The next level.......

You know that next level of spirituality that I mentioned in an earlier blog…..my desire for a new revelation? Well the good news is I got my revelation. The bad news is……..I got my revelation.

God has a sense of humor, doesn’t he? When you pray for finances he sends you overtime. When you pray for a revelation he reveals things about yourself that aren’t very flattering. I had been searching in different directions for a new revelation; reading my Bible, reading good books, listening to my favorite speakers. The revelation came, but not from any single avenue. It came to me slowly as I contemplated what I’d read and heard from all my sources.

God revealed to me that my exterior didn’t match my interior. I am a fake. He wasn’t as blunt as that. The revelation trickled in gradually day-by-day so I wouldn’t be too offended. Being this way was having a negative effect on me. When I got around a lot of people for a while, it was so draining. It was hard work keeping up that “nice” façade. I couldn’t wait to get home to be my old grumpy self, which didn’t take any work. Some people excuse their dislike for crowds on their introverted personality. Impressed by their self-awareness, I started to use that same excuse. For them maybe it was true. I can’t say. But for me, now I know better. My prayer is for God to make what is on my inside match what I show people on the outside. Lord knows I can’t do that on my own.

Driving out to the church the other night, I started to realize a strong sense of God’s presence in my life. Then suddenly it dawned on me. He had been working quietly in the background of my mind for weeks. He seemed to have shown Himself about the time I started searching in more than one source. He had been looking over my shoulder the whole time, whispering to me. It was an awesome feeling.

I have four reasons to be hopeful about my future. One is that God has revealed to me a new weakness He will help me to overcome. The other three are the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

When God is hidden.....

I have been reading a book by Graham Cooke called When the Lights Go Out (Surprising Growth When God is Hidden). Kevin West, Director of Family Life, at New Pointe Church recommended Graham Cooke’s books. Kevin always reads great titles. Check out his blog for his favorites. You can get to it from my church link.

Anyhow, Mr. Cooke is at a spiritual level way above me. I can sense some of what he is saying. I agree that when you reach a certain level God will stop you there because he knows that you’re not ready for more. That's happend in my own walk. Some friends of mine read strictly from the KJV bible. As difficult as it is to read, they say that when God is ready to reveal to you what he wants you to know, you will understand exactly what it says. The first time I attempted to read it, that did happen. As time went on, it stopped happening. Maybe God doesn’t think I’m ready to move on yet. He revealed to me at that time what I was ready for. My search will continue. Anxiously, I await the next level. Maybe when Graham Cooke refers to “God being hidden” is during those times when I'm not ready for the next level.

Update on Haiti trip...

I’d like to update everyone on my August 3 blog with some pictures that Kevin Kate brought back from Haiti. He had an incredible ride down there; lots of God moments. He came home safe and sound. He and wife Linda will be going on a mission trip to Africa next. These two don’t let any dust settle. As always, we’ll be praying for them.


Kids waiting for water.

Two kids and a fence.

This just caught my eye.

Workers and Kevin Kate in

front of well

drilling machine.

Water gushing from well.

Praise God.

Family Central

This is an Adobe photo arrangement that I did from our recent reunion. The pictures are of my mom, her two brothers and sister.

The color dial in my head....

Recently I pulled out my oil paints. It’s time. They’ve been away for years now. I put them aside in exchange for motherhood. They bring back memories of those first paintings I did. There was something special about oils, the way they stayed wet for days, the way they blended, and the way they smelled. I loved the smell of linseed oil. When I first started using oils, it was like a dial was turned on in my head. My sense of color came alive. It was incredible. I would look at the clouds in the sky and see colors I never saw before-hues of purple and pink in clouds that were always just white and gray. It was like I got new eyes. When I discovered those new found colors I was wowed over and over. My friend, Nancy, who was teaching me, was not surprised. She’d heard that same story from others who were new to painting.
When I took a break from painting today, I went outside to look at the clouds. I was hoping to turn up that color dial in my head. I want to see colors even more vivid then before. It didn't happen today. Maybe it’s turned up as far as it will go.

