CHANGE - HEARING HIS VOICE

"Those who fear to see too clearly what this love asks for fool themselves by thinking that they have this watchful and devoted love.  There is only one way to love God, that is not to take one step without him, and to follow with a brave heart wherever he leads......God has little patience with weak souls who say to themselves, 'I shall go this far and not farther.'"  Joy of Abandonment to God - Christian Perfection by Francois Fenelon (1651-1715)

Most of us dislike change - My friend Sandra posted on her fb "One of the hardest things in life is change.  Especially when that change means you are no longer going to be spending time with friends".

Hebrews 11:8   By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."

For the past 31 months, even through my daughter Suzette's cancer battle and death, I have hosted a woman's Bible Study group called WOW Women, which stands for Women of the Word, in my home every Tuesday evening at 6:30.. 

That came to an abrupt halt after the Tuesday, August 20th meeting.  God had been dealing with me for several weeks prior that He wanted me to discontinue doing so.  Mickey and I have been cleaning, clearing out and discarding a lot of physical household "stuff", in the natural, the last couple of weeks.  But I think, much deeper than that, God is having us do some cleaning, clearing out and discarding of things in our daily walk with HIM.  So when the gals left my house Tuesday night I knew that was the last time.  Wednesday morning I made the announcement .

I quoted Abraham above because that is exactly how I feel.  I have NO IDEA what HE has in mind but I know God has a plan and Mickey and I both trust HIM completely.  We hear HIS voice and know HIS leading in our lives and intend to be obedient in following those as HE directs and leads us.  One thing we know for sure....God is not through with us yet.  

It is in HIS glorious name I live and move and have my being.   

GROWING IN AND SHARING TEACHING

I love my church family and the wonderful connections The Lord has made in our lives

 I was so blessed this morning to get to share Bill Cloud's teaching Alef to Tav - The Word of God with Judy's Monday Morning Home Bible Study.  I was blessed to attend this study for over 2 years and love these ladies so very much.  Thank you Judy for giving me this privilege today.

THEN

Sunday afternoon a group of us traveled to Stilwell, Oklahoma to hear Randy Caldwell teach.

WOW were we blessed.

(from left to right - front to back)  1st Row - Don & Betty ~ 2nd Row Pat's arm & hand, Shorty, Howard, Judy

3rd Row Eunice & Judy ~ Last seat Robin

 (Another shot to get the other people in) 1st Row Fay - Don 2nd Row Pat & Shorty & Howards head -

 Last Thelma

Driver Corby - Co-Pilot Marc

Following in a separate red pick-up Tim - Jeanne - Sandra - Ella Mae

No pictures of them or Mickey or I 

Total of 19 and we were all sooo blessed!!

We left the church at 2:30 heading out to Stilwell.  Located the church and then had time to drive back in to the small town and find a McD's for icecream etc.
Back and in our rows of pews for the 5 o'clock service.
Such powerful teaching!!!
Thank you Lord.

FRIDAY FAVORITES #2

Going to participate in my 2nd Friday Favorites.  Go here to see others who are participating.

My favorite things have never been "things" although I, like all of us, certainly have many "things" I value, treasure and have sentimental ties to.

But my FAVORITE things would have to be people.  I have been blessed with so many wonderful people who have touched my life and added so much joy, happiness, instruction, fun, and spiritual growth to my life. 

 Among these favorite people are the 17 people who are part of the WOW Woman bible study group that meets at my home every Tuesday evening. 14 of us are local and 4 are in other parts of the world.  (I know your wondering why 14 + 4 doesn't add up to 17!!!!  Well I am in this local group of 14.)

 Here are 10 of us who were present the night this picture was taken.  Back-left to right - Sandra - Britney - Cindy - Kathy - Betty.  Front row- Connie - Thelma - Wantha - Susan - Jeanne.

