2009 Vacation at Atlantic Beach, NC

Day 1 & 2



As we started out on our vacation,
we came upon patches of fog.











We stopped at the Casselman Inn in Grantsville, MD to pick up cinnamon rolls for breakfast, but they were all out.










So we headed down the road to an Amish community to a little grocery store that we knew of to see if they had any. And they did !







We decided to lay over at Dave & Carissa's place to break up the trip down to the beach.

These are the beautiful Virginia mountains! In a few months they will be alive with color.

We finally made it to their house.

They were such great hosts! Here are some pictures of our stay there.

This was the room we stayed in. I felt like I was staying at a very fine motel! Absolutely beautiful!





















David completely redid this kitchen including the cabinets. Are they beautiful?! He did such a good job!











The view of the kitchen from the living room.




































The boys enjoyed some time in the hot tub.

The next day Carissa put out a nice breakfast spread for us
before we headed down to the beach.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the place where most people trip on. They can't seem to get victory over it. And this is the tool that Satan uses to keep Christians defeated. In Matthew 18, Peter asks Jesus how many times should we forgive when someone sins against us. And Jesus responded with an astounding answer, not just 7 times, but 70 times 7. That's just for 1 day!

God calls us to even pray for our enemies - now there's a hard pill to swallow!!! In Matthew 5:43-47 Jesus says, " 'You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor & hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemy & pray for those who persecute you, ...' " But you say, "You don't know what he/she did to me..." But do you realize that we were ALL once enemies to God & yet He laid down His life for us. With that perspective how can we stay in our unforgiveness?!

Birds

I was sitting at our computer when I noticed a gold finch feasting on a sunflower outside my window. So I took pictures & I want to share them with you.

This shot tickled me. He looks like he has sunglasses on!

He guy flew over to the clothes line before he took off.

These below are out
my kitchen window.

I always enjoy it when humming birds come for a visit.

This one flew in when I was
taking pictures of the gold finch.

How good God has been!

My niece asked all her blog friend to tell of how God has been good to each of us lately. So I'm responding to her on here:

Washington County Men's Prayer Breakfast just had a weekend long crusade this past weekend & it was awesome!!! Many many God things happened! Each Friday morning at 7am, these men would meet together for a year & a half to pray for this event. A few women would join them & since I was invited, I'd go when I could. It was amazing to see God's plan begin to unfold. So many prayers were answered, it was incredible to be able to see the hand of God work in such a powerful way!!!! Many times tears would roll down my cheeks to think that I could be even a small part of this great event. Many were healed, a few were set free from demonic control - one very dramatically, many at the altar crying in repentence, & many of us surrendering to an almighty God giving our all to Him. One of the things that we prayed for was a fresh word for Washington County & He definitely did that! It was a call to holiness. These speakers raised the bar for us. We so need it. The worship each evening was absolutely unbelievable! By the final night, I found myself face down in humble adoration to my God who did such amazing things over the weekend! And yet there was more to come... the final surrendar of anything that came between us & the Lord. When I went up the altar to give it all, the power of the Holy Spirit came on me in such a powerful way, I began to shake, not violently, but all over. Wow! God had indeed been in the house! I was full & overflowing by the time I went home.

And that is my most recent event of how good God is.

Deep in Love with You

by Michael W. Smith
from his A New Hallelujah album

Sitting at Your feet is where I want to be
I'm home when I am here with You
Ruined by Your grace, enamored by Your gaze
I can't resist the tenderness in You

I'm deep in love with You, Abba Father
I'm deep in love with You, Lord
My heart, it beats for You, precious Jesus
I'm deep in love with You Lord

Humbled and amazed that You would call my name
I never have to search again
There's a deep desire that's burning like a fire
To know You as my closest friend

Lord, my redeemer, Your blood runs through my veins
My love for You is deeper than it was yesterday
I enter through the curtain, parted by Your grace

Oh, Your the lover of my soul

Wishing Everyone a happy 4th of July!