My Heart Will Sing.....(part 1)

Hi, everyone!  Hope you are having a bless-ed Monday morning! I am so excited that you are here!
There is so much I have to share about this year’s Ladies Holiday Tea(an annual outreach event that takes place at my home church). This year it took place on Sat., November 19th. I have decided to break up this subject into two or three posts. Needless to say, it was an amazing time. I hope you are encouraged, as I share how God has worked through this ministry to reach many women and families in our community! I have found so much to be thankful for in my life. I hope you see how faithful and good the Lord is, as you seek to experience His activity in your own life, as well!!

Laughing, singing, talking, sharing, listening, loving…..just a few words that come to mind, as I reminisce spending a few very short hours with 672 women gathered in our church sanctuary. My table was full of loved ones and my heart was overflowing!! What a blessing to see how God works, bringing women together to enjoy each other’s company, creativity, and love for God. 

I can hardly describe the anticipation for the event to begin. It started the night before…preparing my table, one of 84 that the setup crew somehow fit into the room that normally fit 60 or so tables in past years. As hostesses and "tablescapers" started showing up, the room was transformed from rows of round blank slates to works of art!  Some spent hours getting things just right. Some constructed simple, but elegant table displays. By early evening, everyone was ready for the next day to arrive. As I drove home, tired, but excited, I stopped along a country road to quickly check out God’s own artwork….a glorious purple glowing sunset over the treetops.

I took it all in, with a thankful heart, a heart that sings......no other Name....Jesus!

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It was late morning, as I pulled into the church parking lot, ready for a new day!  I walked into a quiet foyer that was decorated with Christmas stars and lit trees. Soon, this area would be swarming with excited women, waiting for doors to open into a wonderland of beauty!

 After putting the finishing touches on my table, I went to gather all the tasty goodies we would be eating. Everyone was scurrying to get their food items to their tables….

Soon, the doors were opened and the crowds came…some searching for their hostesses with their assigned seats…some were being guided by volunteers to the hostesses waiting at their tables (waving signs with the number of open seats available). Some guests attend our church, some were family members, some were co-workers, and some were neighbors. Some were Christ-followers and some weren't.  As they meandered around the different tables, there was a buzz of conversation, ooohhhs, and ahhhhs. Excitement built. A piano played Christmas music in the background.
The women were asked to take their seats. After a brief intro and prayer, it’s teatime. Each table is full with chatter! Cookies and scones are passed, and tea is poured. I love this atmosphere! I think about the statement made by the leader of women’s ministries…..that this is how God made women….to talk, and listen, and share, and love! I think of Mary and Martha and how they both had gifts, given to them by God….hospitality and a willing heart to open ones heart and home to others. God is SO good!!!

For the rest of this post, I am sharing pictures of my decorated table and those who attended and graced my table with their sweet selves. The theme of my table was "You are the light of the world" from Matthew 5:14  and was a miniature Christmas Village surrounding a lighthouse.

In part 2 of "My Heart Will Sing:, I will share more pictures and write about how God has touched lives through this event. (go to My Heart Will Sing...(Part 2) )

In His Love, 

Ann

Just a Tea-Lovin’ Girl

"There is no trouble so great or grave

that cannot be much diminished by a cup of tea."

Bernard Paul Heroux, a 1900's Basque philosopher

 One thing you will learn about me, if you read many of my blogs, is that I love tea, pretty much any kind of tea, but chai is my all-time favorite! I also like to be creative and decorate around my house.  Actually, I collect unique teapots and tea cups and decorate with them, too. Several years ago, my church started a fall tradition…..the “Ladies Holiday Tea” in November. The first time I attended, I fell in love!!! Teapots and tea cups everywhere! Over 60 tables are decorated by a “Hostess” in unique and different ways….some are themed (Thanksgiving or Christmas or any theme), others are whimsical/modern, and still others are very traditional/elegant.  The event is so popular that tickets are usually sold out by a few weeks before the date.  Officially, this is meant to be a two- way outreach. Church members are encouraged to invite people who are un-churched or not Christ-followers to give them the opportunity to feel the homey welcome of good food, great entertainment, and encouragement from other women who just want to fellowship and share the love of Christ. Guests are also encouraged, but not required, to bring an item for the needy (different local programs are sponsored each year and a list of needs is usually supplied with the ticket). I love it that the men in the church get involved, too, volunteering in the kitchen, preparing the tea and setting out cookies and treats (made ahead of time by other volunteers) for the hostesses to pick up and take to their tables to serve their guests.  This year’s event is this Saturday(Nov. 19)  and I volunteered to be a hostess. This is my third time doing it….every other year I like to take a break and just attend the event, so since I didn’t hostess last year, I decided to do it again. It’s a lot of work/preparation, but so much fun!! In the past, I’ve invited a few friends/family members, but this year I actually have a full table of guests already signed up to sit at my table (8 people to a table). Even though every seat at the event is filled, I get excited knowing that I know pretty much everyone who will be at my table!(One friend is bringing a friend who I currently don’t know, but look forward to meeting.)  I’m gonna be busy the next couple of days, but I plan on taking lots of pictures, so be ready to see lots of fun tea-lovin’ pretties in one of my next posts! Till then, here are a few of my favorite teapots that I’ve collected over the years! (And if you get a chance, send up a little prayer that the Holiday Tea will encourage and touch the hearts of the women who will be attending.)

