I can't believe it's Wednesday already. My friend was a gorgeous bride this past weekend and they are off playing in Cancun as I write. We had a great time and everything went very smoothly. It poured down rain (bits of Rita coming up into Little Rock area) all day Saturday and Saturday night, but the sun was out for a beautiful day on Sunday for the ceremony and reception.
Please remember my parents to the Father right now, they are sick again. Mom is doing better now, but Dad still is in the throes of a bad cold. It also started raining there again yesterday and the forecast is calling for even more this round than the last two times they've had floods, so they are preparing again in the city for flooding. This week and next week they've had a break from their Thai lessons since they finished the first 60-hour course, but they will be starting up again the 2nd week of October. 7 more weeks and I'll get to see them!
I was so thankful to hear that both families dear to me that live in the Houston area are safe and sound. They both got out of town to stay with other family in the state for the duration and have both returned home to only limbs down and no major damage to homes or property and electricity back on.
As I begin looking at my schedule for the next couple weeks, it leads me into the following couple weeks and before you know it the holidays will be here. The next couple weekends I have the joy of having two of my cousins respectively here in town to visit me. It will be a nice change from traveling. This coming weekend Michael bought tickets are we are going to the Titans vs. Colts game. This will be my 1st ever Titans game, but my 3rd NFL stadium to attend a game in (I've been to Colts games in Indy and Cowboys games in Dallas). I'm looking forward to a good time, I think the weather is cooling off and little and hopefully it will be a little more like football weather.
Then the end of the month I'll take another weekend to go to my grandparents' and stay with them and help them out. The first weekend of November I'm holding a baby shower at my place for a good friend. We are going to make her birth announcements at the shower and just have some snacks and fellowship. Since this is their third, she doesn't really need much, so we are just going to have fun and celebrate!
I've also begun to think about Christmas gifts. Some I have, some I don't but I have ideas for and some I have no clue. But never fear, I've been here before it's familiar territory. Those who know me well, know that Christmas in my world lasts from about Thanksgiving to the end of January, depending on the travel schedule and who I will see when. Nevertheless, I know there are things that I intend to make that I need to get started on.
Be careful... don't blink... when you do it will already be 2006!
Wednesday, September 28
Thursday, September 22
Thanks & Praise
Well, I must actively choose to find things to thank Him for these last few days and praise Him regardless of how I feel. I've gotten several pieces of not so good stuff and have been sharing those prayer requests with my friends and partners. So that is the first thing that I'm thankful for is good friends, who are willing to lift up the things that concern me and those close to me. I'm thankful that I have the kind of friends and family who take time out of their busy days, to help me bear my burden, I only hope that I will be able to return the kindness when they are in times of need.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well my Pampered Chef party turned out and thankful for the free stuff I got to pick out! It was a bright spot in my day yesterday to be able to close out that show so successfully.
I'm also praising Him that when I spoke with my parents on Monday night that the latest news from my grandmother is that there is still no signs of the cancer. There are many other things that are still needing work, but one thing and one day at a time. At the same time my heart tears in two for one of my very best friends as we've just found out that her mother's cancer has returned in full force and it is not looking good. Oh, that Christ would come quickly and wipe out all disease and sadness and take us all home with Him!
I'm so thankful that I'm being allowed the privilege of participating in another dear friend's wedding this weekend. They were intending to have it outside Sunday evening in Little Rock and I'm afraid we may end up inside because of Rita by that time, but a celebration it will be nonetheless! She has been through many, many trials throughout her life and I'm so happy for her that God has blessed her with a kind, gentle and caring Christian man to spend the rest of her life with, she deserves it!
At the mention of Rita, I must lift up all those in the potential pathway. I have two households of family that live in the Houston area that I think of in particular. One family I heard from just shortly ago and they have made it to stay with other family of theirs somewhat north who have a generator. The others I've sent a note too, but have not heard from yet. I can't imagine, having to do such a thing. Lord protect those I love and so many more that I don't even know.
Is it just me, or does natural disaster seem to be more frequent and more powerful each year?! My parents are experiencing flooding in their city in Thailand. They are personally OK where they live, but many that they know, teach or work with are effected. The slum area in which they help to teach ESL to children is flooded. Oh the power that nature holds and uses... and yet, it says in the Word that at the sound of His voice and His command the waves became still. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation! He reigns supreme!
