Drawl Envy

Last week a friend and I sat discussing the new guidelines for high school graduation in Michigan. When I heard that one of the new requirements will be 2 years of a world language (a.k.a. foreign language) I started sweating.

I barely made it through one semester of Spanish. I signed up for the class thinking I was going to learn how to actually say words, not conjugate verbs!

So I dropped out and took a speech class. To be honest, I did learn one phrase after hearing the teacher repeat it to me over and over.

"Luanna usted boca es grande."

(Translation...Luanne you have a big mouth!)

I kind of wish I would have stayed in that class; especially after taking part in my Speaker Evaluation Group at She Speaks Conference last weekend in NC.

Judith, one of the women in my group gave her speeches in both English and in Spanish. Was I impressed!

So impressed that I'm thinking of going back to college and taking a world language.

Yep, as soon as someone teaches a class in "Southern Drawl" I'll be the first in line.

I'm not kidding y'all. Things just come out sounding cuter and more friendly in Southern.

And I'm not alone in my thinking. At the "Blogging Q&A session, one woman said that the blogs from the South are funnier than those in the North. Another woman stood and agreed. She said that Northerner's humor comes off as sarcasm not humor. That got a big laugh.

I was really cracking up too, because I had just come from my room where I had been practicing my speech. I had heard so much southern drawl the last few days that half way through I realized I'd been practicing it using a southern accent. It is quite contagious ya know. Take this video for example.

The conference was phenomenal. This year was my second time at She Speaks, and I am really hoping to be able to do a 3rd and 4th etc.

Lysa TerKeurst and the rest of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team did an excellent job of providing top notch programs that filled our minds with new ideas and techniques, and left our hearts overflowing with a greater love for God and also for our new Sisters in Christ. Let me show you some awesome women.

In the thirty fifth chapter of his book "The Purpose Driven Life", Rick Warren talks about Ministry. He says that “Ministry begins with vulnerability. The more you let down your guard, take off your mask, and share your struggles, the more God will be able to use you in serving others.”

Friday evening, eleven anxious women gathered together in our leader Van Waltons hotel suite and showed just how vulnerable we are by sharing Our Story/Testimony. We had 3 minutes to try and convey all of the wondrous mercies that God has so lavishly poured out to us. The presence of God's Holy Spirit was so evident in the room that night.

We walked into the room as total strangers but we walked out transformed and holding a piece of each women's heart to treasure deep in our own.

Thank you God and Proverbs 31 Ministries for such an educational, Spirit filled weekend.

Ya All invite me back next year, ya hear!

I'm Pooped

What a week this has been.


I volunteered to help with vacation bible school thinking that I could be one of the helpers who walked the kids from station to station, or maybe one of the ladies who fixed the cute snacks that coordinate with the bible story of the day.


But oh no. In a moment of weakness I said I would go where ever I was needed. They assigned to be the leader for the "Bible Blast station. Oh my!

At the Bible Blast station, kids hear the Bible story and engage in activities that help them experience what the Bible characters experienced. I realized, as I read through a week of scripts, that this station would be better served with a much younger leader. But it was too late to get a replacement. I prayed that my enthusiasm would make up for all my inadequacies.


I loved watching the dynamics of the different groups each day. VBS was open to kids from 4 years old to 5th grade. The preschoolers were full of fear the first day, but by the end of the week they were so eager to participate that they would raise their hand even if they didn't have an answer.

The ages of the "kid helpers" ranged from 6th grade to high school seniors.


The 6th grade helpers were close enough in age that they still wanted to participate and several times the adults had to remind them they were supposed to be helping.


The Juniors and Seniors were more interested in hanging out with each other and getting community service credits than they were in helping the kids. Often they too had to be reminded that they were there to help.


But from 7th -10th grade, the kids were genuinely interested in helping.

Oh, if we could only have collected all of their enthusiasm and given it to the rest of the world to share, we could have changed the world. And I hope we did.


The first day of VBS we learned that Jesus gives us the power to be thankful, and not ungrateful like nine out of the ten healed lepers in the Bible story. The kids pretended to be lepers, going around the outside of the village...(made with decorated cardboard boxes) and calling out "Unclean Unclean".

We quarantined the entire crew with caution tape, and when we cut them loose it signified that they had been healed. My question to them just before we cut the tape was - "What is the first thing you would do if you had just been healed by Jesus? When I cut you loose I want you to show me what you would do."

Like the nine lepers, they all ran off to reconnect with friends instead of remembering to stop and give thanks. After reading the conclusion of the story about the nine that didn't return and the one who did, many did come back and hug me and thank me for being healed.

One little girl I call "Little T" latched on to me the very first day for some reason. I must have remided her of her grandma. Whenever she saw me she'd come for a hug. At the end of the first day Little T was pretty tired and when all the other kids were up dancing and singing to the music CD, Little T came and knelt on the seat next to me and put her head on my shoulder and took the cross I was wearing in her hand to look closer. When she did her hand brushed the bare skin above my V-neck T-shirt. "You're Squishy right there" she announced loud enough to make all around me begin to chuckle.
Boy was I thankful I had remembered to turn off my cordless microphone so more people didn't get in on the laugh.


Tuesday the kids were blindfolded and lead into church and there learned how it must have felt to be blind like the man sitting outside the gate the day Jesus came to town. They were healed after they had a special mud mixture (baby oatmeal) placed over their eyes, and then washed off, and we learned that "Jesus gives us the power to help others".

Our parish is in the middle of a diocesan wide drive to gather food, clothing and personal care products for the migrant workers. We printed a letter asking the kids to bring in a personal care item and we pinned the letter on their back to remind them that we are all supposed to be carrying our brothers on our back. The kids answered the call in a big way and their generous donations will help many of our brothers.

Wednesdays lesson that "Jesus gives us the power to be brave" was the favorite . A midnight boat cruise with the disciples turned into a powerful storm where the kids got sprayed with water and all got wet.

We used brown tarps for the boat and draped blue table covering on the seats of the chairs to look like waves. We had storm music playing in the background. When one little girl hid under the chair when she heard the thunder and felt the rain and I couldn't help but think how many times in my life I have done the same. When the storms in my life arrive, I bury my head in my hands and call out to God to take the storm away. Instead of keeping my focus on Jesus and believing that though the storm rages he is right beside me and eventually he will quiet the wind and when he does I will be a stronger person for having weathered it.

