The Valley of Vision

I realized that my last two posts have been rather long so this one is going to be short and sweet! There are a couple of blogs I keep up with and I like both their short and long posts. It is nice to have variety right?....then again that could just be the American culture's need for new and exciting things on a daily basis influencing me. But I digress....on to the business at hand. 

Special thanks to several ladies in my Monday evening bible study who recommended a little book to me called The Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett. They mentioned it last Monday, I ordered it on Wednesday and got it on Friday. Gotta love amazon prime :-) This book has been a true blessing to me and I have only had it 4 days! I recommend this book as a companion to your daily time of devotion.  Notice I said companion....not in place of!  Nothing is better than the Word and your own personal prayer time with the Lord. 

This book is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. If you just read one a day it will take you through about half the year and then you will be glad to start over from the beginning again. These prayers are packed full of theology and praise to the Lord. They are so deep it made me realize how shallow my own prayer life is at times. They are beautifully written and challenging. If you like to think and go deep this is a great book for you. 

I will leave you with one of the prayers below to wet your appetite. You can find copies of the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. They come in paperback, hardback or leather bound. So, that is it for this post. It wasn't as short and sweet as I had planned, but I can own up to the fact that I am long winded by nature. Just ask my History professors from college....I am the reason they put a cap on how many pages you could write :-)  Have a blessed week my friends! Love to you from The Forest!

The Valley of Vision

Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly,

Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,

     where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights:

     hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox

     that the way down is the way up,

     that to be low is to be high,

     that the broken heart is the healed heart,

     that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

     that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

     that to have nothing is to possess all,

     that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

     that to give is to receive,

     that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,

     and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine.

Let me find thy light in my darkness,

     thy life in my death,

     thy joy in my sorrow,

     thy grace in my sin,

     they riches in my poverty,

     thy glory in my valley.

A Few of My Favorite Things...Kitchen Things!

I love to cook!  I love to bake!  I love all things kitchen! There is one minor exception to these loves though and that is all the dirty dishes they create...I don't love those at all. But that aside, I truly love being in my kitchen and creating yummy things. I haven't ever heard a complaint from my husband about this either :-)  For me, cooking and baking are a stress reliever and thankfully there are always people willing to share in my culinary creations. If we ate everything I made 100% of the time we would have some serious issues! So, in honor of my love of the kitchen I decided to post about my 5 favorite/can't live without kitchen items. Yay!

Now, I will say that I really don't have just 5 favorites. I have like a million but these are probably the 5 that make my culinary adventures easier on a regular basis. I will also go ahead and make the disclaimer that the pictures and links on this page are simply examples and suggestions. Trust me, I am not getting paid to advertise any of these items :-) I also know that many of you may already have these things and use them on a regular basis and have even better tips than I do. This was just a fun blog for me to write and I hope you enjoy the info whether it is new or old to you! Here we go...

1. The Immersion Blender - My husband will tell you that every time I use this tool I get so excited. Why you ask? Have you ever looked at a recipe and decided not to make it because there is a step in there that requires you to ladle the mixture into a food processor or blender, mix it and then put the food back in the dish you got it from? More dishes to clean! That alone makes me cringe. Then there is the inevitable possibility that the food processor or blender lid isn't on right and the food goes everywhere. Now there are more dishes and counters to clean! I submit that the Immersion Blender is the solution to this problem. I love making smooth creamy soups and I love that all I need to do is cook it all in one pot and then use my trusty tool to blend it up in the same pot. It works beautifully and is a true time saver. Immersion blenders can cost as little as $30 and as much as $130. Usually the best ones range from $40 to $70. The link below will take you to several options. I know it is rather taboo to ask your husband to get you a blender for a special occasion, but go ahead and give him the green light on this one!  You will be glad you did!

