chris and emily and the preacher man


the "girls" - one down, 3 to go. I think they should all elope!


don and emily, crossing the bridge

mawwaiage,

Marriage. Marriage is what brings us together -- today. Marriage--that blessed arrangement.



That dream -- within a dream. Emily and Chris are married.

We're ALL Dying . . .

but for some, it's hitting a little closer to home. There's Maggie . . .and Susan . . .

Susan was talking to me the other day about it . . .and she said that when they told her she was going to die several years ago, she made herself ready for it - mentally. But now, she has a new purpose in life, she is active in ministry and she has so much more work to do . ..and she doesn't want to be ready.

yeah, yeah, we know all the stuff about being absent from the body is to be present with the Lord but that doesn't make it any easier.

I love Susan. I know God will take care of her because she is precious to him but who will take care of me when Susan goes home? Who will call me to see if I have read my Bible?

That settles it. God will have to wait for Susan.

Mother's Day

It is so encouraging to see families in the fellowship that have been restored. Today during the testimony time, we heard so many mothers talk about how they weren't with their children last year and they have been reunited with them. It made my heart hurt . . .and soar at the same time. God has performed so many wonderful miracles . . .

happy mothers day.

CCM

Community Caring Ministries - an all-encompassing phrase that basically just means caring for those who are unable to care for themselves. We finally have a group of people that are interested in visitation and we are going to begin visiting tomorrow. We have been visiting people of course but there are some elderly people who are part of our family that we have been missing. We want to go see Maggie, who has cancer. Linda has been absent for several weeks and needs to know that she is missed.

I am excited about doing it. I know some people will think that we should have been doing it before now but now is the time that God has finally brought us to . . .and now is the time to do this.

Solomon's Prayer

"And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. 61 But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time."
These words of Solomon were prayed at the end of the dedication of the Temple. We were doing prayer time today and this was the verse we used. He prayed such an incredible prayer, asking for healing, and restoration, and recommitment - we should be praying it ourselves each day.

But then there is that line in verse 60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. THAT is why we should be praying for him to answer prayer - so that there is no doubt in people's minds.

See, what that is saying is that the reason God answers our prayers is so that we will testify to his goodness and others will see his power and goodness and know that He is God. As children of God, if He never answered another prayer EVER, it would still be okay because HE is my portion - he is enough for me. I think I just understood the song "Dayenu" that we sing at Passover - "it would have been enough."

Just to have him in my life - is enough.

When he answers prayers in my life, I need to be faithful to share those answers with others - so that they can taste of his goodness.

I am full.