On Fire!

Our "neck of the woods" is on fire here in Southern California. Once again. It is a tradition that comes in late summer and early fall, and we must have some fire or life would just become downright boring! I have to say what amazes me the most is how Californians just go about their business as if nothing is happening and yet there is plenty of smoke, ash, and orange skies while the firemen battle the blaze. Or should I say blazeS? There are approximately 9 fires in California right now which is pretty typical. However, the big fire which is closing in on my city is called the Station Fire. The name is chosen usually by the location of where the fire began. So far, the Station fire has burned 125,000 acres, several homes, and two firefighters have lost lives by accidentally driving over a cliff. Now our city has turned over one of our largest parks, which is about 1 mile from our home, to a large contingent of firefighters. They have made the park into a Command Center replete with a Shower House (Tent), Chow Hall (Tent) and Hotel (Tents). I find it comforting that they are so near, but unsettling that the fire which started 30 miles away is now finding it's way to our front door! Every year we go through this and every year we are blessed with safety and no personal loss. Our biggest inconvienence is having to pack up and evacuate if need be. Please keep those who have been dislocated, evacuated, lost their homes, or for the families who lost their family members in your prayers.

A Few More Pictures for Your Critique!

Hopefully you can see the wall color, a very light yellow called "Gold Coast White" and the fabrics, some are Waverly and Some are Liz Claiborne. All on sale 60% with regular prices ranging from $15.99 to $34.99! Such deal!

Better Pictures of Our Redecorated Family Room/Kitchen

I'm in Training

Dear Readers, I don't think I have told many of you about my latest endeavor. For about 6 years I have been assisting my friend Angela who is the Director of the Pregnancy Center here in our valley. She has often struggled to find great, godly employees and volunteers to help women in a crisis pregnancy. So occasionally she has called and ask for HR input on how to handle poor employees and/or recruit better ones, and also, together we have developed the future growth of the center. She says that I am on her "advisory board" as the HR representative. All good and fine.

Recently, however, the pregnancy center had a volunteer appreciation brunch and the guest speaker, Glenda, was amazing. She is an elegant, stately, gracious and godly, older women (older being maybe mid 60's) and I learned she used to be the director of the center, but has been leading in a volunteer position the Post Abortion Counseling and Education (PACE) part of the center. Well that piqued my interest because someone very close to me shared several years ago that she had had 2 abortions almost 30 years ago and I have witnessed upclose the damage that abortion wreaks. All that information leads up to what I am doing now. I have decided to facilitate counseling postabortion women and to encourage and assist them in making peace with the ramifications of that decision and reconciling with God. However, before I can do that, I need training! So far, that has required completing a very lengthy bible study booklet that the postabortion women will do, and attending 20 hours of training with a large binder brimming with information. The information includes: how to communicate, what to say when the woman lists reasons why she needs to abort, the legal aspects, and more. I haven't finished the training yet, but will this week. After that I will co-facilitate with another woman who has already led a group of postabortive women through the bible study.

My big concern is communicating lovingly, but firmly the truth of the Gospel to the PACE women. Can I do it? Will I cause more harm than good? Is this something God wants me to do or am I just doing it to be busy? I pray I do not come across judgemental or condescending, but confident that the Holy Spirit is in control and He will direct their paths. Oh that's right...He will direct mine too! Please pray for these women and all women who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy. That they will call on the LORD for help, for we know He will hear and rescue them. Get I get an Amen out there?

Bible Studies!

Well for those of you who live elsewhere you may not be aware that in the last 2 years something new has  been found growing in my pasture with the Lord!  It is green and pretty (amazing that is) and could only be because the Lord is involved.  

