An Ending?

        Since I was five years old, I have wanted to preach. I remember telling my mother that God told me that I was supposed to preach. She laughed at me and told me that God could not use girls to preach.  For years, I believed her. I tried to run from the call that I thought He had placed in my life because I reasoned; it must not be from Him. Then I decided that perhaps, my call was to only teach other women and children. For years, I served in various capacities that allowed me to utilize a small part of my calling in those areas. I loved teaching scripture. I loved being used in the lives of children both as a Bible teacher and as a choir director. However, I knew that part of me was empty. There was a section of my soul that I was trying to stifle.


       When I was finally able to finish my BA, I really wanted to pursue a Christian Studies degree but decided instead to get an Elementary education degree. I was still homeschooling my youngest son, and I have always loved those moments when teaching where the “lights go on” and the child gets it. Also, since life is so uncertain, I reasoned that if I ever needed to support our family that I could do so with a teaching certificate. However, those plans fell apart as our country's economy plummeted.


        I began praying and seeking to discover what God’s plan and purpose was for me. I guess I thought that he had changed the call He gave me when I was five. I considered getting a Master in Education in Curriculum design. I even talked with the department head at my alma mater and he told me that I would be a great candidate for the program. However, my heart was unsettled. I hungered to get deeper into God’s Word. I longed to surround myself with theology books and pour over His Word. Nothing cleanses my soul more than burying myself in seeking God.


        I shared with my husband that I really felt called (no other way to put it) to seek a seminary degree. I told Mark that I wasn’t sure why this desire was so strong or what I would do with the degree. He told me, “Debbie, I know that you listen to God. You are a gifted teacher and lover of Christ. God has a plan for you and you have to be faithful in preparing yourself to fulfill it.”


        I considered several seminaries and really was unsettled about choosing Liberty; however, as I researched I felt Liberty was where God was directing me. I have been blessed by choosing this school. I feel that I have gotten an excellent education and I have enjoyed most of the time. I struggled with the semester when I was first diagnosed with Sjogren’s because I was in such pain and my eyesight was so impeded. But, with the amazing support of my husband, family, and friends, I was able to get through that semester.


        Today, I wrote the last paper for my degree program. I wrote about Billy Graham and his devotion to follow God with all of his being. Reading and writing about Graham took me back in time to when I was nine years old. I had caught on fire that year, and I was often in my room alone with a small black and white television set as my only companion. One evening, I watched the Billy Graham Crusades. I grabbed hold of Billy’s teaching that it was faith not works that saved a man. This was not the teaching with which I had been raised. This was a radical idea and concept for me as a nine-year-old to grasp. I discussed this teaching with my father, who told me that Mr. Graham was wrong. Eleven years would pass before I finally had the courage, at age twenty, to tell my parents that Mr. Graham’s teachings were not his own words, but the Word of God. I have to wonder how many other children Billy Graham’s faithfulness influenced?


        Memories.


        So, Saturday, May 12 is my official graduation date from Liberty. A new chapter in my life will begin as this old one ends. Today, I found myself remembering my husband’s word that God has a plan for me in ministry. Exactly how God will manifest that plan I do not know. But, I know one thing for certain—He is trustworthy. He knows the deep desires of my heart because He hid them in it when I was formed in the womb. I will trust Him now to complete a good work in me so that He may be glorified in my life and so that others will learn of Him and follow after Christ.


To God Be All Glory, Honor, and Praise.

Savannah Trip

Mark surprised me with a trip to Savannah for my birthday. We stayed two nights. Wednesday night we ate at Corleone's. It was great food. Thursday we did the on and off trolley tour, went to the Owens-Thomas house, and Thursday evening we saw "The Beat Goes On." We came home on Friday. We had a great time just being together.

Just a short post....

