2009: Our Year In Review

2009 might well be known as the year of facing down my fears...

This was one of the last pictures taken of Scott and I in 2008. And, quite frankly, as you may recall we were just in the throws of our most difficult time as a married couple. Praise God He is a redeemer and a teacher... And, that when we hold onto His promises He sees us through the darkness. For me the ending of 2008 was an awakening to how horrible I had been to my husband in our ten years of marriage, how much of him I had taken for granted, and how much I had set him up to fail me in so many ways. SABOTAGE was my middle name. And, over the last twelve months I have finally been able to lay aside my primary fear about my husband: That He couldn't possibly love or want to be married to Someone Like Me... [CHECK] Left that fear in the Throne Room as God has walked me through the most trying time of my married life. He has opened Scott's heart up to me in new and unexpected ways and allowed me to see my husband in a whole new light... His Light.

Around mid-January we added a brand new family member: POGO! Oh, my goodness! I never knew a dog could capture your heart but this little dark-haired, bearded Mister has stolen ours - flat out! I bought him a dog-bone for Christmas and let him eat it on the carpet for crying out loud. You have never seen a group of otherwise composed people fall out for a dog the way the four of us have since this little guy came into our life. He's our "Sweet Potata..." To quote Brittany who had an incurrable aversion to dogs prior to Pogo's introduction. Thank you Lord for Pogo... Fear of a Dog who would chew up all our belongings and might just bite my knee caps (long traumatic story from childhood) [Check] Left that with Pogo. He's our dog! I love my Granpup!
Then there was vacation! Breathtaking views... Time just for us balanced with time with our family. We had an amazing time as I told it right here on the blog. Then upon our return I would begin a job I truly love. A job that is not just a job --- but an opportunity to see God's glory come down every single day.
We had such a good time. Perhaps the best time was driving through the mountains up to Eureka Springs and the Passion Play. MY LORD! He put it on top of a Mountain He did. I had to learn to trust the Lord and my husband's driving in whole new ways. We came through laughing and terrified all at the same time. "Fear of Rolling Down the Mountain" - [CHECK] No longer an issue. Left it in Arkansas.

The Summer left us not only transistioning further into our roles as parents to adult children - we have three that officially have crossed the threshhold. It found us trusting God for Home Ownership. It didn't seem plausible or even possible a year ago today. We could barely pay our rent and keep our one family vehicle on the roadways...

Still, Travis graduated, Brittany made plans to move out on her own and three of our children became licensed to drive during our Summer months in 2009. That is another fear to check off the list: FEAR OF CHILDREN DRIVING [CHECK] Left it at the Department of Public Safety.

Then there was Scott's detour through Virginia in September and October that afforded us the purchase of our very own home. Okay... So the fall introduced a whole littany of fears too numerous to name. Fear that the distance physically between Scott and I might be more than I could bear - it was, but I survived! Fear of credit applications and the mortgage process... HOWEVER... We have a mortgage... Two Car Loans ... mostly because our one family car finally bit the dust in October. We have not had new Credit since 2004 ya'll. We actually had a ZERO Credit Score - I'm sure that would make Dave Ramsey proud. :)

Fear of applying for new credit... [Check] Left that at the bank.


Another fear I have had in my life was that Scott and I would always been walking different paths with God. When he was saved in 2000, I just knew we walk out this wonderful, glorious God-filled journey with some great ministry we could do together attached. But, somewhere over the years I lost that dream. I let it get buried in manipulation, doubt, fear, and well the stuff of a fallen existence. What God could not persuade my man to do for Him... I would push, pull, drag and kick to get. I lived by the motto: "It is better to ask forgiveness than permission." I was a woman on a mission and it certainly was not from God. To my own detriment and at the expense of my husband's sincere devotion both to me and God.

Fear of never walking a journey in the center of God's Will with Scott - [Check] Left that one with my husband. We have a common dream and are each doing what God has put before us to do. It is a really sweet place to live - Surrender where it depends not on persuasion but on purpose and the Lord's power to change and grow us as He wills. Scott's story is one for him to tell when he is ready, but as for me... I am grateful God changed my heart and changed my life by changing my marriage by His Love.

Still not so sure about all that lay ahead for us. God is working that out for us just fine. But, what I do know is we are blessed not only to be in such a wonderful church, surrounded by wonderful people... Not only because we have a new home and new cars and I have a new job I love... Not only because our marriage survived, but because we have each other - and we know what that means to us today. A year ago, I could not have said that. But, today - I can say that we are a house serving the Lord and I am thankful He held us together when many of us were ready to fly the coop.

So... That my friends is our year in review. For me I guess my take-away is I'm not what I usd to be - Thank God. Freedom is not free - it bears a price and often that price means giving up what we think we need for something far more valuable. Thank you God for teaching me gentle.

Oh, and as a bonus. There was snow, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in North Central Texas for the first time in some 80 odd years... GLORIES never cease. A Christmas Present for Us From God. We are so blessed. And for the grand finally my daughter's photo masterpiece from Christmas EVE.... I'm sharing the "Audrey" Impersonation over the Mrs. Clause look.

That stick in my mouth - Oh Yeah... A Candy Cane Tootsy Pop. You must try one. They are dangerously good.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Blog Friends.

This Is What It Means To Be Free

"Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom)." 2 Corinthians 3:17 (AMP)

I've been thinking about what it means to be free.

Not just free to go to the mall, free to vote, free to drive the car of my choice or buy a specific house in a particular neighborhood.

I'm not just contemplating what soldiers fight and die for everyday - personal, physical freedom in a society and culture that allows me to choose the course of my life, my faith, and so on.

While all of these things are valuable, beneficial and important to me. Those Freedoms born on Independence Day... and paid for by the very lives of others who bravely gave what Christ called the sacrifice of greatest love. Even as I become more aware, and am ever more grateful for all of these things...

As I write this post the Freedom that I find myself contemplating is something more. I am talking about Dependent Freedom.

Jesus came to "set at LIBERTY the captives." (Isaiah 61 and Dr. Luke in Chapter four of the gospel he penned illuminate Jesus' high Messianic calling.) Why am I writing about this in what appears to be some wild cryptic code... I DON'T KNOW.

Perhaps these are the musings of a heart that has been shattered and scattered wide for so many years. A heart that is now finding itself whole for the very first time.

Maybe it is just the peace I find myself living in these days: It's a journey of discovery and absolute awe that takes me to new, deeper places with God every single day.

