Girls Get-A-Way

I've always wanted to take a Christian Cruise and this year I finally did it! What a treat! I can't begin to describe what this trip really meant to me.

My hubby and I had never had a honeymoon, so three years ago to celebrate our 35th anniversary we took our first cruise to Alaska. It was absolutely the vacation of a lifetime and I knew I wanted to do it again, but next time I wanted it to be an all Christian Cruise. So when a dear friend of mine called me a year ago and suggested that we book a cabin on the "Girl's Get-A-Way Cruise to Cozumel, Mexico I was so excited. We began to plan every detail of it, both knowing that with all our families have been going through these past couple of years there was a very real chance we would be passing it on to someone else. And yes, there were many obstacles to overcome even right up to boarding time, but God worked it out and I had such a glorious time fellowshipping and worshipping with other believers! Five days of fun, fellowship, praising, and learning more about my precious Savior was so much what I needed at this stage in my life! I gathered memories to last a lifetime.

My next goal: to book another Girl's-Get-Away cruise sometime in the future; and to include taking my daughter, daughter-in-law, and my three lovely grandaughters along with me. So.......in order for this to happen I need all your prayers for a miracle. You see, my grandaughter, Ashley Kate is recovering from a multi-organ transplant and has just come through an episode of rejection. God is faithful and He is working miracles in her life daily and I KNOW there is NOTHING TOO BIG FOR HIM! We have been told that she cannot travel on public transportation, but if it be God's will one day she will - and we will ALL praise Him together on a slow boat to somewhere! Until then we will praise Him daily for His goodness and mercy for He and He alone is worthy to be praised!!!!!

They let me out!

I LOVE GOING TO PRISON! What an awesome weekend we had in Dawson State Jail in Dallas, TX last weekend! God surely showed up and did a HUGE work and I'm so blessed to be a part of it all and get to witness to "the least of these".

This is one time I truly can say, though, that I'm very thankful to be out. You see, on Saturday the door to the POD we were in (one other teammate and myself) decided not to work by computer and we really were in "lockdown" with all the inmates. Did I panic? Not at all. I knew that God had it all under control, but it was a weird feeling not knowing just how long it would be before they could get the proper authority to come and manually open the heavy metal door so that we could once again be free. I can tell you this - the Holy Spirit was hard at work during that time and there were many ladies experiencing true revival! What a blessing it was! One of the women said she had been to a "Champions for Life" weekend three times in the past and didn't really care to get anything out of it, but this time was different. She fell to her knees on that hard, dirty concrete floor and cried out to Jesus to save her soul - oh what a wonderful day! We have a new sister to pray for now and her name is Jackie. She had been a prostitute and heroine addict for many years; slept under a bridge most of her adult life and finally at the age of 43 the Holy Spirit got her attention and she has become a new creation. I praise our mighty God for her salvation! There were many more, but I will only share one of them with you at this time. Her name is Tara and she grabbed my heart for life. She has two beautiful little girls, Courtney, age 7 and Hayley, age 5. She has not seen these sweet girls for a year now, Can you even imagine - I cannot. She has asked that I pray for her and ask everyone I know to join me that she might one day get to see and hold her precious daughters again. I was able to counsel with her, pray with her, and love on her for several hours and a huge weight was lifted after she sat down and wrote a wonderful letter to her in-laws who have custody of her girls. She told them of how God had gotten her attention and begged that they forgive all her sins against them. She truly touched my soul. Please keep this situation in your prayers.

Yesterday morning I was called by my neighbor who had just found her sweet husband dead in the floor of their sunroom. I have been with them most of yesterday and today and I would also ask they you keep the Davis family in your prayers. How sweet it is when one goes to be with the Lord, but how sad it is for those left behind to miss them. Life is precious and we are blessed for we have a friend who never leaves us during the tests and trials of life. May our Lord shield and protect you and yours and may you rest in His arms tonight. Good night my friends - we'll talk more upon my return from my next trip which begins tomorrow right after the funeral. Hummmm - what could I be up to now????

RIDING A DINOSAUR

Ok, So I'm finally getting around to taking a little, (well, maybe a lot) of time to figure out how to do my first post and what I've learned so far is that it's very, very difficult to do when you're riding an old dinosaur! Yes, it's quite a challenge to figure out something new like this when you're using one of the oldest computers in the nation combined with old dial-up service, but lo and behold, it can be done and here I am at last!

I must say when teaching an old dog new tricks (the old dog being me, of course) it is most helpful to have "show me" instructions. Perhaps that comes from being born in the great state of Missouri. My dad always told me growing up that I was just born in "plain old missery", but that's another story for another day. Anyway, I have gotten a few instructions from my dear daughter who happens to live in another state so bear with me as I learn, ok?

The question is, I suppose, what do I have to say? Well, I can assure you that my heart and mind are ALWAYS full so watch out.......ya never know what my days will bring. One thing I can always be sure of, though, is that whatever happens in daily life I KNOW that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is at the center of it all. He is my EVERYTHING! So there, you have gotten to know me and what I stand for. One of my little grandaughters the other day said, "Grandma, do you know what is bigger than God, the poor have it, the rich don't have it and it's more evil than the devil?" I immediately told her "Nothing". She said, "you're right, Grandma. Somehow I knew you'd get that one!" I pray that it will always be true that people see Jesus in my life.

I love to go to prison! What? Yes you heard me right - I LOVE TO GO TO PRISON! I will be leaving tomorrow to go to Dallas/Ft Worth for a big prison weekend. I began doing this ministry about 5 years ago and I can't wait each time I get the opportunity to go. Please be in prayer for my teammates and myself as we go to spread the gospel to many waiting inmates this weekend. We will go into our first unit on Friday and again on Saturday. I will gladly report upon my return how God made changes to many during our stay. What a privilege to get to do this work. I truly believe that all Christian people should experience it at least once. What an honor to be allowed to lead precious souls to the Lord Jesus Christ! Anyone who is interested can contact me and I'll be more than happy to direct you to the sources for you to go along with us. All you need is a desire to win souls for Christ.

I'll call it quits for now and see if this will post before my "dinosaur" gets grumpy and decides I've spent too long on this page and kicks up his heels in dispair. My hubby has assured me "he's working on high speed" (yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it), but alas, for now I'm stuck in the dark ages. Ho Hum, just one of my "Ages and Stages". More to come........