Christmas Blessings

Tonight's Music from the Heart: Josh Groban - I'll Be Home For Christmas

It's Christmas Eve, and I'm at my brother's house, awaiting the arrival of my nephew, Tyler, who has just been released from the hospital. He was admitted last week with a staph infection. The details aren't important at the moment, but it all stems from a foot injury he incurred this past summer. We were initially told he would not be home for Christmas, but today we were surprised to learn that he will be.

We'll be starting soon, so I'll keep this post short. I'll write more soon about our Christmas. In the meantime, I'm wishing a Merry Christmas to one and all, and a very blessed time with those you hold dear. May the Lord abundantly bless you and yours, and may He wrap his love and protection around those who are spending Christmas in the hospital with loved ones who are ill or injured, those who are working away from home, and those who are serving our country in foreign lands defending our freedom.

Merry Christmas.

Love,
Rachael

Seasonal Craziness

What a week! I found myself several times wishing I had a few moments to sit down and gather my thoughts in such a way as to present them here, but it simply did not happen. Here's the condensed version of my week:

At the Office
In addition to diligently plowing through a huge mound of insurance applications that found their way to my desk in recent weeks, I spent a good deal of time assisting a co-worker prepare enrollment materials for a new client she recently acquired. Scheduling and prepping the monthly enrollment for a large client of ours and brainstorming with my coworkers on what to get the boss for Christmas rounded out the week.

Church Life
Tuesday night was our women's ministry's annual Christmas Ornament and Cookie Exchange. We had a great time, enjoyed lots of yummy holiday goodies, shared tons of cookies, and laughed a lot. If you can imagine 45 women in a white elephant-style ornament exchange, you can get a little glimpse of the antics that ensued. I had three ornaments "stolen" from me and ended up with a cute little painted metal Santa who feels right at home on my country themed tree. I brought home lots of yummy cookies, many of which have disappeared already, mostly into the belly of my chocolate-loving hubby.

After church yesterday, the Tribe of Judah (small vocal ensemble I lead) sang carols in the foyer as people were leaving. Caroling is one of my favorite things about this season.

Last night was the church Christmas Banquet, the theme of which was "I'll Be Home For Christmas." A pickup truck pulling a trailer greeted us in the parking lot and carried us around the block to the "barn" (other side of the building) where the party was being held. The fellowship hall was decked out like the inside of a barn, complete with a huge wooden frame from which were hung lanterns. On the stage, a country Christmas tree with popcorn garland, hay bales and baskets of apples. The catered dinner was yummy, and was served by the youth, who worked as waiters and waitresses for tips that will be used to help send them to the annual Desperation Conference in Colorado. The "entertainment" (designed to be nice and simple) was Mr. Bill Spilman (our resident Santa-favoring story-teller) reading the Christmas story from Luke 2. The children, who sat on the stage while Mr. Bill read the story, tried their best to be still and quiet, but sitting through the entire passage proved to be a little too much for some of the little angels, and they turned to entertaining themselves (and the rest of us) by carefully disassembling the apple baskets, distributing the fare to their friends, and picking apart the hay, tossing it into the air, and watching it land in the hair of the unsuspecting kids sitting in front of them. They ended the evening by singing "Silent Night". No grand holiday production could have been more memorable.

The River
We had two events this week to prepare for, the first of which was the blanket giveaway at Boardwalk apartments. We had been collecting fleece blankets to distribute to the residents of a local apartment complex that we have been working with. The Tribe of Judah caroled around the complex, and we handed out cookies and punch (we nixed the hot cocoa and cider when the day turned out to be unseasonably warm). Thanks to the generosity of those who gave, we had more than enough to give blankets to every child and baby, every single and every couple in the complex. We even had some left over, which will be given to residents of another apartment building (elderly disabled residents) where we hold a weekly Bible study. God is SO good!

Tonight is our River Christmas banquet. This will be a formal sit-down dinner, something our precious people don't get to experience very often, and we take great pleasure in serving them start to finish. The Tribe of Judah will be caroling table-to-table and providing some special music after dinner. Can't wait!

At Home
Most of my time at home was spent relaxing, wrapping gifts and being thankful for my husband, who has helped me with cooking, cleaning and shopping while me ankle continues to heal. He keeps making me sit down so he can take care of things. Yes, I know what a blessing I have in him, and yes, I am thankful beyond words.

So this was my week, having fun, working, and getting ready for a couple of River events. Believe it or not, in spite of the full schedule, there actually have been some precious moments when the Lord has spoke some very deep things to me this past week, one of the most powerful of which came from an unexpected source yesterday during the outreach at Boardwalk. God has a way of capturing our attention in ways unique if we are watching and listening.

Now and always, may we be like the wise men,
seeking Him with hearts filled with worship and wonder,
like the shepherds, whose fear was replaced with hope,
and like Mary, who pondered all these things in her heart.

A New Perspective

In the last few days since my last post, I have traded in the ace bandage for an ankle brace, which is providing much more stability. I am in hopes that this will speed up the healing process, as I am already getting a little stir crazy while I am temporarily unable to move about as freely as I am accustomed to.

With that said, I must share with you my experience in church this morning. I was sitting in the back row with my foot propped up on a chair that had been turned around in front of me. Someone said to me that I should be sitting in front, because with everyone standing, I would not be able to see anything (meaning the worship team and any other doings that took place on the stage). Well, she walked off before I could reply, but my immediate answer was that I was not there to see anyone or anything that was happening in the front. I was here to meet God, and I could do that right where I was sitting.

And sure enough, as I sat there with very little of significance to look at during the worship time, the Lord spoke to me. He told me that part of the reason I have been temporarily grounded with this ankle injury was that He wants to show me some things. He began immediately by increasing my awareness of the worship that was taking place around me, something I rarely notice, since I am usually so closed off myself during times of corporate worship that I don't see much that goes on around me.

I'm not quite ready to discuss what He has begun to show me, but I am excitedly and actively embracing this season of inactivity, however long or short it may turn out to be, because I know that there is a purpose for it all. He is allowing me see some things from a different perspective right now, and I am to record what I see and observe for a future time.

So until then,

my eyes, ears and heart are open, Lord.
Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening,
watching and waiting ...

Blessings in Disguise

Tonight's Music from the Heart: Kenny G - White Christmas

It's early December, and to celebrate the colder temperatures we are now experiencing, I played around a little with the camera this morning, donning woolly hat, gloves and scarf, all in an attempt to dress for the season.This evening I uploaded the pictures and played around a little more with various colors, soft edges and a host of other wonders of modern photo-editing software, and have selected a few "self-images" to share with you, dear friends and family. You can find the link, entitled "Just Messin' Around" in the photo gallery section on the left of the page.

The flip side of why I had so much time today to play around with this stuff is that I seriously sprained my ankle and foot Monday and am operating with limited mobility for at least a week. Ugh.