I know that I have been neglecting my poor blog lately. I have been busy trying to finish my Master of Arts in Theological Studies. I am now doing my last two classes. I think that I am going to really enjoy these classes except for the fact that my eyes are protesting the amount of reading and writing. I took 9 hours this last semester. I have finished one class with a 4.0. That made me pretty happy. I was also hired as a writing tutor for grad students. Right now, I am working through 60 hours of training. This is probably another reason my eyes are having issues. The good thing about the training is that I do get paid for it.

I will try to keep this blog more up-to-date.

Blessings,
Debbie

A few photos to show off our weight loss so far....

Going Vegan!

As of today, Mark, Michael and I have been vegan for 2 months and 5 days. Mark has lost over 20 pounds. Michael has lost nearly 35 pounds. I have lost 15 pounds. Of course, the guys are winning the race. Losing weight this way has not been difficult. I get to eat good food that satisfies me. Rarely, have I been hungry! Pretty cool. Mark's blood pressure has improved and his goal is to get off of his blood pressure meds. That would be wonderful. I will try to add a few pictures. I need to take some current ones of Michael since the biggest change is in him. Mark is looking good, too.

Christmas 2011!

We couldn't get everything in the car, so we opened a few gifts and took a couple of pictures before heading up to Lauri's.


Paul


Michael


Michael, Mark, and Paul

Christmas eve at Lauri's with all of us and her parents.



Sitting: Vern, Joyce, and Lauri
Standing: Me and Mark


Group Photo Christmas Eve
Sitting: Glenn, Aaron, and Taylor
Standing: Michael, Rachel, Paul, and Deborah



Mark and me



Paul, me, Mark, and Michael


Lauri, me and Michael


Paul, Lauri, and Taylor

I wanted to get some family pictures. Lauri helped us out.


Paul, Mark, Me, and Michael - posting for a Family picture.


Paul, me,Toby, and Michael

Our final Christmas celebration was with Lynda Talmadge.


Me and Lynda Talmadge


Me, Lynda, and Mark


Me, and Mark



Lynda and Mark

We had a nice Christmas this year. I just wanted to add a few photos!

Desserts....

The Woman's Club is helping to supply desserts to the Veteran's Day Luncheon Celebration this coming Friday. I decided that I wanted to try and come up with something that I haven't made before... something southern.... something fruity.... something yummy. So, I have been hunting for a lemon bar recipe and I found one. I am going to try to make it tonight and let my family test it out. I am not even sure that they like lemon bars since I have never made them. If they look pretty... I'll post a few pictures later on!

Of course, sometimes I have to wonder if I decide to *try* new things.... in order to have a legitimate excuse to not write a paper or read some of the endless reading for school.
.......

Later on.... Actually the next morning. I cut the squares and plated them up. Now, the first one sort of ripped to pieces but after demolishing it, the others happily came out of the pan.



And, now a closeup of the little delights!


And, of course here's Toby... waiting patiently. He's thinking that momma will give him a lemon square!


Oh, I want to give credit for this recipe. I found it at a fun blog called Less Cake More Frosting.

Shower cake....

I had never worked with fondant and thought that I would give it a try. Here's my first fondant cake. This is for a friend at church's baby shower.

Guilt

I, as a mom, battle with guilt. Every time my children mess up, I assume that I could have somehow stopped it, that I should have seen it, and that I must be a horrible mom. I have felt this way too many times. When the kids were little, I could take away privileges, put them to bed early, or ground them. These punishments usually caused a change of behavior which seemed heartfelt. However, these tactics do not work with my older teens or young adult children.

So, here is my problem. If my children confess something to me or do something that goes against our family’s standards, I am sickened and begin to doubt my calling as a mother. And, then I doubt my ability to help teach other moms because obviously I am either blind or deceived. How can God possibly use me in any area of minister when I missed something with my beloved children?

Really?

So, I get down on my knees and I cry out to God. To the God that blessed me with my children and family. I ask Him to help my children. I ask Him to guide me in how to effectively deal with the issue at hand. I pray and pour over the scripture.

Really?

