Faithful

This week was super hard! Our very own hero Tim Brackeen was shot and killed in the line of duty. 

Two churches or more joined together Wednesday night to have a beautiful, worshipful Memorial service, Thursday night the community poured in along with a sea of law enforcement to the visitation, his faithfulness was proclaimed nation wide.

Yesterday......about 8000 people gathered in the stadium, and multitudes watched on all the major news outlets as a funeral worthy of a president was held. His brother preached a Gospel message and gave the invitation.

Officers from as far away as Chicago and New York came to pay their respects in person, the Governor of North Carolina came and had part in the funeral. I'll never forget as the family walked off the field, the governor with no pomp or politicking or looking for media attention, slipped alongside Tim's brother and gave him a comforting hug. 

Timothy Brackeen was faithful! Can you image the celestial reception he received in Heaven?

 

I can't wait for tomorrow as we worship together and unite to let God heal us....may I be found faithful in God's eyes!

https://www.facebook.com/WBTVMollyGrantham/videos/1446661148677697/

A snippet from one of the many news channels that covered the funeral. 

Be still

My last day of work, one of my clients repeatedly told me how God told her to be still and let Him work.  That stuck with me the last week, as I wait on the Lord to direct my path. 

Today, time stood still when we got the news that one of our faithful church members who is a police officer died today from being shot in the line of duty. 

My last memory of him was his praying with his little girl at the altar just a week ago. I am so glad to have that memory...

My day has been frozen for a bit as I stop to grieve, pray, and draw comfort from God's Word.

Pray for the Brackeen family, our law enforcement, and our community. 

   

                                                                         

As our church gathered in prayer yesterday as our friend, brother, and protector hung onto life, a precious young girl next to me sobbed and begged God to let her take his place so that he could live.

My spirit was smote within me at yet another example of true love and self sacrifice.

Would you lay down your life for another?!

Answered Prayer?!

Reflecting back over last week, it seems like a wild ride on the roller coaster of faith.

I abruptly resigned my job that I had almost 2 years, due to personal safety concerns. I cried a lot, prayed with almost every breath, and even tried to go job hunting. 

This week, Ted took me with him on his business trip. I had been wanting to go with him for a very long time. Just didn't expect this way of God answering that prayer. I had been yearning for a break from work.......again, not anticipating resigning my job to make it happen.

I really don't like roller coasters, the twists and turns and loops don't bother me, it's the huge free falling, rip my stomach out through my toes, sensation I absolutely can't stand. Right now, on this roller coaster of faith, I'm hoping to hang on to my harness, trust like never before and see what lays beyond the next hilly curve.

James was honorably discharged a bit early from the army. He is living in Missouri and desperately needs a job.

Justin is super busy with college and work, then he got super serious about his new girlfriend and they wanted to jump into wedding plans. Ted had to sit him down and look at the cold hard facts. So as of right now, they have slowed down the mad rush. 

Choosing to be thankful and trusting God...

What is a friend?

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble any where?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
You will find a solace there.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit;
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

(Joseph Scriven)

Charge!

Rough day.....had to buy a new car battery before leaving for home. Way too expensive! Trip home seemed to take forever with lots of rainstorms. Stopped to celebrate Ted's bday with some special "in-loves", got home, started laundry, tended animals, unpacked, and collapsed. 

Love being home, dreading returning to life and all its daily drama. 

Still wish I could be a hermit.

Vertigo

Heading off to the dinner cruise, and found that we were being charged $51 for parking next to the hotel!! Yeh boy! Hotel only told us it would be $17 total!  Then as we pulled away from dock on the cruise liner, I started having some wild feelings. One of our sweet dinner companions also had it and had experienced it before. I have had a few issues recently usually at home, very mild and attributed it to fatigue or low blood sugar. Tonight, however, I was introduced to the wild phenomenon known as vertigo!  I was able to go up on deck for a few minutes after dinner. Things finally settled down as the cruise ended. Then we found my car battery was dying, thankful for the jump from another family.

Returned to our hotel, no parking spots! Finally found one, then vertigo in the elevator! This has been a most memorable evening LOL!! Ted however enjoyed his birthday, in spite of the adventures we always seem to embroil ourselves in.

Drinking some milk, getting a headache and wondering if this is the start of an ongoing issue.....