Ace bandages & crutches aren't exactly my idea of a festive holiday season, but I have chosen to accept this temporary slow-down as a blessing in disguise, as it has necessitated a slow-down of my busy-ness for a little while. This slow-down,while not on my calendar, is a welcome reprieve from the craziness that I tend to surround myself with if I'm not careful. Truth be told, I have actually enjoyed the opportunity to delve a little into a creative project, something I don't make enough time for these days.

So, no deep profound thoughts this evening. Only a gentle reminder to take a few moments each day to savor the season, especially the moments that kinda sneak up on you unexpectedly, and look for the little blessings nestled inside those unplanned interruptions.

Happy December!

Rachael

Pumpkin Pie, Twinkle Lights & Peace

It's been ten days since my last post, and what a ten days it has been. Thanksgiving came and went, and we had a full table with friends from church who joined us for dinner. We ate too much, tried to justify it with a walk around the neighborhood, then came back and stayed up too late talking over pumpkin and cherry pie. All in all, it was a wonderful evening that I would not trade.

As is my usual tradition since David and I were married, I used the long weekend to put the tree up and decorate the house for Christmas. I have this secret love affair with little twinkling lights, and to me, the more the merrier. I have placed white lights in the kitchen (laid on top of the cabinets so they create a soft glow near the ceiling), in the dining room (draped on the baker's rack to help illuminate the nativity scene that now resides on the shelf), and all over the tree, where they are joined by a couple of strands of multicolored lights. I still have a couple more places to put them (living room on top of the entertainment center) and in the office window (the only window in our house that faces the street). As I said, the more the merrier.

It's been a rather relaxing weekend overall, having no particular schedule to adhere to and not being one to take part in the black Friday craziness that has permeated our culture. I did do a little shopping, mostly online, the rest as I stumbled upon a few gifts items while I was picking up more decorations for the house. David and I watched a lot of Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel and ate Thanksgiving leftovers. Relaxation reigned in our house this weekend.

This morning at church, Craig had several couples and individuals share what they were thankful for this year, and almost invariably, despite whatever difficult circumstances, hardships or losses they were introduced to this past year, the underlying theme was peace. Peace in the face of uncertain economic times, serious illness, loss of loved ones, and other unnamed personal struggles. We are a people thankful for God's peace.

Regardless of what we face as individuals, families, communities, or as a nation, let us all be thankful for the sweet peace that we enjoy day after day, moment by moment. For tonight's music from the heart, I am leaving Rachael Lampa's Blessed up a little longer. The lyrics are simple and powerful at the same time, as is the peace that we are so blessed with.

As we run full-speed ahead into this holiday season, please remember to take a few moments daily to be thankful for the simple things, for little daily blessings, and for the most precious gift we received two-thousand years ago when the Prince of Peace arrived on the scene and changed everything.

"The God of peace be with you all.
Amen."
Romans 15:33

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

Tonight's Music from the Heart: Rachael Lampa - Blessed

With Thanksgiving being a week away, our thoughts are turned, naturally, to all the things that the holiday has come mean in our fast-paced modern culture; things like The Dinner (planning, shopping, cooking), travel, decorating, a few days off of work and school, and of course - Black Friday.

Well, indulge me, if you will, as I rebel against the modern interpretation of Thanksgiving and construct a short list of just some of the things for which I am truly thankful, and encourage you to do the same.

Here they are, just a few of the things I am thankful for:

(1) The priceless gift of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, making it possible for me to embrace a rich and personal relationship with the Creator of all.

(2) My husband, David, the man who pursued and captured my heart and now shares my life and is the object of my love and affection.

(3) A safe, warm house to come home to in a world that is cold in more ways than one.

(4) Every moment with the people I love.

(5) Memories that live on long after the people in them have passed through or passed on.

(6) Laughter.

(7) Music.

(8) Friends who know me well and love me anyway.

(9) Babies.

(10) Parents and grandparents who taught me to give generously, receive graciously, hug often, laugh heartily, and love deeply.

What are ten things for
which you are truly thankful?

Stay Close to Me

Tonight's Music from the Heart: Selah - O, Draw Me Lord

It's late in the evening, and I've been sitting at the computer for a while now, catching up on some work that I brought home from the office. As usual when I am sitting here, Sheba is stretched out next to my chair.

Even though she's a dog, this canine friend teaches me little life lessons whenever I'll take the time to listen. Tonight's lesson is about closeness.

Sheba is all about attention and affection, and she is never happier than when she is either touching or being touched by David or myself. She will approach me when I'm working and nudge my arm to let me know she needs some attention, then once she has been sufficiently petted, she lies down contentedly at my feet.

When she wants to go outside, she doesn't bark or fuss. She simply comes up to where I'm sitting and stands in front of me looking straight into my eyes with a look of expectancy, wagging her tail the entire time. She knows that I know what she wants.

One of my favorite things she does is to walk up to me and lean into me, bowing her head slightly, just getting in as close as she can. She knows I can't resist loving on her when she does this.

So here I am, being reminded again, that my Father desires the same from me - for me to want to be near Him and to press in as close to Him as I can. He knows me well, and all I have to do is gaze into His face with expectancy, knowing that He knows my heart's desire and delights in giving good gifts to His children.

Why, then, do I tend to make things so much more complicated than that? It seems that no matter what is going on in my life, when I find myself at the end of myself crumbling at His feet in desperation, asking for some kind of solution to whatever quandry I have found myself in, the answer is almost always the same. "Stay close to Me."

I know this. I really know this. But I don't always do it. I want to be of such a simple, childlike faith that His lap is the first place I run to out of a deep desire to be close to Him, not the last place I end up when I've exhausted all other possibilities.

Sheba's fast asleep, actually snoring now. When I finish here and toddle off to bed, she'll get up and follow me, making sure not to let me get too far away from her. When I move, she moves, but that's a lesson for another time.

Precious Father, my prayer tonight is simple.
Teach me to stay close to You at all times,
in all things, and in every way.
I need Your constant touch.
Hold me, as I lean wholly on You.
Amen.

Meteorites, Medications & Jello

It's Friday evening, and I've been a little under the weather the last couple of days, courtesy of a freak sinus infection that slammed into my world yesterday like a flaming meteorite. Okay, so maybe it wasn't quite as dramatic as all that, but it has certainly made an impact on how I've spent my time the last couple of days, nonetheless.

Namely, much of it has been spent semi-prone in a recliner trying to find the right position so I could breathe and hence, sleep. Today, part of my afternoon was spent in the doctor's office, one of my least favorite places on the planet. Not that I have anything against doctors, of course. It just isn't my favorite place to hang out for several hours, which is inevitable, regardless of whether you have a scheduled appointment or not.

Anyway, enough complaining about that. I'm starting to feel a little better, thanks to a carefully selected cocktail of prescription medications. For this, I am truly thankful. A little rest over the weekend, and I'll be good as new.

Now, on to more significant matters. What flavor jello shall I make - strawberry/banana or black cherry?

