YOU NEVER LET GO... THANK YOU FOR LOVING MY HUSBAND...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

Catch Up and Must Do

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The church office crew usually makes a big deal out of birthdays. Dan and Katherine have been gone to Israel. Dottie was in North Carolina. Steve was at family camp. None of them were here for Steve's birthday! So, this past Thursday was when they chose to celebrate. Steve's favorite food is mexican. Don Pablo's is Steve's 3rd most favorite mexican food place, but his top favorite in the area.

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I think one of the reasons they make a big deal is because they like "to give honor to who honor is due." - a great group of encouragers. It was their turn to honor Steve. I was able to stop by between supervision visits at two different schools to eat a quick 30 minute lunch.

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Steve and I are opposites in a lot of ways. You know... a lot like ketchup and mustard! Yet, in 3 ways we are similar: We both love the LORD! We both love others! We both love mexican food!

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Steve happens to be in Virginia right now at our nephew's wedding. His birthday cards were laying on the seat in my car. As I read through them, I thought how thankful I am to be married to a "transformed dad". It makes transformation easier when two people are walking that road together!

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The second greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself. Our church family tries to do that... I hear it often, "We are a church known for our love!"

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I chose parts of three of the cards to share here. I covered up the names of those who gave them.

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CARD 1:

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CARD 2:



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CARD 3:

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I'm thankful when others choose to agape love and bless my husband! It blesses me! When we let God love others through us, the agape way, it's another way that shows how God never lets go!

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Oh, and by the way, Steve's other two favorite mexican food places are:

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YOU NEVER LET GO... IN THE GARDEN, I AM MINE NO MORE, HERE IN THIS PLACE...

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It's been an especially full two weeks!

• My hubby spent 4 days of his birthday weekend teaching classes at "family camp" in Pennsylvania. It took lots of preparation beforehand, too.
• Three days after he got home, our first grandson, Perry Liam, was born.
• Our little one year old grandaughter, Chloe, began walking the next day.
• I'm teaching a full load of first session summer school after a very busy spring semester.
• Steve's office, along with all the church offices, are being boxed up for the big move to a temporary location this Sunday.
• Church life and needs kept us hopping when the rest of the staff were out of state and out of the country!

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So, this past Wednesday evening we were both very weary from a lot of "24/7" stuff.
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As I shared on my post yesterday, I was so encouraged by my time with my "ABC Jesus friends". During the devotional time, we sang 3 songs. "B" and her family sat several rows behind us. Matt, our song leader, had chosen songs that really ministered to Steve and me:

• I COME TO THE GARDEN ALONE - was written right here in Pitman, NJ in the early 1900's. It is my father-in-love's favorite song. "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.... And, He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. And, the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known!"

• I AM MINE NO MORE is a song that pierces my heart to the core, every time I sing it: "I am mine no more! I am mine no more! I was bought with blood. I am mine no more! Jesus is my Lord..."
• HERE IN THIS PLACE is not the one on the playlist by the same title. Actually, this song was the theme of our women's retreat and has become one we sing quite often: "Lay your burdens down, every care you carry... and come to the table of grace - for there is mercy! Come just as you are, we are all unworthy..."
  

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To my right were Dwight and Mary Lea whose oldest son had been in a serious motorcycle wreck last Saturday. As Mary Lea began to cry, I could only think of one thing... "let the children lead them" as "B" sang behind us at the top of her lungs, not missing a word to the 3 songs, ministered to Dwight, Mary Lea, Steve, and me. What a family!

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That night when we got home, Steve commented that hearing "B" sing was like being ministered to by an angel ...

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Steve headed to Virginia today for the wedding of our nephew Chris. There will be wonderful "Sikes' family fellowship" there this weekend. I have a feeling that his trip was made a little more joyful by the songs he had in his heart!

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YOU NEVER LET GO...LOVE ALWAYS PROTECTS, TRUSTS, HOPES, PERSEVERES...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

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Three young girls touched my heart last night and changed what I decided to post here today. I've shared recently that our church family is in transition as we move out of our building that has been sold as of June 30. We've rented a house for the offices but right now have no place to go yet for our worship services and Bible classes. Things seem unclear! It requires FAITH! During uncertainty there is stress and stress often leads to questioning / fear / taking our eyes off of Jesus. Once all of that happens, then lack of faith leads to a lack of hope and love. I've seen that "crazy cycle" happen over and over again.

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Last night as three third and fourth grade girls helped me pack up our Bible classroom, I listened to them talk and together we quoted the 23rd Psalm over and over. Then, we began our "ABC's of Jesus". What hearts! These three girls names actually start with "A", "B", and "C". I see many of the characteristics of Jesus in each of them. So, I'll call them my "ABC Jesus friends".

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"A" recently said that her favorite part of the 23rd Psalm was "when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me...". I've thought a lot about that and realize that statement needs to be true even when there isn't death involved. In other words, "when I walk through the valley of the shadows... I will fear no evil for You are with me..."

