Queenies Little Kingdom

I love to watch my kids perform! It is always a blast to see all the hard work on show night. Gavin did not make “Touch of Class” choir last year. They go through a grueling few weeks of practices learning all sorts of music and choreography. Then at try-outs only a select few are actually chosen (10 boys + 10 girls). This is the elite group of our high school. Needless to say, he was crushed! This was his senior year and he had worked really hard.

Skip ahead to school starting. He had moved on and so had TOC. Around 3 weeks ago the director came to him asking if he would be interested in joining them afterall?! One of the boys had danced himself into a serious knee injury and needed surgery. He would need to learn 15 songs and 12 dances, Q U I C K !! He didn’t even have to think about it….he said, “Sure!”. He’s amazed them all. Not only that he’s one of the top voices, he sings tenor I. Can you say, WOW? Go Sweetboy!

Ally tried out for TOC as well. She was only a freshman and honestly….it’s quite hard to be chosen that early in the game. She was selected for concert choir and while it wasn’t her first choice…she is making the best of it. Her group did a great job tonight. They have a classy look and sound marvelous! This is great experience for her and if she works hard chances are high that she will move on up. I’m so proud of her! She sings soprano but has been switched around a bit to sing II soprano. Which shows her range and capabilities. Woohoo! Miss Ally!

Here are a few highlights from tonight. Wouldn’t you know…..my memory was FULL!!! Crazy!

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Gavin & Touch of Class

Do you ever get like me and just feel like a failure? This seems to really pop out when I’m in the middle of something important (like a serious Bible Study). I know that satan is working overtime to flub me up…and what better time to mess with me than when I’m in the middle of growing stronger in my faith. He’s crafty that serpent!

This week our lesson focused on using sweeter words. Beautiful idea! I flunked! By this morning I picked up that instead of me being patient and loving (as would have been THE RIGHT thing to do!!!) I was harsh and accusatory. Over simple things! What is wrong with me? I realized that my week of sweet words was a complete waste. I wasted every chance to love my peeps on being frustrated and overwhelmed with my life! Grrrr, that convicts me to the core.

The whole idea behind this study is to LIVE LIKE I WAS DYING!!!!! DUH! I’m dying! You’re dying! But neither of us is living like that. Life is so busy and stressful. We take the important stuff for granted. We worry and focus on the fleeting stuff……jobs, cars, stuff, getting more stuff and how to pay for it all. People are important to us….but we neglect them in our own twisted ways. I know this because I do it.

I’ve watched as people suffered loss in their family and heard them say, “I wish I had told him I loved him and what he meant to me!”. I don’t want to say that. I want the people I love to know without a shadow of a doubt how I feel. I love them and I cherish every moment with them. I have always tried to be real and open with my friends and family. I think they know how I feel about them…but just in case…..I’m going to step it up a notch!

Next week is our last time to meet as a study group. We will be brainstorming throughout this week to reach out and show someone extravagant love. You know…blessing someone for no reason at all and doing it in a big way. I’m feeling so excited about it. I can’t wait to hear the ideas and to actually do something that shows our love as a group. Is there someone that you could reach out and bless? Maybe your pastor…..it is pastor appreciation month! Show someone love this week!

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord….”

Some of our LLYWD group….we had some missing tonight!

I don’t know if you read Angie Smith’s blog, Bring The Rain….but her hubby, Todd Smith of the Christian group Selah is at the debate tonight.  Too cool!  I have noticed him several times, he’s on the front row and wearing a green shirt.  How awesome!

I hope you are watching and listening to these men.  It is so important that we as Americans know the truth behind each of them (if that’s even possible).  We have to be informed and willing to step out on what we know is right!  Our election is of utmost importance.  I pray that God will put the man that belongs in that position…..in that position.

I’m almost sick of hearing any news…..whether it be the election or the bail out problems.  I can’t believe where my country is sitting economically.  I do not blame President Bush for any of it.  He’s not the sole provider of our country’s problems.  Washington has a lot more helpers than just the President when it comes to our current situation.  We must pray for these people…..and ask God to bless them and our country.

Alright before you panic…..I’m not giving out any shots or even doing brain transplants (although it could be helpful if I were). It’s all part of my J O B ! The In-House sub life is one of major glamour and prestige, people! Why on any given day I could be doing a power point in an AP U.S. History class or down at the nurse’s office handing out Adderall! Yes, it’s all that and a pack of crackers too.  I know you’re jealous!

Our school nurse is out for the whole week. She is helping take care of her ill father. So who else can they send in to that hot-spot but me? I’ll tell ya, it’s times like these that I wish I wasn’t a “know-it-all”. That’s what I was told yesterday by one of my girls……a not so nice friend called me a “know-it-all”! Hrmmph! WHATEVER! I am pretty smart! I mean, come on….would they send just any moron to be the school nurse? Duh, NO! They save that for the “suckers”! JK, ya’ll. I’m happy to do it! Well, not happy but obedient. That whole slaves obey your masters scripture……I’m living it!

It’s not so horrible being the nurse…it’s just that I hate tragedy type stuff. First thing off this morning, a FIGHT (boys…not as bad as girls…but come on) and this kid was bleeding all over the place. I’m not so good with bloody people. I’ve never even had a spark of interest in nursing…..I’m a teacher!!!

Then the day just snowballed into a constant flow of patients. They came in for headaches, stomach aches, personal items, just to lay down (long weekend, too tired), head checks, blood sugar checks and the list goes on. One girl even came in for me to check her smoker patch! Did you hear me????? A smoker patch! I almost fell out laughing! For realz!  Then come to find out, it was her grandmother’s prescription…NOT HERS!

