Thank You

Oct. 23. Saying “Thank You” seems an easy thing to do, and yet when there are no words to describe how you feel it seems a daunting task.

For over 60 to 70 days there were people living and working alongside us who whether they know it or not have; improved living conditions, eased stressful situations, cooked and delivered hundreds of thousands of meals, lifted heavy loads, moved tons of debris, became friends and generally blessed us with their presence.

On the 22nd of Oct. my husband and I walked the halls of FBC Baytown feeling the emptiness and missing the “Beautiful Mess” more than those who’ve returned to their homes and families could dream. We spoke with one of the few remaining gentlemen later that evening and told him that we would miss them when they returned to their homes. He couldn’t believe it any more than we could grasp, weeks ago, why so many would come to help us.

It is unfathomable what has happened to us through the disaster brought by Hurricane Ike. To say that God works in mysterious ways seems almost an understatement. Our feelings are so fresh and run so deep that words fail.

Humbly I go to God with a heart so full, the only expression that seems to fit are the tears that fill my eyes. Knowing that He knows my every thought and feeling brings relief because “Thank You” just isn’t enough.

So, dear friends from North Carolina Baptist Men and Women & Red Cross, may God’s blessings fill your lives and families. May you know how you have blessed all those whose lives are touched by your generosity and willingness to be the ones to come in and face these formidable circumstances.

Though words fail, praying that you will know the depth of feeling these two words hold, I say “Thank You!”

Note: At any given time from Sept. 14th through the next sixty days you could find the halls and many rooms of our church lined with make shift beds. Some had air mattresses, some only a pallet on the floor. Every bed was neat and most of them had either their Bible or a momento from home laying on top. There were crates or boxes used as night stands with a picture or other momento sitting next to alarm clocks and brushes.

Many days I spent listening and watching as people came and went; working, visiting, meeting to share how they could do things more efficiently or where needs could be better met. We became a community, our church and the 300 plus who lived with us for those weeks post Ike. It left us forever changed and forever grateful to our God for the graciousness of these volunteers.

Thank You Father. Please continue to bless them for their willingness to help. Be with them and protect them in their work. Be with their families, provide and protect them as thier loved ones continue in their jobs. Be glorified through them, Lord and may many be reached for you because of them. And Father, I pray that you would give them a special blessing today. In Jesus name, Amen.

Asking For God's Blessing

My family is such a blessing. Having children changed my life in ways I could never have dreamed. Now that they are grown, with lives of their own, I want so much to be always there for them.

If I feel this way about my family, how much more must our Lord, our Heavenly Father, feel like that about us. He desires, deeply, that we call on Him when we have troubles. But we want, like children, to do it ourselves. How often do we cheat ourselves out of the blessings God has waiting for us?

I am determined to, from this day on, ask Him for my needs, wants and tell Him my deepest dreams and wishes. Only He can make things happen in the way that will fit His plan for me. Everything else He will enable me to let go of. I am so glad that I have realized this, finally.

No wishing I’d known it sooner; I wouldn’t have been ready. No regretting the long wait and advanced years. I am who I am through Him and I know that the years ahead will be richer and fuller because of a closer relationship to Him and a willingness to ask Him for all my needs and desires. I trust that He will design my days with His plan and His glory in mind.

I will always want and try to be there for my children and my sweet husband, but I will trust them to God’s hands more. I will continue to pray for them daily as I always have and I know that life couldn’t be any better, than it is with our Lord.

Thank You, Lord!

Paper Roses

It is true that pain can cause us to turn from God, but we can’t hide from Him no matter how far we run. The main characters in Paper Roses are about to find this out.

Sarah, filled with hatred, is running from pain, loss and ridicule. She has taken her little sister with her to start a new life with the man of her dreams. Upon her arrival she is met by more change, perhaps more than she can handle.

Clay is ready to run back to the city but first he must fulfill his responsibility to his brother’s bride. He must see her safely onto the stage back east so he can concentrate on finding the man responsible for his brother’s death, then he’ll leave this God forsaken place. Clay hides behind anger, but will that anger keep him from the love that is waiting?

Can these two lost souls find God’s will in their lives before anger consumes them? Will Sarah be able to keep her secret and make a home in this small town for her little sister?

Amanda Cabot has written an inspiring story, truly a page turner. I enjoyed it fully and though I intend to pass the book along to family I will put it on my shelves as soon as it returns. Great job, Ms. Cabot.

Paper Roses
By: Amanda Cabot
Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group)
ISBN # 978-0-8007-3324-7
$13.99

Love Finds You in Miracle Kentucky

Meghan has a lot to learn about Christians and belonging to God. The winding road to Miracle leads through fertile hills of change. Perhaps more change than Meggie can handle.