Autumn Rain

Today's Music from the Heart: Phil Keaggy - The Wind and the Wheat

Two of my favorite words (and favorite things) are "autumn" and "rain." Put the two together, and you're looking at one happy girl. There was a sweet autumn rain falling most of yesterday and into the after-dark hours, and I loved it. Granted, trying to juggle purse, umbrella, a spiced vanilla chai, and whatever else I might have in tow can prove to be quite the challenge, but from the inside looking out, an autumn rain stirs up the cozy-maker in me. I want to put on sweats and fluffy slippers, burn a pumpkin spice candle and bake something. Or perhaps curl up on the couch under a fluffy blanket, sipping the aforementioned spiced vanilla chai, and put on a movie (a good, sappy love story, of course, or perhaps a feel-good holiday flick).

However these cozy indoor hours are spent, I send out my heartfelt thanks to the autumn rain, for inspiring me to slow down a little, to break away from the routine, even if only for a few moments or a few hours, and enjoy a little precious downtime. As we enter into the holiday season full speed ahead, may we be inspired to invest in more of these stolen moments to pause, reflect, and simply enjoy the life we have been given.

Father in heaven, You are the Rainmaker.
Thank You for the autumn rain, and for
precious moments spent with You and
the people who share my life.
Help me not to take either for granted.
I love You. Amen.

A Little Chat with Myself

Tonight I am feeling a bit introspective as I consider the fact that while time continues to march on, historically measured in years, decades & centuries, our lives are made up of moments. One by one they tiptoe past us, quietly becoming a part of our past just as swiftly as they arrived. Tonight, my mood is a little sullen and my heart is a little heavy.

I feel no need to delve into the details of the events and circumstances behind my current mood. What I need is a little self-talk, to address my spirit face-to-face. I'm inviting you to listen in.

I need to remind myself that my moments rest in the hands of the Almighty. The same God who spoke the universe into existence and who governs eternity with wisdom and justice, this same God is still standing right here beside me, inviting me to rest my head on His chest as He wraps His arms around me in a gentle yet strong embrace that both comforts me and protects me from whatever it is that I imagine might try to swallow me up.

I need to remind myself that no matter what my emotions tell me, my joy is found in the One who rejoices over me with singing, and His joy actually strengthens me. The Hope of the Nations is my own personal source of hope.

My peace (that crazy peace that flies up in the face of circumstance that would dictate otherwise) lies buried deep inside, in a wellspring that trickles, then flows, then forges its way up to the surface as a rushing river, overtaking me like a raging torrent. Sweet waters of peace - life-giving waters ...

If talking to yourself is a mark of insanity, then I guess I'm in good company. The psalmist David spoke to himself, with such admonitions as:

"Why so downcast, o my soul? Put your hope in God."

Well, to my spirit, I say:

"Do not be downcast another moment. Put your hope in God. Remember Who your source is. Get your emotions in check, and remember Whose you are. Turn your gaze fully on His face, and everything else will melt away. Stop looking for something to do, and simply be. Stand firmly and quietly in His presence, and the answers will come."

I feel better now. I'm glad we had this little talk.

Tonight's music from my heart is
"Worth It All" by Rita Springer.

Modern Day Saul?

Last night our country changed. The world watched as the nation founded two hundred plus years ago on the principals of personal responsibility and freedom, recognition and acknowledgment of Divine guidance, and limited government intervention into the lives of its people elected as its forty-fourth president a man who has vowed to fundamentally transform our treasured homeland into a society that more resembles old world socialistic and communistic regimes than the land of the free and home of the brave that we have come to love and take for granted. For the first time in my life, I have been moved to tears over the result of a national election.

This heartsick feeling I am experiencing is attributed to two things. First, there is genuine sense of apprehension regarding where our new President will lead us as a people and as a nation in the coming months and years. His agenda has been made clear on matters ranging from the economy & taxation to the military & national security to moral issues such as abortion and the sanctity of marriage. None of his positions and agendas are in the best interest of our people or our country.

Second, and perhaps more sobering, is the resemblance our country has to an ancient society, the chosen people of God, Israel, who turned their back on God and clamored for a king until the Lord gave them one. The man the people chose was one who had an impressive outward appearance but who in reality was a man of great insecurity whose drive to maintain his position and keep up his image destroyed his kingdom, his family and his very life. His flagrant disobedience to the Lord and pathetic attempts to cover it up are gut-wrenching. He died broken and alone.

As our nation has turned its back on God and demanded a king, we have been given what we have clamored for. Our only hope now is that the Church will awaken from her slumber, arise to her post and pray. We must pray that the Lord will send our modern-day Saul a Samuel, one who will declare the clear and precise word of the Lord. May Samuels arise all over this great nation, boldly proclaiming truth and justice to the people of God and to our leaders. May the Lord raise up David's, men who are humble and valiant and whose strength comes from time spent in the presence of the Almighty, men who stand firmly in front of Goliath, unafraid of anything or anyone who dares to defy our God.

As David honored and respected Saul's authority, we must find it in ourselves to honor and respect the position of our new President. We may not agree with his policies and agendas, but we are instructed in scripture to pray for those in authority. We must pray for Barack Obama, his family, his cabinet, and his staff. We must continue to send up a prayer of repentance and a cry for mercy. This is a time to be alert and aware of the battle in the heavenly places as never before. It's time to rend our hearts and return to our first Love.

Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
Joel 2:13

Picture This

I've finally figured out how to create online photo albums using Picassa, and I have now posted my first two here for you to peruse. You'll find the links under the heading "Pics" on the left side of the page under the post archive. Take a peek and let me know what you think.

Enjoy ...

grace & peace,
rachael

Hope for Dusty Dreams

Last night something happened to me that surprised me. David turned on the television to find the last few minutes of Sister Act 2 on the air. This is one of my favorite movies, and I didn't really realize why until last night.

If you're not familiar with the movie, Whoopi Goldberg stars as a lounge singer who has been summoned by a group of nuns (old friends of hers from the first movie) to come and help them salvage the remnants of an inner-city Catholic high school. The school and the neighborhood are gasping for final breaths as the sisters and their male counterparts try desperately to inspire hope and inspiration in the young hearts and minds entrusted to them. Sister Mary Clarence (Goldberg) breathes new life into the near-dead music program and in the process plants, waters and nurtures the dreams of a better life into the hearts of her gifted students as she teaches them to sing together as a stage choir.

As the youngsters prepare for a state-wide choir competition, they reclaim an old music room, scrubbing walls and windows, and making it their own by repairing an old piano and painting the walls. In the process, the sisters discover an old box of trophies and awards that the school choir had earned in decades past. It seemed the destiny of the school was to produce an award-winning choir. But years of deterioration in the community and a mindset of settling for less than what they were capable of had reduced the school's former achievements to a dusty box filled with forgotten glory.