When the boat ride ended, each child got a chance to experience the feeling of walking on water. The church carpeting was a mess with the gooey mixture of cornstarch and water, despite the huge mats we put down



Our VBS is only 4 days long, and on the last day the kids learned that Jesus gives us the power to tell others about him." The bible story was about receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

I enlisted the help of my oldest grandson Andrew to explain the miracle of Pentecost. He was a foreign guest who was trying to tell me something in a foreign language that I couldn't understand. He was so funny making up words. Most came out like a grunt. The kids had to make up their own language and go around to the other groups and speak the new language and listen to the others.

The little kids were wide eyed as the story played out. They couldn't take their eyes off Andrew, and I think they were a little afraid of is guttural samurai warrior sounds.

There were giggles and many groans of embarrassment as the crews made up and spoke their language of gibberish.

The lesson ends by telling the kids that they can tell others about Jesus by letting others see Jesus in them. They each made a Thank you card for someone who helped them learn about Jesus this week. Lots of them made cards to take home to mom and dad. But it was craft station lady who had the biggest fan club.

Yes, this past week has exhausted me, but it was worth it. I'm praying for each little head that entered my station and heard God's word proclaimed. I'm praying that every day they will start and end their day with a thankful heart. I'm praying that their eyes may always be open to the injustices that surrond them. I'm praying that when the are afraid they will turn to God for their strength and protection. And last of all I'm praying that their lives may always

God Has Spoken

The Lord has been waiting for me to ask for his help. And yesterday I began hearing him loud and clear!

I had been on such a high from all the time I spent working on the benefit dinner http://lpgodspots.blogspot.com/2008/05/saying-yes-to-god.html
that coming back down got me a little depressed. I know we can’t stay on the mountain with God all the time, but I wish when I came down I didn’t always feel like I crashed and burned. But Saturday night after I got into bed I told God I needed his help, because my life was out of control.

One of my jobs for the benefit was to be in charge of anything that needed writing or printing.

I love to design stuff, but I am an absolutely terrible proof reader. I am posting a picture of my office to help you get a sense of what I am about to say. The papers on the floor, on the desk, on top of the bookcase, and printer are all goofs. I must admit they weren’t all my goofs. Lots of things that I had printed for our silent auction had to be renumbered and reprinted when last minute donations arrived. But somehow the goofs never get in the trash. I give you exhibit #1



I said I loved to design; however what comes to my head sometimes takes a lot of time to get right, since I am self taught. Notice the watermelon paper. I spent most of Friday night making this border just to jazz up a plain piece of white paper. The women in the group have no idea they are so special to me that I want to give them special paper. Sometimes I think God just shakes his head at the amount of time I spend on things that aren't necessarily of his kingdom. Even when it is for his precious widows. Here is Exhibit #2

Our “Survivors” (other widows) Get Together in June is going to be a picnic, so I wanted to fancy up the newsletter by using that theme. The watermelon frame looked too plain so I needed to add a border and for the life of me I couldn’t seem to figure out where on earth to find the program I had used to do it before. Finally at midnight on Friday, I finished printing the letters.

My dining room table turned into this mess on Saturday morning. See Exhibit #3


The short envelope is a stack of thank you notes for the benefit that I had just finished stamping. The newspaper is there because I kept fielding calls asking if I remembered to include so and so in the newspaper thank-you! There is a pile of mail that I can no longer leave unattended, and my computer to google addresses for my sister to put on her stack of thank you notes.

The long envelopes are newsletters to be sent to the widows of my “Survivors” group. As I finished sealing the last self sticking envelope I remembered I hadn’t included the birthday list. So instead of reprinting the letter I decided to just enclose a 2x3 card inside. So I had to unstick 45 envelopes and insert this little ditty.Exhibit #4


By the time I was finished stuffing and drove to the post office for stamps it was closed and so I had to resort to using some old stamps and I do mean old. I'll show you what I mean. Exhibit #5




Saturday evening (or for that matter the whole last two weeks) I didn’t have the energy or desire to lift one finger to clean the mess.

That’s why I was on my knees calling out to God for help Saturday night.

I am absolutely positive that God allowed me to feel that depression so I would draw closer to him. As much as I understand, and never failed to mention, that all the credit belonged to God for every positive thing that the benefit produced, it was really hard work not letting all the accolades go to my head. While the depression was keeping me humble, it was creating havoc with my home. I needed to de-clutter.

When I took it to God he simply said “Fast.” Like an obedient daughter, I said okay, and fell sound asleep.

Well needless to say I forgot about the fast until I was getting ready for church. My Raisin Bran was already digesting, but even so I decided to begin right that second.

When I got home from church my stomach was calling out for something sweet. Instead of feeding the urge I filled a 3 cup glass full of water and began sipping.

The fasting was Gods way of helping me get started, by de-cluttering my life, by first stopping my food addictions.

I am a stress eater. During the benefit preparations I found myself being calmed by anything sweet and gooey, and at the most stressful times I wanted something I could crunch.

When I failed to eat the sugar that spiked my blood sugar and then zapped my energy, I got something accomplished. Ex#6


and Ehhibit #7





And I had enough energy left to walk to the post office and mail my letters.

And since 6 a.m. this morning I have spent an hour in prayer, eaten a half a cup of oatmeal and I’m ready to face day 2 of cereal, and water.

P.S. In His discussion with me God has convinced me he wants me to send to Goodwill the rubber tubs of clothing I have been waiting to fit back into. (Obviously my fasting isn’t going to produce all the effects I hoped it would)

The Newest Angel

"A penny for your thoughts" seems like all I've been saying to God lately. What with the earthquake in China, the cyclone in Burma, the devestating tornado's here in America, and the devasting loss of three precious children of Christan Singers Todd Smith, Nicole Sponberg and Stephen Curtis Chapman, I just have to stop and wonder what God is thinking.

He's certainly got my attention. What are you trying to tell me thru these tragedies, Lord?
How can I make a difference in the lives of these hurting people?

