"I'm 'Bout to Bamboo"

Chinese Bamboo
~copied~
It all begins with a seed - and with the vision of someone willing to wait... A Chinese farmer, usually struggling to survive and provide for his family, plants the seed and sets his hope and vision on all it will provide when it towers 90 feet above his head. With a heart toward the future he digs hole after hole, plants the seeds, then begins their care. Day after day he carries water to the spot he has marked. And because it's human nature to want to see results he carefully inspects "the spot" every day.

Nothing.

Knowing he has to feed his family he plants other crops, carefully sewn around "the spots" that contain the real hope for his future. He continues to water them every day, feeding them carefully, and watching...

Nothing.

The other crops sprout within weeks, providing nourishment for his family within months, but provide nothing for the future. These crops will not make his dreams come true - they will simply provide for the now. The Chinese Bamboo seeds contain all his hopes, his dreams... A whole year goes by...

Nothing.

He continues to haul water. He stares endlessly at "the spots" but sees nothing but barren ground. His hopes, his dreams, seem so very far away. There is no evidence of life. Has the seed rotted? Has it died before it ever had a chance to grow? Another year goes by...

Nothing.

His neighbors - those who don't know and believe in the miracle of the Chinese Bamboo - laugh at him. They mock his vision for the future. They look on with scorn as he hauls buckets of water to "the spots". He begins to question himself. Will it ever grow? Is he pouring water, and his life's energy, into something that will reap no reward for him? Another year goes by...

Nothing.

3 years of pouring water, energy and hope into the Chinese Bamboo. Nothing to show for it. Yet he's heard of the miracle of the Chinese Bamboo. He's heard of the huge rewards that come to those who believe. One day he stands over "the spots" and he cries his frustration and fears. "The spots" reveal nothing, the barren ground seeming to mock him, yet the wind whispers hope to him. He sighs and hauls yet more buckets of water. Another year goes by...

Nothing.

4 years.... 4 years of hoping, wishing, diligently tending his dream. Surely the miracle will happen now. His neighbors have quit laughing. They no longer even care - yet they talk quietly among themselves of the farmer who "isn't quite right". At this point the farmer isn't even sure... Yet he's fallen into a habit so he continues to water "the spots". He continues to feed them. It's simply what he does now, with no knowledge of reward - just the simply, now unspoken hope, that life resides beneath the spots he so carefully tends. Another year passes...

Nothing.

5 years. The farmer is tired. Tired of hauling buckets. Tired of growing and tending so many other crops to feed his struggling family. Tired of trying to keep his dream alive. Tired of seeing no results day after day. He stares hopelessly at "the spots". There can not possibly be life after so many years. He must have watered them wrong. He must not have fed them correctly. If only he had done things differently, there would be growth. Despair rocks his soul. 5 years he has poured into his dream - into his hope for a better future. His dream mocks him. The vision of a better life for his family melts away under harsh reality. Tears fill his eyes as he grabs for the last hope residing in his soul and slowly lifts the bucket to pour water on to his dream. After 5 years he realizes it would be folly to give up now...

Then comes the morning when the whole village is jolted awake by the cries of joy from the farmer. They watch startled from their windows as he runs down the dusty road calling for his family to come see. As his family races back up the road after him, the rest of the village pours from their houses to see what has the "crazy farmer" so excited.

They find the family clustered around "the spots", talking excitedly. From the edge of the road they can see green sprouts thrusting out from the barren ground. They seem to be growing before their very eyes! The farmer is dancing. "The miracle has happened!" he cries. "The miracle has come!"

"The spots" become the place for everyone in the village to come - watching in amazement as the bamboo grows, and grows, and grows. 5 feet. 10 feet. 20. 30. 40. 50. 60. 70. 80... In just 6 weeks the bamboo has grown 80 feet tall! 5 years of nothing and now this... 80 feet in 6 weeks! It is truly a miracle!

The farmer stands to the side. He is aware all his dreams have come true. The harvest of the bamboo will provide for all he dreamed of for his family. He also realizes the lessons he has learned are far more valuable.

He learned to plant a dream.

He learned to do the daily things that would make it a reality.

He learned to ignore those who said it couldn't happen.

He learned to push past his own fear and doubt and keep taking action.

He learned to have faith when there was no reason to have faith.

Now he smiles every time he walks through the village. Everyone is hauling buckets of water to their own "spots". Gazing over at his towering 80 feet tall bamboo, they know what can happen. Because of him. Because of his willingness to blaze the trail and make his dream come true.

