I dressed for the occasion

Emily couldn't find the Kitty. She's such a doll.

Tim did an AWESOME job of cooking the speedies and steak. He really likes to use his new grill too :)

YUM YUM!

Emily took this picture. She loves to use the camera.

Then it was time for water balloons!!

UT OH!!!

After a good long nap, we all headed to the park for fireworks

Emily and Sarah (her cousin on Jen's side) had a ball with sparklers

This is Sarah

This is Tim's Goofy face, going into our Goofy Face Album soon to be posted!

This is Sarah impersonating Uncle Tim

With the sparklers almost gone, Sarah got a piece of hot metal on her lower eyelid! Poor thing. We thought it was in her eye, but after some cold water and some closer looking by her Daddy, she only had a tiny red spot under her eye. A lady at the park gave her a dollar to cheer her up :)

Then it was time for the REAL Fireworks!! I wish I could post all of the pictures I took, but these are the highlights. These are nowhere near the ones that Kristi took, but I think I did a fairly good job for my first July 4th :) Enjoy

The Perfect end to this story.

Happy Birthday America!

Well, actually July 3rd, but you get the idea. Joel and Pam brought their sister and her Husband, Rob and Brenda and their baby Jenna Rose, as we all met at the mall to watch this years Cleveland County Fireworks Display.

Rebecca's brother Jon was also in town

Rebecca got to hold the baby the WHOLE time. She didn't wake up once!