I honestly don't know why it is coming to life for me this way... On this page... This particular day, but I can tell you when it started:

Several months ago I met and communicated regularly with a group of strong, interceding women. We were "pillars" erecting a "tent of meeting" for a women's conference that was being held at our church in the Spring.

Each of us felt that God had impressed upon our hearts to pray for a specific attribute that would be embraced by the women attending the conference. One woman was called to pray for the Love of God while another the Fear of the Lord. And,yet another was called to pray for Mercy and so on. The Lead Intercessor stated she felt called to pray for Liberty while I knew my attribute was Freedom. That morning, as four women sat in Starbucks buzzing with anticipation reciting the beautiful Words God was enscribing on their hearts the question was posed: "What is the difference between Liberty and Freedom?"

Admittedly, I was taken aback. After all - when I look up the word FREEDOM in my Thesaurus I find that "liberty" is indeed an alternate word.

But, as we sat in that particular coffee shop, that particular morning contemplating that particular question I heard the Lord say to my heart, "Liberty is the permission to be free, but it's not really Freedom until you walk in it."

Walking in Freedom. Running in it - basking in the beautiful nature of His Spirit and letting it soak you through to your bones. Allowing His very nature to penetrate every fiber of your being, and making you long for nothing more than to live in the calm and peace of His will your whole life long.

It was just as I was embarking on this journey with my prayer partners that I was discovering what it meant to me to be free. And, to the best of my ability, here is a concise expression of what I learned.

1. Freedom is born of God-given desire and found only in His Truth. Not a natural inclination to be "free" or lawless, nor is it something that we can earn or deserve... True Freedom can be found only in the heart of God - His unconditional love for His creation and His desire to touch the deep places within us personally and completely.

2. What I view as limitations may be an open invitation to walk in Freedom. Whether it is something as simple as being obedient to sit in the back of the room rather than in the front row, or as devestating as the death of someone I love, a debilitating injury or illness, or a financial set back... Whatever I see as limiting - God wants me to see as an invitation for Him to set me free.

3. Liberty beckons us just as a lighthouse calls lost sailors home. Liberty woos and calls to us in the darkness of night. It casts its bright light into the far reaching darkness and begs us to come in... And then we enter the safety of the Light of God to find that freedom is not something we do... It's something we experience. It is the result of what Christ did and my role is to allow it in - to allow it to so consume me in such a way that my life will never - can never - be the same because Christ has changed me from the inside out.

Dependent Freedom... Because it depends not on my desire to be free or what I do to gain it - it matters not my natural origins or my home country... It is dependent only on a sold-out, submitted life to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is by His sacrifice, His love, His grace, His heart that I become free.

Yes, my friends. This is what it means to be free. To live life in such a way that not only can you never be the same, but others who bear witness to your life no longer want their lives to remain the same. They, too, find themselves wanting to live life with that abandon, with that promised Freedom that Jesus came to purchase for us - each and everyone.

We all yearn for something more in life...

Many of us believe that something more is a destiny in a distant future promised heaven while others believe it is just over the hump to a better house in a better neighborhood, perhaps with a better husband and a better job.

But, Scripture's promise is that Freedom comes this side of Glory and Jesus' own words in Luke 4 state "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." A place of love, redemption, truth and sweet, sweet Freedom. It's right here, surrounding us, beckoning us in the voice of our Master.

Won't you step in?

Come Up Here...

Can you hear your Father calling you....

Come Up Here - Jason Upton

Date Night and Leadership Presbytery

A Few Pics...

Scott, my warrior/Knight in cowboy gear!



My stunning outfit...

The Couple headed out for

Dinner at Rockfish,

Presbytery at church,

and Dessert at the Cheesecake Factory.

Putting to work that decorator gift I had called out...

I painted this picture in a couple of hours on Sunday.

It represents Scott's Presbytery in picture.

On Thursday evening last week, our church offered us the opportunity to be blessed, encouraged and called forth according to the giftings and callings God has placed in us both individually and as a couple.

I have recently commented on this blog about how the gift of prophecy is encouraged and presented to the body by the leadership of our home church.

First let me say that we sat in a small room with one other couple and three prophetic team members who offered us words they heard while praying for and asking the Lord about us. We had not ever met any of the five people we shared a room with that night before.

When receiving Presbytery the members are often encouraged to submit the prophetic words to the Lord and only receive what He confirms to us.

Prophetic ministry is administered according to Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians 14. I pray for two things as I share this with you tonight.

1. That you would glean from the fields the Lord planted for us that night. Pastor Brady Boyd says you can't steal from the Holy Spirit - so if any of the words that follow ring true in your life - take them for yourself.

2. That God's words of encouragement, edification, comfort and exhortation that were spoken to us that night would be made sure - that our calling would be secure and that our submission to His will would bear much fruit.

I pray you are blessed by what you receive.

MICHELLE BENTHAM

Michelle, I see you bringing great beauty into people’s lives. It’s like I see you in a barren room, and you have a basket and you are pulling out these beautiful, beautiful objects. Pottery and Glass and Decorations for the windows, but it’s – I have a feeling that people who are lacking in their lives who don’t have that extra, who don’t have that beauty, who haven’t encountered the living God like you have are drawn to you. And, you champion them. You partner with them to show them the richness of what their true inheritance is. Because what you are pulling out isn’t what you’ve bought, it’s what Jesus purchased for them. And, you are helping them know that they know that they know this is really their inheritance. You are not showing them something that is you. You are showing them themselves. And, I just feel Father’s love for you for doing that. You’ve opened people’s eyes to the richness of Christ, to the richness of their Father God, and you delight His heart.

Well, Michelle, this is what I feel like the Lord wants to say to you. I just, what I heard was that you were a wild flower, perfect and beautiful. You dance with delight and I am so pleased. Your heart of worship is pure, true and strong. I smell a sweet fragrance around you when you dance. I just heard, “Dance, dance, dance!” I don’t know if you dance, but maybe He wants you to dance. Worship Me like never before! I want to spend time with you and I want you to know Me.

Hidden things will be revealed and truth is coming to you about your present situation. You have the gift of wisdom. I want to bring clarity and focus to you.

Jeremiah 33:3 “Ask ME and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here.”

A Wildflower is a flower that can be hidden on a hill only for My eyes or it can be for the pleasure of any man. That’s how I have made you. You minister to Me, but you also minister to others. You are soft and sweet and you draw people to you.

You know how to navigate people with ease and grace. They are comfortable in your presence and because of this trust they come to you for wisdom and counsel. Speak MY words and speak them often. I have made you to be an encourager and I want you to look for every opportunity to share. It doesn’t have to be heavy, just be available. A word here, a word there, and opportunities will present themselves in ways that will astound.

