Great Quote

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 "...One of the outstanding ironies of history is the utter disregard of ranks and titles in the final judgments men pass on each other.  The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office he has held, but only the quality
...of his deeds and the character of his mind and heart."

I just came across this quote on Facebook.  One of my friends had this as his status.  I love it and put it on my status as well.  

I've been thinking a lot over the past few days as we near one year after the close of our church and the death of my father.  It was a terribly difficult time for so many reasons. Obviously the loss of my father was very difficult and the fact that it came at the same time as the "death" of the church made is more so.   In the midst of the trials of last summer, some very painful things were said .... things that maligned my husband's character and questioned God's call on his life.  These were and are just opinions of men.   God's opinion is the only one that truly matters.  We know that God has placed His call on our lives and that He is working in and through both of us.  HIS opinion is the all important one.  Even though the things said and done were painful, God is healing us and restoring us.  He is still using us and blessing us.  That's why this quote caught my attention.  In spite of what has been said, believed, passed on to others, my husband is a man of the highest quality.   His deeds and the character of mind and heart reflect the ONE who made him, saved him, called him into ministry, and the ONE who is refining, restoring and healing him in order to be used even more greatly by Him.

Reckless words

The Bible says in Proverbs 12:18:

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (NIV)

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. (New Living Translation)

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (ESV)


There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. (American King James)

There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again. (The Bible in Basic English)




"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer"
Psalm 19:14

LOST

We've been watching "LOST" this summer.  Man is it confusing!  I've talked to people who watched the entire series and are watching it again and still don't understand it.  It is kinda fun, though, watching this and wondering what in the world is going on.  I was thinking about writing a VBS based on "LOST" but kinda dismissed that idea.

...and FOUND
The other day we were at the cabin.  I was reading my Bible and writing in my journal out on the porch.  The phone rang so I went in to answer it... got side-tracked and set down my Bible and stuff.  When I finally got back to my Bible I could not find my pen.  This pen is a very special fountain pen I got when Jim and I got married.  It's a beautiful Schaffer pen (bought in France), blue with little gold flecks.  I use it every day.  I looked every where... re-traced my steps, got a flashlight and looked between the cracks of the boards on the deck where I was sitting... looked behind the cabin, in the bathroom, kitchen, all over.  I was thinking about the parable of the lost coin.

"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

– Luke 15:8–10, English Standard Version

After praying and after much work I finally found it.  It was in a small crack in a side pocket of my suitcase.  I was so happy!  This brought the parable into much sharper focus for me.  Every one in my family rejoiced with me (and sighed a sigh of relief!)!   

So, we're getting ready to do a week of VBS.  I want to have the same sense of urgency as little kids show up who are truly "lost" without Christ, in sharing the gospel with them.

The Ripple Effect

I just played for a funeral.  I've played for lots of them, but this one had special significance. 

37 years ago I had a counselor at a Christian camp.  I was 16 years old... awkward, shy, overweight, and lonely.  She cared about me.  I don't remember what she taught me, any words that she said, any truth that she taught me, but I remember how she genuinely cared for me.  One time I was to play for the Exeter High School  Christmas concert in Exeter (I was choral accompanist) and asked her to come.  She came.  She came even though she had tickets to a B.B. King concert for the same night!  She came to encourage me and show support.  (I think she went late to the B.B. King concert) I was so touched by that!  We stayed in touch over the years occasionally.  She came to my wedding nearly 20 years ago.  We corresponded a little but I had lost touch with her over the past few years.  I've never forgotten her encouragement and support and how that impacted me.

Wednesday morning I was looking at the Obituary page and saw a name I thought I recognized.  It was my counselor's mother.  I called the church office to see if they needed someone to play, which they did.
At the funeral today I learned about her mother and the effect she had on her family's life.  Hers was an example of faith, of trust in God and of encouragement to those around here. 
The effect of her faith on her daughter had a profound effect on me. 
My hope and prayer is that I will be that kind of influence on those around me (especially my children) and continue that ripple effect.

Some Sad/Crazy Statistics about Pastors and their families

Follow this link to an article on a blog by another pastor's wife.  The statistics and sadly true.

Words from a Fellow Pastor's Wife

My Son the Doctor

I'm just trying that phrase out for fun.  Seriously though, my son, Joseph, just got accepted into the School of Pharmacy at Cedarville University!!  In 7 years he will have his doctorate in pharmacy!! 
My parents would be thrilled!  And we are so proud!

Hmmm...

"If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny."

-Thomas Jefferson