off to seattle

i’m headed to seattle early tomorrow morning. lifeway is hosting living proof live at overlake christian church this weekend and i am on the event staff. i have been praying for this event and specifically for what the Lord has to say to the over 5000 women who will attend. so as my internet buddies please pray for…

• energy and strength for our team
• clarity for beth
• safe travel for our team
• open hearts willing to hear and say “yes” to the Lord

while we’re gone i hope to make it to a starbucks or two or three or four. the original is in downtown seattle. this picture is one from last year’s event in seattle. i’ll try to check with a report during the weekend.

read thru the bible

my church is starting a read thru the bible emphasis on feb 1. i have started this endeavor many times but have quit each time. to help me stay focused and pressing on, i volunteered to head up an e-mail accountability group for my connect group. several ladies are going to participate as we press forward in this year long endeavor.

i have not quite decided on a plan yet. there are so many choices…

• chronological
• historical
• ot/nt
• nt/ot
• ot/nt/ps/prov

you can create a customized plan or buy bible designed for the one year reading. my parents gave me a new study bible for christmas so i am going to work my way through it this year. what a way to break it in!

which one should i choose? have you read thru the bible? which plan did you use?

shopping extravaganza

A week ago today, my cousins and I decided that we would honor our grandmother by shopping. She loved to shop and we talked about that all day. So we hit the Mall of America. If you are ever in Minneapolis this is a must see location. As you can tell, we all took advantage of sales and the plethora of shops available. We decided at the end of the day to pack into my cousin’s Lexus and drive home. It was definitely a memory.

whew!

What a week! Incredible. Sad. Draining. Surreal. Just a few words that shed some light on my week away from home. I am so glad to be home and back in my regular routine. It still doesn’t feel like my Grama is really gone, but it is sinking in a little more each day. Thanks for all the prayers, cards, e-mails, and support several of you have given in the last few weeks. There were many times that I felt the presence of God and the presence of your prayers. It is so humbly to have relationships with people who are willing to lift you up to the Father and then put feet to their prayers. I am truly grateful!

Now that I am back I am finding that there is plenty of stuff to catch up on. There were plenty of e-mails in my inbox at work. Slowly but surely I am working through those. School is off to a running start and I am determined not to get behind at the beginning of the semester. Long Hollow’s women’s retreat is coming up tomorrow and Saturday. I am teaching a breakout regarding internet safety and will also participate in the panel. My prayer is that I will be refreshed and ready for what the Lord wants to say to me and through me. Hope to see you at the retreat! Come ready to hear from the Lord and to experience Him in worship!

passing through death to eternal life

i was able to literally watch someone pass from from death to life yesterday. my grama has been sick for the last few weeks and rapidly declined over the last few days. i left with my dad and sisters to try to see her before she passed from this life to the next. the Lord allowed us to make it to MN just before she became unable to speak. what a beautiful gift! today has been tough. i was given a brief moment alone with her and was able to pray over her and simply be there. our entire family was present in her room this evening and spent time reading scripture and praying for her. through this time i have been reminded of the hope that we have in Jesus. death is not a fearful experience for those who are in Christ. death is simply a passage into the arms of the Savior. we read Psalm 103 over her today and there was one portion that provide the comfort i am desperately seeking.

15 As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His instructions.
19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.