People just want to be loved. These are hard time. You bring refreshing. Do as I ask and you will develop the gifts within. You are a jewel in my crown!

Michelle, when I prayed for you the first two words that came so clearly were that you are gifted and that you’re treasured. And, the Scripture was in Matthew 6:21 where it says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”(AMP) And I really feel like what the Lord said to me was You are…Because you have…You know where your treasure is. You know where your heart is. You have chosen to plant your heart in Him, and He sees you as a treasure. He sees you as just a very, very precious thing to be cherished, and He does cherish you.

Um… I felt like the Lord said you’ve had great brokenness in your life. Great Brokenness. He took me to Isaiah 61 about beauty for ashes. And, the Lord has been systematically over the last (however long) He has been giving you beauty for those ashes. And what He’s calling you to now is what it says in Isaiah, to bind up the brokenhearted. He’s sending you back! Sometimes it’s going to feel like you’ve gone backwards in your brokenness, you haven’t. You’re whole. You’re healed. But He’s sending you back to that point because there are other people who are broken and they need to be brought back to where you are. They need to be brought forward, that’s what I feel like the Lord’s really calling you to.

Um… The Lord says you are a declarer of good tidings, of glad tidings. You’re like those angels that come in and say, “Holy is the Lord.” You know, “Praise to Him.” You are that kind of a person. And, He’s going to give you more opportunities to share those glad tidings to lift people up. You’re going to turn people into optimists. You’re going to help them see the goodness of the Lord.

I felt like the Lord said you have a mothering spirit. That you are a good mom. You are a special mom. And, that you are a champion of families. And, that you are a champion of your own family. And you have done really, really well at championing your family. And, you’ve changed your family line. From here on out it’s different because of the lines in the sand you’ve drawn. And the Lord just wants to commend you for that. And the song I keep hearing, I don’t usually hear songs so that’s interesting, is that Beatles song, “Michelle, my belle…” And the Lord just said that you are the Love of His Life and the Apple of His Eye, and He just wants you to remember that.

SCOTT BENTHAM
(And As A Couple)

Well, Scott I feel like what the Lord wants to say to you… And, I just felt this so strongly… I just felt like the Lord say that you are a warrior. He is like David, fearless in battle. He can take out the lion or the bear.

So, I went to 1 Samuel. He led me to 1 Samuel 17:34-37 “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!”

Scott is fearless. He has a heart to shepherd and protect my people. He leads with compassion and strength. You have a real heart of courage. You are a healer and deliver. I mean just a real leader.

Um… I heard the Lord say Lead My People! Stand Strong! I’ve made you to be bold as a lion! And the verse, the Scripture that goes with that is Proverbs 28:1.
“THE WICKED flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1 (AMP)

Um… Don’t shrink back! Move Forward! Always charge the battle, the victory is yours. Don’t stop to look at the enemy but press ahead.

I went, I then felt led to go to 2 Samuel 6:17-21. After David was anointed King, He came to seek God’s face before fighting the Philistines. He asked the Lord if he was to fight them and if he would win. The Lord said, Yes, I will certainly give you the victory. David went on to defeat the Philistines and he named the place Baal-Perazim (which means the Lord who bursts through).
“17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand." 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away.” 2 Samuel 5:17-21 (NKJV)

I just felt like that you charge the enemy. You believe what God has to say. There is no turning to the left or the right. You are pushing through, you are breaking through, and you are going on to victory. Nothing else will do.

David had many battles and many victories. I am with you just as I was with David. David knew his God. Know Me! Memorize My Word. It will carry you through the tough times to victory. Spend time in My presence with worship. You’re a man after God’s own heart!

(COUPLE) And, I just believe that because of the worship between the two of you, I think God’s hand of protection is upon you. And, I believe you walk in unity. And that is where, Psalm 133 is where because of the unity the oil was poured on Aaron and ran down the beard and because of the unity God commanded a blessing from the throne room. And, I just believe that God will command a blessing from you because you spend time, you worship Him, you know Him. And, I just believe breakthrough is coming.

Psalm 133
1 A Song of Ascents. Of David.
BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant
it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment
poured on the head,
that ran down on the beard,
even the beard of Aaron
[the first high priest],
that came down upon the collar
and skirts of his garments
[consecrating the whole body].
3 It is like the dew of [lofty]
Mount Hermon and the dew
that comes on the hills of Zion;
for there the Lord
has commanded the blessing,
even life forevermore
[upon the high and the lowly].
Psalms 133:1-3 (AMP)

Scott, I see you dressed like a lumberjack with a huge double-bladed ax. And there are people around you who are trapped. It’s like brambles have grown up, thorns have grown up and trapped them. And, you’re able to go in and clear cut that, and free them. You are a… And, you had no regard for yourself. These are things that could easily attack you. You had… It didn’t matter. All you could see were the people who were captured, and had been taken captive by the enemy. And, you had a plan and you had ability because you knew your God was with you. And, I see you just swinging that double-bladed ax and the things that had captured them just falling off and bringing them forth.

(COUPLE) And, I see you together as a team. As I see you (Scott) bringing forth those that are captured, I see you (Michelle) furnishing the things they’ve never had. And there is just like this open field full of flowers where there were just thorns and thistles before. And, there is a great strength that comes between the two of you being together, and being who you are.

And, the Lord respects you, Scott, for the stand you’ve taken. You didn’t see this growing up, but with eyes of faith you’ve been able to see what your Father’s wanted you to do. And, He admires you, and respects you for the walk you’ve chosen to do with Him.

Scott, I also heard that you’re a warrior. And, um…What I heard the Lord say was Stand Tall. Root yourself on the front lines and don’t move. I’ve given everything over into your hands. And, I really felt very strongly that the Lord was just saying that sometimes there is definite temptation to retreat, but you don’t have a reason to. You only need to retreat if you are losing, and you’re not losing. And, you’re not going to lose. And, so, that fear doesn’t need to be there. You can just give that fear over to the Lord, and let it go because there isn’t a reason to fear. You’ve already won. And, now it’s just a matter of carrying out the rest of the battle.

Um… the Lord said you have such a heart of tenderness and compassion. And, that is interesting because it seems like that is the juxtaposition of a warrior. Warriors are thought to be so strong and tough and hard. And, yet inside you have such tenderness and compassion. You know what you are fighting for, and the Lord really wants to commend you for that because that’s so important that you’re heart has stayed tender. It’s stayed tender to Him, it’s stayed tender to people.