Are you a collector of something you love? Write to me and share your collection, too! :)

In His Love, 

Ann

Do Not Delay!

 “But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.” Psalm 40:17

My husband and son and I are usually on different schedules. During the week, they are up early, rushing out the door to make sure they are on time for work. I am not an early morning person by nature. It takes me a while to come to and most mornings are pretty laid back for me, unless I have an appointment. That is, all except for Sundays. That is the one day I’m up and raring to go….I REALLY hate being late for church!!! On the other hand, the hubby and bubby(my son) soak up the fact that they get to sleep in a few extra hours. They are in bed till the very last possible second, and then it seems like they are moving in third gear till we are pulling into the church parking lot.  I love listening to/singing during the worship music, which usually takes place directly at the beginning of the service. Plus, depending on which service we attend, seating can fill up and if we aren’t early, we sit in the very back. (Our sanctuary seats about 800 people per service.) So, you can imagine the frustration this often causes me. I totally understand why they would want to take it easy one day out of the week, but why does it have to be the ONE day that I look so forward to getting up on? I read the verse from Psalms 40:17 today and it made me think about something …..I am SO happy God doesn’t delay in delivering us! There have been times in my life (actually many times, as I am quite an impatient person.) when I have thought, “Okay, Lord, why aren’t You answering my prayer?” or “C’mon, let’s get this ball rolling, God!.”  I tend to forget that God’s timing is not our timing. (2 Peter 3:8-9) But, the truth is, I’ve never found Him to be unfaithful. In the end, I find there usually is a good reason He took His time to come through for me, but he always does come through!! 

Inevitably, we either are usually late or we make it to church within a few seconds of the service starting. By the time we are in the building, I’m fried and not in a “worshippy” mood. (It’s a little scary how being a little late can set my mood for the day. I really need to work on that!) How about you? Do you find yourself caught up in the troubles that may surround you? Do you feel like your foes are many or that chaos abounds in your life? Listen to this Youtube song and let God free you of any fears or burdens you have.

They say, “Patience is a virtue.” There is also a saying, “God is faithful to the end.” I’m so glad…..I know I’m not always very faithful to Him. But He ALWAYS is faithful to me!

 

In His Love, 

Ann

Always Giving Thanks!

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. — 2 Thessalonians 1:3

Linking up at @A Holy Experience for Multitudes on Monday......counting my blessing...

301.  Making new friends on my internet blog!

302.  The windswept days of fall….the leaves scattering and dancing into the sky…preparing  for the quiet hush of winter.

303.  Healing for my son, who had a concussion from an accident recently.

304.  Time with God, talking, listening, loving Him.

305.  Coffee shop conversations

306. Having the opportunity to share my finances, love, and compassion to a child in need for the past 9 years (Christopher in Uganda)

307.  Compassion International http://www.compassion.com/ ….what an amazing program!

Compassion Knows No Boundaries

There is a book I want to read called, “Love has a Face.”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFDSSUyeBm0 about a woman dedicated to serving orphaned children living in poverty in Uganda.

For most of my life, I’ve felt God touching my heart to be a part of helping those in need. From teaching deaf and hearing impaired children in the schools, to working as a therapist at a mental health facility, to talking with young women at a crisis pregnancy center, to financially helping/being a friend to those in in poverty stricken countries across the world…..God has prompted me to care and have compassion for His children.  

It’s hard for me to believe, but it’s been almost 9 years that our family felt the call to sponsor Christopher through Compassion International.  http://www.compassion.com/  Christopher lives in Uganda and is less than 1 month older than my son.  (at the time we began sponsoring him, they were both 8 years old) It’s been such an amazing journey.

  Pictures of Christopher growing up and pictures he drew and sent to us.....

Not only have we prayed for and helped him and his family, but we have gained a love relationship with him through the exchange of letters and pictures. We have learned about the culture and daily life of the people of Uganda. We have heard how God blessed them with much needed livestock, food, and clothing. We heard the excitement in his letters, when he was able to get a new suit and new shoes, a new bike, and a small toy for his birthdays.

He has told us how God provides a Christian education in his small school and how he was encouraged, in spite of his mother dying when he was just a young teen.  In the pictures we received, we’ve seen him grow from a child to a (very tall) young man. Now, at 19, he will soon finish his schooling and is not sure what he will be doing with his life. He currently helps take care of his family and home….he has 4 brothers and sisters. Life is not easy for him and his family. We pray and write and encourage him to “keep on trusting”.  

 This is one of the many letters we received from Christopher.(He always addressed them to Tyler, who was officially his sponsor and he felt he could relate to Tyler because they were the same age).

