Before you leave your church...

Weird, I know, but I actually am afraid to write on this subject.    How do you know when you should leave a church and when you should stay?

The whole subject of church can be so beautiful, so painful, so touchy, so controversial, so complex, and so simple. 

I don't have the answers to when you should leave or when you should stay and I don't believe there are always easy pat answers to it.  There is a time to stay and a time to leave.

(As a disclaimer right at the beginning this is not targeted at anyone in particular...just sharing my thoughts and heart.)

In October Jerry Stoltzfus from S.C. was here for meetings and he spoke on this subject one evening.  I had never heard a message spoken from this perspective but it has run around in my mind ever since. Recently in a conversation it came up .

Jerry's words were "Before you leave a church think of the hole you will leave behind."

In life all of us crave to belong...to be connected.  Ephesians 5:30  "We are all members of one body."  We are not a body to ourselves, God made us to be a part of a body, to be connected, to be wanted and needed.

Whether you are a part of a church for a long period of time or a short period of time, you make attachments and you connect.  Maybe not in the way you wanted to connect, or maybe you have been disappointed in the lack of connections but I would dare to guess that someone reached out to you, someone invested themselves in you, someone cared about who you were.   If you were a part of a church for a long period of time then likely there were many people who connected with you, cared about you, and invested in you.  When you leave, even if it's the right thing to do, you dismember yourself from the body and the body will bleed.  Here is where I believe Satan steps in with his pretty little lies, whispering that no one will care, they will be better off without you, some one else will fill your shoes, etc. etc.  The truth is that a hole will be left that YOU filled and even though new people come along, no one else will take your place.  There will always be your spot.

It's because

CHURCH IS FAMILY! 

When a family loses a member- they bleed, they mourn, they feel that loss intensely.....time does move on and they do develop a new normal but no one else ever takes that family member's place.

How can the local church be like family?

1.  Family members have different opinions.

2.  Family members will not allow anyone to trash talk their siblings or parents.

3.  Family members know we don't always get it right.

4.  Family members know we love deeply even at the risk of being misunderstood or rejected.

5.  Family members seek ways to minimize the damage caused by sins.

6.  Family members can have extreme levels of maturity of lack there of.

7.  Family members have extreme personality differences and we appreciate our differences.

8.  Family members feel deep pain and loss when one walks away and rejects them.

9.  Family members are not all alike or else someone is not needed.

10.  Family members even in serious dysfunction don't leave, they stick around and try their best to being sanity.

When you have family you are connected...you have roots!

When you have church you are connected...you have roots!

Maybe the church needs you more than you need the church.  Or...sometimes we are our own worst problem.  We are not a part of God's family because He needs us...He wants us and we need Him!

Does the local church always get it right?  No, no, and no.  Does the congregation always get it right?  No, no, and no.  Leaders fail to get it right, congregations fail to get it right but can we not covenant together to be there for each other even with each others' weird and quirky ways? 

Simply because we care deeply for each other....

because we're family,

 not because we're perfect!

It's easy to complain about the problems, to criticize, to make fun of someone's quirky ways.....and then to walk away with our disappointments, bitternesses, hurts, or maybe with our self-righteousness.

Before you leave a church....

...at least consider and ask what you have given?  Were you ever fully committed to this local body of Believers and if you weren't then don't leave too quickly.          Consider this...

Perhaps God may have called you to this very church "for such a time as this".  The very areas that you see lacking in the church are perhaps the very place God has called you to make a difference.  Don't do it with selfish ambitions, pride, or with your agenda....it probably won't work if you do.  But put both feet fully in and with your whole heart give it all you got - and in the Name of Jesus serve as He did - with a humble, servant spirit - and watch HIM work HIS work through you in ways far beyond your imaginations, in ways that will drive you to your knees before Him!

...and then think of the terrible loss...... what if you had just walked away?

Satan's goal is to kill-steal-divide-destroy and he's been doing a fine job of it!  Don't be a part of his plan.

There is a time to leave.  There are times God calls you somewhere else and that's okay.  There are times when a church is teaching error and you should leave but don't leave ugly!   It's like a family, sometimes God calls family members to live somewhere else and we bless them in following God's plan and His calling.  Even though they, too, leave an empty spot and they are missed intensely, it's still a good part of God's plan. 