The Lord said that you are a faithful friend. And, that’s going to come into play more and more because there are some important and significant friendships that are coming your way. And they’re not only going to help to advance the plans and the calling of what the Lord’s doing in your life – what He’s calling you to do. But, they’re also going to minister to you. They are going to give back some of the things that you’re giving out. And the Lord is wanting you… It’s going to be a good season. It’s going to be a very good season so treasure those relationships.

Um…And, I felt like the Lord said you have a prophetic gift. I don’t know if it is something that is active right now or if it is something that is coming, but I felt like the Lord said you’re a Seer. That He’s going to be showing you things in the future, and He’s going to be showing you the people and the places where you’re going to be assigned. And, I felt like it was going to be in the marketplace. That you have a calling to the marketplace. And you’re going to be assigned and charged with taking the church into the world. And there are going to be some very significant strides that you make in the world. That you are going to show people who don’t know otherwise that church is not a building. Church is what God does in your heart. That that’s what’s important.

So… I just want to encourage you that the Lord has very significant things for you. Very significant, very important things that He’s going to call you to do. And, um… You have a good wife by your side who going to support you. And, um… the Lord’s already placed in you what you need to be able to do this. It’s all there.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, Lord God we love you and we thank you. We just give you praise. Lord I just thank you for the heart of courage you have placed within this man. Lord, I thank you that he is out there, that he is a warrior, that he is fighting battles, that he is looking out for Your people that you’ve called him to be a shepherd. Father, I thank you that He has no fear. And, that he charges the enemy and the enemy just doesn’t get away with anything. Lord, I ask that You strengthen him and give him courage. And, Lord, just let him always see… let him see in the natural what’s in the supernatural. Father, I just ask that You stir up those gifts within him, and just give him the opportunities and the open doors. I thank You that You are Baal-Perazim, You are the Lord of breakthrough. And, that you are breaking through.

And God, I thank You so much for Michelle. I thank You for her heart of worship. And, I thank You that she draws people, that she refreshes that she brings encouragement. And Father we just praise You, I thank You that You’re going to show her those great and mighty things that she does not know. That You are bringing her into clarity and focus and revelation. Father, they’re a good team, and I ask that You protect their marriage. Just put a wall of fire around them.

Father I just thank You so much that as a couple they stand before Your throne and raise their hands in praise to who You are. Father, we can see a man and a woman but you see a Diety – You see them together – you see them portraying Jesus and the Church. And, that love that pours forth from them draws many to them. Father, I thank You for both of them and You stir up the gifts of prophecy and whatever means You have for them. Father I just have a sense that it is very deep and very strong in both Scott and Michelle. And that Father you are bringing them into a new season of being exactly who You intend them to be in the body. That the prophecy will pour forth from them to those who are hurt, who are lame, who are dying and will bring them encouragement, comfort, deliverance and freedom. Father, I just thank You that You are their provisioner that everything they need for life and godliness You provide for them. And, Father we just thank You that You pour Your blessing on them because they are so dear to Your heart. You cherish who they are, and Father we just thank You for the gift they are to the body.

I miss my man...

Scott has been away now for nearly one full month. He will return home on Wednesday for a few days before heading back out for another month to work in West Virginia. Your prayers would be appreciated both for safe travel and for our marriage.

As I wrote earlier in the year our marriage hit the rocks pretty big in December and January. All of that was preceded by six weeks of my hubs working away from home. I would just appreciate it if my prayer warrior friends would elevate him and his relationship with the Lord while he is away. AND, elevate me and my relationship with both the Lord and my husband as we work through the weeks ahead that we will be apart. My heart misses HIM. I wish he were home already and know that this is only season. I miss the one my heart loves. I miss him terribly.

So... In honor of my fella - I am going to write the ten things I appreciate the most about him:

1. His heart for his family. He loves our children and He loves me. Every morning before he leaves for work we talk on the phone and pray for our day, our family and the decisions we need to make. When he is home he always is sure to kiss me goodbye and we typically pray each morning together as well. This is new to him and he has so committed himself to remembering to honor the Lord with me each morning in prayer.

2. His strong work ethic. Scott is a bit of a perfectionist. He often would tell me his bosses would say that he did good work, but was slow when he worked in sheet metal. But what he wouldn't tell you was his penchant for doing the job not just well, but taking the time to do it right - with excellence. He often still evaluates the soffit work on new buildings if sheet metal is involved. At Verizon, he is often told to slow down. Though he often works quickly, he gets very frustrated if a job is not done well --- he is a standard bearer in the work place.

3. Scott's concern for others. Scott so blessed my heart when Justin was in the hospital. He would not leave me there alone first of all. He slept in the waiting room on an uncomfortable bench so I could stay the night with my son. He also knew the story of every family in the waiting room. He came back with a list of prayer requests and concerns for others while our own family was in the throws of crisis. He was also the first to offer the food that was brought to our family to others. Scott has always been one to bring back the prayer concerns of others.

4. His smile... When Scott smiles - his entire face smiles - especially his eyes.

5. I miss his mood eyes. No kidding he has hazel eyes, but when his mood changes so does his eye color from dark brooding gray to a light, misty lime-green when he is feeling amorous. I love the way his eyes capture me.

6. The way he smells when he arrives home from work. Okay, so this is weird - sort of - his earthy, musky just home from work smell is intoxicating. It smells warm and it just works me over every single time. I don't like it day old. But, fresh through the door - it is one of my favorite things --- hugging my hubs when he gets home.

7. His arm around me at church. It is the sweetest thing to receive the word with my husband's arm across my back. It is one of the safest feelings in my world.

8. When he says, "I love you, Baby." And kisses me. My favorite is when he slips his hands up into my hair and cups my head and kisses me tenderly - not long or crazy, but just a sweet, intentional kiss on the lips that says more than words ever do.

9. That he takes out the trash and has recently begun helping with the dinner dishes.

10. That he is still with me. After all the time, turmoil and the craziness that has been our blended life... He is still here working it out with me. I'm so blessed to have this man as my husband.

AND well there is one more: The man would come home from working all day when I was down in 2002 with a bum knee. He would help me into the truck and drive me 20 miles to my favorite sno-cone stand to get me a large cherry sno-cone. He is totally the bomb! :)

I love you, baby!

A History Lesson...

September 1, 2009 goes down in my book as one of the most revelatory days in my journey with Christ I've ever had. I did my devotional reading that day in Genesis 1:1-Genesis 2:25 and the following is what I reflected from that reading:

First, I had some questions.