Why I do go to a God whose own children mess up and sin? Why should I seek His advice and wisdom? Wasn’t Adam His son? Wasn’t Eve His daughter? Didn’t He spend quality time with them walking with them in the cool of the garden? Didn’t He provide for all of their needs and desires? How did He miss their infatuation with the world and with sin?

Yet, I find myself running to my Father. I find myself not doubting His ability to help me – to help my child. I find myself still trusting Him.

Why?

I trust God and His wisdom because I know that He loves me. I know that He wants the very best for me. And, I know that He understands the sorrow that comes with parenting.

Maybe, my sorrows and my perceived failures help me to mentor and love other moms with great humility and compassion.

Anchor Deep, Sail Strong: My Frequent Enemy: The Liar

Anchor Deep, Sail Strong: My Frequent Enemy: The Liar:  The lie: He whispers in my ear that there is not enough. That I am not enough to comfort or help my children. That I can't reach the goal. ...

Time with God.

"He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day." E.M. Bounds

This morning I spent much time in prayer and then in the Word. Of course, I thought that I was sacrificing my morning to the chores, and school work that I needed to get done. But, I recognized that I needed God’s abiding presence in my life. So, I prayed. So, I read the scriptures. And, then I just sat quietly and listened.

I made myself a list to goals for the day after spending time with my Father. I thought that I would not get them accomplished. But, they have all been accomplished plus some other things which I didn’t even include. I honestly believe that if I hadn’t spent that extra time with God this morning, I would not have able to physically do the list because this Sjogren’s disease has been attacking me more lately.

But, as I worked, as I did school, as I went about my day I felt His Presence. I felt His Strength. I felt His Peace. I didn’t feel rushed. I didn’t feel overwhelmed. I didn’t feel empty and lonely.

God has been first in my heart the entire day. Amazing that God can be first when mopping floors, or cleaning toilets, baking sugar cookies, or writing theological papers. This led me to realize that it’s not the job or the chore, or the physical thing that I am doing that brings honor to Christ. He has been with me all day – because my spirit communed with His Spirit this morning.



Here is a poem that I learned as a child. Be Blessed!

I met God in the morning
When my day was at its best,
And His Presence came like sunrise
Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O'er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I, too, had loosed the moorings
With the Presence left behind.

So I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way;
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day.

Ralph Cushman

Anchor Deep: The miraculous out of the mundane...

This is a beautiful blog post of a dear friend. What a wonderful and godly witness.

Anchor Deep: The miraculous out of the mundane...: All my life, when my life got tough, my 101st paratrooper Dad would sincerely say, " That's good training. "  He wasn't angry or sarcastic a...

Small town life......

First, I live in a small town and chances are great that I will run into someone that I know every time I venture out into the community. That’s the way it is in rural America. This can be comforting but Monday running into a familiar face was not something that I intended or planned.

I had to go into my doctor’s office for some tests. I was having a pulmonary study and a heart echo done. That was well and good. These tests are not painful and I wasn't worried about getting them done. Also, I stupidly assumed that my doctor’s office would make sure that my heart echo was scheduled to be done by a woman and NOT a man. But, I was very wrong. However, I now know to request that all tests which require disrobing to be done by a female staff member.

A man came out front and told me to follow him which I did. He led me to a section of the office to which I had never been and took me into a small room. Then, he handed me a gown and began giving me disrobing instructions and said that he would be back. At this point I stopped dead in my tracks and said, “Wait!! You know that I know you? You are my son’s friend’s dad! I know you!” I wasn't using the man's name because that made it too real that I knew him.

He sort of nodded his head and said that I was correct. Of course, I was correct, he was Paul’s scoutmaster. He was at Paul’s Eagle ceremony. His picture is on my BLOG! I knew him. So I continued, “You cannot do this test on me. I KNOW you. I know your name.”

He was sort of stammering around and said that the girls who do these tests had left for the day! Good grief! It was three o’clock. I would have come earlier to get the tests run. I thought about taking "my girls" and leaving.

“But, didn’t you tell me to take my bra off? You need my bra off to do this test? I mean when you said disrobe from the waist up, were you including me taking my bra off? Do I have to remove my bra?”

