Life

In the midst of all our struggles, life still continues around us.  We would like for it to halt when we go through trials.  When we are in an unknown, undesired, unplanned, and unsure situation, we want the dailies to cease to be.  That everything that we are responsible for and to would just pause as we try to figure out where we are.  But life doesn’t work that way.
It is because of that that I am forever grateful to have Jesus in my life.  It is thanks to His presence that I can move forward in the direction He has for me.  This by no means makes it easier, it makes it doable.
I have been reminded that in Christ, I stand from a place of victory not defeat.  I am an overcomer so no matter what I am in the midst of, I will be victorious on the other side.

ECPW Retreat

I am always honored and humbled to be invited to the East Coast Pastor's Wives Retreat.  The invite is also for the support people that the Pastor's Wife thinks should attend.  I was asked and I accepted.  The theme this year was Take Heart  John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble:  but take heart I have overcome the world."

It is such a good time of reflection and growth for me.  The retreat is help at Sandy Cove in North East Maryland.

I very cool looking stump I saw when I was walking

So peaceful and quiet

This was a snake that was in the rock bed I decided to relax by.  Needless to say I moved after taking this photo.

Truly a beautiful day

Giants

Giants.  A big word (pun intended) that can paralyze a person.  I have been sitting in place instead of gathering my rocks to defeat the giants that are present in my life.  God never said we would not face these giants.  He never said we would be promised a life that did not encounter a giant or many giants.  With that being said I have been hiding from my giants.  I need to take courage, be brave, and trust that the Lord has it all under His command and control.
So today, I will be picking up my rocks to throw at my giants knowing that God will never leave me or forsake me.  The battle belongs to the Lord, He is waging war.  I am just His willing warrior!
My challenge to you is go pick up your rocks.  Our heavenly Father has your back.

Summer Time Finale

My young ones have been attending Surf Camp with Urban Surf Ministries for a few years now.  They say it has become their favorite time of summer.  But the sad fact is that it means summer is coming to a close and school will be starting.  So here are some photos from this year.

Walk out in Faith

So this past Saturday I had the honor and privilege to listen to a testimony from a Godly Woman.  She and her family are missionaries in Kenya.  (This is where me and my young ones went back in November).  In listening to her I was reminded to allow God to direct my paths.  This means to walk out in faith even if I don't know what the next step will be.  Let me just say, that is HARD.  I am such a person who plans and likes to have an idea of how things will go.  But God is reminding me that I am His, so He should do all the leading.
I am not too excited to be heading into this kind of season.  However, I do trust my God to push, pull, prod and carry me when and where needed.
Today I read Philippians 4 and was reminded about being anxious.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Serving The Lord in Kenya

We have a family at Calvary Chapel Mercer County that has been serving in Ongata Rongai, Kenya for 5 years now.  Every year we send various numbers of people from our church to help them with their ministry.
They are serving at Calvary Chapel Ongata Rongai through Potters Field Ministries.  The family of four work with children to teach them about the Lord but to also make sure they are receiving an education.
Like most places outside the USA, Kenya is a country where public school education is not free.  So Geoff, Linda, Christian, and Faith pick out children that are in the most need of receiving funding for basic education.  They run a school that goes up to 4th grade and they work with teenagers who are in danger of not getting funding.  The catch is that they must maintain good grades in order to be sponsored.  Last year as a family we decided to sponsor a student in desperate need.  He had to move into an orphanage so that his dues where paid.  The crazy thing is that he has a mom.  When Linda and Geoff mentioned that him being sponsored will allow him to move back home, well that was a no-brainer for me.
They come home to visit every summer and we enjoy connecting with them again.  This past summer they were encouraging us to come to visit them.  So, when I heard that CCMC was going to be sending a team to come alongside the family, I felt as if the Lord said that this was our time.  Unfortunately, we were not all able to go.  My youngest two and I were able to travel the 18-24 hours to help.
We were a team of 11 4 adult males, 1 adult female (me), 6 teens (3 girls and 3 boys).  Needless to say I became the team mom.  Not that I minded.
We took about 60 Kenyan teens along with 4 Kenyan leaders plus our group on a teen retreat.  The retreat center we stayed at was 3 hours by bus.  Located in Nakura, Kenya.  The facility was very nice.  Dorm style rooms, with leader rooms located at the end of the hallway.  Plus the use of the owners guest house.
There are so many words I can use here to describe the time we had those 4 days on the retreat.  The best way to sum it up is this:  God used all the talents of our team so well, that it was such affirmation and confirmation that we were meant to be there then.
After the retreat we were able to have a thanksgiving meal with 29 of us.  Such sweet memories from that celebration.
We culminated our time with Kid's Club.  A program that serves 250+ children around CCOR.  At Kid's Club they receive Chai and lunch as well as many songs about Jesus and of course a bible teaching.  We were able to bring a craft with us for them to enhance the story of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist found in Mark 1:1-11.  The ages that attend go from 2 years to 17 years.  Such a huge under taking but so very rewarding.  It was an honor to be a part of the team.