What about you? What are you willing to do to make your dreams come true? How long are you willing to work? How long are you willing to go to school? How much faith and belief are you willing to have? I hope your answer is one that will help you achieve all you dream of in life!

Final Thought:
Finally in the fifth year - behold, a miracle! We experience growth - and what growth it is - 80 feet in just six weeks! But let’s be serious, does the bamboo really grow 80 feet in six weeks, or does it actually take five years for this sudden burst of activity?

Discovering More Than I First Thought

Last month our young women’s Sunday school class started a series of lessons on the women of the Bible. We will study a new woman each week – in chronological order of the Bible. Each week is a challenge for me as I begin my studies; first reading scripture that names the woman and then investigating what was happening in her world at that time. It seems that no matter how much I study I am still working on my lesson plan even as late as Sunday morning. There is so much more to learn about these women than the few defining moments that were recorded in scripture. There are so many life applications that can be explored through their lives but finally at the end of the week I am forced to narrow down my studies to just a few points that I feel God is prompting me to share with these young women in my class. They get 30 minutes and I pray that they leave knowing more than when they came but for me this has been an intense walk through the Bible. I wish space would allow for me to share every morsel that God has given me but again I am forced to choose just a few items of interest in this blog. I challenge each of you to journey through the Bible with me using the lives of these women to discover a world that we make all too finite when we choose to contain it within a few short passages of scriptures. These people lived long lives that were intertwined with the lives of others just like us. There is so much more to their lives and it is all there for us to discover within the pages of the Bible.

Eve – She blew it!
When Adam and Eve were in the garden they had no need for anything. They shared equal status as the male and female counterpart, the environment was perfect and they knew no sin. The consequence of their sin got them thrown out the garden and into a life of hard work and toil. Eve became under submission to Adam as the head of the home and Adam was given responsibility for the family.

Noah’s Wife – A virtuous woman?
She would have had to have been a wonderful help meet to Noah. God had given him a great work to do and he would have needed his wife to be by his side and work just as hard as him to accomplish God’s will for their lives. As wives we are still called today to stand by our husband as his help meet.

Sarah – Did she get ahead of God?
Her lack of faith in God’s ability to bring about His promises led to her taking matters into her own hands. Fourteen years later God proved that He had been able all along. Even today as we look at the Arab nation we are still experiencing the consequences of her actions. Sarah made decisions for her family that was not hers to make, even though her husband allowed it she should have waited on God.

Lot’s Wife- Why did she look back?
As a citizen of Sodom she was surrounded by wickedness and its influence. Her husband Lot could have had more influence on her but he apparently had learned to compromise and go with the flow. She lost her life in the same way that those today who reject Jesus and cling to the world will lose theirs. She had the benefit of knowing about Lot’s God even if he was not the leader he should be. She willingly chose to look back and we too have that same choice.

Hagar – The mother of the Arab nation.
Pray for me this week as I study the life of this Egyptian handmaid who bore Abram his first son – Ishmael, who later established the Arab nation.

Mark it off!

Ec 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

The way I used to do things is not working anymore. It’s time for a change.

I was a stay at home mom until my kids were 10 and 15. During those years we didn’t have much money and I spent a lot of time doing things that would stretch a dollar. Working meant that I was away from home 9-10 hours a day. You can’t do things the same way you did when you stayed at home all day. I had to learn quickly how to make the best use of my time. I remember waking early and doing household chores that might have taken me all day if I had had the time. Time with friends meant late nights but when you are young you don’t worry too much about sleep. Saturday mornings were for washing the car and mowing the grass before it got too hot. I still managed to cook most of our meals but I had my favorite Hamburger Helpers. The house was not as spotless as it had been but a little dust never hurt anyone.

New interests and hobbies came along and with them the desire to have the best kept yard in town, be the best cook and the fear that someone would drop by and see the house in a wreck left too. For about ten years we rode motorcycles, almost every Saturday was devoted to riding. Didn’t have to worry about friends dropping in to see the house-wreck because they were out riding with us. Didn’t have to cook – “Ride to Eat.”

Marking tasks off of my list – not if I wait until I can do them the way I used to. It is time to adjust again. Sometimes I mismanage my time, other times I add things without omitting something else - both are bad for business. There are only so many hours in a day so it is reasonable to assume that if you add a new task you probably need to find a shortcut for one or more of the old ones or eliminate one all together. Some things are just going to have to be store bought and some things will not be as neat and perfect as before or I’ll never mark them off my list.