Talking about FAVORITES one of my favorite scriptures is

           Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

These woman definitely sharpen me each and every week and I am so thankful for each one of them.    If you don't belong to a home Bible Study group you are missing a BIG blessing. 

THE POWER OF BOOKS

I've posted a lot about the books God has used over the years to influence me in my Christian walk.  On September 9th I blogged about the book Forgotten God by Francis Chan and commented on this very thing. 

What has been equally as interesting is that a young man, who helps us with The King's Kitchen, Kent has been instrumental in my reading all but two of the last 11 books I've read.  During our time in the Kitchen I discovered Kent loved reading as much as I do and he began sharing his recent "finds" with me.  I just LOVE the way God works, because some of these books, especially starting with Not a Fan, Radical and the two I am going to share today I probably never would have picked off the shelf myself because of the titles and the covers.  Thank you Lord for using Kent in my life in such a way. 

This is the 15th book I've read this year.  It's another good one but, in my opinion does not measure up to Not a Fan or Forgotten God.  After reading Forgotten God, by Francis Chan, I had to immediately go to the Christian bookstore and buy Francis book, Crazy Love.  Kent had been telling me about it and I knew it would be one I had to own myself and will read many times over what years I have to come. 

This is absolutely one of the most powerful books I've read to date.  Of course, as God does, it has come into my life at just the right time!!!  My WOW (Women of the Word) Tuesday night Bible Study group was just finishing up the book, Born For Battle, which we had been studying since I began the group on January 18th. 

After reading Crazy Love I knew it was the next study for us.  Here is a recent picture of the WOW Woman as we begin this newest study.

(back row) Sandra, Britney, Cindy O, Kathy R, & Betty

(front row) Connie, Thelma, Wantha, Susan & Jeanne.

(Absent and not in the picture) Norma & Carmel

(Also participating with us from afar - in AZ) Kathy W

We are all excited about what God has done in each of us already this year and know He has just begun in molding and making us in the vessels He wants us to be. 

I'll keep you posted............GET THE BOOK and find out yourself. 

WOW - Woman of the Word Bible Study

This past Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. the WOW Woman met at my home for our weekly Bible Study. 

This was a special Tuesday evening because we had finished up the book we had been studying , Born for Battle by R. Arthur Mathews, the Tuesday before and we decided to take a one-week break for a Party/Social time and to make a decision on what to study and do next. 

So we celebrated with Banana Splits with lots of choices for toppings and some danish bites.  I just love to get to use my special blue banana split dishes~~~

Carmel, Kathy & Sandra

Connie & Britney

Sorry I didn't get pictures of the other 10 of us:  Thelma, Betty, Jeanne, Wantha or myself.  I'm not a good photographer because I get to involved in the "occasion" and forget to take pictures!!! At one point I picked up the camera again, but they were all in the midst of eating and I said, "I won't do that to you!"  then promptly forgot to even think of pictures by the time the eating had stopped.

When it came time to discuss what to do next we had so very many good ideas: 
1.  A dvd & workbook series - Feasts of the Lord by Mark Biltz
2.  A cd series by Benny Hinn - Feasts of Israel
3.  The book - Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets - We dismissed this one because Jeanne, Thelma, Betty & I had studied this book previously.
4.  A 1983 cd series The Authority of the Believer by Kenneth Copeland
5.  A Bible Study topic of our choice - vs by vs.
6.  Different members of the group taking a week by rotation and bringing a topic and subject of their choice.
7.  The book - Crazy Love by Francis Chan

MUCH discussion and we were having difficulty making a decision so we voted by secret paper vote.  We were to write down our choice and if we desired we could choose a 1st & 2nd choice.

The final results were:
1.  Crazy Love    7
2.  Feasts of the Lord & workbook  4
3.  Authority of the Believer, Bible book by verse, & Topic of rotation all got    2

Then Britney suggested we do the Crazy Love book but have some breaks inbetween when someone else takes the week for a special topic and we all thought that was a great idea.