More pictures

A fake outhouse I found interesting. Why? I don't know.

One of a hundred beautiful pictures

taken at Mohican.

If you ever get the chance,

go there. I was overwhelmed

with photo opportunities.

God gave us two short but

awesome days to enjoy with

our friends Mark and Chris and

family.

I really like this wagon wheel in the flowers.

That's all for now. My son is waiting

patiently for the computer.

New Pictures

These are some recent pictures I'd like to share with you. I hope you enjoy them.

Flowers at Mohican












Hummingbird on front porch















The gang at Mohican



Dave doing Frizbee Golf at Whispering Hills Campground

Music not working properly?

I've been having trouble with the music player. Some songs will just stop playing. I have to redo the player. If songs aren't playing for you, let me know.

Riding a roller coaster....

Kevin Kate, a member of our small group is going to Haiti next week to help drill water wells. I didn’t know quite what he was getting into, so I did a little search on the Internet about Haiti. They are listed as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. God is about to take Kevin on a ride he won’t forget.

I remember another ride God took Kevin, his family, and our whole small group on. We were all introduced to Helen, a widow from Sugarcreek. She had multiple strokes while living by herself. Over a period of time she lacked running water and her living conditions deteriorated. She was afraid to ask for help because she didn’t want to leave her dog. She let our small group into her home and her heart. We wanted to help her, but her situation was so bleak it took an act of God to bring the task to completion. Our small group had the privilege of watching that miracle unfold and being part of it.

Just this week I painted the railing on my porch. I was really sweating it out in eighty-degree temperatures and high humidity hoping under my breath I would be done soon. I’m all for taking care of the gifts God gives us, but you just don’t get the same sense of accomplishment that you do when your helping someone out. It was summer during the time we helped Helen. We all wiped our brows more than a few times. I think we all felt it was a ride worth sweating for.

Even though he’ll be roughing it for a couple of weeks in Haiti, I imagine Kevin Kate will be feeling that same way again, enduring another bittersweet ride. We are praying for him and his family while he is gone.

Here is a link to the Free Methodist Haiti Website http://fmmhaiti.org/project-wells.html
where I obtained the picture and mission information for this blog.

Busy Painting...

Sorry I haven't added anything new. I have been doing some painting at the church and at home. Sue and I have been painting murals. That part I enjoy. The painting at home I dread. I'm almost done.

Sue said she's posting photos of the murals on her blog. Check out her link to view them.

Joyce Meyer Broadcast...

I watched Joyce Meyer's broadcast today. It was so powerful it will surely move you. I have a link to her site on my blog.

Sewing Seeds....

Isn’t it interesting how God places people at just the right place and time in our lives to plant and water the seeds of himself?
Around my middle and high school years, my friend Barb and her mom would take me to their Mother/Daughter banquets at their church. They planted seeds of God in me. I imagine it must have been a real challenge just spending time with me, because I was really self-absorbed. In her early twenties Barb got married. We continued our friendship. I have fond memories of late night card games and sidesplitting laughter at her and her husband Jeff’s kitchen table. Many years have since passed. Details of the banquets have faded. But the seeds remained.

Later in my middle and late twenties, I had another friend named Sharon. Her Mom and Grandmother were very well versed in the Bible. They took me to church with them every time they got the chance. Between the three of them, they were determined to get me saved and they didn’t have any problem telling me so. They watered the seeds in me. Sharon and her Grandmother were very artistic. I longed to be as talented as they were. I had some artistic gifts that God was not ready to reveal yet. I enjoyed being around them and watching them paint and draw. Like Barb and her Mom, I haven’t forgotten them.

During those years, there was an occasion that required me to ride somewhere in a car with my Aunt Jackie. She was (and still is) very soft spoken and gracious. In that short ride, she spoke to me about God and how he loved me. She watered the seeds. I don’t remember anything else about that ride. I don’t even remember where we were going.

Then in my thirties my future husband came into my life, talking about God….living for God….watering the seeds of God. I’ve been growing in faith ever since, trying to plant my own God seeds.