But when we're family, we stay connected. 

We call, we talk, we visit, we facetime and we come back home!  And oh, the special times of reconnecting and hearing how God is working in their lives!  It can be so beautiful!

But if we leave for the wrong reason then it's painful, it hurts, it's discouraging, defeating, and dare I say, wrong?  I don't want to undermine the pain, hurts, and ungodliness that has been done in the name of Christianity...that, too, is wrong, wrong, and wrong. Maybe you have left a church, maybe you've left our church, maybe you've left for right reasons or wrong reasons....maybe you're thinking about leaving a church.  I want you to know that you are or will be missed, there is a place that only you can/could fill.

Thank you to Jerry and Diane for coming and sharing these thoughts with us ...

 we are still ruminating on them!

Philippians 1:27  "Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News."

Satan weaves....God re-weaves

So many times I get frustrated at a person, people, or circumstances instead of seeing the real picture. Satan’s goal is to steal, kill, and destroy relationships, peace, oneness, love, etc. I become short-sighted and me-sighted and I miss the mark, I accept the bait. I bite the hook. The hook that was baited especially for me. Satan watches and studies me closely. He knows what pushes my buttons. He knows what hurts me the most and he will use people and circumstances to attack me. Too many times I allow my emotions to rule, my pain to rise, frustration to brew, peace and joy to be robbed, and ugly thoughts to control.

                                                        O God, forgive!

Eph. 6:10-18 “….Put on the whole armor of God so that you will be able to stand against the strategies of the devil….”

 

Genesis 50:20

“But as for you…you thought evil against me,

BUT GOD meant it for good.”

In God’s hands, intended evil becomes eventual good. -Max Lucado

Joseph's brothers blew it big time when they sold Joseph into slavery, yet God, in Genesis 45 says, "Be not angry or grieved, God sent me...And God sent me before you to preserve you...It was not you that sent me....                                            BUT GOD!!

God redeems pain. Joseph’s torn robe became a royal one. The pit became a palace. The broken family grew old together. The very acts intended to destroy God’s servant turned out to strengthen him.

Take my wrong responses and reactions and turn them into good. 

 Let me glorify YOU!

Keep on keeping on!

Retirement from the Christian life is not in God’s plan. As you turn the pages of Scripture, you can’t find one saint who quit. Although many wanted to (remember Elijah, Jonah, and David?), not one did. Consider the following roll call of saints.

~  Throughout his life, Abraham responded to God’s commands to move. He lived in tents, his nomad’s life representing his search for “the city…who architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). Abraham died without receiving the fulfillment of God’s promises of land, a vast number of descendants, and great blessing (see Genesis 12:1-3 and Hebrews 11:39). Abraham could have quiet, but he desired “a better country, that is a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). So, until he died, Abraham pressed on.

~  Aged and weary, Moses kept serving the Lord. At one point, he even needed the help of Aaron and Hur to hold up his hands so that God would continue to bless the Israelites’ efforts in battle (Exodus 17:8-13). He could have quit, but he didn’t. Instead, he got the help he needed to raise his hands heavenward. Later, because Moses hadn’t obeyed and trusted God for water at Meribah (Numbers 20:9-13), God forbade him to cross into the Promised Land he had waited 40 years to enter. Again, Moses could have quit serving God, but he didn’t. Instead, he spent the rest of his days teaching the law, preparing the priest, and encouraging Joshua to lead God’s people into the land his feet would never touch.

~  Samuel was called by God to be His prophet, but later the people of Israel rejected his leadership and asked him to appoint a king over them so that they would be like their neighboring nations (I Samuel 8:1-5). Most people quit after being rejected, but Samuel didn’t. Instead, he kept praying and preaching(12:23), and he spent the rest of his life helping Saul, the man who took his place as the leader of the nation.

~  King David greatly desired to build a temple to God, but the Lord Almighty said to David, “You have shed much blood, and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before Me.” (I Chronicles 22:8). But instead of quitting, David kept pressing on for the Lord. He spent his last days making plans and gathering materials so that his son Solomon could build the temple (I Chronicles 22:5-19).

~  Paul spent his final days writing letters from prison which would guide the church of Jesus Christ in the future. His impending death didn’t shift his sharp focus on Jesus Christ and His people. He kept pressing on to the end of his life by offering encouragement, exhortation, and comfort through his pen.