• I noted that God made significant distinctions regarding the lights in the heavens He created verses the darkness, and between mankind and the animals. Read it for yourself. I read the NKJV... but I'm sure there will be revelation in any translation. Particularly interesting was that He had made the sun and moon and stars to "rule over" His creation (Day/Night). And taht He made a significant distinction between how He set man apart from the animals. Man was made according to the image/likeness of God, but the animals each were created according to their own kind.

• My questions... Why? Why? What does that mean? So I asked the Lord to show me what He wanted me to know about Him.

After I asked that question, this is what I read: Genesis 2:4 "This is the history of the heavens and the earth..."

And at exactly that moment something in me came alive. It was like I suddenly knew why I was so curious at that moment. My journal reflects that glorious moment so much better than my memory does - so read on to learn what it meant to me:

"God has been writing a story...a history, rich with people, experiences, action, drama, struggle, victory, power, intrigue and beauty. But, these things are not the heart of what He wants the history to reveal. The history of the heavens and the earth reveal not just what God has done - they reveal who He is and what He desires to do... His plan.

The history of the heavens and the earth involve stories - stories about God, angels and people. It unfolds like a map across time and each story reveals a clue, a revelation about the manifest presence of God, His character, and His nature that points to the depravity of our human condition and nature as well as our utter need of His loving redemption and truth.

The history of heaven and earth reveals the lengths that love will go to reveal itself to the one who beloved.

My story tells a part of that - and by allowing me to choose, He has allowed me to come alongside Him and write the story He is telling through my life.

It really is all about Him and what He wants to do in and through me... That week God spoke to me about something He had showed me a long time ago. It was something I believed that was related to my husband and his ministry, but God said, "You have Healer and Restoration written all over you." Oh Lord, I told everyone that week that by Friday I could just go and fall on my face before Him I was so in awe and so blessed by what He was doing. He is so good. So beautifully, faithfully good. I love Him so.

Salvation

Did Christ take the cross for what you did or to redeem who you are?

This question looms large in the lives of believers across the world today. After all... Everyday many believers who have been saved and bear the title Christian return to the altar time after time to confess, repent and reclaim their salvation.

At what point does what we know become who we are... At what point does it become more about who we are in Christ than what we did to need salvation?

A few weeks ago I went through a forty hour intensive training opportunity offered through my church and employer. I had been signed up for the training long before I took the position in the church offices... So it goes without saying that I was doubly excited that my new position with the church was now tied to this vital and beneficial training I was about to receive.

That week I received two revelations. I will write and post about the first revelation on Friday, but today I want to write about the issue of pardon versus identity.

You see John 3:16 does not say, "For God was so grieved by the sins of mankind that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life..." (Loosely paraphrased with spin.)

No... The Cross was about love. Love always has an object - not a list of do's and don'ts. The object of God's Love and ultimately His redemption is people... Sinners. Translation: All Mankind, the World.

Now think of it, when I become ill and visit the doctor's office, I don't go to the Department of Public Safety and have them change my name on my driver's license to reflect my name as "Patient." That would just be weird. My illness presents a condition or circumstance in my life which gives me a temporary status, but that does not change my identity.

So it is with sin.

Sinfulness is my condition at birth -yet, it is not truly my identity. Though I bear the title Sinner from birth - my identity is not rooted in sin. It is rooted in my Creator - the One True God of the Universe who has spent all of time building up to the moments recorded in His Word and the millions of moments since then as He has been wooing mankind to come back to the Garden of Relationship with Him.

My identity is in Christ... And, all of life is about discovering that identity - something in us is bent toward it. Just like the Sun spins things in orbit so the Creator draws out of the heart of His creation a desire to know and be known by something, someone greater than themselves.

In the Garden, Adam and Eve ate from one of the two forbidden trees. Which one? The tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Their sudden awareness of good and evil changed their relationship with God and made necessary God's plan for redemption. What did God desire to redeem? The people or the deeds that would be done out of the knowledge of good and evil. The obvious answer is the people.

However, what is prioritized in our churches today? Come to Jesus, ask Him to forgive what you DID, what you've DONE, and BE SAVED. Is that really why Christ died? Did He go to the cross to create some divine behavior contract that binds us into a list of religious rites and principals to correct the behaviors we commit ourselves to based on the knowledge of good and evil?

OR Did He go to the CROSS because HE SO LOVED THE WORLD (AKA as MANKIND, HIS CREATION, HIS BELOVED) and wanted to keep them from perishing in the knowledge of good and evil.

Is it possible that good, church-attending, Bible-believing Christians have spent a lifetime trying to live out a divine behavioral agreement with God and missed the point of redemption and salvation all together. Redemption is not about correcting what we've done wrong in the past and what we have the potential to do in the future. Redemption is about trading one thing of value to acquire something of greater use and value to the one who pays the price.

Jesus Paid the Price For You. Not to redeem you as property - but as SONS, Co-Heirs... Saints.

In allowing Himself to be nailed to a tree, Christ became the Tree of Life (the other tree mentioned by name in the Garden) for us. He spent His earthly life building a vision of a Kingdom meant for people of a royal heritage who would come into His Kingdom and find rest for their weary souls, life for their dead spirit and love to satisfy their broken hearts.

When we make the deeds of mankind the point of redemption we really cheapen grace and set ourselves up to JUDGE. We, the human race, have been doing it for years. Defining ourselves by titles, roles and deeds when God has so much more for us to discover.

"At least I didn't do that..."

"I've never murdered anyone..."

"I've lived a good life..."

"I only lie..."

"The only person I've hurt in this is myself..."

"I walked the aisle..."

"I gave my life to Christ..."

"I just feel like I've done too much to ever be forgiven..."

"If God really knew what I've done..."

The list of rationalizations and religious rhetoric is endless.

You see man lost more than just his privilege of residing in the Garden of Provision called Eden when sin befell Adam and Eve at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They lost their ability to identify themselves in relationship with God.

Before we were born, or even a "twinkle in our mother's eye" as my father likes to say, God had an identity - an original, true identity - with purpose, dignity and value all wrapped up in His love for us attached to it... For each and every person. He fashioned and knit us with unique skill sets, talents, and giftings. He hand selected the color of our skin, hair and eyes... He positioned us precisely in the moment in time which He wanted us to live and breathe and bring forth life. He had us in mind the entire time.

Then man was created and he fell from the relationship with God he had in the Garden.

