HOME AGAIN!

This weekend marked the 10th gathering of 1960's-era students who attended Northwest College - now University.... Well, '60's era plus a few additions....

I have not made it to all of them - - but have loved being there for most of them, beginning with my first gathering at the home of Dale and Phyllis Larson.... Their kind hospitality made it easy to feel welcomed, and created a trust level for going again the next year. That reunion took us to Molalla, Oregon, to the home of Ray and Becki Sparre - a very special , memorable time - again filled with welcome - and then because Elvin Huston had a relationship with his former Sunday School teacher in Sedro Woolley, our next gathering was at Danny and LaVonda Vandenburg's private campground - and we've been going back ever since annually in July for what Ray Sparre dubbed 'a blessed reconvergence.'

The participants fluctuate a bit each year - - but it is always a wonderful time of reconnecting; and relationships are being forged through the reunions - not just with who we knew in college - and that is an additional blessing. We take our trips down memory lane - that is true - but we also share the present - what is going on in each others' lives and ministries...and it is a precursor of the joy heaven will offer.

It was hard at first for me to go. My perfect plan of changing the world didn't happen the way I planned. I blew it - ruined a good friendship by marrying the guy - got a divorce - felt like I was the only failure in the whole school.... So - connecting was hard at first. Even though I had recommitted my life to the Lord within 2 years after walking away from Him, I gave wide berth to friendships of the past, afraid of further rejection - but God had a bigger plan. Not just for me, but for many who needed to find the comfort of His amazing grace and healing in reconciling past with present. He forgave freely - and His mercy was extended. He paid the price for my sin and offered pardon without recrimination - but dealing with people.... That was harder. Joyfully, God's grace extended even there....

Every person I've talked to who has been willing to step beyond their fears and step toward the loving arms of welcome have been joyfully accepted. It is healing and wonderful - and such a testimony of what heaven will be.

God has used everything that has ever happened to me for His glory - redeemed it by allowing me to help someone else along the way because of pain I suffered....and through the N C reunions, He has affirmed that. A few people appear to have made it through to this point unscathed, without making huge mistakes, and I applaud their commitment and faithfulness - but those of us who faltered or failed and have recommitted are also blessed, because we are very aware how much God has done for us, and we are his arms extended - - a model of His grace, beckoning others: come, be blessed, receive the comfort of friends who care and share the journey...who share a history together...who share roots. We're family! Weekends like this affirm that reality!

If the Lord doesn't return before July 2011, come....

YOU'RE TURNING 65....

I was getting irritated by the plethora of reminders that the magic age of '65' was just a hop, skip and jump away. But - the perpetual reminders - - and having my current health insurance company call me to remind me I needed to follow through on signing up for Medicare - - motivated me to do just that. I knew my full retirement age wasn't going to happen until age 66....but had decided to sign up for the Social Security benefits anyway so it would pay the Medicare Part B premiums without my having to pay for it out-of-pocket. My current health insurance is a whopping $688.00 per month - and just getting rid of that monthly bill was something to look forward to. Al retired April 2005 - and after COBRA ran out for me, I've had to pay for private insurance - and it is expensive!!!! But necessary, in case of the unknown happening.... But getting rid of that payment is like getting a paycheck - and taking my S S early to cover the cost of Part B - and once I sort it out, Prescription Drug Coverage....is, well, delicious.

Still, I have a feeling like 'waiting for the other shoe to drop.' This is all new territory - unexplored for me. But - in light of the alternative - I'm welcoming the journey!

I was practically giddy with incredulity last night when I found out I'd be getting a much larger paycheck than I expected....and my first joy was "I will have something to tithe." Thank you, Lord, for your blessings that allow us to be a blessing.

Yesterday I read Daniel 1 - 6; and finished Daniel today - - but will be going back to the last half of the book and doing more research. I know I'm in over my head - but am not in over God's head - so am interested to see where the exploration takes me, all the while knowing He will only reveal what He is ready to have me know.... And, knowing that knowing is not as important as trusting....daily and completely. But there is that fig tree....

LIFE HAPPENS!

It has been crazy-busy - - and I still have a ton to do in my office - - but I just had to pop in to say hi to my few faithful friends who actually check....

I cleaned and cleaned to get ready for the Women's Retreat that happened here - - a Women's Ministry Leaders Retreat for 6 ladies who needed a place to get away for a couple of days. We babysat while Erin was here with the group...but got to sleep in the camper at night while the kids slept at Lynley's.... It all went well - - and it gave me enormous joy to know the house was being used for something so special. Al got to spend some time with the ladies. He took them ziplining - - and all 6 tried it - - some of them twice. And - - when they went out for their morning walk on Friday, they ran into him and invited him in to have a waffle with them. That was pretty sweet!