Immersion Blenders

2. Ice Cream Scoops - Ice Cream Scoops are such a wonderful invention. Not just for scooping ice cream but basically for any type of food you want to turn into a ball shape. I have 3 different sizes of ice cream scoops. I use these on a regular basis when I make cookies, cupcakes, muffins, meatballs, sausage balls and especially the 100 red velvet truffles I made last Christmas!  These are a real time saver and easy to clean. Now the key to this is buying scoops that have a trigger button or spring hinge handle like the one pictured below. The food stays in the scoop better and releases the food in a more perfect ball shape. You can spend as much or as little on these as you want. It all depends on how much you think you will use them and how long you want them to last. Mine were a gift from Williams Sonoma and were the mini, small and medium sizes. I am thankful Santa made the investment for me :-) To give it a try purchase or use one you already have in the regular/medium size. Then use it for your next batch of muffins or cupcakes.Once you start, you will want to purchase the other sizes as well. 

Ice Cream Scoops 

   









3. Plastic Cutting Mats - I love a good sturdy wood cutting board. But, there are a few drawbacks to them. For me, the major drawback right now is space. If any of you have ever been to seminary housing or lived in it you know counter space is limited. So having a big cutting board out all the time is difficult and there really isn't anywhere to store it. Enter the marvelous multi-colored plastic cutting mats! What I love about these is that you can easily store them, they clean up beautifully and you can color code them based on what you are cutting on them. For example, you can cut meat on the red one, chicken on the yellow one and veggies and fruit on the blue and green ones. Or, because they clean up so perfectly and are non-porous you can just use whichever one you grab first. These are really flexible and make it easy to move prepped food anywhere in your kitchen. The best part....they are super cheap. I bought some for $10.00 and they hold up great. Even if you like the big wood cutting boards like I do, give these a try. They are a great addition to any kitchen. 

Plastic Cutting Mats

4. The Plastic Knife - There will be no link or picture for this one because let's face it...you know where you can buy plastic knives and what they look like. No rocket science for this one :-) But, did you know what a useful tool the plastic knife is? Whenever I make brownies or any type of a dessert bar, this is my go to tool. Regular knives make the brownies have messy edges when you cut them, but if you use the smooth side of a plastic knife you will have perfectly cut brownies every time. Plastic knives also work great for cutting sheet cakes, cornbread, pies and the all important dressing/stuffing at Thanksgiving. So next time you have some leftover plastic knives from a picnic and you are tempted to throw them away, save them for your next batch of brownies. (remember that plastic melts :-) Don't try to cut anything right out of the oven. Give it a little time to cool before you use the knife.)

5. The Crock Pot/Slow Cooker -  The crock pot is probably on everyone's list, but it is such a huge help that it had to be in my top 5. I personally equate the crock pot to that of a sous chef. I do most of my meal planning, shopping and cooking on Saturdays. It makes for a pretty busy day but it is a huge help during the busy week ahead. Thankfully I have a husband who eats leftovers so you can best believe leftover nights are factored into the weekly meal plan. I basically prepare one huge meal that consists of a meat and 2 sides then I usually have a soup on the stove and then I use my handy sous chef the crock pot. While cooking the big meal for the week I have another meal cooking away in the crock pot and there isn't a thing I have to do to it! These 3 meals will feed us for 6 days. The crock pot is a huge time saver and because it is one dish, clean up is a cinch. And if you have been reading closely through this post you know how important easy clean up is to me :-) Slow Cookers have a huge range in price. We are talking anywhere from $50 -$400. My personal favorite and the one I use at home is the All Clad 6 quart. It is pictured below. If you use a slow cooker a lot and want to save up for a really nice one this one is great! But you can also find some equally great ones for far less on the link I attached. It all depends on you and your family's personal needs. I do recommend a 6 quart though because you can make plenty for a large family for one meal or for a family of 4-6 to have leftovers. Recipes are easily doubled in the 6 quart size. Whatever size you get or have, just be sure to put that sous chef to use....it is a life saver and you can find a million crock pot recipes online as well as whole cookbooks devoted to them.

Crock Pots/Slow Cookers

That is all for this post. Thanks for reading the whole thing if you did. Hopefully something helped you or entertained you :-) I have listed two of my favorite websites below. I can always find a good recipe from either of these women. The first one many of you will know and the second one is becoming more and more popular. Happy Cooking from Wake Forest!