And, as that tracing of original sin has been reproduced in us and our human nature time and again from the moment the Cherubim locked the gates of Eden we have lost the most vital part of our existence - our ability to identify ourselves with God. Yet God so identified with us that He allowed His own Son to take on the limitations and agonies of flesh only to suffer Him and allow Him to be tortured and to die a harsh, cruel and criminal's death so that we might one day be free.

However, most of mankind is doing the same thing Adam and Eve did in the Garden. Staring at the knowledge of Good and Evil and buying the same old lie of Satan as we go along life's way. We spend all our time jumping back and forth between the limbs of the knowledge of good and evil and completely miss the Tree of Life knocking at our door waiting for us to invite Him into our lives for good. To dine with Him, to relate to Him in the depths of intimacy and affection and to discover what He has known about you all along.

We find really good religion by living our lives based on the knowledge of Good and Evil but we never really discover the truth about ourselves. We spend all our time trying to change ourselves by focusing on what is wrong with our environments and behaviors and never delve into what it is we truly believe about ourselves, our God and well about the Life He gave us to live.

Instead, we listen to the murmurs and the rumors of Satan. The little lies he whispers when some experience we begin to define ourselves by goes awry. Our marriage ends... We're a failure. A Divorcee... I was raped... I'm a victim. I stole something - I'm a thief. I spanked my child - I'm a bad parent. We hear it. We see it. We feel it. And every time we experience something that reopens those old identity wounds and affirms what we feared to be true... We take another bite of the lie. We swallow it down in sobbing gulps and allow it to take residence within us - to be the thing we feast on in our weaker moments and dwell on when all else seems lost. And in it, Satan achieves the same victory he sought in the Garden with Adam and Eve. He robs us of our identity. Threatens to steal our faith and destroy our lives... And he speaks it to us in our own voice.

The truth is unless we deal with what we believe about ourselves and God - line it up with His Word and allow the Truth of Christ to transform and renew our mind - nothing in our lives will ever truly change. We just end up swinging from the branches of that same old tree in the Garden wearing ourselves out and never getting anywhere. No Life.

But, when we allow God to tell us who we are. When His love begins to penetrate our lives and our thoughts... It works its way into our hearts and we begin to realize that just like illness makes me a patient but doesn't have anything to do with the God Created Definition of my life. So it is with Sin. Sin cannot define me anymore than illness or failure or trauma or death can. But all of those things can distract me from the truth:

Salvation is not a Behavior Contract. It is the point at which the old me dies on the cross with Christ and the new me - the original, created me that God purposed for me to be - comes to life.

The other night in my journal I was reflecting on John 17:1-9 and this is what I wrote:

"When the Truth makes Himself know to me, my response must be self-examination, confession and repentence. This brings sanctification and cleansing as well as relationship.

When I am sick, my condition (illness) makes me a patient, but my condition does not define my identity (my existence). My condition gives me a title related to my circumstances - that does not change who I am. Recognizing I am sick sends me to the doctor for remedy. And, so it is with sin.

Sinfulness is my condition, and Sinner is the title that defines my condition. My identity is not sinner, but my condition drives me to God to seek restoration of my life and healing, to reconcile me to my true identity in Christ.

The utter depravity of my soul requires God's healing and restoration of my original identity. God did not send His Son to die for what I did --- though He took care of that on the cross, and I am so grateful He did. He died to redeem who I am - who God created me to be.

No, Salvation is not a behavior contract.

It's the moment when I experience Christ in such a transforming way that my life and I will never be the same.

For God so loved YOU (the World) that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.... John 3:16 (my memory...)

Just the Same

August 22, 1998

Eleven years ago this very day, Saturday - August 22, 1998, Scott and I left Justin, Texas in separate vehicles headed to Granbury to spend the day preparing for our wedding. We married in a quiet little bed and breakfast just off the square called "The Secret Garden." It was an enchanting old house with a loft bedroom upstairs, a large bedroom suite downstairs and a private hide-away cottage where we would spend the night out back.

That day we were surrounded by our children - Justin, Brittany, Travis, Taylor and Megan- who were dressed in our colors of blue and white western w and stood with us as we vowed before God, our family and friends to join our lives together in marriage. The faint sound of doves can be heard on our wedding video as they were caged in the arbor just out of sight. I still count it as one of the most exciting and blessed days of my life.

Back then, I hoped we had what it would take to stand the test of time, but I really didn't know. I was hopelessly romantic. Couple that with a tattered, torn and broken heart and life and I just felt lucky to be there. Like I was living a dream. And, I was. The fairy tale I had dreamed of my whole life. Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome with his hat, his boots and his Wranglers ride in to rescue me and take me off into happily ever after.

If someone would have told me then what happily ever would have looked like I might have run for the hills... But, as I said, I'm hopeless in the lofty dreams of fairy tale endings. My friend, Cheryl took me to my mother's home and we visited her hairdresser where we laughed and talked and I felt the first jangles of nerves dancing around inside of me. When she spun me around and I saw the exact hairstyle I had selected from the magazine I knew it was going to be the perfect day.


Once we arrived back at my parent's home, Momma took me downstairs and opened up her small cased of precious jewelry. She handed me a pearl necklace and a pearl earrings before slipping off the first wedding ring my father gave her for me to wear on my right hand. I gathered up the other miscellaneous things, kissed my family goodbye and ran off to the bed and breakfast to decorate, to bathe, to try to relax and to wait.


The afternoon began to wane as we finished afixing the simple bows and swags of blue and white roses to the arbor and the railings in the back yard. It was, after all, August in Texas and the sweltering heat was at an all time high. Cheryl hussled me into the suite where we assembled our baby girls with coloring books and crayons while their hair dried on the sponge rollers I'd placed in them earlier that day.



Cheryl finally talked me into soaking in the bathtub and letting her take care of the last few details for the day. I remember laying back in that warm, sudsy water and thinking it was absolutely too good of a day to be true. It may not sound like much to you, but for me it was a day I had dreamed of all my life. I was marrying a man that I loved with my whole heart, a man who helped me to feel safe and beautiful - a man to share my life, my dreams and even my sorrows with. A man who would love me in spite of me. And at that moment I realized I was only hours away from marrying Scott Edward Bentham and pledging my life to him. Sweet tears of joy fell in those moments of quiet realization.