Even though we are on opposite sides of the world, he is always in our hearts and thoughts…..sometime I try to imagine what it would be like to walk beside him throughout the day, to understand what his life is like.  Maybe someday we will have the opportunity to actually meet him in person, but if not, I know we will meet in heaven. What an encouragement that is!!!

Here is the most recent picture and information we received about Christopher:

No matter where we are or what God calls us to do, we all are called to have compassion, for compassion has no boundaries, no limits, no distance, or time. I would highly encourage anyone to sponsor a child from another country.  Not only will you gain a love relationship with people from another culture, but the emotional rewards are endless.  If you can’t sponsor someone, at least reach out locally to the homeless, jobless, or hurting in your own community. Compassion is truly without boundaries.

Here is a great testimony of the compassion of a writer I have talked about before and have great regard for. She actually talks about a close-up account with a young man in Ecuador:

“How do you abandon a child to poverty when you’ve looked right into the begging whites of his eyes?” Ann Voskamp  

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/11/when-compassion-becomes-a-gold-rush/

… be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.  Luke 6:36

 

In His Love, 

Ann

Update on My Son

Many of my friends and family had been praying for my son who had been in an accident and got a concussion a few days ago. By the healing power and grace of God, he is doing well. Most of his memory has returned, even the night of the event, which is the hardest to remember usually. He still has some dizziness when he gets up too quickly, but all in all, we are thankful!! This was such a weird experience for me, since I had been in an accident when I was 19, the very same age he is now, and  I had a concussion, too. We both were taken to the same hospital in my hometown. I remember my mom and sister telling me that I would ask the same questions over and over again (typical of someone with a concussion), every other minute and it freaked them out. This time, I was the one who had to answer his questions a million and a half times, which is very unnerving and frustrating for both sides.

Ultimately, I am reminded of the goodness and love God has for us!! I'm not sure why this happened, but I know that He is in control and is all-knowing and all He asks is that I trust in Him. Sometimes that is easier said than done. If you had asked me about trusting God before he got better, I would have been less eager with an answer.  I'm reminded of the verse that I learned/memorized in my youth. It's simple, but not easy!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him,
   and He will make your paths straight.
                                                Proverbs 3:5-6

In His Love, 

Ann

What is it About the Clouds?

In the last several months, I’ve found myself noticing (and taking pictures of) the clouds on any given day. I’m not sure why…. I’ve looked at the sky just about every day of my life. But recently the clouds have really drawn my attention.

                  I’ve noticed days when there are big, puffy cotton candy clouds that form interesting shapes.

I’ve noticed clouds that seem to go forever into the depths of the blue sky, and I know they go even farther than what my eyes can see.

I’ve noticed the dark clouds that usher in a storm, slowly hiding any hint of the blue sky or sun.

I’ve noticed skies that are mostly blue, with a small wisp of a cloud here and there. 

Or the swirl of evening clouds at a fall sunset, preparing for all of life to rest under the moon’s glow.

I read a book last spring called “One Thousand Gifts” A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are  http://onethousandgifts.com/the-book by Ann Voskamp.  In her book she talks about looking for and listing the blessings each day of our lives and how that can open our hearts and change how we look at life as a whole. I started my list back in March, 2011 and I’m up to 300. I’ve got a ways to go to get to 1,000, but I’m determined to get there. It really does work, though. I love that, in her book, she uses the sky, clouds, and sun to describe our view of life’s events.  If we look for Christ in the clouds/storms(the difficult events) in our lives, our attitude will change, but if we don’t even see Him in the sunshine(all the good things) in our lives, how can we be happy? That is how I came up with the title of this blog. I hope to encourage readers to list their blessings, one-by-one! "The way to give thanks in all things: give thanks in this 1 small thing. The moments add up." (1000 Gifts) I think this video she produced says it so well….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhOUaszMGvQ&feature=player_embedded

If you would like to join me and thousands of others who are listing their gifts….go to one of the following pages:

http://onethousandgifts.com/share-your-gifts

http://www.facebook.com/onethousandgifts

some of my "gifts"

289.      A much needed quiet, laid back day at home….

290.      Turning up the thermostat a degree or two on a cold fall/winter morning!

291.       Good memories of the special people who have come and gone in my life. Memories that never fade!

292.      He Lord Jehovah Rapha – The Lord who heals.

293,      When times of fear and uncertainty threaten to overtake me, He is Jehovah, Shalom, and The Prince of Peace.

 294.     In times of need He is Jehovah Jireh – The Lord who provides.

295.      When we are facing a vast army of enemies, He is Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts.

296.      When we feel alone, He is Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is There and Emanuel, God with us.

297.      He is El Olam – The Everlasting God, The Alpha and the Omega, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Creator of All things, The Way, The Truth and The Life, The Word, The Lamb of God, The Savior.

298.      An encore of blessing #292 and #294

299.      The complexity of the human mind and how much we use it!

300.      Every day, God is involved in even the small, unnoticed, seemingly insignificant moments of each of our lives!

In His Love,

Ann