TREASURE - On Earth & in Heaven

Tomorrow (May 19th)is the 2nd year anniversary of our Suzette's departure to Heaven. I have been struggling this past week and in tears many times.

Friday night our son, Marc, called to invite us to meet him and Grandson Aric at Egg It On for breakfast Saturday morning.  We met at 8:30, enjoyed a wonderful meal & time together and then they came over to the house to check out something on Mickey's on-line X-Box Golf Game.

At least that was the pretense~~~because after they had been here awhile Marc pulled this out of his pocket with, "I know what tomorrow is, Mom, and I wanted to get you this charm for your bracelet."

A beautiful woven silver charm for my PanDora to represent our family "woven together" in love and eternity.

Of course the tears were falling before I could even get it open.  I am so thankful for the treasure of my children and yes, even one leaving us prematurely can never break the unity of this family that God has "woven together".

Suzette, you are so greatly missed by ALL of us,

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."  I Thessalonians 4:13 

Yes, this family has love and this family has hope and I'll see you again, Suzette. 

FUN & FRIENDS

Our friends, Bill & Jennifer, hosted a Kentucky Derby Party today.

 I went to the Salvation Army Thrift Shop and bought myself this lovely hat.  One MUST have a hat to attend the Derby.

 We all picked out a horse who we thought would win.  Here Jennifer is handing out the awards to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th winners.  Kaylee had the winner and got the Derby Roses.

Larry was #2 & Gary #3 and they both got candy bracelets.  Judy was 4th and got a candy bracelet & necklace just because she was the female.

Female attendee's 

(left to right) Tracy, Melissa, Judy, Susan, Jennifer & Kaylee

Failed to get a picture of the guys, although Bill had on a cowboy hat and Josh had on a leather hat.

We snacked, watched the race and had a really good time.  Nothing like good Christian friends & fun.  

Thanks Jennifer & Bill~~~~

Damascus Count Down - Book #12 for 2013

I normally am not a fictional novel reader.  I prefer to read Christian books along the teaching and inspirational line. One of my exceptions is each and every novel written by Joel Rosenberg.  I began reading his books back with the publication of his first, The Last Jihad, written in 2005. I am one of those avid fans who awaits his latest book.

This was #10 for us and I just finished it  Saturday.  As usual Joel has left us hanging on the edge awaiting his next book and the continuation of this fantastic series!!!!

If you have not read Joel's books I encourage you to start with the first and follow this story in each and every book.  His books are truly those that, once I start it, I can hardly put it down. I'm always a little sad to see the current one end.  

 

REAL CHRISTIANITY Small Group Breakfast

Sunday, May 29th Real Christianity Small Group celebrated the completion of our 3rd book study, Soul Detox by Craig Groeschel.

 We began this 14 week study on January 20th and finished it May 21st. 

 Picture of our Prayer Board that we began in January, 2013 after finishing our 2nd Book Study, The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.  One name on this board has already accepted Christ as Savior and we are believing for many more during this year. 

 Mickey & I set up the Buffet table & the long Banquet table on Saturday in preparation.

AND then promptly forgot to take one SINGLE picture of the actual Buffet Breakfast celebration!!  We were having too much fun enjoying the fellowship and forgot!!!

We began this study with 31 attending our first lesson in January and ended yesterday with 29 enjoying this wonderful time of celebration.  So much food we ended up going and getting the Inspired Manship small group, many of who's wives were in this class, to join us and finish up the abundance.

This has been a fantastic group and Kent & I look forward to God's next step beginning May 5th.  I'll post about it next week as we begin. 

If you attend Coweta Assembly, and are not currently in a small group, we invite you to join us next Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in Room 411, upstairs in the ORC. If you live in the Coweta area, and are not attending church we invite YOU to join this great group and study next week.  

Family Times - David's Home April 19-24, 2012

Always a happy day, for this Mom & Dad when #1 son comes to visit from San Francisco.

 He's just driven up in his rental car and Dad's out the door to greet him.

 Mother and Son. We grow them tall!!!!