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My cell phone camera is very light sensitive. It really does depend on the amount of light as to the quality of my pictures. When there is less light or more shadow, the picture is unclear. It doesn't mean that the object(s) is not there. What it really means is that my camera has issues! My camera literally needs to be moved closer to the light to change it's perception. It would be odd if my camera began speaking each time it took an unclear picture, "It's not my fault! You're just a bad picture taker!"

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Here... let me show you...

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1. DARKNESS TO LIGHT... pictures on the evening of Perry's birth 6/3/10 to pictures taken the next day in the sunlight....

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2. DARKNESS TO LIGHT...on Saturday evening 6/5, as we prayed with Pitman elders and wives at the building site, I first took pictures from the south, east and north sides. Then, picture taken with the west side and the evening sun shining over my shoulder...

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Last night as I listened to my "ABC Jesus friends", I felt that I was on holy ground... such pure hearts... such a desire to please God... to please me... asking honest questions... sharing thoughts and feelings openly... As I listened and observed, I heard and saw LOVE...

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LOVE ALWAYS PROTECTS: "C" said, "That's OK!", "No problem!", and "No worries!"

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LOVE ALWAYS TRUSTS: They each talked about how they were going to miss our current building with all of it's memories, yet they know that GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF US!

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LOVE ALWAYS HOPES: Their talk was positive, encouraging, and indicative of hearts who knew that a bright future lay ahead.

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LOVE ALWAYS PERSEVERES: They did not stop working. In fact, they wanted to do several things over to make sure they were "done right". They were disappointed when it was time to stop.

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Being with my ABC Jesus friends transformed my attitude... my whole day... because they gave me a clearer picture of Jesus... of God... of Love...

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There's more to this story. Stop back by at tomorrow's post to hear the rest of the story involving my ABC Jesus Friends. It has something to do with this song:

I know a man who as a young boy had a heart very much like my ABC Jesus Friends... and still does. His name is Caleb Sikes. He is our third child and today he turnes 25 years old. Happy Birthday, Caleb, from very blessed transformed mom!

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YOU NEVER LET GO...THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS...

WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY

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There are many ways to teach to different learning or thinking styles. One way that works well for many is some type of graphic organizer. Here are several to use as you think about, learn, and memorize part of the "love chapter" this month. There are 3 graphic organizers below. The first one would only copy to Blogger in a two part chart. The second and third one are self-explanatory.
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GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS 1a and 1b:

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GRAPHIC ORGANIZER 2 - What love is and does...

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GRAPHIC ORGANIZER 3 - What love is not and does not do....

YOU NEVER LET GO...YOU SUSTAIN / STRENGTHEN ME...

I'm so grateful for Sundays with my church family and for the God who sustains / strengthens us!

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Annette shared her story of God's sustenance during Bible class...

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After second service, the women gathered to honor Ashley's wedding plans with a shower. At each place setting was 1 Corinthians 13.

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Lots of bonding went on, as took place here with Jackie and Rachel (who just returned from Israel on Saturday).
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Yvonne, Mandy, and Maggie listen intently to Susie and her daugters sing in their remarkable harmony...

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Annette's talk during Sunday's Bible class touched us all in varying degrees. Annette shared a recent period in her life when she and her family were hit extremely hard. She said that she does not doubt who God is. She knows that Jesus is her Savior and that the Holy Spirit lives in her. She stated, "God can do all and more than all I ask or imagine."

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She connected us to Colossians and words to live by. She stressed the words in bold:

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Colossians 1:9-14

For this reason, since the day we heard about you,

we have not stopped praying for you

and asking God to fill you

with the knowledge of His will

through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

10 And we pray this in order that you

may live a life worthy of the Lord

and may please Him in every way:

bearing fruit in every good work,

growing in the knowledge of God,

11 being strengthened with all power

according to His glorious might

so that you may have great endurance and patience,

and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father,

who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of

the saints in the kingdom of light.

13 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,

14 in whom we have redemption,

the forgiveness of sins.

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Throughout our lives, we each find that there are some years that are rougher than others. Last year was one of those "different" years for Annette. It took her out of her typical routine including her weekly ladies' Bible class and being heavily involved in her daughter's high school functions. She entered 2009 feeling "totally depleted" after 2008 threw some major life changes at her:

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• helping care for her mother who had cancer
• her husband losing his job of 25 years.
• taking on much too much responsibility at her daughter's school
• she was a co-coordinator of our women's retreat of December of that year and her partner had to have surgery. Therefore, the lion's share of the planning/leadership fell on her.