It all begins with her grandmother. Loretta offers a place to stay when Meghan is accepted as the new teacher at a charter school for gifted kids. When her grandmother gives in to the notion of match making Meghan isn’t sure she’s ready, but who can say no to Grams?

The year ahead is filled with adjustment, strife and reconciliation. Meghan could have never known that coming to Miracle would indeed be a miraculous journey into life and love.

Andrea Boeshaar has presented us with a wonderful story. We’ve all wondered what we would do if we had to start over. For the first time Meghan is truly free, but how to use that freedom? Read for yourself, you won’t be sorry.

Love Finds You in Miracle Kentucky
By: Andrea Boeshaar
Summerside Press
ISBN-10: 1-934770-37-X
$12.99

Love Finds You in Snowball Arkansas

True love comes in many shapes and sizes. Much to our chagrin it also comes in surprising ways. Lucy is tired of waiting! She signs up for a retreat and ends up doing things she’s never dreamed of, all to get the attention of the man of her dreams.

Determined to make this trip worthwhile she throws herself into it with abandon, knowing it could change her life. Just thinking about spending all those hours with Justin has her planning things she had never given a thought to before.

When things go wrong and she ends up looking like a klutz Lucy tries to keep her hopes alive. But who would want to take the time to get to know such a clumsy girl. Surely, Justin, the perfect sportsman wouldn’t want to ruin his trip hanging out with such a loser.

Will Justin find out how much fun Lucy is to be around? Will Lucy find love in Snowball Arkansas? Read for yourself, I can assure you it is a snowy sleigh ride of laughter and fun.

Ms. Bricker has written a story that shows all the hope of a young girl in love. It also shows the spiritual growth of a girl who is willing to continually seek God and His will in her life, in spite of what she wants. Well done.

Love Finds You in Snowball Arkansas
By: Sandra D. Bricker
Summerside Press
ISBN-10: 1-934770-45-0
$12.99

Which Came First, Forgiveness or Love?

So very often I get this feeling of guilt, an overwhelming sense that I’m not worthy. There is so much to support that thought; the many failures in my life, the fact that my thought patterns can run rampant and drive me from project to project during the course of the day, so easily side tracked that staying on focus is practically impossible, etc.

But God, through His infinite love and provision always draws me back to Himself. Of all the things He uses the top four are; family, friends, Bible studies and prayer. He speaks in so many ways, His voice always calm. Drawing from me the desires of my heart, of course He already knows but He wants me to ask. Lately my prayer time has been sporadic at best.

Those feelings of guilt and frustration over my inability to complete my list to my satisfaction can keep me away. But God is faithful. He is always there waiting when I return to my quiet place. He takes my fears and removes them, filling me with His peace and reminding me that I am His.

I can trust God to use me where I am, no matter how I may feel about myself and my inadequacies. And that puts a smile on my face and joy in my heart. To know that He is in control and will use me in some way daily for His glory puts joy in my day and gives my life purpose.

So, knowing how forgiveness came to our world, we must say “Love came first.” For God is love. I am convinced that everything in our lives, as Christians, comes back to that love. Even when we go through things we don’t like or don’t understand, when we reach the other side we can look back and see God’s love.

Remembering that God will convict our hearts when we sin, we must also know that He will not condemn us. We are His and He loves us, with an everlasting love. “We are now therefore under no condemnation…” So when guilt comes to condemn we must reject it, praise God for the ways He is using us and trust that in His hands we will accomplish what He has put us here to do.

So, walk through those valleys with your heart set on Him. Let His love fill you and flow from you, expect something wonderful to happen in your relationship to Him. Though the walls of the valley may be so steep they block out all light, His light will shine through us. Nothing can quench His light. His love always shines through.

Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You for Your faithfulness. We thank You for Your love that never fails. And we trust You to use us for Your glory. In the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Review of "A Constant Heart" by: Siri Mitchell

Groomed her whole life for marriage to a gentleman, a man she has never met, Marget despairs of ever having the love of her husband. The Earl of Lytham, doomed to marriage to a beauty is filled with fear. For surely fear drives Lytham's need to shun his lovely bride.

Siri Mitchell creates a world filled with attention to detail. British Royal Court comes alive with the Courtier’s elegance. Beautiful Victorian era jewels, lace, silk and ruffs in attendance, designed with the desire only of pleasing the Queen, as each Courtier seeks Her Majesty's favor.

Marget struggles to learn exactly what is required of her, in order to further the Earl of Lytham’s place at Court and so earn his attention for herself. Station is everything at the Queen’s Court, though treachery may befall at any moment.

An engaging read indeed. Much is woven through this story of seeking that illusive thing that will bring unity to a marriage. Well done Ms. Mitchell.

A Constant Heart
Siri Mitchell
Bethany House
www.bethanyhouse.com
ISBN # 978-0-7642-0431-9
$13.99