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18
I was pleasantly surprised at how well my Pampered Chef party turned out and thankful for the free stuff I got to pick out! It was a bright spot in my day yesterday to be able to close out that show so successfully.
I'm also praising Him that when I spoke with my parents on Monday night that the latest news from my grandmother is that there is still no signs of the cancer. There are many other things that are still needing work, but one thing and one day at a time. At the same time my heart tears in two for one of my very best friends as we've just found out that her mother's cancer has returned in full force and it is not looking good. Oh, that Christ would come quickly and wipe out all disease and sadness and take us all home with Him!
I'm so thankful that I'm being allowed the privilege of participating in another dear friend's wedding this weekend. They were intending to have it outside Sunday evening in Little Rock and I'm afraid we may end up inside because of Rita by that time, but a celebration it will be nonetheless! She has been through many, many trials throughout her life and I'm so happy for her that God has blessed her with a kind, gentle and caring Christian man to spend the rest of her life with, she deserves it!
At the mention of Rita, I must lift up all those in the potential pathway. I have two households of family that live in the Houston area that I think of in particular. One family I heard from just shortly ago and they have made it to stay with other family of theirs somewhat north who have a generator. The others I've sent a note too, but have not heard from yet. I can't imagine, having to do such a thing. Lord protect those I love and so many more that I don't even know.
Is it just me, or does natural disaster seem to be more frequent and more powerful each year?! My parents are experiencing flooding in their city in Thailand. They are personally OK where they live, but many that they know, teach or work with are effected. The slum area in which they help to teach ESL to children is flooded. Oh the power that nature holds and uses... and yet, it says in the Word that at the sound of His voice and His command the waves became still. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation! He reigns supreme!
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Monday, September 19
Weekend around the world
Well, it was a busy weekend!
I went to scrap with some friends on Friday night. A very dear friend has us over once or twice a month from 6:30pm until whenever we all leave. She's such a gracious hostess and enjoy my time there working on my pages. I'm making progress... I have almost filled one album completely since I began scrapbooking this past spring. I started with the earliest pictures I have (beginning of high school) and am working through chronologically. I'm almost through my second and last year of college now. I'm getting more excited as I progress because as I get to newer stuff I'll be able to be more creative with my writing and layouts because I remember the details better than stuff in high school and college!
Saturday late morning I have a home full of friends for a Pampered Chef party. We had a great time and of course enjoyed the food. I took a short nap and had some dinner before heading out to a wedding shower for a couple from my Sunday school class. I didn't stay late because I was tired, but a good time was had by all. My Sunday was much more relaxed... after church and Sunday School I had some lunch and read a book while watching some of the football games. I'm quite sure I dozed a bit too. I do like my naps!
We are in the middle of our tything/giving campaign right now at church and this was commitment Sunday. We are pledging for a many-phased building campaign that will allow us to build in stages and in such a way that we have several worship venues and will be able to reach out to different cultures as well as different age groups and tailor worship services and opportunities to each without having to change the current service for those who enjoy it. I really like the way they have put this together and believe that the Lord is leading us in this direction. We heard a testimony on Sunday morning from a church member who grew up in Taiwan, China. She came to be in the states with the help of an American mission team many, many years ago. In the last year or so, she has been speaking with our pastors about opportunities to go back to her homeland and reach others for Christ. This past June, 2 of our pastors along with she and her husband went on a mission discovery trip to China, I believe for 2 weeks. Her small hometown (pop. 3 million) has only 2 protestant church buildings and all services are crowded to overflowing. The team from our church met with some of the leading pastors there for luncheon and we asked what we could do to help and support them. They asked us to build them a church, they have the land, but need the building. The details are being worked out now and we will be sending a team to do the building. This is a very definite God-thing because as I understand what the team eplained, churches in the Chinese culture do not trust churches from here so easily or so quickly, it usually takes much building of relationship before they would ever inquire for support of this magnitude. Yet, they spoke with boldness to our group!
Praise God - He is working all around the world! So many other reports that I get from field personnel that I'm in contact with and hearing several times a week how hungry peoples of many, many nations are for the Living Word. I consider it a privilege to be a part of many teams as a prayer partner. Won't you consider seriously praying consistently for even one people group? If this is something that sounds intriguing or interesting to you and you have questions, or want to know where or how you can get more info, please let me know and I can put you in touch with resources.