Here is a photo of our team with the Simpson Family

Surf Camp 2016

Urban Surf Ministries is something my young ones looked forward to year after year.  It was Abi's 3rd time and Josh's 2nd.  If we could live at the beach in the summer, we would.  Here are some highlights from their time at LBI - Harvey Cedars.

I am so very grateful to all those who volunteer their time to teach those who attend, not only about surfing, but also about our Lord, Jesus Christ.  

Every year they come home closer to God, and with new brothers and sisters in Christ.

Home Fellowship Hosts

We had the opportunity to host home fellowship Friday night.  We will be trading off hosting with another family.  It was a nice turnout.  We had a total of 6.  We are beginning a new study through the book of Daniel.  I am very excited about this it has been a few years since I have read through the book and even longer since an in depth study.  We made it through chapter one and saw lots of similarities to the life of Joseph (old testament).   Gonna be a good one!

Lancaster County

We headed to Mennonite country today. Not for the reasons you would think. Nope, we were not there to study the Amish or Mennonites. We went to see a life-size replica of the Tabernacle and then off to a Christian Musical.

We drove for an hour and half to first go to the Tabernacle site. While not exactly what I expected it was still pretty cool. We were able to get a glimpse inside what it looked like. The tour guide was very nice to ask our children the questions. I think he was most shocked by the fact that all the kids new the answers to his questions. And probably shocked him more by using some "bible" terms.

The seating during the opening tour. Notice

the wall. It was the only pictures we could

take. We were not allowed to take photos

of inside were the tabernacle is.

This is a depiction of the east part of the court

just outside the Tabernacle. Here is where you

would bring your offering to the priest and he

would place it on the altar for you for your sins.

We packed a lunch that we ate in the parking lot. So glad it was a nice autumn day. Then off to the theater for the musical. I did very poorly as the co-pilot and we missed our turn which in-turn made us late for the show. (We only missed 3 minutes.) I was afraid they would not let us inside. As the tickets stated that late-comers will have to wait until intermission to get in!! I was horrified. But as we were walking up an usher was outside and escorted us into the building where another usher directed us into groups based on our section. Then they let us take the elevators up to our section for some temporary seats. Whew!!!! (God is so good!)

We had very good seats. I purposely picked the balcony so my kids would be able to see everything. And I am sooooo glad I did! This stage was amazing. It was wrapped around the outer walls of the theater. The name of the play was called "In the Beginning" and it began with creation and depicted the life of Adam and Eve. Both inside the Garden of Eden and then outside the garden. Great Production!!! Stephen said he liked it even better than the performances he has seen at Disney!!! (Way to go Sight and Sound)!!! Oh yeah and since they were doing the creation they even had some live animals that ran across the stage. Rode in on some horses. Had lots of goats and sheep. Very cool! They even had a live skunk! For some of the animals they had people inside costumes but for some they were animitronics.

A picture of the stage. Believe me when I say

it doesn't do it justice. It was magnificent. Here

was the opening scenes in the Garden of Eden.