I’d like to encourage you today. Whatever you are doing, do it with all your heart. Let God shine through you and blow people away with your zest for whatever it is. You never know the life you are touching. I read something yesterday about a guy who planned to end his life by jumping off of a bridge. He told himself, if nobody talks to me or tries to stop me…..I’m going to jump! Guess what? No one did and he jumped! He is one of only a few to have ever survived this jump. He has a new grasp on life today…but he says….do your part to make someone feel great. Smile and speak kind words. You may never know who’s heading to jump!

Did I tell you……I won something? Oh yes I did! Over at Home Sanctuary (THE fabulous Rachel Anne’s blog) I entered her contest last week and shazam! I won a book, ya’ll. I love books, just come by and….you’ll see that I’m quite the nerd. I have books everywhere! So, woohoo to me! And, thanks to Rachel.

I know God loves to work in strange ways in my life (not surprising…I’m just weird). So this book, Leap of Faith by Ellie Lofaro, has to be just what God wants for me right now. I am more than convinced that within its pages is a message sent just for ME! Whatta you think? I’m ready God, bring it on! My life has been one giant leap of faith….so what’s another reminder?

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

Today’s message was on forgiveness.  As we entered the sanctuary the usher’s handed out rocks. During the sermon the pastor carried around a large rock and he spoke of how we gladly carry around such heavy junk daily. Boy, he’s got my number. I’m a junk dragger, for sure! At the end, he invited us to forgive and to place our rocks on the altar. Not everyone went forward and he reminded them to hang on to their rocks.

What are you carrying around? For Pastor Bob, he had a 45 year old grudge.  But not anymore! God truly has the power to help us forgive and heal.  Why is it so hard?  Horrible things happen in life…..hanging on to them only poisons us more.  It’s all a deadly trap!  My prayer for you this week is that you would let go of whatever the enemy has strapped to you.  Refuse to go one more day bound to a rock of unforgiveness.  Trust Him with it and live free.  Now that’s winning!

Luke 18:7  “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?”

If you’ve read the story of how the Israelites smoked the Philistines in 1 Samuel 7, then you are familiar with the Ebenezer stone. Just the story I needed to hear tonight. For I am someone in need of deliverance. My heart is filthy and is overflowing into my head which is spilling out onto those around me. I need to rid me of what doesn’t belong….sin, idols, distractions.

So many times God has rushed in for me and and did His thing–giving me victory over something that was consuming me. I recognize that He is always looking out for me, but it can be so hard to see when I’m wallowing in the pit. My deep and trusty pit. The pit I don’t belong in….but I jump in gladly. What is it about those pits? Why is it so easy to fall in? Satan is so crafty, he works diligently to keep you and me there. Be aware, friend!

I know stress has been a much blogged about topic lately. I’ve shared about hubby and his wild hives all over. Life is just crazy and the results aren’t so pretty. But, we can’t give up! That’s why I’m thinking about the Ebenezer stone……Samuel told the Israelites that they needed to clean it up! (their….sins…hard hearts…..idol worship….) They needed redemption. So they repented and fasted, crying out to the Lord. God heard them and He intervened. He does the same for you and me.

How has God intervened for me in my past? Oh boy, in SO many ways! It only feels appropriate for me to share some of them. What about you? Has He rescued you in a circumstance that just didn’t seem possible to get out of? Make your own list….then see how your thankfulness grows. I want to think on these things tonight and not my problems. I hope you can do the same.

My Ebenezer Stones (Thus far…the Lord has helped me)

No insurance when I was pregnant with Gavin——I sold hand-made bunnies & paid for insurance each month. In the delivery room, the Dr. noticed a problem and that Gavin would be in NICU for an unknown time. $17,000 later…..we had the insurance coverage that helped pay that bill.
Thank you God for intervening!

Hubby was on patrol as a police officer on a midnight shift. A teenage boy started shooting randomly at he and his partner—–the partner was shot in the back of the head, the bullet grazed him causing permanent head injury but not death. Had he moved from his position….the bullet would have hit my hubby in the face, most likely fatally. The partner, became a stay-at-home dad to his three kids.
Thank you God for intervening!

While in seminary, we were PO! It was tough! But somehow we were the wealthy of our friends and God used us many times to feed other ministry families and friends. It was the best time of our lives.
Thank you God for intervening!

After church one Sunday, we went to lunch with an elderly couple that we loved dearly. We stopped at their house on our way home. Hubby decided to take the kids for a ride on the four-wheeler. As he was putting it away our middle child Ally hopped on to ride with him to the barn. When he cranked it up the ATV stood up on it’s back wheels and took off… hitting a house and flipping over on them. She took the force of the crash in the face, ripping open her forehead. He took the full weight of the machine on his body badly hurting his hand. We rushed her to the hospital an HOUR away….a plastic surgeon was there within the hour. Her face is still beautiful!
Thank you God for intervening!

and more….

Moved to a new place…..made new friends!
Lost a job……got a better one!
Been hurt by someone I love……been affirmed by someone unsuspected!
Felt alone and excluded………been reminded HE’S ALWAYS WITH ME!
Experienced fake and shallow friendships…….known deep committed lifetime FOREVER friends too!
Had misery in my marriage……given a new view of how to love, forgive and accept!

Thank you God for intervening! I feel more than blessed to share that you are always victorious in my life! Help me live that way. Mighty provider, God!