~  Exiled to the island of Patmos in his old age, the apostle John never quit. After all, his service for Christ had seemingly earned him only disgrace and dishonor. But John kept pressing on. In his nineties, he was blessed with “the Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1;1). The twenty-two chapter of the Book of Revelation tell what will take place before and when the Lord returns. The apostle served as prophet with words that still speak to us today.

~  Jesus Christ knew about the cross, but He pressed on toward it and, when it was time, He endured it to the end (Hebrews 12:2). As He hung dying on that cruel instrument of torture to save you and me from our sins, He uttered the three simple words, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus, our Savior and our Lord, pressed on to the end.

The list of God’s people who pressed on and served the Lord until the end of their life goes on and on. At one time or another as they ran the race, each of the men of faith mentioned above HAD A VALID REASON TO QUIT...

                Yet not one of them quit, resigned, or retired. 

They knew they had not finished the race, that there was still work to be done, and that God could still use them. They knew that, by God’s grace, they could make a difference for His kingdom right up until the day they left this earth and went to be with Him.

They kept on keeping on.

While God may not have called you and me to achieve anything near the magnitude of these men’s accomplishments, He does view our sphere of service and responsibility as equally important. These saints had a clear vision of God which inspired them in their calling-- and now inspires me in mine--

                    to press on toward the end

               in service of the Almighty!

　

　

　

(Stormie Omaritian)

Challenges from Church

What is spiritual complacency?

Complacency is a feeling of satisfaction with how things are; not wanting to make things better; being in a rut. How many of us find ourselves with that being the description of our spiritual lives? Or maybe we desire for things to be different but are too spiritually lazy to change?

Apathy is a loss of interest and passion in making a change.

I was challenged at church yesterday…

First I received a ‘rhema’ from God…something I needed to hear. It may not have stood out to anyone else but it lit up my spirit immediately.

II Chron. 7:12b “I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice.”

There are some things I have been praying and it felt like this was a special word from the Lord just for me. He not only said “I have heard thy prayer” but more… “I have chosen this place.” While I have no idea what all God’s plans are, I know He has great plans and He is stirring us in a new way once again.

I was further challenged by the following verses, especially verse 14; a verse that we have heard repeated repeatedly. But we seldom think about the conditions of this verse.

“If My people who are called by My Name…” that would be me, and hopefully you.

“Shall humble themselves…“ that would be me; He’s not pointing to someone else that I feel “um-hmm, sure hope they see that.”  Me...humble myself.

“And pray….” again, me. Seriously, how much time do I spend in actual prayer? Before I pat myself on the back, I challenge myself to keep a written record sometime of how much time I actually spend in prayer.  

“And seek My face…” If I actually seek the face of God, I would quickly see myself as He sees me. And what does He see when He sees me? Nothing hidden… He sees the thoughts of my mind, the intents of my heart, the words I don’t say…

“And turn from my/your wicked ways…” Surely if I call myself by Christ’s name, etc, etc, etc, I am not walking in wicked ways! Humbly seeking the face of God and turning from my wicked ways. Are there areas where I outright defy the Word of God? Perhaps even boldly outwardly or perhaps boldly inwardly?

“THEN….” the great condition. It’s up to me, and you, to meet the prior conditions.

Oh, hallelujah!

  “THEN..... He will hear,

 He will forgive, and He will heal.”

Jesus’ Teachings are

REVOLUTIONIZING
 & LIFE-CHANGING!!!!

I was challenged out of Revelation through the letters to the 7 churches; even though time ran out before all 7 churches could be looked at. Here are a few, fast challenges that were given to us as he skimmed the top of these churches:

Rev. 2:2-7 The Church at Ephesus:

They were a hard-working church, they did not tolerate false teaching, they labored and had not fainted. They were doing all the right things and yet Jesus said, “I have something against you….you have lost your first love.” Christ was no longer the center of their lives and hearts.

The question was asked: “What if I followed you around for a whole week, looked at your phone, your ipad (computer), listened to your conversations, etc…Would it be very clear that Christ is the center of your life?” My mind immediately began to replay my past week….

