Yesterday, I watched my sister stand by the swing set and push her little girlies on the swings. It was early evening. The sky was growing darker from impending thunderstorms. Every few moments, faint thunder echoed in the distance. One angry-looking cloud grew rapidly and seemed to be moving in our direction.

“Mommy, let’s go inside!” The Older Niece said worriedly. “Mommy, I’m scared!” And The Sis would simply reassure her that the rain was still far away, and they would go inside before the storm came. A few minutes later, thunder would roll again and the concerned little voice would pipe up, “Mommy! I hear thunder. Let’s go inside!” And again, a calm mommy voice would point out that it is not raining yet and the storm had not come over the mountain and there wasn’t any lightning yet. Everything was fine.

Eventually, the rain came…

And I wondered. Do I sound like that? Every few minutes asking my Father if He is going to take care of me today? Looking at the clouds and listening to the thunder and allowing worry to overcome me? Do I need the reassuring hand of my Father to comfort me? Do I often need reminded that He cares for me, He protects me and He won’t let any destruction come near me?

“Casting all your care on Him, because He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7

Over the course of the weekend, I spent 10 hours of driving, 36 hours in Virginia, 5.5 hours at parties, 2 hours playing the piano, 9 hours at church, 3 hours napping on Sunday and not enough time sleeping during the rest of the weekend. I drank 3 caffeinated beverages, gained 4 new phone numbers, met countless new people, heard “oh, you’re (my name) from Pennsylvania!” and “I’ve heard about you!” over 5 times (this is me looking alarmed! :-o)…. Hours of fun, my friends, hours of fun.

Vacation Day Friday
We had grand plans for this day. Meandering down to Virginia, picnicking at Great Falls, shopping at antiques stores. And then, the rain came…. Ugh. Last minute change of plans--- girlie day!! Afternoon tea at the British Pantry and getting manicures (which I managed to brutalize my own in less than 24 hours because of piano playing. No more manicures!!).… the rain was constant, chilly, and pretty miserable. But sipping hot tea was gloriously relaxing.

Graduation! The whole reason for our visit. I love Christian high school graduations. Like... I actually stay awake for them. That’s how much I love them. :) WOOHOO for the graduate!!! :)

Party Crashing. I can claim ignorance for this. Somewhat. I didn’t know the graduation party was such a hardcore by-invitation-only party until we got there and the bouncers had flashlights & guest lists. But we were allowed entrance. I’m chalkin’ that one up to the mercy of God. :) Great conversations… once I went to find a bathroom and stopped for a thirty-minute conversation. Longest. Bathroom. Trip. Ever!

Park Place. There are two kinds of parks in this world. One green, tree-lined, picnicking, random deer spotting, this-is-the-city-and-I-crave-nature kind of park. And the other kind is the swings-and-playgrounds park where little kids feel like they’ve died and gone to heaven. On Saturday morning, we drove to the first kind of park, raised our eyebrows and drove away. I have nature parks in PA… all we wanted was a nice happy kid park for The Little Man… There were swings. And a mud puddle (which I convinced The Little Man to throw rocks, play with twigs and otherwise splash in---you can tell I currently fill the auntie role and not the mommy role!! Hehe).

Testimonies. Of salvation and God’s provision and His faithfulness and His power. I am wide-eyed and joyful and encouraged that God is moving in mighty ways in people’s lives. Just strengthens my faith to believe the Lord for the impossible—like the salvation of prodigals. :) … Oh yes, and I heard stories about some rather blunt spiritual rebukes that struck me as funny. “You are a gossip trash can” and “You have a pathetic prayer life.” Harsh words but fitly spoken. :) It made me laugh.

Til Death Do Us Part. One murder mystery birthday party. I laughed so hard during this party that my face hurt. My visit was unknowingly timed to fall on this birthday party, so I had the privilege of capturing these happy and hilarious moments with a camera… In between my giggles, I watched the intriguing costumes, acting and deviousness of a real-life whodunit! It was set during an Italian wedding reception, complete with the guest no one knows how HE got invited ("Ken's my cousin," "Yeah, friends with Stanley. We go waaay back!"), the over saturated drunk relative ("I'll drink to that!!!" lol.. all in good fun, people!), the jealous sister, the overachieving mother-of-the-groom doing business deals... all trying to answer the question, “who had motive and opportunity for murder?” *Insert creepy music here* Just like a life-size game of Clue!!.... Oh yes, and the tiramisu was delicious!