My prayers, even if I prayed all day long, seem so insignificant in the midst of so much suffering. Sometimes words even if they are prayers don't feel powerful enough and I just have to get my hands on something before I can feel that I've helped in any way.

While I'm in waiting for my next "hands on project" I will just have to be satisfied letting my fingers do the work here on the keyboard. My hands are yours Lord. Use them however you wish.

I have been reminded the last few weeks of a poem I memorized as a teenager. My mother who belonged to the "Book of the Month Club" got a poem book one day entitled The Best Loved Poems of The American People. I was so into poetry and I kept the book in my bed stand and read it over and over. My favorite section was the Memory and Grief Section. Morbid? You bet. But after all I was a teenage girl and we all know how much they like drama!

The poem I memorized was called PRAYER FOR A VERY NEW ANGEL, by Violet Alleyn Storey. I would read the poem out loud and break into a wail of tears. As I have been feeling the pain of the Smiths, Sponbergs and Chapmans this week I decided to post the poem as my prayer for all the new little angels in Gods kingdom.

God, God, be lenient her first night there.
The crib she slept in was so near my bed;
Her blue and white blanket was so soft,
Her pillow hollowed so to fit her head.

Teach me that she'll not want small rooms or me
When she has You and Heavens's immensity!

I always left a light out in the hall.
I hoped to make her fearless in the dark;
And yet, she was so small-one little light,
Not in the room, it scarcely mattered. Hark!

No,no; she seldom cried! Please God, not too far,
For her to see, this first night, light a star!

And in the morning, when she first woke up,
I always kissed her on her left cheek where
The dimple was. And, oh, I wet the brush.
It makes it easier to curl her hair.

Just, just tomorrow morning, God, I pray,
When she wakes up, could you do things for her my way!

Violet Alleyn Storey

Saying YES to God

I have just come off the most amazing 6 weeks of my life as I watched God’s hand at work in an up close and personal way.

It all began with a phone call as I lay basking in the warmth of the Florida sun in the middle of March. My sister Jo, who belongs to the same bible study as I do, was calling to give me an update on Deb, one of the women in our group.

Deb, who has been battling breast cancer for the last six years, had just received some tough news from her oncologist. Despite her chemo, the cancer was continuing to invade her brain. As an accountant for a local restaurant business, she had no choice but to finally resign from her job. It would be a while before she would be able to start collecting any kind of disability and until then her finances would be tight.

Jo was calling to ask my opinion on holding a benefit to help with some of Deb’s expenses, and if they did have one, would I like to help?

Betty, another woman in the group, had come up with the idea. Just a few weeks prior we had been discussing what real love for God looked like and Ken one of the men in the group had said “I think if you really love Jesus, you don't just sit around worshiping all day you reach out and do something for one of God's children. Its kind of like the Nike slogan,so if you love him you'll 'Just Do It!' ”

Kens words would remain with Betty, and when her love for God deepened her compassion for Deb, she sprung into action and she recruited my sister’s help .

“Sure, I’ll help. It sounds like a great idea” I told my sister over the phone. Stretched out in my chaise lounge watching the clouds roll by, I figured, if I was lucky, by the time I got back home the whole thing would be planned and all I would have to do was put on an apron and serve up some spaghetti.

………….at least that’s what I had hoped.

A few days after I returned from Florida, we met for lunch for the first time at the restaurant where Deb had been employed for many years. There were four of us, Betty, Jo, Kate, and myself.

As we discussed our thoughts, our worries increased. Was this something we thought we could pull off? Certainly none of us were qualified to do this and yet something spurred us on, or should I say SOMEONE.

What was God getting us into? We were all shaking in our boots.

I had just started an on-line bible study on one of my favorite blogs “Write From the Heart by Lelia Chealey http://leliachealey.blogspot.com/2008/03/learning-to-say-yes.html
The Bible Study is called “What Happens When Women Say YES To God” by Lysa TerKeurst http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/.

I was first introduced to Lysa when I heard her speak in Naples. Her topic that day was based on her book and was called “Radically Obedient Outrageously Blessed".
I remember wondering as we sat around discussing the benefit, if this radical obedience to God we were undertaking, would make us outrageously blessed when it was all said and done.

We finished our lunch that afternoon and made plans to meet again a few days later. As we were preparing to leave, the restaurant manager stopped by our table and we shared our plans with her. She asked us to call if she could help in any way.

The next morning as I prayed for God’s hand in this giant endeavor, he led me to a scripture.

“Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord,
I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken
to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."

The LORD said to him, "Who gave
man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him
blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? Now go; I will help you speak and will
teach you what to say."

But Moses said, "O Lord, please
send someone else to do it." Exodus 4:10-15

My sentiments exactly. “Lord isn’t there someone else more qualified that knows what they’re doing.”

We met back at the same restaurant at the end of the week. Before we started any conversation Jo asked if we could please start with a prayer, and she asked the Holy Spirit to come to our aid and to be with us and guide our decisions that day.

The prayer helped us to focus on making this an endeavor that would glorify God.

Our original plan for a meal was fried chicken. As we planned the menu several employees stopped by our table to offer their support and tell us about other benefits they had attended. Some thought chicken would eat into our profits too much, and we agreed, and we began looking into pulled pork sandwiches.

After 2 hours we had visited and revisited the menu so many times that it was our brain that was fried. Just as we were planning our next meeting, a woman walked to our table and handed us a folded check. She was not a woman the world would think of as “one of the beautiful people.” But we were just about to learn the difference between the worlds view and God’s view.

We learned that as a new employee at the restaurant, Deb had befriended this woman when no one else seemed to give her the time of day. Deb had made her feel special and now she wanted to be able to make the first donation to her benefit. She was a single woman, making only minimum wage, and yet when we unfolded the check our mouths fell open. It was made out for $500 and noted that it was for benefit expenses.

Any doubt we may have had about whether or not this benefit was something God wanted us to do was quickly disolved. And this would only be the first of the miracles God was to perform through the generosity of the community.

Before leaving, another blessing came our way. The waitresses and bakery staff came forward and offered to provide, free of charge, all the desserts for the dinner. Amazing!