Rev. 2:8-11 The Church at Smyrna:

They were the suffering church. They weren’t just survivors, they were overcomers. Overcomers have a testimony. Where is my testimony? My witness of Christ working in my life?  Is it possibly that many do not have a testimony/a witness because…. Jesus is not doing anything in their lives? Are many just professors of Christ but not really followers?

Rev. 2:12-17 The Church at Pergamos

What is the doctrine of Balaam that this church was holding? In Numbers Balaam taught the Midianite women to seduce the Israelite men; and there were corrupt teachers who were deceiving believers to compromise.

This church appears to confess Christ; had the right theology, but their actions didn’t follow as true Followers of Christ. Could that be me? Do I confess Christ, have my theology correct, but my actions, words, and priorities would prove otherwise?

Rev. 2:18-29 The Church at Thyatira

They had works, charity, service, faith, and patience but they tolerated a Jezebel woman, a prophetess, to teach and seduce them. They were a tolerating church. The question was asked “Has the Word of God, or Christ Himself, taken a back seat in our lives?” Why do so many (of us?) no longer believe what we used to believe? Is it because the Scripture no longer means what it says? I have listened and read some things recently on why different things are not wrong and was agonized by the twisting and manipulating of Scripture to prove the point, at the exclusion of other Scriptures. But wait, this is for me, not pointing to someone else…What Scriptures have I ignored, left out, excluded?

Rev. 3:1-6 The Church at Sardis

This was a church…it had a reputation for “Being Alive”, yet Jesus said they were dead. What does it mean when a church has a reputation for “being alive”? It’s a good thing for a church to be alive….in Christ! Today I think we associate ‘being alive’ with loud music, loud worship, dramatized preaching, and lately I’ve been hearing a lot about ‘prophetic words‘. Is there anything wrong with loud music, worship, preaching with passion, and prophetic words? Absolutely not…but those alone do not indicate an alive church. Anyone can create drama. Anyone can move a crowd. Anyone can manipulate emotions. Anyone can come up with ‘prophetic words’. It doesn’t necessarily take a move of the Spirit to do that. God calls it “dead” if it‘s created by man. Yikes!

And yet….

when the Spirit is present,

when God is truly ALIVE in my heart,

there will be evidence of LIFE.

…and time ran out before he got to the other churches but I’ve been challenged and have enough to meditate on for all week.

What is my testimony?

If you had free access to every area of my life….

Would it be clear that I am a true Follower of Christ
and the HE is the CENTER of my life?

Today is a Gift from God

This bright new day is a gift from God!

Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord hath made;

                                           Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

The too-common feeling of being overwhelmed: Another day, another thousand things to do! Panic begins. I want to rejoice but I can’t because I am too overwhelmed by the mountain range of responsibilities that comprise my life. Doing all I need to do this day seems impossible. My list is long, my schedule full, my calendar booked. People, commitments, deadlines, housework, errands, needs - my list seems endless. Life is crowded, complex, and challenging. There is always so much to do.  Anyone with me?

Mt. 6:34 “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

       I am only as busy as I allow myself to be.

 I have 24 hours to do my things just like everyone else does.

 God will never give me more than I can do!

THE PROBLEM IS ME.


       I’m studying a book “Loving God with All Your Mind”
by Elizabeth George

and here are some things I have found to be very helpful.

Guideline #1: Prepare

Prepare in the evening for the next day.

Prepare in the morning; set the tone for the day.

Mark 1:35 “..in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out to a lonely place, and was praying there.”

Mark 1:37 “…everyone is looking for you.” Jesus’ time was demanded by many. Do I ever feel like everyone is looking for me? Depending on me? Clamoring for my time?

Mark 1:38 Jesus told the disciples “…let us go somewhere else and preach.”

He was not controlled by the crowds and demands. He had obtained His orders for the day and obeying them took priority of the seemingly urgent needs of the crowds. It is easy for us to fall into the trap of other people’s plans for us and the tyranny of the urgent. In his quiet time along with God before the sun rose, Jesus acquired His focus for the day and let it shape His plans.

Guideline #2: Plan Ahead

With long-range planning, we can break large projects into day-sized pieces, an approach which can keep us from feeling overwhelmed by the ultimate goal. “Eat your elephant one bite at a time.”

Make lists!

Guideline #3: Pray

As I prepare and plan, I need to also be praying!

