Fresh Starts

Every quarter I go up, with some other ladies, to a very special place in Martin, Georgia called New Beginnings.  You can read all about here if you like.  It's an amazing place with amazing staff and women who are trying to do life better.  They are trying to overcome a past that many of can't imagine.  They are pretty much heroes to me.

So when I read this today, it hit home. Well, it hit to New Beginnings.  I'm working through a Bible study on Ruth by Kelly Minter.  This is what she writes (pg. 19):

"For the past few months I taught a Wednesday night Bible study for some fabulous women from The Next Door ministry in downtown Nashville.  This ministry assist its residents who have recently been released from prison and helps them successfully transition back into free society.  Each woman agrees to live on its premises for six months, participate in counseling, attend a weekly Bible study, work a solid job, address her addictions and assume other responsibilities.  As you can imagine, it's a spicy group where raw is in and sugarcoated is most definitely out.  They need all of their energy for survival, so there's not a lot left over for religious affectation.  Their honesty and vulnerability is what I love so much about these women, mostly because when God hits their lives, it's the real deal.  You can't fake transformation in shoes like theirs.

These girls are some of the most courageous women I know, forging ahead on a journey that will take them back to the place from which they came - the outside world.  Many seek to return to family, distant homes, past careers, and dear friends.  They hope for fresh starts and new lives, all of them convinced that success is only possible if they return changed.  Going back the same person is not an option."

I wish I could have articulated my thoughts about New Beginnings as well as Kelly did.  The women there are indeed a spicy group and there is not one single drop of sugar coating.  But you know what?  It's kind of refreshing.  I could tell a hundred stories about our visits but the one I love best occurred last Christmas.  Our team was there to have dessert with the ladies and present each of them with a Christmas gift.  The gift consisted of several items with one very special one - a hand knit scarf made by one of the team members or one of our church members. This was a group of about  90 women including staff so yes, hand clap for the knitters.  Anyway, we prayed before we left that each scarf would bless the woman in a very special way who was to receive it.   So as I presented one woman with a teal scarf, she literally squealed.  I thought we, er God,  must have done something right so I asked her what in the world brought that reaction.  She looked at me with bright eyes, whirled around, pulled down the waistband of her jeans in the back and said "teal is my absolute favorite color.  All of my tattoos are teal! See here ... (imagine a bright teal tattoo right above her back side)."  Now if that's being real I don't know what is! 

"Going back the same person is not an option."  If we know Jesus, going back to the person we were before is just not an option.  2 Corinthians 5:17 comes to mind:  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold, new things have come."  (NAS) Praise Jesus!

What I Love about September 2011

Remember back in the day, when I used to blog on a regular basis, before my life turned into a big ole whirlwind of activity, that I used to post about what I love about a particular month. Like on the first day of the month. Well, here it is the 19th day of September but I'm not going to let that stop me so here we go . . .

What I Love about September 2011

When you start on the 19th, you have to look at some things in the rear view mirror so that's what we'll do with the first few . . .

1. The Labor Day weekend was anything but restful for E and I as we were in Athens assisting with Sarah and Daniel's gorgeous day. Hey, one advantage to doing this two weeks in, their amazing photographer has already posted some of their pictures so if you're interested, you can have a sneak peak at this beautiful wedding.

http://melissatuckblog.com/

2. A certain young woman who is special to our son celebrated her birthday on September 7th. The Big 21! Happy Birthday to a beautiful girl - inside and out!

3. The second weekend in September, D and I made a whirlwind trip down to Savannah and back up through Statesboro for visit with our boy. Savannah was as beautiful as ever, what little we saw of it. This trip was quite the experience for a variety of reasons but always a fun time when D and G are involved.

4. Okay, so this past Friday night D had his college reunion. Oh yes he did. I knew three people in the whole room of 75 but that's better than not knowing anyone I suppose. This event was so special to D and I loved that he could reconnect with old friends. Since this was a reunion of the folks from the Baptist college he attended his first two years, this wasn't the typical college reunion. It began with a time of Praise and Worship; followed by a little preaching/inspiration from one of the classmates and then a share and prayer time. It was amazing. I actually loved it and even though I didn't know hardly anyone, I came away from there truly uplifted by the whole experience.

5. E and I completed about 9 months worth of planning with one of our precious couples when they married this past Saturday at Montaluce Winery outside of Dahlonega. This was an outdoor wedding down by the pond and the weather could not have been more beautiful. This was such a fun wedding! There was a Mariachi Band during dinner; a great dance band called Str8 Pipe for the reception; then a DJ for the post reception. To say that these folks had a par-tay is an understatement! They partied so late into the morning that I finally crawled into bed about 3 a.m. E drove home and I don't know if we were overtired or just wound up tighter than a string, but we talked non-stop for the 30+ minute drive. This wedding was executed by all vendors flawlessly. I by no means am taking credit for that but when you have some extremely talented folks coming together, you get an amazing event.

6. Okay, so now I am caught up to current. Tonight I get to go out with my Birthday girls and I am pumped! I had to miss last month's get together and I have mourned that for the past four weeks so I just cannot wait to see these girls. They are some of the coolest women on the planet.

7. On Friday, I'll be heading on over to the FBC Gainesville for the Hearts and Hands Emporium. I love this shopping event. Admission goes to a great cause, The Gateway House and the shopping well, it's awesome. I'm considering beginning my Christmas (really? Christmas? Ahhhh!!) shopping this weekend at this event. Can't wait!

