church on the road

This summer we have hit the road! Lots of traveling, so we decided to have church in while in Florida, just the family. Maybe we could watch a good church service. So with a click of the remote we join the local televised church service. The choir was bellowing, by hymn number three I could feel eyeballs staring at me. Then the pastor began his welcome with the rising and falling and extending the endING of everYYYY worDDDD. Then a soft, “ummm” came from the mouths of the heads that had the eyeballs staring at me!

Ok, television off. Get the ipod out we will worship through song with some Josh Ridings Band, que up a podcast from Mars Hill and have church!

My sons sermon notes from Pastor Mark Driscoll’s sermon on

Jesus and Zacchaeus.

Then we headed for the pool, where we reviewed the sermon. I would ask the children a question as they gave their highest jump into the pool. Mid air into the pool came an answer that usually was finished under water!

A wee little man = __________________ (Zaccheus)

Legal but _______________ (sinful)

The “b” word _______________ (booger)

Repentance + Restitution = ______________ (rejoice)

Only gospel that shares about Zaccheus = ____________ (Luke)

You could say that this summer Sunday sermon ended in a splash!

this is my song...

"Can you hold please?"

The voice on the other end of the phone did not wait for my response. I am put on hold. Sure, I can hold...I would rather not, but since it wasn't up for discussion I will.

God does this sometimes too.

Hold please. Wait on me. Be still and know that I am God. Well, I would rather not sometimes, but since it wasn't up for discussion, I will. And so I do. Seasons of waiting can be difficult. Especially if you are not very patient. Learning new lessons, being refined, sanctified just a bit more seems to occur most during the seasons of waiting on the Lord.

While on hold the background music plays. Here is today's song while I wait:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.

O what a foretaste of glory divine.

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest;

I in my Savior am happy and blessed,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

The Lord is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation. Exodus 15:2

Thankful that my God gives me a song while having me wait!

fifteen years

Celebrating fifteen years of marriage to the man I love! It all began eighteen years ago, we had met just three weeks earlier on a mission trip. One evening we sat outside by the pool...talking, sharing with one another our hopes and dreams when he reached out for my hand. He cupped my hands in his and asked if he could pray.

One of the most tender, heartfelt prayers I had ever heard...somewhere in there he thanked God for having our paths cross and committed us to Him...if that was just a friendship or if we would grow old together, serving him...rocking side by side in our rocking chairs some day. When he finished praying, I looked up to see a tear coming down his cheek. In my heart, I was already saying "I do."

It was three years later that I got to say those words before our family and friends, confessing that covenant of marriage before our Lord.

Thankful for a faithful God who has held two sinners who love one another.