Audibly pray: “Lord, today I give myself anew to you.”

Give God the things in my life- my home, my possessions, my time, my body, my mind.

Give God the people in my life - my spouse, my children, my family members, my friends.

God is all wise, all powerful, loving, and able to take care of the people as well as the things in my life. I need to acknowledge His ability, and when I do, I experience His peace. All of these are His to do with as He likes.

Give God my schedule. Committing my plans to God helps me fight the battle against impulsiveness and laziness. It helps me be more sensitive to His leading and to do something other than what I planned. Although I have a plan, I want God’s will for my life. I therefore hold loosely and stand ready to defer to what He would have me during the course of the day.

Guideline #4: Proceed

Ancient wisdom reminds me that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Guideline #5: Trust God to Provide

As I proceed in faith and obedience, keeping my focus on today and expecting to see God at work in my life along the way, and amazing thing happens. I find that, whatever the challenge, task, trial, crisis, or interruption, God provides for me!

Whatever happens, God provides wisdom.

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

Whatever happens, God provides His strength.

Phil. 4:13 “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

Deut. 33:25b “…your strength will equal your days.”

II Peter 1:3a “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…”
Whatever happens, God will provide all I need.
Phil. 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Step out today in trust as I walk through this day with the Lord. 

Not a day will go by without me experiencing His care.

Preparing, planning, praying, and proceeding

enable us to experience God’s provision for s

amid the practical details of daily living.

Today really is a bright, new gift from God.

I can and will rejoice and be glad in it!

The Most Glorious Hope!

What happens to departed believers? Can we know in part but perhaps not all the details? Something about death is so mysterious and yet, God has given us verses that give us a glimpse into the future. Perhaps in light of several recent deaths of people that I know and then our Sunday School lesson yesterday, I have been thinking a lot about the

Believer’s Most Glorious Hope!

I Thess. 4:13 - “I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep…”

Are departed believers literally just ‘sleeping’ somewhere? Is death just a state of semi-consciousness, an existence somewhat like a deep sleep? I heard this insinuated at a funeral one time and it troubled me greatly. Is that a Scriptural teaching? I think Scripture would indicate differently…

Luke 23:43 - Jesus told the thief on the cross “TODAY you will be with me in paradise.”

II Cor. 5:6-8 Paul says, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

Phil. 1:23 Paul again says he desires to depart and to be with Christ.

These Scriptures would say that departed believers are with the Lord, living face to face with Him. Even though we may not fully understand exactly where Paradise is we can be assured that they are in the presence of God.

“Asleep” is simply a word to describe their departure from this world. It is a picture of resting from the trials and sufferings of this world.

Further in I Thess. 4:13 Jesus says He does not want us to sorrow as those who have no hope. What an INDESCRIBABLE GIFT to know that as believers, we will see each other again. I cannot imagine the hopelessness of not having that assurance. Jesus was well acquainted with grief. When Lazarus died, He wept. It’s okay to grieve and to weep, but we should not sorrow excessively as though we have no hope of a coming reunion day.

I Thess. 4:15 - “Them that are asleep (at rest) in Jesus will God bring with Him when He returns.”

v. 16 - What an event this will be!! Picture it with me…

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout (I cannot help but believe that this is a shout that will be heard in every corner of the world!), with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God…”

Just imagine that! Some day this is really, actually going to happen! A shout, a voice of the archangel, and a trumpet….I don’t doubt it will have our full attention! The whole universe…both earth and heaven, believers, unbelievers, and angels.

“…then the dead in Christ will rise first; then we which are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.”

Picture that with me…the departed believers being joined to their buried bodies, rising with transformed, incorruptible bodies, and right behind them are those of us who are alive in Christ, millions joined together in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air! Again, I don’t think there will be anything secretive about this event…I believe “every eye shall see Him.” Rev. 1:7

Our present bodies are corruptible- they age, deteriorate, die, decay, and decompose. Until Jesus returns, every earthly body will someday return to the earth. But on that day we will receive incorruptible bodies! A heavenly transformation, a perfect body that will never age, deteriorate, die, decay, or decompose - completely free from defilement and depravity - perfected forever to live with God in the new heaven.

