Knowing.

Many of you know that my dad recently passed away.
He was buried on my 59th birthday.
Not what a "daddy's girl" would want to remember about her birthday... or is it?

The last month of his life he came face to face with the reality that his death could come at any time.

He first entered the hospital on June 26th. During the few days he was there he told me that he was ready to go, that he had lived a good life and his only regret was leaving my mom and me. That continued to be his story through his last days.

It was an honor to sit on the sidelines and watch these two sweethearts of almost 60 years make final plans. What songs did he want? Who would sing? That was pretty much all that was left to take care of because for the past year daddy had made sure that things were all in order. He had made a list of everything mama would need to know about their finances and other things.

Daddy always led a quiet, simple life,  becoming a volunteer fireman in 1977.
He volunteered with the City of Greer Fire Department for 36 years before retiring several years ago. Even in retirement he was no stranger to his GFD brothers. That became evident during the weeks between hospitals and hospices. One day a whole shift came to visit resulting in two fire trucks and numerous other vehicles. It was a good day. There was laughter, there was peace.

During the last of his days here on earth I knew what God had called me to do as daddy's sister-in-Christ... worship with him on this side of heaven. With mom on one side and me on the other, I read several scriptures from Revelation to remind daddy of the sights and sounds that he would soon be privy to. After the scriptures came the hard part. I told him as his sister-in-Christ I could not send him off unprepared for what he was about to encounter. I knew he liked the old hymns, but am highly suspect that on that side of glory they might not just be singing the old standards. 

 With that said, Hezekiah Walker began singing "Every Praise".

I held daddy's hand up as a praise offering to our Lord. I have often done that as a kind of "standing in the gap" for those who weren't able to worship for themselves. At one point during the song I asked if he could say hallelujah. Of course he could. He had been rather non verbal that day so it was sweet to hear.
We then prayed and thanked God for everything. I think that was Thursday, daddy headed home to glory around 8:30 Saturday night...

Even though daddy was a always a quiet, soft spoken man, apparently he had made an impact on the men he called brothers at the GFD. They pretty much took care of the service. Daddy took his last ride on the back of Engine #5 which made it's way through the city of Greer. They provided police escorts at every intersection, and when we arrived at the cemetery, there were two ladder trucks extended to the sky with the largest American flag that I have ever seen. It was awesome. We were all so humbled by their display of love toward this simple man.

I guess all he ever did was love well.

Isn't that what we are all called to do?

The hardest part of the day was what's known as "the final call" issued by the dispatcher to the shift commander who stood by the graveside.

#86.

#86.

#86.

Last call for fireman #86, Donald W. Lister.

Fireman #86 has reached his eternal home, safe and sound.

Thank you Don for 36 years of faithful service.

Daddy knew peace.
Daddy knew Father God, Son Jesus and the sweet Holy Spirit.
Thankfully so do those of us who remain here.

Daddy was ready for his final call when it came on July 18th.

I don't know when my time will come, none of us do.

It is our prayer at Wellspring Living|SC and Wellspring Treasures Thrift Store that you know peace because you know Jesus, ready for your final call too.

If you don't... get in touch with me, my phone number or email can be found on our website under contacts, I will gladly share how you too can know peace and have peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you do know Christ as your Lord & Savior, but still don't have peace because of situations in your life, respond and say that you would like an appointment with our Director of Ministry, Madonna Hines and we will set that up for you too.

Maybe it's Your Turn!

Do you feel like God’s up to something but not sure what? 

Then why not go ahead and order you a ticket to Living Proof Live with BethMoore and Travis Cottrell… but only if you dare be so adventurous.

You see, back in the spring of 2003, I knew God was calling me to a fast. Not one, three or seven days, but it seemed like it was destined to be forty days.  Call me crazy, but I agreed.  I talked with my husband, Ray, who insisted I talk to our family physician about it too. 

So off I went into the wild blue yonder of fasting and praying.  I had asked a handful of people to pray for me during the fast; did they ever.  It was easier than I imagined it would be. Even preparing meals for my family to eat wasn’t a problem. I made it all the way to day twenty-one and all of a sudden I was hungry and sensed God was saying it was long enough. I was almost scared to eat that day.  I set a place for me at the table and asked for forgiveness if I had totally missed what was going on.  As I placed that first bite in my mouth, Jaci Valesquez started singing “God So Loved” on the radio and I knew it was indeed what He had asked me to do; so ended my twenty-one days with water and juice.

I had fasted before, but it was always a fast I had gone into over something specific.  I had no idea what this fast was about.  I think God just wanted to see if my heart and ears were in tune.