We are taking next Tuesday off, because it is election day and 3 of us work the polling places from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.!!!  We will begin our newest study on Tuesday, October 11th.

This group started out with 12 of us and one girl dropped out after the first week due to the long traveling distance from her home to mine.  Over the course of our meeting we have added 3 more woman.  We will begin this newest study and group with 13 if us.  We usually average 10 to 12.

I'm excited about this very challenging area of study and where The Lord will lead us.  I know when a commitment is made to REALLY begin to look at the issue of "lukewarmness" our enemy will be doing anything and everything he can to hinder or stop what God is wanting to do.  He (our enemy) wants us to be lukewarm but we know God says "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:  I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."  Revelation 3:15-16   Lord may each and everyone of us 13 be RED HOT for YOU.

A TIME OF REFRESHING

 June 7-10, 2011 - 3rd Annual Holy Ghost Conference at Prayer Mountain near Branson, Mo.  Speakers Joe Jordan and Ron Smith. 

Wantha was going to attend this conference and her daughter and son-in-law have a time share in Branson.  I had been given a gift by my forever friend, Joan, who said "go and celebrate Suzette's life".  I knew of no better way to celebrate than to attend this Holy Ghost Conference.

Joining us were Sandra, Norma and Norma's daughter, Wendy.  I won't go into all the details but we did not get away from Coweta until 5 p.m. on the 6th because Wantha had taken her car in to have the tires rotated and after picking up the car something was wrong.  She went back and the shop worker assured her everything was ok.  We load up the entire back end of the car with luggage and more luggage and all of us and off we go. 

Not too far out of Tulsa, Sandra who was driving said, "Did you hear that?" as we heard a kind of pop sound.  Sandra later told me she was concerned the entire 225 mile drive because she felt things were not right.  At 9:30 we finally pulled up to the condo office with the sound of metal against metal.

 Our guardian Angels had worked overtime is protecting us on that long and at the end very mountainous drive.  Also, in sending us to the repair garage where these 2 gentleman put Wantha's vehicle, and our situation, above their other work.  We spent the entire morning of the first day of the conference waiting at a convenience store across the street, where we could get a booth to sit down and be out of the 90+ degree heat as new brakes, etc. are put on the car as extensive damage had been done the day before at the other shop.   (We laughed as these booths were off to the back of the store and behind mountains of liquid boxes and bottles!!!!)  We finally arrived at Prayer Mountain, 25 miles and about an hour later, as we had difficulty finding the turn off, at 2 p.m.  

Satan tried everything he could to hinder us from attending this conference.....BUT our God is greater and his schemes did not work.

The conference went from 10-noon. From noon-2 we had a wonderful catered lunch under a large tent outdoors and time to visit the bookstore.  The afternoon session was from 2-4.

The Lord did such a wonderful work in ALL of us during this time of teaching and refreshing.  And at the condo each evening as we shared, laughed, cried, and were blessed and touched beyond measure.  Norma and Wendy were especially blessed and I received the refreshing I so badly needed.  Yes, celebrating Suzette's life!!!!

Taken at a steak house in Branson. On the left-Wendy & Susan.  On the right-Norma, Sandra & Wantha.

Wantha, Sandra, Norma & I are all original attendees of a Bible Study Sandra held in her home for a couple of years called "Third Day Sisters".  Now these 3 woman, plus 9 other regulars and various visitors attend the WOW Woman Bible Study which I began holding, every Tuesday, in my home on January 18th of this year. WOW stands for Woman of the Word. WE ARE!!! 

Wendy, Sandra, Wantha, Norma

We marveled each morning that 5 woman could all get showered, make-up on, dressed and out of the door by 8 a.m. each morning.

                                                       Susan, Wendy, Wantha, Norma

                                        Waiting for our table at Olive Garden the last evening.
                                                        Norma, Sandra, Wendy, Wantha

Wendy, Norma, Sandra

Wantha & Susan

As you can see we had plenty of time in the evenings to have a lot of fun.  This is the special treat that Sandra & Wantha made possible to me as we became Southern Bells!!!

