Let The Healing Begin!

I was reading at lunch today the chapter titled "The Everlasting Covenant" in the book "Blessings and Covenants" by Andrew Murray. This is his closing paragraph... "Let me speak to every reader who would gladly BELIEVE all that God says. Cherish every whisper of the conscience and the Spirit that convicts of sin......as part of the schooling that is to bring you to Christ... The New Covenant is meant to meet the need for the power of NOT SINNING that the Old could not give. Come with that need. It will prepare and open your heart for all the everlasting Covenant provides.
"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good, but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me" - Jeremiah 32:40
This past weekend God brought to my attention that I had been holding my husband's attitude towards me on a particular issue against him. So whenever the issue got mentioned, I wasn't able to discuss it like I should have been. I instead felt 9 years worth of hurt all over again and responded to him out of that hurt. I praise God for letting me know I needed to FORGIVE him. What freedom when I forgave! I praise HIM for being so faithful to correct me & let me know when I am wrong. Unforgiveness was continually harming us - over such a silly issue even. Let the healing begin!!! :-)

Ronnie Freeman

Check out his biography. I also just noticed that he has a song "Deeper Still" on his self-titled CD! I cannot wait to hear it!!! His new CD is God Speaking. And his sophmore album We Believe looks amazing too. I want them all!

4th of July Weekend - Camping at Stone Mountain

How wonderful this past weekend was!!!! A much needed get away! Thursday was a little tiring because there were a lot of loose ends to tie up with Eagle Systems before we went out of town & A LOT of packing to do. I took all of our food this time, so there was a good bit more to prepare for. Being able to grill out at the campsite was definitely worth the time and effort to make it happen though. The money we saved was also a big plus! We ended up not getting to the campsite until after 9pm, so we miraculously set up our tent in the dark - WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTIONS! - in record time. We stayed at the same site we did last year... and I think it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The view from our tent of the lake was absolutely awesome. Especially first thing in the morning & at night. The weather was a lot cooler than it could have been for this time of year. Our queen size air mattress was nice & comfy :-) The only things I didn't love: 1) The shower/bathroom building. It was so hot and muggy. They seriously need better ventilation in the building. This was the first time I've ever dreaded going to take a shower while camping... I actually usually love it. 2) The long wait after the Laser Show & Fireworks on the 4th to take the boat back to our campsite. We didn't get back to our campsite until between 1:30 & 2am on the 5th. That was exhausting, but still worth it I think. And it's still better to me than being stuck in traffic the same amount of time, then having to drive home. Other than those minor things, the weekend was perfect & it was so nice to just sit outside (at such a beautiful spot on the lake) and just be. Basking in God's glorious creation. Watching squirrels be so risky jumping dangerously from tree to tree. So peaceful. Such a slow pace. I loved roasting marshmellows over the campfire at night and making a few smores. I loved being at the pool. I enjoyed doing 3 days in my 'Believing God' study (I actually should be done by now. I'm a little behind. It takes me SO much longer than it probably should to do 1 day. It is always in God's perfect timing though :-) I also read a WONDERFUL book by Deborah Bedford "Only You". (Short Read. Love the message. Highly recommend!) I loved spending much needed time with my hubby - the best husband in the world might I add! On Sunday, we did get to eat at Miss Katie's Restaurant in the park (home of the famous hand-tossed rolls :-) This place is in my Top 5 Favorite Restaurants. I love the atmosphere and the food. The lady playing the role of "Miss Katie" on Sunday sang a song for us I had never heard before ("Come to the River" by Ronnie Freeman) I will definitely have to get his music!!! She said he is a prolific songwriter & I definitely agree! Here's a link to the lyrics: http://music.yahoo.com/Ronnie-Freeman/Come-To-The-River/lyrics/6486112 When she sang, it was angelic. God-given talent. We enjoyed hearing her for the rest of our meal as well as she went around and sang at different tables. We were going to do the SkyHike and Miniature Golf, but a thunderstorm arrived, so we sat in rocking chairs on the porch instead & listened to 2 guys play the guitar and banjo and sing all sorts of good old timey songs. They apologized for "singing up a storm" :-) On the way home, we stopped to visit with Mammaw (who "missed the snot out of us" and said she would kill us if we ran off and left her again like that!) I love her. We then picked up Shelby from Nana & Papa's! We were concerned that she wouldn't want to go home with us, since she was spoiled rotten while we were gone, but fortunately she didn't put up too much of a fight :-) I'm SO THANKFUL she got to be with her Nana & Papa while we were away! We finally got home at 10:30pm last night. The ShuTeam got the car unpacked & fell into the bed, happy and blessed!

