Apples and Bananas?

So, I told you I'm taking a Beth Moore Bible Study called

When Godly People Do Ungodly Things.

I also told you that it was kicking my butt a bit.

Well, it is very challenging.

The first few weeks are filled with warnings

and an education about the enemy.

There was also the fact that it comes to you 

that just because you have a wonderful relationship with the 

Lord you are not safe from falling.

Just because you have lived with a sin in your life

for.ev.er doesn't make it right.

Yesterday's lesson and following discussion

brought some very cool things to light.

The subject was staying within the walls.

Beth used the temple as an example of our lives.

She talked about how some of us view the walls as protection

and get comfort from them....

and how others see the walls as barriers and resent them.

Beth talked about all of the "trees" and "fruit" within the walls.

How we, as Christians, tend to only eat the same old fruits

over and over again.

Apples and Bananas.

We eat these same fruits because that's what our parents

did and their parents before them.

It is what we are teaching our children to 

eat...apples and bananas.

All the while there is such variety available to us.

She said to think about how many trees are in the garden.

It is loaded with trees and fruit.

She says it is no wonder others look at Christians and think

they are boring and then translate that to the thought 

of being a Christian.

Beth is so right on that front.

Most of us Christians live our lives in a 

comfortably boring state.

We so often do not think beyond tradition and routine 

to grasp the  

awesome opportunities for worship, joy and service 

that are all around us.

Revival must start here.

In my heart...

in your heart.

She stressed that WE ARE the church 

and praying that revival would come is useless

if we aren't open to it in our own lives and hearts.

I've been challenged by my daughter lately.

She has been reading books that are helping her 

to see things differently.

When she goes to the Mall she watches people.

She sees the need so many have for the Lord.

Her heart is breaking for the lost.

I admit that I am not there yet.

Oh, I want the lost to be saved,

but I am not actively seeking them out and ministering 

to them...

I have not been specifically

praying for those who are not in my life.

This needs to change.

Let's call that one pineapple.

I want to eat some pineapple.

Chelsea is also getting geared up for her 

adventure in Australia and Cambodia or Thailand

next year.

We'll call that Papaya.....

Living your life for the Lord to the extreme.

She called it writing the book of your life and 

making it interesting.

(That also came from something she read)

As a parent it would be so tempting to encourage

her to investigate her gifts closer to home.

But we challenged her to take a couple of weeks and 

really pray about her future.

She came out of that even more determined that this 

is the right path.

This parent has to yield and encourage her to follow

God's leading in her life.

Will everything be perfect?

Not likely.

Will we miss her?

YOU BET!

But will she enjoy the juicy goodness of the Papaya?

Most definitely.

And what a story she will be writing in the process.

So, if God continues to call her to walk this path

we will support and encourage her in it.

We'll trust that God has her in the palm of His hand.

Now, just because I am not going overseas

to eat my Papaya does not mean that I can't eat the 

Papaya too.

I'm actively seeking the Lord's will

in the next chapter of my story.

Does He want me to be more involved in the 

rescue of orphans?

Perhaps my ministry will come through the candle 

business and those I can help through fund raising.

Papaya?

Maybe.

Perhaps it is something that He is going to 

bring into our lives which we have no idea of yet.

I definitely feel a call to get more involved in relationships 

with the ladies in our church .....and beyond......to serve them and 

make strong friendships.

I think those might be big sweet juicy grapes.

So much fruit.

And I've gotten caught up in just enjoying the 

apples and bananas.

So routine.

So good.

But there is so much more.

I've been challenged.

Convicted.

Excited!

To be authentic, willing, repentant, open

and to live an exciting and fulfilled life 

FOR HIM.

Told you I would try to share.

This feels an inadequate 

sharing of the thoughts and feelings

swirling in my head and heart

but you get the idea.

Random Chelsea Art

Perfectly wonderful words to find 

sitting on the kitchen counter

on a Wednesday morning.

It is Tax Day....At Hospitality Lane

How do you feel about doing your taxes?

I dislike it.

Today I will help my Mom, the kids and 

Warren's Mom do taxes.

If I get them all done in good time I will reward myself 

by going to hear Rick Santorum and James Dobson speak.

I doubt very much that this will happen....

but a girl can dream, right?

Always loving politics as I do....

and coming from a family involved in Christian radio

this event sounds like the best thing ever.

However, it will not even be a possibility if I don't get 

moving and get started on the dreaded paperwork.

I chose photos for this post from our lovely visit to 

Longwood Gardens last Friday.

Warren had the day off for Good Friday and Chelsea

didn't have to be to work until late afternoon so we 

made a quick trip over the river and through the woods.

Delightful!

Glorious Easter

As is tradition for the Monday after Easter I have

to post about our day.

We, of course, began the formal part 

of the celebrations at a local park for our

"Sonrise Service".

I put that in quotations for a couple of reasons.

One...we intentionally misspell it and 

Two...it happens way later than sunrise.

That doesn't matter to us.

In fact that is the way we prefer it.

With so many families driving nearly an hour

to worship with us it just wouldn't be fair to 

ask them to be there at the crack of dawn.

So, 8:15am yesterday found us tramping through 

wet grass to come pondside for our brief service

which included a reading of the resurrection story, 

prayer and the singing of Up From the Grave He Arose.

We then asked everyone to gather closer

together for a group photo.

 

It was so striking to those of us who have been

there since the first Sonrise Service how much 

the church has grown.

How much we love all of these wonderful 

families and appreciate the rich friendships.