We change, circumstances change so the need to adjust is necessary. I didn’t realize back when I was young how precious that time was – time with my family – time learning how to make a home. Now it’s time to learn new things. The things that were important then are not as important now. I have new interests and new priorities - I want to use my time wisely.

Funny how after you turn 40 your body starts to slow down. You can still remember but it just takes longer. You can still move but you better be a little more careful how you jump up on that counter top to get that dish out of the top cabinet. You are just as smart but you have less to prove. You can see but the little things always get past you. With all this you have to make adjustments.

I was off today for President’s Day. I had several important projects that had been on my list of things to do for some time. I knew it was time to make some executive decisions and shortcut the work so I could mark them off my list.

For the past few years I have written and mailed a monthly newsletter for our church. It was time to ask myself what was the most important aspect of the newsletter and my answer was the calendar. Executive decision - I will continue to do the church calendar and hopefully more frequently but December was my last newsletter! I wanted to do a new look for our annual church directory update but the old format works fine and I was able to make the updates this morning and get it ready for proofing - marked it off my list! I worked on the books for my husband’s snack cake distribution company. Not as proud of the finished product as I was in years past but the receipts are totaled and that is what really counts! Learning the proper way to organize a business and be able to go back and look up something with ease was very important to me in years past. I hardly ever pull out any of the old records anyway so it’s okay to take shortcuts and if I do need to look something up I will find the extra time when that happens. It feels good to mark things off your list...sometimes because you are done and other times because you just don’t have to do them anymore.

I still have our tax return to do – but not next Saturday! This week’s project – an 89th birthday luncheon for a dear lady in our church. I’m glad I got some things marked off my list so that I can help make her day special. The tasks will be there but this opportunity to appreciate this dear woman of God will be gone one day.

Why wouldn't I trust Him?

It seems that each time I trust God and He blesses me that it would get easier to trust Him. Why wouldn't I trust Him for my next need? No matter how many times He proves Himself trustworthy I still doubt Him with the next need I have. He has never failed me. He has always given me more than I deserve, yet I make Him prove Himself again and again. It doesn't seem that I am making as much progress in the area of trust as I should be, why? He has delivered me from some desperate situations. He has given my family and me good health to enjoy. He has kept us safe when we didn't even recognize the dangers. He has comforted me when no comfort was available. He has proven that He can take any situation and use it to accomplish great things. He has filled my heart with joy unspeakable and given me peace that unsurpassing.

There must be a reason for my distrust. It may be that I know how untrustworthy I am. It may be because others have not been trustworthy. Not Him though, so why is it so hard to trust Him? Too many times I have rushed to put the past as far behind me as possible and as quickly as possible and in the haste maybe I have thrown out the blessings with the bad memories. God has always rescued me and He has always provided for me. He loves me and wants to give me His best. I Know that I can't receive His blessings until I let my guard down and let Him be God and trust Him for the outcome. I must let Him take control and let Him show me how He wants to work out each situation. Not Vicky's way but the Father's way. I have so many needs today, so many wants and I have a Father who wants me to trust Him. Father, You are trustworthy, I want to trust You and I want to remember the days gone by when You have delivered me. I don't know the answer, I don't know how it can work out - now is when I have to trust. You do what's best Father and when it's done I pray that I will trust You more for my next need. Thank you for the memories...the memories of how You delivered me and how You taught me to trust You.

De 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Praying in faith – What do we really expect?

God promises that he will show us marvelous things, he will do for us more than we are able to ask or think, he will out-do our hopes and expectations. How much faith do we really have? God is only limited by our faith.

Micah 7:15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.

Father, I want ALL that you have for me today. Grow my faith.

God caused a strong east wind to blow the waters back so the people could walk ten miles through the Red Sea to safety in Arabia. The crossing path is about a quarter to a half mile wide and is on a gradual slope down to the bottom of the Red Sea and then up to the Saudi beach. On either side of this path are the depths of the Red Sea, the Eilat Deep and the Aragonese Deep, each 3000 and 5000 feet deep respectively. http://www.arkdiscovery.com/red_sea_crossing.htm

Mercy Unto Our Children

Serve the LORD thy God - Mercy unto our children. What a wonderful promise.

Exodus 20: 5-6 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

We Have a God of Promises

Psalm 91
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

My God is Good

My heart is full and yet it is heavy. My God is good in all things! We don't always understand what He is doing but He is always faithful. I have promises from my Father and I trust Him to keep EVERYONE ONE OF THEM!