What a blessed, wonderful time.  Thanks to ALL those who made it possible for me to attend.  Most of all, thank you to Jesus who meets all our needs and loves us beyond measure.

Catching Up #2 - Wonderful Things & Blessings

Since I hardly posted last month I am using the post yesterday and today to try and catch up.  Hopefully you haven't all given up on me and I still have a few followers.

I received the most wonderful letter from Retha, by blog friend and Sister in the Lord from South Africa!!!  She blesses me with such wonderful surprises.  She is the one who called me, all the way from South Africa, in October, 2008 when I was in the recovery room with Mickey immediately after his heart surgery.  Talk about being shocked, blessed and surprised!!

 Then last month I got this wonderful THREE page, hand written letter from Retha.  Note the beautiful handwriting.  I was sooo very blessed by this because sadly handwritten letters are almost a thing of the past.  She is a dear and brings joy to my heart.

 You can see I was so engrossed in reading the letter I wasn't even aware Mickey was taking my picture. 

Note also the T-shirt I am wearing, a BD present from my son Marc last December that says:  "Faithbook Jesus wants to put you in His Book.  Do you accept?  Revelation 3:5"  Marc bought it because he is so awed that his mother is a blogger and on fb!!!!!  Believe me this shirt has opened up some conversations for me when I see people reading my T-shirt!!!   Praise God.

 This lovely coffee mug was given to me as a gift for Suzette from Britney, one of my Tuesday night Bible Study woman.  Isn't it lovely?

 I hope you can enlarge this to read all the writing but the main point of the mug is "the big C is not cancer but Christ!!"  Yes, we KNOW that is true.

 Everyone know what a blessing our friends, Don & Barbara are to us!!!  Well, St. Patty's day Don had prepared this wonderful meal of Corned Beef & Cabbage, and, and, AND!!!!  The tablecloth in green, with fresh flowers, lovely dishes, china and crystal.

 Barbara had even made green sherbet punch, green pistachio pudding, and green sugar cookies.  Mutual friends Ron & Dody joined us in this grand celebration.  What really made it a blessing for us was that we had been at the hospital with Suzette all that day.  What a blessing and delight to sit down with good friends an a delicious meal after the stressful day we had.  Thank you AGAIN, Don & Barbara.  We love you!!!

 On February 28th Mickey & I and 6 of my Bible Study women all met and attended A Night To Honor Israel performance where John Hagee was the main speaker.  (Pictured right to left, Cindy O, Thelma, Norma, Sandra, Cindy W. - Also there but not shown was Carmel).

A group of woman have been meeting here at my home every Tuesday night since January 18th.  We are calling ourselves Woman of the Word - or WOW Woman for short!!!  We are, too, as we study, pray together and grow in the Lord. 

 Three of my favorites guys (grandson Aric - son Marc - husband Mickey) who I get to share breakfast with quite often.  Here we are at IHOP one recent Saturday morning.

 I'm sure all of you are familiar with Amish Friendship Bread.  One of my young Christian friends, Heather, brought me a starte.  Many days later I baked these 2 loaves, gave out 3 starters at my Bible Study and did another starter!!

 Long and MANY days later I ended up baking 6 additional loaves.  So my freezer is full of yummy, delicious Amish Friendship Bread.  Drop by and I'll give you a piece with a cup of coffee or tea :o)

 I made another couple of batches of Homemade Dry Laundry Detergent.  This smells sooo good.  You can find the recipe on my very neglected Frugal blog.

(left to right - Lola, Bob, Susan, Mickey)

To end - I was blessed with getting to have brunch with a cousin who I had not seen for about 40 years!!!  They were traveling through Tulsa and called and we meet.  What a wonderful, lovely treat.  Aric & Marc also joined us.  Suzette was in the hospital and Jacque had to work.