The Pioneer Woman

Mel's Kitchen Cafe

The Long Overdue Post

Last summer, I had this brilliant idea that I would create a blog.  And then I had the brilliant idea that I would post something on said blog at least once a week. And then life hit me with all its brilliant craziness and well, as you can see the poor blog has been neglected since last December. Yes, I said last December....don't judge!

The important thing to remember is that I am back with a very long overdue post and I will genuinely do my best to stay on top of this thing...for those who are actually interested.  And this time there will be no promises as to how often I post....learned my lesson on that one :-) 

So, for my return to the blogging world I figured an update on the Dickerson household might be in order. I don't presume that there are people sitting around their houses wondering what we Dickersons do with our lives on a daily basis (with the exception of moms and grandparents of course) but in the event that you are curious I will do my best to fill in the gaps. 

Mike is still hard at work at what I like to call the trifecta of life. This would include seminary classes, work at FBC Durham and teaching on a regular basis in BFL (aka Sunday school) and our Sunday night Home Fellowship. Needless to say, the man is busy. On a happy note, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for seminary. After this semester Mike will only have 6 classes left until he completes his MDiv....wahoo...yay....zippadeedooda....and any other words that can explain the sheer joy of that glorious graduation day!  But wait for it....you are gonna get a kick out of this part....we are currently praying about him staying to get his PhD.....cue the sinister ironic laugh :-)  Yep, I said it...PhD!  Let's just say I am not surprised and neither are most people who know Mike. We are truly thankful for many of the godly men in his life who are praying with him and walking with him through this decision. We will keep you posted of course!

As for me, I guess the biggest change is that God called me out of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) at the end of our 2012-2013 study back in May. I truly love BSF and enjoyed the study, my fellow leaders and the precious ladies in my group. As I began to pray about returning I felt as though God wanted me to take a step back from it for a while so that I could say yes to some other things at my church. It was hard to say goodbye but it has been great to say yes to several new things as well. God has given me the privilege of getting to teach BFL to second graders. There is a sweet couple that teaches with me which is great since we have anywhere from 16-22 to corral each Sunday :-) This year our theme is God always keeps His promises. I love getting to hear all these sweet kids answer questions and read scripture and the curriculum is a blessing to me as I am reminded of those promises too. I am still working at Southeastern in the Provost Office and love each and every day....even the super busy hard ones. I am thankful for the great people I get to work with and Christ centered spirit you can feel on campus. Our little pup Lincoln is still doing well and brings us much joy. And Mike thoroughly enjoys my cooking and baking hobby. I think my co-workers and fellow church members enjoy it as well. Hopefully more posts to come about that as well. 

Mike and I are so thankful to the Lord for where He has brought us. Seminary wasn't the easiest road to travel when we first moved here over 3 years ago but now we feel as though we have a true home thanks to our wonderful church family at FBC Durham and the great jobs God has provided us with. And of course our marriage which is a blessing I really can't describe in words...sorry for the sappy moment :-) 

Here is a quick snapshot of our year since I failed to post very much....

February - I turned 30...what?!?  Not sure where all the time went but 30 has been pretty great

March/April - Got so spend a little time in Atlanta and Lexington visiting our parents and friends. I also celebrated 1 year of being at Southeastern.

May - Celebrated Mike's birthday and we got to spend a week in Amelia Island, FL on vacation with my parents....the weather was perfect and it was a great treat to get to relax and eat some yummy food.

June/July - I worked and worked some more. Mike took a summer class and spent most of his time reading or working on papers. What can I say, we are super exciting people :-) 

August - Spent some more time in Atlanta and Lexington visiting with family and friends.

Upcoming fun and some posts that will go along with it...

September - Mike and I will be visiting the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Durham as guests of Rosaria and Kent Butterfield. I will definitely write a post about why this is super exciting and who these two great people are. Stay tuned :-) 

October - One of my most favorite months which includes my most favorite season of the year! It is also the month that 3 of my 4 nephews celebrate birthdays.

November - Mike and I will celebrate 4 years of marriage on the 7th. Time has flown! This will also be our first major holiday that we spend at home just the 2 of us.  Don't get me wrong, I love family but we are looking forward to a holiday in our own home with no travel in the car. Mike has already made sure I will have some of the key Thanksgiving staples since there will be a lack of family bringing yummy food. Good thing I learned how to make my grandmother's dressing!