Happy Birthday Savannah!

“My Savannah Smiles”

She loves everybody and everybody loves her.
She will do anything to make you laugh.
Her freckles make her eyes sparkle.
She is as bright as a star.
She would rather be a girl than anything else.
She does not have an athletic bone in her body.
She can be very clumsy at times.
She has a very submissive spirit.
She is full of compassion.
She is obedient.
She is eager to learn.
She hates to do anything clerical.
She loves busy work and planning.
She honors her parents.
She has many friends.
She knows everyone in our little town.
She is very talented.
She is faithful.
She is honest.
She loves God and she knows what Jesus did for her.
She is sold out for God!
She has always been special.
Her Mama loves her very much!

Happy 25th Birthday Savannah

Virtue and Wisdom

Proverbs 31:10 reminds us of the value of a virtuous woman. Proverbs 8:11 reads "For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." Both the virtuous woman and Wisdom are compared to the value of rubies. In Proverbs 31, this woman has arrived, she has accomplished many things in her life. These scriptures do not tell us how she became a virtuous woman but we can be sure that there were many trials, struggles and even storms that she went through in order to obtain virtue (Strong's says that virtue is an army, wealth, valor, or strength). We should look on the verses in Proverbs 31 as things to strive for in our character and in doing so we must embrace the trials and sufferings that God uses to shape us and mold us into this woman.

Proverbs 31:26 reads "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." My prayer is, "God use whatever trials, struggles or even storms that are needed to make me a woman of Wisdom."

Just a small town girl in an up town world!

New York twice in one month! Yes, Savannah is going to see Kevin, AGAIN. She plans to leave this Thursday night and return on Monday - Monday is her birthday (more on that later)! Kevin's mom surprised him with the trip - she wanted to do something special for her special son (I mean that in the kindest way, I promise) because he will be ordained this Sunday and then commissioned next Sunday at First Bible Baptist Church in Rochester. She must be the proudest mom in Rochester right about now and she should be.

You never know what's next when you trust God. Last Wednesday, Savannah told Kevin goodbye for what she thought would be a very long time, today she is planning another trip to New York. If God has spoiled children, I would say these two are spoiled rotten! This story just keeps unfolding and promises to be a great testimony of how God is eager to give His children their heart's desire. Our Father is faithful to His promises.

What's Next?

That seems to be everyone's question. Only God knows; the rest of us are just having to wait and be still. I have had to be still in the past but it was just me...this time is different. Not only am I waiting but those I love are experiencing the same wait. From March to November 2005, I kept the following under my keyboard at work, I read it more than once every day. I held on to it's promise. God answered my prayers and that wait ended. He will answer my prayers this time too.

March 2, 2005
March 4, 2005 - Vicky's thoughts
*******************
Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Don’t do anything.
Nor deem these days -- these waiting days -- as ill!
And don’t assume that since it’s been a long wait that the outcome will be bad.
The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,
Your God who loves you and has the best plan for you
Hath not forgotten thy great need today!
Has not forgotten your distress.
And if He waits, 'tis sure He waits to prove
And through your wait He will prove
To thee, His tender child, His heart's deep love.
His great love for you.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Don’t do anything.
What higher service could'st thou for Him fill?
This is the best thing He’d have you do.
'Tis hard, 'tis true! But then -- He giveth grace
It is hard to wait but He will give you grace
To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.
To turn the waiting into a blessing.

--J. Danson Smith
--Vicky Smith

Be still, My child and know that I am God!
Wait though patiently---I know the path you trod.
So falter not, nor fear, nor think to run and hide.
For I, thy hope and strength, am waiting by thy side........Hein

Savannah in Rochester

She left New Orleans Saturday night. She will be in Rochester through tomorrow. I've hardly spoken to my Vannah since she left. That's a good thing, I know that if she was not having fun she would want to talk to her Mama. She called for just a few minutes Sunday morning; sounded as nervous as I have ever heard her. Monday morning she called again but it was obvious that she was not in the mood to talk; she couldn't stop describing the snow outside her window. We don't have snow like that in Mississippi. She met a lot of Kevin's family and friends and loved them all. This morning I received another five minute call...apparently she is having fun. The forecast is predicting a winter storm in the New York area, I don't think she will mind if her flight home is delayed. I just hope it is delayed in Rochester and not at JFK; she would not want to be stranded by herself knowing that she could have stayed a few more hours with Kevin. Only God knows the outcome of their relationship and I trust that He has only the best for my Vannah.