About 3 years ago I had such an ache to know God's Word better that I felt like something was sitting heavy in my heart and I couldn't shake it.  I knew I wanted to read God's words to me with better understanding, but the limited women's bible studies I had attended had left me cold and feeling very frustrated.  In the meantime many of my friends living elsewhere had already done several Beth Moore studies, including both my daughters.  And everyone just loved her gifted speaking, practical application of the Word, and meaningful homework.  I did some investigative work and discovered that in our local valley at the time, there were no Beth Moore studies available so I asked Robert to buy one of the studies for my birthday.  Well, he did, and then I was so scared and unsure of myself that I delayed attempting to do it solo for a few months, and then  when I decided to attempt to watch it and do it I realized that God wanted me to share this with other women.  What?  There is no way I can do that!  That's laughable!  Me?  A simple Catholic girl with no background or real knowledge or understanding of God's Word?  But, God would not let it go and with several other events occurring, I realized that I was suppose to have it in my home.  Then God set me up....  Yes He did!  He led me to think that Robert and I would be moving a month after the 11 week study ended.    So I mentioned to my friend Jan, that I was thinking of doing a Beth Moore study, and she said, "well if you ever do, I will do it with you, and I know Chris will too."  What?  Well, then I met a new lady my age, in our Sunday School class, Sandy, who was interested and had been praying for 2 years for women friends her own age. Viola!  Just like that God performs His miracle!  On July 2nd, of 2007 the 4 of us met for an 11 week study and I remember thinking  "if I flop, well... who cares?"  I figured no one would mind that I was moving right after that, or so I thought.  However, God had other plans.   Our move out of state dissipated, as often happens, and my fellow bible mates had loved the study so much they pitched in and bought another one of Beth's studies, at the same time Robert bought me another one for next my birthday!  We ended up doing 3 studies by May of '08!  We took the summer off, and then  us 4 plus 3 more joined went to a conference in Las Vegas, that included Beth, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shriner.  We had an exciting time, but only Chris and I would do a fall '08 study together.  Then February of '09  Sandy, and Jan rejoined along with another friend, Janiece.  After that study we did a short one, only 7 weeks, which brought still another lady named, Karen.  Whew!  

Now here we are taking this summer off, but God has not taken one second off.  He's been busy all along.  Several additional  friends had expressed interest in doing a Beth Moore study just not in the evening.  So I asked God to let me know if I should do a morning study, on Wednesdays, and asked my Monday night study friends to please pray about it. (Oh and by the way, I am not one to "recruit" women to join our study, I firmly believe that if God is working on their heart they will just ask if they can join the study- and that's exactly what is happening!) So here's how it looks for September of '09:  Monday night: Chris, Sandy D,  Karen, Janiece, Jan, Sue, Tammy, and me.  Wednesday morning will have all newbies:  Rozzie, Dawn, Julie, Sandy B., Kathy, Janelle (and me).  How can that be?  Only God is the answer.  He is the One.  And I have the honor of hosting  in my home.  One other thought comes to mind:  How many women have been "moved" by the Holy Spirit to dig deeper into His Word and how many are craving for fellowship with like-minded women.? 

If you are reading this I ask that you consider joining a bible study if you haven't already, and secondly that you would pray for God's hand to bless and protect those of us here in these two studies.  My final and most important thoughts about today's blog is this:  If you want God to "move" know that we serve a Mighty, and Awesome God and He will do it! Look what He has wrought!  I love HIM!  Blessed be His Name!

The Wood Shed

Today, Jesus had a little talk with me in back of the wood shed.  *sigh  "Sheesh what was I thinking?  Well, the truth, I wasn't, I just blurted it out.  Nancy, (I said to myself as I was putting my curlers in) when will you ever learn?  What is it that you needed to gain out of this? "   

 I could feel the  blush creeping up my neck (no hot flash this time).  It was embarrassment.  Not being nice or not holding one's tongue when as a Christian, I know better.  And really it wasn't a big deal and yet it was.  Something I said, which I shouldn't said, and He wouldn't let me forget about it.  I knew He was right, I had to fix it quick, which I did.  And all in all it was quick, simple and over and done.  In the world's view, it would probably be ridiculous to even make amends, it would be considered "insignificant."  In fact, the person I apologized to didn't even give it a second thought.  But from God's point of view, He knew the motives of my heart and sin is sin, which equals unholy.   Gotta' confess it quick, make restitution asap, and then ahhh...it feels so good to be back on the right track.

Search my heart O Lord, and may I be found righteous in your eyes.

This Makes My Heart Sing and Brings a Smile to My Face

My friend Charmaine sent this to me and I was so tickled I thought I would share it with you too! It is darling, so be sure to watch the whole thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k