Yet, this "totally depleted" woman was about to be hit with what 2009 had in store for her:

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• the agonizing decline of her mother and the many back and forth trips to NYC to the hospital
• the new job of her husband in NYC (he would be away part of each week)
• her young neice, Maria's, diagnosis of neuro-blastoma and the need for her to be at the Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia (CHOP)
• Annette's sister, husband, and family moved in with Annette and her family so that they could be close to CHOP
• The many back and forth trips to CHOP began
• Husband's grandmother passed away
• Husband's father began having severe heart problems
• Her dad almost lost his legs
• Her daughter had foot surgery and had to be pulled around in a little red wagon

By now, you may be getting the idea that there was a little bit of stress at Annette's house. She had been someone who often "kept my troubles to myself" and was there for others. Yet, now, her troubles were at the forefront of our congregation's prayer list. She emphasized, "The most important thing I want to say is how Jesus got us through all of this!"

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They are able to count many GOD GIVEN BLESSINGS from this very difficult time, including:

• learning to trust God more
• a special bonding with her sister and family
• time with her dad and step-mom who stepped in to be a support to Annette and her three siblings during her mom's last months/days and death
• knowing that her daughter's foot surgery could have been much worse and the amazing way she was ministered to and cared for
• our church family's attention to their needs
• prayers from all over the world for Maria, as people came to the "mom's transformed" blog and many linked to more info on Annette's blog at the link at the very bottom of this blog

A BIG BLESSING, according to Annette, was Tanya. Tanya was our sister-in-Christ who was battling cancer and passed away on 1/1/10. Tanya was christian who was a wife, mother, and nurse who was in and out of the hospital and in terrible pain. She would check on Annette. She brought dinner. She came over to check on Annette's daughter's foot dressing. She gave of herself completely.

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Annette said, "I knew if Tanya could bring me supper and nurse my daughter, then I could do anything, too." Tanya has gone to her final heavenly home! Annette, her family, and Tanya's family are still here in the midst of the battle. They know that the blessing is that

• JESUS IS THE ONE WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH!
• JESUS IS THE ONE WHO SUSTAINS!

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YOU NEVER LET GO... AS YOU LOVE US ALL THE WAY HOME..

MEDITATION MONDAY

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"This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through..." I heard the words to that song a lot growing up. It was my dad's favorite! Yesterday's sermon carried the same theme - only expanded a little more. The title was: WE'RE HOME! Steve had three major points:

1. HOME - NOT!
2. HOME - NEARLY!
3. HOME - NOW!

Things are changing fast for our church family! We are growing! We are building a new building and have sold our current building to a group of Jews. We need to be out by the end of this month. The boxes in our building are being currently packed from floor to ceiling. One of the problems is that our temporary meeting place until our new building is completed fell through. We have no where to go! Steve's lesson was appropriate on many levels.

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There are people in our group who have worshipped here for 40 years. They are leaving behind a lot of precious memories. For them, the change will be difficult. This whole "not knowing thing" is really a stretch for many. Yet, as Steve said this morning. Isn't that usually how our God works? Things like this usually don't work out until the last minute. It gives us another exercise in faith... trust.

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1. HOME - NOT! IN THIS TENT! I am living in this world as a traveler... a visitor... an alien...! I truly am "just passin' thru!

• 2 Cor 5:1-3 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven...


• Phil 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

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2. HOME - NEARLY! IN TRANSITION! We're in transition! Things are in flux! Each new day is more fluid than firm! We're nearly to our new temporary "home" on Pitman Road. It should be ready in the spring of 2011. Flexibility is important!

• John 14:1-7 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And you know the way where I am going." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
  

3. HOME - NOW! IN HEAVENLY PLACES! We are to really be living in two worlds at the same time. As we're living our lives here, we need to let our hearts, minds, and souls dwell on living in heavenly realms. This is where the sermon reminded me much of our memory verses from February. What a powerful scripture to remind us of God's love and heavenly home. Let's meditate on that today!

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Ephesians 2:4-10 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. .

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HE FAITHFULLY LOVES US

ALL THE WAY HOME!

WALK IN HIS LOVE!

YOU NEVER LET GO

SUNDAY IN THE SON

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Even though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death

Your perfect love is casting out fear

And even when I'm caught

in the middle of the storms of this life

I won't turn back

I know you are near

And I will fear no evil

For my God is with me

And if my God is with me

Whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

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Chorus:

Oh no, You never let go

Through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go

In every high and every low

Oh no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming

for the heart that holds on

A glorious light beyond all compare

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

We'll live to know You here on the earth

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Chorus:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming

for the heart that holds on

And there will be an end to these troubles

But until that day comes

Still I will praise You,

still I will praise You

(Chorus 2x's)

© 2006 Sparrow Christian lyrics

Yesterday evening, Steve and I spent time with a group of people who can truly testify to the song above. One of the elders (shepherds) of our church family turns 60 years old today. So, last night we celebrated at Famous Dave's. Another elder and his wife were celebrating their 45 wedding anniversary yesterday. I love being with this group of spiritual giants!

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Afterwards, several of us went over to our building site to walk through it, hear Steve "preach" while he stood where the pulpit will be, and pray. This is a group of people who know full well of God's faithful love!

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