We've Topped 1,000!

I told myself I’d post a new entry when my profile views topped 1000. Well, it’s time! I can hardly believe there have been 1000+ views in the time my blog has been up. What’s it been? A little over a year? Whatever the case, it’s certainly time for an update.

We’re all settled in our new home in Cleveland. It’s been a really HOT summer. We’ve had a lot less rain than normal, so we hear. And I would believe it, judging by the water level in the pond out front. But the past 3 or 4 weeks we’ve got some good rains. The past couple of days we’ve had some serious rain/thunder storms. I’ve had to close down the computer and quit working on the WMB Cookbook every afternoon this week. Ah, yes, the WMB Cookbook. Boy, has that turned into a chore! I don’t know if it’s been all that much work or if I’m just taking it hard. I do know that it’s taking a lot more time than I originally anticipated. But the Assembly is fast approaching and I’ve got to rush to get it done so we can have it available for purchase. Sister Bishop is counting on me. –Which brings me to the next subject, the General Assembly. There’s much anticipation for this upcoming event. As Brother Smith and I have traveled to State Conventions and Camps we’re detecting a lot of excitement over this year’s Assembly. Everywhere we go the people are looking forward to it and already sending up lots of prayers for God’s will to be done. That’s all that any of us desire—God’s will. We are often assured that folks are remembering to pray that God will give Brother Smith a heart after God’s heart. We appreciate the prayers so much! The harder the devil fights, the more grace God gives to withstand the darts. We’re determined to keep the armor of God in tact—our loins girt about with truth, the breastplate of righteousness, wearing gospel-of-peace shoes, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit and above all, the shield of faith. This past year has been quite a journey of faith. When I think about what all was happening in our lives a year ago today—the horrible fear that accompanied the possibility of our lives being completely torn to pieces and the uncertainty of our future—and I see how the Lord has delivered us from the raging threats and terrorism, I’m overwhelmed with gratefulness for the Lord’s protecting hand. We determined to trust in the Lord to be our Deliverer, our Attorney, our Defense and our Legal Counsel and He didn’t let us down. We’ve had daily counseling sessions with the Lord throughout the year and He’s never led us wrong. If we listen to Him, He guides us safely along the path. There have been repeated attacks from the enemy along the way but the armor of God has protected us. We’ve surrendered our will to the Lord over and over again and given Him our hurts to heal, and asked Him to see that no root of bitterness is left inside our hearts where only He can see. We pray for those who despise us and wish us harm and ask the Lord to deliver them. God has been SOOOO faithful! We know we’re not worthy to fill the position we’re in and don’t understand why we’re here, but one thing’s for sure—the Lord completely convinced me on Sunday of last year’s Assembly that this is God’s will. Nobody can convince me otherwise. I may not understand it, nobody else may understand it, but I KNOW this is God’s will and He performed miracles in order to cause it to happen. Since I KNOW this is God’s will for our lives, I’m endeavoring to cheerfully bloom where I’m planted. We didn’t get here by mistake. God put a lot of work into this, and I want to give my very best effort back to Him. I want to daily surrender my will, my pride, my passion, my wants and desires, my ALL to Him and to serve The Church of God. Here am I, Lord, use me.