8. On Friday evening, D and I are looking forward to attending the John Jarrard Concert held on the Brenau University campus. This is always a fun event and this year it will be held two nights, Friday and Saturday. Again, proceeds go to some mighty fine organizations. Music and dinner under the stars - yes, please.

9. On the 27th, my hubby will have a birthday and much fun will be had. Still ironing out the details for this special time so more to come here.

10. Our church is having a church-wide study right now, called "If God is Good." This study is based on the book by the same name by Randy Alcorn. We have joined a small home group for this study that meets on Sunday evenings and while we've only been once (last night), let me just tell you, it was blessing.

Well, that's the highlights for September 2011. More to come . . .

Beloved Weekend!

Hello Friends! Yes, it has been days since I have been here and I sure have missed you! Life has come at me fast the past week or so but I'm back and I have so very much to tell you!

Let me just start with last weekend. Last weekend as in not this past one but the one before that.
We had the BEST time at the Beloved Retreat! Those Beloved girls know how to throw a big ole retreat full of fun and as expected, God showed up big time and it was pretty much just indescribable!
Honestly, I just cannot tell you what a great girl time and God time we had. It.was.Awesome!

Just a few pictures of all the fun. Saturday night had a luau theme going on and we played along! Honestly, is this picture just not ridiculous? Other than me looking like I had been on a drinking bender (which just for the record, I had not), there are fake flowers all over us and green plants coming out of tops of heads.
Oh heavenly day.

Throughout the course of the weekend, Beloved showered us with fabulous gifts. Okay, I'll just have to say my favorite was the Tiffany's cross necklace! I can't seem to take it off. It is not only a constant reminder to me of this fabulous weekend but most importantly, of God's great love for us.

Another fun giveaway were these killer sunglasses. What could be more fun, I mean really? I spent the weekend with some of the best women ever - one of which is in this picture with me. I love, love her.

Okay, so you may get some rapid fire posts over the next few days because well, I have so much to tell.

But I have got to go right now because you know what a "Castle" fan I am. Well, last Monday night they did the unthinkable and left us hanging with a 2 parter. Yep, I've waited all week for the ending. But no worries, I'll be back soon; very soon.

Promised Land Living

Updates: I didn't go to Unicoi yesterday. I stayed right here where it was only 29 degrees for the high and the wind chill was in the single digits. Oh, at the cold. When I called up to Unicoi yesterday morning to let them know I needed to reschedule, I asked the young lady who answered the phone how the roads where. When she answered, "I really don't know. I didn't go home last night, it was just safer for me to stay here at the Lodge," I knew I had made the right decision.

Yesterday afternoon I marched myself right into Wolf Camera and had multiple copies of our family photo made for yes, you guessed it, our Christmas cards. So, as of 10:00 this morning, I will have a zillion copies of a family picture that none of us are really crazy about but that's okay. Later in the day I went to Family Christian Store and got the cards. I walked around and around that card display until I was dizzy and finally yelled to myself "MAKE A DECISION ALREADY." Just to myself, not out loud. So, if I can continue in this semi-motivated vein, I might get a Christmas card or two out this year. That remains to be seen.

One a a more serious note . . . During my quiet time, I've been doing Priscilla Shirer's study, "One in a Million" and oh, at the good. The basic thought is that we need to be doing some Promised Land Living in Christ. Of the two million Israelites that were in oppression in Egypt for 370+ years, TWO made it to the Promised Land of Canaan. TWO. That's one in a million. For the Israelites to obtain freedom from Egyptian bondage, they had to trust in God-empowered Moses as their deliverer. Just as we have to trust in Jesus as our deliverer from our sin.
There is a difference between being free in Christ and living free in Christ. If we are believers, we have been granted freedom. God gives believers in Christ positional sanctification. This means we have a position of "set-apartness," holiness and righteousness that cannot be manipulated or altered. Nothing can be done to remove a true believer from this position. But this cannot be the end goal for someone determined to live in the freedom of Christ.

"It was for freedom that Christ sets us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

So here is the question to be answered: am I living a lifestyle of freedom? Rest assured, the Enemy want to keep us from living free. He is working against us, so we must work through a process that requires obedience and yieldedness to God . . . everyday.

Now listen closely to this: Being declared free gives us eternal freedom but walking in it gives us daily freedom. It's that daily dying to our fleshly ole selves and submitting to what God desires. I believe to some extent we are all entangled in some sort of bondage and the fact is in some areas, we may not be fully aware of it. To truly live free, we've got to search our hearts and ask God to reveal those areas where we aren't living that full and abundant life He desires for us. There is only one way to promised land living and that is obedience to the only One who can unshackle us from the curse and consequence of sin. He is our Ultimate Deliverer and . . .
He is the Prince of Peace
He is the King of Kings
He is the Lord of Lords
He is the Everlasting Father
He is the Wonderful Counselor
He is the Faithful and True
He is the Light of the World
He is the Redeemer of All Nations
He is the Rock and Salvation
He is the Ancient of Days
He is the Alpha and Omega
He is the One Who Was, Who Is and Is To Come

Amen and Amen!

Scripture Memory

A few weeks ago I gave my Monday night study group this challenge – to memorize a verse or passage of Scripture before we complete our 9-week study, which should be around the end of November. Really, this is as much a personal challenge as it is a group one. I need to memorize Scripture - that is all there is to it. I need to know it and speak it. So I am calling you all to be my accountability partners as well. I will be back to you by the end of November typing these verses from memory.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers (sisters), in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2.

To my Monday night ladies – we can do this!
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17