Where 2 or 3 are Gathered . . .

The ladies at the Bible study and I took a break for Christmas. Then we had snow which caused me to cancel our 1st time back. It felt sooo good to get back with these ladies in our study of Revelation with Beth Moore this week!

I have learned with these ladies not to presume what will take place at these meetings, because each and every week is different.  When I arrived there was just 2 joining me and one was sick, but she wanted to listen while we went over the homework.  I am also learning that God sets up each and every situation.  Because I only had a young lady and her mother, she was able to open up.  An on-going exercise that we are to do each week is to share what God has done in your previous week. Since it was prayer week in many churches, I was able to attend many of the services.  I shared how I loved feeling the Presence of God at these meetings.  This young lady, who is one of my hungrier ones, said to me that she had never had that experience and desired it so.  My heart just broke, but I encouraged her that as she desires more of Him and spends time with Him, she will indeed experience Him!

Not long after that, 2 other ladies showed up just in time for the DVD lesson. It surprises me that they can engage so quickly into the lessons, but Beth is that good and wonderfully anointed to reach these ladies.  

During the lesson, Pastor Brent, along with a couple of other people, came in from a city council meeting to share the progress of our ministry acquiring the apartments across the way. So far so good.  These were the apartments that they would in no way give to us, now they are gladly going through the process of letting us have them.  We will be able to tear down walls for a place for the kids to gather and have lessons and to feed them.  When it's done, my ladies will be able to meet for Bible study upstairs.  This will be good because I have young mothers who can't come because their little ones are too young to go to the kids class, but too active to sit during our Bible study.  God never ceases to amaze me!

Would you pray with me:

~ that this young lady is able to feel the Presence of God in her life

~ that the building project meets all the requirements for city council's approval and that renovation goes quickly

~ also that we successfully get a prayer time with these ladies to agree in prayer for their community and that they themselves will pray too

Consuming Revelation

What a funny title for a post! But that has been for me lately.  I am reading, reading, & re-reading the Book of Revelation, & any other related books of the Bible.  

I started the study of this book at the request of the ladies in my Bible study.  To tell you the truth I haven't been in Revelation for quite some time, so I had to re-familiarize myself with it again - the whole thing not just bits & pieces of it.  I find myself getting side tracked a lot, going on a tangent hunt.  But I'm loving it!  The problem though is that it's Christmas time & I haven't done any decorating because I'm consumed with this study.

I had a very difficult time finding a relevant study of this book.  Everything I found either discussed just the first 5 chapters & the last 2, or it was written in the last century.  I know the last century was only 12 years ago, but soooo much has happened on the political scene since then.  Those that really dug into the book, set the stage in Europe for the events to unfold. That's what they knew then.  But the Lord has revealed so much more to us today.  As a recent writer of this subject wrote in his book, Israel & the Middle East is & always has been the center stage for all Biblical prophecies.   I had a good dose of correction in reading Joel Richardson's book, The Islamic Anti-Christ, last Spring.  Reading that book really opened my eyes.  The book was published in 2009 & like Joel Rosenberg's books, so many things he predicted have come to pass.

I am just amazed at what Beth Moore has taught us in this series.  Really the book of Revelation is the story of redemption.  God wants desperately to redeem a people out of sin's grip, Satan's grip, death's grip.  But men are too stubborn sometimes to be rescued.  What shocks me is that there are those who rail their fists at Him instead of begging for mercy.  That blows my mind!

But none-the-less I am thoroughly enjoying this study.  I hope my ladies are, I know some of them have.  Please pray that they understand it, & that they attend.  Even though they requested the study, many haven't come because roadblocks have come in the way.  Just like the enemy to keep them from learning the truth.

The First Love Experience

I have come to learn not to despise a small group when I teach Bible study.  Because usually those who don't generally open up, will when there is a smaller group. A more intimate group tends to give that quiet one a chance to get in there and say something.  I don't know if they feel safer or that less voices give them an opportunity to share.  Well that was the case Tuesday night. 

We've been watching Beth Moore's DVD Bible study on the book of Revelation.  That particular night we were on the 7 churches listed in chapters 2 and 3. When we begin, we review our homework, watch the DVD lesson, and then I will ask was there anything that stood out to anyone. After some silence, one of the ladies shared that when Beth talked about returning to your first love, she had never understood it.  But now that she explained it the way she did, she wants it badly.  She said it with tears.  She had been coming from a worldly perspective. 

I love how Beth Moore explains things.  When she began with the concept forgiveness, this lady now had a scriptural basis from which to build upon.  Beth showed that you can't hang on to unforgiveness and your first love with the same set of hands.  Then, in a Beth Moore fashion, she shared what first love with Jesus is.  Realizing this, she challenges us, something has to go.  Beth speaks from an experience that gives her a voice where some of us cannot speak from.  She also speaks from such love.

Once Beth Moore had explained it, my friend knew that this was what she wanted.  She never really had a first love experience. When we all had shared and were ready for prayer, she asked that she would be able to have that experience for herself.  Most of these ladies that I teach grew up in the church, but they had wandered far from it once they were on their own.  I ask that you join with us in prayer that these ladies would all have that first love experience and have that desire to maintain that relationship as well.

 

Clairton Ministry

I've had the privilege to minister to some wonderful ladies in studying the Bible.  It has been a little over a year that I have been digging into the Word with them. We started with Hannah's prayer and we have just finished studying the book of Ruth.  

These ladies live in the projects of Clairton, right in the heart of chaos and crime.  Most times my arrival is met with drama.  They live in default mode.  Their social life revolves around this community of ladies who all live on the same street very close to each other.  In the summer you will find them outside hanging out on their street.  They get into each other's lives, raising each other children.  For me, this is a very different way to live.  I am having to learn a new culture and a new language, yet they have won my heart.