December - This is the big one folks....we are headed to Asia to visit my sister!!!!!  I haven't seen my sister and her family in over 2 years and have yet to meet Grady in person. All that changes in December when we head over to visit. We are super excited...there really aren't words.  Then, after 5 days back in NC we will board our 7th plane of the month and head west for an Oklahoma Christmas. We haven't seen Mike's brother and family in a year so we are looking forward to having several days with them out in Oklahoma and see their new home and city. Maybe if I'm lucky I can see the Pioneer Woman?!?! I know it probably won't happen but a girl can dream :-)

So that is about it...for those interested, stay tuned! I should have some pretty interesting posts on here over the next several months. Love to you all from beautiful Wake Forest, NC! 

 

A day that will live in Infamy...

Greetings to all of you blog readers out there!  It has been quite a while since I posted anything.  So sorry...as you know, life gets busy :-)  Today, I write a post concerning 2 things in my life that live in infamy.

First, today is the day that Mike and I went on our first date back in 2007. I am thankful I said yes, and I am thankful God brought such a special man into my life. For the 2 of us, it is a day that will live in infamy for a very special reason. It began our love story and our life together.

The second event (and more important on a national level) that will live in infamy is of course the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. As a history nerd I know quite a bit about this day and about WWII in general.  It was always a great topic of interest for me and I have always enjoyed studying it.  However, studying it and seeing it are 2 very different things.

Mike and I had the opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor on our honeymoon back in 2009. As you arrive to get tickets, you have the opportunity to view a film about that terrible day in history.  It sets the tone for what you are about to see. As everyone gets on the boat to head out to the memorial there is a sense of excitement and you can hear people chattering away about how they have always wanted to visit this place and what a neat experience it will be.  Then suddenly, as the ship draws closer, voices seem to quiet and stop all together. It is as if everyone begins to realize the magnitude of what they are about to see. As the boat docks at the memorial you can hear a pin drop.  For this group of people, December 7, 1941 has become very alive and real for the few minutes we have to experience the USS Arizona.

As I stood on the USS Arizona Memorial and looked down into the murky water I was truly thankful for the men that gave their lives in protection of this country that I wasn't even born into yet. Men who lie entombed in that very ship, never laid to rest as a soldier deserves. What an honor to be there to say thank you to these men who forever left loved ones behind in order to stand in the gap for their country.

My moments on the memorial were reflective and silent. As my mom always says, "Tiffany just needed to have her history moment."  But more than that, it was a moment to be thankful and to contemplate the many blessings we have as Americans. What a gift to spend such a special time with my new husband.

I thought it was appropriate to end this section with a portion from President Roosevelt's Infamy Speech. I pray that our leaders can take note of the heart, courage, conviction and passion that made this country so great. I don't know what God's plans for our country's future are, but I am thankful I can still say God Bless America!

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan....

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

Celebration!! Even after disappointment...

Well, by now everyone knows the results of the election.  For some, it is a great time of celebration and for others it is a time of disappointment.  I will admit that I was disappointed in the results of the election. But, I still believe that God is sovereign and holds the nations in His hands.  Two passages of scripture that I greatly appreciate right now are Psalm 2 and 2 Timothy 3:1-7.  I will post them at the end of the blog. I think these passages give such a great picture of where we are in our country right now. For now, I will pray for my leaders and pray that Christians learn the true meaning of taking up our cross and following Him!

On note of celebration, today is mine and Mike's anniversary!!  I can't believe that 3 years have already gone by. But what a great 3 years they have been. I truly couldn't have a better partner in life than Mike.  He is a genuine picture of a husband who loves me as Christ loves the church. I pray that I can continue growing to be the wife he needs as we strive each day to out give and out love the other.  Because that is the "secret" I have learned in this thing called marriage. The more I focus on him, the less selfish and needy I am. I know we have a long way to go in this marrage thing and a lot to learn, but I can't wait!