This brings us to last night. As the choir was waiting to take the stage at the contest, a larger, more experienced and much more formidable choir performed the same song our group of dreamers had prepared. The other choir's arrangement was traditional and stuffy - impressive, yes, but definitely old-school. Like the spies who reported to Moses of giants in the land, Goldberg's choir saw the other group and wanted to quit out of fear and intimidation. A quick pep talk from their favorite teacher, and the group decided to go on.

There is much more to the individual stories of the characters and their personal insecurities, aspirations and secret fears than I can get into now, but as the group took the stage and the auditorium was filled with color, light and unbelievable harmonies, tears filled my eyes. I have seen this movie I don't know how many times, and while it is one of my favorites, I have never had this reaction before. I watched as a group of young people, inspired to greatness by a teacher who managed to see just a glimpse of their potential, shed their choir robes and danced and sang their way to a first-place finish with all the exuberance and passion and energy they had inside them.

Even now, as I write this, my eyes are filled again, as my heart yearns to see more and more people (in real life) stepping out of the stuffy traditions and dream-killing mindsets that have held them back, and dancing their way into their God-breathed destiny.

So to you, dear reader, if you have dusty dreams that have become little more than an empty shell of a would-be memory, if you know that you have not yet stepped into a destiny that has been long-since packed up and forgotten, if you are ready to shed the ill-fitting robes of conformity that hide your beautiful individuality, this prayer is for you.

Father God, Giver of dreams and Designer of destinies,
please come and breathe new life into our dreams.
Blow away the dust accumulated by years of waiting
and listening to dream-killing lies that our lives will
never account for more than they already have.
Restore hope, resurrect dreams and rebuild destinies
and teach us to dance and sing our way into the
fullness of what You have created us to be and to do.
Ignite a passion within us that we have never known before -
a passion for more of You, for seeing Your Kingdom come,
and for being a vital part of Your will being done on
earth as it is in heaven.
Amen.

Ten More Things I Love About Autumn

Since I love this season so much, I thought I'd indulge myself with an additional 10 Things list to celebrate the season. The photo at left is that of a little guy who stands proudly in front of our house. Thank you in advance for bearing with me on this little journey through my love for Autumn.

1. The crisp blue of an October sky
2. S'mores (duh - I can't believe I forgot this on my first list!)
3. The sound of rustling leaves
4. Wishing both parents Happy Birthday (Dad on October5 and Mom on October31)
5. Adopting my fall "look" (hair color, wardrobe, and of course, shoes and boots)
6. Making "cool weather" dinners like homemade soup or chili and cornbread
7. Perusing cookbooks and recipe magazines for new slow cooker recipes
8. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner and inviting over friends who don't have family close by
9. Pumpkin Spice latte at Sweet Bay
10. Sipping hot tea from a favorite mug before bed (made more enticing by a molasses cookie or piece of gingerbread!)

Thank You, Lord, for the ability to see, hear,
taste, smell, and feel the passing of each season.
Thank You for Your presence in so many of the
things and people we walk by everyday with
little or nothing more than a passing glance.
Open our eyes to see Your hand and our ears
to hear Your voice. Tune our hearts to Yours
as we take the time to stop, look, listen ...
and be thankful. Amen.

If My People ...

I don't typically delve into political matters in this arena, but tonight I am making an exception. The following is a posting that I made to my facebook page earlier this evening. I am listing it here for the reading pleasure of those who may not have facebook profiles and thusly who don't have access to this article in that arena.

This piece will speak for itself. With no further ado ...

TEN DAYS & COUNTING ... THOUGHTS ON ELECTION 2008
In ten days, our country will elect a new President. The media is saturated with polls and opinions, name-calling and mudslinging as never before. The campaigns have been marred by character attacks, veiled threats, blatant lies, and attempts to conceal the truth at levels unprecedented in our nation's history. Are we listening?

In record numbers, leaders of nations who are hell-bent on destroying the God-given freedoms our forefathers established as our foundation are endorsing a US presidential candidate. Regimes whose declared mission is to unravel the very fabric of America (stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of men and women throughout our history) - these same regimes are watching like ravenous wolves, drooling over the possibility of a certain man being elected as our next President. Are we paying attention?

The liberal policies regarding everything from abortion to taxation to our military presence in the world that used to be veiled, tip-toed around and NEVER openly admitted are now laid on the table boldly and freely, as we have been slowly desensitized to their origin and the path they will lead us down as a nation. Are we watching?

This is the time to watch, to listen, to pay close attention to what is happening in our country. Don't be distracted or deceived. Shake off the slumbering spirit that has infiltrated our nation. Open your eyes and ears and see and hear what is going on, what the Lord is saying and doing.

Voting is a three-step process:

1. BE INFORMED. This is your civic responsibility. Know the candidates and their positions on all the issues, not just the ones getting the most media attention. Do your homework. Don't overlook your local and state candidates and issues. This is where representative government starts - at the local level.

2. PRAY. If you are not sure who to vote for, pray for direction. Once you have settled in your heart how to vote, pray for the candidate and his/her family, for protection and divine guidance. Pray for deception to be exposed, lies revealed and for truth and justice to be the order of the day.

3. VOTE. Don't be swayed by polls and opinions that your candidate is either too far behind or too far ahead for your vote to count. EVERY VOTE MATTERS!! It has been said that evil can only prosper when good men sit and do nothing.

You have one vote, one chance to let your voice be heard. Use it. Use it wisely. Use it with humility and gratitude for the freedom to do so. Use it with reverence and a sense of responsibility. Use it prayerfully and solemnly. Use it well. You can't take it back.

"If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14

October Sunday

I have a confession to make. I played hooky from church today. And I had an accomplice.

First, an explanation. I'm entering into my busy season at work, which will involve long hours and a lot of travel, and my first trip is this week. In preparation for this trip I have already been keeping later than usual hours doing my admin thing, as well as recruiting and training an enrollment team that will be traveling with us. For you who may not know, I work as the Group Services Manager for an insurance broker, and one of the services we offer our larger group clients is benefits enrollment. This means that once a year we take a team out to each location of a given company and provide information and the opportunity for their employees to make changes to their insurance benefits.

Back to my confession. Knowing that we have barely seen other this past week, and also knowing that I will be even busier and traveling starting this week, David and I took today for a much needed time to reconnect and spend the day together. We went out to breakfast, then strolled around Home Depot for nearly an hour-and-a-half, doing a little shopping and little dreaming. We like to dream together about "one day when we build our dream house, this is what we want in it." David dreams big. It's one of the things I love about him. We dream big together, both in life and in ministry.

After Home Depot, we did some home projects we had been putting off. We hung decorative shelves in the living room, he mowed the back yard, and I re-potted some houseplants. The rest of the day was spent just relaxing, then finally eating dinner and watching television together.

Church relationships are a wonderful thing and when cultivated, they become a vital part of our Christian experience. Corporate worship is not something either of us take lightly either, as we both know well the importance and the power of unity that is the result of gathering together with fellow believers.