 Father & Son 

 Proud Mama's men -

1 fantastic Husband, Mickey

2 great sons - Marc & David

1 super grandson - Aric 

Out to check out Brother Marc's Cadillac.  A new purchase since David was home in November for Mickey's 80th Surprise Birthday Celebration.

Checking it ALL out!!

Table all set for Sunday Dinner.

Menu:  Swedish Meatballs on rice, broiled asparagus, fruit salad, home-made whole wheat bread & to Braum's for ice cream for dessert.

Terrible dark picture of Benny, Jacque & David.

Mom, Dad & Marc & yes, Mickey & I are holding hands!!

Marc, Aric & Benny.

A lot of the time David was here was spent with him setting up Netflix for his dad (another BD gift) as well as instructions on the X-Box & golf game David gave him in November.  I even tried my hand at it, but only lasted 2 holes!!!

David made the rounds and spent time at home with Dad & I; at Marc's with Marc & Aric - Aric loves uncle David playing video games with him!; & at Jacque's watching movies and eating ice cream AND popcorn!!  Also, a lot of time eating out, which this family is good at.

Great family - great visit.  Happy times & making memories. 

Thanks for coming, Son.  We love you!!!

ABOUT THE RAPTURE

This was a devotional I read this morning and was so very good I felt I needed to share it here:

"We tell you this directly from the Lord."

I Thessalonians 4:15 NLT

WHEN A BELIEVER DIES

What Paul wrote about death, he got directly from the Lord: "We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died."  The Lord reserves this high privilege exclusively for those who die in Him: they will be the first to experience the resurrection.  Try to imagine that moment.  Arising from their rest like we do after a good night's sleep, now dressed in Christ-like bodies, they awake to the sight of their Lord returning in glory with His angels.  They meet Him-the first believers to witness His return, the initial wing of His airborne vanguard to escort Him back to earth.  This is no pipe dream or mere fantasy Paul got it "directly from the Lord."  Our source is unimpeachable!  He writes: (1)"Together with them, we which are alive..will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (vs17 NLT).  Living believers will rise to join with resurrected brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, spouses, friends, family of God Never-met-before, in a spectacular mid-air reunion with Christ. We'll be together, inseparable, eternal, one international, multicultural, love-based, Christ-centered family! (2)"Then we will be with the Lord forever" (vs17 NLT).  No speculating or imagining what He's really like, "For we will see him as he really is (1Jn 3:2 NLT).  We will see, touch and talk with Jesus as we do each other.  And He will respond to us in real time! (3) "Encourage each other with these word" (1 Thessolonians 4:18 NLT)

Copied fromThe Word For You Today daily devotional

This brings great delight to my heart as I think of our precious Suzette and all our other relatives and friends who left this earth before us.  What a well deserved blessing they have earned.

TOZER - TOZER - TOZER - TOZER - TOZER

On February 21st I posted about purchasing and reading The Mystery of the Holy Spirit by A. W. Tozer.   

After finishing it, I remembered I had read another book by Tozer so I went to my bookshelf and pulled out The Pursuit of God to scan through.  Well, a few underscored items and I knew it was time to re-read this wonderful book.  Which I did. 

That Sunday at small group I mentioned to my co-facilitator, Kent, how moved I was with Tozer's writing.  He stated he had been given some Tozer books by a neighbor that were in a box and would bring me some.  On Tuesday Kent showed up with four of Tozer's books for me!!!  The above book,  and the following 3 pictured.

PLUS, Men Who Talk Back to God, which I passed on to a friend at church before scanning it for a picture here. 

SO I have read (I should truly say "devoured") these additional 5 books in the past 10 days.  

AND I will be obtaining and reading more of A. W. Tozer's wonderful insight and work.

All of these works are wonderful and worth reading but if I had to select one of the above to recommend first it would be I Talk Back to the Devil.  A very powerful book.  I would love to quote some of it here but I have already passed that book forward to another friend to read.

I highly recommend reading A. W. Tozer - but if you are an avid reader, as I am, beware-----you may end up reading MANY and find it hard to put them down once you start.

How many of you are familiar with his work?  Do they speak to you as they speak to me?