Young Adults Meeting. Included a silly teamwork game that was waaaay too complicated for us. My team lost miserably. Twice. We were the “B” squad of the “B” team. Let’s be blunt---we were the looosers. :) But it’s funny how intense people get over paper clips and rubber bands. :) Moving on to spiritual things… good preaching!

Musical Times. Musical conversation. Listening to good music. And playing on a grand piano. * sigh* SOOO fun. Even if I did play for a looong time while listening to spiritual conversations. And my fingers got cold. And then went to church the next morning and played the entire way through an extended testimony time. My fingers hurt…Methinks I need more practice.

Enough rambling... This weekend was full of hours of fun while near and far. With old friends and new friends. At another church and my own church. With church family and blood family. While I drove, ate, played, chatted, smiled, laughed, listened, spoke, cheered, said "Amen," hugged, bounced in happiness because I'm gonna be an auntie again!, planned, wrote, and rambled. Hours of fun, my friends...

My newest discovery (prompting "why didn't I think of this before?" thoughts!) is that my wireless internet works on the front porch. Of my little cottage. Now dusk has fallen. The sky turned into a beautiful shade of not-quite-midnight blue. Sounds of rippling waters echo through my little hideaway in the valley. I hear the hum of cars and see their headlights flashing across the hill, but mostly my thoughts are meditative in this stillness... or, as still as small-town life gets...


Blogs have been few and far between lately. Even the staple 'weekend in review' has been left behind this week. Now I am returning... at least for this evening, to share what's been on my heart.


On Sunday morning, my pastor shared a message about the church of Sardis. As a message to us. To my church. To me! It was very pointed. And sharp. And fitly spoken to my heart.


"... I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die, for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God."
Revelations 3:1-2


The church of Sardis was a church with a reputation for spiritual life. Many people thought that things were happening there---they were on fire! God was moving... or was He?


Our church has a reputation. We're the ones that "pray loud." Or 'have youth that are on-fire,' or are 'really radical.' I've heard many things spoken (those are the positive words). And while some is true... we really do pray loud... I still wonder...


Is the reputation just a wisp of a dream? A fleeting mirage of spirituality? An echo of spiritual fire that burned ten years ago--five years ago--last year?


Reputations give way to pride, which is the deadliest and most dangerous sin. Yes, God has done great things in our midst. Who are we to glory in ourselves? Have we worked supernatural wonders? Was it our faith that saw miracles---or the God who gave the seed of faith within us? If God is pleased in anything among our Body, He has done it Himself.


Pastor brought a challenge to our church this Sunday.
"Wake up and strengthen the things that remain!"


We can't let these things die!

• Faith. Yes, the "faith camp" has perverted the truth about faith into something that benefits flesh and pleasure. But this does not negate the Biblical message of faith. "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." Jesus never dealt mercifully with unbelief. To doubt God's promises and His willingness to fulfill them is to doubt God Himself. Faith pleases God, and that's the pure truth of it!
• Love for the Word of God. It is our supreme teaching. We ought to tremble at His Word. It is infallible and inerrant.
• Divine Healing. For all! "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Acts 10:38
• Prayer. Personal prayer. There is no life outside prayer. If you are trying to find direction in your life and you don't have a prayer life, you will be confused! Fervent prayer. We should ALL be fervent in spirit, praying fervently, listening fervently.
• Holiness. Not self-righteousness or hypocritical standards. A holiness that comes from being in the presence of the Most Holy God.
• Doctrine.
• Authority. To meet God is to meet authority. Americans are independent. We pride ourselves on our self-sufficiency and independence. And that's great--in politics. The kingdom of God is not a democracy. It is a theocracy, and Christ is the head!

There's not much left to say. Except that I have been challenged to get out of complacency, to awake out of spiritual slumber and fight to keep the foundations laid in my spiritual beginnings. I must become a child again... humbled before my Father, a student of the Word, holding tightly to the truths so dear to us.