Dramamine it seems is to be my next new friend.

Observational Nuances

Walking through a city so steeped in history, you tend to analyze in layers. I just couldn't seem to get acclimated or even interested in a place that I thought surely would thrill me. Today was much better, went to Jestine's Kitchen for lunch, and the leisurely stroll there and back awakened my desire to return to this city for further exploration.

Many places we vacation in, scream loud, noisy tourist town. This city seems to blur the lines and stifle the normal, boisterous, redneck clientele we usually run into. I am a people watcher, and was looking for the seedy underbelly that usually prevails blatantly in most places these days. I only saw some possible signs of homelessness, even then they weren't panhandling, or looking like they lived there in that spot. I am not even entirely sure they weren't just hanging out.  As for the sexual revolution, no obvious signs of prostitution, and only 1 tranz so far. Although, I did not see an overwhelming display of the devil's playground as we usually are lambasted with, I did sense a very spiritual need in this city so full of long standing historical church buildings. Are they just monuments to a lost time in history, when people here worshipped and prayed as hard as they made a living? 

Curious about our dinner cruise tonight.....will I peel back more layers to a sweet onion?

Celebrating Southern Style

Today is my husband's birthday. He decided to celebrate it with a jaunt to Charleston, SC. We have talked of visiting this city for years, but always changed our minds.

 We have tired of Myrtle Veach, Gatlinburg, and even Knoxville. 

Last night, we are at Indaco....uhm, eclectic, upscale, and probably not a repeat destination.

This morning, we walked a mile to the carriage companies, and took a tour of the old city via horse and carriage. Then we walked one of the main market squares, and ate at Low Country Bistro for lunch. Again, wasn't overly impressed with the fare. The tourists and clientele are very upscale and yacht club status. We often feel conspicuous and out of place.

Tonight, we went to Joe Pasta for his birthday dinner. This place was more our style and taste. I would go back again. We found a gourmet, eclectic ice cream shop called Jeni's, and have enjoyed the myriad of blended flavored offered.

Tomorrow, we plan to go to the popular farmer's market before launching on a dinner cruise. 

Happy Birthday Darling, it's been wonderful to celebrate together in this auspicious location.

Lessons learned this week

1. Bossing people around does not make you the boss

2. Controlling people is not the same as being in control

3. Ministry and Christian service is not a competition

4. Raising your voice to be heard, does not mean you are yelling out of irritation

5. In the midst of the devil trying and succeeding in sowing discord and disharmony, 36 souls were saved!!

Sadly, these lessons should have been learned by many others, instead of observed by the innocent.

Hmmmm!

Seems I have been away longer then I thought! Blogger removed the American and Christian flag picture from my design and will not let me add it. You can see the warning symbols of where they will not display what we have had there for years!!
Will be interesting to see how long it will be before my spiritual posts are deleted or censured.
My friends have left blogger, I may have to take my future posts elsewhere as well 🤔.

Popcorn Christianity

I have the privilege to teach the teen girls who come to our bus ministry at church. God has given me some amazing lessons over the years. I refuse to teach anything unless God gives it to me. 

The lesson this week was simple and practical, and I was able to share it first with a client yesterday, then today in class.

Today's lesson:

Each of us start out as simple seeds. When you add the oil and the heat of Holy Ghost conviction, you either burst out of your hard shell into new life, or you harden your hearts and refuse new life. Un popped kernels are a waste and end up burned and discarded (people who harden their hearts and refuse to be saved will be discarded into a burning hell...what a waste!) Matthew 13:18-23

As we allow God to use the oil and heat of trials and testing, we can burst into a full piece beautiful and enjoyable. (Romans 5:4-5) 

Some people do not respond well to trials and testing and will not grow into their full potential. Others let trials burn them, and leave them unpalatable and they waste away. 

Now popcorn is good, but tastes even better when you add butter and salt. Christianity is meant to be enjoyed and to give joy. No one enjoys stale popcorn either. Keep your relationship fresh, alive, and full of the Holy Ghost every day! (Psalm 45:7, Ezekiel 16:19,and Luke 14:34)

Lastly, popcorn is meant to be shared....are you sharing the good news of Christ's love?

Mark 16:15-16

Which piece of popcorn are you?

Picture was taken 7/16/16