It has been wonderful watching these ladies grow each at their own rate.  When I arrived, a good many of them were nominal Christians at best.  They wanted to keep their worldly habits and still be called a Christian.  But over the last year I have seen such a transformation in them.  

Two of these ladies rededicated their lives to the Lord and were water baptized on a very cold fall day.  Two weeks later, they had their babies dedicated to the Lord.  Each of these ladies let their light shine wherever they go and share the Word of God as the Lord leads. I am so proud of them.

Another young lady has such a hunger for the things of God.  She is quiet, watching what goes on around.  But as of recent, she is beginning to come out of her shell.  When I can, I take her to the church I go to Sunday evenings, which is about every other week.  She loves that little store front church.  There she can be herself.  It's a small enough group of people that we can be free to worship as we choose.  We laugh, we cry, we jump up and down, we bend our knees or even lay on our faces.  She feels right at home there.  And I'm beginning to see such a change in her.

Recently, I was referred by one of these ladies to a friend who was going through some difficulty.  She lived on the next street up.  She just asked me to listen to her and see if I could be of any help.  I had never counseled an adult before.  I've mentored, befriended, and lead Bible studies before, but this was again something new to me. My pastor encouraged me to go ahead with it.  He said that I did have it in me.  So that's what I did . . . I listened.  I visited her often, sharing the Word with her and again just listened.  I would often say a silent prayer asking for wisdom as to how to answer her.  She was so hurt and bitter, I felt I needed the wisdom Solomon to help her.  She was not a believer, but as time went on she asked Jesus to come into her life and show her His Words.  Immediately her countenance changed.  I gave her a little booklet called "The Roman's Road to Salvation".  She couldn't get enough of it.  She has been asking questions and learning. 

It's been a joy to meet in their living rooms and fellowship with them each week.  And it's exciting to be a part of God's work and to be where He is moving.  I do ask you to pray with me for this ministry.  The enemy is such a great force there and darkness abounds. Along with my ladies' Bible study is a children's ministry and a youth group.  I work with a great staff!  God put Clairton on Pastor Brent's heart several years back, he works with the teens.  Brittany and Megan work with the kids.  They can have up to 40 kids at one time.  We are currently looking for a building right on that street to house the ministry.  Pray that we have favor and that doors will open.

Congradulations Carissa!!!

We are so proud of our daughter-in-law!!! This amazing woman has completed her MBA amidst working & putting her hubby through law school. I know that this must have been a very trying time for her.  She is such a wonderful blessing to our family!  Congratulations Sweetie!!!

Our Visit to Virginia

We were able to go down to celebrate our daughter-in-law's graduation from grad school. We all prayed that it would not rain because of all the outdoor activities. When we got there, we joined Dave & Carissa at a reception for the graduates & their families.  They hosted it at LU's stadium.  What a wonderful spread they put on! 

Saturday was damp but it did not rain as the graduation ceremonies began in the stadium.  We were handed a program & a poncho just in case as we came in. This was Liberty's largest graduating class yet.

As the graduates were walking in Carissa was trying to find us.

Proud Mom & Husband!

There was a heavy mist at times but it did not rain at all through out the outdoor events!  God was good to us!  We looked on from the bleachers. Both the opening ceremony & the school of business diploma ceremony was held at the Williams Stadium.

Randall Wallace was the keynote speaker & what a wonderful speaker he was!

Dave & Carissa

 Afterward, we came back to Dave & Carissa's beautiful home.  It was time to party!  It was good getting together with her family & catch up on news!

We stayed an extra day & did some sight-seeing at the nearby Civil War battle field. Aaron & Andrew love history so this was a treat for them. We counted it as a field trip for school.

We had a great time, & as all good things, our trip came to end all too fast!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day ended up being a wonderful surprise! The day was beautiful, which after many days of rain was a welcome relief. You couldn't ask  for a prettier day!

A friend of mine needed a ride to church so we enjoyed catching up with her to & from church.  She had been very sick for a really long time, so it was wonderful to have her coming back to church again!  The service was, of course, dedicated to the mothers, worship was good, & I was able to minister to another friend who had just received some bad news.  Then at the end of service Pastor Bill prayed for the mothers & the teens gave us all flowers.

I got a beautiful pink Dehlia.

Then after church my guys went to town to fix dinner.  As they worked on it, my Dad & his wife, Ginnie, stopped by to pick up some items on their way home.  It was so nice that they were able to stay & visit for awhile.  Only wish the visit could have been longer, seemed like there was much to catch up on.  But they had to get home to meet my brother & my nieces.  The girls were staying over Grandma & Grandpa's then taking a bus to the JFK airport to fly to Egypt & visit my daughter.

Then Scott's Mother came shortly afterwards to join us for dinner.  We had a good meal! Scott grilled London broil, & had made Hot German potato salad & fresh baked bread while the boys made strawberry shortcake fixings for dessert.  He steamed our home grown asparagus to go with the dinner.  We enjoyed visiting with Mom & she enjoyed the homemade meal.  We learned long ago that going out to eat on Mother's Day was insanity!

Later on as Mom left, we took the boys to meet with friends for volleyball fun.  Scott & I went for a drive into the country.  We decided to go up to the upper end of Washington County.  We've been to our end many times, it was a nice change. I like to new places to discover.

The 1st place we went to was a new plant Scott wanted to see just outside Houston.

Next we headed on over to Hickory. That is such a quaint town.

 

I love what they did to this old log home!

Then we drove out to see what was around.

And ended up in the town of McDonald. 

We have 2 pastor friends who live in McDonald so we decided to see the town.  We stopped at an ice cream shop & ended up with huge portions.  I guess you live & learn.

Soon we got a call from the boys to be picked up.  They have a great time!

Beautiful sunset to end the day!