And lastly, today is our sweet Lincoln's birthday! He is 3 as well. For those who don't know, Lincoln was born the day we got married.  As Christmas approached Mike and I had talked about getting a dog.  Little did I know he had already found a breeder for Maltipoos and even found a litter that had been born on our wedding day.  Mike surprised me with a picture of Lincoln and all the doggie items we would need on Christmas morning. We picked Lincoln up on December 26 and he weighed a whopping 15 ounces.  Yep...I said ounces :-)  Now he is full grown and weighs in at a hefty 8 pounds...hehe! He is such a sweet puppy and we are thankful for all the laughter and playfulness he brings to out lives. Here are two pics of him.  The first is him at about a pound and the second was taken just a couple weeks ago. Love to you all!

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth take their stand
    and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
    and against his Anointed One.
³ “Let us break their chains,” they say,
    “and throw off their fetters.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ Then he rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed my King
    on Zion, my holy hill.”

⁷ I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:

He said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.
⁸ Ask of me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You will rule them with an iron scepter;
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear
    and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
    and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

2 Timothy 3:1-7

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.



VOTE!!

I posted this back on August 28 and thought that in light of tomorrow I would post it again.  I don't say who I was going to vote for in the post below, but I will say now that I will be wearing red and voting red tomorrow :-) I hope this post shows the true importance and value to voting! If you don't want to read the whole thing, I recommend the last 2 paragraphs :-)  Love to you all! A new post to come soon...I promise!

I promise that I am not going to be one of these people that uses her blog over the next 2 months to explain why I think you should vote for a certain person or party.  In fact, I am not even going to mention who it is I am going to vote for...although I think you might have a pretty good idea before I am done :-) I only have one purpose in this blog and that is to share why I think it is important we as Christians exercise our right to vote. And why apathy is a disease among Christians.

Have you ever thought about whether or not Jesus would have voted if he lived in our society? I am sure there would be many variations of answers to this question and I am not going to answer it with a yes or a no.  But I think the Bible sheds some light on Christ's interaction with government officials.  What I find interesting is that Christ never stayed away from those in Roman authority.  If anything, he was bolder in his conversations with them. Just a few of his interactions included calling Matthew the tax collector as one of his disciples (Matthew 9, Mark 2 and Luke 5), the healing of the Centurion's servant (Matthew 8, Luke 7), the chief tax collector Zacchaeus (Luke 19), Jesus' trial before Herod Antipas (Luke 23) and Jesus before Pilot (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23 & John 18&19). Probably the most well known passage when it comes to dealing with the government was when the Pharisees tested Christ by asking if it was lawful for them to pay taxes as the people of God (Matthew 22, Mark 12 & Luke 20). His answer to them was to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.  Most people interpret this fairly literally as meaning that we need to pay taxes. This is true, but I think at the heart of this passage is also Christ modeling respect for the government that God has ordained to be in control at the time.

As Christians we believe that God is in control of the nations. Psalm 47:8 says "God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his Holy throne."  We see this throughout the entire Bible as God ordained what nations would rise up and what nations would fall.(Isaiah 7-24 will give you further proof). The most prominent examples we see are Assyria and Babylon and how God used these godless nations for His purpose. These truths are exciting to us mere mortals who can rely on a God that holds the whole earth in the palm of his hand. Unfortunately, I feel that Christians have used God's Sovereignty among the nations to justify their apathy towards anything that has to do with the government.  In this case, voting. I can't tell you how many times I have heard Christians say that God already knows what is going to happen and my vote isn't going to change anything. Yes, God does know what is going to happen and He is in control, but we have a role to play as the body of Christ as we live out His will.

Merriam-Webster defines apathy as a lack of interest or concern. Can you imagine what would have happened if Abraham was apathetic about leaving the land of his fathers, or if Moses was apathetic to the plight of the Israelites in Egypt, or if  David told Samuel he didn't care about being King?  What about if the disciples and Paul had just said "hey, God is sovereign, He will get the Word out one way or another, he doesn't need me."  Yes, God's purpose would have been accomplished if these men had said no, but each of them had a role to play in the will of the Lord and He used them in incredible ways. Can you imagine the blessing they would have missed out on? Can you imagine what we would have missed out on?