Fast forward to the summer of 2003…God put a prayer on my heart. 

Out of the blue with no prior warning; there He was spilling words out of my mouth and tendering my heart for a certain people group.

The infamous phone call in late September… 

“We have three extra tickets to Beth Moore this weekend if you know anyone who might be interested.”  Did I know anyone?  Yes, me!  

So off Christine, Madonna and I went, clueless that anything out of the ordinary awaited us.

But then Saturday morning happened.  

Before the morning session started a group of ladies came out and danced to “Shackles” by Mary Mary.  After they danced, Beth Moore shared  how to become a Christ follower.  

While Beth was in the back of the auditorium with those who had said “yes” to Christ that morning, my friends went to the book store and left me there unattended.  

I looked over to my left and there sat the only person I knew in Atlanta, Brenda Kelling; she and her family had recently moved to Atlanta.  In conversation I asked if they had found a church home. 

She replied that they had and that she was her church’s representative to Wellspring Living.  

The only thing I knew about Wellspring was the ladies that danced were from Wellspring.  

So it seemed like a sensible question to ask if Brenda’s church was going to have a dance ministry. Right?

Watch out, here it comes… (the God set up)…

“Oh no” said Brenda.

 

“Those ladies that danced onstage this morning used to dance in strip clubs and now they are dancing for the Lord.”

 Did she say strip club? 

Yes she did.

I didn’t say another word to Brenda.  

I just began to cry and went back to my seat.  

My only response, “Lord if that’s why you put that prayer in my mouth and those ladies in my heart, I’ll do whatever it is you are calling me to do.  I don’t know what it is; I don’t have the experience, the money or anything else to do it with.” 

“I do have two hands and two feet to follow, so where ever you lead, I will go.”

So here I am years later, still following and still believing. 

He is still leading and it’s been an amazing faith walk.

And do you know what?  

It really didn’t have a thing to do with Beth Moore.  

It wasn’t about anything she said or did. 

It was about the presence of a mighty God.

So go ahead and order that ticket… He’ll be waiting there for you!

And by the way, Beth and Travis might just have a word for you too!

Beth & Travis will be in Greenville, July 10th & 11th... and so will I!

 Take a walk on the wild side and join us there, God has something in store for you!

Flying Pigs and Frozen Hells… Don’t grow weary in praying or believing.

We've all had things in our lives to which we respond, “Yeah right when pigs fly or hell freezes over”.  This morning at Milestones Church I had a sweet reminder that I have actually experienced flying pigs and a frozen hell.  It happened so far back I cannot even tell you what year it was…somewhere between 1998 and Y2K.

I had hurt a friend so badly and I knew she was not the forgiving or the forgetting kind.  What I said to her may or may not have been true, but it wasn't really necessary. She was one of those rare friends that you feel like you have known forever at your first meeting and even if months or years passed since seeing each other, it was like no time at all. 

It was during what we referred to as II John at Wellford Baptist Church.  John Moore was making his second appearance as our pastor. He had preached about prayer on a particular Sunday with a suggested way for keeping it real.  So I devised the 2 @ 1:00 approach.  Every day at 1:00, I would go stand next to the mailbox at MTCC and pray for the same two things.  One shall remain nameless (although God answered that one too!) One was that my dear friend would forgive me.  I called her one day to ask for her forgiveness, she said she did, but I knew her words meant nothing.  

She probably said yes so I wouldn't call back.

At some point during all of this, Beth Moore was making her way to First Baptist Columbia for a weekend conference. We loaded the church van and off we went.  We found great seats on the right hand side of the balcony.  Once we all got settled and Travis and Beth welcomed us, imagine my discomfort as I looked across the sanctuary, and there she sat, directly in front of me on the left hand side of the balcony; she had gone as a guest of her mother-in-law.  Friday night, Saturday morning came and went... then Saturday afternoon happened. Travis started singing “Thank You”. My friend Christine was praying, but I didn't know it at the time.  The song started the second chorus; I jumped over two rows of seats to get out.  My heart was pounding so hard; I was going to ask her one more time to forgive me.  As I rounded the last corner of the balcony hallway, I looked up and she was running to me.  We hugged each other and were crying like the two crazy people we are.  

That day pigs flew.

What a reminder to me this morning as we sang that song, not once, BUT TWICE! 

For flying pigs and a frozen hell!  

I knew God was reminding me; don’t give up believing the things that I have told you were coming.  Hold on keep praying.  I thought of all the things written in the back of my Bible that were written by promptings of the Holy Spirit. All the promises of God will come in God’s time and for that my heart is grateful.