Yes, I think that I said BRA like four or five times. Because taking off my bra meant only one thing – my boobs would be exposed to Paul’s friend’s dad.

I guess he said yes and then told me that he would try and not give me poison ivy which he had on his hands and arms. That was comforting - not! He added that he would try and keep me draped with the towel while doing the test.

I looked over at the towel. It was tiny - minuscule. For the first time in my life, I was wishing that I was a double A. I wanted to tell him that the said “towel” was not in my size but decided to refrain.

Now, I have been told that medical folks don’t care or think anything about your body parts. That’s great and fine and dandy. But honestly, I do care. I wanted to die.

I got my top off and put the paper thin gown on and got on the stupid table with a towel lying on my chest. He came back into the room and asked, “Are you cold? Do you want a sheet?”

I responded, “Yes, I want a sheet. Just put it over my face.”

I lived through the test but I have decided that I need to move to a big city where no one knows your name, your face, or your son.

It's not about the program....

This is a sobering reality that many churches are currently facing. They have invested in the popular programs of the day – they offer Awana, they do a bang-up job with VBS, and sing and dance with their praise and worship – but they aren’t growing. What’s the problem? We are following the program. We are here ready to minister to the folks but where are they?

Ha! Scripture says that the fields are white for the harvest. So, we should assume when talking about the church that this means there are people who are ready… the ground was tilled, the seeds were planted, fertilizer was applied, the rains fell, and even some weeding was done. The fields are ready to be harvested! Cool, we are ready too. We have the programs.

But, where is the harvest? First, let me say that I am not a farmer. But, I have picked crops before. I have picked green beans, corn, purple hull peas, strawberries, and various other fruits and vegetables. However, none of those crops ever just jumped into my waiting basket. That would have been lovely and so much easier! Let me tell you picking strawberries in the hot Florida heat is not something that I enjoyed! It was hot work. Picking blackberries left me with scratches and thorns in my hands. And, the time that I picked okra, I broke out in a rash all over my hands, legs, and arms. Fun it wasn’t! But, if I wanted to get on with my program of freezing the strawberries, making blackberry preserves, and cooking up that okra, I had to go and pick the crops.

We seem to be able to line up folks (often with some arm twisting) to help with the programs but we just can’t seem to find workers for the fields. Why is that?

Let me tell you want happens with the tomatoes in my yard that get ripe but I don’t go pick them. They shrivel up, fall off the vine, and rot on the ground. Does the Lord have a harvest for us ready but we aren’t picking it? That’s food for thought.

So, how do we get our church members, who already have too much on their plates to go out into the fields and pick the ripe fruit? I’ll tell you what we don’t need – another program. What we need to be doing is training our folks to recognize the ripe fruit that they pass daily in their lives. We need to teach them to be brave.

Engage people in conversation. Don’t just stick a flyer in their hand but engage them! Look for opportunities to do small acts of kindness for a neighbor, a co-worker, your brother, sister, or a stranger. The field is the marketplace of your life. Do you put gas in your car? Talk to the person who is pumping next to you. Do you buy groceries? Talk to the person in line with you. Talk to the check-out clerk. Do you work in a factory or office? Well, talk to those folks. See if you can’t find out their needs or hurts and then try to meet them in some way.

Be Jesus’ ambassador. I love the story of the woman at the well. Jesus went to the well because he needed a drink but He stopped and spoke to this woman. And, guess what happened? She found God and immediately went and got her community and brought them out to Jesus and they found God. Jesus didn’t wait for the woman to come and hear Him preach. He found her at a well. He looked into her eyes and saw her need and then He engaged her in a conversation. Amazing! He didn’t even have a program. Yet that day, God’s kingdom grew.

"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” (John 4:35, NASB).

Open your eyes, church. Christ has told us that the field is ready to be harvested!

Go get your basket and get out into the fields.

Be Blessed!