This is the day that the Lord hath made.

The first day of a brand new year. 2007 is over and today we have a clean slate for 2008. When the year ends, what will be written? What will you remember about this new year? What will others remember? I heard two important messages from God last night at our Watch Night Service. The first message reminded us that we must grow as a Christian. Hebrews 6:1-6 tells us that we must always be maturing and learning to teach and learning to lead. God expects "more" from His own children. We will grow only if we love God, if we are obedient to God and if we live a separated life from the things of the world. The second message was from my pastor so I know that it was meant especially for me and pray that I will heed it during this new year. It is our (my) job to do the work of God. God is bigger than any excuse I have for not doing BIG things for His honor and His glory. Remember that the joy of the Lord is your strength and if the devil witnesses that joy he will leave. Satan can not influence you when you are strong. Keep your eyes on Jesus and look up to see the great army of God that surrounds you and your life. What does God see? If we could only see what He sees. 1) Do not use the excuse of your circumstances. 2) Do not think it is ever too late. 3) Do not count the costs; God owns it all. 4) Do not think your gifts and talents are too small. 5) Do not look at how big the job is. Do your part and allow God to do BIG things in and through you and your life for His honor and His glory!

Watch Night Service

Tonight, we will gather as a church family to usher in the New Year with praises to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This new year promises great hope for things unseen and not thought of. I am thankful to my God for His mercies on me in previous years that were not spent praising Him and His goodness.

BEAMS

In July 2006, my friend Tina asked me if I could come to BEAMS for just a day and help the bookkeeper with a few things in QuickBooks. Tina and I were members of the same church and before that we knew each other through our previous jobs. She was the receptionist at an accounting firm that my previous employer had founded and since retired from. In November of 2005 I had left my job of ten years for what I hoped was a much better position but which turned out to be only an avenue that God used to exit me from that job and lead me to work permanently as the BEAMS bookkeeper. What was originally supposed to be a consultation visit soon grew into a restructuring of BEAMS accounting and from that it became a calling on my life. I struggled with the decision from July until January; first I committed to a couple of weeks, then a month longer and then six months. By January I knew that I was committed to using my talents to help missionaries around the world have hardcover complete King James Bibles to give to new converts. Through the sacrificial giving of individuals and fundamental Baptists churches, BEAMS has been able to send out over 100,000 Bibles during the year 2007 at no cost to the missionaries. I must admit that this was a "promise" that I almost missed. I rejected it for months as I tried to direct my own path, the one that I had started and the one that I thought would receive approval from those around me. As I look back I thank God for His mercies, He never needed me to accomplish His work at BEAMS yet he offered it to me and then patiently waited for me to recognize that yet again He had been faithful to fulfill another promise. I had prayed for eight years that God would give me a job that I could use me talents, one that would bring joy to my life and that I would know that I was in His will. Never, and I mean never did I specifically ask Him to put me in a ministry, you see this would not have fit the mold of the job that I thought would meet with every one's approval. He still gave it to me. God is so good to His children even when we don't deserve it. I pray that I will never be as stubborn as I was for those eight years. I want to see God's plan for my life and to do that I must look up and not down at the path I am on.

In case you missed it - the path God had me on was leading me to BEAMS all along. It was no accident that I was trained as a bookkeeper by a 30 year retired CPA, that I met Tina and she was aware of my qualifications, or that God moved us from a church that we loved to Red Creek Baptist where BEAMS was supported, then that Tina took a job at BEAMS, that I had just completed a temporary position I had taken while I waited on the perfect job to come along and that Tina contacted me when they began to look for help with their accounting. There are more details that all point to God's perfect path but this post is already longer than I intended. Isaiah 55:8 reads, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."

New Year's Eve

I'm enjoying a four day weekend before beginning a new year at work which is always the busiest for a bookkeeper. I think this blog could be a good way to reflect back on the events of the day and let God show me where we have been and where He is taking me. There is so much that my God wants to do for me, He has always been faithful to do exceedingly more than I ever hoped for. He has always been willing to bless me with all of His promises but too many times I simply would not accept them. I pray that I will look up to the heavens during 2008 and embrace every promise that He has made me. Most times when we are offered something new it is a little frightening. We like to be in control and know what to expect. We say that we want something new but our fear prevents us from having it. I want to let go of all fear and allow God to show me things I never knew about.