Everything I have learned over the last few years about God using the talents he has given us to glorify Him, was coming true. It amazed me to see God working thru the four of us. I could walk up to a total stranger and tell my life story. But asking for a donation left me tongue tied. So instead of seeking donations, I offered to be the person to write up a letter for someone else to take to the local businesses asking for help with a either a prize donation or a gift of money. They all agreed because none of them wanted this job.

After asking for God to give me the words for the letter, he led me to the 27th Psalm

“I am confident of this, that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living”

The verse became the theme for our benefit. Yes, we hoped to raise money to help Deb out, but more than financial blessings we wanted Deb to be able to experience God’s love in a powerful way thru her community.

It really surprised me when Kate and Betty, the two very reserved members of the team, agreed, ever so hesitantly, to go around together and ask for the donations. I couldn’t help but think of the Exodus scripture again.

"I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak
to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you
were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform
miraculous signs with it."

As the two women found their voice over the next few weeks and not only asked for donations, but spoke to a newspaper reporter, and also spoke in front of two different groups, the Moses scripture played out. Not only did God send them out together like he did Moses and Aaron, but he gave them the words they were to say. We all agreed that the letter they took with them, containing the Word of God, had spoken to the merchants’ heart. It became their staff and with God's help they were able to gather some wonderful donations. People were being so generous. Most days it felt like God had opened the sky and was pouring down blessings from above.

Jo’s area of expertise was coordinating the dinner. By our third meeting we had again changed the menu and now we were planning on serving ham, meatballs, baked beans, potatoes, and coleslaw. Not only was Jo able to persuade several organizations to loan their cooking equipment and their extra table and chairs, she also managed to get the ham and meatballs donated by two area businesses, as well as donations of food from the local supermarket. A team effort scored gift cards for food at two major food chains, and 42 dozen rolls were donated by a friend who managed the bakery in a big restaurant in a neighboring town. Various parish members brought roasters of beans or potatoes, or items for the bake sale.

Our original plan had been to hold the benefit in our church hall. It seated 250 people. When we kept hearing that we should plan for 500 people, we tried to reserve the Knights of Columbus hall. The Knights agreed to cut the rent in half for us, but the date we were planning was already taken.

After prayerful consideration we all decided it should be held at the church. It was something we all had pictured in our mind and God gave us peace about our decision, and then blessed us with yet another donation. The Taymouth Township Fire Department not only donated a tent to house any overflow, but they agreed to put it up and take it down at no cost.

Every day heralded a new blessing. The camaraderie among the four of us was truly amazing. Several times we had a difference of opinion, but the dedication to follow God’s will helped us to remember to lay down our own will and go with the flow.

Some days we would be up to our elbows on a project and someone would remember we had forgotten to pray, and we would stop what we were doing and take the time to give God praise and ask for guidance.

Every time our minds wanted to play the “what if” game, we kept repeating the phrase “God is in control, and whatever happens will be in His will and for His purpose.”

May 16th finally arrived. With the dawn came the awareness that God had sent us a picture perfect day. Not too hot and not too cold. The daily readings spoke directly to our hearts and we felt God’s hand so strongly that day.

The workers began arriving. Jo worked in the kitchen and Betty, Kate and I worked in the church putting the finishing touches on the items donated for a silent auction and raffle. Our entire Bible Study group was on hand manning the bake sale, setting up tables, bringing in food, selling and taking tickets, and greeting the public. Our families joined in to help.

From the time the doors opened to the public at 4p.m. until the ending time of 7 p.m. the people came in steady streams. There were Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, and Baptists all gathered together under one church roof for one purpose, to do the will of God by supporting their sister in need.

God’s Spirit was so alive and evident in the heart of everyone who walked thru the doors that night. The look on their faces told us they felt the awesomeness of God’s presence.

Deb and her family were truly humbled and overwhelmed to see so many people turn out for the event. They were blessed to see the abundant generosity in the hearts of their community.

After the miraculous way God had orchestrated this event, we shouldn’t have been surprised that there was not only enough food to feed the multitudes, approximately 500 people, but at the end of the night there were enough leftovers to fill 12 baskets. Actually there was enough food left to send home with Debs family, to send to the Emmaus House, a shelter for women, to put in the freezer for a funeral several days later, to feed the girls softball team the following day, and to send home with the kitchen workers.

Our small in size community gave in a big way and poured out over $13,000 to help Deb with her cancer expenses. The gift of love they left in her heart is priceless.

I am so glad that I was able to be part of this small miracle. How many blessings would I have missed if the work had been done and all I would have had to do was serve up some spaghetti as I had originally hoped?

I can’t begin to thank God enough for allowing me the opportunity to say YES to Him. I will savor the outrageous blessings forever.

Doubting Thomas

Finally the sun is shining for the first time since stepping back on Michigan soil.

I have been doing a study called "At Home With The Word. " We have a study book but instead of going to class we write our thoughts via the internet. I love it because I don't even need to get out of my pajama's to attend.

This week we were to write our thoughts on John 20:19-31. Doubting Thomas. I decided to take the easy way out and post my thoughts to my blog today. Here goes:

I’m having some doubts about this chapter!! Ha Ha

I've read the doubting Thomas story over about 5 times and last night before going to sleep I read it again and noticed that when Jesus appears to the apostles without Thomas, John mentions the fact that Jesus showed them all His hands and side. Jesus doesn't just stand before them in His resurrected body and they believe. No, he reveals himself to them. In other accounts, Mary Magdelene had to hear him say her name before she recognized Him, the disciples on the road to Emmaus didn't realize it was Jesus until he broke bread, and even John who was the first to believe, had to see the evidence of the burial clothes.

Yet Jesus says "Blessed are those who believe even though they haven't seen?"

Well, needless to say that left lot's of questions rambling around in my empty head as I went to sleep. After much tossing and turning as I pondered it all, I came up with the following thoughts:

After his appearance Jesus' instructions were "Okay now that you've seen, go out and tell everyone about me". Even though the story was pretty preposterous, when the apostles told the story of the Risen Christ, others believed them, because of their first hand knowledge. The apostles must also have had something special about them that made them credible witnesses to others, something that reflected Christ.