In the meantime, may God bless you richly as you go about your day! Remember, someone is watching you and trying to figure out what is different about you - let His light shine through you in an unmistakable way!
I went to scrap with some friends on Friday night. A very dear friend has us over once or twice a month from 6:30pm until whenever we all leave. She's such a gracious hostess and enjoy my time there working on my pages. I'm making progress... I have almost filled one album completely since I began scrapbooking this past spring. I started with the earliest pictures I have (beginning of high school) and am working through chronologically. I'm almost through my second and last year of college now. I'm getting more excited as I progress because as I get to newer stuff I'll be able to be more creative with my writing and layouts because I remember the details better than stuff in high school and college!
Saturday late morning I have a home full of friends for a Pampered Chef party. We had a great time and of course enjoyed the food. I took a short nap and had some dinner before heading out to a wedding shower for a couple from my Sunday school class. I didn't stay late because I was tired, but a good time was had by all. My Sunday was much more relaxed... after church and Sunday School I had some lunch and read a book while watching some of the football games. I'm quite sure I dozed a bit too. I do like my naps!
We are in the middle of our tything/giving campaign right now at church and this was commitment Sunday. We are pledging for a many-phased building campaign that will allow us to build in stages and in such a way that we have several worship venues and will be able to reach out to different cultures as well as different age groups and tailor worship services and opportunities to each without having to change the current service for those who enjoy it. I really like the way they have put this together and believe that the Lord is leading us in this direction. We heard a testimony on Sunday morning from a church member who grew up in Taiwan, China. She came to be in the states with the help of an American mission team many, many years ago. In the last year or so, she has been speaking with our pastors about opportunities to go back to her homeland and reach others for Christ. This past June, 2 of our pastors along with she and her husband went on a mission discovery trip to China, I believe for 2 weeks. Her small hometown (pop. 3 million) has only 2 protestant church buildings and all services are crowded to overflowing. The team from our church met with some of the leading pastors there for luncheon and we asked what we could do to help and support them. They asked us to build them a church, they have the land, but need the building. The details are being worked out now and we will be sending a team to do the building. This is a very definite God-thing because as I understand what the team eplained, churches in the Chinese culture do not trust churches from here so easily or so quickly, it usually takes much building of relationship before they would ever inquire for support of this magnitude. Yet, they spoke with boldness to our group!
Praise God - He is working all around the world! So many other reports that I get from field personnel that I'm in contact with and hearing several times a week how hungry peoples of many, many nations are for the Living Word. I consider it a privilege to be a part of many teams as a prayer partner. Won't you consider seriously praying consistently for even one people group? If this is something that sounds intriguing or interesting to you and you have questions, or want to know where or how you can get more info, please let me know and I can put you in touch with resources.
In the meantime, may God bless you richly as you go about your day! Remember, someone is watching you and trying to figure out what is different about you - let His light shine through you in an unmistakable way!
Friday, September 16
Walking into blogging
Well, hello to all I know and those I may not know that find this. I have a few friends that blog and I've been following theirs for many months now and have decided to try it myself. I'm hoping there will be some who enjoy reading it, but even if not it will serve as a place for me to put my thoughts onto paper (OK, not really paper but you know what I mean). I've always liked the idea of journaling but just never made the time to do it. I'm hoping that since I type faster than I write and computers accessible now at home and at work that I'll be better at putting my thoughts down here than in a paper journal.
I'm a 36-year old single lady and my utmost goal in life is to walk a life following the will of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - the life He wrote for me before I was conceived - and the only way I know to do that is to follow His light - His Word and His Son. That being said... I have many hobbies and interests I enjoy and the topics covered in this blog will probably vary most drastically. Please feel free to leave me your comments, thoughts and questions in tasteful and polite language, I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to my journey!
Debby
I'm a 36-year old single lady and my utmost goal in life is to walk a life following the will of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - the life He wrote for me before I was conceived - and the only way I know to do that is to follow His light - His Word and His Son. That being said... I have many hobbies and interests I enjoy and the topics covered in this blog will probably vary most drastically. Please feel free to leave me your comments, thoughts and questions in tasteful and polite language, I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to my journey!
Debby