I sat there for a long while before getting out and beginning to dress for the ceremony. I pulled out the dress I had hidden away under a garbage bag. It was a light linen sundress that I (and now this is telling) had picked up off the clearance rack at Wal-Mart for $15.00. It was not a high-end bridal gown, but a simple reflection of the life I wanted to live. The dress made me feel beautiful, and that is all I wanted to be. Beautiful before my groom. I allowed the whispy fabric to caress my fingers before turning to the vanity and applying my make-up. The finishing touches were in place when I heard a car door shut in the drive outside.

My heart began to beat with anticipation as I heard the voices of men echoing on the hot summer breeze. I climbed up and poised myself to spy a quick glance through the window set high in the wall. And that is when it happened... He walked by. My head felt light and my heart danced in my chest. I couldn't even breathe I was so captivated. I whispered, "Soon... Baby... Soon." And felt the warm tears of joy begin to course down my cheeks once again.

It was within an hour that people began to arrive and filter into the back yard where they took their seats and awaited our arrival. My babies and my best friend from Dallas, Brenda, preceded me down the aisle and I walked on the arm of my father to where Scott waited for me on the lawn. The Justice of the Peace asked, "Who gives this woman to marry this man?"

And my father's voice broke as he said, "Her children, her mother and I do."

1 Corinthians 13 was read and a simple ceremony observed before the words, "I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss your bride," were spoken. And that was it... I was now and evermore would be Mrs. Scott Edward Bentham. At around 7:30 PM we were married. And lauded with the cheers and applause of our family and friends.

Later, my cousin who was also divorced whispered in my ear - you give me hope for myself. I also saw my dad walk up and put an arm around Scott's neck and welcome him as a son. My joy was truly complete that day. Our reception was full of laughter and sweet moments of mingling with family and friends. I would often find myself separated from him, but a quick glance across the room made me smile. At the end of the night, Cheryl put on a sweet song about a man and his wife and how beautiful she was in his eyes. Everyone backed up against the walls and Scott and I danced there under the ceiling fan on the hardwood floors our first dance as husband and wife.

I treasure the memories of that day. The day a little girl's dream became true. I had married my prince, even if sometimes he seems like a toad, and we have truly found a place where we are more happily ever after than not. I love you, my sweet man. Happy Anniversary Scott... I'd choose you again. I love you.

One Flew the Coop...

The last few days have been strikingly bittersweet at our house. Our 19 year old, Brittany Ann, took her boxes, clothes and a few of our household items and moved into her own apartment on Sunday.

There were not many tears on Sunday, but as the enemy would have it there were heated words and tears on Friday night. The emotional tension of three women who have been one room away from each other for the last 18 years spewed forth like lava from an erupting volcano. Not even kidding. My husband - the only man in the house, sat in the chair and watched the drama unfold like a spectator at a hockey game.

I must admit - it was more the girls who let loose with angry words and accusation, but as I am learning it is no small thing to get sucked into the moment when emotions are running high.

Friday, my barely grown daughter announced she did not want to spend one more minute in this house and with a screeching tone declared me insufferable. At that point I realized there was no talking to her in this state, and needing her to realize how far beyond the boundaries she had ventured offered: "If that is truly the way you feel then you need to pack up your things and move them out tonight."

Her shock was mixed with fierce anger, but with a few footstomps down the hall she began to pack up what she would need for two days and left. My husband and I offered the olive branch - we both told her we did not want her to leave that way but felt we had little choice given her attitude and the feelings she expressed. We invited her to take the opportunity to talk this out with us calmly and without all the emotions. She replied, "I don't know what to say to that."

I started to fret once she was on her way to a friend's apartment for the night. But, then something happened. I realized that while this is somewhat painful and difficult - it may be necessary for us to cut the apron strings and for her to finally learn to fly on her own. I prayed for a while, then I reminded the enemy that he is a liar when all sorts of false accusation and worrisome rhetoric began to make it's way into my head. I reminded him he has no place in our lives because we belong to Christ. I also told him he doesn't get to tell me something bad is going to happen to her because of this... I slept well that night.

The next morning my heart was full of love for her and hoping to reconnect and recover from the night before. I dropped her sister off at work and went to Wal-Mart to pick up the few items we had talked about she would need. Then I purchased a gift card for her to buy groceries with and called to find out if there was anything else she would need. She said, "I'm sorry."

She asked me what I was doing and I told her buying the towels and things she needed for her new apartment. She said, "AWWWW... Thank you, Momma."

I asked, "Do you want to come home?"

She said, "Yes."

I asked, "Do you want me to come get you?"

She said, "Yes."

I was relieved and she was more humble. Things felt entirely different in that moment.

She got all moved in on Sunday and now we have a mostly empty room. Devoid of the life and trappings of a teenager in full swing. I'm so excited for her, while praying with great fervor that all works out well as God would plan.

Milestones are hard for me. My Jay never ventured out on his own as an adult. He will always and ever be seventeen as far as this earthly existence goes... But oh the glorious reunion that awaits us as we finally see him HOME in heaven again one day. God's grace and mercy are such a blessing at times like this. No tears, just a few bittersweet moment to mark our path along the way.

When did our babies grow up? That's what I asked Scott on Sunday night when we had come home and settled down for the evening. When?

He laughed. "It seems a long time ago."

It would seem they've been doing it all along. I just didn't realize how much until Sunday.

Pitter Pat...

The rain is pitter-pattering on the sidewalk outside my house as I sit here this morning thinking about storms. The storms of life come and sometimes they are frightening, but mostly they are a time when you either face down your fear or you are controlled by it.



God's been teaching me about what it means to trust Him and walk in His peace these last few years. I'm not talking about the kind of trust that speaks of how much I love and depend on God, but the kind of trust that runs to Him in the storm instead of doing Tornado drills while making my children empty the closet under the stairs.



Several years ago, we were in the midst of a train of storms blowing through North Texas when the news began to report Tornadoes touching down not far from the small town we lived in back then. Justin had a friend from church over and we were all watching television when the report came in... I immediately began enlisting the help of my children emptying the closet under the stairs and then had them all "practice" running into the closet while I made the whooping sound of sirens. It was a crazy, chaotic and now as I look back on it hilarious moment in my sometimes querky life.



My children also remember that night vividly. I am oft reminded of it when the National Weather Service Emergency Alert begins to sound on the television. So... what does that have to do with how I began my post?



My youngest daughter, Taylor, has recently committed herself to the calling of God to be a missionary to Northern Uganda. It is no secret that Uganda is one of those countries that is very dangerous for its own people, much less missionaries. However, God has purposed Taylor for that very place on this planet and given her a heart to minister to and adopt children there who are either orphaned or ripped from their homes by the military and forced to fight in a war that few people understand. A storm... Possibly even a firestorm.