As the news spread, how come it didn’t get to be unreliable? Wouldn’t it eventually be like saying "I know it's the truth because my uncle heard it from my aunt who heard it from her son who heard it from his best friend, etc.

It made me think about little kids always asking "Why" Sometimes parents can give them an explanation they understand; other times the parents don’t really have a good answer and so they say "Because I said so". While the kid ends up following in his parents footsteps, does he really believe anything?

I think many of our churches are full of people who believe like that. But what kind of a witness for Christ can that belief be? "Because I said so" doesn't make it believable.

But when someone tells me how Christ makes a difference in their life, and can give eyewitness accounts of His faithfulness, and their life, as well as their words, reflect His goodness, I find it easy to believe. And once I believe, then God can reveal Himself to me on a personal level and he changes me inwardly and outwardly so I can be a reliable witness for Him to someone else. I believe that’s how the Gospel spreads.

Could Thomas' testimony have been reliable if he only had the words of the others to testify about?

I believe we need to ask God more not less to reveal Himself to us. Not because we can’t believe without seeing Him, but because the revelation of God strengthens our resolve and gives credibility to our testimony. I think God wants to do that more than anything else in the world. Faith is believing that the Christ will reveal Himself to us, but most likely we won’t see the nail scared hands, we will see someone who looks like Jane or John Doe.

Last fall I heard Margaret Nutting Ralph (or is it Ralph Nutting?) speak. She's the author of "And God Said What?"

She told the story of preparing to teach a class on the Resurrection, and she was totally perplexed and annoyed that she didn't understand why the apostles didn't recognize Christ when He returned.

As she was preparing for class her dad had a stroke and she had to rush to the hospital. She found out that when her father was released he would be going home instead of to a rehab center. She knew her mother wouldn't know how to care for him and Margaret was really getting upset and didn't know what to do.

In tears and not wanting to talk to anyone she got into the elevator to go for coffee and prayer. As the elevator doors closed a voice behind her said

"You probably don't recognize me but I took a class from you last year."

Margaret didn't really want to get into a conversation with the woman, but felt like she needed to be kind and so she said half heartedly,

“What ministry are you in?"

The woman replied "Oh I'm not in the ministry; I am a home health care director. I oversee an organization that goes into people’s homes and teaches them how to care for their loved ones who have had a stroke or an injury."

After hearing Margaret’s story, the woman offered to personally come to her fathers home and stay until they felt confident to care for him.

Several months later, Margaret’s father had to return to the hospital and when she went to visit she noticed that his lips that were fine when he left his home, had become dry and cracked and he had not been getting the proper oral care.

When Margaret mentioned this to the nurse the nurse got angry and said,

"We are just too overworked and there are some things we just can't get to. If it needs to be done, do it yourself"

Again, visibly shaken, Margaret headed down for coffee before doing or saying something she regretted.

She got into the elevator feeling glad she was alone. The door closed and as the elevator started to move, it gave a violent shake and the doors opened back up.

Margaret wasn't about to stay in the elevator so she headed to the stairway. As she walked down the corridor she heard a voice behind her say

"You probably won't recognize me, but I was in a class you taught last spring."

Margaret said she already knew the routine so without turning around she said,

"And just what do you do for a living?"

The woman replied "I am a patient advocate. I intervene for the patient when they feel they are not receiving proper medical care."

Margaret said all at once she realized that Jesus’ Resurrected body looks like an every day person. Often we never look for God in the every day occurrences, or in the people we meet on the street. But that is where the Risen Lord will most likely be revealed. Don’t chalk it up to coincidence.

I believe that finding Jesus in those every day happenings is what will give meaning to our testimonies and how our belief in Christ can become that of an eyewitness. But I think we need to ask God to reveal himself to us and believe that he will. After all doesn’t he tell us "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” Matthew 7:6-8

That doesn’t sound like a “Because I said so” kind of God to me.

Earlier in one of the Gospels when Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter answers, “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God”, Jesus praises Peter saying “Blessed are you, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” Again God reveals himself. Matthew 16:15-17

So after much deliberation, I believe the true sin of doubt isn’t needing to see, but doubting that God will and wants to reveal himself to us if we only ask.

And Your Heart Will Lead You Home

I’m back home and like all good things, my month long Sabbatical has come to an end.
I must say that I was totally dreading driving 1500 miles by myself. But with God as my co-pilot I’m home safe and sound.

It’s amazing how putting on some praise music while stuck in a traffic jam can change your demeanor. Instead of grumbling I just praised God, knowing he was in control.

As I drove home the lyrics of “Your Heart Will Lead You Home” sung by Kenny Loggins in the “Tigger Movie” kept going thru my head. I was sad leaving everything I had grown to love all over again, behind.
Sunny days and starry nights and lazy afternoons
You’re counting castles in the clouds and humming little tunes

But somehow right before your eyes the summer fades away
Everything is different, everything has changed
A few years ago I was torn between continuing to live in Florida and feeling like God was calling me to go back home to Michigan, When God finally gave my heart peace about the decision to move back home, the lyrics brought me comfort.There’ll come a day when you’re loosing your way, and you don’t know where you belong
They say that home is where the heart is so follow your heart
and know that you can’t go wrong
If you feel lost and on your own and far from home you’re never alone you know
Just think of your friends the ones who care
They all will be waiting there with love to share
And your heart will lead you home.
When I would sing the song it helped me to concentrate on all the things I loved that I would be going back to. It was a hard thing to do because I knew how many wonderful people I was leaving behind.

The old cliché that says “you can never go home again,” scared me. I knew I wasn’t the same person any longer. In the year I spent in Florida, God had grown me in so many ways. I was going back to be with the same people in the same places, and I wondered how the new me would fit in. How would I ever be able to survive without a friend like Jackie that I could talk to for hours about anything; a friend that shared the same passion for Christ?

We serve such a faithful God; I should have known that he would provide for my spiritual needs. Back at home he brought new people into my life to fill the void. My life in Michigan was full and I was content doing all the things God gave me to do.

But a part of my heart longed for the things of the past.

I felt Gods approval for a trip back to the place where I had come to know and love Him in a new way, but as I prepared to leave and go back to Florida, my mind began to wonder what I would find. Would my friend Jackie be so involved in her new life that she wouldn’t have time, or worse yet have no desire to renew our friendship?