2007 has been a tough year for me. I have grown in the Lord which means that I have not been in my comfort zone a whole lot. I have seen events set into motion that ultimately will help fulfill more of God's promises. These events have tested my faith and my commitment to God but I trust that God will use each situation to bring honor and glory to His name and I praise Him that He is allowing me to be a part of what He is doing. I have a promise in Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Savannah & Kevin

It was the last week in October when I met Kevin at BEAMS. He was on deputation and had come to Gulfport to spend a few weeks preaching in some area churches in hopes of raising support before he goes back to Zambia, Africa on January 15, 2008. BEAMS was also responsible for loading and shipping a container to Kafulafuta Baptist Missions in Zambia, Kevin used the opportunity to pack a few items on the container before it was to leave Gulfport. Kevin was staying in our guest rooms on the grounds of BEAMS; we offer them to missionaries as we try to be a blessing to them and support their ministry.

Kevin was like family from the first day. Everyone at BEAMS fell in love with Kevin. He was unique in that he is a single man - most of the missionaries that stay at BEAMS have a wife and children. One by one, each of the staff came to me with the same question, "Have you thought about Kevin for Savannah?" Yes, I had thought about my daughter and our daily prayer during devotion at BEAMS; we had prayed for God to send her a "godly husband." It wasn't as simple as it sounds in print but God did make a way for the two of them to meet before Kevin left to spend the Thanksgiving holidays with his mom in Rochester, NY. He returned to Gulfport the first of December to visit a few more churches and they were able to spent some time together getting to know each other. Before he left Gulfport for the last time, the two of them agreed that they wanted to continue a relationship together. They bought tickets for Vannah to visit Kevin in NY during the New Year's holidays. That's where she is today! Only God knows how this will all develop but for now they really like each other and Mama thinks Kevin just might be part of one of the promises I have from God. A mother wants her children to be in God's perfect will. She wants God to do big things in the lives of her children. I have always asked God to use Savannah and I can't think of a bigger way to use her than if she should be the wife of a God called preacher that is taking the saving Gospel to people who have never heard the name Jesus.

My heart is full. And yes, I am nervous when I think of the possibility of my little girl living so far from me. But for now they are only dating and I think that is wonderful. Pray for them that God will speak clearly and that they will obey His leading. Pray for us as a family that we will seek God's grace to embrace all that He wants to do in and through our family. I want to enjoy all of His promises.

My Kids

Josh, Briony, Noah, Isaac & Seth


Vannah, Noah, Isaac & Seth

My Girls

Last January, after much prayer and leading, I offered a new Sunday School class to the young women in our church. In the previous months, many young families had joined our church family and my heart was burdened for these young women that were attempting to begin a walk with God. Most of them had very little discipling up to this point and almost everything about the Christian life was new to them. Some of the things that they had been taught was not always in keeping with our beliefs at Red Creek Baptist Church. My desire is to create an environment that encourages these young women to grow in the Lord using the Bible as a guide. I pray that they will strengthen one another by praying for each other and becoming sisters in Christ. God has given us each other to help us grow. These young women want to grow and I am priveliged to be there for them.

The class started very small. Savannah, Jamie, Amanda, Korey, Carmen, Allison, Julie & Candice are our current members. I am so blessed to be able to spend time with these young women each Sunday. My role as teacher has held me to a higher standard than I once set for myself. They are watching me and listening to my every word; it is an awesome responsibility to teach. Sadly, this is the first time for some to come together with other women and discuss the things of God. They are hungry for instruction. Praise be to God, I have already seen tremendous growth in these young lives.

We began by learning what the Bible teaches concerning the women's role in the church and in the home. The topics are endless; I've lost track of the outlines that I have started at the beginning of the week, only to have God change my direction by Sunday morning. I do try to be sensitive to the Holy Ghost and allow Him to guide the direction of the class each week. My life has been full of both good and bad experiences that have proven to be an effective teaching tool for these young ladies that face the temptations from Satan and failed attempts at living a holy life. They respond to my honesty even though I always refrain from sharing graphic details of my past sins and disappointments. The details are not important but how they affected my life and what I have done to move past them is very important. People just want us to be real with them and allow them to be real. Most of these young women have not been raised in church and even the ones that have been in and out of church did not have a consistent godly influence in their lives. God has blessed me to be able to share my life experiences with these women; somehow redeeming those mistakes rather than them being all in vain.