Speaking of Suzette - my next post will be an update on her.  Please continue to pray and stand in agreement with us for her healing.  BY HIS STRIPES SUZETTE IS HEALED

BLESSING & GIVING - 3rd Day Sister's

Our 3rd Day Sister's Bible Study, that meet on Tuesday nights, did not meet for several weeks due to Christmas & New Years. All 8 of us were having withdrawals because we missed our study & each other so much.While in Wal*ly Wor*ld I saw this cute, gold glittery word "Hope" and decided I wanted to get one for each of us for this years word for our group.

Sorry the pictures so bad, but you get the idea.

I typed out and added this verse on the bottom of each of them: "So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this, just keep on doing it." I Thessalonians 5:9 The Message

I added the date so they'd remember when they'd gotten this little token of my love for them.

Toward the end of the meeting Debbie came over and said, "What is the January 29th for?" I said, "Just so you'll know and remember when you got them." Well.....guess what???? It was the 19th not the 29th!!!!!! Oh well, they can also remember how many mistakes I can & do make!!!

We were also blessed with these:

Rapture Road key chain from Anne & Metal-Bead Cross Book Marks from Wantha.

An added blessing on our first meeting in 2010 was Cindy joining us as a new member. Welcome Cindy!!!We didn't actual have a study this first meeting in the New Year but shared all the exciting things that God was doing in our lives and showing us. It was, as always, a wonderful Tuesday Bible Study with lots of laughter, crying & hugs.

I am blessed!!!

ONE OF MY BEST BIRTHDAY'S EVER

NOT because of the gifts received, although they were fantastic and I will share them later, but because of these:

The 3rd Day Sisters Bible Study Group

top: Norma, Debbie, Susan J, Anne

Gloria, Susan C, Sandra, Wantha Ann

I wish I truly had the ability to describe to you the unity and pure joy of fellowship, love, concern and caring that LIVES in this group. As you can tell, most of them are younger than my own daughters. We are TRULY an eclectic group that only God could have put together. We are from very different backgrounds but the thing that binds us together is our LOVE of JESUS. This small group of 8 woman truly typifies what The Body of Christ SHOULD be and HOW it should operate.

2009 has been such an amazing year in my life. The Lord gives us the desires of our hearts. His word tells us so: Psalm 37:4 – “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

I had longed for a friend who truly loved the Lord with all her heart, and wanted to do serious Bible Study. Someone to truly connect with, on a deep, spiritual level. Someone that you couldn't wait to share the latest insight the Lord had shown you. I had not had that type special friend since my forever friend, Beverly, went to heaven in 1986. It was a big void in my life. Little did I know that 2009 would bring me not only 1 such friend, but 7 (God's complete number!) of them!!!!! Delight, delight, delight, delight, delight, delight & delight. The most amazing part of this entire story is that as I celebrated my birthday last year I did not "know" a single one of these precious woman.

Sandra was lead by the Lord to begin this Study group on March 10th-09. At the first meeting were Sandra, Gloria, Debbie & myself. Later I invited Wantha Ann, who I was just getting to know from another Bible Study group to come with me. Now we were 5. Next came Anne who made 6. Then Susan C. joined us which was 7. Last, but certainly not least, was Norma, Sandra's sister, making us this group of 8.

Now, share my lovely celebration with me:

The yummy chocolate cake Sandra made for us.

Five of the sisters enjoying our cake.

The assortment of fabulous gifts from these TRUE GIFTS.

&


Christmas gifts we exchanged with each other, too!!

(click to enlarge)

Debbie presented all of us with this beautiful framed photo that she had taken, enlarged, added the words from John 3:16 and framed for each of us. And no, that is not a bright spot from the flash, it is the actual sunset on a November Oklahoma evening. The cross is from Norma, the lovely socks from Sandra & the angel bell from Wantha Ann.

Thank you Lord for giving me the gift of these special friends and this Bible Study.

Your blessings overwhelm me.