Thursday, March 25, 2010

Taking Hold of Jesus

The "bus" broke down...but PTL it was only a battery problem that was easily corrected...thanks to the kind gentleman at Baysmont Inn in Brentwood.  Paige, Jenn, and I made it home safely.  Thanks for your prayers! 

Also a special thank you shout out to ANDY!  By the word servant in the dictionary is Andy's picture!  Lana it was a pleasure serving with you!  Thank you for your hard work to make this conference happen...we applaud you!!!

We had a MARVELOUS time with ladies at the Administrative Assistants Conference!!!  Our Hats Off to YOU!  You guys are so much fun!!!  Your expression of praise through song was a beautiful offering to our Lord!  Go TEAM!  Continue to be CHAMPIONS for CHRIST!!!

We met some champions this week.  Women whose journeys are not easy, but who are choosing to serve in the name of Jesus through their pain.  Their hearts ache because of grief, financial burdens, broken homes, straying children, and the list goes on. 

This week the Lord reminded us that in the midst of all the pain that He promises to never leave us or forsake us!  He tells us to cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us!  He binds up our wounds and heals the broken-hearted!

So to our new friends we made this week...Thank you for sharing your lives with us!  Thank you for trusting us with the stories of your hearts!  We will continue to lift you up in prayer to the ONE who knows you by name, values you, and loves you!  Take hold of Him because He is holding on to you!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Hats Off to Church Administrative Assistants

We are having lots of fun at the Tennesssee Baptist Convention with Ministry Assistants from all over the state.  We have discovered that they are fabulous singers!!!  Their sweet spirits and their enthusiasm for serving God in their churches is contagious!  How about those snacks during the break session...cream cheese and pepper jelly on a wheat thin...ever who thought up that idea should get a prime time spot on the Food Network Channel.  YUM!!!  It was a great day! 

Now to our friend Ms. Madge GPS.  Going straight .8 of mile will not work when there are curbs and trees in front of the vehicle. Any yes Paige typing in the word East instead of West can cause a vehicle to end up at a different destination than planned.

A wonderful surprise came to me while in Nashville.  Two girls (well they were girls twenty some years ago) who lived in my building at CNC came to visit with Paige, Jenn, and me.  I was their DORM MOM.  Kristi brought her scrapbook.  We reminisced...laughed...cried!  It was such a meaningful time for me!  Kristi had in her scrapbook a report notice I had written her...well I still write reports today...she stole my silverware...well you guessed it...I wrote her a report.  A mom is always a mom!  Kristi and Amy thank you so much for blessing me with your presence!

The Lord used that time with those two lovely women to open a possible door for my book Dan Dan Moved to Heaven.  Kristi has a contact at Thomas Nelson Publishing.  He made a contact and has someone interested in reviewing the book!  I gave Kristi a copy to give to Him.  Pray for His will!  Lord I trust You!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

A Story to Tell!

I’ve known Paige since the day she was born. Her dad and mom so graciously encouraged me along in my walk with the Lord through my pre-teen and teenage years. I got to watch Paige grow up. But my favorite part was listening to her sing. When I closed my eyes and listened to her sing…I felt I could touch God…I still feel that way today!


Jenn worked for me as a Student Resident Assistant at Carson-Newman College over twenty years ago. The first time I heard her sing, I knew God had something special in store for her. God placed beautiful music in her heart. God would send her lyrics that would give me cold chills when I heard them. I always cried…I still do today!

Paige came to Carson-Newman during that same time. She and Jenn became instant friends. Both children of fathers in the ministry…both outstanding musicians and singers…both loved the Lord. Way back then they had a dream of going on the road and singing for the Lord. Today we still laugh about their dream of getting on that bus and heading to Nashville.

Now let’s fast forward to today. All those years ago, God knew He was going to blend our lives together again. Now that is one amazing story! (This is still very surreal for us). This time we are…older…wiser (haha)…wives…moms…career women…all the while desiring more from our individual journey with our Lord. Out of that desire… takinghold Ministries was formed a little over four years ago.

We didn’t even begin to understand all that He had in store for us through takinghold Ministries. Man, has he ever been teaching us lessons…how not to be a control freak…learning to say I’m sorry…on letting go and actually trusting Him…how to wrestle with matters of the heart choosing to include Him in the wrestling match…job changes…and the list goes on and on. So for the three of us takinghold of Him has come to mean so much more to us.

In this blog I hope we all can learn from each other’s stories on how to take hold of Him. I hope you will join us on this learning journey.

Today we are getting on the BUS (really a van) and heading to Nashville…yes I SAID NASHVILLE!!! (God does give us the desires of our heart even if it is over twenty years later).  takinghold will be in concert and lead in worship at the TBC Secretaries Conference. Church Secretaries are some of the most gifted and loving women in our churches. It is an honor to go and worship with them! Paige, Jenn, and I have had some very special church secretaries invest a lot of time loving us! WE APPLAUD YOU LADIES!

Goodnight All!