So don’t you grow weary in whatever you've been praying for, remember those sweet WORDS in     2 Peter 3:9…The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness. 

He's always an ON TIME GOD.

Since Travis sang it before "social media" was even in our vocabulary, I couldn't find his version, but Hillsong does a great job too!

Moods Don't Matter

How often have I missed a blessing from the Lord because my mood has been altered by one situation or another?  Knowing there were things that I needed to do, but my heart had turned sour over some silly something that didn't really matter.  

Sunday was one of those days. Ray and I had planned to go to his hunt club after church.  We had most of our things ready before going to church so we could come home throw it all in the truck and take off.

As we were standing to sing the last song as our benediction, it was clear as a bell that the Lord wanted me to anoint the hunt club.  Funny, the thought had never crossed my mind before, but there was no doubt that those were my instructions.  When we got home I grabbed the EVO, my ipod and ear buds and was ready to roll.  

Did someone say “roll”?  Not calling any names, but the other person that lives in our house had been on one since Saturday evening when I had undercooked his hamburger, it then “rolled” on over to Sunday morning because then the eggs were too overcooked!  As he was working to get his target set up to sight in his rifle, the “roll” began to “roll” again.  I climbed back into the truck while the shooting was taking place, thinking that maybe he could anoint his own little hunt club.

After we had our rifle in order we began to drive back to the house where the guys spend their weekends hunting.  I guess the Lord had to speak really loud to get this point across to me.  “Susan, does it really matter if your mood has changed?  Did I ask you to do something for Me if you felt like it or were in the mood?”  Wow, my mood didn’t matter, maybe it did to me, but was I willing to let my mood affect my obedience to something that I knew I had been summoned to do?  I decided that I’d be glad to anoint that little hunt club house. 

 I made my way around the entire perimeter of the house before going in, covering every doorway and bed while worshiping and praying.  When I finished inside, Ray had the hose pipe washing off the deck.  I knew that I had to find a no fire ant piece of ground to stand because I instinctively knew the shoes were about to come off.  As I found the spot and got down to the bare feet, the next song began to play the notes were so soft I couldn't recognize the tune.  But then the music began to get a little faster and louder and I almost started crying because then I did recognize the song.

 Days of Elijah. 

As the words filled my mind and heart I was so elated because it was the very first week of the Jewish New Year. What I had also learned last week is that it is in fact a year of Jubilee!  Only God could have orchestrated the time I spent on that property last Sunday.  In true fashion, as the last notes of the song began to fade, the wind began to blow, and blow and then blow a little harder.   

It was one of those moments for the record books. 

Every time I caught a glimpse of Ray, he had his back turned and was spraying the hose pipe.  After we loaded up and started down the road his only comment was actually a quote from “Dances with Wolves”… “you turned Injun didn’t ya?” He may or may not admit it, but he was glad about it all, well except for me singing so loud!

I only hope that memories of this day will always remind me that I shouldn't let my mood stand in the way of my obedience!

Days of Elijah by Robin Mark

These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the word of the Lord
And these are the days of Your servant Moses
Righteousness being restored

And though these are days of great trials
Of famine and darkness and sword
Still we are the voice in the desert crying
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord!"

Behold He comes, riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call
Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion's Hill salvation comes

And these are the days of Ezekiel
The dry bones becoming flesh
And these are the days of Your servant David
Rebuilding a temple of praise

And these are the days of the harvest
Oh the fields are as white in Your world
And we are the laborers in Your vineyard
Declaring the Word of the Lord

Behold He comes, riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call
Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion's Hill salvation comes

There's no God like Jehovah!
There's no God like Jehovah!
There's no God like Jehovah!

Behold He comes, riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call
Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion's Hill salvation comes

Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion's Hill salvation comes

We Are ALL DOING IT!

You know you are.  I am, and always hope to be...

BELIEVING GOD for SOMETHING... 

or lots of somethings!

There are so many things that I could share that I am believing God for, and it seems the list keeps getting longer.  Yes, there are many things that have been checked off the list, smaller things, but still appreciated things.  Then there are several whopper-sized hopes, dreams and plans that are still in the count-down mode.

Do I get tired?

Do I get discouraged?

Do I wonder if I'm on the wrong road?

Yes!  Yes!  and Yes!

But then I have moments like I had this week.  My daughter, Jenn, made a trip south to visit her new nephew, Wyatt.  As part of that visit, I received my Mother's Day gift from her.  Encouragement from God's word to hold on, reminding me that HE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN His promises to me or all those that are dear to me. Girls... I AM STILL BELIEVING!