But today was more about cultivating our relationship. We recognize that no matter what we do for the Kingdom, our marriage is the most important investment of time and energy we can make. Our partnership in this thing called life is what fuels us for stepping out and pressing on to fulfill our destiny - his, mine and ours.

Years from now, we may not remember the events of today, but we will never lose the benefit of the time we spent together one Sunday in October.

Teach us, Dear Lord, to savor each moment,
to live it to its fullest potential.
Thank You for the moments that make up our years.
Thank You for the people who make up our lives.
Amen.

Be Still

It's Wednesday evening, and I am floating somewhere between being tired and being restless. Part of me is ready to call it a day and turn in early, and another part of me can't shake the feeling that this day is not yet ready to let me go. What to do? Well, write, of course.

Tonight there are no deep thoughts, no clever anecdotes - just a simple entry into this online log of my life. The temperature outside is dropping courtesy of a cold front that moved in this afternoon, a welcome break from the warmer than normal temps we have had lately. I love the cooler air. Apparently so does Sheba, because she tends to want to spend much more time outside when it's cooler than when it's hotter outside. In fact, she's out there right now.

Inside, David is watching television and I am spending a little time with the computer, sending out this little "hello" to whomever might be periodically glancing this direction.

So to you, my dear reader, whomever and wherever you are, may the peace that passes all understanding rest on you tonight. May the grace of our Father cover you and His love beckon you to come and sit with Him for a little while. He misses you.

"Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

Moments, Critters & Bling

The River Fort Smith is an outreach church I have mentioned before. I am honored to serve alongside a team of gifted individuals from a variety of backgrounds, with a host of talents and giftings. The core leadership of this group happens to be all women. These are my co-laborers, my sisters, my friends.

Every fall, we go an a weekend getaway, a retreat, to help us refresh and refocus. This year, for the first time, we went with no agenda to follow, no schedule to keep, no other ministry to visit or conference to attend. We spent the weekend at Big Cedar, a lodge just south of Branson, Missouri. When I started packing, the first thing I packed was my fuzzy pink slippers, followed by my pajamas. This weekend was all about resting, relaxing, and hanging with the girls. We stayed up till the wee hours of the morning talking, lingered over the breakfast table talking, and enjoyed browsing the gift shops, wandering the grounds at the lodge, and stopping for a picnic lunch on the way home, talking the entire time.

We did have one little run-in with nature on the last evening. We had set out a lovely candlelight dinner on the patio of our first-floor condo and were just sitting down to eat. Wendy, out of the corner of her eye, saw movement, and assuming it to be the cat she had seen earlier, started to lean down to pet the kitty, only to discover to her horror that the kitty had a stripe down its back! She promptly went to doing her best to stifle a scream, and not wanting to alarm the creature for obvious reasons, Kim and Lisa froze in their seats while the little critter quite casually made his way under our table and around Wendy's feet. Being the one in the best position to try to lure the little fellow away from the open door to the condo, I grabbed a piece of bread off the table and tried to get his attention with it in a futile attempt to lure him away from the table and back into the grass. He was not interested.

Wendy quickly went from stifling a scream to praying that this critter be gone in Jesus' name, and after about a minute of wandering around the patio, he did leave. We took the opportunity to create an assembly line, passing everything from the patio to the dining room table as we hastily moved the party inside and closed the door, leaving our dear Mr. LePew to fend for himself. What could have been a very unpleasant experience, fortunately turned into nothing more than a funny story, which Lisa told her husband, Mike (our drummer) on the phone. His tongue-in-cheek reply about being a part of "this stinkin' ministry" generated a roomful of laughter, which is what these moments are all about.

The next day at a gift shop on the way home, we found a stuffed skunk, which Kim could not resist purchasing as a souvenir from our trip. Our new mascot, Pepe, joined us for a creek side picnic lunch and was welcomed with open arms.

As a sidenote, we also found at this same gift shop a "design-your-own necklace" area, where we found charms that read "Daughter" and "Destiny." The women's conferences we conduct are called "Daughters of Destiny", and we were unable to pass up this opportunity to create the first Daughter of Destiny bling as we all purchased matching necklaces. God has a way of reminding us who we are when we are least expecting it.

Here is a video from our trip. Since this was a casual weekend with little or no primping, we promised each other no pictures of each other. What you see here is rather a little bit of what we saw while we spent time enjoying one another's company. We actually did manage to get a few things accomplished, by the way. All that talking really did pay off. Enjoy the video, and be reminded that simple things can bring great joy and simple moments can last a lifetime.

Hugs,
Rachael

10 Things I Love About Autumn

It's early October, and these are the first days of my absolute favorite season of the year - Autumn. I'm not sure exactly when I decided that Autumn was superior in my mind to every other season, but it was probably somewhere between ice-covered power lines and a peeling sunburn. Regardless of when or why, I love this time of year more than any other, so I thought I'd compile another 10 Things list in honor of the cool and cozy days ahead. Here are ten of my favorite things about Autumn.

(1) Fall candle scents like Pumpkin Pie Spice & Mulled Cider.
(2) The breathtaking eyeful of color when the leaves turn after the first cold snap.
(3) The smell that a wood-burning fireplace causes to linger throughout the neighborhood.
(4) Camping in the Ozarks.
(5) Decorating the house (inside and out) with pumpkins, fall flowers, colored leaves, & pine cones.
(6) The anticipation of visiting family and friends for the coming holidays.
(7) Hayrides.
(8) Having an excuse to listen to Christmas music in preparation for rehearsals for holiday festivities.
(9) The crisp coolness in the air that inspires the trade of capris and sandles for sweaters and boots.
(10) Curling up for a nap under a cozy blanket and near an open window.

Seasons change. To the cynic, they are a reminder that time continues marching on at its own pace, whether we like it or not, and all we can do is hold on for dear life. But to the thankful heart, seasons inspire hope - that tomorrow is a new day filled with promise and wonder. They also remind us to savor every moment, nurture every relationship, welcome each new day.

Teach me, Lord, to embrace every passing season

as a precious gift, thankful for lessons learned,

laughter shared and moments cherished.

Teach me to live every moment to its fullest potential.

Amen.

Slumber Parties & Tea Rooms

All right ladies, listen up. Slumber parties aren't just for little girls - don't let anyone tell you any different!

Last night a few girlfriends and I got together for a long-overdue, overnight, all-girl evening. We watched movies and ate pizza and a variety of other party foods with absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever. We talked until we could no longer keep our eyes open. We slept in this morning, then talked some more over cappuccinos and hot tea. We made breakfast, then talked some more over breakfast tacos and orange juice. Through it all, we laughed, we cried, we laughed some more.

After the last of the party-goers had gone home or to Saturday jobs, Wendy (my dear friend and co-laborer in ministry) and I made our way to the White Gloves Tea Room to catch the last few minutes of a City-Wide Tea hosted by Thrive (our church's women's ministry) and the White Gloves proprietor, our friend Nancee. We sat in a little nook in the back,
surrounded by rosy wallpaper, glass-topped tables, china figurines, and candles. We indulged in little plates filled with a variety of sweet breads, scones, mini-muffins, and tiny cookies. We sipped Autumn Spice tea from china teacups, served from silver teapots. And still, we talked.