Please don't think I am trying to elevate voting to a pedestal it doesn't deserve. The Great Commission is by far the most important mandate we have as modern day Christians. So please don't misunderstand the purpose of the preceding paragraphs. My goal is to show you just how important we are in the framework of the Christian body. God has roles for each of us to play and in the nation of America he has given us the role of constituent with the freedom to vote for our leaders and further his Kingdom.  Why would you want to miss out on doing your part in a role that God has blessed you with?  A role that not all people on this planet get to have.

Dictionary.com defines voting as a formal expression of opinion or choice, either positive or negative, made by an individual or body of individuals. I thought this was a great definition because it speaks to the positive and negative aspects of voting. Unfortunately though, Christians aren't bothering to even be positive or negative about the vote because they just don't bother to vote to begin with. Yes, there is the problem of feeling like we don't have a true man of God to vote for and that this country is sinking further and further into moral despair and there is nothing we can do about it.  When we say this though, do we really believe that God is sovereign? There are two men for us to vote for this November, two flawed men that were created by God just as you and I were.  They are no better and no worse sinners and just as much in need of the saving blood of Christ as you and me. The only true difference is that they have a platform God didn't see fit to give us. How do we make a choice between the two you might ask....I believe prayer is the key, followed by knowing the facts about each candidate and their platform. This will help you make the best decision. (I would love to tell you who I think that is...and again, you can probably guess based on my conservative principles and the fact I have been a staunch republican for many years. But, I truly feel that the vote is your choice and prayer is the key....no matter who the candidate you choose, because God has a purpose in how he speaks to you....especially if we believe He is sovereign).

Basically, our nation is in a moral disaster. We have a choice to make as believers, will we try to turn the tide and make a stand by using our God given right to vote? Or, will we sink even further in our apathy and cause the generations behind us to live in a country that is no longer truly free? Are we really willing to hide behind the God we have pledged to serve and not get out on the front lines and be willing to stand for His mandates no matter the cost? If we aren't willing to do the small things, what makes us think God will ever entrust us with big things?

So go vote this November!  Not because I told you to or because someone guilted you into it and not just because it is your right as an American. Go vote because you are a part of something bigger, you are a part of the body of Christ!  I will leave my place of voting on November 6 with a smile on my face and joy in my heart no matter the outcome.  Why?  Because I know that God is Sovereign and I did my part in His plan whatever it may be! 

CHANGE...the story of our lives!

Hello friends and family!  It has been a while since I have written.  But, as you can see by my title, change is the story of our lives.  So, I thought I would use this post to update you all on our crazy life. Here we go...

As you know, we are currently living in Wake Forest, North Carolina where Mike is attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He is working on his Master of Divinity in Advanced Biblical Studies.  This degree focuses very heavily on Greek and Hebrew.  To give you an idea, the man has had four semesters of Greek and is currently in his 4th semester of Hebrew where he is translating the entire book of Deuteronomy.  They actually read the book out loud in Hebrew during class.  It truly baffles my brain.  But to those who know Mike well, you know this challenge is right up his ally.  And since I am the one writing this post I can brag about him all I want :-) God has truly blessed him with a gift for languages and a gift for teaching.  I get excited about going to our small group just to hear all that God has laid on his heart to share. I am truly thankful that God called him to ministry because I see the blessings of the Lord all over him.  I am a very proud wife to say the least!

Back at the end of April I started my job at the Seminary and I love every minute of it.  It is almost like getting the college experience all over again except there are no papers and tests and I get paid to be there.  Granted, I won't receive a degree, but the life experience is pretty great!  We moved on campus at the end of May with the help of our parents and our wonderful small group.  We really enjoy our little seminary town home and we are quite thankful for the reduced rent! And my 2 minute commute is pretty nice too!

BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) has started back up for the year and it is my 2nd year as a group leader.  We are studying the book of Genesis and I am so excited to dig deeper into this book that is the foundation of our faith. I have 14 sweet ladies in my group who range from age 52 to 74.  I feel privileged to lead these women who have so much wisdom to share.  I know they will bless me far more than I could ever bless them this year.