That was Tuesday.

Then came Wednesday... it was a day I had been anticipating for a few weeks.  Jesus Culture was coming to town and I had a ticket... a premium ticket!

As I made my way to the event, a sweet reminder from above.  Remember the name of the event...

 "I Still Believe Tour" 

One more sweet encouragement to do just that.

All that to lead up to the sharing of this video... If it doesn't make your spirit soar... better dial 911!

Jesus Culture... I Still Believe

I hope this encourages you to hold one and keep believing.  

He is SO trustworthy.

 

Indentions in my Heart

On a drive home from Myrtle Beach many years ago, my youngest daughter Sarah, asked if she could wear my necklace; it was a “puffy heart” given to me by my husband for Valentine’s Day.  She didn’t wear it long and returned it.  As I was driving, I reached up to hold the heart.  My fingers rubbed across the surface and I noticed that it felt a little different.  Where it had once felt smooth, it now felt lumpy.  When I was able to do an inspection I realized the lumps were caused by Sarah’s teeth.  I guess she must have been doing a hardness test and when it proved not to be too hard she gave it back, probably hoping it would go unnoticed.

Isn't that the way our battered and broken hearts are.  

We all carry scars of some sort or another. 

What makes the difference how we respond to the brokenness.

 As much as I loved the smooth shiny puffy heart, I wouldn't trade the visible scars it carries for anything.  Strange that with its flaws and imperfections it means more now than when it was smooth and shiny.

One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 4:23…

 “Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  

We can’t keep our hearts from being broken, but we are the ones who have to make the choice on how to handle the after effects. 

We can hold bitterness and resentment against the ones who inflicted the scars, or we can surrender the hurt to our sweet Savior and let Him do what only He can.  He can turn them into precious treasures.  It's only  through His grace that allows us to turn the broken things into beautiful things.

And wouldn't you know there's a song that says just that!

Much ado about nothing... or was it?

If you have visited our website in the past, you may have seen our pictures and read about those thirty- something crazy people marching around a house seven times because it seemed like they were supposed to.

Feeling like God had led us to the house back on 2007 as what would become the Wellspring Living|SC residential home.  We have prayed, hoped, dreamed, prayed and then we marched.  It really seemed like the natural thing to do after reading The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.

So last week we found out that our "dream house" SOLD.  

Sigh. 

Or not.

You see, it's not over 'til God says it's over.  As Mark Batterson says... "God always has a holy surprise up His sovereign sleeve."  So to me, it may look like it's a done deal, and maybe it is.  But I'll wait until I get the official WORD from above.

Why would you be so silly, you may ask.  As I thought about not always knowing the end of the story, I am reminded of a time back in the early days of 2003.

I wasn't sure why, but  I really felt led to fast for forty days.  Prayed about it, talked to Ray (my husband) about it. He insisted that I go talk to *Dr. Johnson about it.  I did and he encouraged me to be smart and listen to my body.  So it began, and it was something I am so glad I did.  On Day 21, I felt a very strong sense that I was supposed to end my fast.  As I set the table for my family, I set a plate for me too.  I looked at the meal and realized it was an exact duplicate of the last meal I had eaten before I began the fast.  Country style steak, black-eyed peas, cole-slaw, rice and corn bread.  

As I lifted the fork to my mouth, I stopped and said "Lord are you sure?" We always had His Radio playing in the kitchen and dining area and as I placed the first bite on my tongue, Jaci Velasquez began singing "God So Loved the World" and I knew I had heard and I had obeyed.  God and I had had many a moment with that song.  I had even asked Him a very personal question about that song.  I knew He had heard and had lovingly answered.

It wasn't my first fast.  It was my longest.  When I had fasted before, I had fasted for specific reasons.

This time was different.  After it ended I still had no idea why.

In the fall of 2003 I received three last minute tickets to see Beth Moore in Atlanta (surely you've heard that story!)

It was probably sometime in 2005 when I was cleaning out some things and I came across several journal entries and notes of encouragement from a few friends who knew I was fasting that I realized that the fast came (the obedience) and then the call came... all in the same year.  I can only surmise that God was wondering, or maybe He wanted me to know that I was willing to do whatever He asked.

So ya' see, I thought the fast was the end of the story.  Who knew it was the beginning!

So the sign might say "SOLD", and their may be a new owner in town... 

BUT (God is sovereign) God hasn't said "GIVE IT UP GIRLFRIEND!"

*It was Dr. J's house!  How funny is God?!