Mission to Israel -- October 2010

Exciting News Today:  I am going to travel to Israel with Global Missions Project in October of this year.  Global Missions Project began in 2003and is an interdenominational mission organization committed to leading Christian musicians in sharing Jesus Christ with the world, encouraging believers, and ministering to people through music.  I will travel with one of my dearest friends, Monique Gatton, and church music maestro Camp Kirkland!  This will be my very first missions trip and I am very excited about it.  Please consider contributing toward my trip via the GLOBAL MISSIONS PROJECT LINK TO THE RIGHT.  Just put my name in the "Participant Name" box.  Thank you!

Looking Up

Psalm 3:3
But Thou, O LORD, art a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Last week at orchestra rehearsal, Dawson Hull (our orchestra conductor) shared a brief word.  I can't get it out of my head and it has nagged me all week.  Job had it right when he said that "Man, who is born of woman, is of few days and full of trouble."  (Job 14:1)  Life has trouble and that's just the way it is.  Even knowing the nearness of God in the times of trouble, sometimes discouragement and disappointment can sneak up on you.  I love the chorus:  Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will go strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.  The psalmist kept his eyes on the Lord and God plucked him out of his trouble.  (Psalm 25:15)  The thing is, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus.  It's when the noise of life storms draws our attention away that we forget just how big and able God is.  It's easy to turn your attention from God to whatever it is that's going wrong just now.  Troubles grow, faith dissipates, and our heads follow our gaze.  That's when the LORD takes His hand under your chin and lifts it for you, bringing your eyes to meet His.  He is the One who will lift your head, even when you can't muster the strength.  What a gentle thought.

Back to It

I can hardly believe the time that has passed by since my last post.  Christmas was VERY hard this year.  It was our first Christmas without my mother and sister.  People tell me that grieving the loss of family members (even when you are assured that they are in Heaven) takes time.  It seems like forever.  Sorry to say that I am glad the Christmas season is over.  What a horrible thing to say, I know.

We traveled to Ohio to spend Christmas Day with my father and sibs.  It was a wonderful family time.  There were lonely moments; Mom and Jana's absence was palpable, but there is a comfort that only your family can provide and we comforted one another just by being there.  The car trip was just too much for my ailing back to take.  In November we traveled all the way to Michigan by car and my back never really recovered from that trip before it was time to drive to Ohio.  On the return trip, my legs ached continually.  About 2 weeks ago my back said, "I quit."  Several visits to Butler Chiropractic (where I saw Dr. Chris Jackson) helped to get me up on my feet.  This past Monday, however, I dropped something on the floor, and without even thinking about it, I bent right over to pick it up and BAM! it did "it" again.  So I have done nothing much in the house for these past two weeks except watch some TV and study my Bible.  This week it was actually kinda nice because I watched all of the Passion 2010 conference main sessions online.

I have a few news items to report:  First of all, George bought me a new bicycle for Christmas.  It is being built at The Bike Store and is probably ready to pick up.  It is another Trek hybrid but this time it's the Rolls-Royce version.  Trek says this bike "eats hills."  Ha Ha!  I cannot wait to ride it; I am so excited to get it home.  I couldn't ride it even if it was here, but I am inclined to put it in my living room so I can at least look at it until I can take it out.  (The weather has been incredibly cold, especially for Georgia--snow is a possibility today.  I doubt I would be riding even if I could.)  Second, I am going to get to go to Israel in Oct/Nov of this year!  I will be going with Global Missions to play flute in an orchestra conducted by church music maestro, Camp Kirkland!  Third, it's a bittersweet thing that my son, David, will be leaving for Liberty University in 6 days.  God called him to vocational ministry several years ago and he has been taking classes online for two years. It's time to be a resident and I am so happy for him.  He is going to love it there.  I sure am going to miss him around here, though!

I haven't worked on my book for weeks and I am itching to get back on track with it!  I am not going to lie; this last two weeks has been terribly discouraging and I haven't felt like doing anything.  I was so emotionally spent during Christmas holidays that I had no desire at all.  I woke up feeling encouraged today--for the first time in a long while--thank You, Father God, for restoring my hope.

That's all for now....have faith in God!