We love our husbands deeply and passionately and cannot imagine our lives without the men who keep us balanced and grounded, entertained, protected, and provided for. But our relationships with the other women in our lives offer us a place where we can be free-hearted little girls, silly teenagers and strong, amazing women all at the same time. We understand each other from a place deep inside ourselves that somehow enables us to laugh at ourselves and each other, to cry with each other, and to appreciate one another with an unspoken, almost spiritual gratitude.

Over time we grow to trust each other with our hopes and dreams, our secret sorrows and fears, and our most embarrassing moments. As our relationships develop from casual acquaintances to beloved sisters, we grow from learning more about each other and about ourselves.

I am blessed to have in my life some amazing women - women who love deeply, laugh easily and live every moment with passion. Some have experienced unbelievable heartache and have lived to tell about it. Some are goofy and crazy girls who can find a party in any setting at a moment's notice. Some are gentle and kind, generously serving everyone around them with style and grace. Others are quiet and strong, steadily providing the structure and glue that holds the things and people around them together.

I can only hope and pray that I will somehow be able to draw from their strength, grace, and fun-loving spirits to become a woman who possesses all the finest qualities of these amazing women. I believe that as women, our lives are fullest and freest when we embrace all the inner beauty and feminine wonder we have been created with - a beauty that is a little bit party girl, a little bit Wonder Woman and a little bit princess.

Slumber parties aren't just for little girls - don't let anyone tell you any different!

Thank You, Father, for the precious sisterhood
we women share with one another. Bless each
one with a sense of hope and wonder in who we can
be and are becoming, with a oneness with You,
and with a vision for the future that includes the
fulfillment of the dreams You have placed in our hearts.

Home Sweet Home

Admittedly, it has been almost a month since my last posting, and since we have successfully complete our move into Fort Smith and I have internet access at home again, I hope and plan to be able to have more time to post more of what's going on in our little corner of the world.

One of the first things we have noticed since our relocation back to civilization is the savings in our gasoline budget. We are having to fill up both vehicles much less often and spending MUCH less on gas. That is a real blessing.

The house is starting to become a little more homey. We purchased a few pieces of new furniture, and I have been gradually getting little things here and there to make the place more our own. I did buy some sheer panels and iron-look rods for the living room. We were blessed to find furniture that we both love for the living room that suits our rustic country taste. I am having fun beginning to develop this room to feel warm and inviting. Now that I am spending so much less time driving to and from work everyday, I am finally getting a chance to flex my creative muscle again for the first time in a long time, and I'm loving it!

No deep philosophical musings tonight - just a simple "Hello, I'm back." Look for more details on the new abode soon. It's time for me to start winding things down for the night. My cowboy will be home soon from his men's meeting at the church.

Good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite.

Rachael

Moving

Our move is progressing nicely. We are doing things a little differently this time. Since we were able to get the keys to the new place a few weeks before the official move-in date, we have been gradually moving things in almost daily. Since we currently live so far out, we have determined to make the most out of every commute into town, which means that we load up whatever we can carry in the car/truck, take it by the new house after work, unload and put it away, then bring the boxes and bins back to the old house to be repacked that evening.

We have gotten quite a bit moved over already, and we will be finishing up this weekend. It is admittedly tiring to have to commute to work, work a full day, unload a carful of stuff, commute back home, and sort and pack each evening, all the while making sure a husband and dog stay fed and well-tended to, but I know it will all be worth it soon.

I'm SO ready to be closer to work and church! The Lord has been faithful in blessing us with a great little place that has everything we needed and most of what we wanted. He is truly good, and may we all make the time to remember and acknowledge His goodness and faithfulness, no matter how busy our lives may be.

" Be still and know that I am God ..."

Psalm 46:10

Summer

The sizzle of summer heat is not exactly on my top ten list of favorite things - I'm an autumn gal to the core. But in the interest of maintaining a positive outlook on the inevitable, I thought I would make a list of ten things I do like about summer. Without further ado ...

1. The smell of a fresh, juicy peach
2. The soothing hum of a fan in the window at night
3. Fresh berries - eaten alone, over angel food cake, or in smoothies or cobblers
4. Watching lightning bugs in the yard from the front porch (our dog Sheba likes to chase them)
5. Anything David cooks on the grill
6. Getting together with friends for barbecue and watching fireworks on the Fourth of July
7. Indulging in Hawaiian shaved ice (favorite flavor - black cherry/vanilla cream)
8. Iced tea - and lots of it
9. Playing barber as I give both David and Sheba their summer haircuts (different clippers, of course!)

And last, but certainly not least, my absolute favorite thing about summer is ...

10. The anticipation of the cooler temps and the pending arrival of my favorite season, autumn!

Goodbye, Possum Hollow

We are moving! While I am not overly enthused about the the prospect of packing AGAIN and hauling all our earthly possessions to a new locale AGAIN, I am actually excited about this move because of the newness of it all.

A little background ... we live in the Fort Smith, Arkansas area. With a population of 80,000 people, Fort Smith is the second largest city in Arkansas, with the largest being the capitol city of Little Rock. We had the opportunity to move about a year and a half ago to a little house in the country on ten acres. That's right, ten acres of beautiful country landscape in the hills of the Arkansas River Valley. It's quiet, peaceful, and green. Trust me - it doesn't get much more country than Possum Hollow Road in Booneville, Arkansas. Being a country girl at heart, this sounded like a great idea to me, even though it would mean a daily commute of about 45 minutes. That was before gas prices skyrocketed.

For the past several months, we have been paying as much or more than our rent in fueling both vehicles, and I have come to realize that country living loses its appeal if you're not home enough to really enjoy it. So, we recently began the nerve-racking process of trying to find a place closer in to town, where we both work. I prefer not to relive this process, as it was so traumatic, so I'll spare you, my dear reader, the details. Suffice it to say that the process of looking for a new home is not one I care to repeat very often.

We had hoped to buy this year, with the market being favorable to buyers right now, but we have decided to rent a little longer, and continue to build our down payment fund with the money we will be saving on gasoline by moving back into town. We hope to be in a better position to purchase a home within the next year or so.

At any rate, we did find a place this past weekend, and we will be moving over Labor Day weekend. Our new residence is in a brand new subdivision, and the home has only been occupied by one other tenant, for about 3 months. There is a privacy fence around the backyard, so Sheba will still have a place to run around outside, although not being able to see through the fence may prove to be a test of her sanity - she likes to be able to see what she's barking at.

To our delight, we are on the last street in the very back of the subdivision, so it is nice and quiet, and there is - wait for it - wait for it - a cow pasture behind us. I guess I still get a little bit of country after all.