We did, however, miss Tim, Lindsay and Emily Rabe,

as they are on an adventure in Senegal.

You can read bits and pieces about their journey 

at Deanna's blog....Creekside Cottage.

Everyone convoyed back to the church for a delightful

breakfast.  Everyone was so enthusiastic and signed up 

to bring so much food.  

Since I sent the sign up form with Warren last week 

and stayed home sick I was thrilled when he brought it back

all filled up.

Georgia and I were kept busy making hot waffles

until people could eat no more.

I also took a sausage egg and cheese casserole, 

Baked oatmeal and fruit and yogurt parfaits.

Actually, I was making the parfaits at the church just 

before running for the Sonrise Service.

Chelsea was prepping the hot water and coffee

as we know that chilly people enjoy this straight away

upon their arrival.

While the majority enjoyed more of 

The Truth Project during our Sunday School time

the clean up crew was busy.

I appreciate the faithfulness of these ladies to 

the work of the church.

Do not feel bad for us....

We enjoyed our time together.

Worship service was awesome.

We set a new record for attendance with more

than 75 there.

Since we are not about numbers this is not

really the point....

but let me tell you that the music bursting out 

of that many rejoicing bodies makes one 

really believe that HE AROSE!

We came home to a delightful Easter dinner

at Georgia's house.  She and Mom worked together

to make a traditional meal of ham, mashed potatoes, 

baked pineapple, yams, deviled eggs and more.

Pastor Mike was with us.

We lingered over that for a very long time....

moved to the living room for another long 

time of great conversation and then 

our friend, Denny came over.

Soon it was time for a bite for supper so out came 

the leftovers.

More time of conversation at the table.

Then our friend Jenny joined us and the sharing

of testimonies and stories went late into the evening.

We ended our most wonderful day with prayer

around that table.

We are pretty stinkin' blessed.

In so many ways.

The only downside to the day was that 

Georgia's sink decided that it couldn't drain

 so much of the 

time that the rest of us were sitting at the table chatting

Warren and Georgia were listening from the kitchen

as they worked to open a clogged pipe.

While they made progress it was not completely 

open yet last night. 

I'll have to ask Georgia if it is better today.

How was your Easter?

Did you celebrate His goodness in defeating death

in your services and with your families?

Pastor Mike surprised Mom and I by quoting a 

part of my Dad's Poem, 

When Death Began to Die.

Tears.

They tried to pop out.

But I successfully blinked them back.

Made my heart smile, though.

She is So Cute!!

This was after she made an unexpected trip 

to Grandma Ruth's house.

Alone.

To get a treat bone.

Mom and I were on the phone and 

I let Bandit out the back door.

When I couldn't see her in the back

I came to the front door just in time to see

her headed up Mom's steps.

When Mom heard she had a visitor

she went to the door to see what 

she wanted.

That was all Bandit needed.....

In the door, up the stairs, to the cupboard.

Grandma obliged and gave her the treat

at which point Bandit turned around,

bone in mouth, 

and ran back down the steps, 

out the door

and back home.

She enjoyed the bone in her 

special spot under the sofa.

What a dog!

We got such a charge out of this one.

Mom thought it was funny too.

Good thing!

From the Heart

Currently for sale in my Etsy Shop. 

So....what's happening in your world?

It seems like life has fallen a bit flat around here.

First it was that horrible illness......

Mikey and Chelsea had lesser versions of it.

Although, before Chelsea actually knew she was sick

she passed out at work.

So glad she is o.k.  now.

Mikey tried to go to work yesterday but was 

sent home.  He is pretty miserable.

I'm not sure that he is planning to go today

since I've not seen him yet and he would be due

there in half an hour.

Today I will finish up a fund raiser order

and deliver it.

I need to get some goodies made up for 

Mother's Day.

The photos in this post are the beginning

of the pretties I'm working on for 

Spring. 

But before I spend much 

more time on these fun projects

 taxes must be done and 

there is Easter Sunday.

We'll have our Sonrise Service and Breakfast

at the church as usual.

They are calling for a beautiful Easter morning.

So thankful!!

It is a highlight of my whole year.

I Just love meeting there by the pond 

with the sunshine

and blue skies.

Celebrating the fact that Jesus did not 

remain in the tomb.

He Arose!!

Perhaps some of the dullness I'm

experiencing these days comes from a 

Bible Study I'm working through.

It is Beth Moore's study about

Godly People doing Ungodly Things.

It is intense....to say the least.

There is a conscience awareness of the 

subtleties of the enemy's attacks.

The discovery of the things that get in the 

way of perfect fellowship between us and 

our Heavenly Father.

I don't know exactly why, 

out of all of the study options available

at this community study,

I've chosen this one.

However, I believe that it will bear 

much fruit.....

even if it is a painful process.

God is cleaning house.

Working on and in me.

It is good.

Just not fun.

Not sure what the end results will be

but I look forward to sharing what I 

am able to from all of it.

Perhaps that is why the ladies

at our church are also working through

Calm My Anxious Heart

by
Linda Dillow.

Great companion studies.

Hello

I'll be listing this candle soon.

Within a day or so, I hope.

I found this crock design when my friend

Deanna and I went to a wholesale supplier.

This is so Lancaster County!

And the quality is superb.

I love the rubber "feet" that keep 

it from sliding or scratching surfaces.

For now I am playing catch up from last 

week.  Filling Etsy orders and Fundraiser

orders which should all be completed by 

Thursday.

I meet my next fundraiser coordinator on 

Wednesday to get her started.

I am so blessed!

Color me happy.