My trip back to Florida would end up being a blessing for both of us. It was as though I had never left. Jackie and I spent many precious hours together and it was as though time had stood still waiting for my return.

Funny how a photograph can take you back in timeTo places and embraces, that you thought you'd left behind
They're trying to remind you, that you're not the only onethat no one is an island, when all is said and done
God is so awesome and he knows my heart like no one else. He did so much to orchestrate my stay into a memorable event.

He provided a worship service each week that seemed tailored just for me. I had drawn so much pleasure from listening to the entire First Baptist Choir when I was a regular, but 3 particular singers stood out in my memory. During my visit, every week one of those special singers performed solo.

My Bible Study Class was as warm and welcoming as I had remembered, and He provided the chance to share a special lunch with all of them.

He brought our friends Jeanne and Barb for a visit to relax and reconnect, and He ministered to both of their hearts in a special way.

Each trip to the beach left me in awe, and I felt God’s presence so strongly as I walked the beach and watched the sun set into the immenseness of the Gulf of Mexico.

But most of all God gave me a wonderful blessing by allowing me to return to renew and strengthen the two greatest friendships I have ever known; my friendship with Jackie, and my friendship with HIM.

I am so thankful to God for this special time.

As I placed my suitcase into the car yesterday morning and began the last leg of the trip back home, I heard God’s voice reminding me that for the time being I am living right where he intends me to be. His still small voice sang in my ear,
"Just think of your friends the ones who care,
they all will be waiting there with love to share…
And your heart will lead you home."

Resurrection Sunday

The definition of “resurrection” in the Encarta dictionary is as follows: rising from the dead-in some systems of belief, a rising from, or raising of somebody from the dead, or the state of having risen from the dead

Yesterday was Resurrection Sunday for my family in more ways than one.

My husband’s family gathered for an Easter celebration hosted by my son Dan and his soon to be new/old wife Ann. I say that because they were married, divorced and are now back together, a sort of resurrection of their marriage you might say. Here is the happy couple


I am so happy that they volunteered to have Easter dinner at their house even if I couldn’t be there to join them.

It’s good to see the house coming to life again.

The house Danny and Ann live in belonged to me and my husband Ed. We built the house as our dream home in 1978 and for many years the house saw much love and laughter during family gatherings and parties for our friends and associates.

After Ed died, I kept the house and the eight plus acres it sat on for 13 years.

The acreage was part of the farm I grew up on. Each sibling received a parcel of land on which to build a home. My sister lived next door, and after my dad sold the original farm he retained a portion and put up a small house next door to my sister.

I was ready to sell my house the first year after Ed died, but selling part of my heritage seemed as though I was being ungrateful for my parents gift of the land and it also felt like I was breaking family ties.

Instead of selling, I decided to give the house a make over and make it MY home and not ours. I thought maybe, if I could erase the traces of Ed, it would make the pain go away.

I did get agreat new kitchen in the make over, and eventually the pain stopped on its own.

The following year I got the itch to move once again and when I mentioned it to the children, Danny looked at me and as tears ran down his cheeks he said,

“Maybe that’s why I can never picture my family sitting around the tree at Christmas when I try. That’s because you won’t be living here.”

It broke my heart!

A few years later I got the bug once again, when I was moving to Florida.

This time my daughter Wendy wanted to buy the house from me. I loved the idea at first and then I started doubting whether or not it was what God wanted me to do. I prayed about it for a few days and then one day opened the bible to see if I could get a word from the Lord.

I don’t remember what I read on the page I opened to, or even what book of the Bible I was reading, but it talked about widowhood, and children dying, and fire. I’m sure I took the passage totally out of context at the time but all I could visualize was my grandchildren burning up in the house, so I decided to wait until after I tried living in Florida to sell it. My reasons for not selling seemed silly so I couldn't tell Wendy the real reason, I just told her I decided not to sell.

The decision turned out to be a good one. Florida was just God's training ground for me and not where He wanted me remain.

I moved back home. Living so close to my dad just before he died made it so much easier for my sister and me to give him the care he needed in order for him to remain in his home.

But after Dad died, the house began to feel like an open sore to me. I no longer wanted to decorate it or even keep it clean. I felt weighed down and over burdened by the taxes and with the maintenance.

The back yard pool that had been such a joy was a chore to keep clean and sanitized, and , we only swam in it three times the last year before I filled it in.

The back yard deck became weathered and darkened, and a year went by without putting out the patio furniture.

Some days I would remember the how wonderful the yard looked after being mowed, the petunia’s decorating the foundation and the trees and bushes weed whacked clean; the back yard open and the blue pool, sparkling and inviting, and the table umbrella shading us from the hot sun. Days when my house was a home for a family and not for a single woman. Those days no longer existed.

But 9 months after my dad’s death I finally felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and I felt free at last to sell the house and move away.

Danny and Ann were back together and ready to begin living together once again. I offered to sell the house to the two of them. The timing was right. Things fell into place and I felt Gods blessing on my decision.

What I didn’t anticipate however, was how much my daughter would be hurt over my decision. She and Stephen would have had to sell their home before they could buy mine and in Michigan that is not an easy thing to do. I thought she would be happy that it could stay in the family. I hoped she would get over it as soon as she saw how much easier it would be for her to have me living so close. But it didn’t happen.

The day I moved out was the last time she stepped foot into the house. I have been praying daily for God to heal her heart.

Yesterday on Resurrection Sunday, God answered my prayers. Wendy joined the rest of her family for the Easter dinner. I know how hard it was for her to swallow her pride and I know there will still be healing that needs to take place. But with God’s help she has made the first step and broken free from the chains that held her.

My daughter in-laws artistic touches and my son’s handy work have resurrected a dying home and my daughter and grandsons presence have filled it once again with Joy!

Thank you Father, for making all things new again.

Practice What You Preach

God has such a great way of humbling me. Every time I open my mouth and make a statement he has a way of making me live up to my response.