So, those are the fairly simple changes in our lives.  Time for the interesting one.  It is always amazing to me to see how God works in situations in ways we would never even think of.  For us, this came in the form of Mike's job. Mike had been working at the seminary in the business office since summer 2011. He was happy with his position and it was nice for us to be able to work together in the same place. That changed very quickly though.  Mike was given the opportunity to be the education ministry assistant at our church Richland Creek.  This opportunity came out of nowhere and was a complete surprise. Mike has felt called to be in education ministry and this was the perfect opportunity to learn and gain church experience.  So, after much prayer we decided he should take the job. He took to it very quickly and was even able to help lead some of the Sunday School leadership meetings. We genuinely thought this was where he would be until he graduated....that date seems to be a moving target anyway :-)

Well, imagine our surprise when in July, barely 2 months after starting at Richland Creek, Mike gets a call from his old boss at the seminary.  Apparently there had been an issue with the financial person at his church (First Baptist Church Durham) and he was calling Mike to see if he could come and fill in on an emergency basis until they found someone more permanent.    And since Mike is is the sweet helpful person he is, he said he could help them out 1 or 2 days a week since he only worked at Richland Creek Monday though Wednesday. So for the next month my husband worked 2 jobs which basically equaled a minimum of 45 hours a week. With him not taking any classes this wasn't too bad, but the fall semester was quickly approaching and the replacement at FBC Durham needed to be found quickly.

Some of you may figure out where this is going. Basically, FBC Durham offered Mike the financial position full time (which basically means he is the permanent employee but would only work 25 hours a week) They told him that they do not require membership for employment so we could stay at Richland Creek if we wanted to. But they also offered him a pastoral mentorship with the senior pastor next semester.  As we prayed through these things, Mike and I both felt that he couldn't work at one church and we worship at another. We felt that we needed to be fully invested in whatever church Mike chose to work at. This meant having to chose one church or the other....which was beyond difficult! 

Through much prayer and wisdom from our families we felt that God was leading us to FBC Durham. I have to note, this was even before we visited a church service there!  So we decided that was the final piece of the puzzle and we went one Sunday and were truly blessed by the service, the pastor and the people in the church.  We quickly knew that this was a place where we could serve and enjoy the fellowship.  Now came the hard part...telling our small group at Richland Creek and Mike telling his boss. I would love to say that everyone involved took it well...but that isn't always the case in situations like these.  But, we are truly thankful for the many who have wished us well and are happy for us as we take this next step in our ministry.

We have learned a great deal through out this decision.  For me, the lesson has been about God's sovereignty and how He knows exactly what He is doing and does it in his perfect timing. As I look back I know that God's hand was on Mike as he left the seminary to work at Richland Creek because He knew that Mike's boss at the seminary never would have asked for his help at FBCD if he was still working at the school. God knew each piece that had to be in place and he also knew where our hearts needed to be. As bittersweet as this decision has been, I am reminded that this will possibly be the first of many changes that come as a result of being in the ministry.  That is why I am so thankful God has it under control!!

So, that is about it for us.  If you are still reading I am sure you are glad there is no more :-) Just thought I would bring those interested up to speed. Before I finish, I ask that you please keep my sister in your prayers as she is about to have her second son, Grady, in a foreign country with no epidurals...yikes! Pray that my mom arrives safely next week as well as my dad 2 weeks later. I am super happy for this sweet new nephew and trying not to be too sad I won't meet him in person for quite a while :-)  But, I have all of eternity for that one day.  I am thankful God called my sister's family to the ministry and they are being obedient to follow His call despite certain discomforts and no family near by. Love them to pieces! Also keep Mike's grandmother in your prayers as she has been moved to an assisted living facility and is experiencing the onset of dementia. Thanks you for your prayers sweet readers!

Ok...I promise I am done now...really!  Much love to you all!  Below are some pics!

We are # 307. Our house in the one in the middle with the upstairs double window.

The Kitchen...part 1...this is my favorite room because I love cooking!

Kitchen...part 2...we now have an island in the center that Mike and I built together.  Now that is some good couples bonding right there :-)

My view as I walk into work each day. I am on the second floor of this building, but on the front side.

My office!!  Love this place!