My oldest daughter is on the verge of moving about a half hour away and beginning her adult life in college on her own. With a constantly shifting culture and economy that leaves many uncertainties for her and us. A potential storm on the horizon...



Having been through the loss of my oldest child and the near dissintegration of our marriage in the aftermath, I find myself these days calmly riding out the natural storms where rain and thunder accent the background noise in our home and lightning dances across the sky. I am learning to trust God completely - not only with what happens to me but also with who I am. Trust does not happen apart from knowing the truth about that in which you've placed your trust. The more I learn about God through His Word, the more I understand His nature and His character. The more I understand His nature and His character, the more like Him I want to become. The more like Him I become, the more others see Christ in me. And the more others see Christ in me... The more He is glorified.



Recently God has asked me why I claim to trust Him so much when I don't trust the people He has placed in my life. I've had to grapple with that reality over the last few months. The truth I am learning about my relationship with God leaves me marked, changed and learning to let go of those things that hurt me so much about people and love with abandon, live without fear and hope without doubts. "If you abide in my word... You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." ~ Love, Jesus. AMEN.

Life in the Church Lane

As I eluded to in my last post, I began my position as Pastor Angie's new assistant this week. Working in a church creates an interesting mix of business and ministry. I've been here before on a much smaller scale. As in... I had three or four extensions to keep up with max and three pastors and one Secretary besides me...

Fast Forward! Today, I am responsible to one pastor, but working among many. I've seen so many my head is swimming. Training is going slow because we have meetings where everyone is getting to know the "New Kid on the Block" and well, they're graciously bringing me up to speed. Today felt like we accomplished so very, very much - We marked one thing off of our to-do list for the last three days (we had six originally and added three today). Well, save the meetings mind you.

Does it sound like I am complaining? I'm sorry... Because the best part is while it seems like vital things are moving slowly - I'm so excited because I'm learning so much. I love it. I'm beginning to understand the dynamics of the team I am working with, and I have a feeling Thursday I will surely begin to grasp the way our team fits in with the other teams in our department.

I'm fascinated, excited and honestly overwhelmed in a really good way by it all!

So... If you don't see much of me for the next week or so it is because I am learning to do my job... Which is more than a job. It is really something I'm eager to learn and learning to Love! I love my boss and her sweet assistant who is leaving us already.

Ever feel like the slowest car on the freeway? Well, I'm in that huge machine barrelling by you just about now. Nothing slow moving about this place! It's a blast.

Newness!

So, I'm the newbie at the office. First day in the office as Pastor Angie's Assistant... I met several wonderful, smiling faces today - and ran into a few familiar ones as well. It was an exciting day - half of it anyway. Highlight... The Key Fob (I feel so official) and the people! :)

The other half - well, let's just say being shocked and pinned and needled is no fun at all. I had an EMG today. The results - Negative for nerve damage. Looks like my MRI came back better than expected. I'll get the official results on Thursday.

How's life with you? Obviously I'm in a season of Newness... What about you?

Well, I'm off to bed... If you are reading my blog then check out www.angiewyatt.com tomorrow. She is a fabulous woman of God who is jumping in the blog pool with both feet! Love you guys.

Hummingbird Crazy - Eureka Springs, Arkansas

The Wonder of It All

To say that all of creation cries out that God exists to me is an understatement. As I walked through the trees surrounding the Mildred B. Cooper Chapel I was completely in awe of how an area so densely populated with trees could give you such glimpses of light. I also realized that as we walked along the cobblestone and cement path that some trees were shedding dead branches and bark while others had fallen completely and lay as a reminder that amid such beautiful life there are remnants of death all around.

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I loved every inch of our walk. That morning the temperature must have been at least ninety degrees but in that particular wooded area we barely broke a sweat. A cool breeze danced overhead and swirled all around us as we made the journey that wove through the trees about this chapel.

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I guess the other thing I noticed was how intimate the setting seemed. This place was untouched - so raw and natural. Aside from the paved walking path and the two buildings in the park area - the place remained relatively untouched. A small squirrel (or chipmunk) played just up the path from us as we began our walk and I managed to snap a couple of photos of the little guy before he scampered off up a tree.

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Just before we finished our walk, Scott pointed to a little Robin (red-breast) that was hopping down the sidewalk a few yards ahead of us. I quietly crept up the walk and snapped a few shots of this little friend. He made a short flight into a tree and I captured the most remarkable shot while trying not to leap for joy as not to disturb this sanctuary of peace.

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On the way out of the park we spyed a small beetle snacking on a leaf near the entrance and the wonder of creation hit me fresh. If that had been all... Oh that would have been enough. However, God continued to delight me with His beautiful testimony throughout that morning. We went around the corner from the chapel area to a dammed lake. I walked out and took pictures. In my photos you will find several pictures of huge boulders that have all manner of vegetation growing out of them. Life on the "ROCK", so to speak.

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Another little bird rested on a sign before flying off to join his friends in some nearby trees. The view was breathtaking ... And that's when it happened, I noticed that the dense wooded area just to the right of the dam was actually the little hill on which the chapel sits. Yet, from that dam you would not even know there was a building nestled among all those beautiful trees. Utterly protected and sheltered from a prying and adulterated world, this chapel sits among the trees relatively secure and serene. Undisturbed. Peace be still.

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It was so hard to leave such a beautiful place. Still, we found ourselves heading off to capture the pictures of Eva and Ben's fishing trip. While we waited for them to arrive at the second small lake a few blocks from the chapel I began searching out a spillway that led to a creek running through the trees just off the small lake. All this beauty tucked in just behind a hardware store off of Highway 71.

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We could see the large boulders and rocks that seemed to be cut by the water peeking at us through the trees as we drove by. Little did we guess what wonders flowed through them. As I got closer I could hear the rush of water and knew there was a treasure behind all those trees lining the road.

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I was right.

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A beautiful cascade of water was falling through those rocks. So I searched and searched until I got the perfect shot(s). A little butterfly even came along side me to play and catch the wonderful view. Just as I snapped the last few pictures, Jef and Dad drove by with the kids and I went to snapping away at all the fun they had that day. This has been the best vacation of my life.

So... Without further adieu, the sights of our little walk continue as nature speaks through these pictures. I hope you enjoy them.

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(Songs included in this video are "Draw Me Nearer" and "Peace Be Still" by Gateway Worship available on the "Conversations with God CD" at www.gatewaypeople.com [Click Resources]).