I Thess. 4:17b “…and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

The experience of living face to face with the Lord begins. The most wonderful event will be seeing our Lord face-to-face for the very first time! Is there any question what our first thoughts will be?!

I Thess. 4:18 “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

God does not reveal the events of the end time to satisfy our curiosity

 but so that we can prepare and comfort one another with this

Most Glorious Hope!

Are you ready for that day?

Have you made your preparations?

Are you living in light of the Lord's return?

"The Cruise" Part III

Land Ahoy!

The United States of America!!

How sweet to see the beautiful view as we approached

Key West, Florida!

I know we weren't explorers by any stretch of the 

imagination, and we hadn't voyaged from far across the sea,

and we hadn't suffered at all during our voyage...

but for just a moment I felt just a vapor of what 

the early settlers must have felt!

We watched with wonder and amazement as we approached!

 The immigration officers waited patiently far below as our captain maneuvered this huge ship sideways to our dock.

 The immigration officers came on board and we were assigned numbers and times to go through customs.  

We had to have our papers in hand, Sea Pass cards punched, 

and then we were free to go out and tour Key West.

It was rainy so we chose to rent these limousines

for our tour of Key West.

We rented two of them and they served us perfectly!

 Much of what happened here will have to stay on the island!

We walked through a lot of shops with crazy things for sale,

we ate lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 

we saw the southern most point of Key  West,

and tasted the tropical drinks.

We raced to return our limousines

 in order not to miss our last call back on the ship.  

It was good to be back in our homeland again.

Back on the ship, we quickly clean up,
 and were off to the dining room for dinner

where we received a special number from the chefs, 

waiters, and waitresses.

They sang and marched around the room for us while

we all applauded them for a job WELL DONE!

 I loved how this Amish man swung his white napkin in honor and applause for the serving staff!  I was so blessed and impressed through this whole trip with the Amish and Mennonites.  They offered their friendship to  any and all...regardless of race, color, and dress.  They took pictures and greeted by name their staff each evening.  They made friends with them and invited them to their homes if they should ever visit their state and country.  They sat with people from all over the world and many shared their faith.  What an opportunity and blessing!  We, too, had numerous people from all over the world ask...and we were able to share about our God!

 We cherished our dinner chats with

 Marv & Sharon and Lloyd & Sandra .

 Our evening table servers.

The last night was the latest of them all!

We stayed up til the wee hours of the night

chatting over coffee and tea.

Lots and lots of luggage as we wait to depart the ship in Miami.  It was such a good experience and we would do it again!  We would highly recommend the Sail and Sing Christian Cruise to whoever may be considering it...to have Christian entertainment was worth so much on a ship that is definitely geared for the world.  The last evening we noticed different times the ship's entertainment staff coming in and out of our Christian gathering...they were trying to figure out what was drawing hundreds of people to these gatherings every night.  If only they would come to know our Jesus, too!

After finding all our luggage, the van, etc. we headed to Marathon, Florida for a fish fry and visit with some friends of the LaRaviere family.  It was some of the best fish we have had and we all ate until we were stuffed full!  Back to Miami where we delivered Isaiah to his Pollard family and then set out to find a hotel for the night, with plans to explore the Everglades the next day. Interestingly enough we made several trips through toll booths without knowing we needed to stop until it was too late, and feared there would be an alert on the evening news for a white, 15-passenger van passing through numerous toll booths  without paying (and the tickets did catch up with the driver at a later date!).  We called and called and called and called hotels... desperately searching for a hotel with rooms available.  The cheapest one we found that had rooms available was priced at $700.00 per night per room!!  "Uh, thank you but we'll keep looking."   What's with Miami on a Thursday night?!!  

The later it got the sillier the people in the white, 15-passenger van got!  With all due respect, we'll have to close the story now before it's actually finished....

because what happened in Miami that night

will have to stay in Miami!  

We had an amazing time!!

 ...but we still don't know who the person or persons is/are 

that blessed us with this incredible gift!!  

We feel incredibly unworthy of such a gift, 

it far exceeded any expectations we had,

and we pray God's blessing upon 

whoever the donor was!  

May God return 100-fold what was 

so graciously given to us!

We will always treasure the memories of this trip!

THANK - YOU!!