Deeper Still

We arrived to the hotel at just the exact right time on Friday afternoon! Ashlee rode Marta into Atlanta to meet me and Bethany. When B & I pulled up at the Ellis on Peachtree (the wonderful hotel we stayed at), we saw there was a Marta station right there next to the hotel. We called Ashlee to let her know the station name & I heard her say, "Yeah, I see that...", then we lost connection. We just happened to call her at the brief window of time where she had a signal on her cell! Because she was able to get off at the Peachtree station, she didn't have to change trains and we didn't have to walk to meet each other. She just got off the train & walked right into the hotel just 5 minutes after me & B had arrived! Talk about perfect timing!

We had a tasty, filling Italian dinner at Azio, got wonderful seats at the Arena for the conference, and then had a wonderful time of just being together & sharing after the conference sitting outside on the balcony at the Atlanta Grill... They served me the most amazing Peppermint Tea I have ever had... Not just a small cup of it, but MORE THAN ENOUGH in a carafe that reminded me He does "exceedingly, abundantly above all I could ever think, ask, or imagine" (Eph 3:20). I also got my own personal jar of Ritz-Carlton honey to put in my tea. All for just $4. Back to the hotel for a pillow & tickle fight then off to sweet dreams for all of four hours.

On Saturday, thanks to B arriving at the Arena doors by 7am, we got amazing seats just 5 rows back!

It was truly a miracle that my mom & my aunt Carol got to go to the conference too (Many many thanks to Deidre)! They both knew that God definitely wanted them there. It was a long time to sit & there was a lot packed into a very short time. He sustained them physically throughout the weekend as well. (Ashlee and a friend of Tina's was able to go as well thanks to Deidre!)

The main thing He did in my heart this weekend was to confirm my desperate need for Him. I truly am desperate for Him. His presence. His very present help in time of need... and My time of need is ALL THE TIME!!! HE is enough. It was amazing to praise Him with almost 20,000 women. I also thought the main verses for the weekend were awesome considering how they tie in so perfectly with what He has been doing in my heart.

The verse actually on the Deeper Still T-Shirt:
"like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers" Psalm 1:3

This next verse was shown throughout the weekend on a video that meant so much to me, I wish I could have a copy so I can watch it again (and again and again...)

"...so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61:3b

My prayer at the beginning of the conference inspired by the opening video... "May the seed go deeper still and the roots grow deep!!! to weather the turbulence of life & bear much fruit!"

He has been teaching me about "bearing fruit" for some time. It's a recent "theme" but also one He started a long time ago as well. It all started with a verse that has become one of my life verses: Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship , created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Recently He keeps bringing up John 15 which has to do with bearing fruit, abiding in Him, and LOVING. Also, I have always loved Jeremiah 17:7-8 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream. And will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought. Nor cease to yield fruit." From my previous post, you know that HE has been teaching me to SOW THE SEED (apply the Word to my reality) & about the harvest... So to have the picture this weekend of the tree was just awesome.

My prayer & the deepest desire of my heart is to LOVE Him, to be planted right where He has purposed, and to bear much fruit!!!

I have to mention that I had the best cheeseburger I've ever had in my life at Houston's on the way home! :-)

Here's a link to a video from the conference:
http://www.vimeo.com/1258528