So for the next however-long-it-takes-us to finish getting our little duckies in a row to make a home purchase, we will be hanging out in a brand new place. God is good, and I am so thankful for His abundant provision.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

Let It Rain

We have been enjoying much cooler than normal temperatures the past few days, and I must confess that I am absolutely loving it. It never made it out of the seventies yesterday, and it has been raining almost consistently for the past thirty-six hours. It is a slow, gentle, steady rain, the kind that soothes and refreshes both body and soul.

What is it about a cool rainy day that seems to calm me, causing me to want to settle into a quiet corner with a good book, a warm drink, and an hour or so to slip away from the day-to-day reality and lose myself in a daydream?

Whatever it is, I revel in it, this feeling that something simple, quiet and peaceful is just around the corner, that with every drop of rain that makes its way to my skin, I am a little more refreshed - a little less stressed - a little more thankful for simple, everyday blessings.

Thank You, Lord, for

the refreshing showers you send,
both physical and spiritual.

In both realms, let it rain.

Hope

Hope. It's a small word that carries enormous possibilities. Hope sees us through life's darkest moments and promises us that tomorrow has the potential to be brighter and better.

This weekend, the River held our first neighborhood missions outreach at a local apartment complex. The event was called HopeFest, and while we were there to minister hope to the families and individuals who call Boardwalk home, I have come away with a renewed sense of hope in my own heart.

Our hope was that this event would open the door for us to establish a foundation for ongoing ministry to the residents of Boardwalk, and we plan to launch an onsite Bible study there this fall. If you've ever done any kind of outreach or missions work, you know that no matter how grand your plans and sincere your intentions, you can never really know how a people group will respond until you just get out there and do it. The response was very positive this weekend, and we are greatly encouraged. We saw the the beginnings of relationships as some shared their personal stories and lives with us.

One of our own River members, Paul, lives there at Boardwalk, and he has opened up his apartment for the Bible study, which is an answer to prayer, because though the complex manager is very supportive of our efforts to minister to these residents, there is no available meeting space. Paul's offer solves this problem, and we had several people sign up for the study already. The hunger is there - all we have to do is show up and feed them.

There is much more to tell about this weekend than I can share here and now, but one of the things that blessed my heart the most was seeing some of our own River members, who themselves live in similar circumstances as the people we were there to minister to, rising up to step outside of their own difficult situations and whole-heartedly serving others. What a joy to see this new wave of first fruits. These precious people are the reason we do what we do, the reason we have persisted when it seemed that we were laboring in vain and we thought no one was listening. They are the fruit of our lasting hope to see lost, lonely and hurting people found, restored and healed.

"... those who hope in Me will not be disappointed."

Isaiah 49:23

Go Through the Crossroads to the River

The outreach ministry we have been a part of since we came to Fort Smith, Crossroads Outreach, is making a transition this summer to a full outreach church (a church within a church, we call it). Our new name is The River Fort Smith, and we are very excited about what we see the Lord doing here. We are gearing up for a neighborhood missions outreach at a local apartment complex. HopeFest (as the outreach is called) will be held August 1 and 2. More on that as the event draws closer.

For now, the River has a newly formed worship band called Mission 61. I will be rehearsing the musicians tonight for the first time. I'll work with the vocalists separately at first, then pull everyone together for full rehearsals soon. I'm really excited about this new phase of this ministry. While I have been leading worship for the River (formerly Crossroads) for a number of years now, this will be the first time I've worked with a full band in quite a while. I'm really looking forward to it!

For now, I continue to pray for direction, pray for my team, and seek the Lord's face in all things. I am believing for a no-walls worship experience, where freedom opens the door for us to enter into life-altering moments with our Creator not only on special occasions, and not just during weekly worship gatherings, but at any time in any place for any moment that we acknowledge who He is and who we are because of Him.

We stand before an audience of One.

Hmmmm ...

Today I am passing along a few philosophical questions posed by friends on facebook and adding a few of my own. These can be categorized as the things that make you go, "Hmmm." Of course, whether the "Hmmm" refers to the actual question posed or to the thought processes of the poser remains to be determined. Enjoy.

1. What does ice cream sound like?

2. Why is the third hand on a watch called a second hand?

3. Why do they call them apartments when they are all so close together?

4. If bread is square, why is sandwich meat round?

5. Why is vanilla ice cream white when vanilla extract is brown?

6. If money doesn't grow on trees, why do banks have branches?

7. Why do we put suits in a garment bag and garments in a suitcase?

8. Did Noah have woodpeckers on the ark? If so, where did he keep them?

9. Why does lemon dishwashing liquid contain real lemons, but lemon juice contains artificial flavoring?

10. Who was the first person to say, "I think I'll squeeze those dangly things under the cow and drink what comes out?"

That's all for now.

Rachael

How Smart Am I?

Our dog, Sheba, is recovering from a flying leap she took from the back of my husband's truck a few weeks ago. Her injuries, while not critical, were somewhat serious, requiring all four feet to be bandaged while the resulting wounds are healing - I'll spare you the gory details.

On her first trip home from the vet, she was fitted with a soft satellite collar, made of a somewhat flexible but stiff fabric designed to keep her from disturbing the bandages on her feet. The vet's assistant said she looked like a little sunflower. Sheba was not amused.

She proved to be a little smarter than what she was wearing and managed to find a way to lay down where she could still reach her feet, and so after her next trip to the vet, she was sent home with a clear plastic "Elizabethan" collar. This one, as you can imagine by its name, is more restrictive, and she is even less amused when she has to wear it, which is while we are at work and while we sleep at night - and any other time we catch her fiddling with her bandages. This she does at every opportunity.

I observed her the other day as she watched David leave the room, and the second he was out of sight and she thought no one was watching, she commenced to chewing on the bandages. She was quickly reprimanded, of course, simply because her feet need to heal, and in order for this happen, the she must learn to stop disturbing the bandages, no matter how uncomfortable they may be.

Hence the object lesson. How many times have I found myself in a position where God is trying to accomplish a specific work in me, and all I want to do is wiggle and squirm and try to find a way out of it? The healing process is never comfortable, rarely easy, and often painful in itself. Our need for healing may stem from some kind of abuse or trauma, or it could be the result of our own bad decisions. Most often it is some combination of these things. Whatever caused our spirits, emotions, and hearts to become wounded, the Healer is capable and ready to employ all of His healing power to restore that which was lost and renew that which has been broken.

The x-factor in the equation is our willingness to submit to the process. Sheba has continued to somehow find a way to remove the bandage from one of her front feet, and we cannot figure out how she is accessing the foot with this plastic collar in place. Every time she removes the bandage, it has to be replaced, which is an unpleasant process for both her and me, but I am determined that her feet will heal and not become infected in the process.

If only my determination were so strong regarding my own healing.

Lord, I know that Your plans for me are good, and that Your desire is for me to be completely whole in every way. Help me to rest in You and completely trust You to complete the good work You have begun in me, to quiet my spirit and submit to Your strong and gentle hand as You restore my soul. Help me to not become so "smart" that I continue to find a way out of what You are doing in me. May I simply place my bandaged heart into Your hands and let You do Your beautiful healing work in me. Amen.