Toes that can't hold spoons ( by: Glenn Gray, guest blogger)

This a very good blog by a young man who is attending McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta. He is pursuing his M.Div. I hope you all enjoy the read!! Click the link.

Be blessed!
Debbie

Silliness in the eyes of an anal God: Toes that can't hold spoons: 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that eac...

Thoughts on what constitutes gossip…

The Oxford American Dictionary defines gossip as “casual talk, especially about other people’s affairs.” I think it’s interesting a secular dictionary would use the phrase “casual talk” to define a term that usually has hurtful and negative consequences. Casual suggests the gossip is done without forethought and that it is not a harmful activity in which to be engaged. However, when I checked the synonym suggestions on my computer for gossip one of the words listed was blather. Since I was unfamiliar with the term blather, I looked it up, too. It was defined as, “foolish talk.”

Gossip is usually thought out and done with intent to harm or to prove one’s beliefs about another person. Typically, gossip involves hearsay and goes through many people’s mouths and the person that is the subject of the gossip is ordinarily not given opportunity to confront his accusers. Often we justify this type of behavior because of our experiences with the person who is the subject of the gossip. We are on a mission to find the truth.

As I think about this act, I have to wonder if the scribes and the Pharisees felt justified in locating witnesses against Christ? They certainly did not like Jesus. He was an inconvenience and was interrupting their plans. So, they engaged in casual talk to build a case against him. Finally, when the evidence was presented to Jesus, He didn’t even bother to defend himself because he knew that these folks had already determined what they believed as the truth.

We quickly dismiss putting our actions and words into the same category as the scribes and Pharisees because Jesus was innocent. The person that we are engaged in tearing apart is horrible. We justify our actions because there is a greater good. We are on a mission to show this person’s true character. But, we never give the victim of the gossip opportunity to defend himself until we have already judged and tried him by rounding up our fellow gossips to substantiate the facts as we know them.

Gossip is dangerous. James 3:5 -6 says , "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

In Romans 1:29, Paul includes gossips with other evil works and in verse 32 he says that those who practice such acts deserve death.

All of us have probably engaged in gossip from time to time. That does not make the activity godly and we should never justify it. In fact, we should run from it.

First Day of Class....

Seminary is back in session. Going back to school for my graduate degree is both delightful and aggravating. I guess it’s delightfully aggravating. I am blessed because I unconditionally adore Biblical studies. I haven’t discovered any class or discipline in theological studies which I haven’t enjoyed. That is not to say that I would have preferred a different professor or grader for some of my classes but the subject matter has both inspired and enlightened me. This evangelism class which I began today is probably going to take me out of my comfort zone. Therefore, I am reminding myself that as Christians we need to be challenged. I need to be challenged.

My method of personal evangelism is to develop relationships with people. This can takes weeks, months or years. After mutual respect and trust is developed, I gradually discuss the subject of Christ. Of course, I am also comfortable speaking in front of large or small groups and sharing the wonder and power of Jesus in my life and His invitation to each of them. I usually do not approach the check-out girl or the waitress about their spiritual walk and go into a witnessing chat. That has always seemed like a run-and-gun method and I have worried that I would come across as insincere.

Yet, it seems that this class is expecting me to do that very thing. After reading several books, it appears that this type of witnessing can be done with care and success. So, I am praying that God opens my eyes to opportunities to be His ambassador to the stranger who desperately needs Christ as his Savior.

Things that I have learned ....

Things I’ve learned from conflicts in marriage!

1. Handle issues when they are small so that you don’t build an impermeable wall.

The ancient Israelites would fortify their cities by building unique walls. They would create a rock wall of about a foot wide and build another one about 6 or 7 feet away from it. Into that gap, they would throw rocks, garbage, and dirt to create a 9 foot wide wall. They used their garbage to construct large thick walls that their enemies would have a hard time breaking through.

Sometimes, we do this in our marriages. We are at an impasse so each of us builds a small wall. At this point we need to break through that wall; however, we often start throwing our garbage into the mix and soon we have a royal mess and cannot see anyway to tear the wall down.