About a month ago, I witnessed my daughter Wendy and her significant other, Stephen, get angry at the manager of a restaurant after they were treated unfairly and also rather rudely. I tried to reason with them that even if the manager was wrong, their actions only added fuel to the situation. I told them that their anger only resulted in an inner conflict and caused the manager to feel vindicated when they left in a huff, and I suggested that perhaps killing her with kindness would have been the better choice.

But I might as well have been talking to a brick wall.

I was upset with both of them for two days, and when I prayed, I asked God to show them how bad they sounded in front of their children.

Well, I must have been feeling a little too self- righteous, because a few days later while I was babysitting for my grandsons I had an encounter with the cable company.

I could feel myself getting upset at the woman on the other end of the phone, who didn’t seem to care that even though I had cancelled my internet service I was still being charged for it. With my voice raised, I asked to speak to her manager. As my words became angrier I glanced over and saw three pair of big blue eyes starring at me. I was suddenly reminded of the words I had given to my daughter a few days before. The Lord said to me, "Luanne can you practice what you preach. "


Last week, Lysa TerKeurst at Proverbs 31 asked us to tell her our favorite scripture when we encounter fear. I replied "2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' I always feel like God is saying "don't worry, I'm already on it and it helps me relax."

Later that evening as I was returning from bible study, I turned a lttle too sharply into my parking spot. I heard a scrapping sound as the passenger side of my rented vehicle made contact with the post of the carport. I stopped the car but instead of pulling forward I backed up and heard the sound all over. Here is the result.




Oh Boy, did I have trouble sleeping that night.
I had just swithched insurance companies before leaving.
Tossing and turning all night long I wondered whether to turn a claim into my insurance company or pay for the repairs myself.

The next morning I woke with the weight of the world on my shoulders, and as I went thru the day it felt as though I could burst into tears if someone smiled at me. I was half way thru the day when I remembered what I had written on Lysa's blog, and driving down the road I began to recite "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' over and over.

As I repeated the words I realized that I had been focused on what I had done wrong instead of what God can do because of it.

I wasn't being careless and I hadn't been distracted when I pulled into the parking spot. I had just misjudged it this time, despite the fact that I have pulled into the same car port atleast 365 times previously without ever scrapping my car.

So I'm just wondering why God has allowed me to experience this trial now.

Even though I don't know the answer, I know he does.

In her book “Calm My Anxious Heart” Linda Dillow gives an account taken from Michael P Green’s “Illustrations for Biblical Preaching” where Andrew Murray wrote the following advice :

“In times of trouble say “First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this straight place, in that I will rest.” Next, “He will keep me here in his love and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child.” Then say, “He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he wishes to bestow.” And last say “In His good time he can bring me out again. How and when he knows” Therefore say, “I am here (1) by God’s appointment (2) for his keeping, (3) for his training, (4) for his time.”

I love those words "to behave as his child". Most of the time thats the hardest part for me.

A Big Slice of Humble Pie Please

Last week Lysa TerKeurst http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/ held a recipe swap. Amy Brooks graciously assembled them all into a printer friendly format and emailed them to all interested. I searched carefully but couldn't find the recipe I need so desperately today. Humble Pie!



Yesterday morning I journaled asking God to make me a blessing for someone that day and to use me in whatever way he wanted.



As I went about my day I decided to head to the pool despite the fact that there wasn't a trace of sun in the sky. It was extrememly cloudy. As I arrived I found less than a handful of people, which made finding a lounge chair an easy task.



The lounge chair next to me was empty and on the other side of that chair was an older woman with an Amigo or or some other brand of scooter, at her side.




I put on my headphones and began jamming silently to the wonderful songs of "Selah", and I fell asleep to the pleasant tune and words of "Counselor, Comforter, Keeper".

A half an hour later I was awakened to the sound of a lounge chair scrapping the cement surface. I looked over and noticed the woman next to me struggling to pull herself on to her scooter.

"Could I help you?" I asked.



She turned her head as far as she could towards me and said "NO".

I wondered if she was embarrassed or just trying to be self sufficient, but after watching her struggle for two more times I jumped off my chair and went to her side.



"Maybe if I hold the scooter for you it will be easier" I volunteered.

She tried one more time and failed. Silently I held out my hand and she took it and with hardly any effort she rose immediately.

"Thank You" she said. "My Pleasure" I replied as I walked back to my chair.



Sitting down on my chair I began praising God for letting me help her. But it wasn't just praise I was feeling. A spiritual pride wove its way into the equation. I was so busy thinking how great it was that God used me like I had asked him that morning, that I failed to open the gate for the women and I saw her struggling with it from a distance. Why do I always take my eyes off God and put them on myself.



This morning the reading in "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, hit me right smack in the face. It asked "Am I really surrendered to God for his sake, or am I surrendered for what I can get out of it?"



As I read it my body tensed, and I felt myself concentrating so hard trying to figure out the answer to his question, that I found myself "bearing down" as in child birth.

Mr. Chambers continued saying "The words "gaining heaven", "being delivered from sin" and "being made useful to God" are things that should never be a consideration in real surrender." Ouch! My exact words in that mornings journal read "Please fill me with your wonderful virtues so I may become useful to you." Or in otherwords I want, I want, I want!



Oswald Chambers goes on to say "Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference to Jesus Christ Himself. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it."



Wow this is hard because as soon as I pray "I want to be totally surrendered to you Lord." I tell him MY wants again and it's back to being all about ME when it fact it must be all about him.

Yikes! It doesn't feel like I have the foggiest idea of what total surrender really feels like.



Could Someone Please Pass the Humble Pie.

The Beach

Naples, Florida: Day 9

Yesterday we changed our clock ahead one hour. My clocks were in order, but my body was an hour behind. I rushed to church instead of making it a leisurely experience. Well actually my body is a lot more than an hour behind. Its been playing catch up longer than I'd like to admit.

It is amazing to me how hard and how long it takes to get into shape and how quickly you can slip back. I’m not talking about a well oiled machine kind of shape, but the kind of shape where you can walk a mile or two without huffing and puffing after.



















4 years ago I walked 3 miles a day. 1.5 miles to the complex gate and 1.5 miles back. I could do it in 45 minutes. While a 15 minute mile may be slow, it felt like a marathon to me. My short feet and short legs make for a very short stride.