"The Cruise" Part II

Nassau, Bahamas

After enjoying a delicious dinner served in a style I could easily get used to, we visited with lots of people, and got to know new people.  We had no problem with sea sickness, in fact, you hardly knew we were moving!  Yay from me!

Each evening we were treated with different singing groups and a comedian ventriloquist.  We enjoyed each of their programs a lot although we usually visited so long at dinner that we had problems finding seating at these events.  (That's us!) The programs always had its serious moments and its hilarious moments! 

This special cruise was called "Sail and Sing Christian Cruise" and was hosted by different groups of singers, actors, and musicians, most who also happened to be personal friends of ours.  There were approximately 450-500 Anabaptists on this cruise of about 3000 people.  Yes, we got a lot of attention!  It was really neat though, because it gave us many opportunities to witness about Jesus. Many of the staff and fellow travelers wanted to know who we were and what we believe.  We were able to share with people from all over the world and also learn about their culture.  Different testimonies were shared of how they could tell we were Christians by the countenance on our faces. 

Our first morning we awoke arriving in the port of Nassau, Bahamas.  A small tv screen in our room let us know our speed, depth, and location.  After enjoying the breakfast buffet we packed our day bags and prepared to see Nassau.

 Tours were a little pricey so we decided to do our own guided tours through the city.  Following signs we found the Straw Market where we purchased some souvenirs and soon learned to turn our ears away from everyone who wanted to sell us something.  Each vendor seemed to talk to us 'quietly and confidentially' to let us know how much cheaper they would sell things to us then their competitors.  It took discernment to know who to buy from and who not to.

 This police lady seemed pleased that we were taking her photo and waved and posed for us.  Notice the little wheels under her podium so she can move it wherever she needs it.  

 Looking at this traffic jam and the dents in vehicles makes me think the police lady's job may have been a risky job!

 Tired, hungry, and hot we went back to the ship for lunch and then the youngers of the group went to tour beautiful Paradise Island. The 2 "older men" of our group thought they should have naps. We ladies decided it was a good time for some quiet, sun time up on the top deck.  Later the revived men and their ladies toured the mighty ship.

The kids returned in time for dinner (well, okay, several guys had to clean their room before the porters would allow them to have dinner!!)  After another gourmet meal, an evening of worship and some entertainment, the night was still young (not!) but there is never enough time to visit, catch up on friendships, drink more coffee and tea, eat, and eat a little more, and then head for bed quite early in the morning...... to meet your son knocking on your bedroom door as you round the corner of the hallway.  His eyes get big and he's wondering what we are still doing up when he thought we were in bed already!! ( ....and we're wondering why he is still up!!! lol)

After a short night of sleep, (while the ship traveled on to CocoCay, Bahamas), we packed our day bags, ate breakfast, and got on our ferry to the island.  Royal Caribbean had several ferries, each held 250 people, so it didn't take too long to get us ferried over.  We were assigned different times to leave, according to our Sea Pass numbers.

 It seemed like a dream! 

 Suddenly it seemed like we were standing in the middle of pictures we've seen for years!! 

 It was amazing!!

 Somebody was supposed to watch our backpack so they "hid" it under an Angry Bird beach towel!! 

 While the guys went scuba diving, the girls soaked up the sun.

 They loved it and eventually talked the girls into going, too.

 A huge buffet lunch was served on the island, compliments of Royal Caribbean.  Then while the kids went for the second round of scuba diving, Matthew, Becky, JR and I went on a Glass Bottom Boat Tour.  It was fairly windy and tossed the boat around enough that the driver wouldn't take us too near the rocks and reefs.  He was afraid everyone would lose their lunch.  He did a great job of keeping us entertained and we enjoyed the tour a lot.  He let us touch a lot of under water sea creatures.

Dinner that evening was formal.  It was fantastic and once again we enjoyed chatting with our friends from here and new friends from Mexico.  There were so many people on this ship that the only time we could catch up with our dear friends from Sarasota was over dinner.  Other than at dinner, we only saw each other in passing. Crazy, I know!!

 I was privileged and honored to be escorted to dinner 

by this handsome man a.k.a. the Love of my Life!!

 ...the romantic view of the sea at night!

 At midnight, as if anyone could possibly be hungry, the staff served a buffet of delectable foods.  Of course, we had to see what there was to taste and enjoy.

 ...followed by an even later night/morning!