Moral of this illustration: Handle the issues as they arise and do not allow them to fester and grow.

2. Be quick to apologize even when you *know* that you are right and he is wrong. A gentle response will help to defuse a volatile situation.

Have you ever had this conversation with a child who is fighting with a friend or sibling?

Parent, “Apologize.”
Kid, “But, I am not sorry. I am right! He is not being fair. He hurt me. He is wrong…”

Just like our children need to apologize, we need to practice the same instruction in our marriage. A simple, “Honey, I’m sorry,” can create an atmosphere where conversation can begin. Having a good relationship is more important than proving that I am right and he is wrong.

3. Listen with respect.

This is important because if you do not listen to and respect your spouse, he or she will find someone else who will.

4. Trust each other.

This one seems pretty reasonable yet often trust is lost in a relationship. I am not talking about infidelity but in other areas. All of us can make decisions that end up being horrible mistakes. When (not if) your spouse makes a bad choice, let it go. Don’t assume that he or she can no longer be trusted in that area.

5. Finally, remember that you love this person!

Musings....

Time for another rambling Blog about Nothing in particular…

Working on my book has created a major problem. I have been redoing my previous writing and I have discovered that I do not LIKE several of my chapters. Hahaha! How sad is that? The author doesn’t like her writing? So, now the process has slowed down because I am just not editing but I am rewriting some of my chapters.

I told Mark my dilemma and the man sort of chuckled at me. My first inclination was to reach out and smack the man. But, I didn’t because I am a really sweet person. However, I thought about kicking him in his sleep.

My theology classes start back next week and I have not done as much on my book this summer as I had planned. I am not sure how this happened. Oh, yes… I remember! Life happened and sort of dragged me off my schedule.

I hope all of the other writers out in the blogging world are staying on target.
Be blessed and be a blessing!

Trying for a lighter note

A blog I visit asked us to write something about here we lived. Here's what I wrote:


I am from Vidalia, GA. We have amazing weather here – hot or hotter, lovely huge hills of fire ants, sweet onions and sweet tea. We think that all y’all talk really funny and can’t give directions. Here’s an example of driving directions that you could expect to get from any local southern person....

Foreigner (otherwise known as Yankee), “Can you tell me how to get to the post office?”

Local (known as Aunt to everyone regardless of a blood relation), “Sure, sugar. You go to where the IGA used to be...”

At this point the Yankee will interrupt and say, “Sorry, I am new to the area. Is the IGA sign still there? What’s an IGA?”

[Side note: We don’t need to be told you’re not from here because we know it. You don’t talk right.]

Aunt, “Honey, the IGA sign is long gone. It’s hasn’t been around for a good 15 years. Mr. Mack’s hardware store is located there now. Don’t y’all have IGA where you come from?”

Yankee, “So, I am to look for a hardware store called Mr. Mack?”

Aunt, “Why would you do that? That’s not the store’s name.”

Yankee (getting a bit frustrated), “Can you tell me the street’s name?”

Aunt, “I don’t rightly know the name of the street but you go up this road a piece. Look for the big ole white house with a large magnolia in the yard located on the corner. It’s a right pretty Bed and Breakfast. The fire chief and his wife run the place.”

Yankee, “Turn there?”

Aunt, “No… pass it. Turn two roads up - next to where IGA used to be….”

BTW, that's a true story. And, here's another true story....

My dad loved the Sunday drive when we were growing up. One time, he started driving and driving.... We got severely lost. He finally saw this little old man sitting in a rocking chair on his porch and chewing tobacco. Dad stopped the car and asked,

"Can you tell me how to get to Franklin?"

The old man, "You talkin' Franklin, TN or Franklin, KY?"

Dad, "Franklin, TN."

Old Man, after thinking a while followed by spitting out a wad of tobacco , "That's a far piece from here."

Those were the instructions. Not another word. LOL

Dad finally said, "Well, can you point me in the direction that I should be driving?"