Oh my how I have lost ground. A week ago I walked 1.75 miles and it took me an hour. I could make excuses and say my foot has not healed yet and I’m four years older, but the truth is the 20 plus pounds I’ve put on and the sedentary life style I’ve been leading are the real culprits. My goal is to do the 3 miles in 50 minutes before I leave in 20 days.

Yesterday I went to the beach for the first time. I forgot how much easier it is to walk beside the Gulf and watch the waves crash than it is to walk on a sidewalk. But yesterday I was too busy snapping pictures with my new camera to get in much walking. I was practicing taking pictures using my zoom.


I know this is a little voyeuristic, but I needed a closer look at those blue and gold chairs. I think a Michigan Wolverine fan lives in this condo.

I was so busy looking around to see what I wanted to take a picture of that I almost stepped on this. Yikes!!

Up close it looks like miniature corn cobs.

I love watching the pelicans. If you look close he is just ready to swallow the fish.

Day One of Daylight savings has changed the time of sunset by an hour. I failed to take that into consideration when I headed off to the beach to see the sun set. Silly me!

Dinner is in the oven so sunset at the beach will have to wait for another day. This is as close to setting as I'll see today.

Welcome Back

Hi, If you’ve come here from Lysa Blog, my recipe for “Lip Smacking Key Lime Pie” will be at the end of my post.


I’ve been suffering from a bad case of writers block. The last thing I posted was on February 15th and since that time its been down hill.

For the last few weeks I have been anxiously waiting to begin a month’s vacation in Naples, Florida and perhaps that’s what’s been clogging the airways of my mind.


Finally, last Saturday, March 1 at 11:30 a.m., I drove thru the gates of Naples Heritage and breathed in the warm salt water air and whispered to myself “I’m home”.

You see 4 years ago this was my home for one very special year. God invited me to come and spend some time getting to know him in a way I had never before experienced.

He spoke to me through my friend Jackie. We’d gone to the same grade school and had been cheerleaders together in high school, and when our kids went to school and played sports we became bleacher butt buddies and the friendship began to grow along with our backsides from all the sitting.

In Naples, Jackie not only became my downstairs neighbor but also a spiritual role model.

The things I thought and felt about God and religion, paled in comparison to the things God would teach me during my year long stay. Naples became a plush playground for my faith.



At the same time that God was luring me closer to him, the many shopping centers in town called out my name and beckoned me to come and worship them. Naples was quickly becoming my Babylon.

There was a constant tug of war to see whether good girl or bad girl would win out. Most of the time in the early part of my sabbatical, bad girl emerged. I not only had too much time on my hands, but right before I left Michigan, the man I had fallen head over heels for, had decided he wasn’t ready for a long distance relationship, and if I stayed he wasn’t sure he was ready for a long term relationship either.

So shopping became my vice to curb the pain. I shopped for items to cutesy up the condo, I shopped for clothes because I was losing weight and I liked being able to buy smaller sizes. I shopped and I shopped and I shopped, and couldn’t seem to get my fill. In between the shopping jaunts, I turned to the Lord to find contentment.

Every day I found new meaning surrounded by the sand and the surf, and every day I grew more in love with the people God had brought into my life.

Each thing that filled my heart with joy created a longing to share them with my family back home. My heart while joyful , was being torn in two worrying what would happen when the year was over. God helped to convince me to take each day at a time.

On December 12, 2004 my journal entry read:

Lord, so many lessons this week have sent the same message. And by George, for the first time I think I have it. I have wondered how I go about being satisfied with what I have. How does one block out what they want and make you all they need?

Only by your grace am I finally feeling contentment in my life. Yesterday morning as I worked on my bible study, I looked up as I read the words of the 23rd Psalm.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures”. I looked out at the green grass of the golf course in front of me and realized how rested I have become since coming to Florida. Even in my stressful times I could feel a peace.

“He leads me beside still waters”. Again I looked up and saw the pond of water before me and thought how walking along the still water and walking along the beach the last few weeks has relieved so much stress. “

He restores my soul” Ah yes this is where I really feel the connection. You have taught me so much in the last year, more than in the last 55 years of my life put together. How I will ever be able to leave this “plush playground for my faith” remains to be seen.

I only know that I am content being in this place at this time and I am going to enjoy every second I have left to continue to grow and serve you and to praise you for this tropical blessing I am living in. The words of praise in my heart and the songs of praise I sing will never do justice to the thankfulness and love I have for you.

Thank you, Lord, for the memories that have been made. Thank you for the chance to build my character; and for the ability to walk with you and talk with you on a deeper level. Help me to take one day at a time and savor the blessings.

My year came to a close, and God sent me back home with a heart full of love and a head full of knowledge.

He sent me home to put into action everything he had been teaching.

He sent me home to spend my dad’s last year with him, helping my sister with his care in ways we never imagined we would have to do.

God’s words helped me endure the sleepless nights we would spend by his side in order to keep him in his home and not a hospital. Over and over when I thought I couldn’t do it any longer, I heard God say "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

God’s words got me thru the last days, and just as dad was taking his final breaths my sister whispered, “Let’s pray” and together we began ...“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. …..”.

Those words had special meaning to me again this week.

I awoke the first morning just as the sun was rising. Quietly I took my bible and my bible study book out onto the lanai and opened to the daily lesson. “Read the 23rd Psalm” the directions said. And as I opened my Bible and began to read I heard God speaking all over again.

“Welcome back Child, he whispered, Welcome Back!”

Now, here is the recipe for Lysa's Blog Readers

Lip Smacking Key Lime Pie (sorry I don't photograph food well. Its prettier than it looks)

1 - 8 oz block of cream cheese

1 can of Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk

1/2 to 3/4 cup of Key Lime Juice (must be Key Lime)

1 tsp of vanilla

1 Graham cracker pie crust

Beat cream cheese until smooth and add Eagle Brand milk. Mix together and then add the key lime juice and vanilla. When thoroughly mixed, pour into pie shell and refrigerate. For decorative look Top with whip cream and a small wedge of lime. Sprinkle sliced almonds on whip cream topping. (Can be made with reduced fat cream cheese and the reduced fat Eagle brand milk but does not set up as well as the regular.) Bon ape'tit