The Big 4-0

Okay, so it's been over a month since I posted. No excuses. I simply haven't taken the time.



Since I last wrote, I celebrated my 40th birthday, and I have to say, I am really excited about this new season in my life. There was no dread in the days and weeks leading up to this milestone event - I've actually been looking forward to it with anticipation. While part of me wants to inform the world, "Today I am a woman!", I make absolutely no guarantees that I will always act like a grown-up. Balance in moderation, right?

My twenties were spent learning some tough lessons about life and love, and my thirties proved to be a time of growth and rediscovery - about who I am and who I want to become.

So here I am at the threshold of a new decade, and I can honestly say that the best is yet to come. As I reflect on where I have come from, I am overwhelmed by God's amazing grace and His unlimited capacity for carrying us through dark days and setting us solidly on steady ground, a safe place to be healed and restored.


Looking around me at where I am today, I am humbled by my Maker's unmatched wisdom in guiding us into places of abundant blessing and placing people in our lives who make our days richer and fuller than we could ever have imagined.


Gazing ahead down this path I am on, I see curves and straightaways, hills and valleys. I cannot see exactly where this road will take me, but I am confident that the One who holds my future is also holding my hand, gently leading me into what I know will be the best days and years of my life.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Who Let the Dog Out?

Sheba is our dog. Her lineage is unknown, and there has been much debate as to her breed. We believe her to be part lab, but the other part(s) are the greatest subject of debate. We have been told that she carries the bloodline of everything from border collie (which I tend to lean toward), to great pyranees to Australian shepherd. She has long, thick hair, intelligent brown eyes, and a plumey (is that even a word?) tail that resembles a flag waving when she wags it, which is most of the time. She’s smart, sweet, and perhaps a little spoiled. We love having her around.

We got Sheba when she was four months old in May of 2003. She was part of a litter of puppies that had been left in a box in a dumpster. A friend of ours found the pups, took them home and adopted them out, and we ended up with her. While we lived in Fort Smith, our backyard was a favorite stop in the rounds of a couple of neighborhood Romeos, and being the gracious hostess that she is, Sheba entertained her male guests, and then presented us with three litters of adorable little furballs before we finally had her tendency to be a little too “hospitable” permanently deterred.

She loves to ride in the car, doesn’t care for fireworks, and knows she’s not supposed to wander too far down our driveway toward the road, which is why she has been observed slowly and casually making her way down there with the occasional glance back toward the house to see if anyone’s watching. Hmmm.

This human-like trait of testing the limits is a bit curious to see in a dog, but it does remind me of how we are all tempted to see how much we can get away with, especially when no one is looking. While our flesh tries to lure us down the driveway toward the road, so to speak, the Spirit of God within us is calling us back up the hill toward home. Sheba’s not being allowed down by the road has only one motive behind it – I don’t want her to get run over by a passing car.

Similarly, the boundaries God places for us in His Word are placed there simply because He loves us too much to sit back and watch us wander aimlessly toward our own destruction.

The next time you find yourself about to do something, and you find yourself wanting to make sure no one is looking, stop. Just stop. Turn around and run back up the hill toward home. If you look up on the front porch, you’ll see the face of Someone who loves you watching you, waiting for you to come home.

Here Comes the Sun

I broke out my sunglasses again yesterday for the first time since our little snow adventure last week. What a beautiful day yesterday was! The electricity was finally turned back on, although there are still a few hundred people in the dark today. Thankfully, we are not among them.

The sun was warm and friendly yesterday, and I enjoyed every minute I spent in it. The snow has nearly completely melted away, and our dog, Sheba, spent most of the afternoon soaking up as much of the sun's warmth as she could.

One of the sweetest sounds I heard yesterday was the rhythmic whirring of the washing machine as I ran the first load since the power outtage. There are so many things we take for granted, and I noticed as I was getting ready for work this morning how many of the commercials on tv were aimed at making me feel like I need more stuff to make my life complete. Well, I have been gently reminded this week that my life is already complete.

There is nothing that I could purchase or experience that could ever take the place of the precious people in my life - friends and family who love me, laugh with me (and at me), cry with me, and make my life richer by the day. And it goes without saying that my most intimate relationship, that with the Lover of my soul, my Creator King, could never be compared to anything this world could ever present to me.

Are there things I'd like to have or experience this side of eternity? Of course. But all in all, if I never own or experience any of those things, I can honestly say even now that I am bountifully blessed.

I think I'll go outside now and experience a little sun-kiss. My cup runneth over.

-Rachael

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Okay, so maybe for someone who lives in the northernmost regions of this great nation of ours, this isn't cold, but for this Texas girl transplanted into the Arkansas River Valley, baby, it's cold outside!

Today is Saturday, and wow! How things change in a week! Last weekend, the temperature was in the mid-seventies. On Monday, the temperature had dropped twenty degrees, and we received 4.5 inches of rain. On Tuesday, the temperature had dropped even further, and we got 4 inches of snow. Wednesday, it all melted off.

On Thursday, it started snowing again, and by the time it finally stopped mid-morning on Friday, we had over 9 inches on the ground. Now it's in the upper twenties, and we have not had electricity since a little after midnight Thursday night. The electric company, whom I was finally able to reach at 2:30 AM this morning, assures me that we should have it restored sometime today, and as we were driving into town this morning, we did pass a convoy of power company trucks headed in the general direction of our neck of the woods. Hopefully, this little adventure of ours is about to come to a close.

As my routine, plans, and sleep habits have been tipped over during the last couple of days, I can't help but think of something my dear friend Wendy has said to me many times. On more than one occasion, I have turned to her listening ear when my applecart has been overturned. After patiently listening to me whine and moan about my current crisis, she almost always begins her response with these words, "God was not surprised by this." I find great comfort in being reminded that no matter what potholes I stumble into or what obstacles present themselves in my path, I serve a God who is never taken by surprise. His gentle and loving way of guiding us through the day-to-day situations that try us, test us, and perfect our faith in Him overwhelms me sometimes.

So, while the house was dark and cold yesterday morning, and as David worked to dig his truck out of the snow (an attempt which, by the way, was unsuccessful), I stepped out onto the front porch to snap a few pictures of our winter wonderland. Sometimes, when we face situations that are beyond our control, we have no

choice but to sit back and enjoy the view. So I did.

Note: We were able eventually to dig my car out and make it into work for the day.

As for now, my mission as a heat-seeking missile proved successful, and I have been at the office for a while now. My toes are thawing out, and my outlook is improving. No matter what comes my way, I am never out of His sight.

"She (Hagar) gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her:

'You are the God who sees me,' for she said,

'I have now seen the One who sees me.'

That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi

(the Living One who sees me)." Genesis 16:13-14

Blessings all over you and yours,

Rachael