By now we understood even better how little time you spend 

in your room!  Too much to do, too many people to enjoy!

"The Cruise" Part 1

Majesty of the Seas by Royal Caribbean   

Some undisclosed person or persons chose our associate pastor and his wife to be the messengers of some incredible news.

Our pastor's wife visited with us one Sunday morning after church and asked us what our plans were for Feb. 24-27.  JR was telling her how he was planning to run someone's lawn business that week while the owner and his wife

 (who also happen to be very good friends of ours)

were going on a Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas

with Sail & Sing Christian Cruise.

Our pastor's wife visited for awhile and said she had been sent by someone to see what our schedule was over those dates.

OK....?!

While we knew there was a cruise leaving from Miami in February, and our son, his girlfriend and her family, along with many other people we knew were going on a cruise.  We had talked earlier of how we would enjoy going, 

had prayed about it, but it appeared that financially,

 it was not an option.

On the way home from church we discussed the possibility that those dates she quoted might possibly be the same dates of the cruise and briefly mentioned the possibility of someone sending us on a cruise but quickly dismissed it as not too apt to happen and also knowing JR had committed to running a lawn business! 

When we got home we asked Derek about the dates of the cruise and interestingly enough, the dates matched!

 A week passed in which time we left for Ministers' Enrichment Weekend in Lancaster, PA. where we had a very enjoyable time. We were barely home when again, the phone rang...

the same message bearer with more news.

I got goose bumps up and down my arms as I was informed that "someone" had purchased 2 tickets for JR and I and we were to be ready to leave on in three weeks!!  I had to sit down and pinch myself to see if this was actually happening!

Sure enough, arrangements had been made, another worker had been lined up to run our friend's lawn business 

and confirmations were sent of our reservations!

WE WERE EXCITED!!

JR had mentioned through the years how he would love to go on a cruise sometime!  It never appealed to me that much because I don't like being on things I can't get off of and, while I love water, I wasn't too sure about not being able to see land. 

 Extra money was never in abundance, so a cruise seemed like a 

"maybe someday we'll go" thing.

But this time... I WAS AS EXCITED AS JR!!!

Travel documents were gathered, bags were packed, arrangements were made, and one early Monday morning the LaRaviere family stopped in to pick us up so we could all travel together to Miami 

in a 15-passenger van.

(more to follow on that!) 

As we neared the Port of Miami we were all eyes...

looking for the first glimpse of our ship.  

It didn't take long until we spotted it.

It was gargantuwa!!!  HUGE!

It was like a city on the water!

Matthew unloaded us all at the dock while he went to park the van.  Before we even left the dock and entered the ship, the porter recognized us as Christians and had asked for prayer. 

With opportunities like that, we knew this was going to be a

 God-trip and it was...over and over again!

Approaching the ship...

We entered Customs having no idea what we were doing but tried to look like well-seasoned travelers.

Derek (our son) ran into problems at Customs because he was under 21.  He pointed the attendant to us, his parents, so she sent him down to our line where they approved his travel abroad, and we all breathed a sigh of relief as we moved on through.

We walked through all the pass-ways and bridges with wide eyes...

we felt just a smidging like "Amish in the City"!

This is the middle of the ship showing all the different levels, stairways, elevators,  and shops.

And then we were off to find our room.

We were on the fifth floor in an inside room.

It was small but had plenty of room for two people.

I thought not having a window might bother my problem

of being claustrophobic but it didn't at all 

and it didn't take us long to realize how little time

is spent in your room on a trip like this!

Derek and his friends roomed right next to ours,

 right across from us was the Pollard family 

and scattered across the ship were many people we knew.  

Smiling, friendly porters from all over the world were available at all times to see if we needed anything. 

 Our rooms were cleaned twice a day. 

I think I could get used to this quite quickly!

 This little character was waiting in our room one night when we got back to it.  He was wearing JR's glasses and holding the remote control for us.  Different of his friends greeted us when we came in.

Departure from Miami was announced so up on top deck we all went to bid farewell to the United States of America.

 Last minute phone calls, texts, and facebook status' were done before we lost our cellphone service.

 Ahead lay open seas and lots of water!  Breath-takinglyBeautiful!

It felt surreal!  We were on a cruise! 

My first voyage out of the U.S!!