Before I got so busy cleaning in preparation for the retreat I finished the book I was reading, but haven't had a chance to write anything about it. It is titled THE AMERICAN PROPHECIES, and is by a Middle East consultant named Michael D. Evans. Anyone who is curious about the role the U S has played in Israel's well-being - the off-spring of Isaac - - and conversely in the countries who are descendants of Ishmael, should read the book. It was an eye-opener. We have straddled the fence and helped both - -yet the Bible is very clear that those who help Israel will be blessed, while those who do not will be - - I hate to say it - - cursed....

I'm just reporting. I didn't establish the parameters. But we need to pay attention. My heart is heavy with the implications.

INTERRUPTING THE 'FLOW' FOR LIFE

Recently it has been such a whirlwind of 'have-to-do' that I haven't had time for my quest.... I'll skip the details - but yesterday brought a welcome break after spending about 9 hours 'cleaning' house!

One daughter, son-in-law, their 3 kids, Al and I took a 6-mile bike ride on the Chehalis Western Trail. We drove to a different access point and went a direction I had not gone before. It was a delightful reprieve. And delightful that I never ever felt winded or had to push my bike.... Though I did stop for a railroad crossing while going uphill a bit - and stayed straddled on the bike, while I walked forward a few steps to be able to begin again.... It gave Miah a good laugh.

Today and tomorrow are 'vacation days' for us to share with 6 grandkids.... We have a plan - - one I am certain will be adapted and tweaked as we enjoy the next couple of days together. They are growing up so quickly! In fact, the 'baby' will be 4 on Thursday.

VBS 2010 - Day 5, the final day

Wow! What a VBS. The lady who said FAL's is VBS on steroids was right! It was an absolutely amazing VBS. Superb leadership. Outstanding musicians. Inspired skits. So many good helpers. So much fun for the kids. Well, and fun, too, for those helping whose hearts are so in it. It was God's VBS - and He showed up!!!!!

Today was my day to teach the lesson in Bible Voyage. I didn't feel the script the publisher had planned was adequate, so I re-wrote today's lesson - and the other Bible Voyage leader took my script and made it her own as well. I didn't use the exact script I wrote - but it formed the framework for what I shared with the kids.

I was in a pretend boat on a pretend Lake Galilee. I did a little fishing with a pole - then showed them how I saw the fisherman cast a net when I was in Israel on a boat like Jesus and his disciples would have been on 2,000 years ago.

I read how Jesus called the fishermen Peter and Andrew - and made them fishers of men. Then I went fishing with my net, and pulled in the catch: 1 baby bottle and 4 fish, each fish representing a message. The baby bottle was a visual reminder that we all start out as baby Christians when we ask Jesus to come live in our hearts - and that someone can be 5, 15, 44 or 89 when they accept Jesus as their Savior - and they become a baby Christian no matter how old they are.

As for the fish - Green was for God's Word - with the message that we have to read God's Word if we want to grow. That we can ask Jesus into our hearts, but if we do not read God's Word we will stay a baby Christian our whole life - and then only if we are at church regularly to get a little food.... The picture on the back of the 'fish' was a Bible.

The next fish was white for prayer, and I explained 4 basic parts of prayer: Praise, Thanks, Confessing our sins, Asking for things (supplication.) The picture on the back of the fish was children praying.

The 3rd fish was blue for faithfulness in fellowship - church, Sunday School, having Christian friends. The picture on the back of the fish was one I took a couple of days ago of children at VBS with FAL in the background. Just like baby people, baby Christians cannot survive alone....

The 4th and final fish was red, which represented sharing the good news with others.

And then we made a necklace with a whale in the center and the 4 colors as reminders. I know that overall it is too much information - but there was food there for everyone: kids and crew leaders.

We finished with a review of the week:

God's Word is True.
God's Word is Comforting.
God's Word is Surprising.
God's Word is Life-changing.
and for today:
God's Word is for Everyone.
And off they went....

Lord, through your Holy Spirit, please bring these lessons back to them and draw them closer to you.

VBS - Day 4

Today's message was 'God's Word is Life-changing' and I pray that it was for many kids who heard the stories, sang the songs, and felt loved at VBS.

God's Word is life changing! Thank God for his clear message of love and provision of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus - Yeshua - Savior.

Tomorrow is the final day. We will finish strong! That is my bucket list motto: finish strong!